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She’s about to run away when I grab her arm, K-drama style.
“Wait, Minjee, this is great! I’m bi!”
Minjee’s jaw falls open, her face slack with surprise like mine probably was just moments before. She recovers quickly, though, her expression hardening again as she shakes her head.
“So what? You’re dating Bryan.”
“Well, actually...”
We both turn around to see Bryan standing by the doorway of the dojang, leaning against the frame. He looks in a lot better shape than he did before, all freshened up and his hair still wet from the shower.
“I can assure you that she’s not,” he continues. “But Hana can explain in more detail.”
Minjee steps back, looking so confused that I’m almost concerned that her brain will explode. “Okay, what?”
I sigh. “It was a publicity stunt. For the show. Bryan and I aren’t actually dating.”
“Although I did like her for a brief period of time,” Bryan admits. “But hey, my type is always the people who don’t want me back. My one great fatal flaw. Oh well, their loss—”
“Bryan!” both Minjee and I yell in unison. When we realize what we did, we giggle.
“Okay, fine,” Bryan says. “I’ll leave. For good this time.” He turns to Minjee and continues, “Oh, and by the way, to save us some time: I’m pan; Hana knows; and yes, your secret is safe with me. We’re all queer. Yay! Okay, bye.”
Before either Minjee or I can reply, Bryan runs out of the dojang.
“He’s so weird,” I say. “Just when I think I understand him, he ends up surprising me all over again.”
“You and me both,” Minjee replies.
We laugh again. I’m giddy with relief. This current moment feels so nice after all the awkwardness that had built up between us.
“So...” Minjee says after a while. “You’re bi.”
I nod.
“And you’re single. Wait, are you trying to tell me that you have feelings for me, too? Is that why all of this is so ‘great’?”
My face grows hot. “I don’t know when it started, but yeah. I didn’t want to ruin our friendship, though, so I didn’t say anything.”
Minjee bursts into laughter and sinks down onto her knees.
I’m about to ask her if she’s okay again when she says, “Same. Well, the being too afraid to say anything, at least. I’m pretty sure I only like girls, though, as much as I didn’t want to admit that to myself. But that’s a whole other story.”
I squeeze her shoulder, just like she did for me when I had my little moment at the hanbok store.
“We can talk about it if you want,” I say. “Or we don’t have to. Whatever’s the most comfortable for you.”
“It’s just...” Minjee trails off and sighs. “I wasn’t born in America like you. My parents are more traditionally Korean than anyone I know. I always had a feeling something wasdifferentabout me for quite some time now, since I dated a bunch of guys without really being attracted to them. And when I started having feelings for you... well, I was scared. Of this. I still am.”
She looks into my eyes. It feels like time’s stopped between us, the entire world quiet except my thoughts. My heart beats fast, like it did when I wrapped my arms around Minjee on her motorcycle. Heat rises up in my cheeks again, and in this brief moment in time, all I can see is Minjee and the way she bites her lips, shy and apprehensive.
I swallow, knowing full well what I want to say but still having to fight myself because I don’t know if I have enough courage to say it out loud. I’ve been in relationships with guys before, but this is the first time I’ve ever confessed my feelings for a girl. And not just any girl, but my best friend.
“I like you,” I finally say out loud. “And I’m American, yeah, but my parents are Korean, too. And we’re from the South, which is traditionally a pretty conservative part of the States, so... I have no idea how they feel about this sort of stuff, either. But I’m willing to figure out everything with you, one step at a time.”
Minjee stands up and faces me so our noses are almost touching.
“Okay, one step at a time,” she says. “I like you, too.”
Before I know what’s happening, Minjee’s lips are on mine, softly and tenderly at first and then with more force and confidence as I return her kiss.
