Debut in Broad Daylight

Chapter 9 - DAVID🌷

As the sun sets in Euljiro, I savor the rare moment when we can enjoy it in the dorm, finally out of the lockbox of the practice rooms. Even though the instruction is enjoyable, it sometimes feels like being squeezed out from a tube of yogurt, into a chewing mouth that won't swallow.

I glance at Seiya, who's struggling to stay awake on the couch, and my heart pangs for him. Above him, Kaden's painting of a rocket followed us over, across the seas, holding the memories of our year together. I picture that rocket as a blessing, sticking with us as we come home from practice with no other want than to collapse on the bed. The rocket might have been our first fan, our first witness to us beginning to love each other.

As I watch Kaden, Van, and Corrin cross the thresholds to the bedrooms, my heart aches again. And I need an escape, something to hold me down so I stop feeling bad for us and start dreaming about the Seoul-ish possibilities.

So despite their warnings about man-eating fairies, about the possibility of the dream world fully consuming me, I walk outside and clutch my black card in my hands. I call a cab with my phone and wait outside the apartment building.

Myeongdong. The place of tourist dreams, filled with street food and people from all around the world trying to decide whether to buy another keychain, set of gloves, or hat with bear ears. I know I may be reducing it, but I've always wanted to visit the famous street, wandering with people who also find Seoul new to them.

The cab driver doesn't talk to me, and his fast driving takes us past the post-rush-hour roads, into the Friday night tourist district. The whole way there, I try to think about nothing, numbing all my thoughts into a comfortable bleakness. I mumble a prayer, and when we reach the main street, I say my thanks and exit into the buzzing air.

The whole time I walk the street, the dream world tries to take me and lead me into a fateful escape. I resist the temptation and instead begin to make my way through the food stalls. I munch on everything from tanghulu, to fried squid and twisted potatoes on a stick.

I lose myself in the crowd, imagining myself as a tourist who has all the time in the world to see what he pleases. The cold air tickles my skin, and my full belly sends signals up to my brain, telling me to catch a nap on the way back. I fit in one last snack, a croissant taiyaki, and the crispiness and warmth of the dessert does more for me than a full night's rest. It completely washes away my fatigue, making me fully give in to the sugar high, another temptation.

I call a cab and get picked up at the same spot I entered. One last time, I look behind me at the main street, the fullness of the crowd, the heartbeat of people looking for a quick bite.

I enter the cab and close my eyes. When I open them again, I see Leo Pak's eyes staring at me from the rearview mirror. I almost yelp, but I control myself and remind myself that God's in control, no matter how freaky the situation might devolve into—and how many times has he proven himself when it seemed that the whole world would cave under me, covering me in destruction?

Leo's hands tighten over the steering wheel, and I say the first word. "Leo Pak? What are you doing here?"

His hands tighten even more, and his eyebrows scrunch together, as if he can't remember how he began to drive this car, began to pick me up. I try to sense the smiling, smug villain that I fought against for the whole of my time as a trainee in Hawaii. I can't find him, losing him under the grayness.

Back at church, the pastor that I still have so much adoration for, used to talk about spiritual battles. I listened and found myself agreeing, but I never saw it in effect until now, until I encountered Leo's lion and found a world outside the supposed simplicity of everyday life.