Page 46 of XOXO

This conversation was bound to happen, and I owe Nathaniel an explanation.

“Yeah, I know.” I sigh. “I’m sorry. It’s just, you’re...” I gesture at him, a movement meant to encompass the entirety of his being. “An idol.”

“Yeah, I know,” he repeats. “We’ve established that.”

I lower my voice as a group of underclassmen pass us on the stairs, their eyes flitting from Nathaniel to me. “I just don’t want any rumors to start.”

“Who cares what people think?” he says.

“I care,” I hiss. “I don’t want you to get into trouble because of me.”

Nathaniel just stares at me, as if I’ve grown a second head. “What?” I say, now feeling self-conscious.

“Is this really coming from you?” His eyes narrow. “Jaewoo said something, didn’t he?” When I don’t immediately answer, he curses. “I knew it! God, he thinks he knows what’s best for everyone.”

“He’s just concerned for you,” I say, though I don’t know why I’m defending him. I’m just as annoyed with Jaewoo as him, if not more so.

An odd look appears in Nathaniel’s eyes. “Jaewoo should worry about himself.”

Likethatdoesn’t sound foreboding.

“You hungry?” Nathaniel asks abruptly, dropping the subject. “I’m starved. Let’s go get lunch.”

The storm that had been brewing all morning has finally arrived, and Nathaniel and I have to sprint across the quad to avoid getting soaked. We still end up having to wring water out of our uniforms before entering the cafeteria. Gi Taek and Angela are speaking with their program directors today—they’d told me about it when I’d met them after visiting Halmeoni on Sunday—so it’s just Nathaniel and me. The main dish on today’s lunch set is spicy stir-fried pork, one of my favorites. After claiming our trays, we head for our usual table, only to find it occupied.

“Let’s go to the student center,” I say. Because of the storm,the cafeteria is more crowded than usual.

“No, wait. I see two empty seats.” Nathaniel wades into the sea of students. I follow at a close distance, trying to keep my tray from knocking into anyone.

Reaching his destination, Nathaniel plops his tray onto the table next to...

Jaewoo.

Sori’s seated across from him.

“Sit down, Jenny,” Nathaniel says, either oblivious of the awkwardness or pointedly ignoring it, maybe even enjoying it. Most likely the latter. “I think it’s about time we all sit down for a chat.”

Sori makes to leave. “I should go.”

“Don’t run for my sake,” Nathaniel says.

She remains seated.

I feel as if I’ve stepped into a scene from a K-drama. The main characters are Jaewoo, the stalwart class president, and Sori, the chaebol daughter of a huge entertainment company, which I guess would make Nathaniel and I the disreputable American secondary characters, there to disturb the otherwise idyllic life of the leads.

“Jenny?” All three of them are looking at me expectantly.

“Oh, sorry.” I take the seat next to Sori.

“You two are roommates, aren’t you?” Nathaniel asks.

I glance at Sori but she doesn’t look like she’s going to answer, shuffling the food around on her plate with her chopsticks. “Yes,” I say.

“Well, that’s surprising.”

When he doesn’t elaborate, I sigh. “Why is that surprising?”

“Oh, that Sori’s parents allowed her to have a roommate, seeing as how they have complete control over her life.”

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