When we arrive at the premiere, the girls and I pose for a group photo. I quickly smooth out my dress—a cream-colored fitted strapless maxi with a ruffle trim and thigh-high slit—and sweep my waves over one shoulder, smiling for the camera. After nearly six years of this, I’ve learned how to give the world a radiant beam, even when inside, I want to curl up and cry. After we get the group shot, Mina rushes up to greet Park Yuhwa, who plays her mother in the movie, even though they’re only ten years apart. As Mina poses for a few more shots with Yuhwa, the rest of us start heading toward the event hall. I can feel the cool of the air-conditioning as Sumin holds the door open for me, and I’m dying to step inside, out of the warm late-May evening air, when suddenly I hear my name being called.

“Rachel, hi!”

I turn at the familiar voice and see Maxwell Li-Harris waving at me from behind a camera. The Vogue photographer from Paris! I wave back as he approaches me.

“So good to see you again!” I say. “What are you doing in Seoul?”

He gestures to his camera. “Working, of course.” He laughs. “It’s for that feature we’re doing on Korean entertainment’s crossover to the West. I begged Anna to let me come grab some shots here in Seoul—it’s been too long since I’ve had a good triangle kimbap from a 7-Eleven here.”

I laugh. “Surely there are better kimbaps out there?”

He shrugs. “It hits different when you buy one from 7-Eleven.” He leans back to admire my outfit. “You look fabulous as always. That color looks great on you. And those hair clips!”

I touch the gold-bar statement clips pinned to the side of my hair. I’d thrown them in after the stylist took my curlers out and I was feeling a little too poodle-y. The clips help tone down the volume.

“Why thank you.”

“That cream-and-gold combo… You’re totally matching with the main male leads!” he says excitedly. “I have to take your photo together.”

“Oh,” I say in surprise as he ushers me over to where Jason and Song Geonwu are posing for the cameras. I’m not really up for more photos, but duty calls.

“Rachel!” Jason says when he sees me. He’s wearing a cream suit with a muted gold shirt. We really are coincidentally matching. “So glad you could make it! Did you see Sena yet?” He gestures across the red carpet, and I see Sena wrapping up an interview with the Star, her bright red hair glowing against the sheeny pearl of her gown. She winks at us, and I give her a quick wave back.