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Tae Hyun smiled back. “Now that you’ve checked this off your list, what’s next?”
“Oh, I still have a long list. Now that I’ve shifted my career from modeling to acting, I want to star in at least two feature films in the next five years. Plus, an indie or art film that gets me an award. Then I’ll move into semi-retirement and focus on starting a family.”
Tae Hyun chuckled. “Sounds like you’re right on track.”
“I’d better be.” Yoo Mi snorted. “I knew Seong Woo wanted kids right away, so I told him ten years, then let him bargain me down to five.”
Tae Hyun laughed. “You didn’t.”
“What?” Yoo Mi casually shrugged. “I’ve been negotiating contracts longer than he has. I knew what I was doing. What about you?”
“What about me?”
Yoo Mi quietly huffed. “What’s your plan?”
“I honestly don’t know. I’ve got the album and the tour, I guess. If that’s successful, I’ll keep doing it until it’s not.”
Yoo Mi nodded. “What about a family?”
Tae Hyun shrugged. “I’ve never imagined having children. I’m not sure Jason wants any.”
“Do you?”
“I like the idea of having kids, but not the reality.” Tae Hyun sighed. “We couldn’t raise them here. We can’t even get married here. And I don’t think I want to raise kids in America.”
Yoo Mi smiled. “Still–”
“What’s that smile for?”
“I love hearing you talk about your future with Jason. Not that it’s him in particular, although I like him very much. But that you found someone who loves you enough to spend a future together. It’s something I’ve always wanted for you.” Yoo Mi’s smile disappeared as her face fell. “I’m sorry again about the other night, too. I don’t know why I said all those things. I don’t even believe them.”
“I know. It’s because that’s how we were raised. It’s what our elders think. Thankfully, there are a lot more people like us than there are of them.”
Yoo Mi stopped dancing to embrace Tae Hyun. As they hugged, Tae Hyun noticed Seong Hyeon saying something to Jason. Then, he saw Min Kyu speaking with Seong Woo. “Something’s happening.”
Yoo Mi pulled back to look him in the eyes. “What? What do you mean?”
“I don’t know. But–”
Bang! Tae Hyun didn’t know what the sound was, only that he saw a cloud of smoke or fumes rising from the far side of the room near the entrance. Panicked people rushed around him. They looked like they were shouting, but all he could hear was a piercing, high-pitched tone. Then, his eyes began to water.
Min Kyu rushed up behind Yoo Mi and took hold of her arm. “We need to go now, ma’am.”
Yoo Mi’s eyes darted back and forth in obvious confusion. “Why? What’s happening?”
Min Kyu didn’t bother answering as he dragged her away. And Tae Hyun stood in shock, gently shaking his head to dispel the annoying ringing in his ears until Seong Min stepped into his line of sight.
“We have to go, sir. Come with me.”
“But, Jason–”
“He’s fine.” Seong Min grabbed Tae Hyun’s arm. “Come with me now, sir.”
Seong Min didn’t wait for Tae Hyun to agree before dragging him away. They were running toward the gassy vapors, and Tae Hyun’s eyes began to sting. But no, they were actually avoiding a group of wedding guests gathered around someone who’d fallen to the floor. Seong Min veered left and towed Tae Hyun toward an unmarked door on the side of the ballroom. He kicked the latch bar and dragged Tae Hyun into another concrete hallway before turning and slamming the door shut. Then he bent over, put his hands on his knees, and took a deep breath. Only then did Tae Hyun realize Seong Min hadn’t been breathing.
Tae Hyun’s eyes were watery and stung. He tried to wipe them with his sleeve, but Seong Min grabbed it and stopped him. “Don’t, sir. You have some on your jacket. It will only make the stinging worse.”
Tae Hyun absently nodded and let his arm fall. “Some what?”
