Chapter 6 What about Min?
What about Min?
Tae
We have to talk. Call me Tae. Please.
The message was from his ex-girlfriend, Kari. Though, it could have just as easily been from his landlord. Or his boss. Tae
had been avoiding everyone from his life in Chicago because they wanted answers, and he didn’t have them. He’d been back home
for two months, which apparently was the expiration date for goodwill from people who demanded your time, your money, your
attention. Should he just make it official and cut the ties and start fresh here? But that would leave him single, jobless,
and living with his parents. What a life to be proud of.
Tae pulled the too-heavy blanket up over his head. It was late, and he should be out of bed instead of hiding under a stifling
blanket fort. But he had no energy and no desire to get up. It was just one of those days where all he wanted to do was stay
in bed. He had to be careful of those days.
His phone buzzed, this time an incoming FaceTime call.
Kari.
He and Kari hadn’t even been serious. They both knew it wasn’t working.
Maybe it had never really worked at all between them.
She couldn’t understand why Tae had to always put family first. Okay, that sounded harsh.
Kari wasn’t a monster. She just felt Tae went overboard on what he was willing to sacrifice for his parents.
She wasn’t the only one who believed this.
But Tae had always been loyal to a fault. And this was what he had to do.
Breaking up with her before leaving to come home had been the right thing to do. But Kari had been having a hard time accepting
it. She wanted to talk. She needed closure. Tae couldn’t avoid her forever. If she needed a conversation, she deserved at
least that.
Just not right now.
This was the problem with casual relationships. The risk that someone ended up wanting more, something more serious. Tae had
never been in that headspace or heart space with Kari.
And she was a reminder that he couldn’t keep all the other things in his life in limbo for much longer.
He threw the blanket off, tapped the green button, closed his eyes for one second, and waited for their faces to both appear
on the screen.
“Are you still in bed? It’s, what, almost noon out there?”
And there it was. The sound of judgment of all his life’s choices.
“Um, good morning to you too?” Tae answered.
“It’s not morning, Tae. Not here in Chicago and not there in Irvine.” Kari didn’t look or sound exasperated. Rather, she looked
and sounded . . . worried. Damn.
“No, you’re right. I need to get up and at ’em.” Problem was, that was the last thing Tae felt like doing.
“Tae . . .” She let his name drag out. Only hard things were left to say. Questions about what was next . . . for him, for
them.
“Taehyung-ah . . .” His mom’s voice came from somewhere upstairs. Saved by the call of a Korean mom in need. Need likely being the need to feed him.
Tae looked over his shoulder toward the sound of his mom’s beckoning. “Kari, can I call you back later? Sounds like my mom
needs me.”
Kari let out a deep sigh. “Fine. But don’t forget to call me back, okay? We really need to talk.”
“I won’t. I’ll call you later before it gets too late out there. Bye.” He hung up the phone before she could say anything
else.
With his dad in remission, Tae could go back to Chicago. But he had to admit he’d never been happy there. Problem was that Tae didn’t know what he wanted or what
would make him happy.
He’d only ever known how to be his family’s caregiver. He’d only ever wanted to work with his hands and fix things, problems.
But when his older brother Min helped get him a job offer in some boring office for some boring company all the way out in
Chicago, Tae changed course. Because his dad wanted him to take the job. He didn’t want Tae to become just a landscaper like his dad had been his whole life, as if it was something to be ashamed of. Tae hated that his dad felt that way.
Chicago was supposed to be the beginning of his success story. But all the so-called successes in his life’s journey since
then—decent-paying job, relationship, nice apartment—had left him unsatisfied and, frankly, unhappy. He never felt like himself
out there. It wasn’t that his dad’s cancer was a blessing, but it allowed Tae to end back where he felt most himself, at home
taking care of his family.
And yes, he’d tried to Kondo his life and ask himself what brought him joy.
For now, the only answer he could find was that simply helping other people brought him joy.
He liked being the go-to handyman for all the needs of the community.
He liked being the one his parents relied on to translate and organize and schedule all the medical information and the home finances.
And he liked feeling needed and appreciated.
Neither of which he felt in his previous office job or, honestly, in his relationship.
But none of that fit neatly on a business card.
“Taehyung-ah,” his mom called out again, pulling him from his thoughts.
Tae took the stairs two at a time.
The kitchen always smelled good, no matter what time of day. His mom had pots and pans in various sizes going, and Tae’s stomach
grumbled as he looked into the one that looked the spiciest. Doenjang-jjigae, his favorite. Not many loved the fermented soybean
paste stew with its overwhelming aroma. But Tae could not get enough. And he liked his spicy the way his mom made it.
“Baegobpa?” his mom asked.
Tae would never turn down his mom’s cooking. Damn, but was he a mama’s boy. “Thanks, Mom. I’ll have just a little as a snack
before lunch.”
His mom smiled, the lines around her eyes crinkling. The other lines, the ones on her forehead, the ones built from years
of worrying, had gotten a break now that they had the good news about his dad’s health. He had rung the bell on his final
round of chemo, and he was finally in remission.
“Tae, can you do something for me?” his mom asked.
“I called the insurance company yesterday and left a message with the billing manager. I’ll have that taken care of. And I
ordered Dad’s medication. That will come in the mail in a couple days.”
“Thank you. But I have a different, very important favor to ask of you.”
“Sure, Mom. What is it?” He was ready to spend his upcoming weekend on various projects for people around the neighborhood. It was Tuesday. The requests should be coming in right on schedule. He’d prioritize his mom’s needs first.
“It’s about Min,” she said.
“What about Min?”
“I need you to convince your brother to go on a date with Julia Song.”
Tae almost choked on his spoon.
Tae, of course, knew that every Korean mother of a single male between the ages of thirty and fifty were being summoned and
foaming at the mouth trying to get chosen as one of The Lucky Three to be set up with Julia on a date. He just hadn’t expected
his own mother to be one of them. Min and Tae weren’t exactly suitable in this situation for various reasons.
His mom continued to stir, not even looking up as she spoke, like this was just a normal request like every other day. “It
has taken longer than expected. But now that Julia has finally agreed to let her parents match her with some good Korean men,
I think Min would be an excellent choice. The best choice.”
His older brother was an okay dude. He was a lead engineer at Google and made some decent cash. But he’d always kind of been
in it for himself. Not really around much helping with family. And not willing to fork over the full amount needed to cover
bills. He always insisted on everyone splitting the burden, even though Min was employed, and Tae was barely hanging on to
his job. All that, and by the way . . . “But Min has a fiancée, Mom. Have you forgotten about Andrea?”
His mom waved her hand as if that one detail was no matter at all. “Andrea is lovely. But she’s not Korean, Tae. If a better
option comes along, we should consider it. And what better option than Julia Song? She is the princess of Irvine, California.”
Tae wanted to laugh at the ridiculousness of his mother’s words, except . . . he knew she wasn’t kidding. He tried not to
be bothered by the often overly traditional way of thinking of Korean mothers. But sometimes, it was just so asinine.
“Umma . . .”
“We should at least consider it, no?” she said.
“Do not—”
“Just talk to him. See what he thinks. It’s a good idea, but if I bring it up, he will get frustrated. He’s always believed
I don’t approve of Andrea,” she said. At least she was self-aware enough to realize that much.
“Why on earth would he think that? Oh, maybe it’s because you’re actively trying to set him up with someone else.”
“Tae, don’t be dramatic.”
Tae shook his head. He couldn’t convince his mother not to go down this road. But he wasn’t going to have any part of it.
Plus, if Julia’s family only had three chances with this, Min was not going to make the cut.
And if not Min, well, Tae wasn’t even going to be in consideration. They were likely checking résumés, tax returns, and pay
stubs. Still . . . he could have some fun and help Julia along the way. He hadn’t spoken to her since he’d agreed to be her
dating coach. He hoped she hadn’t changed her mind. He was actually looking forward to helping her.
He thought back to the job offer Grandma Song made him at her birthday party, asking Tae to date Julia. Did she want Julia
to spend time with someone jobless and without a future so she’d get a clearer picture of what she should be avoiding? Was
it a lesson for Julia to never settle for something less than the best? Or did Halmoni actually believe Tae had some magical
power to deliver women to their future husbands?
Tae tried not to feel offended. Everyone just wanted what was best for Julia, after all. But what about what was best for
him? In any case, being Julia’s dating coach, going on practice dates with her, would settle it. He would decline Halmoni’s
offer but accept Julia’s. Seemed they ultimately wanted the same thing anyways.
Tae ran back down to his room. With the addition of a couch, a bed, a kitchenette, and a small bathroom, it was now technically his studio apartment.
Which wouldn’t be so depressing if it wasn’t the ground floor of his parents’ home where he was living rent free.
There was no way of making any of it sound impressive.
Hey, wanna come back to my apartment for some lovin’? We just gotta be quiet so my parents can’t hear. God, just imagining the conversation was enough for Tae never to get hard again.
Tae grabbed his phone and let out a deep breath before activating the screen. He ignored the message waiting for him from
Kari and opened a new text message.
Hey there, let me know when you have a quick second he typed.
His phone rang unexpectedly.
He looked down, and it was Julia.
“Hello? That was fast.”
“Hi! Well, I currently have a quick second . . .”
Julia, ever the precise communicator.
“. . . and it was perfect timing. I have a favor to ask of you.”
Seemed everyone needed Tae these days. And it sure didn’t suck to be needed by CEO Julia Song.
“Oh?”
“I’m getting bids on an office renovation, and I’m not exactly sure what some of these line items are about. Our facilities
manager is new, and I’d just feel better having a second look-over. My dad says you’ve been doing a lot of this type of work
for some of the neighbors. Is this something you could look at for me? I need you if you’re able.”
He didn’t expect Julia’s request to have quite the effect on him that it had. His chest puffed up, and his ego expanded. Just
hand him the superhero cape to put on. Julia needed him. He wasn’t about to let her down now.
“Of course. Happy to.”
“Great, can I email them to you?”
“Or better yet . . . I know this is likely a long shot, but I’m gonna be up in LA tomorrow. You’re probably super busy, but
I was wondering if you’d be free to grab a coffee in the afternoon? And I can take a look at the estimates then?”
“Like I’d give up a chance to see you outside of the Irvine bubble. No way. I’d love that. It’s been too long. Would two o’clock
work?”
“Definitely. I’ll come by your office.”
“Perfect. I’ll have a guest pass waiting for you. And Tae . . .”
“Yeah?”
“Thanks.”
Tae had received an I need you and a thanks in one quick phone conversation. These were the small things that made him feel like he wasn’t a lost cause after all.
Tae smiled down at his phone. He might be a stone’s throw away from being unemployed and homeless. But being there for Julia
Song, helping her with the things she needed, including prepping for these dates, was going to be fun. And it was exactly
the distraction Tae needed right now.