My Summer in Seoul

Solia sounded like she was apologizing, and even if she had talked slower, I would have had no idea what she was saying. I couldn’t remember if I was supposed to bow too, and I suddenly hated the fact that it was such a rushed commitment that I hadn’t had time to research more.

After a long sigh, she said my name.

And again, I was reminded of what it sounded like when you name-dropped someone you wanted to also run over with your car.

I frowned. Was she apologizing because she picked me up and we were late, or was she apologizing on my behalf?

Because of me?

Slowly the man lifted his gaze to me and visibly flinched.

Awesome.

“Grace?” His voice was warm at least, his smile tentative but at least present as he eyed me from head to toe then gave me a slight bow.

It felt like they were both waiting for me to do something—anything, so I jutted out my hand like a lunatic and blurted, “Uncle Siu, it’s so good to see you again!”

Solia squeezed her eyes shut while Siu smiled at me and reached across the space between us, squeezed my hand, and said, “How’s your father?”

“He’s well, thank you for asking, and thank you for this opportunity. I promise I won’t let you down.”

His smile turned into a full-on beam. “I trust your father with my life, and now I’m trusting you with this internship. I know you’ll make us both very proud, Grace.”

I had the need to turn to Solia and say something like, “See, told you so! Stop freaking out! My dad saved his life. He’s my uncle. I’ve got this!” Before I said anything, though, more footsteps sounded, followed by what might have been arguing.

Siu seemed to stiffen a bit as rapid Korean filled the air, and five guys made their way into the living room, looking ready to murder each other if the pitch of their voices was anything to go on.

More interns?

Maybe this was a meeting?

I had no idea what my job was, but it would make sense that he would pull all of us together and give us a quick—please, God, let it be quick—debriefing.

I bit down on my lower lip as the newcomer in the center lifted his head. He had gorgeous red hair and the clearest blue eyes I’d ever seen in my entire life. No way were they natural. I almost complimented him when he looked to Siu and then to Solia and fired something off in Korean.

Solia smirked next to me and whispered, “He asked if you were homeless.”

Oh lovely, she was going to translate insults.

Perfect.

What a day!

I semi-glared back at him only to earn an equally taunting glare in return. Seriously? If we were going to be working together, he needed to back off.

I switched my glare to a smile and said one word I knew was universal. “No.”

The guys all snickered right along with him, and one of the others whispered something under his breath. I knew it wasn’t good when more looks were shot in my direction.

“Ugly,” Solia offered, louder than I would have liked.

Was the middle finger universal too?

If Uncle Siu wasn’t there, I would have been tempted, but this was more than an internship, It was about my dad, and their relationship too. I held my head high and ignored them.

Uncle Siu turned toward the guys and spread his arms wide, then seemed to scold them in Korean before turning to me and saying, “They apologize.”

He was watching me so he couldn’t see them

Every single one of them looked anything but apologetic.

In fact, they looked every inch the bullies that parents warned their kids about: too good-looking, too rich, too everything to care about anything but themselves.

I could play that game.

I wasn’t a child.

And I wasn’t going to let them taunt me just because I looked different than they did. They wanted ugly? I’d give them ugly.

When my uncle turned back around, I quickly took off my sweatshirt, wrapped it around my waist, and tied it, may as well embrace the homelessness and all that, besides why did it matter? They were in the same boat I was! Just because they were dressed better and didn’t look like they were begging for cash on the streets didn’t mean that they were any different than me. I almost stuck out my tongue when the one with red hair choked on another laugh and said something to the guy next to him.

Whatever. He could ignore me the entire three months for all I cared.

I shrugged and crossed my arms as if to say, what? Is that all you got? I mean, I had to deal with Aisha Taylor for four years of high school—I could handle anything at this point in my life, and even our school counselor had been scared of her.