After the door closed, I turned toward Bamson. By then, he was already standing. I got a little scared and stepped back.
My back was toward the door, so I slowly moved backward and stood against it. Without making a sound, I turned the door handle and opened it.
But—but how do I go outside? Outside is snow… inside is fire. O God, O God… where have I gotten stuck?
So I shut the door again and came back toward my bed.
During this time, Bamson didn't move a single step at all. He just kept looking at me as if saying, "Are you crazy? I haven't even said anything yet. Since yesterday, not even once have I made a sound. I didn't move a single step—you're the one going here and there."
And then, as if in a silent prayer, his eyes seemed to complain:
"O God, being apart from Jeon.J is a big punishment… but meeting this girl feels like an even bigger one. Since yesterday she's been pretending as if she's tolerating me, while in reality I'm the one tolerating her. Grant me patience."
Just thinking of it, I shivered. What am I even thinking…
I narrowed my eyes and looked at Bamson. He sat back down in the same place.
------
Minji went straight to the counter because, in the mess, food was served buffet style. You just had to pick up a plate and choose from different counters whatever you liked. But the rule was clear: food could not be taken outside.
Now the real mission was to steal it. Everyone was ready. While stealing, they also had to take care of their clothes, not to spoil anything.
They had finished their own breakfast and got up. Now came the mission (stealing food for
Bamson and Zoya).
----
Bamson was lying lazily on his mattress when I said,
"Look, I'm not afraid of you… but stay in your place. What a fate I have, sharing a room with a dog."
Then I sighed:
"You know, today we are stealing for you. Oh no… not me, those four. I only feel sympathy for them."
Bamson stayed silent, not even moving his tail.
I thought aloud, "What will they even bring for you? Bread… maybe some boiled rice, and a piece of chicken. Strange, isn't it? In my country, dogs only eat meat, but here dogs eat rice, boiled vegetables, boiled chicken… and even sleep on mattresses. My sadness isn't leaving me, but last night I even saw dog snacks and biscuits here. Anyway, let's have a nice breakfast. You your food, me my tea."
I walked toward the teapot on my study table. On one side of the table was Bamson's royal mattress. I pointed my finger at him,
"Don't you move, I'm saying it again!"
Then quickly put my finger down, scared he might actually get angry.
"Hurry up, I'm already late. Let me make tea till they come back with breakfast. Then we'll eat together, okay? Together… Allah Allah, you your food, me my tea."
---
Minji suddenly came outside empty-handed and panicked:
"Guys, we came out without anything! Zoya will be furious. We left her alone with Bamson—who knows what has happened by now.
We all did steal something… but where did we hide it? Come on, let's check." So pretend you're self we are innocent Sofia ny kaha.
Hana had stuffed an omelet inside her coat, but half of it was still hanging outside like a yellow flag.
Ruhi had grabbed a bread and tucked it inside her shirt, hanging it with her pant belt like a holster. Every step she took, the bread swung like a clock pendulum.
Minji had taken one bread and a boiled egg, hiding them in her coat's pocket. But the egg was so hot she kept whispering, "Ahhh hot, hot, hot!" while walking.
Sofia had taken boiled chicken and hot rice inside her short coat. The rice was steaming so much that smoke was rising out, making her look like a walking steam-engine.
All four were trying hard to keep straight faces, but their walk looked like a group of badly trained magicians sneaking props.
---
I was pouring tea into my cup with hopeful eyes.
"Finally they'll come… at least one hand-packed breakfast will appear."
The door opened. All four entered, standing like guilty thieves. I looked at their empty hands and raised an eyebrow.
"Where. Is. The. Food?"
Minji tried to look heroic, pulled an egg from her coat pocket… but it slipped from her fingers and rolled away across the floor.
Hana opened her coat—half omelet fell out, half stayed glued.
Ruhi lifted her shirt slightly, and the bread swung forward like a pendulum.
Sofia unbuttoned her coat, and a cloud of steam puffed out—inside, boiled rice was stuck like glue with a lonely piece of chicken.
I froze with my teacup in hand. Then slowly my lips curved.
"You didn't bring breakfast… you brought the whole mess inside your coats!"
Everyone burst into laughter, and at that exact moment Bamson jumped up from his mattress and caught Ruhi's swinging bread straight from mid-air.
After breakfast with only a boiled egg and tea, the rest of the food was kept for Bamson—he ate half and saved half for later.
We all went to the university, but since Ruhi and Hana's class started a bit later, they stayed back in the room. Minji, Sofia, and I went first. After two lectures, Minji disappeared because she had gone back to the room, while Hana and Ruhi left for their own class.
Minji was a very confidential kind of girl. And yes, she was from Korea, so she could handle whether to skip a class or not—it didn't really matter. But she wasn't non-serious either. She had just given herself this free hand because of Bamson, since we couldn't leave him completely alone, and Ruhi and Hana had to attend their class.
Ruhi, Hana, and I had to go out for some work today—I needed to find a job. For the past ten days, Ruhi and Hana had been working at a restaurant as waitresses. But I didn't want to do a waitress job. The problem wasn't the job itself, but the outfit waitresses usually wore. Ruhi and Hana went at 2 in the afternoon and came back around 6 in the evening.
When I first came, I didn't even know they were doing a job, because as soon as I arrived, the matter of Bamson happened, and they had to take off from work. They had told the restaurant owner that it was some university work. It's hard to get leave from work, and there was a big chance the restaurant owner could have replaced them, but both Ruhi and Hana tried their best in 10 days—that's why their owner didn't object to their leave.
Sofia and Minji weren't really in the mood for a job yet, but I wanted one, so today Hana said she would introduce me to her restaurant owner. Let's see what happens. Life here was very challenging—and on top of it all, Bamson…
If Bamson had been just an ordinary dog, it wouldn't have been such an issue. But he was the dog of an idol, and missing. People were searching for him everywhere. We had no idea what would happen next. It had already been a week since Bamson came to us. We all took turns caring for him, while also managing our studies and jobs.
Minji and Sofia had stayed in our dorm twice during the week. Once, Minji even slept on Bamson's mattress with him. When I saw that, I laughed and said, "Who's luckier—Minji or Bamson?" Hahaha.
Sofia somehow managed to adjust anywhere—she was smart like that. In fact, all four of them were smart. Except me. I always felt a little fat compared to them—not too much, just enough that I noticed it. Honestly, being slightly chubby suited me, but too much wouldn't. Still, these four were overly smart, so next to them I always saw myself as fat, even though in reality I was slim. They were just too smart. Hahaha.
Through Hana and Ruhi, I finally got a job too—at their restaurant. But I chose the kitchen helper position because I had already done a diploma in my own country, so I knew this work well. I was really good at cutting vegetables. I liked this job and was happy with it. I enjoyed kitchen and cooking work.
Life was moving along… but during this time, we forgot something. Or maybe we became too clever. This time I also became too clever along with them. When we had saved Bamson, we had chosen the window route. But why didn't we notice that in the back alley there were also houses? And most houses had CCTV cameras at their gates.
The night we were pulling Bamson up through the window, the street had been empty because it was late and everyone was asleep. But CCTV never sleeps.
To be Continue....
(This is for Readers)
I had so much fun writing this little morning adventure with Zoya, Bamson, and the girls.
I hope it made you laugh, smile, or even shake your head a little at their mischief!
If you enjoyed this episode, please like, comment, and encourage me—it means the world.
Sometimes, life's little chaos teaches us patience, laughter, and the joy of small moments.
Thank you for reading and sharing these tiny adventures with me.
– ZK