“That’s amazing,” Akari says, her eyes widening even more. “I mean, I’ve heard rumors of a secret café for stars, but I never imagined it was real.”

Yuna chuckles. “It’s real all right. Now, tell me, what do you think of the wisteria vines? I’m wondering if we should go for more of a minimal look.…”

Akari smiles wide as she and Yuna discuss decor. From across the table Yujin takes my hand and stands up. “We’ll be back,” she says. Akari waves her away as Yuna starts in on the pros and cons of crushed versus panne velvet.

“Yujin,” I say as we walk across the café. I try not to stare openly at the celebrities all around me, but—oh my god. Is that Park Dohee sitting over there with Kim Chanwoo? They’re lovers on Oh My Dreams, but from the puppy-dog eyes they’re making at each other over a plate of pastel-colored macarons, it looks like they might be together in real life, too. I look away—after all, they are here to escape all the prying eyes. “How come you didn’t follow in your mom’s footsteps and become a K-pop star? She’s so inspiring!”

“I was inspired by her,” Yujin agrees easily. “But just in a different way. I knew from a young age that I was never meant for the stage. Instead, I wanted to use what I learned from my mom to guide the next generation of stars.” She squeezes my hand. “People meant for the spotlight, like you.”

My heart fills up as I gulp down my nerves. Meant for the spotlight. I squeeze her hand back.

She leads me to a table close to the stage and pulls a chair out for me. I sit, content to let the biggest stars in Korea sip coffee all around me and talk with Yujin, just like the old days (well, if you replace the glitterati of Seoul for a bunch of plants), but there’s one thing I still haven’t figured out.

“Yujin-unni, this place is really cool. But um…” I lower my voice. “What exactly are we doing here? What about the video?”

Yujin winks. “You’ll see. Let me get you a drink. Be right back.”

She disappears toward the coffee counter by the stage. My hands are beginning to twitch with nerves, so I grab a napkin and start doodling in the corners. What’s Yujin’s plan? Maybe she’s going to have me sing a song to her mom? That would surely go viral. Oh, or maybe she’s getting Dohee and Chanwoo to be in the video? I laugh to myself. Leah’s friends would definitely be impressed then. When I’ve filled the napkin with weird little curlicues and flowers, I push it aside and fiddle with the teaspoon on the table and sigh. What’s taking Yujin so long?

I glance around the room, looking for her, and see Dohee and Chanwoo sitting at their table, lips locked. Ah-ssa! They are together! Leah is going to freak when she hears this. I’m so absorbed in my thoughts, I flip the spoon smack into the middle of my face.

“Ouch!” I rub my nose, glancing around to see if anyone saw that. Luckily, I’m not high on a priority people-watching list at a place like this. I breathe a sigh of relief and settle back in my chair.

“Wow… that looked like it hurt.”

Seven

Jason pulls out the chair next to mine and takes a seat. The sleeves of his sweater are rolled up to his elbows, and I can’t help but notice how nice his arms are. Tanned and lean and surprisingly smooth. And strong. I gulp as I flash back to him putting his arm around me at the end of my audition. Right before I uploaded a night’s worth of soju and champagne onto his shoes.

My cheeks light up at the memory of it all. “What are you doing here?” I sputter. Must regain composure.

“You’re the one sitting at my regular table,” he says. His eyes crinkle as he leans forward, putting his mouth right next to my ear and whispering, “Let me guess. You’re stalking me.”

I force out a small laugh. This whole thing may be about getting this duet with Jason, but there’s no need to inflate his ego any further. He already has the DB rumor mill for that.

He sits back and smirks. “I think I make you nervous.”

My face is blazing. “Nope,” I say a little too forcefully. “I think you’re delusional.”

“Really? Because your face is turning red.” He presses one of his hands against my cheek. “Warm, too.”

I swat his hand away. “Excuse you. I don’t remember saying you could touch me.”

He holds his hands up, resigned. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I just wanted to make sure you were feeling okay.… We don’t want anyone getting sick in Chung Yuna’s fine establishment. It would chase all the K-drama actors away.” He lowers his voice into a stage whisper as he waves across the room at Dohee and Chanwoo. “They’re notoriously weak-stomached.”

Just then, a waitress arrives at our table, carrying a platter filled with two steaming coffees and pastries. Jason flashes his perfect smile at her as he reaches for the coffee. “Wonderful timing. How’d you know this was exactly what I needed?”

She giggles, bowing her head once before skittering away. Seriously, is there anyone he doesn’t charm?

“I forgive you, by the way,” Jason says to me as he dumps half the sugar bowl into his coffee. “For the puking.”

I look over at him nervously.

“I mean, I had to throw away my favorite sneakers, but other than that…” He grins, flashing his perfect smile in my direction now.

I feel my stomach swoop in response, but I force myself to ignore it, instead rolling my eyes at him. “Thanks. Glad to know someone is laughing about the most embarrassing thing that’s ever happened to me.”

His face falls a little and he grits his teeth. “Okay, okay! I was kidding about the shoes. But seriously. I know how nerve-racking those DB auditions can be. I’ve been there.”

If only nerves had been the problem. But I can tell he means it this time. I give a small nod. “Thanks. For real.”

He smiles, draining the entire jug of cream into his cup until it’s completely empty. He shakes out the final few drops and then gives me an apologetic frown. “Sorry. Did you want some of this?”

“It’s okay. I like my coffee black.” I wrinkle my nose at his caramel-colored drink. “And you obviously prefer your coffee to taste like a milkshake.”

“What can I say? I have a sweet tooth.” He winks, sipping his abomination of a drink. We sit in a beat of silence. It’s not exactly awkward, but it’s not comfortable, either. The whole viral video plan is sitting heavily in my mind. What the hell is Yujin up to?

“So, Rachel, tell me,” Jason says, reaching for a pastry. “Other than being a pajama fashion icon and a raging coffee snob, what else should I know about you?”

My mind races around for something to say. I’m a K-pop trainee? But he already knows that. I’ll do anything to debut? But he’s already done that. I’m here to make a video in the hopes that it will go viral, everyone will see how much better my voice is than Mina’s, and Mr. Noh and the DB execs will see it and give me another chance at singing the duet with you? But I clearly can’t tell him that. Luckily, at that moment, the waitress makes another appearance, setting a small white tray on the table. A smile spreads across Jason’s face. “You’ll love this—it’s Yuna’s most famous dessert.” He grabs a small bowl on the side of the tray and begins to pour melted milk chocolate over the clear, spun-sugar orb in the center, which looks filled with strawberries and edible flowers. The orb melts, its contents bursting over layers of blackberry panna cotta and gingerbread crumble. Um, wow.