“No,” Sun says, without hesitation. “I don’t know if I ever want to do solo work at all, but I know I don’t want to any time soon. I like that our schedules are slow right now. I can do a photo shoot or film FLY, and then come to Kija’s. I’m happy with that balance. I love being in this relationship. I love being in love with him and knowing he feels the same. I just want to spend as much time with him as possible and have this little wifey moment while I can before things get crazy again.”
Nikko laughs. “And you tease me about being down bad.”
I step away before I can catch any more of the conversation, not sure I could handle hearing what else he might confess.
Walking out to the small balcony, I take a deep breath as I look out toward the river, thinking. I know that for now, we can’t be together in any kind of traditional way, like living together. I’m surprised he gets away with staying here as much as he does, but I assume it’s because he’s got the other members looking out for him.
I also know he wants to get married, to have a family. And I do, too. I can imagine that sort of life very clearly now, which I never had been able to in the past, with any woman I’d dated or any of the times my mom had told me her hopes of domesticity for me. I can picture Sun and I on long holidays in Jeju with a couple of kids, eating tangerines on sandy blankets, and it makes me smile.
I’m not sure how we’ll get there, but I know I can do a few things to make the possibility of that dream seem more attainable. Grabbing my phone, I hit Jase’s contact and wait. If Nikko is talking to Sun, it shouldn’t take him long to answer.
“Are you dead?”
Snorting, I ask, “What kind of greeting is that?”
“You never just call anymore. You either text or wait until you see me around TFE, because you’re always with yourboyfriend,” he jokes.
“Yeah, about that,” I start and he immediately starts squawking like some sort of alarm going off.
“Is he not your boyfriend anymore? Did you break up? Did you get engaged?” He sounds a little panicked. ”I know Nikko’s on the phone with Sun, but I don’t hear any screaming…”
“Jase, calm down. I was just going to ask if you were busy, because I wanted you to come with me to do something,” I say, intentionally cryptic.
“Yes? I mean, I think so. What are we doing?” He’s definitely suspicious now, having switched gears very quickly.
I chuckle at the wariness in his tone, as if I regularly suggest outrageous things. “I need to borrow you and your boyfriend.”
“Oh? Are we talking about a hookup or forming a polycule? I’ve always thought that could be a nice arrangement…” He trails off, probably contemplating what the dynamics of that would look like.
“Neither of those things yet, but who knows, right?” A year ago I would have never thought I’d have a boyfriend, so I probably shouldn’t rule out polycules or anything else at this point. “Anyway, you come with me, and Nikko stays by the phone. Are you in?”
“Well, now I have to know what’s going on, so sure. Give me like, thirty minutes. You can pick me up.”
He ends the call, and I have to laugh at him, but I’m glad he’s coming along. I send Sun a text saying I don’t want to interrupt his call, but I’m going out for a bit and will be back later. I’m pulling my shoes on when I hear him yell, “I LOVE YOU,” and I know he’s read the message.
Forty-five minutes later, Jase is in the car, wearing a very cool outfit of very trendy designer clothes that I am positive he did not pick out for himself, and trying to figure out where we’re going.
“Why the rush? What’s got your ass on fire?” he asks, eyes onthe dashboard as he tracks our movement on the navigation map.
“Did Nikko dress you?” I counter.
I see him look down, checking out what he’s got on. “Maybe,” he mumbles.
“That’s what I thought.” I chuckle, but also tell him, “You look good.”
“Oh, thanks.” He sits up a little straighter in the passenger seat, his ego boosted by the compliment. “Hey, we’re in Gangnam.”
“Yes, we are,” I agree, pulling into the entrance of an underground parking garage near our destination. Once I get the car wedged into one of the narrow spaces, I turn off the ignition and twist to face Jase. “I need you to not freak out.”
He frowns. “How can you say that and expect me to not do exactly that? This is already very mysterious, and now I’m just supposed to be chill while I know nothing?”
“We’re going to a jewelry store.” I pause to wait while his jaw drops and his eyes get wide. “I want to buy a ring. I might need you to take pictures and send them to Nikko for a second opinion, but obviously he has to stay quiet about it.”
“You’re getting him a ring! Oh my god. Oh my god!” Jase exclaims, lunging to reach forward and hug me but getting stopped very awkwardly by the seatbelt just before he can make contact. Undeterred, he still manages a little bit of a side squeeze, grinning at me. “I’m so happy for you. This is amazing. Phenomenal. I love this for you. And for him. He’s going to lose his mind. I can hear the shrieking already. Wait, is this like, an engagement ring? Or a promise ring? Or what?”
“It’s whatever he wants it to be. This is me saying, I’m here, long term. I’m committed. I know he can’t wear a ring all the time, but he can keep it with him somehow if he wants, or just have it and know that he’s got me,” I say, emotion creeping in and making my voice crack a little as I speak.
Jase whacks at my arm. “You’re going to makemecry!”
