Out & About #1159 | Yet Another Week, ENHYPEN Walk The Line + Boyfriend on Demand

Often we tell others to "hang in there" when they express having a hard time, but is that really the best approach? Until when are they to keep holding on?
The saying "hanging by a thread" applies to situations such as these, for one's grip can only be sustained for so long. Continuous challenges without adequate moments of rest, recovery, and happiness inevitably lead to one's regrettably predictable demise.

Being "depressed" would be an understatement given the latest state of affairs. I'm merely living a nightmare that won't end - a reality where even fitful dreams are better than awaking to see another work day.

​I'm absolutely done with this place, and have been for almost one whole year.

Similar to the soul-sucking days of consulting, those in my surroundings have strived to show support during these times. Whether listening to my ceaseless rants, dissecting dilemmas that have somehow plagued me, and just interacting with me in a way that shows appreciation and acknowledgement, I am deeply grateful for it all. It's nice to know that humanity exists in this world, even if not within my immediate team.

​A small amount of anguish was released during a much overdue lunch walk with a coworker. The conversation comprised of future career plans, the unbelievable act of a team member failing to provide notice for a three-week long vacation and setting others as her out-of-office contact without discussion, and Roll Up The Rim insights.

I learned that Tim's Chai Oat Latte was far superior to their London Fog with Oat Milk. Their Double Chocolate Donut was much better than their Chocolate Glazed and much, much better than Chocolate Dip. It was also discovered that not all menu items were eligible to earn "rolls".

​With knee pain being persistent and progressively prominent, a physio appointment was booked for the next day. Driving to Markham after being placed on a three-week waitlist simply was not feasible. A clinic hidden within a pharmacy provided swift treatment coupled with convenience.

On my way back home, I couldn't resist attempting another Roll Up The Rim chance.

​Biscoff dipped in Chai Oat Latte proved a stellar pairing. Unfortunately, I lost all three rolls on this purchase.

​A Fruit Explosion was received in place of the supposedly discontinued Chocolate Hazelnut Muffin. The concoction was less desirable than in my childhood days, for recent iterations have omitted the slice of apple on the surface and increased the stabilizer content in the jam filling.

​With the exception of flights, setting my alarm for earlier than 7 AM hasn't happened for the past year. With an all-day training course scheduled to commence at 7:30 AM though, I found myself awaking groggy and irritable to pre-sunset hours.

I still arrived about ten minutes late, though the instructor was, thankfully, very friendly and lenient on latecomers.

​During the well-deserved one-hour lunch break, I hurriedly ate my pre-packed lunch and made my way over to Costco. Within forty-five minutes, I had somehow succeeded in completing the trip for paper towels and detergent.

​Once the session ended, a bubble tea proposal was extended towards my team member, who agreed readily. Gong Cha's Dixie outpost was discovered to be extremely compact, but brimming with collaboration merchandise.

My colleague requested a Peach Smoothie, while I my default Brown Sugar Oolong Milk Tea with 2J. A Snoopy straw topper behind the cashier caught my eye as well, and, before I knew it, a total of $5.59 ($4.95 + tax) was relinquished.

​After attempting a power nap (and promptly failing), my evening entailed braving an unexpected downpour to see ENHYPEN's Walk The Line movie.

Bringing earplugs was the correct decision. Having experienced the torment of loud, screeching, unashamed STAYs at the dominATE showing, I was prepared for another fiasco, but not prepared to lose my hearing.

Like artist like fans - ENGENEs were comparatively calmer and more rational and respectful overall. A group of girls did the fanchant for one song, but kept their voices low for the most part. (Of course, I could be mistaken as earplugs were firmly donned for the entire duration of the movie.) I caught phone flashlights and illuminated lightsticks twice, but a firm glare and audible complaint were sufficient in dimming these disturbances.

​Contrary to the Stray Kids' movie, Walk The Line focused heavily on the fans - in particular ENHYPEN's gratitude and love for ENGENE. This was a prominent deviation from dominATE, which involved a greater number of production elements and illustrated Stray Kids' growth and success as individual artists.

There were several moments where Ni-ki's voice had me close to dozing: the low tone and lack of intonation did not pair well with my already exhausted state. Sunghoon was confirmed to be very popular amongst the audience, which came as a surprise given his strictly average domestic popularity. If anything was surprising, it was Sunwoo's versatile voice - a juxtaposition with his giddy, delicate appearance.

The movie spanned two hours long, balancing concert performance footage with interview snippets weaved in between. There were fewer cameras overall, but I enjoyed the on-stage drone footage tremendously.
Heesung already looked great from afar, but the movie confirmed he looks even more marvelous close-up. His voice is a true gem as well - I instantly found myself being drawn to his parts of the songs the most. Jay was a witty, close second, but Heesung is most definitely confirmed as my bias now.

​Picking up new frames bestowed an opportunity to sample Nani's Gelato's Toasted Coconut Soft Serve before heading back.

​The formula was tasty, albeit nowhere as potent as desired. Moreover, the toasted coconut shreds were chewy instead of crisp.

I barely depleted half of the lofty soft serve before becoming full. Although I transferred the remainder to the freezer for later consumption, my stomach quickly alerted me that dairy was not to be consumed before proper meals. For the rest of the afternoon, I'd suffer excruciating stomach pain, eliminating any chance of recovering productivity or even resuming a regular exercise routine.

​The better part of the day was spent indulging in Netflix's new rom-com show, Boyfriend on Demand, starring Jisoo of BLACKPINK and renowned "Reply 1997" actor Seo In Guk.

Featuring surreal sets, breathtaking visuals, smooth camera transitions, and a hilarious, engaging plot, the 10-episode series was likely the best K-Drama I've seen in the past two decades. The pace was unexpectedly good, and the ending wasn't rushed or irrational. Best of all, it comprised of all the quintessential romcom elements without being excessive.

Source: Netflix

Jisoo's acting had previously been subject to criticism, though playing a character with vast similarities to her true personality seemed to be come easy. Seo In Guk, an actor that I had never liked much previously, truly turned the tables and impressed me in his role of Park Gyeongnam. His subtle facial changes conveyed tremendous emotion, allowing viewers to identify with the shy artist-turned-webtoon-producer. Watching promotional interviews allowed me to realize that age, experience, and maturity have allowed his quiet nature to be revealed; the 2012 days of Reply 1997 have passed us by.

Source: Netflix

​The story was relatable in that it accurately depicted the problems of modern society, be it in terms of relationships and dating or technological advancements, while simultaneously instilling a refreshing dose of laughter and thrill. Captivating up till the very last second, Boyfriend on Demand was wonderfully executed for the enjoyment of all, and will surely be a series that I recommend to others.

It's also worth noting that Park Gyeongnam's glasses in the series bear quite the similarities to my own new frames, coincidentally.