My Dreamland Oppa

9. Adventure Times Four

"Are we ready yet, Rich? We are going to the Cape and not to a beauty pageant! Josh and Jang might die of waiting in their hotel!" Mara shouted at Rich, who was taking a long time in his room.

Rich came out with his luggage. "I am ready, girlfriend! Let me drive because I will surely fall asleep if I won't drive."

Mara brings out her cellphone after she puts her seatbelt on. "Let me call Josh. Hi Josh! We are on our way to your hotel. Sorry for making you wait."

Josh and Jang were already waiting in the hotel lobby when Mara called.
"그냥 목욕하고 아래층에서 아침 식사를하겠습니다.
(They are on their way)
괜찮아 보여요?"
(Do I look okay?) Josh asked Jang.

Smiling, Jang said,
"언제부터 어떻게 생겼는지 걱정 하셨나요?"
(Since when did you worry about how you look?)

"There they are," said Mara, waving at Josh and Jang from the car.

Rich opened his car window and told the guys to put their luggage in the back. "Hop in, guys! Jang sits beside me here in the front. I need someone who will wake me awake while driving. Mara and Josh sit at the back since you guys are like out of this world now."

"What, out of this world?" Mara glared at Rich.

As he entered the car and sat beside Mara, Josh smiled. "Hi, Mara! Thanks for having us trouble, you guys."

"Not at all. The only trouble here is Rich!" said Mara, laughing.

"I will give you guys the most unforgettable adventure of your lives! Then, who knows, we might have the tour of the East Coast!" Rich excitedly exclaimed.

Mara's brows raised. "What do you mean? Did you tell us about that?"

Jang was all smiling. "We are good! Josh and I are always ready for any adventure!"

"That is the spirit, Jang!" Rich rolled his eyes at Mara. "Unlike someone who has been here for 3yrs and had only toured Boston!"

"Well, I have my reasons!" Mara pouted.

"Get ready, gentlemen and lady! We will paint the town red and find the missing piece of Mara's heart!" shouted Rich.

"Who is incomplete? You have gone crazy again, Rich! Don't make Josh and Jang see the real you, or you'll traumatize them!" Mara glared at his best friend. 

Their laughter and funny stories filled the car as soon as their road trip started. Along the way, their minds wandered in awe as they passed by different places from Boston to Cape. But Mara's thoughts were in Rich's words.

Rich is right. I have been here for more than 3yrs now, but I have been nowhere except in Boston. It has been my haven since I came here. I have myself buried in the different jobs I have had. I buried my sadness, loneliness, and fears by working long hours or non-stop work shifts. So this is my first time after 3yrs to be out on an adventure. Well, being with these guys seemed not bad at all. It's just that when I get this chance to be away from work, everything that I want to forget from the past feels like wanting to come back. It creeps into my mind whenever I can relax and be quiet.

"Mara! Mara! Are you alright?" Josh's voice startled her.

Mara looked at Josh, realizing that he had been calling her name.
"Oh, I'm sorry! My mind slipped for a moment there."

Seeing Mara getting lost at the moment, Rich tried to joke again.
"Girlfriend, stop thinking of the horrible past. We buried it with beer, wine, and buckets of tears 3yrs ago!"

Mara laughed and tried to sound calm, answered Rich. "I know, best friend! My mind just wandered because I see these fascinating colors around us."

But in silence, Mara talked to herself again. I guess Rich can see through me. We have been friends for more than 10yrs now, and after what happened, he is the only one who never left me, though we are thousands of miles apart physically. He always comes and visits me at least once a year.

Mara's silence led Josh to think. I wonder what Mara has gone through. She looked like she had wandered back to her past. It makes me curious why she felt connected to me after watching that video. How come she hasn't recognized me? Should I tell her it was me she saw in that video?

"Josh? Do you want something to drink?" asked Jang.

"Looks like those seated at the back are wandering in their LA LA lands, Jang!" Rich said, looking at Rich and Mara through the rearview mirror.

Mara tried to make a joke out of what Rich said. "Are you talking about us? We are just deep thinkers! Right, Josh?"

And she and Josh nodded in unison. It was a grand joyride. Both Mara and Josh realized they had never been this excited and carefree. As they drove towards their location, Mara wished to have her funny, carefree, and happy self back. Josh wanted to have a carefree, ordinary, and simple future. 

Rich parked the car in a big compound of four separate cottages. They can see the lighthouse and hear the ocean waves from the compound where their cottages are. Rich welcomed them with pride.

"Here we are, guys! I got us one of the best vacation places in town. We are within walking distance of the lighthouse and the ocean."

"Very nice, Rich!" the three replied in agreement.

To their surprise, everything was prepared in advance by Rich, from the cottages to the food. It was an impressive start to their week-long adventure.

"Let us take a break now at 6 pm. You can walk around the town. Then, just come back by 6 pm for our dinner. After that, I will take a nap for my beauty rest," said Rich before going to his cottage.

As they walked to their cottages, Jang and Josh talked. 

"조쉬 지금까지 어떻게 지내?
(Josh how are you doing so far?)
그들이 당신을 알아보지 못하는 것 같습니다."
(It doesn't seem like they recognize you)

"나도 그렇게 생각해. 하지만 곧 알려야 할 것 같습니다.
(I think so too. But maybe I should tell them soon.)
그들은 정말 좋은 사람들 인 것 같습니다."
(They seem to be friendly people.)

"그래, 너가 맞아. 나는 그들이 당신이 정말로 누구인지 말해 주면 너무 많이 묻지 않을 것이라고 생각합니다."
(Yes, you are right. However, I don't think they will ask too much if you tell them who you are.)
Jang told Josh as they entered their separate cottage door. 

 ***

After freshening up and settling into their cottages, Josh and Jang headed out. Outside, they met Mara.

"Are you two going out too?" Mara asked.

Josh nodded. "Yes, we are. Jang and I will look around while the sun is still up. Are you going out alone?" He looked around. "Where is Rich?"

Mara laughed as she answered. "Rich is now sleeping beauty." She showed Josh the book in her hand. "I will find a spot near the beach and maybe get the chance to read. So don't worry about me, guys. See you around!"

"Okay then. Josh and I will be nearby. See you around, Mara!" Jang said.

Mara walked towards the beach. After finding a shaded spot, she placed her mat on the sand and started reading her book while Josh and Jang walked toward the dock for fishing boats.

***