The boba shop was called "Bubble Dreams" and it looked exactly like the kind of place that got three million views on TikTok for no discernible reason.
Pink neon sign. Minimalist white walls. Plants hanging from the ceiling in macramé holders. The whole aesthetic screamed "we charge eight dollars for flavored milk and you'll thank us for the privilege."
I parked the Lexus in the strip mall lot, between a nail salon and a dry cleaner, and stared at the storefront through the windshield.
The late afternoon sun slanted through the windows, casting long shadows across the dashboard. My gym clothes had mostly dried during the drive, but my shoes still made an unfortunate noise every time I shifted my feet.
I grabbed my phone and checked the list one more time.
Taro boba. Less sugar. Extra pearls.
Strawberry milk tea. Extra boba. Chewy things.
Buldak ramen, 2x spicy.
Pocky, chocolate and strawberry.
