You Shouldn't Take Pregnant Women Clubbing, That's Obvious, Right? Right?
After the garlic coffee bit, Mr. Choi seemed like he had enough of them. Considering, he sent them out the door as soon as the nurse was done taking their blood.
“He pisses me off so fucking much. Thinking he’s all better than us. And doing all that shit to my mom.” Subong ranted as they sat in the back of another car.
Semi hummed; she didn’t like having to deal with Subong’s uncle either. “But he can make like half of our debt go away. And the closer we get, maybe we can help your mom.”
Subong clicked his tongue and crossed his arms. “Gotta be everyone’s bitch.”
Semi elbowed him. “You’re right, we’re in a sitch, one step from a ditch, and can’t get anything to click.”
Subong turned to look at Semi. “Click doesn’t rhyme, señorita.”
Semi smirked. Subong was so predictably easy to distract. “It’s close.” She retorted.
Subong shook his head and sat up in the seat. “We’re in a sitch, one step from a ditch, help needa come quick, or we’re one with the fitch.” He rapped.
Semi rolled her eyes. “Making up words is cheating. It doesn’t make sense.”
Subong gave her a look. “You’re not the pro here, señorita.”
Semi looked around the car. “What pro?”
Subong pouted and gently kicked Semi’s ankle. “Me.”
Semi chuckled as she half listened to Subong’s tangent about rhyming schemes. She texted Junhee. We’ll be back soon
Okay, I’m making dinner
Real food Junhee replied.
By the time the car dropped them off by the corner, it was already dark outside, and it had started snowing again. Semi checked the weather app on her phone; they were supposed to get as much as eight centimeters. Semi groaned softly; she had volunteered for extra shifts, and now she would have to walk through snow to get there. And she should take Junhee’s shifts too; the weather was too bad for her to be out with the baby.
Subong leaned over Semi’s shoulder to stare at her phone. “Is it gonna be a lot?”
Semi shrugged and slipped her phone back into her pocket. “Enough to be annoying for a few days. Are you busy?”
Subong stuck his hands in his pockets. “What’s today?”
“Saturday.” Semi replied.
Subong’s eyes widened. “Wait. I’m performing tonight—señorita, what’s the time?”
Semi checked her phone. “Wow, it’s only six. Seems a lot later.”
Subong nodded and turned to face Semi. “You should come. Bring Minsu. And Junhee.”
Semi looked at him and chuckled. “Junhee’s pregnant.”
Subong looked at her and furrowed his brow. “Yeah?”
“It’s at the club, right?” Semi asked.
“Yeah.”
Semi looked at him. “You don’t usually take pregnant women clubbing.”
Subong tilted his head. “Why not?”
Semi sighed. “Just ask Junhee if she wants to go.”
“Great idea, señorita.” Subong pulled at the front door of their apartment. “It’s locked.”
Semi pulled out her key. “Yeah?” She turned around and stared at him as she unlocked the door. “Wait, do you leave it unlocked?”
“Y’know, I lose my keys.” Subong replied.
Semi pushed the door open. “Just learn to pick locks at this point.”
The smell of freshly cooked meat filled the air as they stepped inside. Junhee looked over from the stove and waved. “Hi!!”
Minsu stopped stirring a bowl of beansprouts and waved, too. “Hi, we’re making dinner.” He scratched his neck. “I guess you can see that.”
Subong flung his shoes off and tackled Minsu in a hug, ruffling his hair. “Minsu, my boy. I missed you.”
Semi shook her head as she slipped her shoes off. Subong was acting like he was fine, but Semi knew that he was feeling something after everything that had happened. She walked over to Junhee and looked into the pot. Chunks of pork and vegetables floated in a bright red broth.
Junhee held up a spoon. “Here, taste it.”
Semi tried it; it was definitely better than whatever she had made the other night. “It’s good.”
Junhee smiled; then she peeked over at Subong before looking back at Semi. “Is everything okay? When we talked, I couldn’t hear him, and he’s always loud.” She whispered.
Semi walked over to the fridge to grab a beer. “Everything’s fine. I just went outside.”
Junhee raised her eyebrows as she watched Semi drink. “You don’t have to tell me what’s going on, but I’m here to listen if you need someone.”
Semi nodded. “Thanks.”
Subong slung his arm over Semi’s shoulder and looked at Junhee. “You wanna come to my concert tonight?”
Junhee paused.
Subong let go of Semi to grab a beer before looking back at Junhee for her response.
“Will we be standing?” Junhee asked.
“Namsu can get a table. Where is he?” Subong wandered off towards their room and opened the door before shutting it behind him. Through the door, they could hear a muffled conversation about the club and getting stuff.
Semi fiddled with her lip ring.
Minsu looked over at them. “Are you going to Thanos’s concert tonight?” He asked.
Semi looked at him. “Neither of you have to go if you don’t want to.”
“If we're sitting, it’ll be fine.” Junhee replied.
Semi nodded before putting her drink down and walking over to Namgyu and Subong’s room. She opened the door, causing Namgyu to jump.
“Whaddya want, bitch?” Namgyu asked.
Subong smacked him. “What did I say earlier, man?”
Semi stared at both of them. “Minsu and Junhee said they would come. Behave, don’t do anything stupid.” She whispered, then she looked at Subong. “Especially you.”
Subong patted Semi’s shoulder. “No problem, señorita.”
Namgyu crossed his arms. “We’re both working, whaddya think we’re gonna do?”
Semi raised her eyebrows. “And I mean after, too.”
Subong nodded. “Yes ma’am, señorita”
Semi nodded. “Junhee’s almost done with dinner, I think.” She opened the door and turned around one last time. “Behave.” She walked out of the door and Namgyu and Subong followed.
“So are we able to sit?” Junhee asked as she watched them exit the room.
Subong gave her a thumbs up. “Yup.” He elbowed Namgyu. “Right, Namsu?”
Namgyu pulled out his phone. “Yeah.”
Junhee pulled the pot off of the burner. “The soup’s done and I made rice. Did you know you had a rice cooker in the cabinet?”
☺
Semi, Junhee and Minsu sat in one of the back rooms of the club; it wouldn’t be open for another hour, but Namgyu and Subong had to go early and Semi didn’t want a repeat of the bouncer incident from a few weeks ago.
“This is the first concert I’ve been to at a club.” Junhee commented.
Minsu nodded. “Me too. But, I’ve never been to any concert before.”
Semi raised her eyebrows. “This’ll definitely be an interesting experience for you. And it’s technically not a concert, just a performance. This isn’t that kinda place.”
“Have you been to a lot of his performances?” Junhee asked.
“Yeah, I used to go to all of them, but it’s not really my scene.” Semi replied.
“So you’ve seen his whole career, then, right?” Minsu asked.
Semi tilted her head. “Kinda, he was already doing some stuff when we met.”
Minsu nodded. “I still think that’s really cool.”
Junhee pursed her lips. “Is his music good? I’d never heard of him before I met you.”
Semi looked at them. “Oh, it’s terrible.”
Junhee tilted her head. “Then how…”
Semi chuckled. “No, it’s actually decent, when he’s not, y’know.”
“Drunk?” Junhee asked.
Semi fiddled with her lip ring. “Uh, something like that.”
Junhee furrowed her brow. “What do you mean?”
Before Semi could answer, Subong opened the door and plopped down next to Minsu. Subong patted Minsu on the back. “Thanks for coming, for real, man and señoritas.”
Semi looked Subong in the eyes. “You better not do a shitty job.” He looked okay.
Subong made a heart hand. “Of course, señorita.”
☺
The performance was better than the last one that Semi had seen six months ago. But that had been right after the crypto scam, so it wasn’t really a good comparison. After the performance ended, Subong sat down at the table next to them. “Was it good?” He asked.
“It was better than the last one.” Semi replied.
Minsu smiled softly. “Yes, I liked it.”
Subong ruffled Minsu’s hair. “That’s why you’re my boy.”
Junhee smiled. “You did a good job.”
Subong grinned and tried to hug as many of them as he could, squishing them all against each other in the booth. “Thanks, fam.” He sat up and sniffed. “I love y'all, you’re the best, real shit.”