Strange People

Wednesday.

Ignoring my senior’s warning that I’d be murdered if spotted near the company, I went to an orthopedic clinic near the office for a check-up.

Since my home is near the company, it’s stranger to go far away.

The doctor told me to avoid strenuous exercise and to go to a higher-level hospital if anything seemed wrong.

After an X-ray and a brief consultation, I received the manual therapy the doctor recommended and left.

The hospital bill came to 110,000 won. I should apply for reimbursement insurance when I get home.

Squinting at the bright sunlight, I exited the building to find a group of people.

They seemed to be going out for a smoke or coffee before returning inside.

They were headed towards the forest of buildings where companies were concentrated.

“…What to do.”

Normally, I would have gone back to my less-than-ten-pyeong home and lied down on the bed, but I walked in the opposite direction of the crowd.

The opposite direction is downhill. If I slid down the gentle slope, I would reach Gangnam Station.

Gangnam was bustling even on a weekday afternoon. It was a scene that lived up to its name.

Sky-blue and red buses from all over the country maintained a precarious distance, seemingly about to touch, as they spat out and swallowed people.

They ran on the asphalt, adhering to their own promises and rules.

As the temperature gradually warmed, people’s clothing became thinner.

It was a stark contrast to the scenery around the company, where people wore windbreakers.

The landscape of Gangnam, tangled with cars, signals, and people, made me dizzy.

And then I thought of food.

“…Food.”

I wanted to fill my stomach. I had been feeling empty since yesterday.

To feel hungry so quickly after eating a bellyful of Chinese food the day before, was my body rejuvenating and digesting well, or was I simply overeating?

I hoped it was the former.

What should I eat?

I entered the back alleys of Gangnam Station, the narrow streets lined with restaurants.

Amidst the colorful, assertive signs, I searched for a menu that would catch my eye.

“I had Chinese food yesterday, I don’t have the guts to grill meat alone, and noodles seem a bit lacking…”

After filtering through everything, all that was left was fast food.

Right, it’s been a while since I had a burger.

I rubbed my empty stomach and surrendered myself to the wave of people.

“Uh… Your eye beautiful and clear… What is clear? Ah… Clear? Anyway you are beautiful.”

On the way to the burger joint, an unusual combination caught my eye.

A man was blocking a foreigner’s path, holding up his phone.

Judging by what he was saying, they didn’t seem to know each other; it looked like he was hitting on her.

Judging by her attire, she seemed to be a tourist, so this wouldn’t be a good experience for her.

But if she refused appropriately, the man would eventually get tired and give up.

As I passed the woman, someone grabbed my sleeve and tugged.

“Huh?”

The foreign woman reached out and grabbed my sleeve.

I turned to look at her face.

Green and blue eyes stared at me.

Heterochromia, how fascinating.

“???”

As I tilted my head, the foreign woman looked embarrassed.

Did she want me to help her?

The man who had been trying to get her number also looked dumbfounded, alternating his gaze between the foreigner and me.

“……..”

“……..”

“……..”

An uncomfortable silence began, with no one speaking.

I wanted to ignore it and go my way, but as if she knew what I was thinking, the woman kept pulling on my sleeve.

As she clung to my arm as if she were about to hug it, the man who had been hitting on her couldn’t stand it any longer and spoke.

“Do you know each other?”

“No?”

Naturally, I told the truth. I didn’t want to do something cliché like pretending to be her boyfriend and rescuing her from her predicament.

There was no reason to.

“This is really awkward.”

When I expressed my honest feelings, the man’s face turned red.

“Well… it seems like she doesn’t like it.”

“Um… yeah.”

As I looked back and forth between the man and the woman to assess the situation, the man readily admitted it.

He slowly walked away in a very awkward posture.

Well, I would have done the same if I were in that situation. And I would go home and Knee kick my pillow and blanket.

Still, I think it’s admirable that he tried to hit on her and then backed off cleanly.

I don’t have that kind of courage.

“Thank you.”

While I was watching the man walk away, the woman spoke.

“Your Korean is good?”

Surprised by her articulate pronunciation, the woman smiled.

“I’m okay.”

Is she a hardcore K-POP fan? King Sejong, Mr. Kim Gu. Korea has finally done it.

“Yes, then have a good trip. Your Korean is good.”

Making thumbs up with both hands, I went back to my way.

“Wait a minute….”

I couldn’t go.

She grabbed my sleeve again.

“Yes?”

“I’m Maria. Maria Lauen.”

“Ah- yes. Maria.”

I heard somewhere that foreigners do this kind of small talk, right?

As I responded appropriately to her words, her heterochromatic eyes stared at me.

“Kang In-ho.”

Thinking she wanted to know my name, I told her my name.

“Nice to meet you. Kang In-ho.”

She came closer to me.

Then, after grabbing my shoulders, she brought her face to my cheeks in turn.

I felt a little hot in the face at the Western-style greeting, which was a first for me.

“Where were you going?”

“I’m going to have lunch….”

“Oh, lunch. I was hungry too. I propose, to have lunch together.”

Maria’s eyes lit up as she pressed her body against me.

I smiled brightly and answered her.

“I refuse. Your proposal.”

I prefer to eat alone.

“……..”

The meal that should have been comfortable was very uncomfortable.

The reason was the foreigner who kept staring at me throughout the meal.

She followed me wherever I moved, so it was clear that she had something to say to me.

Ah, I had a feeling I had gotten into something bad.

It felt like the hamburger was stuck in my throat and wouldn’t go down.

I ran out of the store and walked down the street as if I were escaping. The crazy woman named Maria followed me at a distance.

Ignore her. Ignore her. She doesn’t listen even if I talk to her, so ignore her.

If she doesn’t give up, I’ll have to go to the police station and ask for help.

“Excuse me.”

As I was silently looking ahead, someone suddenly popped out and spoke to me.

“I’m not interested in Do. I don’t hold ancestral rites.”

There are people in Gangnam who persistently follow you, asking, “Do you know Do?” At first, I thought I had been caught by those people.

“Would you like to buy a flower?”

I looked ahead at the unique tone. And rubbed my eyes a few times.

In front of me stood a woman in a modernized hanbok with a bright smile.

A flower basket in her hand. I guess she’s selling flowers.

“Not a normal woman.”

I heard Maria muttering from behind.

A modernized hanbok in front of me, a foreigner behind me.

Today seems to be a really messed up day.