𝐓𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄 /GXG/

🔹️Drugs and money

''We all have strengths and weaknesses, successes and failures, pains and disappointments''

[Saturday, November 29th]

It's past 5:48 pm. We're at the convenience store. My dad, Su-bin, is inside getting things and I went out on the sidewalk to make a call to Na-young.

''Hello!'' she says.

I hold my breath hearing her voice and the little time to think of the right words. ''It's me!

''Chae won...'' I hear a tired sigh from someone who is tired of me.

''I need a favor!''

''I'm busy.''

''This is urgent! It's serious stuff!''

''Stuff?''

''Bring the backpack to me-''

''I am not at home.''

''I know! I went there early!''

''The key is hidden in the grass.''

''I looked and found nothing.''

''You came here?'' The call is silent for a few seconds. ''Where are you?''

''The Westin Josun Seoul. It has the stairs to the subway and the trees in front of the hotel. I'll stay there.''

''30 minutes.''

I hang up and go back inside the store. I find Su-bin in the liquor aisle reading the label on a bottle of wine; the supermarket in the other with soft drinks, peanuts and donuts.

I tuck his cell phone into the pocket of his black jacket and we continue walking through the supermarket aisles.

''Do you want banana milk ?'' In the cold cuts section, my dad opts for the lemon-flavored drink.

"It is good." My voice sounds like I'm apologizing.

''I bought candy for you.''

''I don't like candy.''

''What about this one?'' he asks, pulling a box of breakfast cereal off the shelf. ''How about corn flakes?''

''I like.''

He smiles.

''Do you remember when you said: Daddy, I want a serial killer. I said, ''Chae, serial killer? What you're talking about?'' Your mom looked at me crookedly. And you said, ''The one with the tiger in the box!'' Oh, that was Kellog's breakfast cereal, not serial killer.''

''Serial killer. Mhm...'' I fake a smile at him.

Su-bin laughs, putting the cereal in the supermarket basket. My father is a criminal defense attorney and it is very likely that I heard those words from his mouth.

In the fruit and vegetable sector.

''Strawberries?'' he asks.

''Yes!''

I choose the little tray that has the biggest and most beautiful ones. One of the strawberries is even shaped like a heart.

''It's been a while since you returned to the old house. Don't you miss the countryside?''

''No.''

''I see you ended up squeezing the fruit so hard,'' he says.

''Sorry.'' I swap for another.

A sudden melancholy hits me, warming my face like I'm in front of a roaring fire. My mind tried to stay on 5-year-old Chae won with the strawberry sauce stained shirt, but that's not what happens. The other thought soon arises and makes me uneasy.