Kevin’s department building is just up ahead. I must have been too distracted by the memory, because someone bumps straight into me. Her things scatter across the steps of the building, bringing me back to myself. I bend down to help pick them up.
“Sorry,I didn’t see you,” I say.
“It’s fine—”
She grabs her bag and walks off. As I turn back to Haru, he’s gone. I glance all around me. Where did he go off to?
“Haru?”
For a second, I think we lost each other again. My heart races at the thought of this. Maybe he’s already in the building. I make my way inside, hoping to find him. Haru is nowhere to be found on the main floor. He must have followedthe signs straight to the event. I head to the elevators and press the button. The doors open up to an atrium on the top floor. Skylights illuminate the room as I head toward the crowd. To my surprise, everyone’s wearing button-down shirts and nice pants. Why didn’t Kevin mention a dress code? I feel like an outsider as I wander around in a T-shirt and jeans. There’s a long table of catering food by the windows. The silver trays remind me of the nights working for Mr. Antonio. Haru must be around here somewhere.
“Eric—”
I turn my head as Kevin appears beside me. He wears a cream silk shirt with a black tie. “I’m glad you made it,” he says, hugging me tight. Then he leans back as we take each other in.
“Your hair is longer,” I say.
“Yeah, I should get a cut soon.”
“No, it looks nice.”
We both smile. Feels like forever since we’ve seen each other. There’s an unexpected stir of joy and relief. I didn’t realize how much I missed him. Then Kevin turns slightly, gesturing to the tables. “Are you hungry? There’s a lot of food here.” He steps over and grabs a plate for me. “They have salmon. I know how much you like seafood.” He places a few things on my plate.
“What’s this event for again?”
“It’s a student showcase. I can show you some of my work, if you’d like.” He checks his watch and looks aroundthe room. “Let me introduce you to someone first. She’s one of my advisers. I think you’ll like her.”
“Sure.” I’m still glancing around the busy room, wondering where Haru is.
“There she is—”
Kevin places a hand on my shoulder, leading me through the crowded gallery. There’s a circle of older men in slacks, chatting by the window. Kevin taps one of them on the shoulder. A bald guy in a tweed jacket turns around and shakes Kevin’s hand. Beside him is a woman in red glasses, her black hair tied in a bun, a floral scarf wrapped around her shoulders.
“Professor Lin—this is Eric,” Kevin introduces me. “I mentioned him earlier.”
She adjusts her glasses, taking me in for a second. “A pleasure,” she says. “You look a lot like your sister.”
I blink at her. “You know Jasmine?”
“Of course,” Professor Lin says. “Came to a few of our shows, isn’t that right?”
“Professor Lin is the chair of the theater department,” Kevin explains. “I helped design some of the sets for class. That’s why I invited Eric here. He’s looking for a job, if you know of anything.”
She looks at me. “What are you studying?”
I hesitate as the other professors turn to listen. “I’m actually not enrolled in school at the moment…”
The bald guy in the tweed jacket chuckles. “I should have gathered, given how you’re dressed.”
I glance at my clothes, the plate of food still my hand. “I didn’t know it was a formal event.”
Kevin pats my back. “I told Eric last minute and forgot to mention it.”
“Always dress for the role you want,” the man says, tipping his glass at me. “Especially when you’re asking for a job.” He takes a sip of his drink.
Someone appears behind me. Their lips are close to my ear as they whisper, “Don’t let him talk to you like that.”
I turn my head and realize it’s Haru.
