✓ Never Is A Promise, p.js

31 | distance is the enemy

31. DISTANCE IS THE ENEMY

— JAY'S POV

The life in Seattle was seemingly unfamiliar and strange for Jay in some ways in the first few months of settling himself in his old city — those unknown faces, those language that people communicate on daily basis, the food that he eats, the western culture that's significantly contrasting with the ones in Korea. Everything was different. Of course, he tried to fit in just to find the fun part of living his life there, and slowly he's getting used to everything.

Everything means — the unexpected weathers that he had to endure, the various of people that he meets, the social life that's been practised everywhere around this country. Back in the days, Jay would only have a small group of friends as he was appealed to be more introverted. But living in Seattle has turned him into a different person. Yet, not completely, but definitely different enough for his personality to be quite distinct due to the environment he has to face every single day.

He used to just hangout with his friends such as Jake, Sunghoon, and Jungwon. That's when he draws the line. He couldn't hangout with people other than those three friends of his. But now, he goes out with literally everyone, whereas hanging out with a friend's friend becomes a norm for him now and it doesn't make him awkward or uncomfortable whatsoever. Instead, it turned him into a social butterfly amongst those people he went out with. Jay is more carefree in Seattle more than he ever did before.

He had experienced through all seasons in Seattle — winter, spring, summer, and fall. Days after days had passed. Where days turned into months. Eventually, months shifted into a year. And he still hasn't had the time to himself for a break, which means he still hasn't met Anais too for almost a year now. Jay misses her every day and it feels terrible that the distance and his career get in the way of their relationship.

Due to the distance that they both shared, the only ways that could make their relationship feel alive again is by having those virtual dates through video calls — perhaps a movie date together, playing some games together and just simply tell each other's life updates. At times, Jay also would send Anais some postcards all the way from Seattle just for the sole purpose of those fun part in committing a long distance relationship itself.

On the other hand, having so much commitments as an adult also drains Jay so much. Ever since he started working and handling the business in Seattle, he's also turning into a workaholic man where he could feel those burdens and responsibilities are being weighed down on his shoulders. Projects after projects that he has to take over where his days were filled of meetings with clients, attending events and press conferences, going for an outstation. He couldn't catch up with everything in life, especially in his relationship.

For the day, Jay has to join another meeting with a client from New York at one of the coffee shops near his office, so he strides his way through bustling, gloomy city as he's walking down the streets. As he enters the cafe, Jay greets the clients warmly before continuing with their discussion over the coffee. It takes him about two hours to finish and he has to run back to his office for another catch up meeting at 3 in the evening. But as soon as he finishes with the meeting of the day, he finally clocks out of the office.

Since it's too much hassle for him to cook these days, Jay will end up just drive to one of his favourite seafood restaurants in the Downtown area. He loves to prepare his own dinner when he first moved in the city, challenging himself to learn more how to cook those Korean dishes that he craved for but nowadays he barely has enough time for anything. Therefore, dining out after working hour is the only routine he could do religiously nowadays.