Martoons

Today: The foreigner engages in a battle of wits with a formidable opponent.

Cast of characters

The Foreigner

Miss No

*

Miss No for her part was struggling to keep her composure.

The bus trip back from her school friend’s baby shower in a nearby city had been predictable and dull and she’d slept most of the way.

The event itself had bored her to tears; her friend was quickly becoming a traditional housewife, something No wanted to avoid as long as possible, if not forever.

But on the way back in the bus she’d had a disturbing dream.

Problem was, the moment she woke up as the bus pulled into the terminal, she began forgetting it.

All she could remember now was that it disturbed her.

She headed into the Riverside building shaking her head.

* What do you think her dream was about? *

As the foreigner followed her movements, it was one of those situations where you’ve never met the person, but you know it’s the one you’re looking for.

He gave No a few minutes to go upstairs and get settled in while he finished his coffee.

How the hell am I going to pull this off?

I’ve convinced Mr Go to fire Thomas and now I have to soften this lady up for that.

It’s not going to be easy. 

* How do you think he’s going to do it? *

When he sauntered back into Riverside’s lobby, the receptionist had stepped away from her desk.

The foreigner took it upon himself to find his own way up to No’s office.

Already at her desk counting piles of tuition money, No was startled when the unsolicited, odd-looking Korean stranger appeared at her door unannounced.

With multiple, foot-high piles of cash notes on her desk, her first thought was that she was being robbed.

“Don’t come in!” she yelled springing to her feet, sweeping him away with her hands.

“Go out, please, go out! Give me a minute!”

“Okay, okay, I’m outing.” And he backed out, closing the door behind him.

“So sorry. I should have knocked first.”

No hurriedly and neatly placed thick-gauge elastics around each stack of money and then placed them neatly in her big lockable drawer, and quickly secured it.

He doesn’t look or act like a robber.

Wonder what he wants?

She straightened herself out and took a deep breath.

“Yes?” she called out to the visitor.

The foreigner collected his thoughts.

He knew what he wanted to say but had no idea how to say it.

And his brain wasn’t firing up.

This was enemy territory.

He was disoriented and dizzy. 

His stomach was acting up again; he was tired; actually, chronically burned out; his soju perma-hangover was nagging him.

“You can come in now!” No announced somewhat impatiently.

The foreigner cautiously slipped through the door and stood just inside the office.

Making himself appear humble and non-threatening, he bowed his head and looked down to the ground, deflating his shoulders.

Visitors were constantly dropping in on No unannounced – some welcome; many not, yet this one was … somehow … different.

Miss No was instantly struck by conflicting tinges.

The tiny hairs on the back of her neck tingled.

Yet she found herself stiffening up and unconscious amber lights were illuminating.

The keyboon he projected was … foreign, greasy, and shadowy; yet he aroused her curiosity.

*Will Miss No and this strange foreigner hit it off?*

“How may I help you? I can only give you a minute or two. I’ve been out of town all day so am now trying to get caught up.”

Recognizing the urgency, the foreigner cleared his throat but remained silent.

Seeing his almost youth-like dumbfoundedness, No softened her tone but remained skeptical.

“Who are you? Why are you here?”

*

Tomorrow: A scheme is produced.