that one stained shirt | mark lee ✓

vanilla waterfall

I loved Fridays. Mainly because I had the least lectures of the whole week (whoever came with that was a genius), but also because I had time to roam around the city, enjoy cafés and restaurants, and finally let go of all the stress I had been carrying during the week.

Since starting college, self-dates have become a real thing. Otherwise, I don't think I'd stay sane.

This Friday's choice was one of my favorite cafés in Seoul, close to my apartment, but also hidden in a quiet nook. Not many people stumbled upon it. It was a smaller place, with minimalistic art hanging around the walls, with cute round tables where flowers stood in vases, with huge windows which the sun shone right through for most of the day.

The air smelled of fresh beans and cinnamon, sometimes mixed with lemon, and soft music played in the background. The quiet chatter made a perfect study ambiance.

But thank goodness I wasn't there for studying.

When I entered, I exchanged a smile with the girl behind the counter. She must have been new because I never saw her before. I got to her and ordered my go-to drink, an iced vanilla latte. No matter the season, I'd always drink this and it worked better than therapy. Even though it was probably just the sugar.

She took my order, and I turned around to choose a place to sit. Most of the tables were free, a couple sat at one at the back and an elderly woman took one close to the door. I headed to the one right next to the wall-wide window.

The evening sun glowed over my hands, and I closed my eyes for a second to take in the warmth. The spring peaked and summer was slowly approaching. I couldn't wait for long days, cute clothes, and finally holiday once the finals were over. Just a month to go, I reassured myself. That's not too long.

"Order twenty-one for Miss Suh!" the girl called, and I got up to take it. "Have a good day," she wished me when handing me my cup and I smiled in response. This up close, she seemed somehow familiar. I reached for a straw.

"Excuse me," I said, and she turned to me. "I feel like I know you."

She looked around in case any new customers arrived and came closer. "Yeah, we've met in the hallways a couple of times."

"Oh, that must be it! I'm Jessica."

"I'm Minji, nice to meet you," she smiled and moved back behind the counter. We talked for a bit, about the school and why we decided to go study English. I once again reached for a straw, but my hand still couldn't find it.

I leaned further.

The next moment a bell clinked at the door and Minji excused herself. I just smiled and glanced over to finally take the straw. I thought a step forward would be enough, but instead of plastic, my fingers brushed over something harsh, and I quickly turned towards it.

The force got me crushing into something, headfirst, and my cup got so smashed that it spilled everywhere. I gasped at the sight and shared a quick look with Minji, who hurried into the back. It appeared that my coffee got all over someone's T-shirt.

"I am so sorry," I started, putting the empty cup down and looking for tissues or anything I could wipe the mess with. "I didn't mean to, really... oh my gosh, I should buy you a new shirt or-"

"No, that's okay, accidents happen."

The voice belonged to a man, maybe around my age, and he didn't look angry at all. Instead, he was grinning at his friends, sending them forward to go sit. They couldn't hold a laugh and as each of them passed us, I grew more and more embarrassed.

Exactly what I needed today, I cried out mentally.

"You're so clumsy, Mark," sneered the last one and hit the boy's shoulder lightly. They were so unbothered it was rather concerning. "Poor coffee though it had to be delicious."