New Faces
Semi groaned and leaned against the cool glass counter, Subong had kicked out another roommate and they once again were short on rent. Maybe if the guys didn’t keep making stupid decisions. The bell chimed and Semi looked over to see who had entered the store. It was a short, meek looking young man with a boyish face. Cute, she thought as she watched him pick out a can of coffee and instant noodles.
“Are you doing alright, noona?” He asked as he placed his items on the counter.
Semi pushed herself up. “Yeah, I’m fine.” She started to scan the items. “My idiot roommates just kicked out one of our other roommates so now we’re short on rent. I’m stressed.” She waved her hand. “2,750, is there anything else you need?”
The man shook his head and handed over the money. Semi popped open the register and started to count out his change.
“You know—I- nevermind.” The guy spoke.
Semi looked over at the guy who was sheepishly staring down at his feet. “Just say it, life’s too short to waffle over everything.”
The guy scratched his head. “I’m actually looking for a place to live right now.” He chuckled nervously.
Semi’s eyes widened and she leaned forward. “Really?”
The guy nodded.
Semi handed him the change and his bag. “I’m not sure if you would like my roommates though, you kinda seem like the complete opposite.”
The guy accepted the items and place the change in his wallet. “I’m not too picky about that kind of thing.”
Semi shrugged. “I’ll text them and we can meet-up sometime.” She grabbed her phone out of her pocket and handed it to him. “Just give me your number. Ignore the cracks.”
The guy nodded and typed in his number. “My name’s Minsu, P-”
“Shh.” Semi cut him off. “We don’t do last names. I’m Semi. Nice to meet ya, Minsu.”
Minsu nodded and handed her phone back. “It’s nice to meet you, Semi noona.”
Semi giggled. “Don’t call me noona. I’m probably younger than you anyway.”
Minsu nodded again. “I’m sorry.”
Semi waved her hand. “Don’t be, just don’t tell my idiot roommates. Subong convinced Namgyu I was older than him.”
Minsu nodded and stood awkwardly in front of the counter.
“Are you going to move? I’m waiting in line.” A man standing behind him complained.
“Ah, yeah, I’m sorry.” Minsu stammered as he walked away.
Semi watched him walk out the door as she started to check out the other man. Subong and Namgyu would eat him alive, hopefully he would realize that before he agreed to be their roommate. He seemed like a cool guy though. Semi would definitely be down to play video games with him.
☺
Semi pushed open the door to the apartment.
“What’s good, señorita? How was work?” Subong shouted from the couch.
Semi sighed as she slipped her shoes off. “Terrible. Did you find enough for rent this month?”
Subong stood up from the couch. “Of fucking course. I’m Thanos the great, always dominate, now let’s celebrate. Whoop!”
Semi shook her head and walked over to the kitchen. “I met a guy who wants to be our new roommate.” She opened the fridge and grabbed a beer. Cracking it open and taking a sip.
Subong slipped into the kitchen to grab a beer too. “Awesome, when can I meet our new bro? We can go to the club tonight and he can meet Namsu.”
Semi sighed. “You know I hate clubbing.”
Subong held out his hand. “I promise not to be too rowdy. It’ll be an awesome time, new boy’s a sign, life’s gonna be fine.”
Semi rolled her eyes; but clubbing would probably scare Minsu off, so maybe it would be for the best. Semi fist-bumped Subong. “Fine. But stop those rhymes, it’s lame to rap things all the time.”
Subong cackled and patted Semi on the back. “My girl.” He slipped out of the kitchen and headed to one of the two bedrooms. “Get changed, then we party! WHOOP!” He threw his arms up in the air as he entered the bedroom.
Semi shook her head before grabbing some clothes from the dresser in the living room and heading to the bathroom. She shot a text to Minsu. Meet us at Club 134 at 10
☺
Semi stood outside the club next to Subong who was flirting with a girl in line. She looked down at her phone. Look for the guy with obnoxious purple hair She texted.
Okay Minsu replied.
A familiar face waved at Semi; she waved back as Minsu walked over to them.
“Glad you found this place.” Semi elbowed Subong. “This is Minsu.”
Subong handed the girl he had been talking to a card. “Call me.”
Then he turned to face Minsu; looking him over before pulling him into a hug. “Nice to meet you, my boy. Welcome to the Thanos world.” He slung his arm over Minsu’s shoulder and led him over to the line. “Semi says you wanna be our roommate.”
Minsu nodded. “Yeah.” He muttered sheepishly.
Subong ruffled Minsu’s hair. “You’re cute. We’re gonna get along fantastically.”
As soon as they stepped through the door into the club, music slammed their ears. Semi looked around at the people dancing around.
“Let’s get a table.” She said.
Subong let go of Minsu. “Imma find Namsu.” He said before disappearing into the crowd.
Semi sighed. “We probably won’t see him again for a while.” She walked towards the table they had sat at last time she had gone clubbing. Maybe it would be empty.
“So, how do you feel about being our roommate now that you’ve met one half?” Semi asked as they squeezed through the crowds.
Minsu nodded. “You seem really nice, and—Thanos? Seems like a cool guy.”
Semi chuckled. “Thanos is his stage name, by the way.”
“Oh.” Minsu nodded again. “What does he do for work?”
Semi clenched her jaw. “He’s a rapper.”
“Oh.” Minsu nodded again.
“What do you do?” Semi asked as she led him over to the table. There were drinks sitting on it, but it seemed like its occupants were off dancing.
“I’m a bagger for a grocery store.” He said as they sat down. “Is it okay to sit here?”
Semi hummed. “It is until the people come back for their drinks.”
“Okay.” Minsu responded.
“Do you like clubbing? You don’t seem the type.” Semi asked.
Minsu shook his head. “No, do you go clubbing a lot?”
Semi snorted. “Absolutely not, Namgyu just works here and Subong has performed here a couple of times before.”
“Is his name Namgyu or Namsu?” Minsu asked.
“Namgyu, Subong just calls him that because one of our old roommates was named Gyeongsu, and he would mix their names together a lot. He just kept doing it; even after Gyeongsu…” Semi trailed off. “Don’t mention it, it’s kind of a sticky subject.”
Minsu nodded. “Okay.”
Thunk, two hands landed on the table and Namgyu stared at Minsu.
Subong leaned against Namgyu and pointed at Minsu. “This is my boy, Minsu, he’s our new roommate.”
Namgyu nodded and slid into the booth, with Subong following after him. Namgyu leaned back onto Subong's shoulder. “So what do you have, Minsu?”
Semi rolled her eyes. “It’s not that.”
Namgyu crossed his arms. “So why’s he living with us? Is he your boyfriend?”
Minsu’s face reddened. “No, we’re not, uh, we’re not like that or anything.”
“He’s a friend, why are you difficult?” Semi complained.
“Why are you difficult?” Namgyu retorted.
“Hey bro, it’s okay, my boy’s chill.” Subong said as he started to drink from one of the stranger’s glasses.
Namgyu patted Minsu’s hand. “Cool, cool.”
“We do need another roommate, we don’t have the money for it to be just the three of us.” Semi added.
Namgyu clicked his tongue and sipped the drink in front of him. “Yeah, that’s why I put up with your bitch ass.”
Semi snorted. “Likewise.”
“So, how do you feel about going back to the couch, Semi?” Namgyu teased.
“Sorry, I’m not gay and cuddly.” She stuck out her tongue. “Plus, who said I wasn’t keeping the room?”
Namgyu looked over at Minsu. “You want the room, right?”
“Oh, it’s okay, I mean, Semi lived there first. So, it’s her room.” Minsu said.
“You should join the epic bro cuddle pile in our room.” Subong reached over to pat Minsu’s head. “Your hair is so soft, man.”
Minsu smiled weakly. “Thank you.”
“So, do you have the 250k?” Namgyu asked.
“Oh, uh, I have a lot of debt, but I’ll have it for this month’s rent.” Minsu stammered.
Semi chuckled. “Good to know we’re all bad at handling our finances.”
Namgyu leaned forward. “We need it now, though.”
Minsu looked down at his lap.“I only have 65k right now. I just paid my loan.”
Subong patted Namgyu on the back. “I got it for this month. I moved some stuff for our guy. It’s all good, fam.”
Namgyu backed off.
“Enough boring shit. Namsu, bring us some drinks. Let’s welcome our new brother!” Subong cheered.
Namsu nodded and climbed over Subong to go get drinks. The night had definitely not gone the way she had planned. Minsu was too much of a push-over, but it would be cruel to tell him no, considering she had brought it up to begin with. Hopefully Minsu would be able to stay uninvolved, but considering that he had a substantial enough debt to be unable to pay 250k up front, it was not exactly promising. Semi smiled at Minsu. It would be fine.