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“You’re a kickbutt,” I say. “I wanted to treat Colton to our yummy food.”
“And yummy it is,” Mom agrees with a large grin. “Hello, Colton.”
“Hi, Mrs. Park.”
“Annyeonghaseyo, Charlie,” a server says as she comes over. “Will you be joining your daughter and her friend?”
“Annyeonghaseyo, Ae-Cha,” Mom answers in Korean. “I’ll have to get back to you on that because I don’t know if these young people want me to join them.”
“I don’t mind,” I tell Mom in Korean.
“I’ll order tea,” she tells Ae-Cha in English.
Ae-Cha nods with a smile and walks away.
“So can the old girl join you young folks?” Mom asks us.
“Sure, if Colt doesn’t mind,” I say.
“I don’t see anyoldpeople here,” he says. “All theyoungpeople can join us.”
Mom laughs as she sits down next to me. “I didn’t know you were so charming, Colton. Or that you and Willow are….”
“Friends,” I quickly say.
I feel a pang in my stomach as that word leaves my lips.Friend. I really wish he and I were…
I shake my head. Nope. I’m not going there.
“Why are you shaking your head, honey?” Mom asks me.
“She has too many thoughts in there,” Colt tells her with a grin. “A genius, just like her mother.”
“Aren’t you a smooth one,” Mom teases.
The smile drops from his face. “Actually, I…” He rubs the back of his head. “I work hard to put on a front. Make it seem like I’m totally cool and confident. But I’m not really like that inside. I’m…well, me.”
I stare at him. He’s kept that part of himself a secret from everyone but me. Because of what he went through in middle school. But he’s revealing that part of himself to my mom?
He must see the shocked look on my face because he chuckles. “Willow’s confused why I’m telling you this. It’s just that…well, I’m kind of a fan.”
Mom’s brow quirks. “A fan? Of Ji-Ho—sorry, Asher?”
Colt shakes his head. “No. You’re the great Charlie Raine Park. I’ve looked up to you practically every day since I moved to Edenbury two years ago.”
Mom watches him for a few seconds. “Huh. That’s a first.”
“It’s just that you worked hard in school and pushed yourself to go after what you wanted. You didn’t step on anyone on the way. You remained true to yourself and got to where you wanted just by being authentically yourself. And you instilled the same belief in your daughters. That means a lot to me, especially because well…I struggle with that.”
Our food arrives along with Mom’s tea. She reaches over to pat Colt’s shoulder. “I firmly believe that everyone shouldn’t be afraid to be themselves. I know it’s hard to feel that way in high school with so much peer pressure, but the truth is that you’ll be happier if you stay true to yourself.”
“What if…” He blows air out of his cheeks. “What if you get picked on because of that?”
Mom twists her lips. “That’s a tough one. I would say to tell them to screw off, but it’s easier said than done, right? I only hope that person has someone they can talk to. A parent or teacher, maybe an older sibling. Someone they could confide in. A kid shouldn’t have to carry that heartache and pain all alone. Again, I know it’s tough, but it’s okay to ask for help. And I hope they can find someone in school they could be friends with. Maybe someone who might be going through something similar.”
Colt nervously runs his hand through his hair. “I wish I would have been brave like you and Willow when I was younger.”
Mom rubs his shoulder again. “You seem like a pretty brave young man to me. And I can tell you know exactly who you are. Just continue being the amazing person that you are and I guarantee you that you’ll be happier.”
