10 #2
“I do. I was born and raised there, and I’ve worked toward this since I started debate in middle school. This is all I want to do: become a great barrister. And I want to be with you. I don’t think you have a better counterargument because I know you want to be with me.”
Tek stood up and opened the refrigerator.
He took out a bottle of water and drank it.
“You didn’t ask me to come. You’ve never asked me to come.
This trip was my idea originally, and when I thought I couldn’t make it, not once did you put up a fight.
And now that I’m here, I know you’re happy. Then why can’t you come?”
Mido was silent.
“Why didn’t you tell me to come here?” he asked quietly.
“I felt bad about the costs.”
“It’s not like I’m rich now, but what’s the point of having any money if I can’t see you? What’s the point of us dating if we never see each other? It’s been two years.”
Mido covered her mouth with her hands.
“I’d be happy to marry you,” Tek said.
There was that faithful resurgence of confidence.
This was how Tek worked. He would push his case, and when it felt hopeless, he’d come up with something else.
He couldn’t lose. And somehow, this didn’t sound like a proposal.
He’d be happy to marry her, he said. It was a declaration of love, but it wasn’t a request.
“I can’t get married. I haven’t finished college.”
“Are we back to square one, babe? I’ve submitted a plan. Sydney. I pay all the costs. You. Me. Couple. Happy. What do you say?”
“I’m grateful that you came all this way, but I can’t go back to Australia now. My family—”
He shook his head and inhaled. From his expression, she could tell he was thinking of the next argument.
“Can’t you stay tonight?”
He’d gone back to the first.
“I told you. My folks.”
“It’s always about your family. Always. For fuck’s sake, I flew all day and night to see you. Remember me? The love of your life? You’re my best mate, Mido. I need you to come back.”
Mido didn’t want to repeat herself, so she said nothing.
Tek wasn’t having it. He grimaced and clasped his hands together.
If she stayed with him, her parents would worry, then think poorly of him. But there was the bigger problem: Their outlooks and values were no longer aligned.
Tek was a Korean born in Australia and had grown up only among other Australians.
He had visited Korea once. He was an only child of two successful professors.
Tek’s parents were sophisticated intellectuals.
They had never expressed any preference for the race of the woman Tek married and had told her so, which she’d found strange because their opinion was unsolicited.
His mother knew they were sleeping together because Tek had told her.
She had never told her parents that she wasn’t a virgin. Her parents wouldn’t approve, but they wouldn’t have said anything.
If she stayed over, she’d be communicating something more than the fact that she was sleeping with her boyfriend. She’d be telling her parents that she didn’t care what they thought, and perhaps that was the greater offense.
“They won’t like it,” she said at last.
“Fine.” Tek’s face hardened as she gathered her things to leave.
Outside the lobby, there were two taxis waiting for customers. Tek handed her five $20 bills for the fare, which embarrassed her. He opened the car door.
“I’ll see you tomorrow morning, then?”
“I have to work tomorrow, but I’ll try to get out early.”
“Can I come to the hagwon? In the morning? I can work there rather than in my hotel room.”
Mido pursed her lips, not knowing what to say. She glanced at the taxi driver, whose hands grasped the steering wheel.
Closing the taxi door, Tek said to the driver, “I need a few minutes, mate.”
The driver raised the window to give them privacy.
“I’ll stay in the offices where you and Yun work and see you during your breaks. If there’s a desk, I can get my work done.”
“Wouldn’t you be more comfortable working here?”
“No. I would be more comfortable working in Sydney, Mido. Should I just get on a plane tomorrow?”
“I didn’t mean that, Tek. I’m sorry. You can’t get mad at me when I didn’t know you were coming.”
Tek turned from her and closed his eyes in frustration. Mido had never seen him so angry.
“Are we still dating?” he asked, raising his left hand as if he were arguing a point with the opposing counsel. “Seriously.”
“Okay. Okay. I’ll ask Yun and Lion to pick you up tomorrow.
We’ll go to the dawn services at eight in the morning, then head out to Irvine.
I haven’t even mentioned to my parents that you want to say hello.
I was thinking that maybe after work ends, maybe we could all go out, but my parents get so tired on Sunday nights.
I have to go to hagwon after church. I’m in charge of all these kids.
Weekends are the busiest at Fortress, and I’m off only on Wednesdays.
Do you want to go to church with us?” Mido was exasperated.
He had no idea how hard it was for her to move her schedule around.
“I don’t have a car, Tek, I can’t just—”
“No. Just forget it. Forget tomorrow.”
Mido touched his forearm, making him turn to her.
“You’re right. I won’t get out until late tomorrow, but if you come to Fortress, then I can see you during lunch and whenever the kids are taking tests. I might be running around, but if it’s quiet, I’ll get more time with you. After church, we’ll come by. I’ll phone when we head to the hotel.”
“Okay.” Tek closed his eyes and exhaled. “I’m sorry, Mido. You’re right. I took you by surprise. By coming.” He opened the taxi door, and Mido got inside. He closed the door and, out of habit, knocked on the roof of the car as if for luck.
“Tomorrow, Mido,” Tek said.
The driver put his taxi into gear, and Mido turned around in the back seat. Tek stood in place and watched them drive away, willing her to change her mind.