Page 77 of XOXO

“Jenny, I just signed an endorsement deal with Samsung.” He grins. “Let me spoil you with popcorn.”

“Wow,” I say, “that’s—that’s amazing. Congratulations.”

“Thanks. It wasn’t just me. All the members signed the deal—it’s our biggest so far.”

He approaches the counter for the concession stand, scrolling through the manual ordering system.

I stand behind him, feeling suddenly overwhelmed.

He’s likely a millionaireat seventeen. He owns an expensive-lookingcar.

I remind myself it’s not like we’re in this Cinderellarelationship. I’m not destitute. Though my mom’s a single parent, she’s alawyer, and I’ve nevernotbeen able to buy what I wanted, especially after getting my part-time job at Uncle Jay’s. But it’s hard to shake the feeling that our lives are dramatically different.

“Should we get a combo?” Jaewoo asks. “Then we can try all the different flavors of popcorn.”

“Okay,” I say, though I’m not really paying attention.

The strange feeling doesn’t dissipate until we’ve taken our seats and the movie starts to play. At first, it’s weird seeing Korean subtitles at the bottom of a movie in English, but then I get absorbed in what’s happening on screen and I completely forget about the subtitles.

By the time the movie’s over, I’m feeling my normal self again. So what if he’s rich and successful? I’m not comparing myself to him; it’s not like I think I’m unworthy of him.

A glance at my phone shows it’s a little past six. The plan was to make it back to the dorms by ten, which means we only have a few more hours.

“Want to grab dinner?” Jaewoo asks. “There are restaurants on the top floor.”

“Okay,” I say, taking his hand.

“Oppa,” a voice says, from close behind us. “I thought that was you. What are you doing here? And who isshe?”

Thirty-Two

Behind us is a middle schooler, perhaps thirteen or fourteen, with a cell phone in her hand. This was a mistake. I should have never let him take me out on this date. I knew it was too good to be true. Now we’ll be exposed and our relationship will end before it truly had the chance to begin.

“Joori-yah,” Jaewoo says. “What are you doing at the mall so late?”

I’m so in my head that it takes me a moment to realize he’s addressing her by name, which means heknowsher.

“Jenny, this is my yeodongsaeng,” Jaewoo says, placing a hand on her head, “Bae Joori.”

His little sister. Now that I’m looking for a resemblance, I can see they have the same straight nose and narrow jawline. His handsome features look striking on her small face.

“Nice to meet you,” I say.

“Nice to meet you!” she returns, then whips her head in Jaewoo’s direction, one hand on her hip. “Are you coming home?Is that why you’re in the neighborhood?”

This is hisneighborhood? No wonder he was confident bringing me here. He must know the area well. Though I thought he was from Busan....

I must look confused because he says, “My mom and Joori moved to the city a year ago. I meant to tell you.”

I narrow my eyes and he rubs the back of his neck, looking sheepish. Joori shakes her head and clicks her tongue.

“It must be nice to have them close,” I concede.

He sighs in relief, then turns to his sister. “I don’t know, Joori-yah. Mom probably hasn’t prepared anything....”

“She can order delivery! Please say you’ll come.”

When Jaewoo appears hesitant, Joori appeals to me. “Eonni.” She addresses me as she would an older sister. “Will you come have dinner at our house, please?”

---