Dream Is An Alternate Universe
The Happiness Cafe

Every now and then my eyes looked out the window of this cafe located in Gwanghwamun Square. People say all their problems are solved just because they sit and drink coffee here. It sounds very absurd indeed, but to me, a teenager who craves happiness, this is a must try.

“Welcome to Happiness Cafe, Jung Raewoo-ssi,” a male waitress, her age may be 30s, wearing a blue turtleneck dongker, handsome face, a, with a height of about 1.73 meters a slightly grayish-black haired stood beside my desk. I sighed and looked back at the table, hiding the face of the servant.

“There can I help?” Many, I say in my heart, that too if you can really help.

“What are the men that are here?” tanyaku.

“Menu? Our drinks are just a side. Our main menu is happiness for our customers. I really ask what I can help, Agasshi must have problems visiting here,” the man smiled.

“I need to pay to tell you a story?” ask again. He nodded and returned smiling. All right, strange cafe, don't peg a penny and ask about the problem, not what you want to order.

“You know my name and I don't know your name, let's get acquainted with each other,” I spoke long for the first time.

“Alright, introduce my name Gijeok, your guide and storymate from now on,” the man replied and bowed before me.

“Gijeok? That's really your name?” I frowned, a strange name because it is rarely used in Korea, despite its good meaning, magic.

“Not, that's my nickname while working. Well, now, can I hold your hand?” I hesitantly extended my left hand. It's not my habit to trust new people but Gijeok-ssi gives me hope. At a glance he smiled smirkingly, it seemed like the man could see the injuries on my wrist, some bruises and incisions. Then, he clasped my palm and closed his eyes.

Not until 10 seconds he re-opened his eyes and smiled at me, “I know now.” Gijeok flicked his fingers, in one second, they had already moved places. The cold air outside welcomed those standing by the roadside.

“Mapo Bridge, you want to go here with the purpose of plunging into the Han River before deciding to go to Happiness Cafe. Right?” Gijeok looked at me softly, there is no judgment there.

“True, ah, it was terrible,” I took off my grip and inched backwards, “How did you know? Y-you're stalkers!”

He shook his head, there was still sincerity on his face, “Not. I can know the contents of your mind in the past by touch and can also teleport here.”

“Cannot be! It's all just fiction. No human has it,” I argue still trying to accept something beyond logic, “And this is all Virtual Reality or Augmented Reality ‘ right?”

“This is really Mapo Bridge,” Gijeok stroked that bridge divider. With a little fear, I touched the guardrail. Cold, totally bordering Mapo Bridge.

“So, we just actually teleported?” I still don't believe it. The man nodded enthusiastically.

“It's cool, but also creepy. You know my thoughts about that also’?” “Ya and this bridge already forbid you to do that, ‘hajima’ Raewoo-ya.” Gijeok walked down the bridge and I followed him.

“I'm not happy in this world. Not cooled by anyone. Shouldn't be alive. I should have died long ago,” the fog in the Han river twitched, as if hearing my grievance.

“Do you think?”

“Yes, I've already noticed. Even my parents, ah, no. Actually, it was only my father who didn't like me. Funny and pathetic at the same time.”

“Then I will help you find happiness. So, what do you want?” I shut up and thought for a moment. I haven't seen anything I like for a long time, let alone wanted something. All this time I lived, studied, socialized as a robot, fulfilled their desires. Hollowly. There is nothing left of my original self. All that was there was their expectation.

“Nothing. I always do what others like. Not me. What I like they don't like,” I said bluntly. He just shook his head, stopped walking, and pointed to another sentence on the border of Mapo bridge.

‘ ⁇ ⁇ ’ (People's view)

He pointed to the sentence after that.

‘ ⁇ ⁇ ’ (Is it that important)

“That's important, I was once lonely for being myself.” Reply lirih.

“Now you will take off that mask and find happiness. Your happiness is more important than their outlook. I will accept you for who you are. So, tell me, what do you dream about and like? I’m genie for your wish.” I grabbed Gijeok's shoulder and whispered the name of a place timidly. He nodded, grabbed my hand, then snapped a finger.

***

The waves welcome the sudden arrival of those.

“Good choice, Raewoo-ya,” the man standing next to the girl in the elite high school uniform was smiling and staring at the expanse of sea.

“Mokpo ... This really is Mokpo beach!” Raewoo exclaimed after smelling the distinctive beach smell.

“Even better,” the man pointed at his canvas, paint, brush, along with his canvas stand.

“Wah, thank you very much Gijeok ...”

“Ssi, just call me Gijeok-ssi. Proximity is not based on calls, right?” Gijeok smiled, so did Raewoo.

“Thank you very much, Gijeok-ssi.” The girl ran towards the painting equipment and started to get busy.

“Do not mean to disturb your happiness Raewoo-ya. But remember, you only have time with me until 8pm tonight. After that time back the first time we met.” Gijeok warns of their deadline on Raewoo.

“And now it's five o'clock, I'd better finish quickly.”

“No need, just enjoy. Generate your best work.” The man leaned against the handle of the bridge, right to Raewoo's right.

“This is the second time I've been here, since I was born.”

Gijeok's view that was in the sea of Mokpo is now turned to Raewoo, “So the first visit was when you were born?”

The girl nodded, but her eyes remained on the canvas which began to fill with several colors, “Ya, I was born in Mokpo. My mother is Mokpo and my father is Seoul. A lot of things happened to make my dad hate mommy and this place so I could never come here. I'm happy to be able to go to Mokpo and do my best hobbies.”

“Uh ... forbidden hobby?” now Gijeok looked at Raewoo in wonder.

“Yes. Forbidden, for my father. I'm just an investment in his future. Money-making with a brilliant brain. He only appreciates academic intelligence and wealth. I am the heir to his throne, not a child who can determine his own path.” The girl then continued her painting activities.

Gijeok patted Raewoo's back gently and smiled, “There is no talent that cannot be appreciated. He just doesn't know how. But with me, you can do your hobby. Anyway your work is good.”

“It still feels like a dream, meeting you.”

“You're kidding Gijeok-ssi? It's indeed for you, free,” said Raewoo cheerfully, “Surely I can't take this home. My father could beat me to death because I was caught painting. Well, that's how I got all these wounds." The smile faded instantly, Gijeok knew, that sentence was no joke.

“Ah, things could get better someday, Raewoo-ya. If you are hurt, go to me. From now on I'm your best friend,” Gijeok back pat the girl on the back.

“Thank you very much. Ah, the sun is almost setting,” he left his canvas that has been filled with paintings and focuses on the sunset. The girl traced every color that emanated and recorded it in memory, she did not want to lose this beautiful moment.

“This is so beautiful,” muttered Gijeok while commenting on a smile.

“Now at 6 hours, correct ‘kan Gijeok-ssi?” asked Raewoo without looking.

The man nodded, “Two hours of your time. Now what do you want? Eat something or go somewhere?”

“Ah, by feeling this alone I am already grateful. When it comes to food, I always eat good. But is the bird happy in its golden cage? Hm, I found out what I wanted all this time, free. It's more than enough Gijeok-ssi,” Raewoo looks at Gijeok with a smile, he's really happy now.

“Your time is still two hours, if there is a place, goods or other things you want, say.” When the sun goes down completely, the girl whispers something to the man followed by a snap of a finger by the man. They had already reached another place in a matter of seconds, fortunately no one was aware of their presence appearing out of nowhere. Raewoo blinked his eyes digesting all the colors that went into his retina.

“Everland! Ah, finally!” Raewoo exclaims happily and smiles, “Thank you, Gijeok-ssi.”

Gijeok smiled, “It turns out your happiness is really simple.”

"My schoolmates call me a kid just because I love this place. Continuous learning makes my brain less rested. I love the colorful Everland,” the girl is now blunt.

“So, you hid this pleasure from your friends?” the man asked her.

“My father too,” Raewoo sighed and went back down.

“For today you are free to ride all the rides here. Let's just say one Everland I've hired,” Gijeok's words make Raewoo's eyes shine again.

“Really, Gijeok-ssi? Ah, this is just a dream again, for sure,” the teenage girl seemed to be in disbelief with what she was facing now.

“No, no, I treat you. Teenagers should have fun. But remember, you only have time with me until 8pm tonight,” Gijeok warned their deadline to Raewoo.

“And now it's 6.30.”

“Just enjoy your time, Raewoo-ya. That's more than enough.” The girl was running around in the Everland area and was always holding Gijeok. Their first destination was the Four Sesason Garden, a flower garden and old Dutch town buildings. The lights that are there make the instlation more beautiful at night.

“You know Gijeok-ssi,” Raewoo gazes at each set of flowers with enthusiasm, “This is the first time I've felt this free since I was born.”

“Learning is good, but you need to be free for a moment too. Life is not just about academics,” Gijeok smiled at Raewoo.

“Gijeok-ssi, if only you were my father, then I got a math score of 80. Are you going to lock me up in my room and tell me to study harder when before the replay I learned really hard?” now the girl's eyes were on Gijeok, waiting for an answer.

“I'll ask you to learn more,” those eyes show disappointment, “But, that doesn't mean it has to be that day too and lock you in the room ‘kan? If only I were as rich as your father maybe that night I would treat you to the best food or ask you to rest.”

Raewoo smiled again, “I wish you were always with me.”

“Unfortunately it cannot happen ...”

“Well, I have to make good use of my time. Come aboard T-Express!”

“T ... What?”

“T-Express, are you afraid of heights?” again Raewoo looked at Gijeok, asking for an answer. The man nodded, then smiled.

“Then, come!” the girl pulls Gijeok in line to the T-Express ride and makes him sit on that roller coaster.

“Uh, it looks like I have to go down and keep your painting.”

“Don't be silly Gijeok-ssi, you've left it to the guard earlier.”

"All right.” With resignation, the man followed where the T-Express took him. Sometimes he screamed out of fear, but the girl beside him was even excited. It's okay, anyway the laughter makes this ride feel better, Gijeok thought. After several roads up, down, and around, the T-Express finally stopped. Gijeok heaved a sigh of relief as soon as it came down and Raewoo showed a satisfied face.

“Good experience, thank you for coming with me. You're funny too when you shout,” the girl chuckles, Gijeok managed to make the afternoon and evening happy.

“Now I take your painting and we ride Sky Cruise, agree?” Raewoo nodded, sign in agreement. Soon enough, they were already sitting inside a gondola carrying them around above Everland.

“Get your left hand again,” says Gijeok. This time Raewoo extended his hand without hesitation and the man immediately clasped his palm.

He took a breath and closed his eyes, his left hand emitting a light that enveloped Raewoo's wrist, “Cured.” The glint faded, Gijeok took off his grasp and let the girl see his work.

“No scar .. You are truly a magical creature!”

“Hm, remember my words in Mokpo if you get hurt again and don't hurt yourself again. You are a special flower and worth appreciating.”

The girl nodded. Gijeok glanced at his watch, “Sadly once the time is up, Raewoo-ya. I'm sorry I couldn't really save you.”

“You have realized my greatest desire number 2. A pal. I don't know how I should pay you other than with a very sincere word of thanks. Thank you very much,” Raewoo smiled and they looked up for the last time that day.

***

The smell of coffee again burst, the wall clock still shows at 5 pm, but the Mokpo beach painting on the canvas hanging on the wall of the cafe and this little letter is indisputable proof that I was once a free bird in the reality of my life.

+82xxx-1106-xxxx

Every day, a miracle awaits you. If you need any help and can't get here, call.

-기적

“Thank you very much, Gijeok-ssi.”