Page 68 of XOXO

Curling his fingers over my wrist, Jaewoo pulls my hand away from my mouth. His eyes drop to my lips and I have a sudden realization what he’s about to do.

My eyes widen. “They’ll see—”

He kisses me, hard and fast. Then he’s gone, rounding the side of the shrine.

“Jenny?” a voice says from behind me. I almost lose my balance. “What are you doing?”

I get up from my crouch and turn to face Ian. “N-Nothing, I just... thought I saw a fox....”

Ian stares at me in disbelief. “We have to leave before it gets dark. You better have a look at the shrine now if you’re still interested.”

Ian must have had enough of me because he doesn’t followme into the shrine. I’m only inside a quick few seconds, but it leaves a lasting impression. The afternoon light filters through the door, illuminating the far wall where a painting depicts an old man with a long white beard, presumably the sansin, sitting on a mountain beneath a tree and surrounded by tigers.

I throw a quick prayer the sansin’s way before running down the path to meet the others.

Twenty-Eight

It’s dusk by the time we arrive at the center of camp and service staff are wheeling out large grills for the barbecue. Since it doesn’t start for another half hour, we separate, heading off to our respective houses. I try not to feel resentful of my short time with Jaewoo, especially when Nathaniel enters the camp at the same time as us, soaking wet, having apparently returned from white-water rafting, tackles Jaewoo in a hug, and they go off laughing together.

Back at our house, a distinctly dry-looking Angela is sitting on the blankets, laying out two dresses.

“It’s like you and Nathaniel participated in two entirely different activities,” I say.

“Most of us didn’t get wet,” Angela says, deciding on the yellow dress, “besides a few splashes here and there. Nathaniel just fell overboard.”

Angela wants to take a nap, so Sori and I walk over to the communal showers and quickly wash up, then head back toour house to use Sori’s hairdryer, which I’m realizing was actually brilliant of her to bring. The other girls ask to borrow it after us, even bargaining with other items they’ve brought from Seoul—sheet masks, blister Band-Aids, mosquito repellant. Even Jina asks to borrow it. I expect awesome levels of petty from Sori but she hands the hairdryer over without a blink.

I must look surprised because she says, “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer” in English.

I put on one of the dresses I brought from home. Then I borrow mosquito repellent from one of our classmates and spray my bare legs so I smell kind of like medicinal oranges.

Afterward, Sori wants to do Angela’s makeup, so after applying eyeliner and tint to my lips, I head out to explore the folk village a bit more. I glance through doorways into courtyards that are a lot like the one assigned to our class, boys and girls sitting on platforms chatting and practicing their acts for the talent show.

I’m walking by a hanok at the back of the village when I hear a familiar shout. I glance through the doorway to see Nathaniel and a few boys from our class kicking a ball around.

They’re all shirtless.

Nathaniel’s the first to spot me. “Boys!” he shouts. “We have an audience! Cover yourselves.”

They all start to yell and run around in circles.

“Like she wants to see that.” I hear Jaewoo before I see him, appearing from the side. He’s zipping up his windbreaker but not before I catch a glimpse of his toned stomach and chest.

“Wait,” I say, pretending to push him aside when he blocks my view. “I haven’t seen everything I wanted to yet.”

He scowls. “Everything you need to see is right in front of you.”

I lean back, giving him a slow once-over. He doesn’t break a sweat. He knows he looks good. Well, I don’t look half bad myself. I flick my hair over my shoulder and watch as his eyes follow the movement.

“Aren’t you going to dinner?” I ask.

“Soon,” he says, though his attention seems to have shifted. Slowly he reaches out a hand. I go still, heart racing, as he brushes a strand of hair from my face.

“Jaewoo?” one of the boys calls out behind him.

He steps back. “Save me a seat?” Then he’s turning back into the courtyard.

“What were you doing with Jenny?” I overhear the same boy ask, curious.

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