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Chapter 23
WHEN I GET TO THE DOJANG, BRYAN AND MINJEEare engaged in intense combat, matching each other’s blows perfectly. I never knew Minjee was trained in martial arts, but both she and Bryan are wearing the same protective gear, taekwondo uniform, and black belt.
Neither of them notices me when I come into the room. They’re both too engrossed in the fight. Bryan yells as he throws out a high kick, which Minjee expertly parries with her arm before she dodges away.
Bryan texted me to tell me that they’re wrapping up ten minutes ago, so I’m confused to see them still fighting. But I’m not complaining. Watching the two of them spar is fascinating, and I can’t take my eyes off Minjee. She’s graceful and deadly at the same time, while Bryan isn’t too bad himself. The two of them move so fast that it’s hard to keep up.
Bryan launches into a flying kick, headed directly toward Minjee. I’m about to shout when, in a blink of an eye, Minjeespins and lands a kick right in the middle of his chest.
THWACK!
Bryan falls back onto the mat in a clear KO.
I clap and cheer loudly, caught up in the moment. “Wow! You two were amazing!”
It’s only when Minjee glances back at me, her eyes wide in surprise, that I remember what’s going on between us. I expect her to say nothing in response, but she stiffly replies, “Thanks. Bryan put up a good fight, though. I’m winded.”
She extends a hand to help Bryan up. He takes it and turns his attention to me, giving me a pointed look. “You here to do some training, too?”
I don’t miss a beat. “Yeah! I don’t have any actual stunts on my own, but I figured I should dosomethingto prepare for our scenes next week.”
“Well, I’m exhausted,” Bryan says. “Gonna go shower. Why don’t you train with Minjee for a bit? She’s honestly a lot better than me.”
Bryan walks away, stopping to give me a thumbs-up when he’s out of Minjee’s line of sight.
I look back at Minjee, who doesn’t meet my gaze.
“Sorry,” she says. “I don’t know what Bryan’s going on about, but I have to go. Have to prep for a photo shoot tomorrow.”
I grab her arm as she turns to leave.
“Minjee, wait. Please. Just ten minutes.”
She stands there with her back turned toward me, hershoulders tense, but not moving away.
“What did I do wrong?” I ask. I hate how my voice sounds, so desperate and clingy. But I feel so confused and lost. Even my best acting skills can’t hide how I feel right now. “Please, just tell me and I’ll leave you alone. I thought we were good friends. I had so much fun with you. But then suddenly... I just don’t get it. Please, after the years we were friends together, I—”
“It’s not your fault, okay?” Minjee cuts me off. She finally turns around to glare at me. Her eyes are shining like they were back at the Bukchon Hanok Village. She looks so upset that I want to reach around to give her a hug. And I would, if I weren’t the one making her so sad in the first place. “Look, I...” She sniffs before glancing away again. “I need to tell you something. But promise me that you won’t tell anyone. If our years of friendship meananythingto you, please don’t tell anyone.”
Minjee’s trembling now. My concern for her overshadows my own sadness.
“Wait,” I say. “Are you okay? You aren’t sick, are you?”
She shakes her head. I reach out to comfort her, but at my touch, she straightens up like she’s steeling herself to do something.
Then, she finally meets my eyes.
“I have feelings for you,” Minjee says softly. “Whether I like it or not.”
Shock runs through my spine.
This is a dream, isn’t it? I have to be dreaming. Or maybe I misheard her.
But even as I’m thinking of all this, there’s a part of me that isn’t so surprised. The warm smiles. The shared looks. The lingering hugs.
Relief floods my thoughts as I realize I wasn’t the only one who felt the ever-growing tension between us. But since I justhaveto make sure, I ask, “Wait. You what?”
Minjee flushes. “Never mind. Please just forget what I said.”
