Hoodie project (2/?)
TWO
My first condition begins here. Ugh, somehow I have to find ways to portray my clumsiness as part of my usual self. I’d be boring without my slip-ups, right? Just agree with me on this okay? J Console me! Huhu...
I’m still thinking really hard about that list. So the first part is to show you that I do put effort into thinking up stuff however random they may be. Please cheer for me as I start off with a little something at least.
“What are you scribbling about?” I clenched the side of my notebook when Rui began tugging it to see what I was writing.
“Oh, nothing. Just some ideas. My thoughts about, y’know - stuff.” Byul, on the seat opposite me, caught the sleep bug from Chie. Both had there heads together in the middle of their backrests and faint snoring could be heard from one of them. I closed my notebook at item #3 on my list of random things and stared out to the plane window beside them. For some reason, the empty list, locked up thousands of miles away from where I was, plagued me. I distracted myself by listening to the different conversations of my surroundings.
“You mean your thoughts about food.” She inquired, amused, looking over me to the bag where I put my notebook away. “What is it about watermelons?” She chuckled merrily. Rui’s airiness is what I need right now. I decided. I want to listen to her talk about song lyrics and whatnot.
“You haven’t slept since the plane took off.” Her words gave me a start and I met her eyes studying mine with concern. She’d been perceptive.
“I was just thinking.” I affirmed the obvious. I half-hoped Rui wouldn’t pry and was thankful she didn’t broaden the subject. She directed my absent thoughts to the anticipated events following our safe and uneventful plane ride.
Japan: Day1
A tour bus picked us up from the airport to our pre-booked hotel. The short ride was extraordinarily enjoyable. Chie seemed dazed at the marvelous view of the city. I was pretty sure she has found it an inspiration for future stories. Byul pointed at specific areas followed by Rui who was all over the place with her camera. My mouth was probably gaping the whole time. I couldn’t help it. The scenery was awesome! The hotel accommodation at Daiji Inn was picture-perfect. Though it was traditional, the feel of it being within a big, bustling city gave me a good kind of goose bumps. Keiko, the woman who led us to our room, could speak English well. As a result, we were comfortably oriented.
Everyone was excited for lunch to be served. Since all the tourists were to eat together and there was still time left. Byul, Chie and Rui took a little nap. I took the chance to be the first among us to check out the public hot spring. I noticed it was typical for people to be walking around in bathrobes and I grab the provided bathrobe in the room closet. I slowly slid close the door of our room and stepped out.
There might have been dozens of signs regarding the location of the public hot spring, but I couldn’t read Japanese, so I asked around assuming that people knew where I wanted to go. After all, where would anyone want to go wearing only a bathrobe? Though all I could do was charades, the attendants were very hospitable. Still, they kept nodding and bowing that, at some point, my head began to feel heavy and I longed to soak my neck muscles in soothing, warm water without any further delay. Keiko was undeniably somewhere assisting the rest of the tourists.
“Hey! I was looking for you.” A tall Asian guy wearing a classy black suit and bow tie approached me from behind. “You said the hotel had an arcade. Could you please show me the way?” He seemed in a hurry, to add to that, his cell phone was ringing.
“Um,” I mumbled, unsure, “I didn’t know the hotel had an arcade. Do you know where the hot spring is?”
He appeared stunned and leaned to look at me closely. “Ah! You and Keiko are somewhat alike. Hmmm...must be the height. Sorry, I don’t know where it is. I’m still kind of losing my way in here, myself.”
“Oh and Miss, you’re belt needs some tightening.” He turned to leave. I fixed up my bathrobe without a second’s notice.
Arcade-boy decided to get the call. He walked away with a wave of his other hand. He was speaking Korean. Explains the noticeable accent. Mou, my face is really too commonplace -- even in a foreign country! Someday I’m going to host a grand meeting of my look-alikes and we will have a good time celebrating our similarities. Urgh! And he got a first class of my legs! Forget it; I’ll make use of the room shower.
“Aha!” Chie was behind the sliding door when I opened it. “You were planning to go to the hot spring without us, weren’t you? I hope you didn’t get too lost. Haha!” Chie must’ve seen me exit. We groomed ourselves for dinner and headed out to eat.
“Su-gi-ru?” Rui examined the sign above the hotel’s restaurant.
“Cool!” Byul praised her. “You know how to read a little kanji! Now let’s go inside, I’m hungry.”
She linked her arm with Rui and they marched toward an empty table. A waiter came to get our order, and not long after, he came back to serve it. Rui felt the need to document our first meal in Japan. I laughed with Byul and Chie, we let her snap away.
So, uh, how is it so far? Please be kind to me! I’m following the timetable Rui set up. I think it’s best that way so it’s easier to piece the stories together. How’re your stories girls?