Jackson was trying to convince him to go… somewhere. Jinyoung wasn’t really paying attention.

He’d been to an 8-week student training program at the local hospital last year, but Mrs. Wang wasn’t an idiot and knew that an 8-week training program wasn’t the same as a medical degree. So Jinyoung’s main duties at Hillside Residences were taking care of the residents’ non-medical needs. This included things like helping old Mrs. Kang get down the stairs and assuring belligerently anxious Mr. Jung that the Japanese were no longer out patrolling the streets, and that they hadn’t for decades now. Jackson followed Jinyoung as he made the rounds, still pressing his case.

“Come on,” Jackson said. “It’s been over a month, dude. You need to get back out there. Plus, if you don’t do this for me, it could ruin the one good things that’s happened to me in a really long time!”

Jinyoung bent over to pick up a piece of trash on the ground. Then he turned to face his friend.

“Sorry, what were you talking about, again?” Jinyoung said. Jackson looked unamused.

“You remember that girl I told you I was talking to?” Jackson said.

“I… vaguely remember it,” Jinyoung said. “Which one? The one with highlights? And she looks like a cat?”

“That very one,” Jackson said, clapping Jinyoung on the chest. “She’s smart, she’s funny, she’s hot, she is literally the girl of my dreams. And we’re kind of dating now.”

“I’m happy for you,” Jinyoung said, walking into a kitchen seeing as this conversation was taking a turn that he’d rather the residents and other caregivers didn’t hear about. Jackson followed, and Jinyoung noticed that his friend was dressed nicer than usual.

“Are you two going out tonight?” Jinyoung said, gesturing to Jackson’s obviously new jacket and matching pants. Jackson laughed.

“Actually, we are,” Jackson said. “There’s a carnival that opened up for the weekend downtown, I’m meeting her there.”

“So, what does that have to do with me?” Jinyoung asked. “You want my permission or something?” 

Jackson laughed but then his face turned solemn quickly. Jinyoung wondered what it was he had to say.

“Well, the thing is,” Jackson said, clearing his throat. “My girl’s got a friend—,”

“Stop right there,” Jinyoung said. “I already know where this is going. The answer’s no.”

Jinyoung skirted around Jackson and tossed the stray piece of trash into the bin. Then he grabbed a broom and started to sweep the floor. Jackson scoffed, grabbing the broom from him.

“You don’t even know what I was going to say,” Jackson said. Jinyoung narrowed his eyes at him.

“You were going to ask me to come with you on a double date,” Jinyoung said. “And I don’t want to.”

“But why?” Jackson said, still hounding him.

“I’m working,” Jinyoung said.

“Doing what? Changing bed pans and looking out for Japanese soldiers?” Jackson said. “You know my mom would let you have the night out tonight if I asked her.”

“Don’t ask her,” Jinyoung said, giving Jackson a stern look. “We had an agreement, 15% of my rent for three shifts a week. You know I always stand by my commitments.”

Jinyoung exited through the back door and headed for the staircase leading up to the rooms. Jackson ran ahead of him, though, and blocked his way. He had an expression of mock hurt on his face.

“What about our friendship, then, huh?” Jackson said. “What about that commitment?”

“Why don’t you ask Youngjae to do it?” Jinyoung suggested, turning around and heading back to the kitchen. Jackson chased after him.

“Youngjae’s got a girlfriend already,” Jackson said. “You’re the next best thing. Come on, you haven’t even met my girlfriend, yet, I thought this would be a great way for all of us to get to know one another. And you may even end up liking her friend. She could help you get over Nawon!”

Jinyoung rolled his eyes. “No, thanks.”

“Jinyoung, I am seriously worried about you,” Jackson said. Jinyoung paused and stared at him.

“I’ve been hearing that a lot.”

“Well, maybe it’s because you go straight home from class every single day and you only come out for meals and you sleep with a crochet octopus every night.”

“I don’t sleep with that octopus,” Jinyoung said, looking offended. “That octopus hasn’t left my desk since I got here. You know I don’t sleep with that octopus. Did someone tell you I sleep with that octopus?”

“No, of course not,” Jackson said sarcastically. “You’re just getting awful defensive about it because you just use it for decoration, right?”

“I’m still not going with you.”

“Yes, you are. It’s been long enough, Jinyoung,” Jackson stepped in front of his friend and blocked Jinyoung from leaving the room. He gave Jackson a challenging stare, one that Jackson just threw right back at him.

“You keep saying you’re over her, but the way you’re acting isn’t exactly convincing me,” Jackson said. “You say you’re over her, but you don’t leave your place for hours on end and you avoid people and horde stuff. All I’m asking for is one evening. After that, you can go back to moping. Hell, you could mope tonight, too, but just do it while you’re on this double date with me.”

Jinyoung sighed and then leaned back against the kitchen island. He crossed his arms, still giving Jackson a stern, challenging look. He wanted to deny everything Jackson said, but his friend was much more stubborn than Jinyoung was. He knew that if he put up a fight, Jackson would outlast him. But the stern look on Jackson’s face faded away and was replaced with a gentler expression.

“I’m telling you, this girl…” Jackson said, his eyes glossing over as he thought about his girlfriend.

“I mean, it’s kind of too early to tell, but I just got a good feeling, you know?” Jackson said. “This is literally the first, ever, thing she’s asked me for. Well, actually, her friend asked her to ask me for this favor, and you know how girls are with their friends’ boyfriends. This could be like a test, you know? If I don’t pull through, what is she gonna think?”

Jinyoung really did not want to go. But Jackson’s little speech about his new girlfriend was the happiest he’d seen his friend in a long time. He’d never had a girl cheat on him, but he’d been unlucky in the dating department all the same. And he was right, girls were protective of each other. If Jackson didn’t win the approval of his girlfriend’s friend group, it would be a hard walk through life for him. 

Jinyoung supposed one evening wouldn’t hurt. And besides, if it turned out well, he may not have to accept Jisoo’s proposal after all; he could just ask this girl to the gala.

“One evening.”

Jackson fist pumped the air and then clapped Jinyoung hard against the chest again, momentarily knocking the air out of his lungs.

“Yes! You’re the man!” Jackson shouted. “Whoo! Park Jinyoung, back in the game! Thank you, man. I promise it’ll be painless. I won’t even be mad if you decide to ditch her in the middle of it. I mean, I’ll be a little mad, but you’re not the type so—”

“Right, yeah, sure,” Jinyoung said, rubbing the spot where Jackson had hit his chest. “So what time are we meeting them?”

“In like an hour,” Jackson said, checking his watch. He looked Jinyoung up and down and saw that his friend was still wearing an apron. “So you better get dressed.”

“Right,” Jinyoung said. He was about to turn and go up to his room to change when he suddenly realized, he’d never asked Jackson a particular question: “So… who is your new girlfriend, anyway?”

“Jennie!” Jackson shouted over the noise of the carnival. “Baby, over here!”

He waved his arms over his head trying to get her attention. Jinyoung squinted a little, trying to see over people’s heads at the girl who had won his friend’s heart over. The girl with the highlights who looked a little like a cat. It was a warm evening, and the carnival grounds were swarming with people. Lights and sounds and smells abounded. Through the commotion, however, Jinyoung was able to spot a pretty girl with long, wavy brown hair. Her almond-shaped eyes had a certain feline quality, and her smile was more of a smirk. There was another girl next to her.

Jennie spotted Jackson right away. She tugged on Jisoo’s arm and pointed to him.

“Oh! That’s him, look over there, it’s my new boyfriend!” Jennie said. Jisoo looked up and saw the boy waving his arms around, standing next to another boy who barely moved at all.

“Isn’t he cute?” Jennie said, giggling. “Jackson!”

Jennie pulled Jisoo along as she navigated the crowd, closing in on where Jackson was standing, waiting for her with his friend. When they found each other, Jennie beamed at her boyfriend.

“Hey!” she said brightly. “We almost couldn’t find this place. You’d think it’d be obvious with all the lights and the giant ferris wheel, but Jisoo made us get off at the wrong stop.”

Jackson laughed, and so did Jennie, but Jinyoung and Jisoo could only look at each other with white, blank stares.

“That’s tough,” Jackson said. “You should have called me, we could have gone to get you two. Good thing you got here alright, though. Did you have any trouble?”

Jackson and Jennie flirted a bit more before they realized that their neither of their friends had said a word. Jennie tugged on Jisoo’s arm, brin