Page 88 of XOXO

Next week?“But—but what about the showcase?”

“The showcase is next Friday, isn’t it? Your return flight isn’tuntil the following Sunday.”

I gape at her. “You already bought the tickets?”

“Yes. You’ll do the showcase, which Eunbi says will be pivotal for your portfolio, and then leave, like I said.”

I can’t believe this is happening. Today is Saturday. I have a little over a week in Seoul, in Korea.

“I can’t justleave,” I say. “Halmeoni still hasn’t had her surgery yet.”

“Don’t make that an excuse,” she says sharply. “She’s not your mother, she’s mine.”

“Then why aren’t you spending more time with her?” I think of Halmeoni, the last few times I’ve visited her, the sadness in her eyes. “She misses you.”

I miss you.

“I didn’t come here to argue with you. I came to tell you what our plans are moving forward.”

“Whatyourplans are for me.” I’m getting all mixed up, my emotions making me raise my voice. My mother looks around, grimacing at the attention we’re receiving. “You’re not even asking me what I want.”

“What do you want?”

“I want to stay in Korea.”

She narrows her eyes. “Because of a boyfriend?”

“Because I love it here. I have a life here. Friends.” Family, though I don’t say that.

“Jenny.” My mom sighs, and she genuinely sounds tired. “Don’t jeopardize your future because of a few wonderfulmonths in Seoul. I understand how new experiences can feel exciting, but they’re just temporary. Don’t prioritize short-term moments over long-term goals. I know you’re unhappy now, but once you’re back home in LA, you’ll see it was all for the best.”

I race to my dorm room and call Jaewoo the minute my mom leaves.

He doesn’t pick up, so I text him.

Where are you? I need to talk.

He texts back immediately, which means he saw my call but couldn’t answer:Sorry, I have a taping in a few minutes. I’ll call you later tonight.

At six, I text:When are you calling?

At seven, he answers:I’m sorry. We’re being rushed to another event. I can still call you though, when it’s over. It might be late.

It’s fine. I’m okay, I text back. I don’t want him to worry. Yet, even as I send the text, tears start forming at the corners of my eyes.

At eight, I hear the sound of buttons being pressed and the door unlocking. Light from the hallway filters into the room, where Sori stands backlit.

“Jenny?” she says, flicking on the light switch. “Why are you sitting in the dark?”

Catching sight of my face, she drops her bags on the floor and hurries to my bed. She gathers me into her arms, as if we hadn’t been not speaking for weeks, as if none of that mattersanymore. “I’m sorry. I’ve been such a brat. This must be so hard for you. It was hard for me and Nathaniel, but I knew what to expect.”

She thinks I’m crying over Jaewoo, and I am, partly, but it’s not just that.

She gently pushes back my shoulders, looking me in the eyes. “We need to get you out of this room,” she says.

I nod. Right now, I’d do anything to chase away these feelings.

“How do you feel about going to a K-pop concert?”

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