AN HOUR LATER, I'M RIDING AUNT YERIN'S BIKE DOWN THE BOARDWALK. HER BIKE IS OLD. NO, LET ME REPHRASE THAT: IT'S ANCIENT. BUT IT WORKS AND IT'S THE RIGHT SIZE. I DON'T EVEN RUN ANYONE OR ANYTHING OVER, WHICH MAKES ME MORE CONFIDENT.

   I REACH THE SURF SHOP QUICKLY AND HOP OFF THE BIKE. I'M NOT SURE WHERE TO PARK, SINCE THERE ARE SHOPS AND PEOPLE ALL AROUND, SO I LEAN IT AGAINST THE STORE AND HOPE NO ONE STEALS IT. THOUGH IF IT DID END UP GETTING STOLEN, IT WOULD PROBABLY GIVE AUNT YERIN AN EXCUSE TO BUY A NICER BIKE.

   YEONSEO (JUNGKOOK LIS SISTER. INCASE YOU DON'T REMEMBER) IS AT THE DESK WHEN I WALK IN. SHE'S WAXING A SURFBOARD AND GLANCES UP AS THE LITTLE BELL RINGS ABOVE ME. SHE SMILE WIDE WHEN SHE SEES ME

    "HEY," I SAY "IS JUNGKOOK WORKING?"                                                                                                                   

  " HE'S IN THE BACK. COME WITH ME," SHE SAYS.

SHE LEADS ME TO THE BACK OF THE STORE AND THROUGH A DOOR. SHE SHUTS IT BEHIND HE AND GESTURE TO THE LEFT. PILES OF SURFBOARD ARE STACKED AGAINST THE WALL ON EITHER SIDE OF THE HALLWAY AND JUNGKOOK'S HOLDING A CLIPBOARD NEAR THE END OF IT.

   "HEY," HE SAYS. HIS FACE BRIGHTENS AND HE WALKS OVER AND PULLS ME INTO A HUG. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?"

   " I JUST THOUGHT I'D STOP BY AND SEE HOW YOU'RE DOING ."

   "I'M GLAD YOU DID. INVENTORY IS SERIOUSLY KILLING ME." HE SETS DOWN HIS CLIPBOARD AND LETS OUT AN EXASPERATED SIGH. " YOU LOOK CUTE TODAY."

    I TUCK MY HAIR BEHIND MY EAR, FEELING FLUSTERED. "OH, THANKS." MY MIND IS JUMBLED BUT I MANAGED TO TALK AGAIN. " I KNOW YOU HAVE TO GET BACK TO WORK BUT I BROUGHT YOU A TREAT. IF YOU WANT IT."

    "REALLY?" HIS EYES WIDEN. "WHAT IS IT?"                                                                                                           

I PULL A PACKAGE OF CINNAMON ALMOND OUT OF MY PURSE. " I DON'T KNOW IF YOU LIKE THIS BUT--"

    "I LOVE THEM!" HE TAKES THE PACKAGE WITH A SORT  OF REVERENCE "THANK YOU SO MUCH."

    A VOICE BOOM RIGHT OUTSIDE THE DOOR, MAKING ME JUMP. HE GLANCES TOWARD THE DOOR AND FROWNS. " I'D BETTER GET BACK TO WORK. MY DAD WANTS THIS DONE TODAY SO I HAVE TO HURRY OR I'LL BE HERE ALL NIGHT."

   "OKAY. I'LL SEE YOU LATER. OR TALK TO YOU, OR....... SOMETHING."

     HE CHUCKLES . "YOU'RE CUTE WHEN YOU'RE NERVOUS. "                                                                               

"I'M NOT NERVOUS."