Today, I was denied access.

     It was a very eventful day. Firstly, there was a torrential rainstorm pouring down upon Storm's End; it was spectacular! I had about thirty minutes until my headshot session, so Panda and I decided to get pho at a sketchy pho place; though, we apparently ordered the only item that was not pho (sorry we can't read Vietnamese?). Then we ran around the entire circumference of the building, only to find out that the entry way to my session was literally next door to the sketchy pho place. We were soaking wet. Like, my clothes were damp and my hair was so wet that I should have brought shampoo and conditioner to take a second shower. After that, we headed over to my job to attempt to pick-up my paycheck. Yay money! Here's where our story begins.

     It's about eleven-thirty (they just opened) and I told Panda that my check wouldn't be in yet.

Panda: Still, just go inside and check.

Asian: No. Last time, I got my check at like one, remember?

Panda: Still, it doesn't hurt to check.

     So we go in and try to receive my money. But, to no avail, I had failed.

Asian: Told you.

     With how much time we had to kill, we decided to go over to the mall and check out Victor's Rumor. We spent a good chunk of time looking at bras and deciding what bra would look best for Panda. As we're walking around the store, I notice one of the older employees testing what seemed to be a new recruit and giving advice on how to sell their merchandise. When we move over to the another sector of the store, we got pounced by the new recruit. Now, imagine the sound of her voice to be dull, overbearing, and having the sense of instilling the information she just learned:

Desperate: Hi, how are you doing?

Panda: Hi...I'm doing good...

     We attempted to walk away.

Desperate: Did you need help with anything today?

Panda: Oh, I'm fine. Just looking around the store.

     We attempted to walk away, again, but this girl was on us like a vulture; she wouldn't leave us alone.

Desperate: Oh... Did you hear about our new line of jean undergarments?

Panda: No... I -

Desperate: If you follow me, they're right over here.

     Basically, she wasn't giving us a choice to go venture around the store. Instead, she dragged us along to the jean print bras and underwear, even though Panda was clearly not interested.

Desperate: So we have our exclusive line of jean print bras and underwear that look great with any clothes. You can wear it just as a strapless bra, blah, blah, blah.

     I'm not gonna lie, I zoned out. Not only did I start my day off by waking up at seven-thirty, but she was boring me with her information. She didn't attempt to make it personal. Plus, is you know Panda, you would know that she's a curvier girl. In other words, she knows that she would NEVER wear just a bra as her everyday garment. So the fact that she didn't take into consideration Panda's needs just had me spacing out on her one hour powerpoint lecture.

Desperate: What bra size are you?

Panda: Oh... Um, thirty-six D.

Desperate: Ok, let me pull this out for you.

Panda: ............

Desperate: Alright, let's go get you a fitting room.

Panda: Actually, I wanted to look around a bit more.

Desperate: Oh, ok. Just let me know when you're ready.

     As we start to walk away:

Desperate: I'm Desperate by the way.

Panda: Oh, nice to meet you.

     We tried to get away, again:

Desperate: What's your name?

Panda: Panda.

Desperate: Nice to meet you, Panda. I'll help you get a fitting room when you're ready.

     We had finally gotten away. As we walked around the sector we were trying to look at, we discussed how desperate and overbearing she was and how she was not that personable. After we decided on what bras we wanted her to try on, we went to the dressing room area to see the sexiness that is Victor's Rumor.

Panda: Are you coming in?

Asian: I don't know. Do you want me to?

Panda:  Yeah, sure. Whatever. I don't care.

Asian: K. I'm coming in.

     As I inched past the archway and headed to the fitting room, Desperate had stopped me.

Desperate: Oh, um, you can't go in there.

Asian: Um, what? Why?

Desperate: Um, you just can't. Our store doesn't allow that.

     To be honest, I was too tired to fight her. But honestly, I have never seen a gay man be denied to go in and see his girl friend try on her bra. Apparently, I'm too straight and we look like a couple. Dear lord. Though, I'm not gonna lie, readers, it made me feel good about myself. It's something I can't really explain, but I took pride in her denying me access. I was mad, but I still took pride.

     After that whole debacle, we went off to get macarons and buy me some oreos before I went to pick up my check.

     If there was anything I learned from today, it's that I seem like a straight guy. So ladies, if you ever find yourself in times of trouble and need an out, I am here for you; I will be your pretend boyfriend. Just don't kiss me. Or attempt to grab me in places. I will leave you for dead.

     Here's to more future experiences and adventures.



Sincerely,
An Asian

Today, I had to think.

     As I was currently in the state of my deep, peaceful slumber, I heard and felt the intense double buzz from my beaten phone. Mother had texted me. The body of the text had informed me to call her so as to receive some good news. In my mind, three things had popped into question:

1. Did this have anything to do with our trip to the Motherland?

2. Did I win money? Or anything for that matter?

3. Why is she texting me so early in the morning (11:00 am)?

     While pondering the possibilities of what the good news could be, I laid in bed, staring at the ceiling for the next hour until I finally had the motivation to call.

Mother: Why hello, anak!

Asian: Heellooo, maja.

     slight silence

Asian: So what's the good news?

Mother: Oh, I just wanted to say hiiii!

Asian: That's it? That's the good news? You wanted me to call you just to hear you tell me something you tell me, like, everyday of my life.

     As I went on my little joking rant, my mother was laughing hysterically.

Mother: Can I not say hello to my children?

Asian: Is there something special to this hello that requires me to call you?

Mother: Yeeess! To tell you my love!

Asian: Oh, really? So did all of your other hellos mean nothing? So kind, mother, so kind.

     Eventually, we got to the reason why she had asked me to call her.

Asian: So did you or I win something? Ten thousand dollars?

Mother: You won ten thousand dollars?!

Asian: No, mother. I was asking if we won ten thousand dollars.

Mother: Oh, nooo. But, it's something better!

Asian: What?

Mother: "Dear Asian, We are pleased to annou-"

     From the beginning of that letter and recently learning about my dear friend's early acceptance, I was able to put two-and-two together.

Asian: No thank you.

Mother: What? This is from--

Asian: The School of White Magic. I know.

     Now, most people would have taken the opportunity to get in early; if I were still home, I would have. But since moving here, I realized that I wanted to complete my two year journey. I told myself and everybody that I was going to be here for that long and intend to keep to my word. Was it disappointing for both me and mother? Absolutely. But she knew. She knew that I'd eventually come back to finish because I was determined to complete this degree. For the meantime, I still have more adventures ahead of me.

     Later tonight, I met up with a guy I had been talking to for about a week or two for dinner. In the midst of that dinner, we discussed how he'd be moving to Saint Francis for work; leaving in the summer. I'm not gonna lie, my heart shattered into millions of pieces. Though, honestly, it was good that we had this conversation because in the end, we came to the decision of going with the flow and seeing where this interaction takes us.

     Life is about making those hard decisions and taking risks. I could have taken the easy way out and said that I'd be going home early and just let myself crumble to nothing after hearing Dutchman's news. But where the fun and sense of adventure in that? Everyday is a new experience and the best way to make it worthwhile is by taking the hardest route possible. Yes, tears will be shed to the point that it creates the sixth ocean of the world, but overcoming these obstacles will make these hardships the fondest of memories.

     So readers, the next time you face a hard decision, remember that there are two paths that you can take:

1. The easy path - content with life and having the power to move on.

or

2. The hard path - struggling with life and the willingness to put your life in the hands of chance.

     As I've said, my path is that of the latter, but it's not the path for everyone. It's your destiny. So choose.

     Here's to more adventures and experiences in the future.

Sincerely,

An Asian