Page 64 of Septembers

He winked at her. “All you have to do is ask.”

The joking energy drifted away as she sat up straight, pulling the blanket over her lap and fiddling with it, her eyes on her fingers as she tugged at a string. “Theo, can I ask you something?”

“Always.”

“Are all your hopes and dreams pinned on me?” He had no idea what to say to that, and his silence forced her to look at him. “What will you do if I don’t make it as a singer?”

“Juggle on the street for spare change.”

A laugh-breath. “Theo.”

He took her hand. “I’m building a career on my own, and I have other people on my radar. It just so happens that you’re the one I care about the most. I’m not encouraging you because I want to be an agent, I’m doing it because I honestly think sharing your gift with the world will make you happy.”

She leaned forwards and put her head on his shoulder, nuzzling a little. “Did you practice that speech?”

“Yes.”

“It shows.” She stayed there a while, then finally nodded, her voice muffled by the fabric of his shirt. “Okay.”

Fuck, he loved these moments when she believed in herself, however reluctantly. Slowly but surely, he was going to make her realize how extraordinary she was.

They called the café and secured the weekly time slot, then she got nervous and kicked him out of her room so she could practice.

Theo wandered to his own room, pulled out his phone and opened the text he’d written days ago but hadn’t sent.

“Fuck it.”

보고 십어

Dae

Wow.

Finally! If he’d known all it would take was some Korean to get Dae to respond, he would’ve sent it sooner.

I miss you too.

Did you google that or have you been secretly learning Korean this whole time?

dont make fun of me

You know I can’t promise that.

I texted your mom

dae?

Can’t type. Laughing.

she was rly cute about it

invited me for dinner

Will you go?

i’m honestly tempted

The three dots came and went, then stopped altogether with no message.