I get it; we live in a state that freaks out when it rains. It’s California after all, right? Days full of sun and fun. But for the love of goodness' sake, aren’t we supposed to be in fall? You know, when the leaves are supposed to turn orange and the days get chilly? So tell me why we have been in 90 degree and above weather. Needless to say, it is HOT.

Air conditioning is a blessing. I have taken to being in buildings to keep out of the heat to the point that I want to go back outside, because that’s how cool I have gotten. So it made sense that when my friend and I got a chance to meet up after some weeks of not having seen each other, I thought of Afters.

We were originally supposed eat at In-N-Out, but his hunger left. As we sat there thinking where else, I remembered Afters.

Earlier this week I ran into a different friend, and he mentioned the place. Afters is an ice cream place especially known for its donut filled with ice cream and toppings within the coined milky bun. To be honest, I thought Afters was located in Orange County and that someday I would go so that I too could Instagram my donut-filled ice cream. But that day had yet to come.

That friend said that there was an Afters right by Cha for Tea in Long Beach where there used to be a Ralphs. First of all, I didn’t know that they closed down the Ralphs, and second, that an Afters was right across Calstate Long Beach.

The friend that I went with, Jordan, pointed that out when we drove to Afters once we agreed to go there. We were both disappointed to see it gone. We kinda liked that it was there.

Right after Yogurtland, there was the place—small and plain. Nowhere to sit inside, and single file down to make an order. I stood there confused how to make my order. Jordan remembered that he had been to a different location once before, and said that the cookie monster ice cream was good.

I asked for a sample. This unnatural sea-blue color was handed to me, and it was delicious. By far, the best ice cream I have had in a while—and I love ice cream. I got the exact same order as Jordan did—milky bun with cookie monster ice cream. The only difference was that I got mochi as an add-on.

We grabbed our buns and sat outside. As we caught up on what was going on with our lives--school, work, significant others--I took my first bite of the treat I said I would one day go to try for myself. It was yummy. Bite after bite, I realized that as much as I love food, I am weak when it comes trying to finish something. The blue ice cream began to melt everywhere. It dripped off my hands, on the table, and to the floor. The bun was coming apart as I desperately tried to keep it together. And the immense amounts of sugar I was consuming started to hit me. I told Jordan I couldn’t hang on anymore and I thought I was going to puke.

He laughed and I resigned myself to leave about three bites left over. I managed to get my picture during our quick trip. Verdict: the milky bun is worth the hype, but I personally wouldn’t get it again. It’s like a child’s concoction that big kids want in on. Would I go back for the ice cream?

I’m actually taking a friend on Tuesday. I want a scoop of that cookie monster ice cream!