He laughs a little. “Let’s not complicate things,” he says. “Just consider yourself the exception.” A smiles curves on his lips. As if he just offered a compliment.
Christian starts kissing me again. But it doesn’t feel the same as it did a moment ago. I run my hands along his shoulders as he slowly unbuttons my shirt. That’s when I notice his is unbuttoned, too. Eventually I close my eyes, pretending I never asked the question. Pretending he’s the same person I thought he was before it ruined the moment.
Sixteen
I wake up to a missed call from Jasmine. She left me a voicemail.
“Hey… I thought I’d give you a call. I guess it’s a bit early for you. Sorry I didn’t call back sooner. I’ve just been busy with the move and everything. There was this issue with my passport. I’m hoping to book the flight this week. It’s been a headache, figuring out all the logistics. But I hope everything’s okay at home. Your last few texts had me a little worried. What have you been doing up so late? And who are these new friends you’ve been hanging out with?
Text me when you wake up, okay? Things are still hectic, but I’m gonna try to see you before I leave. I promise. Anyway, I’ll talk to you soon.”
The voicemail ends.
I’ve been thinking about Jasmine all morning. Sometimes I wish I could go to her room and find her writing at her desk, or playing a song on the piano. She always knew something was bothering me before I even told her. Everything’s different since she moved away. It’s like we’re living separate lives these days. I wonder what she would say about Christian. It’s been over a week since I was at his place. We haven’t seen each other since then. He’s been extra slow to respond lately.I think about sending him another text, but I don’t want to seem annoying.
I read my last messages to him.
hi! What are you up to this weekend? I still need to return your jacket
lmk if you want to do dinner or something
No response yet. I’m sure he’s just busy, though. Simon told me it’s auditioning season. I think back to our last night together. “Consider yourself an exception.” I know I should probably feel a certain way about this comment, but I try not to overthink it. I hope he texts me back soon.
I climb out of bed and check my desk. I was hoping to find a paper rose from Haru. I haven’t seen him since the night of the art gallery. We’ve never gone this long without talking before. He can’t be that mad at me, can he? I wish there was a way for me to apologize. I wait for him outside after work, but he hasn’t shown up yet. Maybe I’ll stop by the caféagain.
I’ve been helping Mom aroundthe house. She sprained her wrist a few days ago and has to stay home from work. Instead of relaxing like the doctor said, she’s having me move furniture so she can vacuum the living room. For lunch, she makesscrambled eggs with bitter melon, topped with a little scallion oil. I pull up a seat at the table beside her. A curtain separates the dining room from the entryway. Mom asked me to help hang it up yesterday. Apparently, a dining table should never face the front door. “Ð?nhuv?y thìnhàs? du?c hên,” she said.This will keep good luck from leaving. Mom is constantly rearranging the flow of energy in the house. When anything bad happens around here, she blames the furniture.
Mom places a dishcloth on the table, setting a hot pan on top. We eat in silence for a moment. Bitter melon is an acquired taste that I haven’t acquired yet. But she says it’s good for me. “Con cóm?t látho. N?a nèc?a Jasmine g?i.”You got some mail yesterday. There’s something from Jasmine.
I just nod.
“It’s her birthday soon,” she says.
There’s a knot of guilt in my chest. Because she doesn’t know about Jasmine. That she dropped out of school and is moving to another country. But I’m not going to be the one to tell her. Especially since I promised to keep it a secret.
“Con nênd?n tham ch?.”You should go visit her.
“I can’t…” I say, shaking my head. “I have a lot of work this week.” Maybe that came out a little rough, but I’m not sure what else to say. Once I finish eating, I check the time and rise from my seat. “I have to go now. Do you want me to pick anything up on the way home?”
Mom grabs a pencil and writes down a list of things from the store. Then she hands it to me, along with Jasmine’s letter.“Ð?ngdi choi v?khuya quá,” she says.Don’t stay out too late again.
I bring Christian’s jacket to workwith me. I texted him again this morning, letting him know I have it in case he stops by the box office. Maybe we can grab dinner afterward. Simon is already there when I arrive. He usually comes in late, so I’m a little surprised to see him. I set my things down and pull out a chair. My mind is too far away to hold conversation. I fold my arms on the counter and rest my head for a moment.
“Aren’t you a ray of sunshine today,” he says, putting his phone away. “What’s bothering you?”
“Nothing,” I say.
Simon nods knowingly. “Boy problems, I see.” He leans forward, patting my knee. “Tell me everything…”
I sigh. “Alright, it’s Christian.”
Simon pulls his chair closer, crossing one leg over the other. “Go on.”
“He invited me back to his place last week.”
“And?”
“We hooked up, if that’s what you’re wondering.”
