Hi people on earth! I’m Grace Ann and you can call me 
When Cherry first told us about her plan for a night out, I immediately felt a spark of excitement. It had been a while since we all gathered outside of our usual routines, and the thought of spending time together after such a long stretch of busy days sounded refreshing. Cherry suggested that we go out for samgyupsal, and everyone agreed right away. I liked the idea even more because it had been over a year since I last had samgyup, and I remembered how much I enjoyed it. The thought of grilling meat, sharing food, and laughing across the table brought me back to those fun memories with my friends. We planned everything just the day before, and the anticipation kept me smiling through the hours of my class. Even though I knew I would be late because of school, my friends reassured me that they would go ahead first and wait for me.
The following day, I woke up with a light heart because I knew that later I would be surrounded by good food and good company. Classes felt longer than usual, but finally, the clock struck five, and I thought I could rush to meet them. I messaged them to let them know I was on my way, but that was when they told me the plan had changed. Instead of samgyupsal, they had decided on a night out in a place near the mountain, though not exactly a mountain itself. It was the kind of spot where you could see the city lights stretching far into the distance, sparkling like a blanket of stars laid across the earth. At first, I felt a little hesitant because the sudden change caught me off guard, but soon I realized that the idea was just as exciting, maybe even better. After all, the view of city lights while eating together sounded magical.
I booked a ride through Maxim, confident that I would arrive soon because the place was not supposed to be too far from my house. But as the driver followed the app, it became clear that the route was unnecessarily long. There was a shortcut I knew, one that would have made the ride shorter, but since the driver did not know the way, he simply relied on the app’s instructions. The traffic did not help at all. The sun was slowly setting, and my anxiety grew with each passing minute. I kept thinking about how my friends might be waiting for me, wondering where I was, and I hated the thought of being the reason they would worry or delay their fun.
At around six, we still had not arrived. The driver, perhaps feeling frustrated, suddenly mocked me and said that I should have told him the place was so far. His words made me feel a rush of irritation because it was not my fault that the app gave him a longer route. I reminded him that it was his responsibility as a driver to bring me safely to my destination. I told him that his job was not to complain or mock passengers but to make sure we reached the place without stress. Deep down, though, I felt a little shaken by the way he spoke to me. I knew I needed to decide quickly, so I asked him to stop and booked another driver who was more familiar with the location. Thankfully, this time, the ride was smoother, and I felt relief wash over me as I finally got closer to where my friends were.
When I arrived, my friends greeted me warmly, as if I had not kept them waiting at all. Their smiles made every bit of the stressful ride worth it. The place was breathtaking. From where we sat, the entire city stretched below us, and the lights twinkled like tiny gems scattered across the dark canvas of the night. We laid out the food, and though it was not samgyupsal, the moment was perfect. We ate together, teasing one another, sharing stories that had piled up since the last time we hung out. Every bite tasted better because it was mixed with laughter and joy. I realized that it did not matter what we ate; what mattered was who I was eating with.
After dinner, we played small games, the kind that only friends who know each other well could enjoy. We laughed until our stomachs hurt, and when the laughter quieted, we drifted into deeper conversations. The city lights below seemed to mirror our thoughts, each shining point like a memory we had built together over the years. We talked about our struggles, our dreams, and the things we were afraid of admitting in daylight. In those moments, the night carried a sense of intimacy that only close friendships could bring. I felt grateful for Cherry, who always thought of ways to bring us together, and for the rest of my friends who made every gathering unforgettable.
As the night went on, I found myself reflecting on how unpredictable the evening had been. What started as a simple plan for samgyupsal turned into a mountain night out under the stars. What began with a stressful ride and an unkind driver ended with warmth, laughter, and comfort. Life often works in unexpected ways, and sometimes, the things that do not go as planned lead us to moments we never knew we needed. The traffic, the delay, and even the mocking words of the driver all faded away as I sat there with the people who mattered most.
When it was finally time to go home, I carried the memory of that night like a treasure. The glow of the city lights lingered in my mind, but even more than that, the sound of our laughter and the comfort of our conversations stayed with me. It reminded me that true joy does not come from perfect plans or smooth journeys. It comes from the people who wait for you even when you are late, who welcome you with a smile despite the delay, and who turn an ordinary night into something unforgettable. That night, I went home tired but with a heart full of gratitude, already looking forward to the next time Cherry would call us together again.