Once, when some of our post-its got lost and when I decided to do a Doctor Who marathon, hence I didn’t go out, Maca and I exchanged some words regarding escaping this world. Time travelling might not be possible—we all know the Doctor is real so whatever—but not because we don’t have a TARDIS doesn’t mean we can’t visit other worlds. There are other TARDIS for us, they allow us to leave our own problems behind and just focus on other things. And I’m happy that Maca and I agree on this. This is probably one of my favourite post-its she’s ever left when I mentioned getting lost in something to the point to forget the world outside.

   
     Indeed those are the best. For me books are an escape to another world. TV shows are an addiction.  Music is my personal bubble.

And so far I’ve taken her to books, I’ve given her more ways to escape to another world. I’ve given her a meeting with whovians so she can talk about her addiction. Now I just have to give her music. How can I not? It’s her personal bubble and I want to show her how much more amazing this can be, the different ways in which we can live it.

That’s why I’m taking her with Lee Won and her musical gang. These guys are amazing and this girl is the leader of the band. She’s a Korean exchange student, although I think she’ll stay here forever. I mean, she’s already stayed years and I don’t think she has plans of ever leaving. Maybe to another country, but not back home. She still has loads of things to do.

I met when I was still studying and when I wanted to find someone so talented that would blow my mind. I didn’t find exactly what I was looking for, but I found her and her band and they are so talented. They are street musicians and every Sunday going to see them is probably one of the things I enjoy the most. They don’t just play covers, they re-make them, they own them and create a whole new experience. And no matter what song you ask them for, they will pull it off and blow your mind.

If I don’t make Maca come here and meet them, then I will never forgive myself. As someone who loves music, she’ll appreciate these guys. So I go to Lee Won’s part time job to ask her to help me and also convince her mates to join her.

She works on a bookshop and she’s busy when Archie and I walk in, so we have to wait until she finishes with the costumer.

“Are you planning to bring Maca to this bookshop? But you’re sending her to Mr McDean already. And I thought you said you’ll send her to music now,” Archie questions out loud and I shake my head.

“Remember Lee Won’s band? I want her to give Maca the next letter,” I explain but Archie is still frowning. “I want Maca to see them perform live so I’m here to ask her to play for Maca when she gets there. That’s all.”

“Ah, okay. I don’t think she’ll have problem, though. They perform every Sunday, right?” I nod. “So it’s not like you’re asking them to break their routine or anything. She’ll be the easiest to persuade.”

“Yeah, most likely,” is all what I say and we keep waiting.

Lee Won is a really nice girl, energetic and super fun, but she’s also hard to convince although I don’t tell Archie this. It’s not because she doesn’t want to help, on the contrary, she has no problem with that. The problem is that she needs to understand before agreeing to do something and I don’t know how much I’ll be able to share so she can understand and finally agree.

“Reid, Archie!” Lee Won exclaims coming to us after her costumer leaves. We greet her with a big smile and a small nod. She’s been here for years already, but we’re still respectful of her personal space. “What a surprise to see you here. Are you looking for something?”

“No but yes,” Archie replies. “The other day I saw a friend with a book with the completed works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, with the illustrations as it was published. Do you have it? I need it,” Archie continues and my eyes widen in interest. I would like that, too.

“Oh yeah, I have it!” she exclaims. “It’s a hardcover one, but it’s quite light despite it. Come, over here,” she explains.

Lee Won is perfect to work here because she has an amazing memory. It’s probably why she can remember so many lyrics of so many songs without messing it up and in different languages. So she knows every book in the shop and has no trouble locating them. She’s the best employee.

“I want one, too,” I join and she smiles graciously to both of us, leading us through the isles until we make it to the classics. Once there she kneels until she grabs two very thick books. One for each and we examine them. They look amazing. “Thank you,” I say and so does Archie. “Although, this is not exactly why I came here.”

“Oh, how so? Is there something else in what I can help you?” See what I mean? Best employee ever.

“It’s a personal thing. Can you take five?” I question and she looks around. There’s a new costumer but Roger, the other employee, can take care of that.

“Sure,” she says so she guides us to the employee area, where they can rest and change. Once there we take seat and she looks at me expectantly. “So, tell me.”

“Do you remember the post-it girl I told you about?” I start and she nods. “I’m finally meeting her,” I continue and her smile is honest and radiant.

“That’s great, Reid! You always end up daydreaming about her when I see you,” she laughs and I look down, embarrassed.

“Well, yeah… anyhow, I’m doing something special for her.”

“Because you know, he can’t do things in a conventional way,” Archie inputs and Lee Won laughs.

“Yeah, true that,” I accept because there’s no point in denying that. “So I was wondering if you could help me.”

“What are you planning exactly?” she questions so I take a deep breathe and explain what I’ve told everyone. About the scavenger hunt, the letters and how I’ll only meet her at the end. “I don’t have a problem but why are you doing this? I mean, why aren’t you taking her to all these places?”

I knew she would ask me this. In a way, she’s like a three-year-old-girl, asking why, why, why. But if I want her to help me, then I need to make her understand. I look at Archie because he’s very interested. He has this smug expression, waiting to see how I escape from this one.

“Because I think this will make it more special for her and I want to make something she’ll never forget. I want her to see all these places, meet all these amazing people and realise the world is filled with colour. I feel she needs a day like this and at the same time, I think she needs to do this on her own,” I start she looks serious, Archie loses the smirk.

“How can you tell this?”

“It’s a feeling and once she told be how easy it was to be one let be consumed by darkness, so I want to show her all the bright things I know of so it won’t be that easy for her,” I continue and Archie’s expression is really serious now, kind of apologetic. I didn’t want him to know about this, but I know I have to tell Lee Won now.

“But that’s not all, is it?” she asks next, a little smile on her lips.

I chuckle because she’s perceptive. Maybe that’s why she’s so inquisitive, because she likes observing and understanding.

It’s true this stop is not only about music, it’s also about my own selfishness. I haven’t shared much about me in the post-its but she has, she’s showed me part of herself and I’ve wanted to know better all the things she’s mentioned. Like it happened with Doctor Who. I wanted to see for myself why she loved it so much. I’ve been more interested in books—not just plays—since I met her because I know she studies literature. So I want her to also share the things I love, on her own, so we can share and talk about it later. I want to make sure we have things in common even if I think we already have plenty. I just don’t want to leave room for awkwardness when I really meet her.

“When you play I feel like you’re making music come to live. Almost as if the song came alive and started dancing around you guys. What you do is, somehow, magical,” I start and her smile is so grateful. “Seeing you is one of the things I enjoy the most in life. You lot touch my soul with your performance and I want Maca to see that. I want her to love what I love.”

“Can she love it while she’s with you? Wouldn’t that be more special?”

I sigh. “I guess, but I think it has to be on her own so she can feel exactly how I feel when I’m with you. She once said music is her personal bubble, so I don’t want to blow it up by being by her side when she listens to you.” I look her in the eyes, hoping she can understand. “This is important for me, I really want her to love the things I love like I’ve found myself loving the things she loves.”

“Oh, I see then…You’re so cheesy, Reid,” she laughs and I sigh relieved because I’ve done it. I made her understand.

Yes!

“But one more question. Why doesn’t she know your name? She gave you hers, so it was only fair you gave her yours.”

I look away. I kind of hoped she wouldn’t ask this and Archie’s smug smile comes back, because he’s dying to know this. I have no problem accepting I’m cheesy, that I’m whipped and whatnot; but accepting I’m a coward and I was too scared she would stop talking to me is a different story. Maybe if Archie weren’t here I would tell Lee Won, but I don’t want to give in in front of him.

“I have my reasons,” I reply and Archie literally snorts.

“Oh come on! You’ve told her everything but you won’t tell her this?” he exclaims but I don’t look at them.

“I have my reasons,” I repeat with a heavy sigh.

“Meh,” is what Lee Won says instead, surprising me because the girl who needs to understand everything is just letting this one drop. So I look at her, with all the gratitude in my soul burning in my eyes. “So dramatic, Reid. An actor you had to be,” she laughs, lightening the mood and I smile. “So you’ll give me the letter tomorrow for her?”

“Maybe Sunday so I can see you perform, too. A Sunday isn’t complete without seeing you,” I reply and she smiles widely. Archie is sulking at her side.

“Perfect then. And now I have to go back, it’s bee more than five minutes,” informs Lee Won so we stand up and follow her back inside the shop. “Good luck and see you soon, Reid. Archie,” she speaks to my friend. “Don’t push him. He has his reasons.” He just pouts but I’m grateful. Maybe later, once I meet Maca I’ll tell him why.

“Kamsahabnida,” I say, very clumsily, and she laughs at my attempt to speak Korean. I know like three words.

“You’re welcome, Reid,” she replies bowing slightly and I do the same.

And after that we leave the shop and Archie is too quiet at first. “There’s more to her than just the post-its, right? It’s not just that she replies to you,” he muses after a while, as we keep walking.

“It’s more than that,” I confirm and he nods.

“So, where are we going now?” is his next question.

“To see our colleagues,” I reply smirking at him. “It’s not the next stop in Maca’s Day, but the one we’ll deal with now and to your relief, the last one in which you’ll go with me. Archie, it’s almost done.”

-:-:-

We're almost done! The first part only has 10 chapters and then we jump to the meeting! :B Anyhow, you know how this works: 500 votes for a new update and can you leave a comment? Not so many are commenting as before and I miss you loads!

Bel, xx