Page 26 of XOXO

“Jenny!” My heart stops, but it’s Gi Taek, heading over with Angela in tow.

“You’ll need to fix your tie,” he says, in place of good morning. “You’ll get demerits if one of the teachers notice.”

“I love your hair!” Angela says, gesturing to my side pigtails, which I mostly braided out of stress.

“Let’s take our seats before it gets too crowded,” Gi Taek says.

We enter through the double doors and I have to stop for a moment to take in my surroundings. The performance hall is huge with a high domed ceiling to maximize sound and acoustics. The stage is a gorgeous rosewood-mahogany color, the seats fanned out from the center for optimal viewing.

“I see three seats together!” Angela points to the back row. “Let’s take them before someone else does.”

I look for my roommate as we make our way over and spot her a few rows down to the left. She’s sitting apart from the rest of the students, with the two seats on either side of her—and in back and front of her—empty. Yet her isolation seems like a choice she made rather than for any other reason. She sits with her arms crossed, gaze straight ahead, giving off talk-to-me-and-you’ll-die vibes.

I’m immediately distracted when someone shouts, “Yah! Choi Youngmin!”

I whip my head in the direction of the doors where Youngmin has just waltzed through. The noise in the auditorium rises as kids start whispering to each other in excitement.

Youngmin skips to the front, joining a group of first year boys who give him high-fives.

Then Nathaniel steps through the doors, and it’s truly as if a celebrity has arrived, his hair artfully messed and his tie askew. It’s strange to see him in real life, when I spent all weekend watching him in videos. I wonder if it’s just as weird for the students at SAA who’ve gone to school with him and the rest of the members of XOXO, to see their peers, maybe even their friends, achieve the dream they’ve wanted for so long.

Nathaniel takes the closest available seat to him in the section for Year Three and is immediately swarmed by girls.

I manage to tear my gaze away long enough to notice that Sori’s attention has shifted to the door. As if realizing this herself, she quickly looks ahead.

At 8:09 another student slips into the auditorium, but it’s not Jaewoo. Then another, and another. At 8:10 exactly, a teacher appears and shuts the doors.

Is he late? No, he would have come with his bandmates, if he was going to come at all. Maybe he’s decided to finish his diploma online. Or he’s doing some sort of promotional work overseas. K-pop idols do stuff like that all the time, right?

I’m so caught up in my own thoughts, I almost fail to noticethe woman who walks onto the stage, taking her place behind a podium.

She introduces herself as the principal of Seoul Arts Academy, an institution that was established fifty years ago and has taught many prestigious alumnae, including a few names that get “oohs” and “aahs” from the students. She goes on to talk about the expectations the academy has of its students, which includes upholding the reputation of the school in conduct and character, as well as dedication to the arts above all things. She also mentions something called the “Senior Showcase,” which creates a stir of interest among the students.

“All seniors are required to participate,” Principal Lee informs us, “whether as a part of an ensemble, collaborators, or soloists. This is the best opportunity to showcase your talent. Representatives from all the major universities will be in attendance, as well as a few from overseas, Berklee College, Tokyo University of the Arts, and the Manhattan School of Music.”

She goes on to say that recruiting officers from the major entertainment labels will also be in attendance, but I’ve stopped listening. A representative from MSM will be in the audience on the night of the showcase. If I can get a solo and put on a great performance, then I might be a shoo-in. I can feel my heart start to race. Everything is falling into place, the stars aligning.

“And now we’ll have our welcome address from this year’s senior class president.”

Until now, the students had been sitting politely through theprincipal’s address, but now they start to whisper excitedly to one another.

My heart, which had stuttered to a halt, picks up again.

A familiar figures steps from the wings. Jaewoo, Karaoke Boy, K-pop idol, and the senior class president of my high school.

Twelve

At one point during Jaewoo’s address to the student body, he looks directly into the crowd and I instinctively lower into my seat, which is unnecessary. He can’t see me, sitting as I am in the back row, farthest from the stage.

Unlike with the principal, I listen attentively to his speech. His low, smooth voice, accentuated by the mic at the podium, fills the hall. He’s not even saying anything that interesting—his words sound rehearsed—and yet everyone is enraptured, giving him their full and complete attention.

“Class president, lead singer of XOXO, handsome, and kind. What can Jaewoonotdo?” Angela says dreamily.

Answer texts, I think to myself, though I don’t say it aloud.

“Did you know he writes all the lyrics for XOXO’s songs?” Gi Taek says.

That surprises me. Though I don’t know why it should.

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