Stupid rain, I thought, as I left the radio station with DJ Tom Slick and Kate.  Looking over at both of them and their umbrellas I realized that the only stupid one was me.  I tried to edge under Tom’s umbrella as we walked to the corner to catch a cab.  Fifteen minutes later I gave Tom a hi five because we finally managed to grab a cab to Itaewon.  SMH.  Tom had to spin at Boom Bar and I was headed to Luv Lounge to say wassup to my peoples. When I came to Korea back in 2008, I trained with Eric McLee and Timmy Chang, so whenever the two of them are together I do my best to show up.  Plus, Eric invites me to every Nexcite Party and I try to make it to at least one in every ten events.  I had already missed about nine.  My bad homie. Shout out to the homie David too.

After chopping it up with a few folks I decided it was about time to head home.  As I began my walk from Itaewon I realized that I’d be soaking wet by the time I got home.  In an attempt to stay dry I ripped  down a few concert posters to cover my head. It actually worked really well, well at least for the next three minutes. It is what it is, I thought.   I accepted my fate and resumed my walk. I passed this Korean girl walking to my right, but as I rounded the corner I could hear her catching up to me.  First footsteps, then a voice.

“Excuse me.” In a few short words she offered to share her umbrella with me. The Napolean Dynomite in me thought, ‘Heck Yes!’ But was this an open gesture  or did she want something in return?   As we walked a bit more it became clear that she did want something from me. For the sake of entertainment let’s give her a name…How about Rihanna?

So what did Rihanna want from me? It wasn’t male energy she needed from me, but simply a male perspective.  Rihanna told me about a puzzling relationship she finds herself in that the person she was with didn’t see as a “relationship.” As we walked and talked I realized we hit a fork in the road- so we stopped and chatted. We lingered on for another 15 minutes because Rihanna had a lot on her mind and was generally inquisitive for a 19 year old Korean girl.  I think RiRi wanted me to tell her that the military guy she was seeing wasn’t that into her and she should just walk away.  I told RiRi i didn’t know the situation well enough to comment on it,  but she should listen to what her heart says. I think we generally know what we should do before we ask anyone for advice.

Toward the end of our conversation I looked up and saw Andy, my radio mate, passing by.  I turned away from Rihanna and shared a few words with him before he walked away.

Then Andy did something very unexpected and “Jesusy”, he didn’t exactly walk on water but he did give me his umbrella before he walked away.  I was instantly grateful at the gesture and I smiled. Rihanna was also taken aback by his random act of kindness. “He must be a very good friend,” she said. I nodded, “Yea he is a good dude,” as he disappeared in the distance. Moments later  we said our goodbyes and I headed home with my new umbrella. I suppose I should give it back.