Chapter 2 - The Architect

A white Mercedes –Benz stopped to the drop off. The window slid down as I can see Vivi tilting her sunglasses and say “You ready sist?”

“Of course I am” I pulled the handle and threw myself inside. “Let’s meet the architect” I added, I am so excited! I always wanted to have a house of my own, the small.. the minimalist one... with dusty pink shades of design.

Vivi pulled her brake as we arrived in front of the white exterior café with blinking LED lights written “MIAMI CAFÉ” in dark blue calligraphy. We walk inside as the waiter by the entrance greets us “Good afternoon” and lead us seated on empty table. Today we are making an appointment with the architect, which is Vivi’s manager son.

I lifted my head observing the café, the designer is very genius, combining light blue and monochrome in one design, they seemed modern and wide which make it become so cozy. The design of the café has a side wall painted in monochrome, the other side is light blue with calligraphy brush quoted “Love is Sweet Please Take a Treat” then another wall in checkered pattern.

I narrowed my eyes…the monochrome checkered pattern…. there’s something weird, something triggered me... the place seems spinning around, my vision blurred, like some kind of dizziness that I’ve never felt, I can barely feel my body, then everything went black.

I opened my eyes slowly, everything is blur, I saw a checkered painted wall in front of me “Are you okay?” a sobbing woman’s voice echoing in the room, she has a long black hair and running towards me, shaking my shoulders.. “Ana!” she yelled, “Ana! please!”.

“Ana ….” That woman’s voice .. like they are calling me from the deep deep nowhere, somewhere in the dark, I don’t even know where am I. I can barely move my mouth, like it was locked since the start. My body froze… everything is like nightmare to me…

Telephone’s ring echoing inside my ears, the busy chatters filling the room, as soon as I opened my eyes, everything becomes normal. I tilted my head looking at Vivi beside me, biting her long fingernails, her long black hair is tied in ponytail. Soon as she saw me moving my hand, she stood up and hold my hand very tight “Ana ! Oh God ! I was so worried !”

My head is still heavy “What happened to me?” I asked. “What the hell am I doing here?” I whip out the injections on my hand, frowned in depression, my head still hurts…

Vivi widened her eyes, squeezing my hand “You fainted ! You worry me to hell !!”

Now she looks really angry.

“So, what are they injecting me right now?” I lifted hand, showing her my wrist with IV –line injected into my skin.

“It’s a vitamin hell what I don’t know” Vivi shrugged her shoulders and raised her voice, “I know nothing about hospital Ana, OH COME ON !” she moaned.

“Well, then….. At least I am still alive !” I grinned.

“Yea yea up to you” rolling her eyes on me.

A man with long white coat came in, “Miss Vivi” he spoke as he read the white paper he held since he came in, “Yes?” Vivi turned her head towards the doctor. “Can we talk?” the doctor said. Vivi tilted her head towards me, lifting her palm as she asked me to wait, I can see that terrifying expression on her face, she’s masking it with a

poor “everything is fine” expression.

***

Vivi didn’t say anything to me, although the doctor talked so long with her outside the room. Okay, but I don’t care, I am okay, if I have cancer, Vivi might have told me, to let me pay the hospital bill with Jason’s money.

I clicked the seatbelt on, “So, how about the architect?” I asked. The most important thing is my new home right now, cause I can’t wait too long, I’m sick of the boring apartment, even though it’s kinda pricey, but it still boring, I hate it.

Vivi paused, turning her head towards me, glaring “Are you kidding me Ana?” seems pissed –off. I lifted an eyebrow “What? Did I do wrong to you?”

“Don’t be a b*tch Ana, let’s head home and get some rest!” she threw he gaze away, she doesn’t dare to look at me at the eyes. I start assuming things, maybe I have cancer?

I grew up as someone who afraid of death, but right after the divorce thing happened to me. I never scared of the death anymore. I live for no one, I am alone and no one would be sad if I am gone. So I don't really care about it.

I sighed, at the same time I gaze through the passing building.

Nevermind, I don’t care. I’m not afraid of the death.

“Alright Alright Grandma up to you”

She sent me home.

***

Early in the morning,

My phone beeped, Vivi’s text message popped up.

“Hey! Can’t reach you and the architect today, I’ve cancelled the appointment, my manager sends me out of town for 2 weeks. Gonna set another appointment when I came back. See ya ! Be a good kid ! love you !”

I went back and forth with crossed arms, “URGHHHH” I moaned,

“I can’t wait to see the architect, Vivi just went out of town all in sudden”

Which means I have to wait for another 2 weeks. I can’t wait that long…really… I’m getting bored of these wooden apartment design, they are making me sick! URGH… I tilted my head gazing at my macbook standing on the kitchen.

“Guess, I’m gonna find it myself” I smirked.

“Architect” I typed.

There’s a list of famous Architect from the first until the last, I scroll down through the screen trying to find the one who has the most handsome profile picture. Number 9, can’t see his face clearly, he has his picture posted in full body, but he seemed tall, he has long legs.

I clicked the picture by then it brought me to his profile information.

Andrea, 24 years old. Graduated from ARH Architecture Institute with GPA 4.

He has a tidy navy suits on his profile picture, he is the youngest among the 10 best listed architect in town from the internet.

I click the Whatsapp logo and it brings me to the application, directing me to a chat room with the same profile picture he has on the internet.

I type “Hi”

Simple yet awkward.

I glanced at the digital clock on my bedside table, the numbers 10.35 glowing in yellow. I stretched my arms up to the air, yawning cause I feel pretty exhausted, I’ve just finished my comic today. I have less pressure working on my own, I only need to create a manga, the storyline, and wait it approved by the digital staff, how easy.

I lay on the bed, pulling the blanket to my neck, then my macbook beeped, I turned my head and walking towards my desk. The Whatsapp message replied by Andrea.

“Hi, may I help you?”

I pulled the chair, sit and start typing.

“I was about to build a minimalist house for myself. Could you help me? Can we meet and discuss?”

Ughh, It must be awkward.

beep

Another text message.

“Okay, where? When?”

I reply him, “Tomorrow noon. 12.30, K –pokki”

*I was craving for tteokbokki* since last week. Another beep “Okay, see you” popped up from my screen. I ignored the message and go to sleep.

(*Tteokbokki (Korean: 떡볶이) is a Korean traditional food which has sticks of rounded rice cake as the main ingredient)

***

My car lurched stop, I parked my car in front of the café, clicking my seatbelt off and bring myself out from the car. I lifted my hand, my watch is ticking to 12.25. I hope he arrives soon cause I’m starving since morning, I mean afternoon. I woke up at 11 and has no enough time to take a breakfast, I mean there’s no use for me to take a breakfast since I woke up in the afternoon. Remember Ana, don’t create your own worst impression on the first meeting with a handsome duded, HAH!

I pushed the entrance as it jingles, the waiters and waitress greet me with warm smile and say “annyeong haseyo” means Hello in Korean.

I give them a thin smile and walk in, looking for an empty table. A man in the corner with his laptop keep staring at me since I arrived, I threw my gaze away, pretending I didn’t see him at all.

I put my bag on the chair and at the same time the waiter delivers the menu. I told him I am waiting for someone, so I ordered an ice tea instead.

It’s been 30 minutes long. WHAT KIND OF ARCHITECT IS HE? WHERE THE HELL HE LEARN THAT MANNER?

I feel hollow and lightheaded, my stomach growled. I rest my arm on the table, rubbing my forehead as I stare at my phone written 12.55 on the lock screen.

The same guy earlier still sitting on his table, with a cup of hot tea beside his laptop, he looks like waiting for someone. He is typing very quickly, his eyes focus on the screen. Somehow he looks like the architect’s profile picture. I stared for quiet long time until he turned his head looking back at me. I’m startled, as I pretend that I am looking at the window beside his table.

Should I call him? By phone to make sure?

I stare at his profile picture on my phone and at the man for several times. I decided to call him.

tralalala trililili tralala trilili

His phone is ringing, he lifted his phone then tilted his head towards me holding my phone with questioning expression. It’s him! Which means, he has been waiting for more than 30 minutes. Then he stood up and moved his laptop to my table. He slammed the laptop close and rest his hand on the table with eyebrow lifted.

“You…are …Alana Wang?” from his eyes, he seems familiar. How.. How… does he know me?

I write my name Poppy with no profile picture in Whatsapp application, cause I prefer faking my name.

“I..am… Poppy?” I frowned.

This is so confusing.

He snorted a laugh, “So… you don’t remember me” he lifted his hand waiting for me to shake, I lift mine. His long fingers are smooth, his palm is warm and gentle. He shook my hand firmly, “I am Andrea” he smiles, the smile that seems so genuinely sweet with just the right touch of shyness that unexpected warmth rushes through me. I admit it, he so freaking hot.

“I…am…Alana…” I smile sheepishly, somehow I reacted that way. I can’t control myself since he is pretty good –looking.

“So, Miss Alana. What would you like to do with your house? Do you have the details?” Andrea lifted the laptop lid to open up and start typing as he peep me through the upper side of his screen.

“Actually they have built the house ready and I just want to renovate the interiors”

“Do you have the picture of them?”

“I have” I unlock my phone and scroll through my gallery to find the picture of the house.

***

TING TONG TING TONG TING TONG TING TONG

I moaned and arise from my bed. “WHO’S THERE?”

“I AM VIVI !!” voice of a female dragon ready to blow fire, I bet Vivi must be angry cause I made my own decision before letting her know. OH DAMN. I shall cover my ears.. I unlock the door as Vivi was standing with her big eyes glaring at me, “You didn’t say anything!” she pointed right in front of my eye.

“Vivi, I can’t wait that long.. you are 2 weeks out of town”

Vivi rushed in, she took off her heels and dropped her bag beside them.

“Alright.. alright” Vivi took a deep breath, “I don’t f*cking care, the point is- you made me cancel the architect for twice !” she lifted her pointer and middle finger altogether, then she looked down counting her own fingers “EHH THREE TIMES !” she lifted her fingers. “And you are embarrassing me!”

She flared her nostrils. “And….my manager thought I am playing with his son!”

"Sorry?"

"SORRY?!" she raised her voice and clenched her teeth, "I'LL KILL YOU!!"

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