The Christmas Party

It's the Best Time of the Year

My heart hammered in my chest as I pulled open the door to the Starbucks around the corner from my apartment. Cold winter air rushed in with me, as if urging me to the counter.

Come on Jisoo. You can do this. You've asked out tons of girls in your twenty-eight years of life. You can do this!

I took a deep breath and grabbed my coffee. "Thanks for the coffee, Seolhee." I said with a cheery smile.

The brown-eyed barista who always worked when I needed coffee smiled at me. "I made it special for you."

I laughed nervously, but Seolhee thought nothing of it and turned back to the espresso machine. I watched her work, pulling a shot that she quickly poured into a green and red cup.

"Have a good day," I said.

"Thanks, you too!" Seolhee said in that same cheery voice. She was always so happy. Was I misinterpreting her friendliness as nothing more than a chipper customer service attitude? Oh God, was she just nice to me because she had to be, not because I was a regular?

I flushed and turned on my heels to flee this Starbucks and never return. My hand paused on the door handle as I pictured Soojoo's snide remark if I didn't have a date to the Christmas party. I grit my teeth, took a deep breath, and walked purposefully back to the counter.

"Hey, Seolhee, I have a huge favor to ask."

She poured milky foam in the cup and called out a name. "Sure, what up? Need another coffee?"

"Not exactly. It's a long story, but basically I need a date to this company holiday party." Seolhee blinked. My heart hammered in my chest. Was it hot on this Starbucks? They really needed to turn down the heater. I should leave. This was a horrible idea. Terrible. "So, I was, uh, wondering if you were, uh, free on the 18th this month? It's a free dinner and drinks. You just have to pretend to be my girlfriend. But like, that's it. Nothing else."

Seolhee looked at me curiously for a moment, then smiled. "I would love to go with you," Seolhee said and I felt all of my worries disappear. "But I can't. I'll be out of the country with my family. We're actually leaving on the 17th."

"Oh." I deflated like a pathetic balloon. Asking a literal strangers that made me coffee was my last option and even that had failed. I sincerely hoped that Taehyung or Jennie came through with a date. I forced a smile on my face. "That's okay. I figured it was worth a shot. Thanks again for the coffee."

"Sorry! I hope you find someone to go with you. And I definitely need a back story to this!"

"I'll come in early tomorrow and explain the debacle." I hopped in my car and let my head fall on the steering wheel. "What the hell am I gonna do?"

I dragged myself to work and texted Taehyung.

Me: Please beg one of your coworkers to be my date. Or a cousin. I'll pay them. I don't care. The cute barista rejected me too. SOS.

Taehyung: All of my cousins live on the West coast, remember?

Me: Then ask your co-workers! I'll grade for them! I'll clean their classrooms! I don't care. Please. I'm desperate.

Taehyung: LOL I'll ask around, stay tuned. If not maybe a hot single mama will be your date.

Me: I'll pay for the babysitter. PLEASE HELP ME.

Taehyung: ;)

I tried to focus on work, I really did, but it felt impossible with the anxiety looming over my shoulder. What was I actually going to do if this didn't work out? Could I lie and say we broke up? That might work until New Years, but then the parties would start again and I'd have no excuse to ditch. Could I ask my sister? Did we look different enough to pass as girlfriends? I wondered if my cousins would do it. What if Soojoo asked us to kiss though? That would be weird, why would she even ask that? What if there was mistletoe? We would have to kiss. Okay maybe no relatives.