)
Semi leaned against the cool glass counter as she and Junhee waited around for customers. It had been almost a full hour without people. Maybe Namgyu was right that her job mostly consisted of being on her phone. Not that she would ever admit that, and it wasn’t like his job was that difficult either.
Junhee pushed her phone over to show Semi something, on the screen were a bunch of baby name quizzes. “Is it bad that I don’t know what name to give my baby? I always hear about people having a whole list of baby names and I can’t even come up with one.”
Semi chuckled. “So you’re picking her name with an online quiz?”
Junhee huffed. “I have to start somewhere.”
Semi clicked through the questions. “Some of these are so stupid. What is the season your baby will be born in?” She read.
Junhee hummed. “That’s actually really meaningful, though.”
Semi hummed. “I guess. You should name her after your favorite drama character, then it’s meaningful to you personally.” She chuckled.
Junhee chuckled. “No, that’s stupid.”
Semi shrugged. “Do you know anyone else who’s had kids? How’d they name theirs?”
“My brother has a daughter, but his wife came up with her name. And my sister has a son. She named him after her favorite idol, though.” Junhee replied.
Semi burst out laughing. “An idol? What did her husband think?”
“It’s his favorite idol, too.” Junhee giggled.
Semi snorted. “N-”
“You should name your daughter Gayeong, with the hanja for beautiful and sea. I predict positive luck compatibility.” The woman stared at them intently as she placed a pastel pink package of candy onto the counter.
Semi and Junhee stopped laughing and a beat of silence passed.
“I can give you a more in-depth reading for 75,000 won.” The woman offered.
“Oh, no, thank you, but I appreciate your offer.” Junhee smiled as she scanned the woman’s candy and placed it in a bag.
The woman handed over the money and accepted the bag. She handed Junhee a card. “I highly recommend that you get one, or your daughter could live a life of misfortune with the wrong name.”
Junhee nodded and accepted the card. “Thank you, auntie.”
“That was weird.” Semi muttered after the lady left the store.
Junhee turned the card over in her hand. “Maybe I shouldn’t take her name so lightly.”
Semi shrugged. “I don’t know the hanja for my name, and it hasn’t changed my life in any way.”
Junhee tilted her head. “Isn’t it on your ID?”
Semi smiled and put her finger to her lips. “Don’t tell anyone, but I don’t have one.”
“But didn’t you need it to get this job?” Junhee asked.
Semi shrugged. “On paper this is Namgyu’s job, one paycheck a year is official, and the rest are in cash.”
“Huh.” Junhee paused. “Why don’t you have one? A-” She cut herself short.
“Never filed for one. My life was kinda hectic then.” Semi paused. “If I did register for one now, then I’d have to pay back my dad’s official debt; not just what he owed to the loan sharks. Plus the fine I’d owe for not having one. It’s not worth it.”
Junhee nodded. “I guess that makes sense.” She paused and looked at Semi. “How will you get married then?”
“Can I use your ID?” Semi asked.
Junhee stared at Semi. “What? That’s illegal, and no offense but, I don’t want to be married to Subong.”
Semi chuckled. “How’s that offensive? I’ll figure something out; he doesn’t have an ID, either. Maybe we’ll just do all the—” She waved her hand. “—other stuff, and that’ll be enough for his uncle.”
Junhee nodded. “Maybe.”
“So you need a fake ID, huh?” A tough-looking man with tattoos asked as he placed a neon rainbow package of crackers and an energy drink on the counter.
“We should stop having personal conversations at work.” Semi commented.
The man leaned in and whispered. “I know some guys who can hook you up for a price.”
Semi scanned the man’s items. “I also know a guy.” She stared the man in the eyes. “I’m good.”
The man stepped back and chuckled. “Ah, course you got connections. I recognize you. Yo-”
“5,000.” Semi interrupted.
The man rummaged through his pockets before placing the money on the counter. “Word on the street is-”
Semi cut him off. “Would you like a receipt?” She asked as she handed him the bag.
“No” The man replied, accepting the bag.
Semi waved. “Have a wonderful day!”
The man gave her a look before walking away.
“Who’s he? He said he recognized you.” Junhee asked.
“Must be a scam. I’ve never seen him before.” Semi replied.
☺
Semi glanced over at the door opening; she sighed as familiar purple hair caught her eye.
Subong bounced over to the counter. “What’s up, señoritas?”
Junhee waved. “Hi.”
Semi looked at him. “Why’re you here?”
Subong looked at Semi and frowned. “My vape’s burnt.”
Semi sighed. “What flavor?”
Subong looked at the boxes next to the counter; he pointed at one. “Orange Mango.”
Semi grabbed the box and set it on the counter. “At least you chose a half-decent one this time.”
Subong pulled a bunch of bills from his pocket. “I always choose good ones, señorita.”
Semi rolled her eyes. “ID?”
Subong pouted. “Not funny.”
Semi chuckled as she counted out the money, and Subong swiped the box off the counter.
She handed back a few bills to him. “It’s okay, you look old.”
Subong took his change. “So mean, señorita.” He said as he sped out the door.
Junhee looked at the door. “I’m surprised he didn’t stay to chat with us.”
Semi shrugged. “I don’t understand it. He’ll forget about it, but as soon as it’s burnt; it’s like he’s possessed.” She chuckled. “It’s kinda funny.”
Junhee nodded. “Aren’t they really bad for your health?”
Semi snorted. “Yeah.” She shrugged. “But who cares? Everything’s bad for you.”
Junhee hummed. “You smoke too, don’t you?”
Semi nodded. “Yeah, it’s relaxing.”
Junhee looked at her. “You can get cancer, though.”
Semi leaned against the counter and sighed. “That’s a problem for my future self.” She stared down the aisles, where a pretty young woman was looking at instant noodles. “And to be honest, I don’t care enough to stop.”
Junhee looked away. “I guess everyone has something.” She murmured.
The young woman stepped up to the counter and placed a package of spicy noodles on the counter. She was gorgeous, with cute freckles and a soft wave to her hair. Junhee scanned the woman’s items and placed them into a bag before giving her the total.
The woman handed over the money and accepted the bag, bowing slightly. “Thank you.” She smiled. “You’re both pretty.”
Semi smiled and looked down. “Thanks. You’re really pretty too.” She replied.
“Yes, thank you.” Echoed Junhee.
“Thank you.” The woman nodded and walked out the door that was held open by a familiar, friendly face.
Daeho waved at them and smiled. “Hi.”
Junhee waved back. “How are you doing?”
“Good!” He looked over at Semi. “Since I’m here, I want to apologize for my cousin the other day.” He scratched the back of his neck. “I didn’t realize she was one of Subong’s exes.”
Semi chuckled. “Don’t worry. Honestly, it was kinda funny.”
Daeho smiled. “That’s good. I’m going to go grab a few things.” He said as he walked down one of the aisles.
Junhee nodded. “Okay.”
☺
Semi and Junhee stepped through the apartment’s front door, and Minsu waved at them as they took off their shoes and coats.
“How was work?” He asked.
“It was fun.” Junhee replied with a smile on her face.
Semi stared at her. “How is work fun?”
Junhee shrugged and went to sit down next to Minsu. “A lot of interesting things happened.”
Semi hummed. “More like a lot of people not minding their own business.”
“Ah, what happened?” Minsu asked.
“Some lady tried to get Junhee to spend like 100k on some luck reading to name her baby, and this guy tried to pull the ‘I know you’ scam on me.” Semi replied as she walked over to the kitchen to grab a beer.
“Oh, that is interesting, though.” Minsu replied.
“There was also a girl that called us pretty; she was super sweet.” Junhee added.
Minsu smiled. “That is really sweet of her.”
Semi walked over to sit next to them. “She was pretty, too.” She glanced over at Junhee. Not as pretty as Junhee. Semi’s mind added.
“That’s definitely more eventful than my job.” Minsu replied; he paused. “I had a girl call me cute once and give me her number, though.” His face turned pink at the memory.
“Aww, that’s cute. Did you go out with her?” Junhee asked.
Minsu shook his head. “No, I was too embarrassed to say anything.”
Semi patted Minsu’s back. “There’s always more chances.”
Minsu looked down. “Yeah.”
“Semi!” Namgyu’s loud voice interrupted. He and Subong stepped out of their room.
Subong motioned for Semi to come over. “We need you, señorita.”
Semi sighed and got off the couch before walking over. She turned back to Junhee and Minsu. “I’ll be back.” She stepped into the room, and Namgyu and Subong followed.
Namgyu slammed the door shut.
Semi gave him a look. “You don’t have to slam it.”
Namgyu glared at her. “Shut up, bi-” He cut himself off, and Semi chuckled.
Subong clapped his hands. “We got business. No fighting.”
Namgyu nodded and pulled out his phone. “So, there’s this great opportunity tonight. All we have to do is drive a van to the docks. Boom, easy 10 mil.”
Semi raised her eyebrows and stared at him. “What are you? A quest NPC?”
Namgyu kicked her shin, but she dodged. “He knows me. Why are you such a dick?”
Semi snorted before shifting her gaze to both of them. “You need me to drive, don’t you?”
Subong put his hands together. “Please, señorita. You can keep extra of the money.” He pleaded.
Semi sighed and crossed her arms. “5 mil. What time?”
“3 am. No trouble then, everyone’s home from clubs and shit.” Namgyu replied.
Semi nodded. It was going to be a long night. Maybe she could sneak a nap in before.
Subong pulled them together and clapped both of them on the shoulder. “Team Quest!”
Semi chuckled. Hopefully, they didn’t run into any trouble. She didn’t have a driver’s license.