AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He clears his throat. “I should go. You need to sleep. You’re flying back to Korea tomorrow, right?”
“I swear I didn’t know you were coming home tonight.” Guilt makes my voice crack. “If I had, I would never have come back when Nadine asked me.”
“Sori, it’s fine.” Nathaniel’s tone is immediately gentle, kind.
I’m reminded of earlier tonight, when he’d put me in the taxi. There’s so much he does for me, and I feel like I’m always intrudinginto his life. Even that summer, he’d invited me to his house when I needed to escape from my life in Korea for a few weeks. He’s always giving me so much, and I give nothing in return. I’m supposed to be the wealthy one, but he’s the one who’s generous.
“Of course Nadine made you stay,” Nathaniel says. “There’s no way any ofmysisters would let you go back to your hotel so late at night.” He sounds so proud that I can’t help smiling. “And you couldn’t have known I was coming over tonight. Even I didn’t know until half an hour ago, when I thought it would be funny to surprise my sisters. Joke’s on me. I was the one in for a surprise.”
“Then let me sleep on the couch, at least.” I push back the sheets.
But he’s already taking a step back toward the door, his hand on the knob. “My sisters would kill me if I let you sleep on the couch. In any case, you’ve already claimed my things.” I frown, not understanding. He lifts his chin in the direction of Bearemy Baggins, who I still grasp in a stranglehold.
“Night, Sori.” He switches off the light before closing the door behind him. I lie awake, listening to the tread of his footsteps as he walks down the hall, the creak of the steps as he descends the stairs. It doesn’t seem possible, but eventually I fall asleep.
The rumbling of voices from the kitchen below wakes me the next morning. I pick up my phone to see that it’s completely dead. After freshening up in the hallway bathroom, I head toward the stairs, pausing halfway when I hear Nathaniel’s sleep-roughened voice. “Where’re Mom and Dad?” I peek around the stairwell tosee he’s sitting on the sectional, his blue hair mussed and sticking up in several directions.
“They’re visiting Halmeoni and Harabeoji in Toronto,” Noemi, his second eldest sister, answers him. She’s wearing colorful scrubs and sits on one of the two sofa chairs across from the sectional. “Mom is going to be so mad she missed you.” They’re speaking in English, and I have to concentrate to catch every word they’re saying. Cooking sounds travel from the kitchen, as well as the strong aroma of sizzling bacon.
“You told us you wouldn’t be able to visit this trip,” Noemi says chidingly.
“I’m so flattered that all of you showed up for your one and only little brother’s concert,” Nathaniel complains loudly.
“Aw, you’re welcome.” This is from Natalie, his third eldest sister, who sits with her legs pulled up on the other sofa chair, reading a book.
“If you wanted us to go, you should have sent us tickets,” Nadine says, from just behind me. “Good morning, Sori.” I follow her sheepishly down the stairs and into the living room.
“Did we wake you?” Noemi asks, perking up at the sight of me. “We can be a bit much in the morning. How did you sleep?” She’s switched from English to Korean for my benefit.
“I slept well,” I reassure her, which is the truth. I slept better last night than my whole trip, even if it was only for a few hours.
“How’d Bearemy Baggins sleep?” Nathaniel drawls. “Not perished from asphyxiation, I hope?”
“You let Sori sleep with Bearemy?” Natalie looks up fromher book. “You wouldn’t let me touch him when we were growing up.”
“You’restillgrowing,” Nathaniel says, throwing one of the couch pillows at her. She easily deflects it with the book.
“What’s for breakfast?” I ask, poking my head into the kitchen. “It smells delicious.” Spotting a universal charging station by the wall, I plug my phone in and place it among the many devices.
“Pancakes!” Nadine says, following me into the kitchen. “Also eggs, bacon, sausage, and breakfast potatoes.”
“Sori’s used to Korean food for breakfast,” Nathaniel says. “Rice. Soup. Vegetables.”
Nadine opens the fridge. “We have kimchi. Might be weird with pancakes.”
“No, please.” I laugh. “I love pancakes.”
“Good morning, Sori.” Nicole, Nathaniel’s eldest sister, smiles at me from where she’s cooking by the stove, and I quickly bow to her.
“I’ll take some kimchi,” Natalie says, pulling out a chair at the table.
His other sisters follow suit, with Nathaniel and I taking their parents’ usual seats on opposite sides of a rectangular table. I worry that it’ll be awkward, with their brother’s ex-girlfriend in their midst, but it’s like I’m not even there, which is exactly what puts me at ease. The conversation is lively, switching between English and Korean. They talk over each other, laugh, interrupt, tease. It’s difficult to get a word in, but I don’t mind, grateful to be included.
“Eonni,” I say, “can you pass the eggs?” All four of Nathaniel’ssisters turn to look at me. I’d meant Noemi, as she’s sitting nearest the eggs, but all his sisters start reaching for dishes to offer me.
“Do you want another pancake, Sori?” This in English from Nadine.
“Have more bacon, Sori-yah.” This in Korean from Nicole.
