Day 1: In which I am slee (1/1)

Day 1Had someone told me before my mother’s death that I had a father who was alive and well I would have scoffed and probably cursed profusely. However, after her death, a little thing called a will told me to go to Korea to meet a man that was promptly on the birth certificate I had never actually looked at.            To say it was a surprise is an understatement. It was a paradigm shift and brought my entire existence into question. It also allowed me to realize why my mom had insisted on learning Korean on the pretense of being able to speak with her long term boyfriend. He was an asshole. But I did learn Korean. And I at least enjoyed that.            When I arrived at the airport, I was, naturally, tired from the long ass flight, and my hair pointing in every direction. Except the direction I needed to go, apparently. I was tired as fuck and lost as hell and it was awful. Just awful. Then, like Gandalf parting the see of Urakai in front of Gondor, there stood one man holding a sign with my name printed across it. Quickly grabbing my carry on I hustled over to him, unable to keep the smile of relief off my face. I was thirteen – not nearly old enough to feel comfortable being alone in a foreign country. I said hello and bowed slightly as I walked over. The man, who was rather largely built all though not fat – more so dad bod than anything else – smiled back and returned the bow.            “Welcome to Korea,” he said through a grin, white teeth showing inside the small frame of his lips. I nodded and bowed again.            “It’s nice to meet you –“            “Gapjin but you can just call me samcheon. I’m your father’s manager.” I nodded.            “Nice to meet you then, Samcheon.” I said finally, smiling widely. He seemed very much like a teddy bear to me even on our first impression and time would only show that that first impression was correct.            “Do you speak Korean pretty well?” He asked after a moment. Adjusting my backpack – blue – better on my shoulder, I nodded.            “Yeah my Mom made me learn…” I trailed off. He nodded in consternation.            “Well, that’s good then,” He said after a moment and then motioned to my bag – a signal to hand it over – I shook my head.            “Don’t worry about it, it’s not heavy.” He shrugged.            “We should probably get your other luggage…” I grimaced slightly, preparing myself to unveil an unfortunate truth.            “This is kind of my only bag…”            “What?” He exclaimed, obviously surprised.            “My suitcase was stolen on my way to the airport…” The truth was a different story but he didn’t need to know that. Sighing, the bear-like man just shrugged and let a small ‘yah..’ escape under his breath.            “Well then I guess we can just go then.” I nodded in agreement.            After a few minutes of feeling extremely lost as I struggled to match the pace of the much larger human, we finally made it out of the airport and arrived at an all-black van. I briefly thought on the stereotypes of such vans and wondered if I would be offered candy before I climbed in. And, at my five foot barely two inches it was certainly a climb. Setting my back pack at my feet and securing the seat belt I finally took the opportunity to look around me. I could see many buildings in the distance and it was a very nice day, the sun shining in a back drop of pure blue.            “It’s so pretty out,” I commented. I saw teddy bear nod in agreement in my peripheral vision. Shortly after, the van growled to life. I struggled not to laugh. I had never been in such a large van and certainly not a van that protested cranking up as much as this one.            Finally, we left the airport entirely and entered the city of Incheon – which, from what I understand is kind of part of Seoul but also kind of not. My eyes began to droop the longer we drove. It was just so nice and warm in the van and the seats were extra comfy. Plus the obvious amount of jet lag I was dealing with. Just as I was about to drop off into dream world I felt a hand prod my shoulder.            “Yah kid?”            “Mmm?” I mumbled out trying to open up my eyes.            “Have you eaten yet?” I thought for a second and replied.            “On the plane but  that was like five hours ago.”            “All right, good, I have to pick your father up because he had a schedule to day and we’ll all go and grab dinner afterwards.” I nodded in acknowledgement before drifting off again – only barely hearing a small chuckle next to me.            I woke to a low rumble of voices.            “That her?” a mid-toned voice asked as there was shuffling in the seat behind me.            “No, it’s some other random kid.” I could hear the eye roll in Gapjin’s voice. There was a small yell of protest to his tone before the back seat quieted. I purposefully kept my eyes shut to see if I could hear anything else. I knew so little about this guy and maybe I could figure more out if I listened in on any conversation they may have.            “She sleeping?” the same voice asked again. The eye roll was in the air again.            “Yep.”            “Oh…” There was a thoughtful pause, “This is so strange.”            “Yep.”            “I don’t think I’ll get used to the idea of having a kid any time soon. I’m not even married…”            “Well, obviously kids aren’t just born because you’re married.” I almost giggled at that. The irony not passing over my head. I was thankful that I was at least on the same page as my…father. It’s strange. I never thought I’d have someone I could maybe call Dad. It’s unfortunate that a someone I called mom had to die for that to become possible.            “Where are we eating?” Kim Jong Kook asked from the back seat, voice again carefully quiet. Like he was tiptoeing.            “That place in Andong with the nice Ajhumma.”            “Oh good. Probably won’t be too crowded yet.”            “Mmm.” Gapjin agreed. I struggled not to chime in and ask who the nice Ajhumma was. There was another pause in conversation and this time the pause lasted for awhile. I started to drift again and, once again, I was pulled back by the beat of my ear drums.            “But hyung,” Gapjin paused, “She only has a backpack of stuff and the backpack isn’t that big.”            “Really?”            “Yeah. She said her suitcase was stolen on the way to the airport but I think she was lying…” Damn him for being perceptive and damn my apparent inability to lie. I really didn’t want to deal with questions about my apparent lack of stuff.            Jong Kook hummed from behind me.            “I guess I’ll have to fix that then.”            “She also doesn’t seem to have a phone. I haven’t seen her on it and you know how kids are with their phones these days…”            “What?” I could feel my cheeks heating in embarrassment. Finally, I pretended to struggle awake, not wanting to hear their speculations about why I didn’t have a phone or a suitcase.            “Where are we?” I mumbled, injecting sleep into my voice in order to keep up my charade. I felt Gapjin glance in my direction with suspicion and I once again cursed my inability to lie.            “We’re almost to where we’ll grab some early dinner.” Gapjin answered. The silence from the backseat made my ears itch. I didn’t want to have to say hello first. After a couple minutes passed I squirmed in my seat so that I could look behind me.            He was looking out the window. Half of his face was lit up with the sun and the first thing I noticed were the slight creases around his eyes and the sharp square angle of his jaw.            “Hello…” I trailed off slightly, bowing as much as I could when he fixed his gaze on mine. He seemed stunned for a moment. For more than a moment, actually. An infinite number of unshared experiences passed between us before he acknowledged me back. He coughed and shifted his broad shoulders back, straightening out in the seat before glancing out the window and then back at me.            “It’s nice to meet you…even though the circumstances are not ideal.” Not ideal was an understatement for the situation the both of us have to deal with. Nonetheless, he obviously agreed to it otherwise I would be somewhere in the foster system – or something like that. This time I coughed.                  “So awkward it’s killing me…” I heard Gapjin breathe out. I glared at him. Unbeknowst to me, Jong Kook glared at the exact time and the picture it made was striking. Two pairs of dark brown eyes striking the same look at the same time despite the miles of unknown stretched taunt between them.            There wasn’t any more conversation until we were sitting cross-legged around a table in what I had discerned was some sort of health food restaurant. Gapjin and Jong Kook talked between themselves while I looked at the menu totally lost – which seemed to be the theme for the day. Although I could read the menu, I had no idea what any of the foods were as far as taste.            “What’s good?” I asked, interrupting the two men which caused both to frown but oh well.            “Pretty much everything,” Gapjin said rather unhelpfully. At the same time, Jong Kook asked, “Do you know what anything is?” I shook my head.            “I can read it of course but other than making out if it’s a chicken dish or a vegetable dish I don’t really know…I haven’t really had Korean food before…” Jong Kook nodded and seemed to think for a moment.            “It might just be best to get their fried rice until you have a better idea of what you like.” I nodded.            “Imo!” Jong Kook called out, pretty much stunning me because, well, isn’t that rude? “1 fried rice and 2 bibimbap please!” The woman running the tables nodded with a friendly smile. It struck me that she was rather pretty for the fifty or sixty she was and made me hope that my Korean genes would kick in when I got older. It also struck me as odd that she didn’t take offense to him just calling out her name.            As I further inspected the room I noticed one couple kept glancing at our table and taking pictures. I struggled to prevent myself from flipping them off. The stress of the day wearing on me as I was forced to sit in an unfamiliar position. If I needed any other proof that he Jong Kook was famous that couple was it. All ready I felt claustrophobic form the idea of having to deal with any sort of publicity. I just wanted to be left alone, to be honest.            Shrugging off my back pack, I rubbed my eyes slightly and slumped my shoulders forward, my hands going forward to rest on the table. I looked up to see the two men staring at me.            “What?” I asked.            “Nothing,” they both said at the same time. I nodded even though they were being weird – not that I really had too much of an understanding as to what was considered normal. Yawning and quickly covering my mouth, I took to picking at the edge of the table with my free hand. Waiting when you’re tired as fuck is seriously the most boring thing in the world. After getting bored of picking at the table I realized that my bladder was actually ready to burst. I probably should have realized sooner but, again, tired as fuck teenager over here.            “Do you think they have a bathroom here,” I asked quietly, slightly embarrassed. Both pointed towards the opposite side of the restaurant. The restroom, fortunately, was completely what I was expecting with two stalls and a long mirror. Quickly taking care of business, I took a moment to look at my face as I washed my hands. I looked like literal shit. The circles around my eyes practically hit the floor and my forehead had chosen a good day to break out. Exactly five zits decorated the side of my head and for someone that doesn’t have terribly bad acne, that was abnormal. I figured it was probably because I drank a bunch of soda on the plane. I usually don’t drink soda at all. Mostly because it was a rarity when I was growing up and then I just never acquired the taste. Sighing, I dried my hands on my jeans and as I was about to walk out, a woman with a camera walked in. The red light blinked at me indicating it was recording.            “Excuse me,” I said, trying to walk around her. She didn’t budge and I began to feel flustered.            “Are you Kim Jong Kook’s daughter?” She asks in a nasally tone that makes me want to gag. I shrugged my shoulders noncomitally.            “Yah, when an unni asks you a question in Korea you should answer,” The girl said, flipping her hair over her shoulder. I rolled my eyes. That earned me a sharp jab to the forehead. “Answer my question.” I shrugged again.            “Can I please just leave?” I asked as I shook my head in a slightly condescending manner. Maintaining eye contact with the floor, I tried to push past the girl again. She didn’t seem much older than twenty and if I had cared to use any strength I could have definitely pushed a hole through her body. But I didn’t care to use any strength. I was using a lot of it just not to pass out from exhaustion. This time, she pushed me back and my legs gave out landing me on my back. This seemed to surprise her and I pushed myself up. This girl was seriously getting on the last nerve I had. I again proceeded to try and walk past her. This time she allowed it and her camera followed me out the bathroom door.            “Yah, you good?” Jong Kook asked, his eyes concerned. I nodded and sat back in my seat where my food had already arrived. I had wasted a good ten minutes of my life confronting that girl and I didn’t want to stew over it any longer. Nonetheless, the bad mood permeated. I shoveled the rice and vegetables into my mouth heatedly. The two men shared looks – another thing that was getting irritating.            “Did something happen?” Jong Kook questioned, an encouraging lilt to his voice. I saw no reason to lie.            “Some bitch followed me into the bathroom with a camera and wouldn’t let me leave until she pushed me on the ground.” I said deadpan, and then continued eating.            “Really?” I glared up at the inquisitor. As if I would make something like that up. “Why?”            “Wanted to know if I was your kid.”            “What did you say?”            “I didn’t say anything – I just shrugged. That annoyed her,” I had eaten all of my food quicker than I had thought possible. “Thank you for dinner.” I said after a moment of silence.            “Yeah, you’re welcome.” I zoned out as the two began talking about something. I felt my eyes drooping and then my body followed suit until my head banged against the table. I yelped in pain and grabbed my forehead. Tears pricked my eyes. The two men were laughing. I probably would have found the situation funny as well had I not been, what’s the phrase I’ve been using? Ah, yes, tired as fuck. The tears began to fall before I could stop them as a pressure headache started forming. I quickly wiped them away, hoping the two wouldn’t notice. I’m sure my first impression was a stunning review right now.            “Are you crying right now?” Gapjin asked, the laughter suddenly dead in their mouths.            “Sorry,” I said, my hands were shaking as I continued to wipe tears.            “Did it hurt that bad?” Jong Kook asked this time. I shook my head.            “No, I’m just really tired and then I was lost in the airport and then this is all really weird and you guys keep sharing little looks and I don’t know what they mean and then the girl and then I hit my head and then you were laughing at me and…” I sucked in a breath as the details of my day poured out of me without my explicit consent,” and I have these two men who are complete strangers trying to become a part of my life but I don’t even know if they know my name and…yeah,” I rubbed my eyes fiercely and the three of us sat in silence. I heard Jong Kook ask for the bill and the Imo asking him if I was all right. A thick hand landed on my shoulder and I flinched away – startled by the sudden contact. Gapjin’s friendly face proved to be the owner of that hand and he helped me up. I wobbled slightly but got my feet back.            Before I even really knew it and before any more words could be said, the three of us were back in the van. After that, I was out.