**Bam led Chaeng to a narrow alley, and she knows, she has never been to that part of the town yet. Although it’s still connected at the heart of the town, everything seemed to be different. Buildings are getting shabbier and shabbier the more they walk deep into it. Maybe… maybe these are the first few buildings in town. She thought.**
Bam: Ahm… sorry. I know it doesn’t look like the face of the town anymore. Well, an old friend’s family business is one of the first stores here in town, that’s why it’s located in this part. Kind of scary if you wander here alone, but it’s totally safe, I’m telling you.
**Bam seemed to read her thoughts. Then he whirled for a second and smiled at her. He was walking before her, and she doesn’t mind ‘cause it’s better than walking beside him. She doesn’t want people to think that they are related to each other.**
Bam: Here we are.
**Bam stopped at a small doored pastry shop. Just like the alley, the door and the glass wall are also narrow, but the art drawn on it is interesting. She smiled at how nostalgic the shop is. It’s old, like those shops she only sees on movies or tv shows from old films. She bet that the pastry itself has a nostalgic taste, too.**
**Chaeng smiled and finally relieved that she made the right decision of saying yes to his invitation.**
**Bam circled again to her and smiled with his eyes squinting. He’s beautiful, but not my type though. She thought.**
Bam: You first?
**Then he pulled the door to let Chaeng walk first. She sauntered inside and was greeted by a tall guy with spectacles. Maybe, this is Bam’s friend since he looks like they’re of the same age.**
**All tables are round and could only accommodate two persons. The seats match the roundness of each table and have a curvy back. A bit rusty if you take a look at it, but she doesn’t care. Then she took the table at the corner beside the glass wall. At least she could peer outside if she feels like she no longer wants to listen to Bam. She knows it’s a bit mean. But she still feels that this snack time is a bit weird.**
Bam: Uhm… I’ll get you something. Well, I don’t know what they have here anymore, so maybe it’s okay if I’ll just get their specialty or best sellers?
**He was standing beside the seat opposite to Chaeng, right hand resting on its back.**
Chaeng: Sure. I also don’t know what to get.
Bam: Cool. I’ll be back.
**Then he dashed at the counter with a glass display where numerous kinds of bread, cakes, and other sweets were lying behind it. Chaeng took a deep breath and just stared outside. Few people are walking around. Some are in a hurry, some are on their phone’s screen, and some are students hanging out with their friends and laughing with each other. This is very different from the view at the hotel. The hotel is surrounded by nature. No people walking outside, or kids running with their friends, or students chitchatting with their classmates. Maybe… maybe I’ll come back here before I return to the city. She told herself and smiled with her pursed lips.**
**Chaeng didn’t notice how long Bam was gone. She didn’t even bother to check him on the counter ‘cause she thinks it’s better to look at something else than to watch him talking to the guy behind the glass display.**
Bam: Uhm… sorry. I had a little chat with my old friend. He was a classmate from grade school.
**He said as he lay the red shake and custard in front of her though she’s not asking about it. Well, she had no intention of asking him about anything and she hopes that he senses the cold treatment she’s giving him.**
**Bam sat down opposite Chaeng as soon as he finished lying everything he has on his tray.**
Bam: So…
**He eyed her, hands down on his legs. Not daring to pick up the spoon beside his custard. Indeed, he wants to talk. But Chaeng has no idea what should they talk about. Is he going to congratulate her that Mina finally introduced her as someone she’s dating? Or is he going to tell her his frustrations about not getting a chance from the girl that he’s in love with since grade school? Whichever his reason is, his expression is unpredictable. Chaeng couldn’t even see from his eyes the intention of this invitation.**
Bam: So… how long have you two been dating?
**Chaeng wasn’t prepared with whatever questions he’ll lay in front of her. But she thought that answering it with all honestly will at least lessen the worries she has right now.**
Chaeng: Hmm… she hasn’t told you about that? I think… well, this is just on me, Bam. If you have questions about us dating, maybe… maybe Mina is the best person to answer that, right? I mean… she’s the most appropriate person for that, and not me.
**Bam pulled down the collar of his shirt as if he’s suffocating and giving himself more air to breath in.**
Bam: Why not? A relationship isn’t only for one person. You know, “it takes two to tango”, right?
**Then his lips twitched for a smile.**
Bam: Sorry… I mean, sorry if this is making you uncomfortable. It’s just… Mina is hesitant to answer my questions. Maybe, she’s thinking that it might hurt me or something. I just want to know some things you know. And since you and I aren’t friends or we don’t have any connections, maybe you could answer me with the truth.
**It’s true. She feels uncomfortable. But the thing is, she’s also starting to understand Bam. He just wants to know the truth between her and Mina, and that Mina is hesitant to answer everything. That’s all understandable. She thought.**
Bam: Well, I would of course accept it if you won’t give me… you know, answers.
**Chaeng still feels that giving him information between her and Mina is inappropriate, but at some point, she gets where Bam is coming from. That he needs the truth for his peace of mind.**
**She nodded and moved a little forward, no longer leaning against the backrest of her seat**
Chaeng: Not long ago. We… we just met a week ago. That was when I arrived at the hotel to take my vacation.
Bam: Oh… it’s like summer love. You visited a place and you found someone to cling with.
**He’s no longer smiling, yet not serious neither. Chaeng still could not read his expression. Is he mad? His tone isn’t giving her a clue either. It’s monotonous.**
**Chaeng didn’t answer. She doesn’t know what to say. Should she just say, “yeah it’s like that, but not really.” She thought that the answer is both yes and no. Yes, ‘cause like summer love, it happened so fast. And no, ‘cause she has no intention of forgetting Mina even after she goes back to her real world.**
Bam: Sorry… anyway. I don’t want you to think that I want to cause you trouble. Maybe I just couldn’t believe that Mina is no longer available… again.
**He paused and finally picked up the spoon beside his custard. Took a spoon of it and smiled.**
Bam: Hmm… it’s tasty. Why not take a bite?
**Chaeng took a spoon of hers, too, and was elated that indeed, it’s delicious. She thinks that Mina’s brewed coffee is a better pair for this one, instead of the red colored shake in front of her. She wonders what flavor it is though. Maybe strawberry? Or watermelon? Well, whatever it is, she both like these fruits, so it doesn’t matter.**
Bam: What do you think? It tastes good, right?
**She raised her head and saw Bam beaming a smile, spoon still hanging in midair, and patiently waiting for her reaction.**
Chaeng: Uhm… yeah…
Bam: Anyway, that’s strawberry shake.
**Chaeng smiled, and starting to feel guilty about the attitude he’s giving him. He’s nice and kind-hearted, so what’s the point of being so snob to him? She told herself.**
Chaeng: Thanks. I… I like strawberries. My favorite.
**Bam beamed a smile again, feeling proud with his choice for the author.**
Bam: Oooh! It’s like I’ve won a jackpot, huh? Wild guess went right!
**Chaeng chuckled and shook her head. She’s starting to find him funny, too. So why does he’s still single anyway? And why is he still clinging to Mina even though over a decade has already passed?**
Chaeng: So… you… you haven’t met anyone in Canada?
**Bam leaned on his seat and took a deep breath before he laid the spoon back beside his custard. He doesn’t want to answer it, or rather he has no reason for not going out with someone in Canada aside from the fact that he believes that his heart belongs to Mina.**
Bam: Hmm… I guess I’m not interested in foreigners?
**Chaeng was a bit skeptical about it. Like, even if you don’t want to date anyone in a certain place, you’ll still find this one person who’ll stand out in the crowd, right?**
Bam: You don’t believe me. Don’t you?
**That comment startled her for a second. How could he read her that easily? Is her reaction immediately flashing in her face, is that it?**
Chaeng: Uhm… no. Not really. It’s just… it’s been a decade and it’s a bit impossible that you never find anyone there attractive? Maybe… maybe, I’m just a little curious. You know.
Bam: Oh… right. You’re right. They are attractive, indeed. But I guess my heart is still clinging to the last memory that Mina and I had.
**Chaeng’s forehead creased. What was their last memory together? She wants to ask but wondered if it’s okay to ask about it. Should she? Or should she just wait for him to say it voluntarily? Well, it looks like Bam wants to talk to someone and that he’ll even talk about it even if she shows no interests.**
Bam: She’s… she’s my first love. And it’s difficult to overpower it… bigtime! But I guess… I guess she already forgot about it. When I told her about our last conversation before I flew to Canada, I could see from her eyes that she had already forgotten everything that night.
**Chaeng could see the hurt in his eyes, and this is the first time she saw emotion from him.**
Chaeng: What… what was the last conversation you had? Maybe, maybe she just needs a little reminder. I mean, why don’t you tell her about that? It might help for her to understand where you’re coming from, you know.
**Bam stared at her. Stared straight into her eyes. And even though she wants to disengage from it, she couldn’t. There’s a strong force on his stare that’s pulling her to stare back at him.**
Bam: You know what she told me that night? That she’ll wait for me. That even though it will take years, she’ll still wait for me. So, I never turn my head to anyone. I kept my focus on my studies, and then on our family business so when the time comes that it’s time for me to go back, I’m still free. But I guess it isn’t the case now. She used to be in a long-time relationship, and then when it ended, here you are now.
**Chaeng suddenly feels sorry about this thing. She might also feel the same if she’s in his position. Maybe even worst. But she just couldn’t step back so he’ll have a chance to Mina. And even if she will, she knows that Mina won’t still give him a chance. She doesn’t think Mina’s interested in him anymore, and she doesn’t want Mina to pretend to like him just to fulfill her promise.**
Bam: Anyway, why don't you… have a taste of it now? It’s kind of hot today like the sun is so angry with something. Don’t you think?
Chaeng: Yeah. I… I was a bit surprised earlier when Ryujin and I were walking in the parking.
**Then she pulled her strawberry shake to take a sip. She could feel Bam’s eyes on her. Why are you looking at me like that? She wants to ask, but then kept it to herself and just continued to sip her shake and glanced at the girl walking on the opposite side of the shop. She was with her cellphone, smiling.**
Bam: You feel better now?
**Chaeng stopped sipping her shake and suddenly feels dizzy. Something’s going on. She thought. Is she just having a brain freeze? But it’s different from it. Everything is swirling around her and Bam’s image is starting to get distorted.**
Bam: Hey! Are you all right? Is everything all right?
**Bam’s voice wasn’t clear, but she’s a hundred percent sure that he’s muttering something. She just couldn’t fathom what it was.**
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