I think I like you a lot

Volume One: Strangers

Chapter One: Lana Chaveaux

My daddy told me, "Drinking without getting drunk is a waste of alcohol".

I listened; I always do. That's why I don't drink at business gatherings or while working. Ironically, my daddy's drunken words saved me from being an alcoholic. But not today. It's 4am and I'm in a children's playground, going back and forth on a swing, sipping from a bottle of red wine.

I'm scrolling on Instagram, watching reels and clicking on random profiles. I click on one, Claire Pavons, she was on my soccer team in high school. I see she posted a bikini picture from a beach in Mexico. I scroll further, a post of her and her boy friend in a street market in Hong Kong, A bit further, a dinner party, tagged in Sweden. Claire skipped college and instead chose to travel the world with her childhood sweetheart, James.

I click on another suggested page, Leonardo Casalev. His bio is a bible verses, most of his posts feature his wife and twin babies, he went to university with me, we shared a phycology class, now he's a therapist with a growing family and dream job.

People have choices. Which career to pursue, country to live in, friends, significant others, most things. I chose to become a lawyer with few friends and focus on my career. I don't feel envy towards others because I am the one responsible for my life. Regret is not a feeling, it's a decision.

So yes, I'm getting drunk on a Tuesday morning while stalking my 'friends' and I'm proud to do so.

I'm startled out of my stupor when I hear the swing beside my squeak. A man no older than 30 sits, he's wearing wired earbuds, running shoes, a navy hoodie with black sport shorts. He has badly bleached hair along with deep brown eyes. Unlike me, he's not pulling a lonely all nightery, instead he's a morning person who went out on a run.

We sit in silence. One-minute passes, another two, ten minutes, and he finally speaks.

"So..." he drags out "-you come here often?" I almost chuckle at his awkward tone. I guess he's trying to break the ice. He has a slight accent which tells me he's not originally from around here, I can't exactly place it.

"Yup, it's my usual hang out place for nights like these." "it's morning.". I chuckle at that, "I guess you're right, are you on a morning run?" I ask although I already know the answer to that. "Yes, are you" "no, more like a nighttime hangout" I respond, I sound pathetic, he laughs at this.

"Are hangouts not supposed to be with multiple people?" he asks, I nod my head, smiling "Yes, it's a lonely hangout.".

"I'm Jang Sun-oh" "Nice to meet you Jang, my name is Lana Chaveaux" I introduce back, he bursts out laughing, I tilt my head curiously, "Did I say something funny?" I question. "No, no!" he reassures, although he continues laughing after glancing at my expression.

"My name is Sun-oh Jang, I am still not used to the name system in France, in South Korea it's family name and then first name." I hum with understanding at his explanation, I guess I'm a bit slow at this time of night. Morning?. Now I know where the accent is from. "Your name is pretty" I say, his face slightly flushes at the compliment, he thanks me.

It's back to the silence, more awkward than before, I put my air pods in and listen to music while checking my schedule for the day. I'm not sure if I should bid the stranger goodbye so I just quietly mutter a quick "bye" before jogging away to my apartment close to the park. I don't hear him respond but I feel his eyes on me as I retreat.

I unlock my penthouse apartment and walk in to be greeted by my cat, Beaux. A cute Scottish straight girl with gray fur, large black eyes, named handsome. I walk to my kitchen, placing the bottle down and give some food to the chubby cat. She purrs while eating.