Keys to Happiness

13. Key

A minute or so had already passed, and still Aliah had only stared at me since I'd given her the bracelet. I was starting to get panicky, and when I panicked, I started to talk--a lot.

"I hope you like it; I wanted to get something for you and I thought this was a good gift. The ahjumma at the jewelry store said the surgical steel was great for people with skin allergies, so I don't want you to worry that you may have a reaction." Still Aliah seemed to be in shock and my panic increased two-fold.

My words began coming out at unstoppable pace and I could feel sweat starting to form under my arms. She still wasn't talking and now I was in full-blown panic mode. Maybe I had gone too far too fast?

"And it wasn't too expensive, so don't freak out. I mean, I'm not saying you would freak out, but just in case you were concerned. And don't feel pressured to get me anything, I just want to acknowledge our relationship as something important to me. But if you don't want to wear it, or don't like it it's fine-" I stopped talking as Aliah's fingers touched my lips, halting the next twenty sentences that I already had planned in their tracks. I blinked in surprise and she looked up at me, a wide smile on her face that lit her up from the inside out.

"KiBum, I love it. Thank you so much, I'll wear it every day. I promise I was just touched; I definitely love it! No one's ever bought me anything like this before. I just wasn't expecting it."

My heart beat steadied for the first time in what seemed like forever as I listened to her words.

"Ok then, I'm glad." I grabbed Aliah's hand in mine, ready to take on what I hoped would be the next step in our relationship. Since she had already accepted the bracelet, I was confident she would be willing to go to the next level.

"So, now that we're dating, there's something else that I'd like to make official." She giggled when I said girlfriend, but her face fell a little

"What kind of official?" she asked with suspicion.

"I was thinking like... nicknames." Aliah laughed out loud, but then quickly sobered when I didn't laugh with her.

"Oh my God, you're serious, aren't you? You thought giving me jewelry was less serious than picking out pet names for each other?" She said with incredulity.

"Well, it's kind of a big deal here. Knowing what I should call you is important."

"Not really, just call me Aliah without the –yah. Simple, right?" she told me with a smile.

My face fell; this might be more difficult to explain than I thought. I tamped down my drama queen instincts that wanted to yell out how boring me just calling her name would be, and took a quick breath.

"In Korea, we generally don't call a person's a name at all unless it's in affection. When we met, we spoke in English, so I could use your name. But when we talk to other Korean people in Korean, they'll think we aren't close because I'll have to use Ms. at the end of your name. Pet names are a serious business; maybe I should just call you Noona to be safe." I knew she hated that word, and waited for her response, which was immediate.

"Kim KiBum, don't you dare! Anything else but that ok?" Aliah mock shuddered and I felt myself smile; step one to get my way had begun.

She moved closer to me and laid her head on my shoulder. The weight of her settled against me and I felt a chill go up my spine. My face felt hot and I tried to inhale her scent without making any obvious sniffing noises. I didn't know the fragrance she was wearing, but it was reminding me of burning vanilla candles and dark rooms. I struggled to stay on topic.

"Since you're open to anything, how about Yeobo?"

"But isn't that for married couples? Can we still say that?"