Page 10 of ASAP

The elevator opens to the foyer on the ninth floor where my mother’s office is located. The whole elevator ride, I’d gone through the different scenarios of what might have happened. Had my father been caught in an affair for the third time? As I enter the spacious office, I spot Jaewoo and Nathaniel seated on opposite sides of a leather couch, with Sun in a sofa chair across from them. Out of the three, Sun’s the only one to notice my arrival, with a slight lifting of his brow.

“How could you let this happen?” My mother is shouting.

It takes me a second to register what’s going on. Secretary Park stands by a monitor that depicts a grainy photograph from the inside of a building. I recognize the dimly lit hall with ads for soju brands on the walls. The photograph was taken at the noraebang last night. There are two people in the photograph, standing close to one another. One is clearly Nathaniel, as he’s facing the camera, while the other person has her back to it. I’m wearing Nathaniel’s jacket, my long hair tumbling down around my shoulders.

Though we stand close, we’re not touching. I’m looking down at my feet, while Nathaniel is looking at me. His expression isn’t visible in the poor quality of the photograph.

“I told you last time what would happen if you messed up again,” my mother continues to shout. “You don’t respect this company. You don’t respect your bandmates. You don’t even respect yourself. It would be doing the company a favor if you were removed from the group.”

My body tenses at her words, at the way she’s speaking to him. She’s the CEO of the company and my mother, but it makes me want to throw myself between them.

“Director Seo,” Sun interrupts. “I think that’s going too far.”

My mother ignores him. “Why aren’t you saying anything?” she continues to shout. “Why won’t you explain yourself?”

As I was leaving the karaoke place last night, one of the doors in the hall had closed shut. Someone must have recognized Nathaniel and taken a photo.

“Who’s the girl in the photo with you?”

Nathaniel doesn’t answer her. He’s not going to, because telling her would mean revealing that it was me, and he would rather hurt himself than hurt me.

I clear my throat. “Director Seo,” I say, addressing my mother by her title.

Jaewoo turns around on the leather couch, his eyes widening when he catches sight of me. Sun covers his face with his hand as if he can sense what’s coming.

“Sori?” My mother’s brows furrow. “Why are you here? Where’s Woo Hyemi?”

Nathaniel’s gaze locks on mine.

“That girl in the photo...” I begin, “she’s...”

My mother goes completely still as the room falls silent.

“His sister, Nadine. She’s studying at a university in Seoul.”

“Is that true?” My mother turns to Nathaniel.

Nathaniel hasn’t looked away from me since I spoke. “Yes.”

Jaewoo sighs, pinching his arm to ease the tension.

“Ay, Jihyuk-ah,” Sun chides. “I know you want to protect your sister, but it’s better to tell the truth in situations like these.”

“We’ll have to reveal her identity to the public,” Secretary Park says. “If her classmates don’t already know she’s your sister, they’ll know after we release our statement. I think it’s best if you prepare her.”

“I’ll call her,” Nathaniel says, finally looking away. Standing, he heads out into the foyer.

“Sori,” my mother says sharply, “I want to speak with you.”

I follow her into the attached bedroom next to her office, which has essentially become her home in the past few months.

The full bed in the corner is made, and on the bedside table sits a vase of peonies. Through the open door of the bathroom, I can see her skincare products lined up neatly on the counter; her makeup is arranged on the vanity beside the closet.

“Did you tell me the truth?”

Light spears across the room from the window, momentarily blinding me. “Yes.”

She nods, then frowns. “How do you know the person in the picture is his sister?”

“Angela told me.” I’m my father’s daughter, quick with a lie. “She and Gi Taek were with him last night.”

She releases a sigh, and it’s like a weight has fallen off her shoulders.

“Eomma?” I say, worried.

“I’m just...” she falters. “I’m just glad it wasn’t you.” Like the light, I am speared with guilt.

Nathaniel is getting off the phone when I run into him in the foyer. We have a bit of privacy as my mother remained in the bedroom to take a nap.

“How did Nadine take it?” I ask.

“She was more concerned that our stories line up,” Nathaniel says. “My sister is nothing if not game for an elaborate ruse.”

I shake my head with a smile, then realize, though I’ve avoided a scandal between me and him, I’ve dragged his sister into the spotlight.

“Sori, whatever you’re thinking,” Nathaniel says, “it’s not true. Nadine is fine, and so am I.”

How does he always know exactly what to say to make me feel better? I remember the words he spoke to me last night. You never stopped being my friend. My chest warms at the memory.

“Is it true what my mother said?” I ask. “That you’ll be kicked out of the group if there’s another scandal?”

He shakes his head. “It’s not true. She just says those things because they sound dramatic, and she watches a lot of dramas.”

“Nathaniel, I’m being serious.”

He waves off my concern. “Don’t worry about it.”

“You always tell me not to worry. But I can’t help worrying.”

His expression softens. “I know.”

The warmth in my chest seems to radiate outward.

“That was quick thinking in there,” he says. “Though my sister really looks nothing like you.” I recognize the signs that he’s about to tease me, his eyes taking on that mischievous glint. “Not from the front, nor from the back.”

Even with advance warning, I blush.

“Will the scandal affect XOXO?” I say, changing the subject. Even if the timing isn’t as bad as it could have been, since they just returned from a successful world tour, Sun has his drama to promote soon.

“It’ll blow over,” Nathaniel says. “Especially when Joah releases that it was my sister in the photo. It would be a different story if it was about a girl I was dating.”

“Yeah.” I don’t want to examine why my heart stills at the thought of him dating “a girl” that isn’t me.

His gaze trails behind me. I hear the click of my mother’s office door opening—apparently, she couldn’t bring herself to rest. “I think that’s my cue,” he says. “Thanks again, Sori.” He grins. “I can always count on you to save me.”