Meet Cutie
Semi stared up at the ceiling, the paint was peeling in the corner and there was a huge brown splotch in the center from water damage. She stared at her phone, she had one hour before she had to go to work. She scrolled through her notifications, there were a bunch of voice messages from Subong, she would have to listen to them later. They weren't important considering his location placed him in their apartment, or at least nearby. She clicked on her work group chat and scrolled through the messages. She would be training a new girl. Fortunately, the job was easy. She clicked off her phone and pushed herself out of bed, her clothes were all still in the living room.
Still sleeping on the couch in the living room was Minsu, unsurprisingly, Namgyu and Subong had passed out on the couch next to him, tangled up with each other. Semi chuckled as she crept over to the kitchen to make some coffee. As she waited for the coffee to brew, she watched her roommates sleep. If someone had asked her three years ago if she would live with Namgyu and Subong she would have punched them. Perhaps that was exactly why the three of them ended up living together.
She looked over at the pot of coffee, there was just enough brewed for one cup. She turned off the machine and poured it into a mug. The warm, bitter taste of coffee woke her insides and dulled the slight throbbing in her head. She walked over to her dresser and slowly eased it open. It creaked and Semi winced, hoping it hadn’t woken anyone, she enjoyed the solitude in the mornings while everyone was asleep.
“Good morning.” A voice whispered.
Semi grabbed her clothes, it was just Minsu. “Good morning.” She whispered back as she scurried off to the bathroom to change.
☺
Semi walked up to the front of the convenience store, inside she could see the night shift person standing behind the desk. She stepped inside.
“Morning.” The person waved over a girl with blonde tips. “This is Kim Junhee, the new girl you’ll be training.” He said as he walked out the door.
Junhee waved. “Hello.”
Semi put forward a fist. “Semi, nice to meet you.”
Junhee stared at her hand.
Semi retracted her fist. “Sorry, that’s not how people normally greet each other.” Semi chuckled and stuck her hands in her pockets. Why was she being so awkward with the girl? She was pretty, but why was Semi acting like a schoolboy with a crush? They had just met, for Christ’s sake.
Junhee gave an awkward smile. “It’s fine.” She held out her fist.
Semi fist-bumped her. “So, have you ever done something like this before?” She asked as they walked around to the back of the counter.
Junhee nodded. “In high school, I worked at a clothing store. So, I know how to use a cash register and stuff.”
Semi nodded. “Cool, yeah, it’s a really simple job. Just stand at the desk and scan things for people. And there’s stuff in the back that we restock with, but our shipments don’t come in until Sunday. So, don’t worry about that yet.”
Junhee nodded.
“What made you wanna work here? Selling clothes seems a lot more fun than—” Semi gestured around. “Here.”
Junhee looked down at her abdomen and then back up to Semi. “It’s a long story.”
Semi smiled. “That’s fine, I don’t mind listening. As long as you don’t mind sharing.”
A customer stepped up to the counter. Semi glanced over before looking at Junhee one last time. “Tell me later.”
“Good morning, ladies.” The customer said as he placed his items on the counter. “You know, if you took all those piercings out, you’d be really pretty.”
Semi raised her eyebrows and stared at the guy. “Who says I’m not pretty with them?”
“I do, I hate when pretty girls get a bunch of metal in their faces.” The customer replied.
Semi rolled her eyes. “Okay? Good for you.” She chucked the guy’s items in the bag. “7,500.”
“That’s wrong.” The guy argued.
Semi tapped on the register display. “7,500.” It was broken, but Semi wasn’t going to tell the jerk that.
“No, I buy this shit all the time, same shit. It’s wrong.”
Semi shrugged. “Inflation, sorry. 7,500.”
The guy grumbled and fumbled through his wallet before shoving the money into her hand.
Semi smiled. “Thank you, have a nice day!”
The man grabbed his stuff and walked out of the store; grumbling to himself.
Semi placed the 7,000 into the register and slipped the extra 500 up her sleeve. Junhee stared at Semi.
“Aren’t we not supposed to do that?” Junhee asked.
Semi put her fingers to her lips. “Shh, don’t worry about it. It’s not like he’s gonna miss it.”
“Okay, but won’t you get in trouble?”
Semi chuckled. “No, the cameras don’t have audio and the till’s even.”
“Ah.” Junhee nodded. “How did you end up working here?”
Semi shrugged. “It’s close to my apartment. You should come by sometime for drinks. My roommates are usually at work when I get off.”
“I can’t drink.” Junhee replied.
“Oh, are you not old enough? Wait, are you younger than ‘04?” Semi stared at Junhee.
Junhee shook her head. “Oh, no, I’m ‘00.”
Semi chuckled. “Baby. I’m ‘98”
“Yeah, I’m having a baby.” Junhee whispered.
Semi stared at Junhee. “Oh, wait, that’s not what I meant.”
Junhee’s face flushed. “Oh.”
“Uhm, congratulations?” Semi offered.
Junhee stared off into the distance. “Thanks.”
Semi glanced down at Junhee’s hand. No ring. “I’m sorry if it’s a rough subject.”
Junhee exhaled. “It’s okay. It’ll be okay.”
Semi patted Junhee’s shoulder. “Yeah, you got this, mama. Let me know if you need anything, or like a break or something.”
Junhee smiled. “Thank you.”