Seollal Pt. 1
Namgyu hadn’t shown up again until two days after Gyeongsu’s visit; he didn’t give any reasons for his absence and life continued on as normal, well their normal. Semi took Junhee to her appointments and they joked around together at work. (And no, Junhee still didn’t have a baby name.) Semi watched dramas in the evenings with Junhee curled up against her in a way that totally didn’t make her heart beat faster, and Minsu excitedly talking about the plot, with Subong crashing more and more frequently to ask questions every five seconds.
The only oddity was Namgyu becoming more distant and frequently disappearing for reasons other than work. Otherwise, things in the apartment continued as usual, but with Junhee’s cooking and new group cleaning efforts lending an air of domesticity. It felt comfortable, but of course, quiet only lasts so long when life treats you like the main character of a drama.
Namgyu sat down on the couch where Semi was doing Junhee’s hair as some drama played in the background. Semi sighed and looked over at him. “Whaddya want?”
Namgyu huffed. “I didn’t even say anything yet, bitch.”
Semi raised her eyebrows. “Why’re you sitting here then? Did you want me to braid your hair too and watch dramas with us? We can get some soju and have a girl’s night, it’ll be so f-”
Namgyu glared at her. “Shut up.” He looked at Junhee. “I needa ask you a favor.”
Junhee looked at him. “Uh, why?”
Namgyu pulled on the sleeves of his sweatshirt and sighed. “It’s about Seollal, I-”
Semi groaned. “So you’re asking Junhee this year? Wow, I thought I was special.”
Namgyu shot a look at Semi. “Shut up, bitch. And you and Thanos have something this year, that’s why I’m asking Junhee.”
Semi rolled her eyes. “Ask some rando at the club.”
Namgyu crossed his arms. “What, are you being possessive over your girlfriend?”
Semi’s face got warm and she glared at Namgyu. “Sh-”
Junhee put her hand on Semi’s arm. “It’s okay.” She looked at Namgyu. “What do you need exactly?”
“I need you to come with me when I go home for Seollal.” Namgyu asked.
Semi scoffed. “No way she’ll agree to do that. Besides, isn’t it worse for you to show up with a pregnant girlfriend than no girlfriend at all?”
Namgyu glared at Semi. “I’m asking Junhee, not you, bitch.”
“Maybe if you’ll be nice to Semi, then I’ll agree.” Junhee replied.
Namgyu side-eyed Semi. “Why would I do that when she’s a bitch to me?”
“Didn’t she go with you last year?” Junhee asked.
Namgyu and Semi traded looks of disgust. Semi exhaled. “Unfortunately.” She glared at Namgyu. “You still owe me, by the way.”
Namgyu scoffed. “I’ve done your fucking taxes for the past two years, I got you your job, I always get you free drinks and shit at the club. And I buy all the alcohol. What more do you want?”
“Why do you need a girlfriend?” Junhee asked. “Convince me.”
Namgyu exhaled. “So, my mom won’t be sad and rag on me about dying alone because I’m almost 30 and still single.”
Junhee hummed. “But isn’t Semi right? She was your girlfriend last year and now you have a new girlfriend who’s pregnant? If my son did that I would be very disappointed.”
“Last two years.” Semi corrected.
Junhee turned around to stare at her. “Don’t you hate each other?”
“Yes.” Semi and Namgyu replied at the same time.
“His mom literally doesn’t care.” Semi looked at Namgyu. “I seriously don’t know why you won’t just ask some random chick.”
“I don’t want some girl to think I’m actually into her.” Namgyu retorted.
Semi scoffed. “In your dreams, your acting skill’s’re not good enough for that to happen.”
“I’ll do it.” Junhee answered.
Semi stared at her. “You really don’t have to, he’ll be fine.”
Junhee looked over at the TV. “I don’t have family to spend Seollal with after everything, Minsu probably has plans, and if you and Subong are gone…” She trailed off.
Semi fiddled with her lip ring. “Oh, I didn’t think of that.”
Namgyu smirked. “See, I’m being nice.”
Semi side-eyed him. “Yeah, that’s totally why you asked, out of the goodness of your own heart.”
Namgyu huffed. “Shut up, bitch.” He stood up and looked at Junhee. “Thanks.” Then he scampered back to the bedroom.
Semi looked at Junhee. “You don’t have to do anything special to pretend, just chill, his mom’s a really good cook.”
Junhee nodded. “Okay.”
☺
Semi was helping Junhee cut vegetables for dakdoritang after Junhee had said she wanted some. Semi watched Junhee as she expertly cut the chicken into chunks, cutting the chicken at the joints to break it down. Junhee’s eyes were full of concentration, and she had an adorable quirk in her brow as she focused on the task. A piece of her hair fell into her face, she glanced over at Semi. “Can you put my hair up?” She asked as she held up her gloved hands that were covered in chicken juices.
“Yeah.” Semi put her knife down and walked over to Junhee, pulling her hair back. Junhee’s hair smelled like an intoxicating mix of marshmallows and papaya. Semi’s fingers ran through Junhee’s soft locks as she pulled one of the hair-ties from her wrist to tie Junhee’s hair up.
Junhee turned to smile at Semi. “Thank you.”
Semi bit the tip of her tongue and smiled. She patted Junhee on the back. “Yeah, no problem.” She went back to chopping vegetables, arguably spending more time staring at Junhee than cutting.
Junhee looked over at the carrots and potatoes that Semi had chopped. “Those are really evenly cut.” She smiled at Semi. “You’re getting better at cooking.”
Semi smiled softly and tucked her hair behind her ear. “Thanks.”
Junhee slid the chicken into a pot of boiling water to blanch it. “I think now you’ll be able to cook for me after I give birth.”
Semi chuckled. “You have too much faith in me.”
Junhee giggled. “Just make me miyeokguk and rice, those are easy.”
“I’ll buy it from the convenience store.” Semi teased.
Junhee pouted. “Come on, you can do it.”
Semi smiled. “Maybe.”
Junhee rolled her eyes as she pulled the chicken out. She gestured to the pot with her head. “Can you put clean water in the pot?”
“Yeah.” Semi grabbed the pot and took it over to the sink, pouring out the white tinted water and replacing it.
Junhee looked over Semi’s shoulder. “That’s plenty, we don’t need a ton.”
Semi nodded and put the pot back on the stove where Junhee then placed the chicken, carrots and potatoes in alongside a bunch of seasonings.
“How’d you get so good at cooking?” Semi asked.
Junhee sighed. “My mom, she’s an amazing cook.”
Semi nodded. “I wish I’d learned how to cook.”
Junhee nudged Semi. “Well, that’s what you’re doing right now.”
Semi chuckled. “Yeah, but it’s just kinda embarrassing that I can’t make all these basic dishes.”
Junhee hummed. “You’re good at other things though.” She looked at Semi. “Like, the TV, I don’t know how to make one connect to an online library of free shows and movies.”
Semi snorted. “It wasn’t hard, I’ll show you later.”
Junhee shrugged as she stirred the stew. “My point was, everyone has their talents. You can’t be good at everything.”
Semi leaned against the counter. “What if I wanted to?”
Junhee smiled. “I guess you can try.”
“Woah, señorita. Smells good.” Subong interrupted their conversation and hopped onto the counter. He looked at Semi. “My uncle called and we gotta go down for Seollal.” He looked at Junhee. “Namsu told me you’d be going with him for Seollal. He’s joking, right señorita?”
Junhee shook her head. “I said I would go; I didn’t want to spend the holiday alone.”
Subong nodded. “I’m sorry.” He clapped his hands together. “Next year we’ll all celebrate together.” He patted Junhee on the shoulder. “You’ll cook for us!”
Junhee smiled.
Semi looked over at Subong. “How long’ll we be gone for?”
Subong counted on his fingers. “Three days.”
Semi sighed. “So the whole time.”
Subong nodded. “Sorry, señorita." He pulled out his phone. “What’s my boy Minsu doing?”
“I don’t know. He hasn’t said anything. Ask him when he gets back from work.” Semi suggested.
Subong nodded. “Yeah, good idea, señorita.”
☺
Minsu didn’t have any plans for Seollal, which is how he ended up in a car with Semi and Subong headed towards Subong’s uncle’s house.
Minsu watched as Subong took a sip from a flask. “Uhm, it’s 9 am.”
Subong passed the flask to Semi. “Just a little for the anxiety, it’s all good, my boy.” He slung his arm over Minsu’s shoulder and pulled Minsu against him.
Semi took a sip from the flask; it was sweet and bitter. “Don’t worry, it’s nothing strong.” She handed the flask to Minsu.
Minsu put his hands up. “No, thank you; I’m okay, really.”
Semi screwed the lid back on and tucked it into her jacket. She looked at Subong. “Are you gonna be okay?”
Subong stared off into space for a moment before nodding. “Yeah, we’re gonna see my mom again.” He hugged Minsu and looked over at Semi. “And I got my boy and my fav señorita.”
Minsu smiled. “I haven’t done anything to celebrate Seollal in a while.”
Subong smiled and patted Minsu on the back. “We’re gonna have fun then, man.”
Semi snorted. “Well, Subong’s here, so at least you’ll have something to laugh at. Not sure what we’re actually doing.”
“I’ll make whatever we’re doing’s the best, señorita.” Subong replied.
Semi chuckled.
Minsu looked over at Subong. “And you’re sure that it’s okay that we don’t have any gifts? It feels disrespectful, we’re staying at his house and everything.”
Subong scoffed. “That motherfucker doesn’t deserve respect.”
Semi sighed. “Remember to behave, we need his money.”
Subong nodded.
“Oh, I brought something in case though, but you said we didn’t need to bring anything, so I didn't know.” Minsu rambled.
“That just means we’ll have something nice for his mom.” Semi replied.
“Yeah.” Subong echoed, staring off again.
Semi fiddled with her lip ring.
Minsu broke the awkward silence. “Uhm, do you remember that news story about the cat walking on the Han River?”
Semi looked at him. “Oh, the one that’s popular on Instagram right now?”
Minsu nodded. “Yeah.”
Semi reached over Minsu and poked Subong. “Did you die?”
Subong stared at her. “Huh?”
Semi sat back. “Minsu was asking if you remembered the cat walking on the river.”
“Oh—no.” Subong replied.
“It was on the news a few years ago, and the sound byte is popular now because it has a good beat to it.” Minsu explained.
“Cool.” Subong leaned his head on top of Minsu’s.
Minsu looked at Semi. “Uh.”
Semi slid over closer to them and slapped Subong on the cheek.
Subong let go of Minsu and put his hand on his cheek. “Ow, what the fuck?”
“We have to go, so stop moping. We’ll figure out something to help your mom.” Semi paused. “We can kidnap her.” She suggested.
Subong nodded. “Good idea, señorita.”
Minsu’s eyes widened, and he looked back and forth between Semi and Subong. “W-wait, we shouldn’t kidnap anyone. Also, we don’t really have space for another person at the apartment. There’s already five of us, and Junhee is going to give birth soon.”
Subong patted Minsu on the back. “It’s okay, my boy, we’re joking.” He shot a glance at Semi that said he was notjoking.
Semi bit her tongue to hold back a smile and nodded. “Yeah, I was just putting ideas out, it’s not really practical.”
Minsu nodded slowly. “O-okay.” He paused. “Uhm, why do you suggest that we kidnap his mom?”
Subong glared at the seat in front of him and gritted his teeth. “Because my fuckass uncle is keeping her drugged up in his house.”
“Oh.” Minsu glanced over at Semi and started to open his mouth to say something before stopping and staying silent.
Subong looked down at his lap. “I wish I had money to get her an apartment or some shit.” He cursed himself.
Semi sighed. “We’ll figure something out, too bad there isn’t a how-to manual on what to do.” She chuckled.
Subong snorted and spread his arms out. “How to Successfully Kidnap Your Mom: 50 Tips and Tricks.”
Semi laughed. “Such a catchy title.”
Subong nodded seriously. “I think it’d sell a lotta copies.”
Semi pulled the flask out again and took a sip before passing it to Subong. “See, it’ll be fine. Aren’t you Thanos the legend or something? Oh wait, I think that was some other guy from some American movie.”
Subong grabbed the flask and took a sip before shooting a look at Semi. “No, I’m Thanos the legend. Never hit a dead-end, with a drive that don’t ever dim, Imma rise again.”