I looked outside the window of the convenience store as I picked up a bowel of ramen. What the hell is she doing here? I thought. Sitting outside of the store was Little Miss Attitude. Something is wrong though. I peer closer at her and saw that she was crying. Hard. The tears stained her cinnamon brown skin and clung to her long black eyelashes. I turned away and grabbed another bowel of ramen and packet of tissues.
What are you doing, Choi Young-Do? I asked myself. I carried all of my purchases in my left hand to the ajhumma at the register. I reached into my right back pocket awkwardly with my left to pull out my wallet.
After I paid, I walked outside with the ramen painfully in both hands. I gritted my teeth and walked out to the little dining area. I placed the two bowels onto the table.
"Hey" I said. My heart dropped to my stomach as her watery brown eyes looked up at me.
"What do you want?" Her voice was still shaky after sobbing so much. She reached up to her brown eyes to wipe the last of her tears.
"Have you been here since we've been kicked out?" I asked. Her eyes went round and her lips rounded into a surprised o shape.
"The sleeve of the blazers are made out of pure silk. They aren't very absorbent." I stated flatly, gesturing towards the tissues. I lowered myself slowly into the plastic chair, taking care of my bruised up body. I saw her eye the bowels of ramen.
"Is one of those bowels mine?" She asked suspiciously. I saw her lick her lips at the smell of the ramen.
"Well I can't eat both bowels by myself." I said gruffly. I'm not too well with sentimental stuff especially when it comes to this girl. I saw her smile for a brief second before she looked back at me. She wore a look of pure horror on her pretty face.
"Did I really do all of that to your face?" She asked. She reached out an elegant, cinnamon brown hand to touch my face. I swallowed and grabbed her hand before she could touch me.
"Do not touch me" I gritted through my teeth. I realized too late that I grabbed her hand with my bad right hand. Dammit, Dad. I thought. I saw fear flash in her eyes. I felt guilt at making her scared especially since she is an emotional wreck. What has gotten into me? This girl is supposed to be the insolent American girl that I was going to make pay for humiliating me, how is it that I actually care about what she thinks of me? I let go slowly allowing her to take her hand back. I clenched my jaw against the pain my right hand. Daddy really did a number on me this time. After we were dismissed by Principal Kim, Daddy dragged me to the judo studio. We sparred like always except this time he really kicked my ass. I suspect that my right hand is broken and maybe a couple of ribs.
I noticed that she was just eyeing me suspiciously. "I know that you didn't get a chance to eat lunch yet. Eat up." I gestured towards the ramen and picked up my chopsticks with my left hand. My heart swelled at the sight of her eyes lighting up and the little moan of pleasure she made when she ate the ramen. I struggled with the chopsticks in one hand for awhile trying to position them in my hand.
"Here" I looked up and saw that Kerri had scooted closer to me. She plucked the chopsticks out of my hand and picked up some noodles. Kerri offered them to me. I stared at her a moment before eating them. Kerri smiled her luminous smile and it melted some of the ice encased around my heart.
It went on for the next fifteen minutes or so. Kerri silently feeding me, never asking why I couldn't feed myself. Kerri smiling a little smile of encouragement every time I took a bite. Kerri's light brown eyes, puffy from crying for so long, glinting in the light. What is wrong with me? I thought. How is this American affecting me like this?
After the last bite of my ramen, she picked up the bowel of her ramen and began to eat silently. When she finished there was a unreadable expression on her face. She opened up her mouth and finally spoke what was on her mind.
"Why are you being so nice to me?" She asked. I wanted to know the answer too. I thought long and hard before I gave my answer.
"This is my sanctuary. Your in my sanctuary. Does it seem right for someone to cry in a sanctuary?" I finally replied. She smiled that pretty little smile and something in English that I didn't understand.
"What does that mean?" I asked her.
"I quoted a- never mind, its not important." She abruptly became taciturn. Kerri turned her head and gazed into the distance. Her pretty brown eyes had gotten this far-away and wistful look in them as if she was gazing into a much happier past. Kerri's head rested gently on her cinnamon brown hand. The gentle late summer wind lifted her curly black hair away from her face. How had I not noticed her beauty before? How had those high cheekbones, big chocolate colored eyes, and her full lips escaped my notice?