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“Sometimes I ask myself that. Why do I get myself into these situations?” Junu sat next to Jihoon’s jacket, crossing his legs comfortably. “I think it’s because of my face. It’s beautiful, so peoplewant to be around me. And I’m a sucker for good company.” He gave a saucy wink.

Who was this boy?

“I’m a good listener. So people think they can spill their guts to me. It’s only a matter of time until they’re telling me all of their deepest secrets. You’d think more people would be afraid of a dokkaebi.” Junu gave a shrug.

Jihoon jerked back. He stared at Junu with a more critical eye. Dokkaebi were supposed to be as ugly as sin, like the beast he’d seen in the woods. There was nothing similar between that rutting goblin and the beautiful boy that sat in front of him now.

“Why would a dokkaebi be in my house?” Jihoon’s eyes darted around, looking for a good weapon.

“Why do you think?” A smile quirked at Junu’s lips like he was asking a riddle.

“Yena?”

“Ddaeng!” Junu sounded gleefully. “Wrong gumiho.”

Flutters winged through Jihoon’s stomach, like dragonflies taking flight.

“Miyoung?” He whispered her name, like he was afraid of hoping.

“She’s worried about you.”

Jihoon’s eyes hurt like he’d held them open too long on a cold day. Then he realized he hadn’t been blinking.

“She’d kill me for telling you that,” Junu said. “She asked me to make sure you weren’t living in squalor. Didn’t think you’d be back so soon, but I’m not one to hide.”

“Where has she been?”

“Around.” Junu flicked his wrist, like that was explanation enough.

Jihoon decided he hated this boy.

“Well,” Junu said, standing. “It’s getting late. I am starving. Do you think there are still kids at the playground?”

Jihoon’s eyes widened in horror, and Junu broke into raucous laughter.

“Oh, the look on your face.” He slapped his knee. “Dokkaebi don’t eat people. I have a delicate stomach. I must treat my body like a temple.”

Jihoon stared at him, speechless.

“I should get going. I wasn’t joking about being hungry. Should I get jjajangmyeon or jjamppong?” he wondered aloud as he sauntered to the door.

“Tell her to come herself,” Jihoon blurted out.

“Huh?” Junu gave him a curious look.

“If she’s so worried about me, then she should come check on me herself.” Jihoon gripped the sides of his pants so he wouldn’t fidget with the nerves that raced through him.

Junu took a moment to consider the request, then nodded before departing. The door swung shut, fluttering the bujeoks by the door. They’d done nothing to keep the dokkaebi from the apartment, but Jihoon had no time to ponder that as he sank onto the couch. He was starting to get a headache.

46

SHE’D BEEN BACKfor weeks and had gained no traction in trying to find a solution to wake up Jihoon’s halmeoni. At first she thought she could offer some of her own gi. But she quickly found out she was too weak, and after trying to force the connection she’d barely made it to the sink to vomit. That had been the end of those attempts.

But she had a bigger problem now. It was hard to admit, but Miyoung knew she needed to talk to Jihoon. She’d been putting it off, hoping she could slip in, help his halmeoni, and slip back out again. But she knew she needed access to Halmeoni’s hospital room and she couldn’t keep sneaking in. Jihoon was always there until visiting hours ended. So she’d taken to sneaking in, waiting him out, and then slipping into Halmeoni’s room. Except today a nurse had found her and asked her too many questions. She’d covered by saying she’d lost track of time, but the hawk-eyed nurses had definitely memorized her face by now.

She didn’t want the nurse telling Jihoon before she could explain why she’d returned.

That was how Miyoung found herself in her old neighborhood, pacing in front of Jihoon’s apartment.