Soon-Yi and I had been roommates in college for three months when she finally broke down. We had gotten along pretty well considering our disparate backgrounds; she was a party girl whose parents were from mainland Korea and I was a fledgling lesbian of Irish-American descent. We both had a similar taste in music, though, and a love of the freedom that college life gives you. Before I arrived at college, I wondered if she would understand and accept my sexual orientation, but she seemed to have no problem with it (though I think she thought I was just trying to make my parents mad).
Soon-Yi would often ask me to go with her to a party, and sometimes I accepted. It's nice every once in a while to get dressed up and go out, even if the evening usually ends up with some drunk guy trying to put the moves on me as Soon-Yi slowly passes out on the couch. That evening, a chilly Friday in November, a band that we both liked was playing at one of the frat houses and we were getting ready for the event. I'm not much for a lot of makeup, but I do like to apply a little lipstick and de-frizz my hair before I meet strangers. Soon-Yi on the other hand should have been in the Miss America pageant for all the time she spent in front of the mirror applying makeup and finding the right outfit.
I had finished my preening and was sitting on my bed watching a rerun of "Friends" when I heard a muffled sob. I turned to Soon-Yi and noticed that she was trying her hardest not to cry as she looked at herself in the mirror.
"Soon-Yi, what's going on," I asked her, concern evident in my voice. "Is everything okay?"
"You would not understand, Liz," she replied in between sobs. "You have everything! You are so beautiful and I am just a round-faced nobody!"
"What are you talking about? You know you are one of the most beautiful women in this dorm. I mean guys have been throwing themselves at your feet all semester!"
Soon-Yi and I sat down on her bed, my arm around her as she wept and explained. "I am not beautiful; I am ugly! Look at these Asian eyes! My dark skin and my short, stubby legs! I am never going to find someone to love me. Asian men have such high standards, even my mother tells me I need to have some plastic surgery to look better!"
Now, my mom has hinted at times that I need to lose weight, but she's never told me that I needed plastic surgery! A surge of protectiveness ran through me as I hugged her close. "First off, Soon-Yi, American men - and women for that matter! - can be very judgmental about appearances. And in any case you are one of the loveliest women I know!," I said as I held her hand in mine.
"Look at this hand," I said, comparing hers to mine. "I have been envious of your skin tone since I first met you! It's the perfect shade, especially next to LizBeth the Friendly Ghost sitting beside ya."
