Dark Secrets

Chapter 7: I Guess It's All Working Out, Now (1 of 2)

I got a part-time job at Caracciolo, an Italian restaurant, just midway to the campus and my apartment.

I took a bus earlier when I went to the campus because I’m running late for my first class, so I decided to take a walk on my way to the apartment, if I rode the bus again, I wouldn’t see the signage at the restaurant and I won’t find a job on my first day.

Everything happens for a reason, I get it, but still I need to find out why my ability to see impending death didn’t work that day.

It’s not like I lost the said ability because I saw the lady in the bus getting stab by a man who will steal her bag as soon as they get off at the bus stop.

I just turned a blind eye and avert my gaze from the woman because I don’t want to be involved in the living people’s death anymore, I couldn’t even save my friends so why would I to strangers??

She’s going to die in 37 days anyway if I succeeded delaying her death but if she didn’t believe me and she died as I expected I’ll be the one to blame again and my family will be in great danger.

We come back to Korea unplanned because we had no other choice but to leave Canada before my family get killed by the people whose blaming me for everyone’s death, they said I brought curse to their loved ones because my ability is known to the entire neighbourhood.

I need to conceal what I can see, it’s the best for everyone, for my family to have a normal life at our new place where no one knows aside from the people in the temple, that I am cursed.

“I thought you won’t come back.” Tae Ro waiting for me at the terrace of the attic. “Or you’ll bring home a company.”

“Why won’t I come back to my apartment? This is where I live now.”

“You’re indeed different from everyone who lived here.” she said.

“Don’t worry I’ll come home every night and I won’t bring anyone to accompany me. Except for my parents who wants to visit me here of course, but aside from them I got no one else on my side.” I said.

“I’m dead but I’m living, you’re living but you’re dead. I’m a ghost but I feel sorry for you that you’re having such a life.” she uttered.

I never been pitied by someone who’s dead already, Tae Ro is the 1st ghost that I met who doesn’t think much of herself, so I have to do something to help her crossover and be reborn again.

The next day, I’m not in a rush to be in the campus since my class starts at 10am every Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, and I already know the rooms in the campus anyway so I went for a long walk instead taking the bus to get familiar with the neighbourhood.

I stopped by in front of a bakery that attracts my attention with the pastries and bread displayed.

I’m fascinated of how beautiful the pastries are made when I suddenly saw a man smiling at me on the other side.

I could say he’s beautiful even though he’s clearly a guy.

“Come on in.” he invited me inside the bakery.

He’s obviously a foreigner but he’s better than me in speaking Korean as well as his accent, just like Alessia.

“No, I was just looking. Those pastries and bread are lovely, I couldn’t just pass by and ignore them.” I responded.

“They’re not just for eyes, you should taste them too. Sweetheart.”

He called me sweetheart as an endearment but I don’t feel a bit offended because he’s not flirting with me, he maybe older than me a few years, but instead of building up some muscles like most young men would do, he’s skinny, and the way he fixes his hair with his fingers raise, he’s a queer.

“I guess, I get one of those Lamingtons.” Pointing at the sponged cake, covered in chocolate and then topped with desiccated coconut.

“National Cake of Australia.” He talked to me in English with his Aussie accent. “Only few Koreans can say the word Lamington in such accent as yours, you studied abroad?”

“11 years in Vancouver, I studied there since 2nd grade until I graduated from high school.” taking the Lamington from him. “It’s mouth-watering, I want to eat it right now but I want to savour the taste and I’ll be late in Uni when I do that.”

“What Uni are you attending? If you don’t mind me asking.” smiles.

“SNU. Thanks for the delicious smell of your pastries and breads, it actually made my day.” I’m about to leave the bakery when he stopped me from going.

“Wait. Are you heading to Yeongeon campus? You can ride with me, that’s my destination too. I’m Troye Mellet by the way, 3rd year nursing student at SNU.” extending his hand to me for a handshake.

“Ah sunbae.” I shake hands with him. “I’m Desa Ha, freshman at college of nursing too.”

“Desa Ha. I think I’ve heard your name …” thinking deeply. “Ah, you’re the part-timer at Caracciolo. Alessia mentioned you to me last night through the phone. She’s right, you really have big eyes and pouty lips … as well as small hands.”

“I see. You are friends with Alessia.” smiling at him.

“She’s my girl best friend. If I’ll say girlfriend you might misunderstood. I’m a queer … don’t tell anyone.” looking at the door.

A good-looking guy enters the bakery and Troye’s eyes are fixated on him like he’s the only person he sees.

“Sorry, I’m late again. Thanks, for opening the bakery for me, Troye.” the guy taps Troye shoulder before he put on his apron.

“People might think that I’m the owner of this shop instead of you.”

“Your parents own the building where this bakery is, also you’re my friend so, I don’t mind what people thinks.” the man embraces Troye like a close buddy that is common here in Korea.

“I’ll better go now, I’m giving my hoobae a ride to the campus.” Troye grabs me by the arm as we take our leave from the bakery. “Bye.”

He clearly used me to make an exit but his facial expression is telling me that he wants to go back and spend more time with the guy.

“Hey, I know he’s good-looking but don’t even think about having a crush on him. I’ve been getting rid a lot of girls lately, don’t add up.”

“Don’t worry, he’s not my type.” walking along with him.

“Huh? Are you blind?! Don’t you see how hot he is?!” he replied.

“Damn if you do, damn if you don’t.” I mumbled. “Anyway, sunbae, you don’t have to give me a ride.” refusing his offer.

“Just get in. You don’t want that chocolate to be melted on the road.”

I came with Troye to the campus and got off from his blue car, I don’t care what everyone talks behind my back but I don’t want him to get involved with my issues.

“Thank you sunbae for driving me here to the campus.” bowing my head to him slightly.

“We’re heading on the same destination anyway so it’s not a hassle, besides I’m glad to be of help to my hoobaes.” he replied.

“Thank you again.” walking backwards for a few steps before I turn my back from him and head straight to my designated classroom.

Troye reminds me of Belle when it comes to hiding true feelings, he acted like he’s all cool with the guy he obviously likes.

When my last class ended, the moment I got out from the classroom Alessia and Troye grabbed my arms like they’re abducting me.

“So, you met my boyfriend this morning and he gave you a ride here.”

“Eww, boyfriend?!” Troye reacted to Alessia’s in disgusts.

“You two have been the talk of everyone.” Alessia leans over me. “I’m playing the role of his girlfriend to cover him up, not even his family knows that he’s a queer.” she whispered on my ear.

“I see.” I nodded before I turn to Troye on my left side. “Sorry, for causing you trouble, sunbae.” bowing my head to him.

“Nah, don’t be sorry. You’ve done nothing wrong, it’s the people who are bored with their lives and got nothing to do but talk.” he said.

“Well he got a point.” Alessia responded. “Troye is popular with the girls, because look at him, he’s a pretty man. That’s why everything he does whether it’s a small thing, it’s big deal to his girls.”

“Duh, I only interact with them because it makes me closer to the boys, not that I care about those b*tches.” Troye replied.

“Uhm, where are you taking me anyway?” looking at the two who are still dragging me at the hallway.

“Work. You’ll start at 4pm right?” Alessia glances at me. “Troye is giving us a ride too, he’s my driver that’s the benefit I get from him also he’s one of the regular VIP customers in our restaurant.”

“I’m having Italian once or twice a week depending on my mood.”

It only took 11 minutes’ drive from the campus to Caracciolo compared to the walked I did yesterday.

Alessia handed me my uniform that is quite different from the other staffs, the kitchen got white and green while the dining wears white and red, although I’m not saying that I should at least get the same either with the kitchen or dining, wearing an all-white half-sleeve dress with 5-inches skirt above my knees makes me standout.

“Is this really the uniform for part-timers?” pulling my skirt down as I got out from the staff room.

“No, I actually wear anything. But since you’re not me, you have to wear a uniform and that dress and shoes will be uniform.” Alessia said as she looks at me from to toe and turn me around.

She gave me white shoes with 3-inches heels, to complete my look, she even did my make-up and hair.

“You’re right Alessia, she’s prettier with curls on her long hair and a little make-up on her face than her usual look.” Troye said.

My hair is long and straight and I’m bare face, that’s my usual look.

“You’re in the dining area on TThS and in the kitchen on MWF. Mama told me to give you a post and not be like me who just wander around back and forth.” Alessia replied. “I’ll give you your uniform tomorrow for the kitchen, I haven’t decided it yet.”

“Alright.” I nodded my head since I can’t disagree with her anyway.

“So, here’s what you do in the dining area …” Alessia taught me the different way of providing assistance in different floors.

In the first floor which is the common dining area, all I need to do is to assist the customers to their seats after I welcomed them from the reception area, that’s my help to the receptionist, Edna.

Then as for the waiter or waitress I gave the menu list to the customers before I go back to the reception area again.

In case, I’ll be assisting VIP customers to the 2nd floor, aside from leading the way to their designated room, I have to prepare them a drink at the side corner of the room and serve the drink before I leave the VIP room.

As to the rooftop, I’m in charge with taking out the umbrellas from the tables and lighting up the whole rooftop at 6pm.

My job ends at 10pm and I’m not allowed to render overtime, my salary is fixed to 3,000 Korean Won without night differential, also I won’t be paid double on holidays like regular employees and my vacation leaves are unpaid including my day off.

Earning 500 won per hour might be the best part-time job a student like me can ever have, so I have to stay in this job no matter what.

Contrary on how I treat everyone in campus except for Alessia and Troye of course, I have to get along with everyone at work.

Few days later, it’s Sunday already, I got no part-time job to do, so I start doing my research about T. Swift whom Tae Ro wants to see before she crossover.

She told me that this Swift is an American soldier so I went to the US Camp in Seoul since an American soldier in uniform won’t be roaming around the city if he’s based in the province.

I made up a story to the officer who’s in-charge of the files just to get an information about the Swift I’ve been looking for.

Well I’m kinda used in lying because I couldn’t tell that the spirit told me so, and I learned the effective method for the listener to believe in my stories.

Apparently, there’s a lot of Swift that had T as their initials, so I gave the nickname Tim and Timmy which the officer also agreed that it must be Timothy.

There were 19 Timothy Swift assigned in their camp since it was established and one of them must be the one, I’ve been looking for.

I told the officer that I’ll be back next Sunday to narrow the Swift we’ve found after staying in the file room the whole day since we searched the names from year 1950.

“Any details that you still remember about Swift?” I asked Tae Ro after I told her everything, I’ve gone through just to find a lead.

“His blonde hair that always polished to the side, his blue tantalizing eyes that you’ll get lost when you look at them, his pointy nose that I always envied, and his thin lips that smiles beautifully.” Tae Ro with dreamy eyes as she tells what his man looks like.

“You’re so in love with him.” I sighed. “I’ll try again next week.”

A week later, I came back to the camp again and from 19 Swift I narrowed it to 8 based on the pictures that I saw from each soldier.

“Are all American soldiers good-looking?” I asked the officer.

“Hahaha, are you hitting on me, young lady?” officer smiles at me.

“I didn’t mean it like that Officer Grande, it’s just that my friend gave me a dreamy description of how her fiancé looks like and these 8 fits to her details.” looking at the 8 pictures I selected. “Officer, can I see their personal records??”

“I’m sorry but I can’t help you with that. Personnel records are classified, but I can do some digging with these 8, since I also want your friend to be reunited with her fiancé.” Officer Grande said.

“Thank you, Officer Grande, you really are a great help!” smiling at him. “I’ll bring you pastries next Sunday along with a tea for your afternoon snack.”

“Hahaha. We’ll get the bottom of this. For now, you should go home and tell your friend that we’re almost close finding her fiancé.”

“I will. Thank you.” bowing my head to him as I leave his office.

Another week had past, and it’s already the last Sunday of March, for the 3rd time I went again to the base camp to get some updates.

5 out of 8 Swift, got a serious relationship with Korean women, so I told the officer Tae Ro’s name and everything I know about her to lessen the number to one.

Although it looks like that, I made Officer Grande as my detective, he told me he would help to solve the case because it intrigues him too as to who’s Swift, we’re trying to find.

First Sunday of April, also 4th day of the month, my 4th time coming to the camp, and probably the Fool’s day is still in effect because only one Swift got eliminated after I gave all information I got.

Officer Grande is frustrated too because we’re too close to the man and yet far from getting the case close so he resorted to his last option to ask the 4 Swifts directly.

“Next Sunday, I’ll give you the final answer, I also want this to get done and over with.” Officer Grande said firmly.

“Yes, please officer, we’re running out of time, my friend is in the brink of forgetting everything because of her dementia.” I said.

Well that’s the lied I made to make my story a complete drama although it’s not completely lie since Tae Ro is really losing it.

I’ve been busy for a month with studies, part-time job and this case I have, that I didn’t notice that I also become close to Alessia and Troye which is not in my plan.

“What is this gown for? And this pair of shoes and accessories?” I asked Alessia and Troye who handed me presents.

“Did you forget?!” Alessia exclaimed. “We’re taking you to the party tomorrow, we’ll introduced you to the rest of our friends.”

“We told you about it since last week.” Troye pointing his finger at me. “And you said that it’s alright for you to meet them.”

“Yeah, of course, but do I really have to go to the party and wear all of this fancy stuffs? I mean can’t I meet them casually??” scratching my forehead. “It’s too formal.”

“Well to tell you honestly, we’re attending a birthday party tomorrow. Alessia and I think that it’s the best time …” Troye said.

... To be Continued ...