eight

"How many stops do you have left?" He asks in his accented English.

"This is the last one," I say, "jeo neun seulpeuda. (I'm sad). A lot of the bookstores and places we were stopping at canceled because of what happened. But then again there have been places to add us on because there have been a lot more people who reserve a seat to come to see me talk and sign books. Which is great, but… pigonhae (I'm tired). The book signing went over a week, and there's only one month after that till school starts. Am I talking too much? Annyonghasimnikka (How are you)?"

Kai chuckles over the phone, and it gives me butterflies. This entire three weeks apart, we've been talking nonstop. Sometimes it's just a quick text message throughout the day. Since he's so busy being back on tour, he can only text during breaks. But then there are the nights that I stay awake late at night to talk to him or the mornings that I get up early and he fights sleep to talk to me when it's nighttime for him.

"Aniyo, naneun noe mareul deunneun goseul joahanda (No, I like listening to you). I'm… okay. Just a little tired. I just got off of the plane and now heading to my next stop."

I marvel at how far he's come with his English, and I little jealous that I haven't picked up Korean as fast. But Kai is smart, smarter than me.

"I wish you were here. Even though I'll see you in a few weeks… many people who come to the signing aren't interested in my book. And the questions they ask…" I sigh into the phone, trying not to ramble on because there is something I really want to tell him.

The butterflies fly around in my stomach. "Bogosiptta (I miss you)," I whisper.

There's a pause on the phone, and I wonder if he even heard me. Did I whisper it too low?

"Nado. Bogosipttayo (Me too. I miss you)."

I couldn't help the smile that spread across my face.

"Baby, are you ready?" My agent comes and peeks her head in the door, smiling. "This is the biggest crowd yet."

I smiled at her even though I wanted to frown. The publishing Company only really cared about the morning coming in instead of how I was feeling or the quality of my work like they did when we first signed my contract. But my contract was for my first book, and I was debating whether I wanted a different publishing agent for my other books.

"I'm coming," I say to her.

She leaves and I say into the phone, "I have to leave now. I hope you get some rest between this and the next event. Jonhwa kkeuneulkke. Anyeonghi gaseyo (I'm hanging up now. Goodbye)."

I hang up and stand up. This wasn't something I was looking forward to, but this was the career I chose. I walk out the little room I went into to take my call from Kai, and outside the door are the two security officers that the Dad's company hired to accompany me. Unfortunately, there was another hair pulling, and I stopped reading the death threats that rolled in.

Going out in public was a scary thing now, but even if I didn't see Kai, it wasn't something that was going to stop yet. I didn't even try to read the comments.

I walk into the amphitheater with the security to find every single seat full. My agent was right, this is the biggest audience we've had. Probably because the other places were smaller with a smaller amount of seats, but even then I never expected it to be this full. But just by being here, it means they bought a ticket and a book, and that was a lot of money.

Everyone cheered, and I smiled and waved my hand while I walked to the front of the stage where my seat was set up. They were cheering, but I really hoped there wasn't a mob waiting for me because they were upset at the Kai news.

I waited for everyone to calm down as my agent handed me a mic. I had never needed one before, but I guess it was now so everyone could hear me.

"Hi, guys!"

Another uproaring of cheers.

"So I want to start this off by acknowledging the scandal between me and Kai. It happened, neither of us expected it, but we are trying to move on from it. I know it's only been a month, so we do know it might still be a big topic, but I want to focus on my writing, just like Kai is working on his music. Now, as promised from all of my last signings, at the end of the discussion I will call Kai, and if he answers and is okay with talking to everyone, then we will allow that."

Many people in the audience squeal and cheer, and I wait for them to calm down again.

"I know there are people here who are fans of Kai, and I want to say that I truly appreciate all the support you continue to give him, and I also appreciate you coming here to support me. Jeongmalloyo (Really). However, for today, I would ask that we keep the discussion and the questions afterword to just be about the book, please."

I hear a few Ne's from the audience and I smile as I sit down.

An hour passes of talking about the book and my experiences writing, and then questions about me, the book, and advice about writing before I get the inappropriate question. "How good was sex with Kai?!"

I pause, staring out into the crowd, knowing that I'll never see who really said that. The audience is quiet, waiting to see if I'll answer.

I sigh and then smile. "All right! That will be the end of the questions. If you could just wait in your seat and then they will call you in batches by ticket number to come to see me, and for me to sign your book if you'd like. Gomawoyo (Thank you)."

I practically run off the stage, and the second I'm out of sight, I squat down, trying to catch my breath, You'd think I'd be used to the limelight and questions by now, but I just wasn't.

The second I got off the plane in Louisiana, they bombarded me with reporters and paparazzi and I had to face that on my own. It was daunting and hard to get used to.

"We already have the first group ready for you to sign," My agent says, but I'll stall if you need more time."

"No, that's okay. I'm coming, but thank you." I stand up, wiping the sweat of my hand onto my jeans.

I walk into the room from behind the line and everyone is whispering and huddled up with smiles on their face. Usually, people were just talking like normal. Something was up and I didn't like it. I walked to the front while looking at everyone, making sure I was ready if anyone jumped out to attack me. I was so distracted I almost didn't see the table.

On the table was a bouquet of chocolate cherry sunflowers and magnolias. Never had I ever seen such a beautiful sight before. Few stores sold my two favorite flowers in even their own bouquets. And this was huge, covering up half on the table. The closer I got, the more I could smell the magnolias, the smell of home. And then when I could finally touch them, someone stood up from behind them.

I had no control over my body. One second I'm frozen, staring at Kai, the next second, I'm jumping into his arms.

I wrap my arms around his neck while his hands wrap around my back.

"You said you were going to your next stop," I say, smiling up at him.

"Ne (yes), this was my next stop."

"nal sogyosso (you tricked me)." I smile at him, still not upset in the slightest. I lay my head on his chest and then squeeze him to me, extremely excited that he is here with me. I missed him during this month apart.

"Are you staying with me?"

"Just for the night."

"Okay."

I sit down at the chair, still smiling even as I grab up my marker. I can feel my cheeks hurt, I'm smiling so big. Someone puts a chair next to me, and Kai puts the bouquet behind me. Before he sits down though, he addresses the crowd.

"I just here to support Baby—"

Everyone erupts into ooh's.

"My pen name is B. R. Theroux, they think you're calling me baby, like... honey."

"Ahh… Jagiya," He winks at me. "Naneun oneul geunyoreul nolrage hago sipotjjiman i haengsaneun yojonhi geunyoe chaege gwanhan gosida. Geuraeso oneureun amugottto somyonghaji aneul goya. Mianhada. Jebal geugoseul jonjunghaejwo. Hajiman nega nae agireul wihae nawaso jongmal gippo."

Some people know what he was saying and nod along. Others looked confused. My Korean isn't good enough to follow, understand, or translate it. But luckily my tutor had come with me for an impromptu study session before the signing.

"He said that he really appreciates you coming. He's sorry, but he won't be signing anything because this is for her and not him... and he also called her, my baby."

That causes another round of ooh's and I ignore the unhappy or even mad faces.

"Jong In-ah… gomawo."

As the people come up to get their book signed, I saw that there were more genuine fans than I thought there would be. So many people asked me about the next book in the series, the advice I had for them, or told me about fanfictions they wrote because of it. There were the few that came up and stared at Kai the entire time, but I didn't mind as much. The entire time Kai stared at me, making me heat up and feel like a storm was raging in my heart.

Finally, the last few people slowly walk out of the building, but I can see the people waiting outside for another picture. And though there were a few reporters here before, it seemed like someone tipped off the press, and even more cameras were out there now. I couldn't wait until I got Kai to myself, in so many ways.

"You check out of your hotel for noon tomorrow, and then your flight is later that evening," my agent tells me. "I'm going to stay here to round out a few more things, and I assume you want some alone time." She wiggles her eyebrows. "So go out and enjoy."

She doesn't have to tell me twice.

"How long will you be here?" I turn to ask Kai.

"Just tonight."

"bap mogosso (Did you eat)? I yeppeun nunaga noege eumsigeul sajulgoya (This pretty Nuna will buy you food [Something In The Rain KDrama reference])."

"I already call ahead," Kai smiles, "My treat."

Someone grabs the flowers for us and trails behind as I practically pull Kai along. We don't stop for the fans or the reporters, but I can't help but look back at Kai as I smile from ear to ear. I don't care if there are ugly pictures of me in the morning. I'm too happy to care.

The ride in the van is quick, and luckily there is no one tailing us. We get out and rush into the restaurant so the van can pull off and we can sit comfortably in near the back so no fans will wait for us outside.

"Mr. Kim?" The host asks us.

"Yes," Kai nods and smiles.

The host leads us back to a table and tells us that someone will be with us in a moment and walks off.

"So even in America, you rent out places, huh?"

He smiles and hands me a menu. I'm less interested in the food than I am with him.

"nol dasi bogo sipossoyo (I wanted to see you again)," He says looking down at the menu. I didn't know what was going on, but I wanted him to look at me and it seemed like he was being shy. I translated in my head so that I could answer him in Korean.

"Um… wajwoso gippo… I'm glad you came. I hope that's what I said."

He finally looks up to me and smiles. "You said you missed me today for the first time. igo oryopttayo (this is hard) Having to deal with all this on our own."

"Himdeuljiman (it is hard but)... I didn't miss you just because I was having a hard time. I missed you because…"

I like you. Did I want to say that? Is that how I really felt. Each day and night I look forward to his phone call. I get a little down if I can't talk to him, but happy when he tells me he's still thinking of me. Even a text saying "I'm busy but I still want to talk" is better than nothing at all. And when we do have time to talk, it's nothing about the media or the crowds that line up whenever we walk out the door.

The waitress comes and asks for our order, and we give it to her. The second she leaves, we're quiet.

"Baby…"

I look up at him, seeing him looking right back. He seems at a loss for words. And so am I.

"When is your flight?" I ask.

"Early in the morning. 6 am," He says. "When is your flight?"

I frown at him. It's 9:30 now. We didn't have that much time together. And it would be weeks before I fly to Korea to actually spend time with him, but with his schedule, who knew how much we'd spend together.

"3 in the afternoon," I answer. "Um… uriga hamkke... bameul bonaesigetsseumnikka (Do you want to… spend the night)?"

Kai looks startled and then slowly smiles. He leans forward until he's just an inch away from my lips. I can feel his warm breath against my skin. His hand reaches and caresses my neck. "nuga noege geuron mareul hadorok gareuchonniyo (Who taught you to say such things)?"

The bass of his voice sends shivers down my body and then his kiss lights me up. It's soft, like he's savoring the taste of me. I can feel my face heating at the memory of exactly what his mouth can do.

Too soon, his lips leave mine and he sitting in his chair again, smiling at me.

My heart beats a thousand beats per second.

"Jeogiyo! Excuse me," I call the waitress. "We'll take our food to go."