chapter ten | nefertari's hike

"Hm? What should I buy here for my hike?" I said to myself as I roamed at this small grocery store near the entrance of Bukhansan National Park.

It's just 6 am and I'm wearing this big hiking bag on my back and this kinda cool hiking boots on my feet that both were given by my ghost friend. What a thoughtful ghost.

I can't believe I'm doing this all alone this time. The last time I did this was on a different mountain and it was with my friends from Boots and Skirts, Aziel-oppa, and Naomi-unnie. It was tiring but it will all be worth it at the top.

I roamed around the grocery store, aisle by aisle and saw some goods hat might be useful for the trip so I placed it on my basket. Goods that may satisfy my cravings or some other stuff.

First, I went to the sanitary section and I placed one pack of facial tissue. You know, it's for emergency reasons. Suprisingly, another person did the same, that he even picked the same brand as to the one that I placed on my basket.

I didn't mind it at first since I know many people need it anyway. So, I lowkey observed him during my whole grocery tour before hiking.

I went to the drinks section and as I grabbed three bottles of water, he did the same on the other refrigerator door. Strike two.

Next, I went to the sweets section. I placed one pack of choco baby and Twix on my basket, and that person did the same. Strike three.

Lastly, I went to the fruits section on which I placed one set of cucumbers, which had three pieces in one set. And, that person did the same too. Strike four.

I finally broke the ice when I tapped his shoulder while falling in line at the counter. "Yah, excuse me. Is there by chance that you are copying me or something..?"

He looked at me and he's got an attractive face despite his bucket hat. "Ani-ya. It's just that, we may have the same taste in food. That's all, I guess."

I just nodded and I noticed that he also have a hiking bag. Oh great, he's going to hike in Bukhansan National Park too.

After paying for what I bought, I sat outside for awhile since my phone was buzzing. Pulling it out, it was managernim Alyssa.

"Yah, Tari?! Where are you now?" Her voice said in a panic mode on the other side of the phone.

"Chill, my managernim. I'm just going to release such problems on top of a mountain." I said flatly and laughed at her voice.

"Mountain?! Ottoke?!" She screamed so loud that I pulled my phone away from my ear. "Why didn't you invite me then? Hiking would be fun on a dayoff."

"I wanted to have a self date. I'll be okay." I assured her and the man whom I accused to be copying me, left the store with a cup of coffee on his right hand.

"Okay then. Annyeong." She flatly said and ended the phone call.

I stood up and walked my way to the entrance of the Bukhansan National Park.

----

"Which way should I go?" I asked myself as I looked at the map of the park. To my surprise again, the man stood beside me and looked at the map.

"So, you're climbing Bukhansan too." He said while keeping his eyes on the map. I nodded. "Jinjja. What a small world."

I ignored him and I read the directions of the easy mode of the map. That one's too easy, I wanted some type of challenge.

"Oh c'mon. Come join me in my trip. I'll be going to the difficult one because it will really help in releasing the outcomes of your problems in life." He said and looked at me. "I do that everytime I have to release problems because of my shitty life."

I looked at him and our gazes met. Maybe he's right, it's gonna be the way to release stress and stuff.

"Brennon West." He said and offered his hand. I shook our hands together.

"Nefertari Kim."

----

"Yah! I didn't know that this is gonna be this hard!" I shouted and while holding on to a rope that will lead us to the top of the mountain. "I should've had chosen the easy trail, and not this!"

Brennon's already at the top and was offering his hand for me. "C'mon, almost there!"

I grabbed his hand and he pulled me up. We finally reached the top.

"Wooh." I sighed loudly and wiped some beads of sweat on my forehead. We came just in time for the sunrise. The view's really breathtaking, aside from the literal meaning that it is really breathtaking to reach this venue. The warm atmosphere and breeze of the wind surrounded us and I closed my eyes with my arms wide open.

Brennon noticed me and did the same. "Go, say what you want--"

"Why can't people just live their own lives without handling others' lives?! Why can't they watch their words when they talk?! Argh, the society is really messed up!" I cut him off by shouting out loud and he was shocked.

"Why can't I live the life that I had beforehand?! Why can't I just have freedom for once?!" It was Brennon's turn to shout. Maybe he's been going through some real stuff in his life.

I patted his shoulder. "You'll be good."

----

We sat on an open space while talking about stuff while eating cucumbers. We took pictures earlier and did some mini photoshoot.

"Hey noona," He said and grabbed his notebook from his hiking bag. I'm older than him by a year. "Why don't we write a song?"

I smiled. I was really into songwriting way back, it was my hobby. I'm glad to help Brennon too, you know.

He placed the tip of his ballpen on his chin as if he was in deep thought.

"Sarangeul haessda, uriga mana.." He started to sing out of nowhere. He wrote it down and went back to thinking.

"Jiuji mothal, chuogi dwaessda.." I sang along and I covered my hand in astonishment. Those words just came out of my mouth as he offered a high five, which I gladly accepted.

We continued to sing one by one until we ended up writing a whole song named Love Scenario.

"Kamsamnida, Tari-noona." He said and placed his notebook inside his bag.

"No problem, Brennon." I said and fixed my things as well. "Best of luck to you and to K-Team. Say hi to sajangnim for me, arasso?"

He nodded and we went downstairs, a less difficult road. It was then we discovered a statue of Buddha.

"Upon reaching the buddha, you should make a wish." Brennon said and began to pray to Buddha.

I closed my eyes and clasped my hands together. "I just want to be happy again by having someone in my life." That was my wish for my life.

I looked around the area until I noticed some carvings on a rock nearby.

"I'm sorry that we have to be apart from each other. It's all my fault. I wish all of your wishes to come true. I love you."

----

"Noona, I'll be heading home now." Brennon said as we reached the bottom of the mountain. "But, can I atleast have your number so I can update you to stuff.."

I laughed at his shyness and nodded because he said that while scratching the nape of his neck. "Sure."

We exchanged phones for our phone numbers but this silly goof took a selfie of us and himself on my phone.

"Have a safe trip upon going home, noona! Annyeong!" He waved his hands as I went to the opposite direction as him.

Expect me to have body pain in the next few days.