Audrey
Later that night, at a Karaoke room:
"I'm next! You know this is my jam! Fantastic baby!"
"Let's order more soju!"
"You guys now we're all underage, right?"
"Who cares! Fifteen is the new twenty-one!"
"Sure. Say that again from behind bars."
"Quick! Take a video of me! I look awesome!"
"My singing is on point!"
Ah-ya and I trade smiles. I ask, "Should we pop these confetti crackers?"
"Duh!!" she says. We pop the crackers, sending streamers and confetti flying everywhere. Everyone laughs. "You two just made this worse! Ha ha ha ha ha ha!"
The side of my neck feels tingly under Scot's long fingers. "Ah-ya! You should make the next toast!"
"Congratulations, everyone! When I look at all of you.. I just know that you'll all be more successful than I am!!"
"To everyone being more successful than Ah-ya!" "Hey!" "Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!"
I lean my arm against Scot's as he says, "You doing okay?"
"I definitely drank too much.."
"Ah, I'm so tired.."
"It's been a long day, that's for sure."
"Yeah, it must be exhausting, disappointing your boyfriend."
"I told you," I say, standing up and facing him. "I was in a meeting. I couldn't get away."
"I'm not blaming you." Scot scowls. "Why are you making such a big deal out of this? It's supposed to be a day to celebrate me, and you're making it about yourself."
"I'm not--" I sigh inwardly. "I'm sorry. You're right. It's your day. Let's not ruin it by fighting. Am I going to see you again before you go to Japan with your family?"
"I don't know. I haven't started packing yet.."
"I'll come over and hang out! We can hang out then!"
"Okay. Tomorrow at 8? I'm meeting up with an old friend at noon."
"Ugh, so early. Fine." Scot stands and wraps his arms tightly around my waist.
"Thanks," he murmurs, nuzzling the top of my head. "I love you, Audrey."
I smile into his white shirt, but I don't say it back.
One Week Later, Ah-ya and I are on my bed, staring at my phone as if it's glowing radioactively.
DING! G. MIN SENT A TEXT MESSAGE says the bright screen. I snatch it off the blanket.
Ah-ya peers at my expression. "Well?"
"It's from the studio," I say, the message slowly sinking in my brain.
"AND??!!"
"THEY LOVE AWAKE 15!!"
Ah-ya throws her arms around my shoulders. "Ah!! I knew it! So what happens now?"
I put my palms on either cheek, feeling my heart racing. "They're going to start casting actors for the M.V. asap and want me to come in?! Am I free on Sunday?"
"You are now!" She grabs my phone. "We.. will.. be.. there.. SEND! Audrey, this is amazing! It's happening!"
"Yeah.. I can't wait to tell Scot," I say as I lay down with Ah-ya. "He must be really busy with his parents," I muse. "I haven't been able to tell him all of this."
"Don't worry about him. Boy, is he going to be surprised when he gets back from Japan!"
On Sunday evening, outside the studio's building:
Man.. today was exhausting. I didn't think I'd have the same hours as the actors. I miss Scot.. I wonder what he's-
"Why's a girl like you looking so hung up?" It's Scot, showing me a plastic bag full of snacks. "I brought all of your faves," he announces.
I sprint toward him and hug his waist tightly. "YOU'RE BACK!"
"Is this enthusiasm for me or for the food?"
"Can I say both?"
At his living room, with his parents asleep in the master bedroom:
"And then we had to rewrite an entire scene because we couldn't find a good location for one of the songs and I absolutely didn't want to lose that moment," I say, drawing my knees to my chest. "My director, Jun Koo, knew just how to shoot it, but setting up took longer than expected--"
"I get it, I get it," says Scot, cutting me off. "Hey, I just got back after two weeks away and you don't even ask about my trip?"
I glance at him nervously. "You told me about it when you were there. We didn't really talk about the-"
"You're making this about you again," he interrupts, looking deeply fed up. "I hate it when you're like this, Audrey. It feels really selfish."
My shoulders deflate. "I didn't mean to be selfish.."
"Yeah, well, if that excuses it, then."
I bury my face in my knees. "I'm not trying to make excuses. I-"
"It's fine! I don't even want to talk about Japan anymore. I'm going to go. It's getting late."
"Yeah, maybe that's for the better.."
A few days later, as I'm working on a new song:
DING! SCOT SENT A TEXT MESSAGE. Hmm?
Scot: I forgot to tell you. My uncle got me a part-time job at one of his stores while I was away. Let's get dessert on Monday to celebrate.
Good, I think, smiling. He doesn't seem to still be mad at me.
Also on that same week, at a live press conference:
"Jun Koo, what inspired you to take on this project by an unknown talent?"
"Well, first of all, Audrey Lee had no knowledge of industry standards, beyond a thorough knowledge of the latest hit songs. That's what made her so powerful as a composer. I've never listened to a set so refreshing and interesting, and I was confident we could bring it to life together."
He's so much better at answering these questions than me. I look okay, right? My mahogany locks are curled to look more voluminous, and I'm wearing an off-shoulder orange dress.
"And what, Miss Lee, inspired you to create an album? Could it be--you're in love?"
W-what? Um.. I don't know how to reply.. Come on, Audrey! You can do this.
Mr. Koo clears his throat. "I think what makes her songs so powerful is the fact that Audrey writes about different relationships respectfully, regardless of the gender dynamics at play. This is something that songwriters who only care about steamy romance or ratings cannot do, so I am very optimistic and hope that you will give AWAKE 15 your support because of this."
The following morning:
I can hear Ah-ya yelling outside my window. "AUDREY! WAKE UP ALREADY! IT'S ALMOST NOON!"
She has a death wish. I climb out of bed, walk barefoot across the floor, and slide open my window. "Ah-ya.. you have a damn phone-"
"Ha ha! YOUR PRESS CONFERENCE WAS SUCCESSFUL!!" Ah-ya is grinning up at me while holding a big-ass sign between her hands: CONGRATS! AWAKE 15 IS TRENDING ON TWITTER!
"Nice job," I comment. "You managed to fit the entire message on the sigh this time.." "HEY!"
A/N: When someone talks to you about something they're excited about, you shouldn't tell them they're being selfish. That guy is a jerk.
