Chapter 23
WHEN I GET TO THE DOJANG, brYAN AND MINJEE are engaged in intense combat, matching each other’s blows perfectly. I never knew Minjee was trained in martial arts, but both she and Bryan are wearing the same protective gear, taekwondo uniform, and black belt.
Neither of them notices me when I come into the room. They’re both too engrossed in the fight. Bryan yells as he throws out a high kick, which Minjee expertly parries with her arm before she dodges away.
Bryan texted me to tell me that they’re wrapping up ten minutes ago, so I’m confused to see them still fighting.
But I’m not complaining. Watching the two of them spar is fascinating, and I can’t take my eyes off Minjee.
She’s graceful and deadly at the same time, while Bryan isn’t too bad himself.
The two of them move so fast that it’s hard to keep up.
Bryan launches into a flying kick, headed directly toward Minjee. I’m about to shout when, in a blink of an eye, Minjee spins and lands a kick right in the middle of his chest.
THWACK!
Bryan falls back onto the mat in a clear KO.
I clap and cheer loudly, caught up in the moment. “Wow! You two were amazing!”
It’s only when Minjee glances back at me, her eyes wide in surprise, that I remember what’s going on between us. I expect her to say nothing in response, but she stiffly replies, “Thanks. Bryan put up a good fight, though. I’m winded.”
She extends a hand to help Bryan up. He takes it and turns his attention to me, giving me a pointed look. “You here to do some training, too?”
I don’t miss a beat. “Yeah! I don’t have any actual stunts on my own, but I figured I should do something to prepare for our scenes next week.”
“Well, I’m exhausted,” Bryan says. “Gonna go shower. Why don’t you train with Minjee for a bit? She’s honestly a lot better than me.”
Bryan walks away, stopping to give me a thumbs-up when he’s out of Minjee’s line of sight.
I look back at Minjee, who doesn’t meet my gaze.
“Sorry,” she says. “I don’t know what Bryan’s going on about, but I have to go. Have to prep for a photo shoot tomorrow.”
I grab her arm as she turns to leave.
“Minjee, wait. Please. Just ten minutes.”
She stands there with her back turned toward me, her shoulders tense, but not moving away.
“What did I do wrong?” I ask. I hate how my voice sounds, so desperate and clingy.
But I feel so confused and lost. Even my best acting skills can’t hide how I feel right now.
“Please, just tell me and I’ll leave you alone.
I thought we were good friends. I had so much fun with you.
But then suddenly... I just don’t get it.
Please, after the years we were friends together, I—”
“It’s not your fault, okay?” Minjee cuts me off.
She finally turns around to glare at me.
Her eyes are shining like they were back at the Bukchon Hanok Village.
She looks so upset that I want to reach around to give her a hug.
And I would, if I weren’t the one making her so sad in the first place.
“Look, I...” She sniffs before glancing away again.
“I need to tell you something. But promise me that you won’t tell anyone.
If our years of friendship mean anything to you, please don’t tell anyone. ”
Minjee’s trembling now. My concern for her overshadows my own sadness.
“Wait,” I say. “Are you okay? You aren’t sick, are you?”
She shakes her head. I reach out to comfort her, but at my touch, she straightens up like she’s steeling herself to do something.
Then, she finally meets my eyes.
“I have feelings for you,” Minjee says softly. “Whether I like it or not.”
Shock runs through my spine.
This is a dream, isn’t it? I have to be dreaming. Or maybe I misheard her .
But even as I’m thinking of all this, there’s a part of me that isn’t so surprised. The warm smiles. The shared looks. The lingering hugs.
Relief floods my thoughts as I realize I wasn’t the only one who felt the ever-growing tension between us. But since I just have to make sure, I ask, “Wait. You what?”
Minjee flushes. “Never mind. Please just forget what I said.”
She’s about to run away when I grab her arm, K-drama style.
“Wait, Minjee, this is great! I’m bi!”
Minjee’s jaw falls open, her face slack with surprise like mine probably was just moments before. She recovers quickly, though, her expression hardening again as she shakes her head.
“So what? You’re dating Bryan.”
“Well, actually...”
We both turn around to see Bryan standing by the doorway of the dojang, leaning against the frame. He looks in a lot better shape than he did before, all freshened up and his hair still wet from the shower.
“I can assure you that she’s not,” he continues. “But Hana can explain in more detail.”
Minjee steps back, looking so confused that I’m almost concerned that her brain will explode. “Okay, what?”
I sigh. “It was a publicity stunt. For the show. Bryan and I aren’t actually dating.”
“Although I did like her for a brief period of time,” Bryan admits. “But hey, my type is always the people who don’t want me back. My one great fatal flaw. Oh well, their loss—”
“Bryan!” both Minjee and I yell in unison. When we realize what we did, we giggle.
“Okay, fine,” Bryan says. “I’ll leave. For good this time.” He turns to Minjee and continues, “Oh, and by the way, to save us some time: I’m pan; Hana knows; and yes, your secret is safe with me. We’re all queer. Yay! Okay, bye.”
Before either Minjee or I can reply, Bryan runs out of the dojang.
“He’s so weird,” I say. “Just when I think I understand him, he ends up surprising me all over again.”
“You and me both,” Minjee replies.
We laugh again. I’m giddy with relief. This current moment feels so nice after all the awkwardness that had built up between us.
“So...” Minjee says after a while. “You’re bi.”
I nod.
“And you’re single. Wait, are you trying to tell me that you have feelings for me, too? Is that why all of this is so ‘great’?”
My face grows hot. “I don’t know when it started, but yeah. I didn’t want to ruin our friendship, though, so I didn’t say anything.”
Minjee bursts into laughter and sinks down onto her knees.
I’m about to ask her if she’s okay again when she says, “Same. Well, the being too afraid to say anything, at least. I’m pretty sure I only like girls, though, as much as I didn’t want to admit that to myself. But that’s a whole other story.”
I squeeze her shoulder, just like she did for me when I had my little moment at the hanbok store.
“We can talk about it if you want,” I say. “Or we don’t have to. Whatever’s the most comfortable for you.”
“It’s just...” Minjee trails off and sighs.
“I wasn’t born in America like you. My parents are more traditionally Korean than anyone I know.
I always had a feeling something was different about me for quite some time now, since I dated a bunch of guys without really being attracted to them.
And when I started having feelings for you.
.. well, I was scared. Of this. I still am. ”
She looks into my eyes. It feels like time’s stopped between us, the entire world quiet except my thoughts.
My heart beats fast, like it did when I wrapped my arms around Minjee on her motorcycle.
Heat rises up in my cheeks again, and in this brief moment in time, all I can see is Minjee and the way she bites her lips, shy and apprehensive.
I swallow, knowing full well what I want to say but still having to fight myself because I don’t know if I have enough courage to say it out loud.
I’ve been in relationships with guys before, but this is the first time I’ve ever confessed my feelings for a girl.
And not just any girl, but my best friend.
“I like you,” I finally say out loud. “And I’m American, yeah, but my parents are Korean, too.
And we’re from the South, which is traditionally a pretty conservative part of the States, so.
.. I have no idea how they feel about this sort of stuff, either.
But I’m willing to figure out everything with you, one step at a time. ”
Minjee stands up and faces me so our noses are almost touching.
“Okay, one step at a time,” she says. “I like you, too.”
Before I know what’s happening, Minjee’s lips are on mine, softly and tenderly at first and then with more force and confidence as I return her kiss.