Note: This was written last October 27th.
I surprised myself today. I actually went out willingly, even though I hesitated the night before and those few minutes after I had just woken up.
This is what happens when you live out there in the sticks: Going to my favorite places start feeling like a chore because they’re about half an hour away, at the minimum. (I exaggerate about being “in the sticks” but most days, that’s definitely what it feels like. 😅)
A favorite haunt from days of yore
This place reminds me of my younger years, ranging from being an elementary school-age kid who tripped on her way inside the van, holding an ice cream cone on her right hand. It was either I smear ice cream all over my aunt’s car seat or my face. The people pleaser in me won. I had my face smooshed on the seat. My cousin laughed her heart out; I felt my face go up in flames from embarrassment. I was nine years old, more or less.
I’m surprised it has changed SO MUCH. I haven’t been here for a year and the whole mall has turned into a maze. Or maybe that’s just me and my memory bank whose capacity rivals that of a goldfish. 😅
The food court, called Food Choices ever since I could remember back from my college years, didn’t change since the last time I’ve been here. I already knew what I was going to eat for my late lunch: World Chicken. It’s my comfort food, reminiscent of The Days of Yore™. But before World Chicken was Cajun Pepper (??). It was my absolute favorite back in college. Whenever me and my schoolmates (a.k.a. blockmates) went to Food Choices circa 2000, it was Cajun Pepper for me. Their burgers were perfect. chef’s kiss I was really heartbroken when I just woke up one day and their stall had simply disappeared. Until today, I would gaze longingly at their place in the row of food chains in Food Choices. If you came from the escalators a floor above Auntie Anne’s, they used to be the third stall to your left.
Getting old, getting lost
I was looking for an ATM and I was so confident about knowing where to find them. From Food Choices, I’d go one floor down and it’s somewhere there. I ended up heading for the wrong direction and hooked a left turn to right the wrong, only to find that the ATMs aren’t there anymore. I was flummoxed. Why move them when they’re in the perfect spot?
I had to walk some more and in my quest to find any ATM, I spotted a huge statue of Mother Mary. Being the Catholic schoolgirl that I was, I just had to stop and pay my respects. I even grabbed a leaflet containing information about Tierra de [insert name], [insert healing info].
Two ATMs were placed near the statue. I went ahead and withdrew some money, all joyful and pleased as a punch. Honestly, my chunky legs can’t take a lot of walking anymore. I really need to start exercising again.
Am I… special?
Back to the food court – Food Choices – I go. I stopped by Gong Cha, deliberating for about five minutes whether I should get some taro milk tea with pudding and risk getting a stomachache or if I should pretend I’m in a new diet and just skip it.
I’m not thirsty, but the call of Gong Cha is just too strong for me to resist. So I went ahead and bought one: 50% sugar, less ice, medium. Then I plop down on one of the steel seats and started typing this out because vanity made me think, “My readers would love reading about my thoughts!”
The taro milk tea is as good as I remembered it and my taste buds are singing praises.
I know it’s not exactly cool to be typing out here in the wild. I mean, cool writers do their writer things in Starbucks or Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf or some other hip coffe shops. Right? BUT. There is a but here, thank goodness. But I have a classmate! In this table! I’m sitting on one end, typing this out and he’s sitting on the other end, his laptop bearing witness to his own thoughts. Or maybe he’s a freelancer and he’s working. What they say is true: Quirky birds of a feather truly do fly together.
Baekhyun wallpaper, Taemin thoughts
As I powered on my laptop, my Baekhyun wallpaper flashed on the screen. I wonder who’s looking at it right now and thinking, “Oh, she’s a kpop girl.” It’s a good thing I’m wearing a face mask. Otherwise, I might probably get judged. “Oh, she’s an old kpop lady.” 😅
I want to blast Taemin’s “Eternal” album, but I’m not at home and “Sexy in the Air” will just clash with Food Choices’ song of choice. I don’t know the title, but it definitely sounds like a throwback from my college days.
Wrapping it up, but the typing continues
My not-so-brief recap of visiting my favorite mall ends here, folks. Thank you for listening to me ramble. My milk taro tea is already halfway chugged down and I have a horror story to write. I hope you’re having a blast. Go watch that sunset while sipping some wine. Binge-watch “Gannibal” while snacking on pizza. Do what makes you happy because life is short and weekends are shorter still.
The week that was in photo
