But The Future Must Be Met

I Deserve To Have A Dreamy Fanmeeting By Chance, Damn It

8:30 AM. If I time it well, I have two whole hours to myself.

Becca never did call, but she picks up on the second ring.

"How fucking early is it, Lox?"

"Eight-thirty, where were you last night?"

"Uh... at home?"

"Really?"

"Yeah..."

"Rebecca."

She groaned. "I stayed over at Ilhoon's place."

"Ya nasty."

"Hold on." There was a thump. "I'm walking into the next room so he doesn't wake up."

"You're still there?"

"Uh, yeah? Friday's my day off. I can do whatever I please. I'm sorry, were you worried last night?"

I sit down on the mattress in my bedroom: I never even managed to put sheets on it last night. I was just so tired I hit the pillow and died for a few hours. "Uh, yeah, kinda. Listen, there's something I have to admit..."

"You borrowed another shirt and got mustard on it, didn't you?"

"Wrong."

"Did you drink my milk?"

"No."

"Then what?"

I lie down. Not sure how to break this to her. "Well, uh, funny enough, I didn't sleep at home either."

She gasps – and she makes it extra dramatic too, like she's trying to inhale her soul. "You fantastic little slut!" she hisses. "Who is he?"

"Well, there's thirteen guys here, actually."

She goes quiet – really quiet. "Loxley Fletcher, I'm on my way. Where are you? I'll come get you."

"Don't come get me."

"You-"

"I haven't slept with anybody, you're thanked for your concern though."

She's still quiet. "What are you talking about, Loxley?"

"I got offered a job. It's a live-in position."

"Pardon?"

"Yeah, I got contacted by a corporation who need me to cook for some guys. They donated heavily to the university, and the paycheck is huge, so I accepted."

The outrage is so poignant in her voice, it nearly stings my ear. "You just moved out and took a job without telling me?"

"It was all kind of spur-of-the-moment. The goshiwon is still mine until the contracts up, I've got a couple of stuff there still but you can use it for whatever. Not for fucking." I crinkle my nose. "And yeah, I won't be going to uni this year anymore."

"What, wait what, no, why?"

"Cause it's a full-time job. Three meals a day. It's hard work."

"Shit, Lox! I thought you wanted to graduate quickly?"

I tell her my monthly salary. She goes quiet again.

"...that's okay, I'm okay with that," she sighs. "Where do I get me one of these magical jobs?"

"I don't think they need an Asian Literature professor, Becca."

"Boo. So, where are you?"

"Uh, Gangnam."