Chapter 3
A Job for You
Tae
“Taehyung-ah, can you come and take this across the street to the Songs’ house?”
Tae entered the kitchen where he found his mother on a stepladder reaching in the top cupboard for a plastic container, the
corner of her apron dangling precariously over an open flame on the stove.
“Mom,” Tae said in warning. He rushed up, turned off the burner, and placed a hand at her back to help steady her. “You’re
gonna hurt yourself.”
“I’m fine,” she said as she stepped back down, swatting his hand away.
“What is all of this?” he asked.
“I’m making pajeun. Just a snack.”
Tae counted the four plates of Korean green onion pancakes his mom had made for a snack. “Mom, I’m sure they have enough food.
It’s clearly a big family party. Do you really think they need more?” Tae asked.
“It’s not about need. They’ll like it. Oh, in fact, take this box of apples with you too. Now hurry and go before the pajeun gets cold. Oh, and ask them if they still need you to look at their water heater.”
“Sure, Mom. I’ll fix their water heater . . . while they’re having a huge party. In case anyone wants to suddenly take a shower
during dinner.”
“Aya, just go,” she said, slapping his back with a smile. It was impossible not to tease her. But it was also impossible to
talk her out of a nice deed. What kind of food to send to a neighbor was the greatest of Korean mom worries. Oh that, and
when her kids were getting married. He was sure his mom would hit him up with that question soon enough.
It wasn’t the first time Tae thought about how nice it was being home, spending time with his parents. The reasons that brought
him back were tough. But he couldn’t help think of how it felt right being here. Helping his mom and dad made him feel more
himself than a stable job and perfect-on-paper life ever had. He just wasn’t sure how much longer he could hide away before
people began whispering about him, before he turned from hero to bum in people’s eyes.
Tae exaggerated a deep bow at his mom and grabbed the Corelle plate, the same dish set they’d had for as long as he could
remember, with the amazing smells coming from under the foil, placed it on top of the box of Fuji apples, and headed across
the street to the Songs’. There were at least ten cars parked outside. Tae had always been a little jealous of how big their
family was and how loud their gatherings always were.
It was just the four of them: Tae, his older brother, and his mom and dad. It was almost just the three of them. But his dad
had just finished his last round of chemotherapy, and if all went according to plan, they would get the news he was in remission
soon. It was the second go at cancer for him, but he was a fighter. They all were. They had to be.
It felt too familiar. Dad got sick. Tae came home.
Tae took care of things until his dad got better.
Some people might have been bitter at the circumstances.
Oddly, Tae felt at peace with it. It had always been his choice to do it.
He just hoped and prayed they wouldn’t be in the situation again and that his dad stayed healthy this time.
But Tae wasn’t sure where that would leave him.
Tae crossed the street to the Songs’ house. Their grass was cut low and the hedges perfectly landscaped, just like his parents’
house. They should be, since Tae’s mom nagged him to take care of both yards the other day before the big family gathering
they were having for Grandma Song’s eightieth birthday party. Their families had been neighbors for almost thirty years, since
before Tae was even born. The house looked exactly the same as it had in all his memories, except all the cars had been upgraded.
Especially the sleek new Porsche Cayenne parked in front.
It had to be Julia’s. The Songs’ only, and very successful, daughter and the object of all of Tae’s childhood fantasies. The
hot babysitter. The older woman.
Tae was such a cliché when it came to his kinks, apparently.
Most of Tae’s memories as a kid had Julia’s easy smiles and sparkling eyes in them. But he hadn’t really seen her in years,
except for brief moments in passing when she visited her parents. In fact, the last time he saw her was at the launch party
for her company four years ago. And Starlight had taken off since then. She was busy being a big shot entrepreneur and launching
her way to success. Her life was flashy like her cars. Not a lot of opportunity for their lives to cross paths.
Tae knocked on the door and could hear the loud conversations happening inside. When no one came to answer, he opened it slightly
and peeked his head in. The sounds of the crowd were coming from the kitchen and dining room. For those that didn’t know better,
it might seem like an angry mob arguing. But to Tae, it sounded like family, no matter how small or large.
“Hello?” When no one answered, Tae continued farther into the house.
He passed by the dark bathroom where the door was open. But the sound of rustling got his attention, and he tried to quickly
turn away as he noticed Grandmother Song pulling up her undergarments. Now, that was something he wasn’t going to be able
to erase from his memory anytime soon. Honestly, why have doors if you weren’t going to—
“Ah, Taehyung-ah. You came! Good, good, you’re exactly who I wanted to see. Come with me.”
Tae looked around, hoping someone would come to his rescue. He loved the Song family but was not prepared for some awkward
conversation with the elder family leader.
She sat down in the armchair and directed Tae to sit across from her on the sofa. He put down the food and took a seat.
“Happy birthday, Halmoni. Are you enjoying your party?” Tae asked.
“Yes, it was very nice. Life is good. And your father, is he doing well? I hear that he just finished his last treatment.
Have you been able to handle the problems with the medical bills?”
That’s one thing Tae would never be able to get over: that oversharing among the Korean community was a thing. And there were
never any secrets among them. How his family dealt with their finances was his problem. He didn’t appreciate his mother telling
everyone else about his failures. Tae would pick up some more odds and ends jobs, and he’d have to convince his brother, somehow,
to come through with the rest.
“Yes, everything will be fine, I’m sure.”
“You’ll stay in Irvine until everything is settled.” It wasn’t a question. Yet, in Tae’s mind it was the one thing he’d been
asking himself for weeks.
“I’m staying for now, but I will eventually need to go back to Chicago,” he said. Saying it out loud brought back the familiar pressure of having to get back to his life, a life he wasn’t sure he wanted anymore, or ever did for that matter.
“Just to get your things,” she said.
Tae opened his mouth to respond . . .
“Good. Listen,” she said, leaning in closer to Tae. Grandma Song smelled like she’d dipped into the liquor cabinet. And though
her eyes were cloudy with cataracts, she still was focused as a laser on him. “I have a job for you.”
During his time back home, in order to stay busy and to make some extra money for his family, Tae had become the go-to guy
among the Korean community in Irvine for just about any need. He was good with his hands. He could mow lawns, fix water heaters,
unclog drains, build Ikea shelving units, translate documents. He helped people who didn’t have anyone else who could. This
was the kind of stuff that made him feel needed and appreciated. Not his boring middle-management office job back in Chicago.
“Sure, of course. I’m happy to help. If I don’t know how to do it, I’ll figure it out. But you won’t need to pay me.” Tae
had learned the game. The more he refused payment, the harder they’d insist on paying even more.
“Oh no, I will pay you quite generously. I have a lot of money saved, and nowhere and nothing more important to spend it on
than this.”
Tae was intrigued.
Grandma Song leaned to look over Tae’s shoulder, making sure they were not within earshot of anyone else. “You’ve dated lots
of girls.”
Tae’s mouth dropped open. He wasn’t sure what kind of gossip Grandma Song had heard about him. Sure, he’d had his share of
relationships. But nothing serious.
“Um, I wouldn’t say a lot—”
“And they’ve all gone on to marry someone after you.”
Ouch, the jabs just kept on coming. Was this his reputation? The guy girls dated before they got married? I mean, there was Graci Im. And Jessica Yi. And Sarah Hong. Oh, and Grace Yoon . . .
“Halmoni, I’m not sure what you’re asking of me,” Tae said.
“It’s quite simple, really. I need you to help my Julia with her love life.”
“I’m sorry, what?” Tae had clearly heard her wrong.
“Julia. I need you to help her. Date her so she can find the one she will marry.”
“You want to pay me? To date Julia? Halmoni, I don’t think I can help with that. Julia and I are just friends.” Tae swallowed
down his nerves.
He wiped his sweaty palms on his jeans. Sure, Julia was amazing. Who wouldn’t be interested? But he wasn’t lying to her grandmother.
There had never been anything between them. Mostly because they were just kids, and Julia had never seen him as anything other
than a little brother type.
Now that they were adults, Julia had skyrocketed way out of Tae’s league. There was no way she’d even think twice about him.
“There is no just before friends. Friendship is one of the most valuable relationships in our lives. It’s where we learn to trust. Where we
learn to love.”
That was a lovely sentiment, but still, there was no way. Tae hadn’t spoken to Julia in years. And aside from that, Julia,
self-assured and self-contained, would most definitely not be on board with this scenario. “Does Julia even know you’re asking
this of me?”
“Tae, you said that if you didn’t know how to do something, you could figure it out. You can help her so she can see exactly
what she needs, like you did for the other girls.”