The first thing I did Saturday afternoon was get Jae’s phone number from Directory Information. I then gave it to Hyuna and I-M-Y-O-O-N-A, as well as the 3 other girls who called me that weekend. They each got the same piece of advice. “Jae’s kind of an up-front and direct guy. You should call him yourself and ask all the questions you want. Don’t be shy. Jae loves to answer questions about himself.”

It took a little more time to deal with Jessica calls. I chatted up the guys some more and took notes so I could figure out the best order in which to line them up. I told them that she was dating somebody now, but I didn’t think it would last long – which was true. I gave her and Jiyong a week before she decided she wasn’t really interested.

During the weekend I waited, I hoped, I even prayed once, but I didn’t hear a word from Hyun Joong. Of course, I wasn’t sure that he even remembered my last name. After the food fight, the his team started coming later to lunch – maybe on purpose – so I didn’t get to talk to him. I was giving him one more day to casually bump into me before I used up my one excuse to make contact, the return of his towel. Hoping that Monday was my lucky day, I put on lipstick that morning and took the long route to YGU, entering the college’s main gate. To reach the student center, I had to ride past the gym.

I was rubbernecking, looking back over my shoulder to see who was getting out of the cars in the gym lot, when I suddenly lurched forward. My bike bolted up a curb. I squeezed the hand brakes hard and shrieked to a stop, face-to-face, wheel-to-metal with a huge garbage dumpster. Slowly I let out my breath. Hoping no one had seen me, I backed up.

“You okay, Dara?”

I whirled around. Jae. Of course. Great, Dara. You did it again!

“That dumpster ought to watch where he’s going,” Jae said. He kept a straight face, but the slight tremble in his voice gave away his laughter.

I pedaled slowly over to him, because if I raced off the way I wanted to, it would only look worse. “How was your weekend?” I asked politely.

“Okay,” he said just as politely. “How about yours? Do anything exciting?”

“Yeah. Spent a lot of time on the phone.” I glanced sideways at him irritatingly.

“Oh yeah? Me too,” he said sarcastically, his eyes sliding over to meet mine. But I would never admit that I was responsible for all those panting girls on him.

I reluctantly got off my bike, dismounting awkwardly on the right side since I’m vertically challenged, and walked the bike between us.

“Listen, Dara…” Jae lifted his hand, and for a moment I thought he was going to lay it on top of mine. Then he rested it on another part of the handlebars, walking the bike with me. “I’m sorry about Friday afternoon. I’m sorry for what I said about you and Jessica and big bee…it’s none of my business.”

I nodded. I wasn’t mad anymore. “That’s okay. I’m sorry too.”

“For what?” he asked. It sounded like a sincere question.

“For continuing to ask stuff when you made it obvious you didn’t want to answer.”

“Oh,” he said. “I thought it was for giving all those girls my phone number and telling them how much I love questions about myself.”

Uh-oh.

My mouth opened a little.

He laughed. This time one finger did graze mine, and then he held out his hand. “Friends?”

I was a little surprised. I didn’t think whether we got along mattered one way or the other to him.

“Sure. Friends.” I shook his hand. The bike went clattering down between us.. We tried to catch it at the same time and knocked heads.

“Oh! Sorry!” I reached out to rub his forehead. As soon as I realized what I was doing, I pulled back self-consciously. But I had gotten close enough to smell him. That same good smell. “What kind of soap do you use?”

He handed me my bike. “Excuse me?”

“Never mind,” I said quickly. Pabo! Pabo! Me and my stupid mouth!

Great. We had just become friends, and I started right off with a personal question.

Jae squinted at me, and then glanced over my shoulder. “Probably the same kind of soap he uses,” he said sarcastically. “Macho Spring.”

“Macho Spring?” I turned to see who Jae was eyeing.

It was my lucky day! Woohoo!

Hyun Joong was jogging in a small circle in front of the gym. He looked as if he had just come back from a run, his whole body glistening to the sun. He saw us. I kept telling myself I was imagining things, but I was so sure his eyes lit up. Those eyes with streak of golden sunlight in his hair. HEAVEN! He trotted over.

“Dara.” His voice sounded soft and husky. Maybe he was just out of breath. I sure was.

“Hi. Hi,” I said. I caught myself before I repeated it for a third time. Every other word had deserted me.

“Hello,” Jae said. “I’m Kim Jaejoong.”

“Oh, Right. Sorry,” I apologized. Jae, this is Big..” Bee,  I was about to say, because to Jae that’s who he was.

“Hyun Joong,” Hyun Joong said quietly, as if I had forgotten his name.

“Hyun Joong,” I repeated too loudly. “I knew that!”

Jae laughed. “Looks like you’ve been working out,” he said to Hyun Joong.

“I ran a few miles,” Hyun Joong replied with a shrug. “Coach Teddy said he was going to us hard today.” He turned to me. “How are you, Dara?”

“Great.”

“Me too. How’s camp?”

“I love it. The kids are a challenge but relaly fun.” I was flying now – I had managed two complete sentences. “Hyun Joong’s a counselor there too,” I said.

“Jae,” Jae corrected me. “That’s Hyun Joong. I’m Jae. You’re Dara.”

I flicked a glanced at him and he laughed.

Darn it! This is embarrassing, Dara. Use your brain first before your mouth!

“Are you learning a lot from your new coach?” I asked Hyun Joong.

“Yes!” he said, his eyes fixed on me like two bright suns. “I’m learning that I’m the best. I just have to want it, Dara. I’ve got what it takes. I’m the best and can be even better. It’s all mine, if I just want it enough.”

“How long has self-confidence been a problem for you?” Jae asked deadpan.

I shot him a dirty look. He pretended not to notice.

“Gee, I don’t know,” Hyun Joong replied. “I mean, I always thought I was better than the rest.” He moved his arm. His muscles couldn’t help but flex. “But I guess there was this little part of me that wasn’t really sure about it.”

I nodded encouragingly. “A good coach gi