for the rain to die down, I realized that the cafe was a pet store. The old man at the counter saw me taking refuge, bowed, and turned away. Moments later, he approached me with a dollar store umbrella and goaded me to take it and leave. At that moment, I realized Lenny’s wisdom. In the torrential downpour, I thought about the words he imparted. A part of me was in awe and the other part highly skeptical. I wanted to rush back to the capsule hotel and demand how he foresaw this outcome when reliable technology said otherwise. Shin Okubo was a haven for Koreans and other immigrants. Earlier that day, foot traffic was packed. BTS pop-up stores sandwiched between Korean barbecues and convenience stores filled the ward. Bapak chose a public holiday to send me as a courier. I guessed that on a normal work day, I would stand out. On my fifth beer, Lenny appeared once more. He didn’t bring a bottle of liquor but pointed at my plastic bag with beer. I handed him a can. “I’m partial to San Miguel, but free beer is free beer.” He slurped his beer and plopped down on the seat. Donned in his pinstripe outfit, his voice still raspy, his carefree and relaxed self continued to bewilder. “How did you know it was going to rain?” He shrugged. “I just know. Let’s just say, the earth told me.” “The earth?” “Yes, the ground, the core, what connects you and me, the earth.” He must be high on something. I took a sip of my beer. “What’s the forecast tomorrow? Cloudy with a chance of fish?” The old man cackled. “Wouldn’t that be something? I’d like for it to rain bluefin. I’ll snag a couple and then buy me a kaiseki dinner.” “Why not just cook it?” “I lack the skill. It’s a waste of good maguro.” We drank our beers in silence. “You said you quit a dangerous job long ago?” “Ah yes.” He finished his beer. “I was a smuggler once,” Lenny said. “Lost a few fingers.” He removed his glove to reveal his left hand missing the top joints of his little and ring finger. “On my last job, I was en route to Bangkok. But in the last moment, I took another flight to Phuket, worked the docks a few years then got me a cheap plane ticket to Madrid and lived there a good decade.” “Your boss ever send somebody to finish the job?” “I’m still here, ain’t I?” I finished my beer. “You make leaving this life seem easy.” “There’s always a choice.” He got up from his chair. “Thanks for the beer.” “Right now, my only choice is to do or die.” Lenny cackled.
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