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“It was beautiful,” he says.

I open my hand, and he slides his over mine.

We fall asleep like that, holding hands. Sometime later, I wake to find him gone. Sun is stepping into the tent, letting the flap fall behind him. He walks over to the IV bag, checking it as if he knows what he’s doing.

“Where’s Nathaniel?” I ask.

“I sent him out. He needed to rest.” He takes Nathaniel’s chair, leaning backward slightly.

Neither of us speaks. Sun’s expression is thoughtful. I wonder how much he knows. Sun is perceptive. He might not know that Nathaniel’s been living with me, but he’ll see that we’ve grown closer in the past two weeks.

“Are you going to say something to scare me away from him? I know what you said to Jenny.” When Jaewoo and Jenny first started dating, Sun tried to frighten her off. Jenny thinks he was trying to “test” her and protect Jaewoo from a potential scandal, but I think he was just being a jerk.

“Ididsay something, didn’t I?” He scratches his chin. “Damn, I’m as nosy as my grandfather.” He chuckles to himself, as ifalmostcausing Jenny and Jaewoo to break up amuses him.

“Even so,” he says, watching me with his dark eyes, “I don’t think anything could scare you, Min Sori.”

“I’m going to talk to my mother when we get back to Seoul, about the possibility of dating him again. I want to. I want Nathaniel.”

Sun lifts a single brow. “When you put it that way,” he says slowly, “I don’t think anyone could deny you. Even I’m blushing a little.”

“Really?” I frown. “You look pale.”

“I’m blushinginside.”

He stands. “I came by because I wanted to make sure you were all right. And...”—reaching out a hand, he brushes a strand of hair from my face—“Jenny was a stranger to me. You’re not. I’ll always be on your side.”

Oddly, I feel tears prick the corners of my eyes. Sun can be sarcastic and aloof, but he’s always looked out for my best interests, like an older brother. The best kind. “Thanks, Oppa.”

“I’m glad you’re feeling better,” he says. Then after a short pause, adds, “Though I should have known you and Nathaniel would bring drama tomydrama set.”

Twenty-five

I’m transferred to a small cozy clinic for the night—on recommendation by the medic—while the rest of the crew heads to Seoul. Since Secretary Park remains behind with me, Ji Seok offers to drive Hyemi back with Nathaniel and Sun. Secretary Park has to threaten me with calling my mother to get me to agree to stay.

“You’re no help to Hyemi if you faint again,” she insists.

She’s right, of course. It’s just that, tomorrow is ASAP’s debut, and I want to make sure everything goes smoothly. I know there’s a whole team to ensure that. But Hyemi ismyresponsibility, my mother entrusted me with her, and I want to see her journey through to the end.

Though it’s really the beginning.

The beginning of her life as an idol. The beginning ofmylife, the one I chose for myself, where I can pursue whatever it is that I want. Though for now, I would like to work on ASAP’s team awhile longer. There’s so much still to do, from preparing for their promotion cycle to their full-length album. Director Ryu, the other day, spoke about album design and concepts.

Even if I can’t spend the whole of today with Hyemi and the others, at least I’ll make it to the showcase. Also, there’s the surprise party afterward, which a few junior staff members and I planned. The ASAP girls aren’t aware of it, and I’m looking forward to their reactions.

The next morning, the clinic’s doctor, a sweet grandmother-type whose elderly patients visit more for gossip than ailments, teaches me Go—with her own board and set of distinct black and white playing stones—while we wait for my blood results to come back clear. After I’m discharged, it’s another three-hour train ride to Seoul. I only have time to go home, shower, and change before I have to head to the arena.

The house is empty, with Ajumma having gone to her daughter’s home, and Nathaniel having spent the night at Sun’s—he couldn’t exactly ask Ji Seok to drop him off atmyhouse. On the car ride over to the arena, I send Nathaniel a text message.I’m having a surprise party for the ASAP members after the showcase.I give him the name and address of the restaurant.Do you think you can make it?

A few minutes later, my phone chirps with his response:I’ll be there.

My heart races at the thought of seeing him.

Last night, when we fell asleep holding hands, something passed between us. I feel that if I don’t say something soon, thenhemight.

If my mother comes to the party—Secretary Park let me know there’s a possibility—then I can talk to her. I could tell Nathaniel my feelings as early astonight.

What will he say? What will hedo?