Page 79 of XOXO

“Are you saying...” Jaewoo says slowly, “that I was your spark?”

“I’m saying there was a spark between us!” I move to punch him playfully and he catches my wrist.

“And now?”

“I don’t want it to end.”

He lowers his head, his lips a breath apart from mine.

“Oppa?” Joori knocks on the door. “Dinner time!”

He moves upward and presses a kiss to my forehead instead, then grabs my hand and opens the door. In the kitchen, his mother is placing a large platter of the deboned pieces of chicken in the center of the spread.

Joori looks up from where she’s already seated on the far side of the square table. “Eonni, come sit next to me.”

I take the seat to her left and Jaewoo sits to my right, across from her, with their mother opposite me. The last time I sat down for a meal with my family was when I first arrived in Seoul. Being here with Jaewoo and the people who love him makes me miss the people who love me. Next time I see my mother, I’m going to ask if we can sit down for a meal with Halmeoni.

Jaewoo’s mother is an incredible cook. Besides the chicken she ordered, which is apparently one of Jaewoo’s favorites, Jaewoo’s mother cooked every single dish of banchan.

At one point I turn to Joori and ask, “Do you want to be an idol like your brother?”

“Of course not!” she says, wrinkling her nose. “I want to be a video game designer.”

Jaewoo winks at her.

After dinner, Jaewoo’s mom cuts off slices of Korean melon, and we watch a BBC special on penguins on the TV as outside the rain comes down even harder.

“You parked at the mall?” Jaewoo’s mother asks.

“Yes. If it doesn’t stop in the next half hour, we’ll take an umbrella and walk over.”

Jaewoo’s mother frowns. “I don’t know if you should be driving in this weather, especially with Jenny. I’d feel much better if you stayed the night. Jenny, would that be okay with you? You can borrow my pajamas and we have a spare toothbrush.”

“Uh,” I say, for a lack of a better word. I never expected to be in a situation where my idol boyfriend’s mother asks me to stay the night after my first date with said boyfriend, and also after the first time meeting her. “Okay.”

“Perfect! Call your mother?”

“I live in the dorms. I’ll text my roommate.”

I open my phone and message Sori.I’m staying at Jaewoo’s overnight. Can you cover for me?The resident assistant checks rooms at around ten o’clock, but Sori can pretend I’m already in bed.

Sure,comes Sori’s immediate response. Then,GET IT GIRL!!!!!

I quickly look up, but Jaewoo and his family have returned to watching the penguins fall over and get back up again on TV.

His mother doesn’t want him driving in the rain,I quickly typeout.Also, his family is so nice???

I’m expecting details when you get back, Sori replies, and I send her a zipper mouth emoji.

After the documentary, Jaewoo’s mom goes into her room and returns with one of those long, and in my opinion very unflattering but comfortable dresses that I’ve seen older Korean women wear, complete with a clashing painted flower design. I put it on and Joori giggles.

Jaewoo deadpans, “Hot.”

We spend the next hour before bedtime playing Mario Kart. By eleven o’clock, we separate to our rooms, Jaewoo to his, and Joori and me to hers.

“Thank you for sharing your room with me,” I say, as I slip into the bed after her. I had to displace some stuffed animals to fit.

“I’m happy to. You’re like my future sister-in-law, right?” she giggles, then turns to the wall and immediately starts to snore.

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