DECEMBER 20, SAN FRANCISCO

DATE NO. 18

NAME: Jang Jaeson aka Jason


INTERESTS:
Tennis, Video Games, Law


Parent Occupations:
Economics professor; Architectural engineer


JASON: Deuce! Damn, Jisu. You’re catching up. You’re pretty good at tennis.

Jisu: I took some lessons in Seoul. That was after I tried to take ballet classes for half a year...right before I took figure skating lessons like every other Korean girl who wanted to be like Kim Yuna.

JASON: Guess I should stop going easy on you, then.

Jisu: Oh, is that your excuse for giving up the lead? That was out! Serve again.

JASON: That wasn’t out!

Jisu: It definitely was.

JASON: Okay, I don’t think it was but I’ll serve again. Can’t go full-beast mode on you yet.

Jisu: Are you saying I’m not a worthy opponent?

JASON: Not at all. It’s just that I’ve been playing for like a million years. I’ll ease into the game for you.

Jisu: No. Play your best. I don’t care.

JASON: You sure?

Jisu: Yeah, I’m sure! If I’m going to win, it’ll be because I actually beat you. Not because you let me.

JASON: All right. Somebody’s competitive. Well, now I have the advantage point.

Jisu: You still need to score one more to win the game.

JASON: Yeah, I know how tennis works.

Jisu: Deuce again! See, I’m not so bad.

JASON: How many times have we tied up now?

Jisu: Honestly, I’m losing count. Are you sure you’re still not going easy on me? For someone who’s been playing for a million years, I thought you’d be—

JASON: Advantage! If you keep yapping, I’m going to finish this game right here.

Jisu: This game isn’t over.

JASON: Game! I win. You sure about that? Hey, that was actually a good round.

Jisu: It only got interesting when you decided to actually play.

JASON: You’re kind of really competitive, aren’t you?

Jisu: After going to Daewon in Seoul and now Wick, it would be weird if I hadn’t developed a competitive streak.

JASON: Fair enough. Everyone at my high school is crazy competitive, too. They’re all trying to do a million sports or get an internship at Facebook while they’re still in high school.

Jisu: Water break?

JASON: Why, you feeling tired already? I’ve only just started. You said so yourself.

Jisu: I’m not tired! Just need a breather. Also looks like you could use it, too. You’re sweating an awful lot.

JASON: You know, the other times I’ve taken girls to play tennis on seons, it’s never ended up like this.

Jisu: Like what?

JASON: Like a legit game and full sets. With sweating and tiebreakers.

Jisu: Oh, did you expect me to be all cutesy and ask you to teach me how to do a backhand? And then hope I’d be impressed by your years of tennis expertise?

JASON: Okay, no. Not quite like that.

Jisu: But some version of that, huh? Okay, that was only the fourth game. Two more. I can still win this set.

JASON: Here—it’s your turn to serve.

Jisu: Yes! 15–0.

JASON: Love.

Jisu: What?

JASON: It’s 15–love. Not zero.

Jisu: Oh. Right. I always forget that. Love means zero.

JASON: Whoever coined that was definitely a heartbroken cynic.

Jisu: Yeah, and I bet they’d hate to see you try to use tennis to woo over girls.

JASON: Is that what I’m doing? Wooing you right now?

Jisu: 30–love. Not if you keep letting me score like this! Where’s your best at, Jason?

JASON: I am trying! This might be the first time I actually lose a whole set on a seon without meaning to.