DATE NO. 8
NAME: Lee Dongjoo
INTERESTS:
Son Heungmin, Steve Jobs, LeBron James
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
Perfect SAT Score, Youngest Intern at Microsoft,
2nd Place in National Robotics Competition
Jisu: So, you grew up splitting your time between Seoul and New York? What was that like?
DongJOO: The jet lag is just awful. There’s no easy way around it. I still haven’t figured it out! And I had two BlackBerrys—remember those?
Jisu: I never really had a need for one, but yeah, I remember my dad used one before switching over to the Android.
DongJOO: I have my last two BlackBerrys mounted and framed in my study.
Jisu: No way, that’s so silly!
DongJOO: I know, but I was really attached to them! I’ve good memories. When I got the email notifying me that I got the internship at Microsoft, I read it on my New York BlackBerry. And then when I found out that I made runner-up for the National Robotics Competition, I found it through my Seoul BlackBerry.
Jisu: Sentimental value. I get it. It’s kind of like this old, broken watch that I—
DongJOO: Hang on, sorry. I just got an email I’ve been waiting on all day. Do you mind if I—
Jisu: No, not at all. You do your thing. I have to use the restroom anyway, so I’ll be right back.
Ten minutes later
Jisu: Everything go okay? Put out some fires?
DongJOO: What? Oh, the email. Yeah, everything’s handled. My buddy and I have a few meetings set up with some VCs who are interested in our start-up idea and we’re just dealing with some scheduling snafus.
Jisu: It happens. All good! So, what’s the start-up idea? Must be good if you’ve already got people lined up to hear your pitch.
DongJOO: Shoot, sorry. I just need to reply to this text real quick.
Jisu: Sure. Go ahead.
DongJOO: Sorry, I know I’m being so rude. It’s never like this.
DongJOO: Um, where were we?
Jisu: We were barely thirty minutes into the date when you checked your phone for the second time. That’s where we’re at.
DongJOO: You’re mad. And you have every right to be. It’s just that—
Jisu: Your phone’s ringing. Are you going to at least mute it? People are starting to stare...
DongJOO: It’s kind of an emergency, so I’m—
Jisu: Go. Take the call. I’m leaving.
DongJOO: No! Don’t leave.
Jisu: Look, we tried, right? We can at least report that back to Ms. Moon. I’m not even mad, really. Let’s just not waste each other’s time. Because then I will get mad.
DongJOO: Okay, but if we leave right now, both our parents will know that this was super short and if your parents are anything like mine, they’ll nag you about how they’re trying sooo hard and you’re only putting in the minimum effort.
Jisu: You’re not wrong. So what are you proposing?
DongJOO: Clearly you already hate me—which you have every right to—and this isn’t going anywhere. I’m sure you have your matters of business to attend to. Why don’t we just stay here and do our thing for another half hour or so and then we can part ways?
Jisu: Fine.
DongJOO: Great! And I’m so sorry, Jisu. It’s just that my work is everything to me right now. But my parents... You get it. Right?
Jisu: Oh, I get it. But I’m still going to sit here and text all my friends about what a jerk you are.
DongJOO: As you should! I’m a total jerk.
Jisu: At least you’re straightforward. I’m setting an alarm for thirty minutes from now. When it rings, we can be free from each other.
DongJOO: Deal. And again, sorry.