Six

Haru is gone when I wake up. Sunlight shines on the empty side of the bed. As if no one was sleeping there the night before. I run my hand across the sheet. For a second, I think it was all a dream. But it all felt so real. The scent of him still lingers. I push myself up slowly and look around the room. Where did you go again?

I rub the sleepiness from my eyes and climb out of bed. Maybe he's somewhere around the house. He wouldn't leave without telling me, right? As I step into the hallway, a piano is playing. For a second, I think Jasmine is home. I follow the music into the living room and find the television on. But it's just another home movie. Dad must have accidently left it on again. I watch it for a moment. Jasmine and I are sitting at her toy piano, playing in her bedroom. I can hear Dad's voice behind the camera. He used to film everything when we were younger.

I let the video play for another minute. Then I grab the remote and turn off the television. Maybe I'll watch the rest of it another day. But I'm looking for Haru right now. He has to be around here somewhere. I check every room in the house. I even go to the roof in case he wandered up there. But there's no sign he was ever here. When I return to my room, I find something on my desk. It's another origami star, folded from notebook paper. I hadn't noticed it before. I pick it up and turn it in my hand.

Haru must have left this for me. Maybe this is his way of telling me he'll be back. I wish there were some way to send him a message. I was hoping we would spend the day together. I had it all planned in my head. How long do I have to wait for you to show up again? As I stare out the window, my phone goes off. An unknown number is calling me. Usually, I let it go to voicemail. But the area code is from Chicago. So I answer the phone.

"Hello?"

A woman's voice comes through. "Is this Eric Ly?"

"Yeah, that's me."

"I'm calling from the managing office of the Chicago Theater," she says. "We're currently reviewing your application and would like to set up a time for an interview."

The Chicago Theater? For some reason, I don't remember applying there. Then again, I probably sent out a hundred applications over these past few weeks. "Sorry, what job is this for again?"

"A box office associate. Do you have any availability this week?"

"This week?" I pause to think, even though my schedule's completely open. But I don't want to come off as too eager. I clear my throat, trying to sound more professional. "Yes, I should be available. What's the soonest I can come in?"

"The office is open until two."

"Today?"

"Does that work for you?"

"Uh—" I consider asking about tomorrow. But what if someone else comes in today and they end up filling the position? "Yeah, of course I can. I'll be there soon."

"I'll let our manager know. His name is Frank."

"Thank you so much."

I say goodbye and hang up the phone. Then I stare out the window again, watching cars pass along the street. For a moment there, I forgot about the rest of the world. It's like waking up from a dream and feeling the weight of gravity again. I glance at the paper star in my hand, thinking about Haru. Then I set it by the window and get ready for the interview.

The trains are crowded this morning. There's barely room to stand as I google the Chicago Theater on my phone. It's a historic landmark, spanning almost half a city block in the heart of the Loop. Apparently, it opened as a movie palace that premiered films and live events, including the World's Fair in the 1930s. I skim through the shows they're playing before the doors open to my stop.

The marquee shines like a billboard above the street. I've passed by its flashing red-gold lights a hundred times. But it's been years since I've been inside. I must have been a kid at the time. Who was it that brought me here again? As I step through the glass doors, someone takes my hand as the memory comes back to me…

"This way."

Jasmine's dress flutters as she pulls me inside. It's like stepping through the looking glass into a strange new world. Marble pillars hold up a vaulted ceiling that stretches seven stories high. I tilt my head, staring at the chandelier as we make our way through the lobby. The theater is nothing like I expected. There's a grand staircase lined with velvet carpet, leading up to a mezzanine.

Jasmine glances back at me and says, "It should be up these stairs." It's our first time at the Chicago Theater. We're too young to afford tickets for the show they're playing. It was Jasmine's idea to sneak inside and give ourselves a tour. "Come on."

"Are we allowed up there?"

"Of course we are."

I give her a look.

"As long as no one finds out. We can do anything."

"If you say so…"

As she leads me up the steps, a man in a red vest appears, blocking our way. "Can I help you two?"

"No, thank you," Jasmine says.

"Where are you heading?"

"To see the show."

"It's already started. So doors are closed." He gives us a fake smile like those sales associates who follow you around the store. "Now where are your parents?"

"They're waiting for us. Excuse me—"

Jasmine brushes right past him, pulling me with her. But the man grabs my shoulder and says, "You're staying right here." His fingers press into my skin, making me wince.

Jasmine pulls my hand. "Let go of him."

"You two aren't going anywhere."

Jasmine takes a step down, meeting him at eye level. "I said, let go of him," she repeats.

But the man doesn't release his grip. He just smiles at her, squeezing my shoulder harder.

"I said let go!"

Jasmine lifts her leg up high and kicks him off me. The man goes rolling down the steps as she grabs my hand and motions me to make a run for it…

I'm standing at the end of the lobby, staring up at the staircase. The wood details are like I remember, as if nothing's changed after all these years. I wonder what Jasmine would say if she were here with me. If I close my eyes, I can see the ghosts of us running past me. It was one of the secrets we never told Mom and Dad. I smile to myself as I head upstairs, looking for the managing office. There's a series of doors down the halls of the mezzanine. I'm not exactly sure which one leads to the right room. I take a guess and turn the knob anyway. A woman is standing behind a mahogany desk, staring at a bookcase. The moment she turns around, I realize I know her.

"Professor Lin," I say.

"Unless you're my student, call me Angelina." She wears a floral scarf around her shoulders, and her hair is tied into a bun. She points to the chair and says, "Take a seat, if you'd like."

"Is my interview with you?"

She shakes her head. "There's no interview today."

"But the woman on the phone told me—"

"Miscommunication," she says with a wave of the hand. She turns toward the cabinet and grabs some papers, placing them on the desk in front of me. "Just fill this out and leave it here on the desk. Frank will take care of it in the morning."

I stare at the paperwork and back at her. "I'm a little confused. Should I come back tomorrow for the interview?"

"What's there to be confused about?" she asks. "I said there's no interview. A referral from me is all you need."

"A referral?"

"You can thank Kevin for that," she says, pushing up the rim of her glasses. "Speaks very highly of you." She closes the cabinet.

I'm not sure what to say. I didn't expect him to actually get me a job. Especially after my behavior at his event the other day. Not to mention the fact that he's not with Jasmine anymore. I'll have to figure out a way to thank him later.

I grab a pen from the desk and fill out the forms. This might not be the job of my dreams, but it's a step above washing dishes for Mr. Antonio. I mean, the Chicago Theater is a great name on a resume, even if I'm only selling tickets at the box office window. And who knows what other opportunities it could lead to?

Once the paperwork is finished, Angelina walks me to the door and says, "We'll have you start this week. Once Frank takes care of everything."

"I really appreciate it."

When I woke up this morning, I had no idea I would be stepping foot in here. Suddenly I'm starting a new job. I have something to look forward to now. Maybe I'll even make some new friends, too. As I'm heading down the stairs, I think about Jasmine again. I know she would be happy to hear this. If she were still living here, I could take her to see a show or something. Part of me is still mad at her for leaving the way she did. But I have to share the news with her. As I pull out my phone, someone leaving the theater makes me nearly drop it. He's wearing a red sweatshirt, and his hair is a familiar brown that looks just like…

"Daniel?"

For a second, I think I've lost it again. But the next thing I know, I'm rushing out the doors as I grab him by the shoulder. The moment he turns around, I realize it isn't him at all. I pull my hand back immediately. "I'm so sorry," I say. Now that I'm standing close to him, he doesn't look like Daniel at all. His hair is a different brown, and the sweatshirt is more of an orange. "I thought you were someone else."

He gives me a weird look.

"Sorry," I say again. I step backward, embarrassed by myself. What's wrong with me? Of course it wasn't Daniel. I wanted to see him so badly, I forgot he was dead. It feels like losing him all over again. I turn around, wanting to make a run for it. As I step off the sidewalk, a bell goes off. I stop just in time as several bicycles race past me, blowing leaves everywhere.

It's not until they're gone that I notice him standing on the other side.

"Told you to look out for bicycles," Haru says. A slight smirk rises on his face.

It takes a second to collect myself. Then relief floods through me as I wrap my arms around him. " Haru! What are you doing here?"

"Looking for you."

"Where did you go this morning?"

"I got up early and didn't want to wake you," he says casually. "Did you find the gift I left you?"

The paper star on my desk. "Yeah, I did."

"A thank-you for letting me stay over."

"Of course. You don't have to—"

"Is something wrong?"

Haru runs his thumb over my cheek, wiping away a tear. I didn't even notice I was crying. All because of Daniel. I lower my head and say, "It's nothing. Just something in my eye."

He lifts my chin up. "You can tell me."

For a second, I think about playing it off. But maybe I should be honest. At least a little bit. I take a deep breath and say, "I thought I saw someone I knew… But it wasn't him…"

"A friend?"

"Yeah. Someone I hadn't seen in a while."

"You must be disappointed."

"Yeah," I say. But I don't want to keep talking about Daniel. Especially now that Haru is here. "Anyway, though, there's something else I have to tell you. I just got a new job. It's at the Chicago Theater."

Haru tilts his brow. "I didn't know you were an actor."

"No, no." I laugh. "I'm just selling tickets at the box office. It's actually right there." I turn around, pointing at the marquee.

Haru looks up. "The famous Chicago sign. It's a lot bigger than I imagined."

"Yeah, it's pretty iconic. You should see the theater."

"Are you offering another tour?"

"Maybe after I start the job," I say. "Hopefully you're still around then."

"I'll be around."

I smile at this. "I'm glad to hear that. Because there's a lot of places I want to take you. I still haven't shown you around the city yet."

"I was just about to remind you."

"Well, let's start now."

I take Haru by the arm, turning him toward the street, facing Chicago traffic. We're north of the Loop, which is basically the heart of the city. There's a million things to do, many of them within walking distance. "The Riverwalk is right across the street. And Millennium Park is two blocks that way, which is right next to the Art Institute, if you're into museums. Is there anything you want to do first?"

Haru rubs his chin, thinking about it. Then he smiles at me and says, "I want to see a movie."

I give him a look. " A movie? Really?"

"Wouldn't you enjoy that?"

"Yeah, but we can do that anytime," I say.

"So why not right now?"

"Because there's a million other things we can do."

Haru shrugs. "I want to do something we both like."

I stare at him for a moment. Part of me wants to suggest a museum or something. But I suppose this is his tour. "Well, okay. We'll go see a movie. Was there one you had in mind?"

Haru smirks again. "Surprise me."

The theater is tucked between a laundromat and a yogurt shop. The sign on the box office reads FIVE-DOLLAR TUESDAY . The films are usually a few years older, which Haru doesn't mind. He hasn't seen most of them anyway. We grab some popcorn and a box of Cookie Dough Bites that caught Haru's eye. There's only one other person in the theater, making it feel like we have the place to ourselves. We decided on La La Land , one of my favorite movie musicals. Jasmine always had the soundtrack playing in the car. My favorite scene is when they're floating in the planetarium together, stars swirling around them. I turn to Haru the moment it comes on. Purple and blue lights flicker across his face as the music plays. For a second, I imagine it's us dancing through the stars together. Haru glances over at me, making me wonder if he's imagining the same thing. Then he moves his arm over mine, lacing our fingers together over the armrest. Our hands stay like this for the rest of the movie.

The piano music continues in my head as we leave the theater. The streetlamps have come on, illuminating the sidewalk as we head through town together. I notice Haru hasn't said much about the film. He just walks straight ahead, hands in his pockets as we pause at the crosswalk.

"What did you think of the movie?" I ask.

"It was good," he says. "But the ending ruined it."

"What's wrong with the ending?"

"I thought they would end up together." He looks at me. "Didn't you?"

I think about this for a second. "I definitely wanted them to. But you know what they say… Better to have loved and lost, right? And it's not like they ended on bad terms. They can always look back and remember what they had. Even if they didn't end up together."

Haru shrugs. "They could have tried harder."

"Maybe you're right," I admit. I slide my hands in my pockets as we keep walking. "But it's still nice, what they had. Someone who loves you back the same way. Even if it was short. It doesn't always work out that way, you know?" I let out a breath. "I'd take someone remembering my drink at a coffee shop, to be completely honest."

"What's your favorite drink?"

"It's not the same if I just tell you."

"Then how is anyone supposed to know?" He laughs.

"By getting to know me," I say. "I feel like I'm always the one who remembers, and never the other way around."

Haru stops walking. He holds out a hand.

I turn around. "What?"

"Let's go to the planetarium," he says.

"The planetarium?"

"It's your favorite scene from the movie, right? I figure it's a good place to get to know you better."

A breeze blows across the street, ruffling the dark waves of his hair. I don't say anything else. I just smile as I take his hand. Because at this point, I would go anywhere with him.

Adler Planetarium is a copper dome at the edge of the lake. It's a local gateway to the cosmos, only a few train stops from the Loop. Haru and I spend an hour walking beneath the solar system, looking through telescopes, playing with interactive exhibits about time and space. We missed the sky show that makes you feel as though you're standing on the moon. But as we're walking by the planetarium, Haru notices the doors have been left open. I'm not sure if it's allowed, but we wander inside anyway.

A large projector stands in the center of the room. Rows of seats are circled around it. Haru walks up to the projector and reaches out for a button. Before I can protest, the lights dim as the Milky Way takes shape in the dome above us. It's like staring into a hole in the universe. The cosmos swirls in gorgeous colors over our heads. I wander to the center of the planetarium, gazing at the stars in awe. "It's like the scene from the movie."

"Except we're not floating," Haru adds.

"I never understood that part. Did they imagine it?"

Haru stares above us and says, "I think it's meant to show what it feels like to fall in love."

I take this in. "So none of it was real?"

Haru looks at me. "It was real to them."

"Yeah. You're right."

We smile at each other. Then Haru glances around, a mischievous look on his face. He pulls a handkerchief from his pocket.

"Where did that come from?" I ask.

Haru doesn't answer me. Instead, he holds out the handkerchief and lets go. But it doesn't drop to the floor. It just hangs in the air, as if frozen in time. I stare at it, a little confused. Suddenly, it's pulled into the sky by some invisible string and vanishes. We both look up and back at each other. A smirk appears on Haru's face. He holds out a hand and says, "You said you wanted to float around."

I narrow my eyes. "What are you…"

"You're not making me do it alone, are you?"

When I don't answer this, Haru steps up on the seat, reaching toward the ceiling. As his feet lift into the air, there's a flutter of a flute, followed by an orchestra filling the planetarium with music. I don't know if it's coming from the speaker or my own head. And then he starts drifting away like a balloon. As I watch the distance grow between us, a sudden fear comes over me. The thought of losing him, too. I swallow my breath, following after him.

"Haru—please—come back here."

But he keeps rising as I stumble toward him, climbing over seats, trying to pull him down.

"Take my hand!" He laughs.

" How are you even doing that —"

Haru turns upside down, reaching down for me.

I step on a chair and grab him. The second we lock eyes, a strange sensation moves through me as gravity vanishes, lifting me into the air. The next thing I know, we're floating through a purple galaxy. I don't know how any of this is happening. Maybe Haru doesn't know, either. All that matters is we're together, moving through our own universe. But the scene doesn't last too long as gravity eventually lowers us again.

Haru catches me as we slowly drift down to our seats. He crosses one leg over the other and looks at me. I squeeze his hand as the lights come back on and the universe vanishes.