“Lee Joon,” I said at lunchtime the next day, “please remove the fork from Amber’s hair and put it in the trash.”

“Why, Goddess Coachie?” he asked me.

“Because it clashes with her barrettes.”

“Everybody’s a critic,” Jae whispered. “I think it looks nice.”

“Uh-huh.” I tried to move on, but Jae caught me by the arm. He and I had a little time to talk that day. I had deliberately come in early, fetched the equipment I needed, and slipped before he had arrived. I’d been avoiding Top too. I’ve never been good at lying face-to-face, even when it was the polite thing to do, so I’d left him a note saying how much Bom liked the bears.

The truth was Bom had squinted at the bears as if I had brought home a pair of aliens. Then she’d stuck them high on the shelf where her old books were gathering dust. She had waited up last night so that she could deliver the phone report.

“You’ve got 3 messages,” she’s announced as soon as I’d stepped inside the door.

After having listened to two girls who were hot and heavy for Jae, I’d cut off the machine.

Bom had reached over and clicked it on again. It had been a message from Hyun Joong. He was very sorry about Monday night. He was hoping I was free Saturday night. Did I like comedy clubs? He did. How about dinner and a comedy club? He left his return number.

“That’s what you’ve been waiting for, isn’t it?” Bom had asked.

“Yeah,” I’d said. “Sure.” Wasn’t it? I’d been waiting for that, right?

“So,” Jae said to me now, his hand on my arm, pulling me back to the present, “do you have plans this weekend?”

“Yup, I do. Table four, get the sponge. You’ve left enough for a kingdom of flies.”

“With Hyun Joong?” Jae asked.

“Big Bee,” I said, because I was so used to correcting him.

He laughed. “Whatever. I have an idea,” he told me. “What if we make it a double date? You and Hyun Joong, me and Jessica?”

I stared at him.

“It was just an idea,” Jae said.

“Maybe you don’t get it,” I replied. “The whole point of finding someone perfect for Jessica is to keep her from latching onto the guy I’m dating.”

“I think it’s you who doesn’t get it,” Jae replied. “Hyun Joong and Jessica would never make it as a couple. They’re both too self-centered to get along for more than a day or two. Think about it, Dara. If both of them are soaking up attention, who’s going to give it?”

“You don’t even know Hyun Joong?” I said hotly.

“I know his kind.”

“He doesn’t soak up attention,” I insisted. “He doesn’t ask for it. He’s just gotten used to it. If you had his body, you would too.”

Jae was silent for a moment. “Maybe,” he said, one side of his mouth drawing up. “Okay, okay. Just give me Jessica’s number.” He handed me a pen and a paper bag.”

“Lee Joon,” he called, “take the fork out of Hara’s hair. It matches with her dress very nicely, but she doesn’t like it.”

I scribbled the number on the paper bag and handed it back to him.

“Have a great time with Hyun Joong,” he said, looking into my eyes, holding me still for a moment.

“Thanks. I will,” I replied, pulling away from his gaze. I mean, a real date with Kim Hyun Joong – that was what I had been waiting for, wasn’t it?

**

“What are you waiting for?” the comedian asked in an exaggerated voice, and Hyun Joong howled.

I was waiting for his kiss. I knew that one long, tender, soul-wrapping kiss would change everything. I believe it the way I’d believe last Monday that being alone with Hyun Joong would change everything.

Earlier, we had been alone for dinner at a cozy table for two. While Hyun Joong talked about last week’s training, then training for coming