June Cam
June Cam
I’m in the kitchen, leaning against the counter and having a midnight snack—the ube cheesecake that I bought at the market—when Justin returns. We’ve been roommates for years now, and while having a roommate and living in an old high-rise is not where I thought I’d be in my thirties, I don’t mind. It’s nice to have someone else around.
“Hey. How was your date?” I ask before sliding another bite into my mouth. I’m eating out of the cardboard box because I’m classy like that.
“Good,” Justin says as he pours himself some water. “Really, really good.”
“Two ‘reallys,’ eh?”
Justin looks like he’s fighting a goofy smile. I don’t know why he’s bothering to fight it; I certainly wouldn’t if I were in his position, but he’s a little more cautious than me when it comes to these things.
“What about your evening?” he asks. “Your meeting went well?”
“Sure.” If Justin doesn’t want to talk about his first date, I’ll let him off the hook… for now. “They’ve got a couple of weekends in August that’ll work. I’ll add it to the schedule tomorrow.”
I went to the night market to talk to someone about bringing their food truck to the brewery later this summer. I also sampled some of their bao and got bulgogi poutine from another vendor before buying a slice of cheesecake to take home with me. The vibe of the market was really cool, especially as it got dark. I love how food and drink bring people together. That’s part of what drew me to the industry.
I also loved the red Pocky box costume that I saw someone wearing. When I arrived home, I tried to find a place to buy it online, but nothing immediately came up. Maybe I’ll have to make one myself. It would be awesome for Halloween. I’ve worn my inflatable unicorn costume for a few years now, and I need something new.
Justin and I talk for a few more minutes—he still doesn’t let any details slip about his mystery man—before he turns in for the night. I do too. I’m not tired, but I should sleep because tomorrow is a busy day. Every day is a little different at the brewery that I started with Justin and Darrell, and I like it that way. I used to have a job where all my days were so similar, and they seemed to bleed into one another. It’s not like that now. Of course there are some terrible days—Tuesday, for example, was one crisis after another—but we get through them.
As I roll onto my side and try to get some shut-eye, my mind flits back to the market. I wish I could have tried all the food there, but alas, my stomach is only so big, and I won’t have time to go back tomorrow. For example, there were some satay sticks with peanut sauce that looked delicious. I saw a young couple eating those, and they looked like they were really enjoying them—or maybe they were more enjoying each other. I felt a sliver of envy before I shrugged and moved on.
Ah, well. So it goes.
I wonder how long it’ll take me to make that Pocky costume.