“Julia. I need you to help her. Date her so she can find the one she will marry.”
“You want to pay me? To date Julia? Halmoni, I don’t think I can help with that. Julia and I are just friends.” Tae swallowed down his nerves.
He wiped his sweaty palms on his jeans. Sure, Julia was amazing. Who wouldn’t be interested? But he wasn’t lying to her grandmother. There had never been anything between them. Mostly because they were just kids, and Julia had never seen him as anything other than a little brother type.
Now that they were adults, Julia had skyrocketed way out of Tae’s league. There was no way she’d even think twice about him.
“There is nojustbefore friends. Friendship is one of the most valuable relationships in our lives. It’s where we learn to trust. Where we learn to love.”
That was a lovely sentiment, but still, there was no way. Tae hadn’t spoken to Julia in years. And aside from that, Julia, self-assured and self-contained, would most definitely not be on board with this scenario. “Does Julia even know you’re asking this of me?”
“Tae, you said that if you didn’t know how to do something, you could figure it out. You can help her so she can see exactly what she needs, like you did for the other girls.”
It was the most unconventional, out-of-left-field job offer he’d ever received.
“I’m sorry, Halmoni, but I don’t think I can do this for you. I hate to disappoint you, but this isn’t a job that I’m able to accept.”
“Think it over, and then you can tell me how much money you want later.” Grandma Song slapped his face two times gently. “You’re a good boy, Tae. I know I can count on you. Also, I’d like you to drive me to the herbalist tomorrow.” She stood up with no further information or details. Tae was stunned into silence, unable to figure out what to respond to first.
“I want to eat my birthday cake now. That’s enough for today.”
And just like that, Halmoni got up and walked away. No more discussion. No more questions. Tae watched as she clasped her hands behind her back and slowly returned to the others.
Leaving Tae to wonder what he had just gotten himself into.
Tae needed to think over what Grandma Song had just asked him to do. He wasn’t sure hecoulddo it, to be honest.
What surprised him was that anyone thought that Julia Song needed help at all. He had always thought of her as so capable, in control of any and every situation. She ran her own company, for goodness’ sake. She was smart, successful, charming, and gorgeous. So why would her grandmother want to pay Tae to date her? Even if Julia was having trouble finding a partner, there were certainly more impressive guys than Tae to ask.
Tae had, of course, heard the rumor before—that he had the reputation for being the guy a girl dates before finding The One. But that was ridiculous. Figures that the only thing people found worthy about Tae was some made-up magical power or charm. He shook his head just thinking about how absurd Korean superstitions could be. It wasn’t hard to figure out. Tae treated women well, with respect. And since he was never going to be anyone’s idea of marriage material, what without a big title and a retirement fund, it was more likely he ended up helping women work out what they really did want in a future partner.
That must be what Grandma Song was hoping for with Julia.
Tae would never understand Korean grandmothers. He’d lost both of his when he was still a child. But Grandma Song was everyone’s halmoni in the neighborhood, highly revered and beloved. He knew he couldn’t possibly turn her down.
The sounds from the kitchen grew louder, and Tae caught a glimpse of Grandma Song reaching for an almost empty makgeolli bottle and draining the contents straight into her mouth while no one was looking.
He needed to escape before he got roped into any more odd requests.
Tae quickly put his shoes on and headed home. He’d have to think more about it. No one saidnoto Halmoni, ever. So he’d just have to figure out another way.
As he was crossing the street, he heard the cries.
“Why? Why? Why?”
He thought it was an injured coyote at first. But when he looked to his left, he saw her. Sitting in the small neighborhood park next to their houses, on the swings... was Julia. Speak of the devil.
“Why? Why? Why?”
Tae walked over to see her almost collapsed into the small leather seat, a chain in each hand, haphazardly pushing herself, jerking her body into various directions on the swing.
“Julia?”
“Why? Why? Why?”
He came a little closer. “Julia? Are you... Are you okay?”
Her red-rimmed eyes looked up from underneath her bangs. She squinted as if the face in front of her would be clearer, cocking her head from one side to the other, trying to make out who he was. Julia reared her head back as her entire face opened up with recognition. “Taehyung?” she said in a relieved whisper, a small smile blooming. “Hi, stranger.”
