Finding the Right Words

Chapter 110- International Star Status

"Well. Crisis averted," I remarked to Jung Ah when she came into my dorm. When she entered, I was sprawled on the floor of my living room, my computer open in front of me as I scribbled in a notebook.

"Of course. Completely averted. Are you sure of that?" she asked, sitting down on the couch overlooking me as I worked.

"No. Actually I'm quite certain that public confidence in me has been permanently damaged. We're going to have to work extra hard for a little while in order to make up for it. Now shush."

She raised an eyebrow. "Did you just tell me to shush?"

"Yes. I shush my own mother when she's being distracting and I'm trying to focus."

"Ah. Songwriting again, are you?"

"Absolutely. It's the only way I'm allowed to say what I want without getting in trouble. After I gave the news that interview, you know what Snow Leopard Lady said to me?"

"Who's snow leopard lady?"

"She said, 'the last thing we need in our company is a feminist. Can you believe that?!"

"Why, are you a femininst?"

"Yes! You didn't figure that out already?"

"You seemed slightly too feminine to be a feminist."

"Just because I like to paint my nails and look pretty doesn't mean I want to be treated like an object. It doesn't mean that I want to be stereotyped against just because I'm a woman. It doesn't mean that I want to be told 'well, someone's on her period' as a trump card every time I use my brain to prove a man that he's wrong. Because we both know that if I actually were on my period at the time, I wouldn't have the energy to do anything but throw up. I don't see why I have to sacrifice being a woman just to be regarded as someone who can take care of herself."

Jung Ah rolled her eyes. "Calm down, Minsung. You're ranting again."

I exhaled, then took a deep breath. "You're right. Sorry. Anyway, so I'm writing a song about it. And this one's for me. I'm not giving it to anyone else. You can let the company know that."

"Of course. I'll be sure to let them know you're making a secret public declaration of your defiance, and no one can make that declaration but you."

"You're catching on, Eonni!"

She sighed. "Well, go on and write, but don't forget that you have to report at the theater for hair and makeup in an hour and a half. And this time, can we please not end the night with occasions that cause you to have any surprise sleepovers at your secret lover's house, that you somehow forgot to tell me about?"

I felt my face redden, over the guilt of having kept her in the dark about it. She was still upset with me about it. Because I hadn't trusted her enough to tell her.

"Nothing happened!" I argued, my face turning an even brighter red. "I mean... I couldn't go back home, because the reporters were there, and I just... I didn't want to be alone. And, you know, I go to that dorm all the time. It's not like I haven't been there before."

"Yes, but those times you were there to visit Henry. Which is a very different situation."

"Henry was there. I mean, he was passed out in his bed in his underwear, but he was there."

"So where'd you sleep?"

"You're awful curious about this, aren't you?"

"Where did you sleep?" Jung Ah repeated, not even blinking an eye. Point made.