My Worried Friend

Back in Seoul, Ra Ra went to the Crexe Department Store to find me. She had texted so many times, called countlessly and yet heard nothing from me. She walked in and saw my junior there.

As she already knew her (since we were all in the same school) Ra Ra quickly approached her and asked: "Seul Bi, where is Amy? I have been trying to reach her but I haven't heard anything from her. Perhaps, is she here?"

Seul Bi who knew nothing about my disappearance, replied: "No, she is not here. But Manager Heo might know something. I think it is best if you ask him."

"Is that so? Alright, thanks Seul Bi", Ra Ra said and went to knock on the manager's door.

"Come in", he said and Ra Ra entered without hesitation.

"Who are you?" the manager asked as he was expecting an employee of his to enter and not a stranger.

"I'm Ra Ra, Amy's friend", she made the introduction.

Manager Heo loosened his face and said: "Oh, I see. What brings you here then? Perhaps, are you here for her phone?" he asked.

"Her phone?" Ra Ra had a surprise look on her face.

"Yes. She left it in a hurry whilst going to receive her promotion", he explained to her.

"Ah! So that's the reason why I am unable to contact her. I thought something bad had happened to her", Ra Ra revealed.

"Well, actually I am also worried about her", Manager Heo stated.

Ra Ra took a seat and asked: "Why?"

"About the promotion…" Manager Heo started but didn't know how to go about it.

Ra Ra was waiting for him to continue and finally he said: "Hey, can we talk in front of the convenience store next to this building whilst drinking some soju?"

Ra Ra raised her eyebrows in shock. "Soju? Deal", she replied as she loved alcohol a lot.

At the convenience store, Manager Heo revealed everything to Ra Ra.

And after hearing all that he said, Ra Ra exclaimed: "What? Hold on, so you mean that Amy didn't receive any promotion? So was it a scam or what? My poor friend. Then, have you heard from her since?" she asked as she was now more worried about me.

"No, I haven't. And the guilt is killing me so much. I should have convinced her not to go", Manager Heo blamed himself.

"How can this be your fault?" Ra Ra asked him. But since Manager Heo's face was still sullen she added: "Besides, if you had convinced her to stay, wouldn't it have seemed as if you were trying to hinder her progress?"

Finally, Manager Heo accepted what she was saying. "Well, you do have a point. But, I am so worried that she might be so heartbroken and crying somewhere", he said.

All of a sudden, a female voice asked: "Crying? Who's crying?"

Ra Ra turned around to see who it was and Manager Heo, who was a little drunk at the moment, asked: "Who are you?"

The voice replied: "Manager Heo, it's me, your rival."

Finally, Manager Heo recognized her. "Miss Bong, what are you doing here?" he asked.

She looked at him and took a seat. After which she asked him: "Don't tell me that you are already drunk after drinking two glasses of alcohol? If you can't hold your liquor, then stop drinking", she advised.

But Manager Heo took in one more glass. After gasping, he asked: "How can I stop drinking when life is such a mess?"

Miss Bong poured herself a glass and drank it. After which she asked him: "Why? What's the problem?"

In a somewhat drunk voice, Manager Heo said: "Amy's friend, tell her."

"Amy's friend? Amy, as in your talisman? Why should I talk to her friend?" Miss Bong asked and he told her: "Just do as I say."

Ra Ra then told her everything that had happened.

After listening to her, Miss Bong unexpectedly got up from her seat and asked in a loud voice: "Hey! You! Are you sure you are not in this with them?" She asked whilst pointing at Manager Heo.

Though he was drunk, he wasn't going to let her have her way. "Hey, Miss Bong! How could you suspect me of doing that? She's my talisman, my talisman. Who harms his talisman, tell me?" Manager Heo looked very upset.

Miss Bong sat down and in a calm tone asked the manager: "Are you sure that you know nothing about this?"

"I don't. I really don't. In fact, I was even praying that she returned to the store just to give me a piece of her mind. I would have preferred that a thousand times more than not knowing what condition she is in", he said sadly.

But as they were worried about the mood I was in, things were actually different from what they were assuming.

After singing for the audience in the restaurant, the MC asked me on stage: "So Amy, how are you feeling now?" and I replied: "I am feeling super excited." I explained further saying: "My day was really getting worse but singing here has made me feel all better."

The MC then told the audience: "Ladies and gentlemen, let us give it up for Amy Lee as she descends the stage."

"Wooo!!!" Everyone applauded.

Once I got to my seat, Mr Jang Sik said: "Woah, you were great!" whilst giving me a double thumbs up.

And suddenly, three highschoolers surrounded me. One of them asked: "Older sister, please can we get your autograph?"

That was the first time someone had asked for my autograph. I wasn't even a celebrity and yet they were asking for this. Truly speaking, I was on cloud nine and in my head, I was wondering: "Oh my! Are these kids asking for my autograph? What a great time I am having here."

So, I gave them what they wished for; my autograph. I didn't have one so I had to quickly formulate one.

However, though I was happy, my friend and my boss were still worried.

Miss Bong asked my bestie: "Ra Ra, have you already called to check if she is at home?"

"No, I haven't", she replied. And explained further saying: "Whenever she goes through a hard time, the last place she goes is home. That's why I didn't call."

Miss Bong understood her.

But then, it hit Ra Ra, "Right, her boyfriend. She might be at his place", she said with excitement.

Manager Heo, who was asleep, suddenly woke up and told my bestie: "Then call him to find out."

"Alright, I am calling", she replied and made her call.

Once my annoying ex boyfriend picked up the phone, she said to him: "Hello Min Ki! This is Amy's friend Ra Ra. Is Amy at your place?"

He replied: "No, she's not. She came here earlier but left."

Curious to know more, my bestie asked: "What was her condition like when she visited?"

And he explained: "She was sad about her promotional mess."

"Was she crying?" she asked and he said: "Yes, she cried a lot."

Yet still, Ra Ra asked him: "And what about when she was leaving? Was she still crying?"

This time round, Min Ki could not speak and instead asked: "Well… can we meet?"

Ra Ra didn't understand why he was asking to meet. But since she was ready to go to the heavens just to find me, she replied: "Yes. Where should we meet?" she asked and he also asked: "Where are you?"

"I'm in front of a convenience store close to the Crexe Department Store", she revealed.

"Okay, I will be there", he replied.

Miss Bong looked at Manager Heo and snatched the glass from his hand. She told him: "Hey, Manager Heo, just stop drinking. Do you think that your talisman would like to see you drink so many glasses?" She asked and he began to cry. She and Ra Ra looked at each other in wonder. "Was everything okay with Manager Heo?" they wondered.

On the other hand, I was enjoying myself as I said in unison with my drinking buddies: "Cheers! Cheers!" We said and clinked our glasses together. It was a very long table, one that could occupy fifteen people. It had Jin Ho, Jang Sik and his wife, the three highschoolers who were given fruit juice, the old woman and the young woman who convinced me to sing for them and the owner of the restaurant.

Jang Sik's wife told me: "Miss Amy Lee, we are so grateful for how you stood in for us. We really appreciate it."

Her immediate boss, the owner of the restaurant added: "That's true. You did such a great job and made everyone happy. Thanks a lot."

"Please stop it. You will make me cringe", I said shyly.

"They're right. You have such an amazing voice", Jin Ho added.

"Ohhh!" the rest teased after he had given me this compliment. It sounded more heartfelt than an ordinary compliment.

"Jin Ho, are you in love with her after she sings?" Jang Sik asked teasingly. Everyone was awaiting his reaction but Jin Ho wasn't going to do or say anything that would put us in a difficult spot.

"Older brother, come on!" Jin Ho protested.

"It's so interesting when you pull his legs", he said and the rest burst out in laughter.

The old woman said: "Still, lady, we are grateful for your help."

She then asked: "It's getting late, will you stay here or head back home?"

"I will leave for Seoul", I replied. But Jang Sik said: "It will be hard to grab a cab around this time and all buses are on the way to this place. Once they get here, they will not move until it's morning." He explained and everyone nodded their heads in support.

"Is that so?" I asked.

"Yes. That's how things work here", Jang Sik's wife added.

"Then, does that mean that I will have to stay here?" I asked and they all replied in unison: "Yes."

The old woman added: "There are a few motels around, but if you wouldn't like it there, then you can stay with us."

Jang Sik's wife then asked: "Which one do you prefer?"

And this question wasn't for me only since Jin Ho was also new to this place.

At the convenience store, Miss Bong asked Ra Ra: "Do you think she will be at a sauna by now?"

And my bestie replied: "I don't think so. Amy can't sleep at unfamiliar places."

She then saw my ex boyfriend alight from a cab.

"Oh, Min Ki is here", she said. Miss Bong asked, "Is that her boyfriend?"

"Yes", she replied.

But once again, the asleep Manager Heo woke up and after seeing Min Ki, said: "I must say, Amy has a very bad taste when it comes to guys. He looks like a complete player."

Just then, Min Ki approached them and greeted Manager Heo and Miss Bong. After which he asked my bestie: "Ra Ra, what has happened to Amy?"

"Nothing has happened to her. We just can't reach her, that's all", she replied. His expression revealed that he was hiding something and as smart as Ra Ra was, she asked him: "Is there anything you know?"

"Me?" Min Ki asked.

"You said she came to your place. Didn't she tell you anything?" Ra Ra asked.

He then replied: "Well, she called me from the phone booth downstairs and told me to open her up. Her voice sounded very sad and she cried a lot after I met her."

"Then what happened?" Miss Bong asked and he said: "I tried to comfort her and soon, her spirit was alive. But then…"

"But then what?" Ra Ra asked.

He quickly got on his knees and said: "Ra Ra, please forgive me."

She asked him: "What are you doing?"

He then began to confess: "I am the reason for Amy's disappearance."

"What do you mean by that?" Ra Ra asked and he said: "Amy caught me with another lady."

"What? Were you cheating on her all this while?" Ra Ra couldn't believe it.

"I'm sorry Ra Ra", he apologized. But my friend didn't tolerate nonsense. She grabbed hold of him and pulled his collar.

"You jerk", she said and unexpectedly punched him on the nose. There was no time to dodge the blow and Min Ki fell to the ground after receiving that well thrown punch.

"Ra Ra, take your time", Mr Heo said. But Ra Ra asked: "Why should I? This guy deserves some good beating." She said and together with Miss Bong, they really taught him a lesson. The climax was that all four ended up at the police station for fighting in public.