Inescapable Love

Chapter 14: I'll Carry On

         “Guess we’ll have to walk around…in the meantime.” ChanHee indirectly complained. His canine whimpered an insignificant whine and lay on the pavement. She hid her face under her scruffy paws like she knew the situation and she was the one to blame. LJoe leaned on the building wall and tilted his head back, exhausted. Darting her eyes this way and that, Hyun Seok chuckled unnaturally, fading to a low hissing noise. For a moment, the streets were silent. Lights flickered. There were a few people walking on the sidewalk and some cars driving by. The atmosphere was painfully awkward. And tiring. I have to enjoy my time here, it’s not everyday you get to go to Tokyo, the brunette thought. Breaking the ice, he asked in a bright tone, “Alright then… What sights are there to see in Tokyo?”

         “How about we see Tokyo Tower? It’s like the Eiffel Tower in France, but in Tokyo. It looks beautiful at night, too.” Hyun Seok purred.

         “I can’t see why not.” LJoe complied coolly.

         Off they went, strolling through the empty streets; stopping when needed. They walked around for half an hour before reaching the tourist spot. And there, shining in the dark blue sky was a tower that could touch the sky. Orange and yellow lights radiated from it. No building’s lights could compare to the light that the tower had. The stars were outshone. Only the tower was bright. Hyun Seok described the tower to be an iconic landmark to Japan as it symbolized economical growth and the explosion of industrialization. Fascinated, ChanHee stole Hyun Seok’s favorite camera and snapped a picture at the tower. Byunghun, on the other hand, didn’t care for the looks or the history. He was tired. He wiggled Nutella’s ears, making a noticeable frown as he did. 

         “There’s an observation deck. Do you guys want to go up there?” the schoolgirl pointed out. Chunji abided by her question by pulling her arm towards the tower. Instantly, LJoe emerged from his sleepiness and ran after the two, Nutella behind him. 

         “Chunji let go of her! Am I nothing to you now? Hey! Can you hear me?” LJoe yelled like a nagging ahjumma.

         ChanHee was absorbed in this thought of sightseeing from the tower, so much that he couldn’t hear his boyfriend’s loud screams. Hyun Seok did, though. To make the other man even more jealous, she wrapped her arm around the tall man’s. It’s like ChanHee couldn’t think- he didn’t see anything but the tower. Directly at the rear of the two, LJoe cut in-between the two. Then, out of a furious anger, he slapped the brunette in the back of the head. 

         “Are you stupid? Huh? Are you?” he snarled.

         “You didn’t have to hit me in the head…ouch… You ruined my moment.” ChanHee whined.

         “Moment? With that thing that’s called a girl? Are you cheating on me?” 

         “No! No! Why would I ever cheat on my-“

         ChanHee stopped when he saw Hyun Seok staring at him. Staring with shiny, twinkling eyes…eyes that were about to pour with tears. 

         “Hyun Seok…gwenchana?” ChanHee hesitated. She faked a smile and uttered a quick ‘nahgwenchana’. No, I’m not okay with seeing my ex boyfriend in a relationship with another man, she thought.

         “Are you really?” ChanHee slid his arm on her shoulder but had it pushed away.

         “I’m fine. I’m just…tired.” she rumbled. She wiped her bangs off her face and led the men to the admission stand. In Japanese, she bargained with the cashier.

         “Junior high school students for the special observatory please.”

         “That’ll be 360 yen,” the cashier said.

         “Could you give me a 100 yen discount because I’m so cute?” she cheeped.

         “No. Now pay or get lost.”

         “Fine. Jeez.” Hyun Seok grabbed her wallet and paid the cashier. 

         “Good day.” he smiled, holding the money in his hands and inserted it into the cash register.

         The three headed up the special observatory over two hundred thirty meters off the ground. From there, they could see an amazing view of the whole city. LED lights shone on the floor and the windows changed colors from green to red to blue. Hyun Seok identified the nearby buildings and landmarks. Tokyo Bay, Keio University, the Imperial Palace, Sumida River, Hibiya Park, all specified by the knowledgeable Hyun Seok. “And over there is-“ she paused. ChanHee and LJoe were passionately making out near the window. Ugh, can’t they learn some common decency? Hyun Seok thought. She glanced out the window to block her from the menacing reality she faced. Cars zipped through the roads and highways like ants. Skyscrapers could easily be seen. People were puny. The sky was dark, as it always was at night. She could feel herself getting fatigued and her eyes were heavy.

         “Guys…I think I’ve had enough.” she dared to say. The two boys stopped their make out session and looked up at her. “We have nowhere to stay because of Nutella, remember?” they happened to say at the same time. But then, Hyun Seok inspected the deck. “But, where’s Nutella? Did she come up with us?” she exclaimed, looking for the brown colored dog. Chunji and LJoe investigated the deck too, pursuing to find the stray. “I don’t think she did- we have to find her! We have to go down, see if she’s there!” Chunji blurted out. They rushed into the elevator and Chunji frantically pushed all the buttons. “You just had to push the last button you pabo.” Byunghun muttered. ChanHee scratched his head and lowered it in embarrassment. “Mihan…” he murmured. They waited in the elevator listening to the mellow and plain elevator music. Thereafter, they darted through a crowd of tourists and stood at the bottom of the tower. They bellowed for Nutella, calling her name and whistling. No dog was in his or her vision. Especially the dog they’ve been searching for. “Lets split up. Chunji, go check if she’s somewhere in the north. Hyun Seok, you go south. I’ll patrol this area to see if she’s here. Go!” LJoe commanded. And, they divided. Each went their own way, hoping to run into their dog. 

         Hyun Seok roamed around the area, finding no dogs that looked like Nutella. Maybe she got run over by a car, she thought. No, no, don’t think like that. She has to be alive, we just don’t know where. Where would I go if I were a dog? She went down alleyways, went to (and checked) trashcans, and strolled the sidewalk. Nothing.Someone else could’ve found her, yeah. I hope ChanHee put his phone number on her collar…

         LJoe yawned. “Nutella! Come here girl!” he called. Not a dog was seen. Not a single one. Either she’s in the city or dead, I don’t know, and I don’t care. But, if it makes Chunji happy, I’ll find her first- before that schoolgirl does. He ambled in the perimeter of the tower, calling the hound’s name. I have to find her first…I have to.

         ChanHee was the most hectic. He hollered like a madman for his dog. She has a collar with identification, calm down, he thought. If anyone found her, they would call me. Wouldn’t they? He started to ponder at the idea of his beloved pooch being dognapped. Maybe someone did steal her… Maybe a little kid wanted to keep her- no! She has a collar; they must know that she belongs to someone. He scampered in the streets, still calling her name. Maybe…maybe she did get stolen. Or, maybe...she really did run away and is…gone.