Page 81 of XOXO

We both wait expectantly as Mom mulls over our words. “Fine,” she says, and I let out a sigh of relief. “You’ll watch Jenny perform at the showcase, and then we’ll leave as planned, soon after you recover.”

While my mom checks a text on her phone, Halmeoni and I exchange a conspiratorial glance. Of course we want to spend more time with each other, but I also know Halmeoni wants the whole three months with her daughter. And I want that time with Jaewoo and my friends.

The rest of the morning is pleasant, though my mom spends a lot of it answering emails. She does tell me a little about thecase she’s been working on, which sounds incredibly complicated. My heart swells with pride at all the good work she’s doing.

For lunch, Mom takes Halmeoni and me to a naengmyeon restaurant near the bakery. While slurping up delicious buckwheat noodles in chilled broth, Halmeoni asks me questions about the showcase.

“I’m auditioning for a solo,” I tell her. “And my friend Sori and I are also auditioning for a duet together.”

“Is Sori your roommate?” Halmeoni asks. “I’m so glad you’re friends now!”

“What do you mean a duet?” Mom asks sharply.

I glance at her nervously. “It’s a cello and dance piece. Sori’s a dance major and...”

“So you’re doing three auditions?” Mom interrupts. “For your ensemble, solo, and this duet?”

“Yes?”

“Jenny,” she says. “Aren’t the auditions in less than two weeks? How are you supposed to prepare for three separate auditions? Have you talked to Eunbi?”

“Soojung-ah,” Halmeoni chides. “I think it’s a wonderful thing for Jenny to perform with her friend.”

“It’s not about a nice memory, Eomma. This is about Jenny’s future.” She looks at me, disappointment written all over her face. “I’m starting to regret my decision to let you come to Korea. You should be concentrating on your music, not getting distracted by your friends.”

If Sori is a distraction, I shudder to think what she’d say if she knew about Jaewoo.

Across the table Halmeoni takes my hand and squeezes. “She’s only upset with you because of me.”

That might be true, but Mom’s not wrong either. Auditioning with three separate pieces is more difficult than if I had only two to concentrate on. But I’m determined to make it work.

For the next week, I do everything I can so that all of my pieces are a success. I book more time in the practice rooms, and Sori and I continue our late-night rehearsals in the dance studio. The only downside to all the time spent in practice is that I see less of Jaewoo, Though that’s partly due to his own schedule, which has gotten busier since XOXO began promoting the second single off their album.

The following Wednesday, the program of the showcase is posted. I find my name on the list of soloists and my knees almost give out.

“Jenny!” Sori shouts.

She’s pointing at the paper that lists all the collaborations.

“We got it?” I ask.

“We got it!” she screams. We hug and bounce around in a circle. Ours was the only duet that was accepted. It was a relief to get the solo, but getting the duet feels like a victory, one made even sweeter because I can share it with Sori.

“Oh my God,” she says. “We have to think about outfits!”

The first person I tell is Jaewoo. One of the perks of theSamsung deal was that he and the rest of XOXO were given the latest model of smartphones, paid for by the company. And more important,notmonitored by their manager.

Guess what?I text.

He responds immediately.You got it?

Yes!

Congrats. I can’t wait for your performances. You’re going to be incredible.

You’ll announce me, of course.Since Jaewoo and Nathaniel have already debuted, they’ve opted out of performing and instead are acting as the night’s MCs.Jenny Go, cellist extraordinaire, and best girlfriend in the whole wide world.

Yes, I’ll say it just like that. What are you doing after school on Friday? You want to hang out?

---