AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“All right, who’s up for some celebrating?”
I turn around to see Mom holding up an ice cream cake with a handful of candles on top. The cake looks like it should belong in a freakin’ art museum. I marvel at the intricate fruit overlays and icing designs, which again look too beautiful to eat.
“Mom!” I exclaim. “Wow, how did I not notice this cakewas in the freezer this entire time?”
“I have my ways,” Mom says with a wink.
“She hid them behind the bags of steamed buns and dumplings,” explains Dad, causing everyone to laugh. “One of these days, when you guys are all of age, we can all do a toast. Until then...”
He gets up and takes out cans of Chilsung Cider from the fridge.
“Soda and ice cream cake!” Minjee exclaims. “I feel like I’m five again.”
“Forgive me, but...” Claude says in French-accented English, peering curiously at the white-and-green cans. “I’ve never had this... cider. What is it?”
“It’s kind of like Sprite but better,” I explain in English. “In my opinion, anyway. Try it!”
Dad hands Claude a can, and he pops one open and takes a sip.
“C’est magnifique!” Claude exclaims, making us all laugh.
My parents place the cake and the rest of the soda on the coffee table, and we all sit back down on the living room floor. As we’re eating and drinking, my parents ask Claude about France, while Bryan, Minjee, and I talk about how we should all go on a trip together to celebrate the end ofFated Destiny.
“What about Australia?” Bryan suggests. “I’ve always wanted to go see the kangaroos.”
“Australia?” Minjee asks. “That’s so random.”
“School’s going to start soon, so we probably can’t goanywhere far,” I point out. “I still have some reading to catch up on, too.”
“Oh, that’s right,” Bryan says. “You and Minjee are taking in-person classes this year. I guess I’ll just go with Claude.”
He nudges Claude, who shifts his focus to us. “Go where?”
“Australia!” Bryan claps him on the back. “We’re going to go see kangaroos and koalas!”
“Ooh, I’ve always wanted to go!” Claude replies instantly. “When are we going? Next week?”
Minjee and I burst out laughing. I’m cackling so much that it gets hard to breathe.
“Bryan,” I say between gasps for air. “You and Claude are meant to be.”
Bryan waggles his eyebrows. “I guess you could say it’s...fated destiny.”
Everyone’s laughing now, and we toast our cans of cider.
“To Bryan and Claude!” Minjee exclaims. “And to us being done withFated Destiny!”
We all cheer.
The last few months have been so wild, and I can barely believe everything that’s happened. Not even in my dreams could I have imagined that I would ever be sitting in the middle of my family’s Seoul apartment with my girlfriend on one side and my fake ex-boyfriend on the other.
I take another sip of my cider and eat my last sugary piece of ice cream cake.
“Hey,” Minjee says.
“Hm?”
When I turn toward her, she smears cake on my cheek.
We burst into giggles.
Bryan’s first to notice what’s going on. And then Mom. Soon, everyone’s cracking up again. Dad lovingly smears cake on Mom’s face, which makes us laugh even harder.
The left side of my face still covered with cake, I wrap my arms around Minjee and hug her tight.
