I answer the door. An absolutely gorgeous young man is standing on my front porch. He’s clearly Korean, with wavy raven hair and beautiful, almond-shaped, dark eyes. He is reminiscent of the posters of Tae lining Nana’s walls. Although, he’s missing the headband. He has a straight nose, full lips that spread in a – what was the term Nana used? Oh, yes! – boxy smile, and what Nana would call “squishy” cheeks.
“Hello,” I welcome him.
“Hi. I’m looking for my sister, Melody. Does she happen to be here?”
Before I can respond, Nana, entering the room behind me, greets the beautiful, young man, “Hi, Lyric!”
I turn to look at her, my curiosity piqued by an odd note in her voice. And suddenly, as I look at her face, I wonder how long I’ve been blind. Nana is clearly in love with Melody’s brother! But then his name echoes back to me.
Lyric, really? Melody’s brother is named Lyric? Do they have a sister named Harmony too?
“Hi, Janna. I’m looking for Melody. She and Harmony have a guitar lesson at 8. Eomma thought she might have forgotten, and she hasn’t been answering her phone.”
Melody, Harmony, Lyric. Are their parents musicians?
My daughter walks up to him. He’s a good seven inches taller than she is. She has to gaze upward to see his face, but she doesn’t seem to mind this. She’s looking a little dazed. As I study her dreamy expression, and my eyes travel back to Lyric’s face, I suddenly understand her fascination with Taehyung. He reminds her of her crush here.
My mama instincts kick in. “Hello, Lyric. What grade are you in?”
Janna slants me a dirty glance.
“I’m a senior.”
Of course, you are.
“That’s wonderful. What college are you planning to attend?” Will you be able to provide well for my daughter? Will you be far enough away for the next two years that you won’t be a temptation to her?
He smiles at me. “I’m going to study aeronautical engineering at the U of I.”
Of course, you are. Well, that answers my question. You will be able to provide very well for my daughter. And be far enough away for my comfort.
I decide to invite him into the family in proper style. “Lyric, have you had dinner yet?”
He looks at me, a little surprised. “Uh, no.”
“Do you like ramen?”
“I love ramen!”
How is it that you and Kookie aren’t best friends?
“Please, come have a seat.”
Janna isn’t sure whether to be ecstatic or embarrassed at this point. But she’s shooting lasers out of her eyes. At me. Then she decides to take full advantage of this opportunity. You’re welcome, Nana.
“Come on, Lyric. I’ll find you a seat.” I know what she’s thinking but doesn’t say. Right next to me.
When I enter the kitchen a moment later, Kookie is laughing at something Melody just said. They’re still sitting next to each other. Across the table, Janna has made room for a chair between her and Alastair, so that Lyric has a very comfortable place to sit. Right next to my lovesick daughter.
I shake my head. Poor Tae. He’s been replaced. By a very good-looking carbon copy. A living, breathing boy she can actually talk to. And sit next to at my dining room table.
Lyric turns to her and opens his mouth. As he begins to speak, his low, quiet tones fill the air around her with a melodious sound reminiscent of Tae’s voice. Now I’m wondering if he can sing too. He murmurs a few soft words to Janna. She’s sitting on the edge of her chair. If she scoots any closer to him, she’s going to fall on the floor.
Meanwhile, my husband is oblivious to the drama unfolding at our dinner table. He’s chewing on ramen as he listens to Abner talk about… Wait. What did Abner just say?
“Daddy, I can do it! I figured out how to make farting sounds with my mouth and my armpit at the same time!”
Both Janna and Kookie look at their little brother in horror. Kookie is actually turning a lovely shade of red as Nana suddenly studies her bowl of ramen like something fascinating is floating in it.
Just then my other tiny twin jumps in, “I can do it too!”
Abner and Alastair commence to have a farting contest in front of our unsuspecting guests. Janna wants to crawl under the table. I think Kookie is about to join her. But then Lyric suddenly responds, “That’s nothing!” right before he lets out the loudest belch I’ve ever heard.
Abner and Alastair both stop in mid-fart to stare in wonder at this paragon of burping excellence. They are fascinated by all the ways they can release wind from their bodies. And they have just met a master at it.
I glance at Melody. Now she’s the one who wants to slide under the table. She is horrified. “Lyric!” she yells at her brother before rolling her eyes at him. “Really?! Are you eight or eighteen?” she exclaims under her breath, but I’m close enough to hear her.
Now I am hiding behind my napkin dissolving with laughter. Then I make the mistake of glancing at Janna. Her embarrassment has fled, and she’s cracking up while she and Lyric lock eyes, both guffawing. I look at Kookie. He’s laughing too, his nose crinkling up to display his chubby teeth once more. Melody looks at him, and for the first time, I think maybe she’s not a good match for him. She’s not laughing. She’s not even smiling. She’s clearly irritated with her brother.
In that moment I can’t help but see Emmie’s smiling face in my mind’s eye. I know she’d at least be grinning broadly now. Does Melody not have a sense of humor? If not, I hope Kookie gets over her quickly.
Then I glance up at my husband. He’s grinning broadly, flashing his beautiful, crooked teeth at me. The man is stunning when he grins. Be still, my racing heart! When I look at him, I’m sixteen again, like Kookie and Nana, experiencing the pangs of my first love all over again. Breathless.
He joins the rest of us as we unleash a gaggle of giggles. I rather suspect he’s the one who taught the twins how to fart with their armpits to begin with. Their daddy is looking rather proud of and very amused by them both right now. Even Everett is doubled over with laughter. Only Melody sits ramrod straight, pushing her ramen around in her bowl with her chopsticks.
Alastair and Abner are both grinning from ear to ear. They’re delighted they could introduce so much hilarity to our dinner table. And they’re hoping our guest comes again. Maybe he’ll teach them more of his tricks. Belching 101. Releasing Bodily Wind 102. Ways to Embarrass Your Sister 201. And of course, before you can graduate, you must pass Becoming a Wind Instrument 202.
I’m still laughing so hard that I can’t possibly eat. I might inhale some ramen accidentally. I wait until the table calms down and all bodily functions are under control before I resume consuming my dinner.
Somehow, Melody seems out of place now. Kookie also looks uncomfortable in her presence. I feel sorry for him. He stares at his bowl for the remainder of the dinner hour.
After a few minutes, Lyric informs his sister, “I’m here to drive you to guitar practice.”
She nods and pushes her chair back. She is clearly ready to fly away from all these insane people at my dinner table. She does pause to say a quiet goodbye to Kookie. He smiles at her as he rises to follow them to the door. Curious, I follow them too, watching from the kitchen doorway as he walks Melody to the front door. Lyric gets there before them and opens the door before stepping out into the cool night air. Janna is fast on his heels.
“Bye, Lyric. See you tomorrow?”
He turns back towards the doorway. “See you then, button.”
Button? Why is this guy calling my daughter, “button”?
“Bye, Kookie,” Melody says before she turns to leave.
“Bye,” he whispers.
I can tell he’s disappointed. But I’m not sure why. Is he disappointed that she has no sense of humor or that she’s leaving? As Kookie turns towards me, his head is bent, his face downcast.
“Hey, Kook. Are you ok?” Janna asks him.
He shrugs and goes back to his ramen. Janna’s eyes collide with mine. “I like her,” she whispers to me, “but the girl has no sense of humor. Can you imagine how dull life would be with her? I mean, like, forever? Kookie belongs with Emmie.”
Thankfully, I’m the only one who can hear her. But privately, I agree.
