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I stare at Gi Taek’s message. I hadn’t thought of that.I thinkit’ll be okay. I’m only going to check the one. It’s not near Joah but Hyemi’s apartment.
Text us when you meet up with him, Gi Taek messages.It’s late.
Fighting!
No, Angela,I type out,I’m just going there to check on Hyemi.
???! Okay!
I pay the driver and exit the taxi onto a quiet street. It’s more secluded than I imagined, tucked in a network of alleys behind one of the larger boulevards. A single streetlight illuminates a green single-story building with a flickering signboard that reads HOME RUNHITS!
I press open the door, peering inside before stepping through. The building is divided into a small entrance area in the front, with cages in the back, separated by a chain-link fence. There’s a photobooth against the wall and a few old arcade games. The attendant must have stepped out for a moment because the room is empty.
I hear the loud crack of a baseball hitting a metal bat. Slowly, I approach the fence. All the cages are empty except for the last one where two people stand. I recognize Hyemi’s laugh, brighter and clearer than it had been over the radio. I can’t see Nathaniel’s face; his back is to me. Hyemi wears a helmet that’s too large for her, and she’s laughing while fiddling with the straps. She’s having a difficult time of it, so Nathaniel reaches up, his longer fingers adjusting the straps for her. Afterward, he raises a fist and knocks it gently against the top of her helmet. She grins, swatting at him.
I feel odd, light-headed. They’d both been ignoring my texts all day. Is this why? Because they were together? Then there’s movement as another person comes into view.
Jaewoo.They’re not alone.He must have been seated before, which is why I hadn’t seen him. He takes the bat that Hyemi holds out to him.
Facing out from the cage, he raises the bat. A pitching machine releases a ball and he swings the bat, connecting with the ball. It soars skyward before colliding with a high net and dropping to the ground.
Hyemi shouts in English, “Home run!”
I realize, as Jaewoo continues his turn with the bat, that they’re speakingentirelyin English. I can only hear snatches of their conversation, echoing back to where I linger by the fence. Though it’s only Jaewoo and Hyemi’s voices. I strain my ears, but I can’t pick out Nathaniel’s among them.
Then it’s Nathaniel’s turn. As he takes the bat from Jaewoo, I catch sight of his face for the first time.
There are dark shadows beneath his eyes, as if he hasn’t slept well the past few nights. He looks tired. And... unhappy.
He looks sad. My chest aches and I suddenly want to cry.
He swings the bat with both hands before adjusting his grip on the handle, bringing it level with his shoulders. He turns to face the machine. It shoots out a ball, so fast I almost miss it.
He swings, hard. Harder than Jaewoo had. The ball connects with the bat and goes flying.
Hyemi jumps to her feet. “Home run!”
The machine releases another ball in quick succession—he must have adjusted the speed. Jaewoo had more of a lull between pitches.
Nathaniel swings again, even harder this time; the ball ricochets to the left, hitting a pole. Foul ball. He continues, not letting up. With every swing, the ball soars, catching at the back of the net.
“Hey,” I hear Jaewoo shout. “Slow down.”
He doesn’t. He keeps swinging harder, faster.
By the time he’s finished with his turn, my heart is racing.
“Let’s take a break,” I hear Jaewoo say, and then Hyemi is rounding the corner.She’s coming this way.I quickly turn toward the photobooth and duck inside, catching a glimpse of her as she walks past my hiding spot toward the bathrooms. I can’t believe I justhidfrom her. What have I been reduced to? Pushing back the drapes, I step cautiously out of the booth.
Making my way back to the fence, I move farther along it, getting as close as possible to the last cage without stepping into view.
“I’m not sure this is helping,” I hear Jaewoo say. He and Nathaniel are both sitting on the bench, with Nathaniel leaning his head back against the chain-link.
What’s not helping? Hadn’t they come to cheer up Hyemi? From the way she skipped past the photo booth, I’d consider their mission accomplished.
Nathaniel doesn’t respond, and I press closer.
“Do you feel any better?” Jaewoo asks softly.
