Author notes: Glaring and trying to look intimidating. It's a fluffy, white bunny with TnT. "So this is K-drama and rollerblading. What's not to like?! The bunny has spoken! *sigh* As the writer walks away, listening to Rush Garica...


The sun is high in the cloudless sky, and a constant calm, cool sea breeze takes away the bite of the heat. The cries of seagulls carry over the rolling waves into the populous. Gliding down the boardwalk, a woman wearing a lavender sleeveless shirt with khaki shorts, matching purple Prince helmet, and rollerblades, absently weaves between the pedestrians. After grabbing a quick snack from a street vendor, she moves further down the boardwalk, the crowd drastically thins, and seeing an opportunity to get out of the sun, she settles into a gazebo off the walking path behind two closed booths. Opening her mobile, she connects to her best friend and sister-in-law, Yeong, overlooking a car parking.

The call opens to a Korean female with a tired expression, "Hey girl, did you get to the park yet?"

While sipping her bubble tea, Tecla shakes her, "Nah, just exploring right now. I haven't returned in a few years and wanted to see the changes. Yeong, are the kids running you ragged again? Where is my knucklehead brother?"

Braking out in giggles, "Omero is helping. My family descended like locus on us without warning. My cousin Chong-Sun is getting married and wants to see if they could use my house. So, thank the gods, it's too small and not up to standard. Now we were at the stage of my aunts telling me what was wrong with me, my marriage, and how I should raise the kids. Mind you, Dad, uncles, and grandfather escaped by saying they were completing errands. The cowards." Rolling her eyes, "He took the kids with them."

"Ah, so that's why you're talking in English. The buzzards must be near."

Just to the left, off camera, a man approaches, "'Allo!"

Looking around her, she figures he is speaking to her. Slightly annoyed, Tecla turns her phone towards the speaker, taking an earpiece out. Nodding to the man, she politely smiles, switching to Korean, returns his greeting, waiting for the man to state why he is interrupting her call. "Hello. Are you looking for someone?"

The man is average, with a short stylish haircut, pale skin, and slender, wearing expensive dark jeans and a lime green polo shirt. His gold accessories glint in the sun as he gives a photo-opp smile. The car, his companion is leaning against also looks expensive—the kind with a renter's plate.

Not impressed, Tecla waits because there is always a follow-up question, "I see you speak English. Are you here alone?"

Yep, a typical question, but creepy vibes are blaring in this case. There isn't anyone around at the moment. Yep, this is a potential stranger-danger situation.

Her smile cools, "No, just taking a break and speaking with someone." Shaking the phone to emphasize her point.

"Are you vacationing in Jeju? Where are you staying? I know some great places for parties." In the other earpiece, she can hear Yeong, "Tecla, I feel this guy's psycho vibes here in Gwonseon-gu. Get the fuck away from him. I got a screenshot of his face and recording."

Remaining calm places a finger on her lips, pointing to her mobile again. "Yea, noona, I hear you." Tecla gathers her garbage and keeps the man and his companion in her sites. "Sorry, hyung, I'm off to see my boyfriend. See you around."

Heading back to the boardwalk and the group of street vendors for safety, Tecla skates backward, looking for the creeper and Yeong in her ear.

In a worried tone, Yeong asks, "Is that guy gone?" Looking around, Tecla doesn't see him, so she relaxes. Looking into the camera with a relieved smile, "I'm gonna hang up and head in." Turning the mobile, she pans around, catching the sign "Jeju Freestyle Aeril Skating."

Quickly caught up in the many activities, the 'creeper' was forgotten as she took to the quarter pipes, pump bumps, and bowl corners.


The evening is set with the blaring music and the announcement of the latest contest, "Dancing with a Stranger." A steady flow of people works from one end of the park to the other. Three men sit on the sidelines, watching participants attempting and sometimes accomplishing tricks on the deck of the designated bowl. A group of women try to get their attention. Cino, the tallest with pale skin, short dark brown hair, and dark brown eyes, smiles wide. Amico, bald with a goatee and dark skin, barely glances. The shortest of the group with long dark hair, goatee, and tattoos, Kwan Tae, ignores the twittering.

The competitors playfully with the crowd and each other as the tricks become more daring until a female in purple and beige takes it up a notch. Hitting the perfect speed, she seemed to hang in the air, spinning three times before falling back on the ramp backward, following a one-handed handstand on the opposite edge of the ramp, into an upside split, falling back, hitting the ramp hard, and ending in a backflip on the deck of the starting ramp. The crowd erupts as the MC screams her name:

Tecla!

Hyping the crowd further, she gives some footwork and saucily presents the next competitor with a fist bump.

After setting the bar, Tecla was hands down the competition winner. The monitors around the park flash the face and name of the 'Skating Bowl' winner. She is a light skin female with almond brown eyes, high cheekbones, and smiling full lips. She removes her helmet and uncovers her two cornrows of black, brown, and blond locks. After ten minutes of taking pictures for promotions and instant fans, she packs away the winner's certificate, ties the medallion to the back of her book bag, and then pockets the food voucher heading for the food trucks.

After moving up within the queue for the food truck, Tecla opens her mobile, sending pics and voice text to Omero and Yeong. Thirty seconds later, her mobile rings, "Lala, are you still at the skating event?

"Ciao, big brother. Ah, yeah. Still, here I'm going to eat, then go to the rink to cool down, then head back to the hotel if I'm finally exhausted. Why?"(Italian)

"Yeong told me of some creep tryin' talk to you. Little sis, are you ok?'

She doesn't notice a man hurrying over to her.

Raising her hand and changing the camera, Tecla slowly moves around, showing her surroundings, "Good so far. I'm having a blast. Sorry to worry you, but I'm taking precautions, I tell my kids. Don't give any info about yourself. Check your clothes for tags. Cover your drink and carry bear spray on your wristband. I don't think I will see him. I told him I was heading to see my boyfriend. So I don't look like an easy target."

Seemingly out of nowhere, the creeper surprises Tecla.

Hi, Tecla. I hope I'm saying your name right. My name is Che Hyuk, and behind me are my friends Hong Hyonu, Ae Dong-Min. I wanted to invite you to a party later tonight." (English)

Backing up into the person behind her, she mumbles, "Oh shit, there's more." (Italian)

Coughing, the man behind her leans into her and whispers in Italian, "Need help?" Not bothering to look back, she nods—a tanned, muscular, tattoed arm slides around her waist. The stranger sneers at Hyuk in Korean, "I'm Park Kwan Tae, the boyfriend. These are my brothers, Cino and Amico. We won't be available." The men flank Kwan Tae and Tecla, not bothering with a greeting.

Threading her fingers into Kwan Tae's, Tecla giggles looking into the mobile. "I didn't do anything this time. Chaos just follows me." (Italian) Surprising Kwan Tae with a kiss on the cheek, "Smile, honey, it's my brother and my sister-in-law." (Korean)

Kwan Tae side-eyes the woman but doesn't move as he sees the stalker sizing them all, deciding to go with the flow, "Hello, Hyung. Keeping the troublemaker out of mischief. " Taking her hand with the mobile, Kwan Tae pans around, "See, here is Cino." The man gives a toothy smile and throws up a peace sign. "Brother, little sis, you missed her tricks in the short bowel." Jumping into the camera, "Yea, Amico here. You should have seen her. She defied gravity there, hanging in the air."

Yeong pushes her husband over, "Yeah, that's our Sparrow. So what's on the agenda now?'

Snatching her hand and mobile away from Kwan Tae, "Now I'm going to feed these beasts called men, bye. Love you!" Closing her mobile, she looks around, spotting the stalker and his friends leaving. She turns back to the strangers and bows. "Thank you so much for being such a good sport. How about I treat you guys to a ridiculous amount of spicy rice cakes, kimchi, stuffed pancakes, and meat skewers?"

Amico looks at her suspiciously, "How much is ridiculous?"

Putting her nose in the air, she produces her unlimited supply meal voucher, "R-R-Ridiculous."

Grabbing her and the voucher, they move up the queue to the front of the window.

Kwan Tae and Cino watch in amusement. Siding next to them, each leaves the truck with four different entrees.

As they look for a place to eat, Tecla asks, "Not complaining, but why did you guys help?"

Kwan Tae answers, "We all have trouble magnets called sisters."

Pouting as they settle down with the food," On their behalf, I feel persecuted." Then hands them napkins and chopsticks. "Here, I know you boys forgot. I have not one but two brothers and too many male cousins."