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My father watches me for a second, his gaze never leavingmine, and then he stomps from the room, slamming the door on the way out.
I sink to the floor. What have I done? Have I doomed Joah? My plan was getting my father’s shares. Without them, my mother will have to sell the company.
She starts to speak but stops when her phone chirps. Mine does as well, vibrating in my pocket. It’s a message, from Secretary Park, sent to both of us:
Woo Hyemi’s been in an accident.
Thirty-seven
I burst into the hospital room, my mother right behind me. Hyemi’s sitting up in bed with her arm in a cast, eating ice cream from a tub. In an impressive show of ambidexterity, she’s balancing the tub against her chest with the cast, holding the spoon with her left hand.
“What happened?” I hurry over.
“It was like I was in a scene from a drama,” Hyemi says. “I was at a crosswalk and a motorcyclist ran a red light, almost bowling me over. I landed on my arm, pretty hard. Too bad there wasn’t a cute boy to catch me!”
I stare at her face. Is she masking her pain with cheerfulness? Except that she really does look okay. She doesn’t appear to have any wounds, besides her arm.
“Your father’s in Hong Kong, isn’t he?” my mother says, coming to stand next to me. “Has anyone checked you in?”
“I don’t think so. I called Secretary Park when I got here, after I called my mom and dad.”
“I’ll go check with the doctor,” my mother says, leaving the room.
“Sun Ye-eonni and the others were here,” Hyemi says. “You just missed them. They brought the ice cream. Also snacks and toys and stuffed animals. Ruby brought her Tamagotchi, which is actually kind of stressful.” I look behind her to a box of items stuffed withcolorful bags of chips, Pepero, and Choco Pies, as well as a Switch; on the top of the box is a crocheted carrot with a face.
“They had to leave for a recording,” she explains.
Her words are followed by a brief lull.
“I’m sorry I haven’t been around this past week,” I say into the silence.
“After the news article...”—I don’t have to explain the one—“I became obsessed with saving the company, as if it was somethingIcould do, on my own. I was so caught up with everything going on in my own life, that I’d forgotten the person who was struggling the most. I’m sorry, Hyemi.”
“You know, since you brought it up, Iwashurt.” My chest tightens. “I thought, when you didn’t come to see me, that youwereonly helping me because of my father’s money.”
“Hyemi...” My heart constricts.
“But then Nathaniel said something that made me realize that I was wrong to think that of you. He asked me if I thought you were someone who’d help mejustfor my father’s money, and not because maybe you liked me, just a little.”
“I like youa lot.”
She giggles. “And I realized... I didn’t. I don’t. You helped me because you genuinely wanted to. I could feel that. Every hour you spent with me in that practice room, every time you listened to me, I felt your sincerity.
“Nathaniel and I... we talked a lot about you.” She scratches her chin. “Actually, most of our conversations were about you. He was the one who guessed you were dating CEO Cha’s nephew because you were trying to save Joah...”
Nathaniel.
“Hyemi.” I take a deep breath. “There’s something I have to tell you.”
She looks at me, her expression open.
“I’m in love with Nathaniel.”
“I know,” she says, deadpan. “I saw all your appearances together. You can’t fake that kind of chemistry. And I know you’re not an actress. I watched your cameo.”
I gape at her, then laugh. “Hyemi-yah!”
“I’m happy loving Nathaniel from afar, like a fan. My heart isn’t broken, so don’t worry about me. Honestly, I likeyoumore than I like Nathaniel. I’m cheering foryou, Eonni.”
