Page 62 of XOXO

The chattering dies down as people plug into their music or settle in for a nap. I open my own music app, and soon Rachmaninoff and the drone of the bus on the road lull me to sleep.

Twenty-Six

Sori shakes me awake an hour and a half later and I see that we’ve pulled into a rest stop. Half of the students have already disembarked, and there’s no sign of Gi Taek and Angela.

“We have thirty minutes,” Sori says. “Hurry up, I have to pee.”

I quickly stand, letting Sori haul me off the bus.

Students from all the buses are making their way into a large single-story building, with cars and tourist buses parked outside it. Outside the rest stop, there’s a few food carts—one selling hot dogs, slathered in batter and fried, another selling manju, custard-filled walnut pastries in the shape of husks of corn. There’s also a coffee cart and several vending machines.

Inside the rest stop a food court offers a variety of ramyeon and udon to traditional Korean fare like bibimbap and hot soup dishes that you can order and pick up at different service counters. There’s also a fairly large convenience store. I spot Gi Taek and Angela inside, loading up on snacks and bottled drinks.

“Hey,” Sori says, “are you going to the bathroom?”

“No, I went before we left. Also my bladder isn’t as tiny as yours.”

She rolls her eyes and leaves in pursuit of the restrooms.

Most of the students are in the convenience store, with a few ordering hot meals at the counter. I’m still full from the gimbap, so I head outside in search of that coffee cart.

A few of the other people at the rest stop have the same idea because the line is long. Luckily, it moves pretty fast, and in about five minutes I’m at the front. I order a latte and reach for my wallet.

Which isn’t on me, but where I left it, in my backpack on the bus. I don’t have to look behind me to know that the amount of people has doubled from when I first got in line. Right after, a Japanese tour bus arrived at the rest stop, letting out a lot of caffeine-dependent adults.

The vendor looks at me pityingly.

“I’ll pay for her.”

I almost have whiplash, with how fast my head turns.

Jaewoo casually leans against the counter. He hands over a credit card. “I’m paying you back,” he says, “for all that food you bought me in LA.”

“Oh, is that what’s happening?” I say, glad that my voice comes out normal, teasing, “Then I’d like to visit a few more stalls.”

He’s come. He’shere.

And he looks sogood. He’s wearing a light-blue button-upshirt, his hair swept back from his face, and slick aviators.

“Student,” the vendor says, “your coffee?”

I turn to accept, blushing furiously.

Jaewoo and I leave the line, heading in the general direction of the buses. I’m suddenly overcome with a feeling of awkwardness. How am I supposed to act around him? The last time we were alone, we made out for half an hour on a swing set.

Of course right now we’re notexactlyalone. Our classmates are within sight, most chatting outside the rest stop, a few running around in an effort to get their muscles loosened before we have to get back on the bus for another two hours.

“So,” I say, trying to act casual. “You’re going on the field trip?”

He doesn’t appear to have brought anything with him, a duffel or a backpack.

“Yeah, I was worried we wouldn’t make it. We just flew back from Japan this morning.”

“Do you do... promotions in Japan... often?”

A cry goes up behind us.

Outside the restroom, I spot Nathaniel surrounded by the group of Japanese tourists. He appears unfazed, throwing up peace signs and posing for selfies.

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