The Popstar & Me

Chapter 1 - The Marvelous Swim Team Hottie

The Popstar & Me

Chapter 1

I'M IN THE SHANGHAI AIRPORT on a mile-long line to use the restroom after a twelve-hour flight in coach. Right then, the realization hits me that I'm not in New York City anymore. A nearby television screen is playing snippets of Chinese pop songs. They're interviewing some ridiculously good-looking Chinese celebrity that I've never heard of.

"There is a rumor that you're seeing someone," the host, who looked extra comical next to luminous Asian Zac Efron with his horrendous frizzy sideburns and bright orange freckles, says. "Is it true that everyone's beloved Yao Ge Ge is finally taken?"

I'm not used to Chinese slang, but I know enough to know that ge ge means older brother, and this young, twenty-something stud is by no means older brother to all of the drooling girls in the Eastern hemisphere. The host even smiles knowingly into the camera. The girls watching probably wish that they were related to him, just as they're waited on bated breath for this broad-chested, clear-skinned McHottie to utter his girlfriend's name. We all wait, even me, who has no idea who he is. The movie star doesn't give us the satisfaction of a name. In a bashful but polite fashion, the guy smiles and waves his hand at the camera.

"Those are just rumors; all the girls only go out with me to spend time with my costar, Ling," the Yao dude says. "He's by far the more shuài of the two of us."

I can tell by the Yao guy's slightly amused smile that this is not the case. If the word shuài were in the dictionary, this dude's face would be next to it, probably smiling even more bashfully as though he's never walked past a mirror in his life long enough to know that — yes — he is indeed the definition of shuài.

This Yao guy has skin that seems to radiate the softest, dreamiest light. It's like he's an Instagram filter that has been infused with elvish light that even Legolas couldn't match. His delicious face is complete with an impossibly sharp jawline and inky black hair.

"He says the same thing about you!" The announcer exclaims and slaps his knee in feigned frustration. "What are you two boys up to? Are you two dating each other?"

"Are we?" The movie star responds as he laughingly walks away. "The internet knows everything these days."

I have to chuckle as a cartoon comes up on the screen of two handsome chibi boys in period costumes with bubbly hearts erupting between them. Clearly, the network was trying to push the narrative in this direction from the beginning. There is no girlfriend in sight, and once again, we can all believe that perhaps, just perhaps, this hottie was about to whisper our name. Yes, even me. Even though I had never seen this guy in my life.

The dude is a popstar; I'm sure he's under contract to stay single so that all the lonely girls out there can pretend that he's their prince charming. Who am I to judge them? The presenter goes on to interview another movie star, one named Kang. He's less charismatic than Yao and I go back to trying to get my phone onto the airport WiFi. Nothing. Darn. I sigh and turn my attention back to the flickering TV screen. 

 I'm here in Shanghai for my summer break to chase after a hot guy from my Science class. My parents think I'm here to study acupuncture to add some "depth" to my Harvard application essay in the fall. Yeah, I'm going to go in-depth into Calvin Suzuki from AP Biology this summer, and by next fall, I'm going to be dating the champion of our swim team.

"You're next!" A woman behind me yells and motions to the bathroom door. "Stop watching TV and get a move on."

I blink at her, and I can't believe she's talking to me. Oh, yeah, I'm blocking the restroom door, and it's a narrow opening, so she can't shove past me. She tries. My New York City upbringing keeps me from letting her pass. Hey, I've fought my way into a packed subway car before. I can hold my own.