“It’s not morning, Tae. Not here in Chicago and not there in Irvine.” Kari didn’t look or sound exasperated. Rather, she looked and sounded... worried. Damn.
“No, you’re right. I need to get up and at ’em.” Problem was, that was the last thing Tae felt like doing.
“Tae...” She let his name drag out. Only hard things were left to say. Questions about what was next... for him, for them.
“Taehyung-ah...” His mom’s voice came from somewhere upstairs. Saved by the call of a Korean mom in need. Need likely being the need to feed him.
Tae looked over his shoulder toward the sound of his mom’s beckoning. “Kari, can I call you back later? Sounds like my mom needs me.”
Kari let out a deep sigh. “Fine. But don’t forget to call me back, okay? We really need to talk.”
“I won’t. I’ll call you later before it gets too late out there. Bye.” He hung up the phone before she could say anything else.
With his dad in remission, Taecouldgo back to Chicago. But he had to admit he’d never been happy there. Problem was that Tae didn’t know what he wanted or what would make him happy.
He’d only ever known how to be his family’s caregiver. He’d only ever wanted to work with his hands and fix things, problems. But when his older brother Min helped get him a job offer in some boring office for some boring company all the way out in Chicago, Tae changed course. Because his dad wanted him to take the job. He didn’t want Tae to becomejust a landscaperlike his dad had been his whole life, as if it was something to be ashamed of. Tae hated that his dad felt that way.
Chicago was supposed to be the beginning of his success story. But all the so-called successes in his life’s journey since then—decent-paying job, relationship, nice apartment—had left him unsatisfied and, frankly, unhappy. He never felt like himself out there. It wasn’t that his dad’s cancer was a blessing, but it allowed Tae to end back where he felt most himself, at home taking care of his family.
And yes, he’d tried to Kondo his life and ask himself what brought him joy. For now, the only answer he could find was that simply helping other people brought him joy. He liked being the go-to handyman for all the needs of the community. He liked being the one his parents relied on to translate andorganize and schedule all the medical information and the home finances. And he liked feeling needed and appreciated. Neither of which he felt in his previous office job or, honestly, in his relationship.
But none of that fit neatly on a business card.
“Taehyung-ah,” his mom called out again, pulling him from his thoughts.
Tae took the stairs two at a time.
The kitchen always smelled good, no matter what time of day. His mom had pots and pans in various sizes going, and Tae’s stomach grumbled as he looked into the one that looked the spiciest. Doenjang-jjigae, his favorite. Not many loved the fermented soybean paste stew with its overwhelming aroma. But Tae could not get enough. And he liked his spicy the way his mom made it.
“Baegobpa?” his mom asked.
Tae would never turn down his mom’s cooking. Damn, but was he a mama’s boy. “Thanks, Mom. I’ll have just a little as a snack before lunch.”
His mom smiled, the lines around her eyes crinkling. The other lines, the ones on her forehead, the ones built from years of worrying, had gotten a break now that they had the good news about his dad’s health. He had rung the bell on his final round of chemo, and he was finally in remission.
“Tae, can you do something for me?” his mom asked.
“I called the insurance company yesterday and left a message with the billing manager. I’ll have that taken care of. And I ordered Dad’s medication. That will come in the mail in a couple days.”
“Thank you. But I have a different, very important favor to ask of you.”
“Sure, Mom. What is it?” He was ready to spend his upcoming weekend on various projects for people around the neighborhood.It was Tuesday. The requests should be coming in right on schedule. He’d prioritize his mom’s needs first.
“It’s about Min,” she said.
“What about Min?”
“I need you to convince your brother to go on a date with Julia Song.”
Tae almost choked on his spoon.
Tae, of course, knew that every Korean mother of a single male between the ages of thirty and fifty were being summoned and foaming at the mouth trying to get chosen as one of The Lucky Three to be set up with Julia on a date. He just hadn’t expected his own mother to be one of them. Min and Tae weren’t exactly suitable in this situation for various reasons.
His mom continued to stir, not even looking up as she spoke, like this was just a normal request like every other day. “It has taken longer than expected. But now that Julia has finally agreed to let her parents match her with some good Korean men, I think Min would be an excellent choice. The best choice.”
His older brother was an okay dude. He was a lead engineer at Google and made some decent cash. But he’d always kind of been in it for himself. Not really around much helping with family. And not willing to fork over the full amount needed to cover bills. He always insisted on everyone splitting the burden, even though Min was employed, and Tae was barely hanging on to his job. All that, and by the way... “But Min has a fiancée, Mom. Have you forgotten about Andrea?”
His mom waved her hand as if that one detail was no matter at all. “Andrea is lovely. But she’s not Korean, Tae. If a better option comes along, we should consider it. And what better option than Julia Song? She is the princess of Irvine, California.”
