It’s time to close the café, but the toothbrush salesman walks in. His hair is wet. It must be raining outside. We were ready to close so we all stand awkwardly.

“Come over here and eat some of this.” The toothbrush salesman puts a big cake box on the table. We are all hungry. Sungyun appears out of nowhere and starts eating the cake with his hands. After scarfing down the entire cake, we remember to thank him.

The toothbrush salesman notices the music in the café. “Wait, you’re listening to Zarathustra?!”

“You know this band? Yeoul said she’s the only one who knows them!” Eunyong sticks her tongue out and calls me a liar.

“Your name is Yeoul? What’s your last name? I came here to see you the other day, but you weren’t here. I asked the owner about you.” As I examine him, I realize that he reminds me of the photograph of my father when he was young: his pupils float in the upper side of the whites, the bridge of his nose is well defined, and the corners of his mouth are turned upward. “I should introduce myself first. My name is Han Jihyun. I live nearby, so I hang out around here.”

* * *

I walk back home. I think of the café owner’s remark. Aldebaran, schmaldebaran. There’s not a single star to be seen, not even the moon can be seen in the sky tonight. I preferred the mandatory study halls, and nights I spent questioning what the point of my life even was, over working this pointless part-time job. I received my paycheck today, but I didn’t even open the envelope. It doesn’t feel like the hard-earned fruits of my labor. But maybe I’m overthinking all this, too influenced by Jimin’s Marxist ideology.

On the sidewalk, I’m waiting for the light to turn green when someone slaps my back. I turn around to find my high-school friend.

“Oh my God! Is that you, Hyunmi?”

“Yeah! You look just the same.”

“I thought you had gone to study abroad in America.”

“No, my visa for America took too long to be processed, so I had to postpone my departure. I was actually going home after my going-away party with friends just now. I’ve been wondering what you’re up to. Miryong and Eunsook said they both tried to contact you for the party, but … what’s wrong with your stepmother? She cussed at them like a crazy person. I thought I wasn’t going to see you before I left. Let’s go somewhere and catch up.”

2. Oppa is a term used to address an older brother and is also a term of endearment women sometimes use to address an older man.

Blue Moon

Blue Moon