The Kings Of Cool

31

“O,” Chon says, buying time. They’re pals, buddies. “We’ve known each other since we were kids.”

“Maybe that will make it better,” O says. “And I’m nineteen now.”

Not a kid anymore.

“O-”

“Look, if you think I’m, like, hideous or something-”

“It’s not that,” Chon says. O is the opposite of hideous-whatever that is. “I think you’re beautiful.”

He means it.

“And you love me,” she says.

He nods.

“And I love you, so…”

He shakes his head, smiles stupidly. “O… I don’t know…”

“Chon,” she says, “you’re going away… and I don’t know if

… and it’s my fault-”

“No, it isn’t.”