To the Good Days

Chapter 8: Tattoos are addicting

I'm currently at my desk, editing my video for YouTube and switching back to videos for the company. I have my headphones on, listening to the Big Bang, which isn't surprising because they are my favorite group. I was so into the music and working that time flew by. I remember when I went to see their concert before I left for the US and to this day, no American concert has ever come close to the energy of that one. I think back. 2 days after that performance, my family and I were on a plane back home. I sigh, I miss being at home with my parents, my sister and brother, and the rest of my extended family. All my friends, walking along the city streets, wishing we had money for every store on Michigan Ave. What I miss most is the sunset on the skyline. The lights bouncing off the glass windows , the magnificent colors illuminating the building  as if they were on fire. The feeling the city has on me is something unable to be put into words, its a feeling.  You have to experience it first hand to truly enjoy the splendor of it. 

That's it! I can't hold back anymore. I want to go home, but I can't.Work is beyond demanding right now. Its killing me inside. Seoul is my home, but Chicago is where I belong, the inner torment is flooding. I finally know what to do after trying to decide on my gut feeling. Let's do this. 

I get in my car and call up an old friend of mine. I tell him my thoughts and he agrees gladly. I drop off my stuff at home, eat a sandwich and grab a water bottle before heading back to the car. Yoongi decided he wanted to come with because it would be cool. Depends on how you look at it. I pull up to a familiar looking storefront. We walk and and I'm greeted with open arms and a smile. 

*Emily-ssi! Its been too long since you have been in my parlor. Have you been cheating on me?* my friend Yong Ki says with fake heartbreak.

I laugh, *You know you're the only artist for me KiKi!* I respond. *This is my friend Suga. He wanted to come and watch, if that's okay?* Yong Ki nods and we head back to his station. I sit down on the familiar lounge chair, similar to one in a dentist's office, and roll up my leggings to expose my ankles and the lower part of my shin. Good thing I shaved my legs this morning in the shower. I open up my phone to quadruple check I have the right information and font. I show Yong Ki and he begins to prep his equipment. 

Soon, my exposed skin is wiped with an antiseptic wipe and the trace drawing is placed on my ankles, right above the joint. I take out my phone to make a vlog of the whole thing, so I can use it on my channel later. I send a quick text explaining where I am and what I'm doing to Namjoon before the machinery buzzes to life. He sends back a text along the lines of have fun. hope it turns out well and that you thought it through enough , cant wait to see it. He can get so worrisome sometimes, but supports it wholeheartedly. I can verify that I have had this tattoo idea in the back of my head for ages, but I had the final push when I was talking to my mom a few days ago. Yong Ki asks if I'm ready, and I nod in acknowledgement. 

I feel the needles tickling my skin as they leave their mark.the familiar rush of adrenaline courses through my veins. This high that comes with tattoos is addicting. There's no wonder why some people have marked every inch of skin. They say that the ankle hurts depending on the design and exact placement. I should be fine since I placed it over the bone and this isn't my first rodeo.I can guarantee that this is going to be pretty painless. The one the inside of my lower lip has hurt every time I get it touched up and the one on my collarbone hurt to the point where I passed out for a little bit during the procedure. Oh well. 

Yoongi has been watching from the side, I can see the look in his eyes. I slightly wince in pain as the needles hit a nerve. His eyes widen and fill with guilt. *Yoongi-ah. Come here.* I motion him over. He  walks over slowly with caution. *dude seriously. You're not going to die if you come over here, its just a tattoo.* I mock. He is at my side and begins asking a few questions like does it hurt, what does it feel like, what does it mean, and generic tattoo questions. I chuckle before answering him,

*These ones aren't very painful and the needles kind of tickle my skin. It does hurt a little when he first started but, now its just the pressure on the needles and equipment. and this one represents my life in Chicago and in Seoul. The two places where I have found home and comfort. Places where I can always come back to and feel happiness.* I smile as I explain my reasoning. Yoongi seems content with my answers as he goes to sit on a chair and do something on his phone. I continue doing my vlog and talk to Yong Ki about what he has been up to, how's his wife and family, so on and so forth. Yong Ki has been doing my tattoos for years.  He has done  5 out of my now 7 tattoos. Those being the one on the inside of my lip, the quote on my left forearm,  the sketch of a camera on my upper back, the quote on my collarbone, and now the collective ones on my ankles.  as for the other two, the one on my right forearm was done in Chicago and the one behind my right ear was done in Los Angeles. 

*Emily, do you need your lip touched up while you're here? It's one the house.* Yong Ki asks as he finishes the second tattoo. 

My eyes widen, * 진지하게 (jinjihage) ? * He smiles, *of course, youre one of my favorite clients.* I just smile as he looks back to my ankles and puts anti-infection/ soothing gel on on the fresh tattoos. I briefly look at them. before he puts bandages on. Both look perfect. Black, block lettering of two sets of coordinates. My right ankle is 41.8781° N, 87.6298° W, the coordinates of Chicago and my left ankle is 37.5665° N, 126.9780° E, the coordinates of Seoul. Both are cities that welcome me with open arms and accept me for who I am. I smile and tell Yong Ki that they are amazing. 

After changing needles and gloves, I get handed a pair of black latex gloves and pull my lip down to expose the slightly faded ' Youth' tattoo. I know, a tattoo that says youth is very original, but i got this when i was 17 so. I thought I was being different and unique. Staying young forever is always the goal, right?  Since I got this down, I've had about 2 touch ups done, because the ink fades faster than any other placement on the body and I have a habit of biting the skin inside my lip.

Eventually the needles brush my skin, I wince in pain slightly only because the skin is sensitive. After a few minutes, its over. Yong Ki puts an oral gel on my lip lets me get up and stretch. I've been sitting down for like 3 and half hours. I stare at my ankles, anticipation rising in my stomach and chest. I can't wait to look at them again when I get home. I pay at the front desk and tip KiKi well before bidding him goodbye and getting back into the car.

After Yoongi and I get back to the dorms, it is well into the evening. All the boys have already eaten. Yoongi grabs my arm to help me up some stairs because my legs are a bit sore. We sit in the kitchen and eat something briefly and return to our respective rooms. 

*Hey Yoongi. Thank you for coming with me even though you didn't have to.* I grin at him earnestly.

*Oh not a problem Em. It was at less cool than I thought it would be.* He jokes. 

I groan, *whatever. I'll see you in the morning. Sleep well.* 

*You too. Ah swag, sleep time.* He says before flopping down on his bed. I laugh and walk to the bathroom to get ready for bed. I carefully brush my teeth and put more gel on that Yong Ki gave me and go to the shared bedroom. I put on shorts and an old tank top before sitting on the bed. Namjoon sits up and watches me take the bandages off. He stares at the new inked skin once they are revealed. 

*What do they mean?* he asks.

*One is where my heart belongs and one is where my home is. Which one is represents what will be a mystery.* I giggle at his interested expression. He just smiles and kisses me. I put on some special tattoo lotion before new bandages. I crawl under the blankets in order to cuddle up Namjoon. We share another kiss before we go to sleep. 

well, there's chapter 8. Im in the mood to get a tattoo but my parents are against it. oh whale. But enjoy. and thank you for reading. XP