“We thought you could use this desk for when you’re sketching your designs,” Umma says, guiding me toward it. She opens one of the drawers and pulls out a small, flat drawing-board light box and turns it on, causing it to glow softly. “And there’s this—if you ever need to trace anything. I read about it online.”

“Oh!” Appa interjects. “And I have to tell you about this great little diner I found, just a couple blocks away from Cheongdam Park!”

I feel tears well up in my eyes as Appa goes on about how they can cook your eggs into special shapes, like a whale or a star, at the diner. I know that they don’t actually love Cheongdam-dong as much as they love other parts of Seoul. I remember in my early trainee days, when my dad would bring me to DB for practice, he’d always comment on the luxury cars that lined every street we passed. Mercedes. Maserati. BMW. He’d rattle them off with ease, but I could tell even then that the everyday opulence of the city’s ritziest neighborhood made him uncomfortable. When I first debuted, I took the whole family out to dinner at the Class. I was so proud to be able to treat them, and I know they were grateful, but the whole time, Appa joked nervously about not knowing which fork to use, while Umma kept muttering under her breath about how ridiculous the prices were. For my mom especially, this move is a big deal. She’s all practicality and simplicity, and Cheongdam-dong is definitely… not. I can’t believe they went through all this trouble just to be closer to me. Though, I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised. After all, they sacrificed a whole life in New York to move to Korea just so that I could pursue my dreams. So I guess a move across the city is really just par for the course for the best parents in the world.

The front door slams open and I hear Leah’s voice calling out from down the hall, “Unni, are you here? I’m hooome!”

I run out to meet her. We scream when we see each other and she races over, throwing her arms around my neck.

“How was the after-party?” I ask.

“Fine, fine—Heaven drank too much champagne and then made us look for her missing phone when it was just in her clutch the whole time. The usual. But come on!” she says. She spreads her arms out and twirls around. “What do you think of the place?”

“Um, it’s completely perfect,” I say. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me!”

Leah beams as Umma and Appa come out to join us. “I’m good at surprises. So are you going to sleep over tonight?”