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Nathaniel slides sideways into the foyer in his house slippers. Over his clothes, he wears an apron printed with a large penguin. “Welcome!”
“You look like you’ve made yourself at home,” Nadine says.
My eyes dart to Hyemi, but she doesn’t seem to take notice of the comment, too busy gaping at Nathaniel.
“Nuna!” Jaewoo yells, emerging from the dining room.
“Jaewoo!” Nadine yells back. They run toward each other, then stop to do a very long and complicated handshake.
“I’ll take those,” Nathaniel says, walking over to Hyemi and me. He tucks the jug of cola beneath one arm, grabbing the bag of fried chicken. When he reaches for my pizza boxes, I hold them closer to my chest.
“I’ll bring them in.”
His fingers briefly trace the back of my hand as his eyes lift to mine. “Welcome home.”
“So itistrue,” Hyemi says, and I freeze. “Thatwasyour sister in the photo.”
It takes me a moment to realize what she’s referring to. When I do, I’m a little shocked she brought it up. Hyemi must also realize what she’s said because she goes completely scarlet. “I didn’t mean—I wasn’t thinking—I’m sorry.”
Nathaniel laughs. “Don’t stress about it. I don’t think we were ever really introduced. My name’s Nathaniel.”
“I know,” she says, flushing prettily.
“Hyemi-yah.” Jaewoo approaches. “I’m glad you’re here. We need to represent Team Student Council Members tonight.”
“Don’t spoil the episode!” Nadine shouts from behind him.
We head into the dining room. I place the boxes of pizza on the table, then open them.
“Ooh,” Nadine says, shifting forward in her seat. “You didn’t tell me each slice has different toppings.”
“Stay strong, Naddy,” Nathaniel says, in a faux-pleading voice. “Don’t be tempted by the beautiful pizza. Remember Joe.”
“When in Korea,” she says ruthlessly, in English, “do as the Koreans do.” She grabs a slice with a half a cob of corn in the middle.
Nathaniel eyes me with hostile judgment as I pull out a fork and knife to eat my pizza.
Hyemi doesn’t speak much throughout dinner, but she laughs often, her wide-eyed gaze flitting between Nathaniel and Jaewoo, who for some reason decide to sit on opposite ends of the long table and keep on asking each other to pass things. Ajumma declines to join us but takes a few pieces of fried chicken and a cup of pickled radish back to her room, chuckling appreciatively about the “noisy house.”
When it’s close to seven o’clock, Nadine checks her phone. “Wait, isn’t your episode ofCatch Me If You Canairing soon?”
We clean the table and hurry to the living room, where I turn on the television, switching to EBC.
As I turn around, I notice there’s only two empty spots on the sectional sofa, between Nadine and Hyemi or beside Nathaniel, as Jaewoo has decided to sprawl his entire body over the chaise part. There’s clearly more space between Nadine and Hyemi, and yet... I walk over and plop myself beside Nathaniel.
“I’ll get the lights,” Jaewoo says, jumping up to dim them. I can hear the others shift to fill the space, and Nathaniel moves as well, but only slightly.
The episode opens with an aerial pan of Seoul Arts Academy. Text overlays explain the school’s history, as well as a few of its most illustrious graduates.It’s also the alma mater of a certain popular boy band,the text reads. The video switches to a clip from XOXO’s newest music video.
Jaewoo points to the screen and laughs when Nathaniel appears, holding a red apple. “Your hair was so long!”
“Andblue,” Nadine adds.
“I kind of liked the blue.” Nathaniel sweeps his hand through his hair. “Whoops, sorry, Hyemi,” he says, when his movements jostle her. He moves closer to me to give her space, and now we’re touching completely, from hip to shoulder.
I liked the blue hair too, but I don’t say that aloud.
Hyemi appears on screen and introduces herself.
