Page 1 of Marked By Him

1.Monroe

I’m being stood up.

I glance at my phone for the fifth time in ten minutes. Still no messages. No missed calls. Not even an email or DM on social media.

The time on my phone screen shows 8:50 p.m. He’s officially twenty minutes late. Another ten minutes, and I’m out of here.

I’m sitting in the corner of Burger & Pasta, the most nauseatingly American name for a restaurant in all of Busan. Actually, scratch that—all of South Korea.

The placedoessmell like a stereotypical American restaurant, the scent of processed cheese and burger grease in the air. I wouldn’t have picked this for a date setting in a million years, but Andrew swore up and down it was amazing.

Why I trusted his judgment when I’ve never met the man… I can’t even say. One of the few American teachers I work with at the private school where I teach English set us up. At first I flat out refused.

There was no way I was going on the modern day version of ablind date.

I mean, sure. Dating nowadays has become like a visit to the dentist for a root canal, but it’s not like I was pressed to start dating anyway.

I didn’t move to South Korea for romance or relationships. I moved here to get far away from the life I lived back home.

Something new. Something fresh.

Anything to take my mind off the past.

But Kelly insisted. She said it’d been too long and her friend Andrew was cute, smart, and single. He was an expat too, though he didn’t work at our school.

I blow out a sigh as I tap the little green icon and bring up my messages app. I’m letting Kelly know her boy has exactly ten—nope,ninenow—minutes to get here, or I’m out.

Andrew didn’t show

No way? Seriously? He’s always on time!

I’ve been here for 20 mins. You sure he meant the Burger & Pasta near Haeundae Beach?

Yup, it’s his favorite. He’s probably running late. He’ll be there!

“Doesn’t seem like it,” I mutter under my breath. I lean back in the booth and turn my gaze to the window to check if I can spot him on the street outside.

The night air is humid and warm, filled with the sounds of people chatting and laughing as they pass on their way to the bars and clubs. Haeundae has a great nightlife, often enjoyed by locals and tourists alike.

As I people-watch the crowds, I wonder if any of them feel as awkward as I do.

Probably not.

I’m the one being stood up. And on the first date I’ve gone on in two years.

…since Eli.

I feel like a traitor even sitting here like this. It already felt wrong when Kelly set up the date. Now that the guy hasn’t even bothered to show, I’m sure it was a mistake.

The front door swings open and a man steps inside. He looks around, scanning the restaurant floor from behind his round glasses. He’s short and slim, with a receding hairline and overbite. It takes me a second to even recognize him.

It’s Andrew, looking way different than he did in the photo.

In the photo, he had a lot more hair… and height.

Great. I’m being catfished. By a guy twenty-six minutes late.

He spots me only a second after I do him. His face lights up and he arrows straight over.

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