XOXO (An XOXO Novel)

Monday is another assembly day. Sori and I put on our blazers and hurry over to the concert hall. Though it’s spring, it’s still cool enough in the mornings that the blazer offers some warmth. By noon however, most students will be shucking them to eat their lunch beneath the afternoon sun.

Inside the auditorium, we take seats near the middle. I wave to Angela a few rows down, seated with a couple girls from her major.

Jaewoo, Nathaniel, and Youngmin aren’t at the assembly. According to Jaewoo’s texts, after the field trip, XOXO had a packed weekend of activities and their manager is letting them skip first period.

It’s amazing how being able to communicate has done wonders for our relationship. If I ever need to talk to him, I can just text him. Though sometimes there’s a lag, with Nathaniel acting go between.

At one point yesterday, after Jaewoo had sent me a particularly flirtatious text, I panic-texted him, What if Nathaniel reads this?

Oh, he replied, he for sure would.

What?!

So I delete them all before I give him his phone back.

“If you’re not careful,” Sori says, “one of the teachers is going to confiscate your phone.” I’d taken it out of my pocket, almost unconsciously, to check if I had any new texts from Jaewoo. “Though maybe that would be a good thing,” she muses.

I know she’s only joking, but also there’s truth to her teasing, and I don’t want to be that friend. I put away my phone.

Like the first day of school, the principal walks out onto the stage once all the students are seated. We have to stand right back up to bow to her, but then quickly resume our seats.

She begins with the expectations for the second quarter and ends with logistics about the end-of-the-year showcase. We’ll all have to audition individually according to our major. For example, with orchestra, each instrument has to audition for chair placement.

We can also submit a piece for a solo or collaboration, though only a few are chosen, the principal reminds us, and the competition level is high. She reiterates that representatives from all the major schools, talent agencies, and entertainment companies will be present in the audience.

Plus all our families. Which reminds me that I need to invite Mom and Halmeoni. For once, our schedules overlap and my mom should be at the clinic when I visit Halmeoni this Sunday.

As we’re leaving the auditorium, Sori hooks her arm with my own and gives me a sidelong glance. “I was thinking . . . after watching Nathaniel and Gi Taek’s performance, which was ridiculous, let’s be clear, but it gave me an idea . . .”

“Spit it out, Sori.”

“What if we auditioned together, as a duo. You could still audition as a soloist,” she says quickly, “but, like, I thought it would be cool. I remember you showing me your performance of ‘The Swan,’ and it reminded me of the ballet. We could do something similar. What do you think?”

“I think . . .” I say, pretending it’s a hard decision to make as she bites her lip expectantly, “. . . that sounds like a great idea! I’d love to perform together with you.” I’ve never performed a duet with anyone before, and the thought of doing one with Sori, who’s such an incredible dancer, excites me as much as the thought of how much fun we’ll have practicing together.

I’ll still prepare for my solo audition, but this is something I really want to do.

“I’m so glad!” Sori beams. With our arms still linked, we make our way across the quad in time for homeroom.

Jaewoo doesn’t show up to second period and I don’t hear from him until lunch, when my phone vibrates in my pocket. Meet me in the 5th floor stairwell of the performing arts building.

“I’ll see you guys later,” I say without looking up.

“Have fun. Don’t get pregnant,” Gi Taek says as a farewell.

Practically sprinting to the PA building, I take the elevator up to the fifth floor. I guess I could have taken the stairs to meet Jaewoo in the stairwell, but I refuse to be sweaty and out of breath.

As the doors open, I’m surprised to find people in the hall. I feel self-conscious as I take the short few steps from the elevators to the exit door, like they know somehow I’m on my way to an assignation. The door is one of those industrial fire escape doors and I have difficulty pushing it open, finally stumbling out onto the fifth-floor landing.

I yelp as a hand grabs my wrist, pulling me into the corner. Jaewoo wraps his arms around me.

“Why here?” I say. “And why are we bunched in the corner like this?” Not that I’m complaining.

“Look up,” he says.

In the corner of the ceiling, angled right above us, is a security camera.

“They have them all over school,” Jaewoo says, “but of course there are some blind spots.”

“And you know them all. You’re like a spy, or a criminal.”

“Yes, please continue comparing me to unlawful citizens.”

I hook my arms around his neck. “What are we stealing?” I can feel Jaewoo’s grin against my lips.

“Time?” he suggests. He must mean it as a joke, but it’s actually the very thing we’re trying to steal. Moments like this are so few and far between. Once XOXO starts promoting their second single next week, time with him will become even more precious.

Maybe it’s the fear of that, the looming separation, that makes every kiss that much more desperate.

When we finally break apart, Jaewoo gasps, “Are you free this Saturday?”

“I am,” I say, equally breathless. “Why?”

He grins. “Would you like to go on a date with me?”