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Photo #1

P/S: words in italics indicate monologue. 

18 June 2018

I looked intensely at the mirror, struggling to get the contact lens into my eyes. I swear I must had spent at least half an hour in the washroom poking my eyes. I was blinking tears.

"Finally, thank God!" I threw my hands in the air in exasperation, as my newly bought lens quit being stubborn and decided to settle themselves in my eyes. 

Suddenly, my phone rang from across the apartment. I simply abandoned the mess on my vanity counter and picked up the call. 

"Hello?" 

"Hello, Chaeyoung-ssi. The exhibition is about to launch in 15 minutes. Where are you right now?" 

I almost shrieked when I looked down on my phone screen. It was 15 minutes to 5pm and that impatient female voice belonged to my personal assistant. My apartment was half an hour drive to the gallery, excluding the possibility of heavy traffic, I was definitely going to be late.

"I'm on my way, Yeri. Just help me stall the event in case I'm late."

"Fine, come quickly! Everyone's ready." 

I hung up, not bothering to say goodbye. On my way out, I grabbed my tote bag and black blazer to throw over my white top. Below, I was wearing black skinny jeans and heels. My favorite kind of outfit. Luckily I had packed everything. I somehow predicted I would take forever dressing up and putting on make up. I was anxious the entire day, my mind just seemed unable to think straight. 

I chose to hail a cab instead of driving my car to save the hassle of finding a parking spot. 

"Gallery Hyundai. Thanks."

The cab driver simply nodded his head. 

I pulled out my phone and checked my social medias. There were a lot of articles online about  a young, aspiring photographer launching one of the biggest photography exhibitions in Seoul. Well, ladies and gentlemen, that would be me. It was going to be huge, I had been dreaming of having my very own exhibition since I picked up my first camera. You know those days when your parents used to lay a bunch of random things in front of their toddler just for the sake of predicting their future? That happened to me when I was 6. I couldn't really remember what my old dad put in front of me, but I knew from my dear mum that the whole family dropped their jaws when I randomly grabbed a camera and started biting it. What a cute story. It always reminded me why I decided to pursue Fine Arts in the Seoul National University. My parents sure wasn't expecting a baby girl got curious over a camera, and sure as hell didn't foresee the girl eventually grew up to become a photographer. Now, I was 28, I wouldn't go too far to say I was successful, but thanks to hard work I finally get to achieve my dream at this young age. 

And thanks to you.

Thank God once again there was no traffic at all so my cab made it in no time, yet I was still running a bit late. It was 5.10pm already. I paid the driver and dashed into the gallery through the back door, because I knew the entrance was infested with news reporters and journalists. I couldn't risk my reputation, letting them know the delay of the event was due to the hostess being late. I bumped into Yeri, who was anxiously waiting for me in one of the holding rooms. 

"Jesus Christ, Chaeyoung, " she hissed at me, "I can't believe you're late. Here, take this," she snatched my bag and handed me a piece of paper. That was my script and some official answers to general questions, but I didn't really need that. I was the kind of person to just wing it.