Snowflake Kisses Read online

  Miriam jumps into Ben’s embrace, and he spins her around. “What are you doing here?” she squeals.

  Ben sets her down and Miriam leans up and gives Ben a big sloppy kiss. When did that happen?

  “Excuse me?” Miriam’s dad says. I can’t believe Miriam did that with him looking.

  “Dad,” Miriam says, way too excited for someone who’s about to be grounded for life. “This is Ben. I love him.”

  I tap my ears to make sure I’m hearing right. How can this be? Miriam’s mom faints, and my dad has to catch her.

  Miriam’s dad says something in Arabic, and the two of them start bickering so fast, it’s almost not human. Miriam’s mom comes-to, looks at Ben, and faints again.

  Ben keeps looking between me and Miriam like I’m supposed to intervene. No way. I’m not getting myself tangled in this mess.

  “Everyone,” Ammon calls, surprising us all to silence. “Can you keep it down? I can’t hear my video game.”

  The bickering starts again, and now my parents are shouting at each other for reasons unknown.

  “Enough!” I scream. If I don’t stop this we’re going to be here arguing all night when Miriam has a plane to catch.

  Once I’ve stunned everyone, I speak. “Let’s just go inside and talk this out. You people need to leave and this won’t be resolved if we fight.”

  “Thank you,” Ben says, relief written on his face.

  I give him a tight smile, because I’m not really helping him. I’m helping Miriam.

  Everyone shuffles inside and I pull Miriam to my side as we go. “When did you and Ben happen?” I whisper in her ear.

  “The day we went skiing,” she says back. “I spent the whole day with him. I didn’t know you were hurt. Then, we just kept spending time together.”

  Crazy. I can’t believe I didn’t know. I thought Miriam and I were closer than that.

  “I have to go home,” she continues, “So I broke it off. But he came back for me.”

  Oh brother.

  Miriam holds Ben’s hand as we all crowd around the kitchen table. There’s still slaughter sounds in the background from Ammon’s game, but we’re used to those around here.

  “Dad,” Miriam says, very calm, and in English. “I’m coming here next year anyway, it could save us a load of money in college tuition if you let me stay now.”

  Miriam’s dad huffs, not looking at her. Miriam’s mom has regained consciousness, but she still looks weak. “This is why you wanted to stay?” she says, pointing to Ben.

  “No,” Miriam returns, then she looks at Ben. “But it’s a nice bonus.”

  I’m not sure where I missed this. Miriam wants to live with us until she goes to college? I’ve been so absorbed in my own sorrow, she couldn’t talk to me about it. I’m a sucky friend. Even if I have a broken heart, I shouldn’t ignore the people around me.

  “Please,” I beg on Miriam’s behalf. “Let her stay. Finishing high school here will give her a leg up over other applicants. I’m sure she’ll still get tons of scholarships.”

  “She’ll be leaving her family,” Miriam’s dad states.

  “No she won’t,” I say. “She’ll be staying here with us. And it’s not like you’ll never see her again. Didn’t you always want her to go to school in America? She’ll come back when she finishes her education. Just like she was going to before.”

  Miriam is beaming at me, but I’m just getting started. It’s the least I can do when she’s been nothing but supportive of me.

  “Besides,” I continue. “I need her here. High school is already crappy enough, and both of us could use the extra support.”

  “Do you really feel that way?” Mom says to me. “You do so well in school.”

  If only she knew. “Mom. I try to hold it in for your sake, but I hate school. Having Miriam here would change everything.”

  “Why didn’t you say anything?” Dad asks.

  I raise my eyebrows. He can’t be serious. “Because, you don’t listen.”

  Mom and Dad look at each other, hurt in their eyes. “And I don’t want to be an accountant.” I spurt. I have to be delusional to say this now, but if they’re listening they need to know. “I’m going to be an author, and I don’t care how much it pays.”

  “You go, girl!” Miriam shouts.

  I can tell my dad’s trying to find a kind way to argue back.

  “I’m seventeen, Dad,” I say, my chair scraping the floor as I stand. “I have so much life left to figure out. You can’t decide those things for me. I have to try it myself before I can give up on it. Do you want me to make money, or do you want me to be happy?”

  “Verina,” Mom says. “I know you think being an author will make you happy, but—”

  I pound the table. It’s the same argument every time. I need money to live. I know. Being an accountant is the sensible thing. I can follow my dreams later. But what if there is no later? I thought Yangbin and I had time in front of us, but we didn’t. That ended too soon, and I won’t live my life watching happiness pass me by while I settle for the sensible. I’m done.

  “Stop,” I say. “If becoming an author is a mistake, you need to let me make it. No one is perfect, and I’d rather be flawed than miserable. Please, Mom, Dad, if I don’t try this now, I might not ever get to. I have to seize this dream, or I’ll be left wondering.”

  I can tell they’re not buying it, but I refuse to back down.

  “Oh come on,” Miriam says. “It’s not like she’s asking to do drugs and get pregnant. You have a creative daughter, let her do something she loves for once.”

  I hold out my fist for Miriam to bump. “Same goes for you, Chica.”

  How could I even think about letting her leave? We need each other, and she needs to figure out things with Ben.

  “Alright,” Miriam’s dad says, standing. “That’s enough. Miriam can stay.”

  Miriam jumps up and hugs me so tight all the air squishes out of our lungs.

  “Fine,” Mom says to me, “You can major in English, but promise you’ll minor in business so you can have a fall back?”

  “Promise,” I say, getting a little too excited.

  Tears stream down Miriam’s cheeks as she hugs her parents goodbye. We let them walk out alone so they can figure out when they’ll see each other next.

  Maybe I suck at love, but at least I have a pretty awesome family.

  Learning How to Walk

  Ben stays inside and the both of us take a seat on the couch to watch Ammon play.

  “What you did over there was pretty cool,” Ben says. “Thank you.”

  My smile won’t go away, I’m so happy. “I didn’t do it for you. I did it for Miriam.”

  Ben adjusts in his seat to face me. “Actually, there’s something more.”

  I put on my serious face when I see his expression. “What’s going on?”

  He leans in. “Promise not to tell Miriam?”

  This sounds important. “Depends on what it is.”

  “I didn’t come here for her,” he whispers.

  “What?” I say, clutching the edge of the couch.

  Ben rubs his eyes in frustration. “I did come here for her,” he corrects, “But I mostly came for you.”

  I point to myself because I don’t believe it. “Seriously?”

  “It’s Yangbin,” he says

  I stand and throw up my hands. “No. I don’t want to hear it.”

  If I hear it I might forget that I’m strong person who doesn’t take abuse.

  “I didn’t know he was going to California either,” Ben yells, standing.

  He focuses on a point over my shoulder and I turn to see Miriam holding the door. “Who went to California?”

  “Yangbin,” Ben answers.

  Seriously? It’s too crazy. “Wait a second,” I say, trying to collect myself. “He went because your band got a record contract.”

  “No,” Yangbin says, irritated. “We turned that contract down for him.”


  I pull at my hair, not understanding. “But he got an apartment too. He was leaving.”

  “That’s what I came to tell you,” Ben says.

  Miriam comes between us. “Both of you stop, we need to have another conversation around the table for this.”

  “So much drama,” Ammon pouts. I kick him before going back to the kitchen.

  “Now,” Miriam says, acting like a moderator between us. “Ben, you go first and explain everything, then when he’s finished Vee can speak.”

  I don’t like it, but I’ll do it.

  “Do remember Eunbin, Yangbin’s sister?” Ben says, but he doesn’t wait for my answer, he just keeps talking. “She needs an open heart surgery for a congenital problem. The best doctor is in California. Yangbin’s dad was against it because he felt like she could be taken care of in New York.”

  Okay, that’s not a terrible reason to go to California, but I don’t know why she can’t be treated here.

  “But that’s not true,” Ben continues answering my question before I can voice it. “The risk rate is a lot higher with other doctors. Yangbin really did his research to find someone who can perform. If he lost Eunbin, it would be the death of him.”

  Why do I feel so guilty suddenly? “I still don’t understand,” I say, the open wound in my heart throbbing.

  “He had to do it without his dad knowing,” Ben answers. “Don’t you see? His dad only cares about the hotel. He almost disowned Eunbin when she was born. If it wasn’t for Yangbin’s mom, she wouldn’t be around. But now Yangbin’s mom is dead and Eunbin only has her brother.”

  I didn’t know Yangbin was motherless. It makes me feel sub-human.

  Judging by what I know of Mr. Lee, I could see him mistreating her. I hate that I can see it because I want to believe in the good in people. It’s happened before, though, and I kills me to think of it.

  Ugh. Yangbin is such a saint.

  “That’s why he couldn’t tell me,” I say, finishing the story for Ben. “His dad thought he was going for the record contract, and if Yangbin corrected him, Eunbin wouldn’t get the treatment she needs.”

  Ben nods. “He made a deal with his dad. He was allowed to go to California for three months as long as he still attends Columbia in the fall. It wasn’t until they were gone that he knew Yangbin took Eunbin with him.”

  “And,” I say, knowing now that I’m the most heartless jerk in the universe. “Yangbin couldn’t tell me in the hotel, because his dad would find out. It was bad enough that we were dating.”

  Ben frowns. “Yeah, he couldn’t even tell us, his best friends. You know he actually bought six tickets so it would look like all of us were going together?”

  Miriam stands, banging her hand as she goes. “That’s it. We’re going.”

  This is unexpected. “Going? Where?”

  Miriam rolls her eyes. “To California.”

  I laugh. It’s a great joke, but a touch too painful. “No way. How will we get there?”

  “Flying, duh.” Miriam says,

  I close my eyes and take a deep breath. “That’s not what I mean. I have no money.”

  “Excuse me,” Miriam says, “But if you haven’t noticed, I’m rich, and I owe you one.”

  I have to be the craziest person on the planet, but right now I don’t care. I can’t believe Mom is letting me go with Miriam and Ben on such short notice, too. It’s a good thing she was already in a giving mood after what Miriam’s parents did.

  The flight is almost seven hours. I have no idea how my nerves won’t explode in that time.

  “You should get some sleep,” Miriam says, “It’s going to be crazy once we get there.”

  She’s right, but there’s no way I could. Not when I get to see Yangbin at the end of this. I’m dragging when we land at LAX, but my excitement keeps me going.

  “I don’t think we can go there tonight,” Ben says, “They’ll be closed. We’ll get some food and go to the hotel.”

  He’s probably right even though I don’t want him to be. We don’t know where Yangbin is living, only the name of the doctor and where his clinic is located. Yangbin’s phone has been off since he left, so that’s not an option either. In the end, fatigue wins and I give into my pillow.

  The clinic opens at eight a.m. and I make sure Miriam, and Ben, who was in another room, are ready to go so we can be there on time.

  My legs bounce the entire train ride and Miriam keeps reaching out her hand to still them. Something feels off, just like the day I tripped into Yangbin’s chest. Only this is much darker. Almost black.

  What we didn’t know by just looking up the clinic’s address is that there’s a Hospital down the street. Not sure how we missed that on Google Maps, but our stop sets us directly in front of it.

  “Maybe we should check there first,” I say. It’s just a hunch, but usually surgery happens in a hospital, not a clinic.

  “Sure,” Miriam says, going with the flow.

  Ben will go wherever Miriam goes, so I don’t bother looking to him.

  I go straight to the front desk. “Heart surgery?”

  “Are you a patient?” she says, her glasses at the tip of her nose.

  In the metaphorical sense, absolutely.

  “No,” I say, “here to see a recovering patient.”

  She clicks on her computer. “Name?”

  “Eunbin Lee,” I respond, tapping the desk. My anxiousness is growing. Something is about to go very wrong.

  “Not her again,” The nurse says pushing her glasses up.

  “What is it?” I beg. Why is she so slow to respond?

  She clicks through the computer. “Yep, it’s her.”

  What about her? Tell me!

  The nurse looks like she wants to roll her eyes, but she holds back. “Don’t tell me you want to schedule the surgery again? Do you have the funds this time?”

  I glance at Miriam who looks as bewildered as I feel. “I’m sorry, what do you mean schedule. She hasn’t had the surgery yet?”

  “Look,” The nurse says, her glasses falling down her nose again. “All I know is some wealthy Asian waltzed in here yesterday and put a stop to it just before they could make the first cut.”

  No. Yangbin came all this way. Kept it a secret. How could his dad find out?

  “Can you tell me where Eunbin is now?” I say, not hiding my panic

  The nurse doesn’t look amused. “No,” she says. “And even if I could, it’s against the law for me to tell you.”

  This can’t be happening. Not only can I not see Yangbin, I can’t help his sister. This is worse than what happened in the penthouse. If I saw his dad now, I’d give him the slap he deserves.

  “But you have to,” I say. “Eunbin is in trouble and her brother will die if she dies. Aren’t you supposed to heal people here?”

  “Do I need to call security?” The nurse asks.

  Can’t she see how desperate I am? I have to find them.

  “Please,” I say, tears springing to my eyes. I haven’t been able to cry since the day I left Yangbin, and now my emotions threaten to overflow. “I have to find them.”

  The nurse picks up the phone. “Can we get someone out here? I have a crazy lady asking me for private information.”

  Miriam reaches over the counter and hangs up the phone. “That’s not necessary. We’ll just go.”

  I buck off Miriam before she can grab me. “No, we won’t.”

  “Please,” Miriam says to me. “This is just like the concert. There has to be a better way.”

  If there is, I don’t see it.

  “We should probably go back to New York,” Miriam says. “We can go to the hotel and find out more there.”

  What she says makes sense in my head, but my gut won’t allow it. We spent the entire day yesterday trying to figure out where they could be, and there was no hope.

  “Ben,” I say, “Could you try calling your friends again? Or his phone?”

  Ben looks at me like I�
�m a helpless child. “We already tried that. We’ve done everything we can from here.”

  Miriam puts an arm around me. “There’s only two days left in winter break. We have to go back to school.”

  I’m not leaving here without Yangbin. “You can go,” I say. “I’m staying.”

  “Be reasonable,” Miriam says. “Your parents would never allow it. Besides, if Yangbin’s dad pulled the money, they probably went back.”

  I don’t want to be reasonable. I want to find Yangbin.

  “I’m going out for some fresh air,” I say. “I’ll be back before check out time.”

  It’s not fair. I was so close. It was hard enough seeing him hurt when I left. If I can’t help him with his sister, then I can’t do anything.

  California is a weird place. I go outside expecting it to be cold, but it’s only mildly nippy. It’s too bad because it’s not really brooding weather. I have to think. There must be way to find Yangbin. Some hint he left me. Anything.

  I close my eyes and remember the time we spent together.

  The first time I saw those incredible dimples. Running into him at the hotel. Head butting his nose. Everything at the ski resort. It was mostly me messing up, but he never held that against me. I’m not good enough for him. Never have been.

  He’s the reason I convinced my parents to follow my dream. I really thought he was going to do the same.

  It’s kinda weird when I think about it. All along Yangbin was super rich, even living in his own condo. Yet, when he brought me flowers, it was only a single rose.

  I gasp, my eyes opening. I think I know where he is. I don’t know how I couldn’t have seen it before. It makes total sense. My first instinct is to run to Miriam and tell her, but there’s no time. If what I think is true, then I have to hurry.

  My hands shake as I pull my phone out of my pocket, calling Ben instead, and hailing a cab.

  The yellow vehicle pulls up just as Ben answers.

  “What is the name of that record company?” I shout, without so much as a hello.

  “Um,” Ben says, a little weirded out. “Jelly Entertainment. Why?”