Face Time

by S. J. Pajonas

  I hate myself. I can’t believe I’m comparing physical traits with Lee’s ex-girlfriend. I know what a horrible person she is. I’ve seen some of the texts she’s sent him and heard the stories, and I know Lee is with me because I’m not like her. Why do I still feel so intimidated?

  Maybe because… “Well, well,” Sandra croons, approaching us. Nari smiles, but I can tell the gesture is forced. Nari’s eyes don’t reflect the smile like they did earlier in the garden watching Chase run around.

  “Nari, I haven’t seen you in ages.” Sandra air-kisses Nari and leans back to scan me from tip to toe. She then completely ignores me. “I think it’s been months.”

  “Sorry, Sandra. I’ve been busy at work and at home.”

  “Sure you have,” Sandra says with a smile, but her voice indicates the opposite. “Are Daniel and Chase here? I’d love to see them.”

  “They’ve gone home already.”

  Since I’m being ignored, I reach into my bag and get out my iPhone.

  Laura Merchant

  Sandra is standing right in front of me, talking to Nari, and ignoring me.

  What a bitch.

  I smile down at my witty repartee hoping Lee is not too swamped to pull out his phone and find my text. But he’s typing his response before I can put my iPhone away.

  Lee Park

  She hasn’t said anything to you?

  Laura Merchant

  Nope. I don’t even know if she knows who I am.

  Wait.

  I look up and Sandra and Nari are now speaking in Korean, and Sandra’s mood has changed to annoyed and disgusted, her eyebrows drawn together and a deep frown in place of the fake smile. She glances from me to Nari and back to me again. I smile widely as I catch words I had memorized from the Dirty Korean book: bitch, fucking (as in sex), and geek. Really? She thinks I’m a geek. Well, I guess that’s not too bad.

  Laura Merchant

  She’s switched to Korean and now I think she’s insulting me.

  Lee Park

  I’ll be right there.

  Laura Merchant

  Oh, Lee. Pshaw. Don’t bother. I don’t care what she says about me.

  But heads are starting to turn.

  She’s making quite a scene.

  I burst into a laugh, looking up to find the whole room staring at me. Sandra’s arms are crossed, Nari is mortified, her hand pressed to her lips, and I’m oblivious because I only understood three of the hundreds of words that just came streaming out of Sandra’s mouth.

  Everyone is frozen, barely a breath being shared, so I shoot out and snap my finger in front of Sandra and Nari.

  “Hello? What’s all the fuss? This is a funeral, not a dinner party.” My English defrosts a few people, and they turn away.

  Nari clears her throat. “Sandra, this is Lee’s girlfriend, Laura. Laura, Sandra.”

  “Hello.” I nod, but I do not add, “Nice to meet you,” because I’m not a liar.

  “I can’t believe he finds you attractive.” She scans me again, and I repress a shudder.

  “And that’s why you’re not dating him anymore.” I shrug my shoulders because, really, who fucking cares? Certainly not me.

  An old Korean woman in her mid-sixties behind Sandra titters, and, when I glance at her, Lee is standing in the doorway. I drop my iPhone in my bag and turn to Nari. “I’m going to get some air with Lee. Be back in a bit.”

  I purposely step around both women and walk through a path that widens in front of me. Everyone jostles aside to allow me get to Lee, my tired and grieving boyfriend. He doesn’t need this drama, and I won’t let Sandra make a big deal out of Lee’s father’s wake. I’m pleased he doesn’t even acknowledge Sandra, not a glance, not a word.

  He only has eyes for me.

  Chapter

  Thirty-Six

  =

  Lee

  Laura and I split up for an early afternoon amble about town. We woke up late and had long, leisurely, easy sex, the kind of sex that makes me think I’m making love to a woman. It’s different from the other hurried fucks of my life. I love to hear her moan and sigh and turn her strong body into jelly, and I’m still thinking about it as I stare into space, holding the gift I bought her in my hand, and wondering what to do next. We had breakfast and lunch together, and she told me she would walk, shop, and check out a museum. I was hesitant to leave her, but I’ve had this idea for a surprise since New York and this was my first opportunity to purchase it. I did really want to show her around Seattle, though. Maybe we’ll get the chance tomorrow.

  My phone buzzes, so I lean back against the brick wall of the store next door.

  Cori Winslow

  I’ve been thinking about you Lee. I hope the funeral went well yesterday. I’m sorry I was traveling.

  Lee Park

  It’s ok. I knew you and Evie were on a plane. How are you?

  Cori Winslow

  Suffering jet lag and puking. You know, the usual pregnancy stuff. How’s Laura?

  Lee Park

  She’s amazing, Cori. Handled my family like a pro. I’ve asked her to move to Seoul, and she said yes.

  I smile down at my phone, aware Cori is probably flipping out on the other end.

  Cori Winslow

  I just dropped my phone because I was doing a happy dance for you! I can’t wait to meet her in person.

  Lee Park

  Will you help her adjust to Korea?

  Cori Winslow

  Of course! I’ll show her all the great hidden spots, teach her some Korean phrases…

  And most importantly, I’ll show her how to order groceries from the kiosks in the subway station.

  Lee Park

  Lol. Thanks. Priorities. You have them.

  Cori Winslow

  Haz, Lee. HAZ. Sheesh, you’re bad at pop culture.

  Gotta go take Evie to my cousin’s house. Later!

  I’m about to put my phone back in my pocket when it rings in my hand. Jin is calling. Great.

  Today is one of those Seattle days when the weather is not misty but instead peppered with freak showers. I miss my parka. No one wears them in Seoul. So I start walking towards the car, ducking my head against the oncoming rain, while I debate answering the call. In a few hours, I’m taking Laura to my family’s house just north of Seattle. I’m sure this call can’t be too important, and I’d rather not bother, find Laura, and spend time with her instead.

  But I’m a sucker, and I answer it.

  “Hey, Jin,” I say, hurrying my steps through a gust of wind.

  “Lee, hi. We need to talk about something before you come to the house later.”

  “Okay, what’s up?” What could it possibly be now? I open the car, put the package in the trunk, and slide into the driver’s seat.

  “You’re not going to like this news, at all, I’m afraid. Mom hired a private detective two weeks ago.”

  I close my eyes and rest my forehead against the steering wheel. “Not again.”

  “Yes. Again.” Jin’s voice on the other end of the line is tight and angry. I can only imagine what Mom was investigating.

  When I was in college, she did this to me. I was dating a Korean woman I met through an organization at school, before I met Sarah. Jinny and I weren’t a couple for long, and we were still in that awkward phase when I wasn’t sure what to tell people of our relationship. My mother got paranoid, thinking I was covering up a huge secret, so she hired a private detective to investigate Jinny, her family, and all her friends. I came home at break to find my mother with a stack of papers detailing everything Jinny and I did. I don’t think I’ve ever yelled at her like I did that day. She admitted to the snooping easily, like it was her duty to protect her family at all costs. I told her all her efforts were for nothing because Jinny and I had broken up two days prior to break. She has hired this detective several times since for other purposes. He must be on the family’s permanent payroll.

  “And I’m afraid your new girlfriend is the su
bject this time.”

  “What?” I yell into the phone, startling even myself. “How is that possible? No one met Laura until I brought her here!”

  Jin sighs on the other end, and I want to reach through the phone and deck him. I show too much emotion as far as he’s concerned. “Lee, she’s been on the phone to Korea almost everyday. Dad was complaining of it before he died.”

  That can only mean that she’s been talking to Min-Yung. Fuck. I told Min-Yung not to talk to Sandra, but I never thought to warn her about my mother.

  “Min-Yung. Goddamn it. I should have sent Laura all the gifts myself.” I was too busy with meetings and traveling so I hand-addressed all the packages to Laura and left them with Min-Yung to be sent out. This is what I get for trusting my assistant. She correctly guessed weeks ago I was wooing Laura, and I’m sure she gave Laura’s full name and address to my mother.

  “I’m sorry, Lee. I think she was hoping you and Laura would break up because whatever the private detective found made her so angry, she badgered Dad about it for days before his death.” Jin pauses for a second as Mimi talks to him in the background. “Mimi says Mom is being unfair.”

  “Thanks, Mimi,” I mumble. I switch my phone to the other hand and rub my face. I glance around the car and assess my options, but really I can only think of one thing: get on a plane and go. I want to run. I want to take Laura away from here and live our lives in peace.

  But my father just died and I know I can’t leave yet.

  “I’m sorry, Lee,” Jin repeats. “It’s going to be messy this time because according to Nari the packet from the private detective is thick. And I can tell this one is going to stick around… Laura. Sorry. Sorry.” He sighs again, apologizing and correcting himself. “I’m just as angry as you are. I don’t know why she continually pokes the hornets’ nest, why she thinks she can harass you into everything. I wish she would stop. She’s already on Leland about getting good grades and joining all the sports. Mimi is annoyed as well.”

  This is the thing about Mom. Anyone who does not fit into her mold of how the Park family should act gets badgered to death. Literally. My poor father.

  “No. I’m sorry, Jin. It’s my fault you’re dealing with this…”

  “Please don’t apologize, Lee. Date or marry whomever you want. This should never be an issue.” Jin got Dad’s good sense and diplomacy. “I’ve got to go. We have errands to run before we’re at the house later. What time will you be there? Are you still coming?”

  That’s a good question. I’d like to cancel, pack our bags, and head back to New York so Laura can take care of her belongings. But if we do that, Laura will always wonder why we didn’t stick around. Maybe Mom will show some restraint and not say anything with Laura present. Maybe she’ll just corner me in a room and let me have it on my own. She rarely makes a scene in front of guests. Her honor is more important.

  “Yes. We’ll be there.”

  Chapter

  Thirty-Seven

  =

  Laura

  Nicole Kapur

  What are you going to do?

  Laura Merchant

  Good question. I think I may need a backup plan, right?

  It’s still raining in Seattle. Does it ever stop? I spent the whole day sightseeing from underneath my umbrella. I bought one and I’m sure Lee will roll his eyes at it, but I am just not the parka type of girl. I had breakfast at the hotel with Lee and lunch with him too at a local place that serves everything with biscuits. Mmmm, it was good. Then he kissed me goodbye, and we went our separate ways for the afternoon. I pull out my camera and take a photo of two kids stomping in puddles along the front walk of the Seattle Public Library. One little girl smiles up at her mother cringing away from the splash, diamonds from the library’s structure reflected in the still puddle next to her.

  I close up my umbrella and walk inside. The atrium rises at an acute angle overhead, echoing sounds of hushed conversation at me. I need a spot to sit down for a moment and text with Nicole so I grab a seat on a red bench shaped like a plus sign, and leaning back, I gasp. Wow. I love modern architecture. The glass wall of diamonds is immense, breathtaking.

  Nicole Kapur

  Here’s another question… What do you WANT to do?

  Laura Merchant

  I love him, Nicole. He says he loves me, too.

  I have no reason not to trust him.

  And I want to go to Korea with him even though it’s WAY early in our relationship.

  I just worry I’m going to rip his family apart.

  Nicole Kapur

  Was it really that bad?

  Laura Merchant

  Trust me. His mother hates my guts.

  I can see it in her eyes.

  She called me a gold digger in Korean.

  And a bunch of other stuff I couldn’t translate.

  It was awful.

  Nicole Kapur

  That’s fucked up.

  What did Lee say?

  Laura Merchant

  Basically that his mother is fucked up.

  And there’s not much anyone can do about it.

  Nicole Kapur

  So what do you want to do?

  I sit and look at Nicole’s question. I know what I want to do, but what I have to do? That’s another story entirely.

  Laura Merchant

  I want to move to Seoul with Lee.

  But I don’t want to be the wedge that drives his family apart.

  I think maybe I’m no good for them.

  A few tears roll from my eyes, off the end of my nose, and plop on my iPhone screen. I’m the type of person to not give a shit about what other people think of me, but this is Lee. This is his family. If we work out, the two of us, we’ll have to deal with them for the rest of our lives. That kind of pressure can easily kill a relationship.

  Nicole Kapur

  Laura, you’re crazy.

  I know we’re new friends but I can tell by the way Justin loves you that you’re good for anyone.

  Laura Merchant

  My mother would disagree with you.

  Nicole Kapur

  From what I’ve heard, your mother is a raging lunatic.

  Crazy.

  Certifiable.

  I let out a barking laugh and startle the people sitting nearby. “Sorry,” I mumble at them. I open my purple bag and find one last tissue.

  Nicole Kapur

  I’m sorry we didn’t get to do the Korean cooking class.

  I promise that when I’m in Seoul we’ll get together.

  You should stick by Lee.

  Think of it that way.

  You’re sticking by him when his family will not.

  Besides, it’s just his mom, right? Maybe she’s outnumbered.

  Laura Merchant

  You’re right.

  I think I’ll have to see what happens later and decide.

  But I’d rather be with Lee than without.

  And that’s the truth. We’ve only been dating five or six weeks now, but I’m sure he’s the right one for me. I can’t imagine breaking up with him and trying to find someone I’m compatible with in New York or New Orleans. I rub my finger up and down the side of my iPhone and think about the night we first met. Who could have predicted I’d be here now?

  Lee Park

  Where did you end up, gorgeous?

  My phone buzzes in my hand with Lee’s text, and I smile down at it, my tears gone. He’s thinking about me when I’m thinking about him.

  I wipe my eyes again, smiling at the old woman across from me who is watching me with concern. Leaning back, I take a photo of the atrium’s diamond wall with my iPhone, then I leave my spot and wander into the stacks taking photos of the books and shelves. I send them all to Lee with the preface, “To Lee. From Laura.”

  Lee Park

  One of my favorite places in the city.

  I wish I was there with you now.

  Laura Merchant

  Meet me here.

 
; It’s only 3pm.

  We have some time before we need to go to dinner at your family’s home.

  Lee Park

  I have a better idea.

  Come back to the hotel, get dressed, and meet me for drinks at the Purple Cafe.

  4:00

  Here’s the info...

  He includes the address and it’s only a few blocks from the hotel.

  Laura Merchant

  Great. I’ll see you soon.

  Lee Park

  This is what I’ve been up to…

  I wait and a photo of the corner of a large white shopping bag comes through and inside is a thin white box, but I can’t see anything more.

  Laura Merchant

  That’s awfully cryptic, Lee.

  Lee Park

  I know. Xo.

  Before gathering myself up for the rain outside again, I switch back to my conversation with Nicole.

  Laura Merchant

  Lee has a surprise for me and wants to meet for drinks.

  Nicole Kapur

  Perfect. I hope it’s something nice and shiny ;)

  Laura Merchant

  I will keep you apprised of the situation.

  Nicole Kapur

  Don’t forget to just be yourself.

  (>’o’)> ♥ <(‘o’<)

  I hope I’m not horribly overdressed for a place called the Purple Cafe. Lee’s family saw me dressed nicely yesterday, and they all pretty much hated me (except Mimi and Nari) so I don’t give a shit about the skinny black pants, black and red striped low-cut V-neck shirt, and red heels I’m wearing today. I wrap my turquoise pashmina scarf around my neck and shrug on my black cardigan before I leave the hotel. The temperature is in the low sixties and still raining outside so better to be warm than freezing. I hate being cold.