I Go Up, I Go Down, What Am I?
Semi pushed the door to their apartment open before quickly shutting it behind her, trying to keep out the wintry gusts. She slipped off her shoes and coat and stared at the vacant living room; Minsu was working late, and Namgyu and Subong were never reliably located, but where was Junhee? Semi checked her phone, no new messages; she peeked into her and Junhee’s room; it was empty.
Semi walked over to the kitchen and grabbed a beer, something sitting on the counter caught her eye. She set her drink down and picked up Junhee’s phone, why would she leave it in the kitchen? The bathroom door was open and vacant. Semi pushed open Subong and Namgyu’s door; Namgyu was lying on the mattress, watching something on his phone. She kicked him. “Have you seen Junhee?”
Namgyu groaned and pushed himself up; his movements sluggish. “Why are you in here, bitch?”
Semi glared at him and crossed her arms. “I just told you. Where’s Junhee?”
“Your girlfriend had to run an errand or something, I don’t know.” Namgyu answered.
Semi maintained eye-contact. “Her phone’s in the kitchen.”
Namgyu shrugged. “Leave me alone.”
“Have you seen her today?” Semi questioned.
“Why do you have so many questions?” Namgyu swatted at Semi, missing by a lot.
“Because it’s weird.”
Namgyu snickered. “You’re worried.”
Semi exhaled. “Just answer my questions.”
Namgyu huffed and stared at her.
Semi stared back. “Were you gonna answer?”
“Are you gonna leave?” Namgyu asked.
“After you answer my questions.” Semi replied.
Namgyu groaned. “What then?”
“When was the last time you saw Junhee?” Semi asked.
“I don’t know, maybe like 15 mins ago?” Namgyu glared at Semi. “Happy?”
Semi nodded; it hadn’t been long. Junhee had probably just stepped out for a minute and left her phone charging. “Where’s Subong?”
Namgyu laid back down. “He went with Junhee.”
Semi glared at Namgyu. “You could’ve just said that, asshole.” She left the room and slammed the door behind her. If she couldn’t have peace, neither could Namgyu.
Semi sat down in her room and started to sketch the cityscape outside her window. It was cute how Subong and Junhee bonded, even if it was through their shared hatred of Junhee’s ex-boyfriend. Hopefully, Subong wasn’t stressing Junhee out; she didn’t need anything like that with her baby due soon.
Semi sighed. She wished that Junhee had told her what she needed, so she didn’t have to go out in the cold weather. Semi understood that Junhee didn’t want to be babied, but Semi wanted to help, to make sure Junhee was stress-free for her last few weeks of pregnancy. And with the weather being so cold, Semi’s protective instincts were in overdrive.
Semi remembered when one of her few friends in high school had gotten pregnant. The girl had been like Semi, absent parents and careless about her studies. Sujin. Her boyfriend had been way older than her and pushy. Semi had never liked the guy, even less when he kicked Sujin out after knocking her up. It had been winter. Semi ripped the paper from pressing her pen too hard; she discarded the torn paper and started another sketch. Just thinking about that man pissed her off, it was his fault that Sujin…
Semi set her pen and paper down. It had been years, why was she thinking about it again? She stood up and walked out into the living room. Fifteen more minutes had passed, Semi pulled her phone out; her finger hovering over the call button. She clicked it. The line rang for a while before cutting to Subong’s ridiculous voicemail. Semi hung up and dialed again. No response. She checked his location, there was an abandoned apartment complex there.
Semi’s chest tightened as she threw on her coat and shoes, speeding out of the door without locking it. What was going on? She gritted her teeth as she impatiently waited for the train to reach the stop closest to the complex. As soon as she got off the train, she tried calling again as she speed-walked towards the building. No response. She kept calling as she got closer and closer to the building. Still no response.
Semi slipped into the alley next to it and went around to the back where there was a row of loose boards that could be removed for entrance. She paused. She could hear muffled voices from inside the building. Gently, she pulled back the board and peered inside. Junhee and Subong were talking to a sturdy-looking man with his hair tied back from his face. The conversation was ending and no one seemed angry; what was going on?
Semi pushed the board aside and stepped in.
“Yo, señorita, whatcha doing here?” Subong asked, pulling Semi into a hug, as Junhee and the man stared at her.
“Who are you?” The man asked.
Semi wriggled out of Subong’s arms. “Semi. You are?”
The man bowed. “K- Daeho.” He straightened his posture. “Just Daeho.”
Semi nodded.
“Why are you here, unnie?” Junhee asked.
“You left your phone and you were gone for like half an hour.” Semi replied, shifting in place as she realized how awkward her arrival was.
Junhee looked down. “Oh, I didn’t mean to worry you. I’m sorry.”
Semi patted Junhee’s back. “It’s okay.” Junhee probably thought Semi was weird for tracking them. Semi looked over at the man, Daeho. He didn’t look threatening like a dealer or a loan-shark. “What’s your deal?” She asked.
“Oh, they just wanted to know some things, so I told them.” Daeho replied.
Subong bounced over to Semi. “He’s got MG Coin’s addy. His family owns a motel 'n shit and that fucker’s staying there.”
Semi nodded and looked over at Junhee. “How’d you meet this guy?”
“Remember that time that girl broke up with me in the rain?” Subong asked.
Semi stared. “Wait, this is him?”
Subong swung his arm over Daeho’s shoulder and patted his back. “Yup, Mr. Fantastic, powerful in practice, saving me from a spastic, always enthusiastic, don’t fact-check, my boy a legend and that’s a fact, yeah.”
Daeho chuckled. “It really wasn’t that big of a deal.”
Subong pulled Daeho closer and grinned. “Humble too.”
Junhee turned to Semi. “Myunggi’s only a few neighborhoods away.”
Semi nodded. “Do we have a plan?”
“Kill him!” Subong cheered with a manic grin.
Semi stared at him. “For the money.”
Junhee shook her head. “We should go soon, though, before we lose our lead.”
Semi nodded and patted Junhee’s shoulder. “We’ll figure something out.”
☺
Semi tested her taser before slipping it into her pocket. She turned to Junhee. “I don’t think you should come.”
“He’s my ex, though. I want to take some accountability.” Junhee argued.
Subong patted Junhee’s back. “Don’t worry, señorita. We’re pros.”
Junhee looked at him for a second and tilted her head.
Semi took Junhee’s hand and led her to the couch. “You give birth in like 8 weeks.”
Junhee sighed and crossed her arms. “Fine.” She paused. “You won’t kill him, right?”
Semi fiddled with her lip ring and glanced over at Subong and Namgyu. She patted Junhee’s hand. “I’ll keep the idiots in line.”
Junhee nodded. “Okay.”
☺
They were standing outside in the alleyway near the back entrance; Daeho had been busy but he had left the door unlocked, all they had to do was get the keys from his cousin at the front desk. Semi looked back at Namgyu and Subong. “Don’t do anything stupid. We get the money and leave.”
Subong nodded. “Yes ma’am, señorita.”
Namgyu rolled his eyes. “We’re not stupid, bit- Semi.”
Semi raised her eyebrows and pushed the door open. It led into a wide hallway with green carpets and tan walls with a burgundy stripe through the middle. They walked towards the end where the hallway opened up into the lobby. Behind her, Namgyu and Subong were giggling. Semi sighed.
The girl looked up from her phone as she watched them approach the front desk; she looked familiar. The girl scoffed. “Thanos? What are you doing here?
Subong looked over at her and squinted. “Who are you, señorita?”
The girl huffed. “Mina. Remember? We met at the club; I was at your apartment.”
Ah. Semi thought; she was one of the fans that came over; the one who was pissed about getting kicked out.
Subong stared at Mina.
Namgyu smacked Subong’s shoulder. “Bro, it’s that chick that played hard to get, but got handsy when she was drunk.”
Subong kept staring.
Mina clicked her tongue. “Whatever, you couldn’t do anything anyway, waste of a pretty face.” She looked at Semi. “By the way, IDK how long you’ve been together, but he cheats on you like a lot.” She frowned. “Well, I guess you don’t care. He straight up denied you were his girlfriend to your face, but like I don’t think he’s all-”
Semi clenched her jaw. “Just give us the keys to room 333.”
“Oh, Daeho said to give them to a Subong.” Mina gestured at Namgyu with her head. “Is that him?”
Semi exhaled. “Subong is Thanos’s real name, just give us the keys.”
Mina slid the keys over to Semi. “He doesn’t look like a Subong.”
Semi snatched up the keys and dragged Namgyu and Subong to the elevator before anything else could be said.
Namgyu scoffed. “What a bitch.”
“You think it was because I couldn’t get it up?” Subong asked.
Semi pressed the elevator call button and snorted. “You really are gay.”
“It was probably just the drugs.” Namgyu retorted.
They stepped into the elevator. “No, I actually don’t like women, man.” Subong said.
Namgyu gave Subong a look. “What the fuck, bro? Y-”
Semi sighed and gave Namgyu a look. “Now is not the time to geek out. So, shut up.”
Namgyu clicked his tongue. “Bitch.”
Subong smacked Namgyu. “My señorita isn’t a bitch, man.”
Namgyu huffed and glared at Semi.
Semi sighed. “This elevator is taking a while.” She looked over at the buttons; none of them were lit up. “Shit.”
Subong looked over at the buttons. “What’s the problem, señorita?”
Semi stepped over and pressed the three button. Nothing. “I think we’re stuck.” She pulled out her phone. “I don’t have service.” She grabbed Subong’s phone out of his pocket. No service.
“Fucking hell, why’s there no service?” Namgyu complained.
Subong kicked the door. “Fuckass door.” He growled as he sat down and ran his fingers through his hair. “It’s all MG Coin’s fault. Imma strangle that fucker.” He grabbed his phone from Semi and chucked it against the wall. “Fuckass phone. Fuckass everything. This shit pisses me off so much.” He continued to grumble to himself as he kicked the door.
Semi exhaled and sat down. “Someone’ll come eventually. I can’t believe we got stuck in an elevator, that’s so lame.”
Namgyu sighed as he sat down. “And that shit’s wearing off, this sucks.” He looked over at Subong. “You got more?”
Subong shook his head. “No, I’m trying to do less, man.” He handed Namgyu his vape. “I have this.”
Namgyu accepted it. There was a moment of silence. “Why’d you always say no, bro?”
Subong stopped kicking the door and stared at Namgyu. “Huh?”
Namgyu hit the vape. “To fucking.”
Subong grinned and patted Namgyu on the back. “Don’t like you like that, man. You’re my homeboy, not my ho.”
Namgyu nodded. “Huh.”
Semi raised her eyebrows and snorted. “Well, that was unexpected.”
Namgyu glared at her. “Shut up, you don’t get any either.”
Semi looked up at the ceiling. “So? It’s super lame to pine over your ‘straight’ friend. Also seriously? Subong?”
Subong looked over at Semi and furrowed his brow. “Hey-”
Namgyu gave Semi a look. “Even the bitch at the front desk said he was hot.”
“She said pretty.” Semi retorted.
Namgyu scoffed. “Same difference, bi-”
Semi held back a laugh. “Still, you literally live with him.”
“Hey, why you doing me like this, señorita?” Subong protested. “I’m a amazing roommate.”
Namgyu wrapped his arm over Subong’s shoulder. “Yeah.” He looked at Semi. “And haven’t you lived together for like a decade?” Namgyu snorted.
“Yeah, that’s why I said that.” Semi retorted. She pulled a lighter out of her pocket. “You think if we set off the smoke alarm someone would come?”
Subong shook his head. “We can’t damage nothing. I can’t do my boy, Daeho, like that.”
Semi hummed and put her lighter back into her pocket. “All we can do is wait then.”
“I’m bored.” Subong complained.
Semi pulled out her phone. “I have a top 100 funniest moments album on my phone. All the way back to 2014.”
Subong leaned over to see, dislodging Namgyu’s arm. “Do you have the dog one? That was funny.”
Semi smirked. “11th place.”