Just Like Now

The Last Act

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Namjoo was afraid Lee Chul might try too hard to make this date perfect. She could never forget that he liked her. It wasn't like that at all.

The date was nowhere near extravagant. Lee Chul first took her to a dog café where she spent at most three hours cuddling and playing with the dogs. Afterward, they went to Namsan Tower just to play a game of rock paper and scissors on the stairs – winner moved up a step and loser remained where they were. She lost. Her punishment was to buy replenishing food for him. And she did.

Lee Chul didn't treat her like a girlfriend. She was just his friend. They played, laughed, and merely did things together. Perhaps, that might the definition of a couple to some but to her at that moment, to them, they were just friends on a date. The thin line between it was what allowed her comfort and air to breathe. Namjoo really did enjoy her time with Lee Chul that before she knew it night had fallen.

They had just spent the last hour wandering through the streets of Gangnam grabbing bites from street vendors and walking through old music stores. Lee Chul was currently telling her a ghost story before they were interrupted by his phone. Standing by, Namjoo watched him seriously talk into the phone. He hung up with a desolate sigh.

"I think we should call it a day," he said.

"Why?" Namjoo asked. She wasn't ready to head back home yet. It had been much fun. She hadn't had this much fun in a while.

"Lets go to the car."

Namjoo grabbed his arm as he turned, "What's wrong?"

Chul sighed perplexed. "It's my brother. He's drunk. His girlfriend called me."

"Oh..." Namjoo let her hand slip, "but if he's drunk, you might need help."

He shook his head, "Don't worry about it. It's happened before."

Chul pivoted in the direction of his car. Namjoo watched quietly. The class president always seemed to be go-lucky, but now wasn't the past anymore. Hurrying after him Namjoo grabbed his arm again, "Where is he? I'll go with you."

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A few minutes later Namjoo wasn't quite sure she'd made the right decision to come along. Gripping the cord of her purse she stared up at the motel sign. Out of all Gangnam it appeared to shine the brightest, as if to tell the world I AM HERE.

Pressing her lips together she turned to look at Lee Chul.

"You don't have to come in," he tried. "Do you want me to call you a cab?"

"No," Namjoo shook her head. "I'll go with you."

It was obvious Lee Chul wanted didn't want her to, but he said no more. Lowering her head Namjoo followed him in and made an extra effort to keep her face hidden when he spoke to the desk receptionist. A few minutes later after having their IDs verified they were led down the hallway to the room occupied by his brother. Chul thanked the receptionist after he unlocked the door and left them. Dozens of beer bottles were sprawled over the floor. On the bed ahead lay Chul's brother in his tacky suit.

Grabbing her arm lightly Chul led her in before closing the door. Once they were secluded in their own privacy Chul apologized, "Sorry you have to see this. Why don't you sit down?"

He appeared embarrassed more than sorry. Namjoo didn't know how to react. In the end all she could ask was, "What happened?"

"They were supposed to get married," Chul began grabbing a grocery store bag and began cleaning up. "My brother and his girlfriend, I mean. Then he got scammed and lost all his money. He's been drinking a lot since." His voice grew quiet, "I don't think they're getting married anymore."