“Yeah,” I say as he cups my face between his hands. “I’d like that.”
Our lips meet, and for the first time I don’t worry about Haemosu’s jealousy or some monster’s attack. It’s just the two of us.
When we step back, I’m breathless. I could get lost in his kisses.
Behind him, I notice something odd about the bulletin on the wall. It seems to shimmer, and for a moment I think I see Haemosu’s palace. Haechi stands at the gate, his fur blowing in the wind. He nods once.
Forget not, the wind whispers around me. You are intertwined with the Spirit World forever.
“You okay?” Marc glances at where I’m staring.
I blink, and the wall is back to its normal self. Did that just happen? I bite my lip. I’d told Palk no, hadn’t I? He’ll find someone else to rule Haemosu’s land; I’m sure of it. I just need to let my connection to the Spirit World slowly fade away.
“I’m fine.” I force a smile. After all, if Marc didn’t notice anything, I had to hope his sight had been cured. “You’ll call me, right?”
“Absolutely. See you at school, Fighter Girl,” Marc says. “That’s if they let us back in.”
Thinking about school makes my heart dance. I’m going to be normal again. Not some paranoid girl always looking over her shoulder.
Normal. A wonderful word.
I blow Marc a kiss and watch him saunter away, his hair all wild, hands in his pockets. I already miss him.
When I exit the station, I spot Michelle, Dad, and Grandfather at the curb. Seeing the three of them standing there safe and unharmed makes every agony I faced over the last two weeks worth it.
“I’m trying to convince your dad to un-ground you so we can finally do our movie date,” Michelle says as I join them.
“I know I’m grounded for the next dynasty, Dad,” I say. “But what if we do a movie date in our living room? I’m sure there’s something we could rent online.”
“You sure know how to get your way.” Dad shakes his head, grinning. “How about we order in some japchae, too? You owe me a dinner date, remember?”
My skirts tangle around my legs, and I’m getting plenty of attention from pedestrians thanks to the wedding dress.
But I don’t care. In this moment, the itchy, cumbersome dress doesn’t bother me. I lift my face to the sky and let the sun caress my skin. I can taste the first hint of spring in the air.
The first taste of freedom. And home.
GLOSSARY
abeoji—father
ajumma—middle-aged woman
annyeong—Hello (informal)
annyeong haseyo—Hello (formal)
annyeong hashimnikka—Good morning
Blue Dragon—one of the four immortal guardians of Korea; guardian of the clouds
charyot—attention
chollima—winged horse
chumong—founder of the Koguryo kingdom and known for his archery skills
chuseok—Harvest Moon Festival
chunbee—get into the fighting stance
dobok—Tae Kwon Do uniform
dojang—training center for Tae Kwon Do
dokkaebi—gremlin, trickster
eotteohke—What can I do?
General Yu-Shin Kim—general of 7th century Korea who led the unification of Korea
ginseng—tuber plant credited with having medicinal properties
goong dae—quiver for arrows
Habaek—river god and father of Yuhwa
Haechi—legendary creature resembling a lion; a fire-eating dog; guardian against disaster and prejudice
Haemosu—demigod of the sun
hagwon—Korean night school
hana—one
hanbok—traditional Korean dress
hanji lantern—rice paper lantern
haraboji—grandfather
hotteok—brown sugar pancake
Hwarang warriors—an elite group of Silla male youth trained in the arts, culture, and combat
japchae—Korean dish made from sweet potatoes, noodles, and vegetables
kaja—go
kalbi—grilled beef or pork
kamsahamnida—Thank you
kim—edible seaweed
kimbap—Korean dish of steamed white rice and other ingredients rolled in sheets of dried seaweed and served in bite-sized slices
kimchi—spicy pickled cabbage; the national dish of Korea.
Koguryo kingdom—an ancient Korean kingdom located in the present-day northern and central parts of the Korean Peninsula
komo—aunt on the father’s side
Kud—god of darkness
kumiho—fox-tailed female shape-shifter
Kyung ye—to bow
michutda—crazy
mwuh—What?
nae—yes
net—number four
ondol—underfloor heating system
oppa—father
Oryonggeo—Haemosu’s chariot, drawn by five dragons
pagoda—temple or sacred building, typically a many-tiered tower
Palk—sun god and founder of the realm of light
poomsaes—forms; formal exercises in Tae Kwon Do
Princess Yuhwa—demigoddess of the willow trees
Samguk Yusa—collection of legends, folktales, and historical accounts relating to the Three Kingdoms of Korea
samjoko—three-legged crow; symbol of power and the sun
samulnori—music performed with four traditional Korean musical instruments: a small gong, a larger gong, an hourglass-shaped drum, and a barrel drum
Saranghae—I love you
Seijak—begin
set—number three
soju—Korean vodka distilled from rice or sweet potatoes
Tiger of Shinshi—protector of the Golden Thread that ties and binds the Korean people throughout time
tteok—Korean rice cake
tul—number two
waygookin—foreigner
won—the basic monetary unit of North Korea and South Korea
yo—Korean mattress that easily rolls up
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
First and foremost, I am thankful to my Heavenly Father. Without you, I have no words.
I am indebted to the people of Korea for opening your hearts and letting me live in your land for nearly a decade. While there, I not only learned your culture, but came to love the Land of the Morning Calm.
I cannot forget all the students I have taught over the years, especially my students at Seoul Foreign School who are now spread over the four corners of the earth. In so many ways this is your story. To my padawans at Keene’s Crossing Elementary: may the force be with you.
To my Tae Kwon Do instructor, Master Kim of Seoul, South Korea, for your expertise in Tae Kwon Do. I know it wasn’t easy to train this dancer to throw a mean punch.
Thank you, Dad, for reading Tolkien and C. S. Lewis at my bedside each night as a child. You taught me the love and power of the written word. To Mom, for listening as I shared my hardships of this writing journey yet never doubting my abilities. Thanks, David, for brainstorming crazy ideas with me and seeing them through the eye of a movie expert.