Page 69 of XOXO

“She was just letting us know dinner’s about to start,” he says, casually.

I walk away, touching my face where Jaewoo’s fingers had brushed my hair, my stomach all aflutter. I’m on cloud nine as I round a corner.

“At least it makes sense now, why you never texted me.” I jerk my head around. Ian’s leaning against the wall. “I mean, I get it. Why bother with a nobody when you could be with a K-pop star?”

There’s a smile on his face, but his words have a cold edge to them.

“So,” he says, “what are you, like, a super XOXO fan?” He laughs.

“What’s wrong with that?” I ask.

His smile drops, “Jenny, are you serious? You said you wanted to go to the Manhattan School of Music.”

“I do. And?”

“They only accept the best, people who are serious about their music, and now you’re saying you’re anXOXO fan?”

“Wow,” I cut him off, “I didn’t take you for a music snob.”

He scoffs, “It’s not being a music snob. It’s having taste.”

“Is this even about music?” I ask, channeling Sori at her most biting. “It sounds like you’re just upset that I’m not into you.”

He flinches and I don’t care. He’s a judgmental jerk.

“Whatever, Jenny,” he says. “Have fun wasting your time on a fantasy.”

With that he leaves, taking the last word with him. I’m so mad, but I refuse to let him ruin my night.

“Where’d you go?” Sori asks when I join her and Angela in the line for barbecue. She’s looking gorgeous, as usual, in a silky sheath dress.

“Nowhere,” I answer. “What’s for dinner? It smells good.” I peek up ahead to see cooks standing behind the grills as they turn over strips of galbi—marinated short ribs—as well as pork, and chicken, plus a variety of grilled vegetables. On the side is a banchan station, and beside that, huge industrial-sized rice cookers.

Sori looks like she wants to ask me more questions but then Gi Taek appears, looking chic in black. He must not have been in the courtyard with Nathaniel and Jaewoo, otherwise he would have come with them. A few of the students behind us grumble, but don’t protest a second person cutting in line.

“How was white-water rafting?” Sori asks.

“A disaster.” Gi Taek shudders. “Remind me never to go near a body of water with Nathaniel ever again. What about you two?”

“Our tour guide flirted with Jenny the whole time.”

“Nice.”

“We’re not talking about him,” I say sharply. Okay, so maybe Iwillsay something.

I relay my conversation with Ian, how he said XOXO’s music wasn’t “real” music, and how I can’t be a serious musician if I like them.

“He should announce that tothiscrowd,” Angela says, nodding to indicate the hundreds of students from all the different music schools, many of whom are trainees or aspiring idols. “He won’t get far with his limbs intact.”

“Vicious, Angela,” Gi Taek says. “I approve.”

A thought strikes me and I feel the blood drain from my face. “Sori.” I grab her hand. “Do you think he’ll say something? About Jaewoo and me?”

I think back to earlier. What did he witness anyway? A bit of flirting, but it could just be one-sided on my part. It can’t be a scandal if it’s one-sided, right?

“You’re fine, Jenny,” Sori reassures me. “Ian’s just a flirt who didn’t get the girl for once. If he doesn’t think K-pop is real music he wouldn’t care about the life of idols either.”

I slump in relief, trusting Sori’s judgment.

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