So, I Can Have Coffee Again?
Semi stared down the aisles, everything had been stocked and swept, leaving her with nothing to do other than aimlessly scroll Instagram. She sighed; she wished Junhee was working with her so she would have someone to talk to, but the manager only put two people on the schedule during the holiday season. The refrigerators hummed and the sound of a dumpster being moved came from outside, the metal scraping muffled. Semi chuckled to herself, how bored did she have to be to listen to a dumpster being moved? Her phone rang in her pocket before stopping abruptly, she pulled it out zero battery already. She sighed she should’ve charged it when she first realized it was dying; stupid old phones and their terrible batteries. She looked around the store before stepping into the back office to charge it.
After leaving her phone to charge, Semi went back to the front and pretended to look busy for the camera by re-organizing the magazines. It was only five minutes later that her phone rang again; she looked around the still empty store before going back to the office. The caller-id was Namgyu; Semi groaned and answered the phone. “The fuck do you want I-”
“Why the fuck weren’t you answering your phone?” Namgyu interrupted.
Semi huffed and rolled her eyes. “I’m at work, dumbass.”
On the other side of the line there was some indistinct shouting and groaning. Semi could hear someone else grab the phone. “Señorita! Junhee’s dying.” Subong’s voice sounded panicked.
Semi’s mouth parted, but no words came out. Her stomach dropped. Dying? What was going on?
There was some scuffling on the other end of the line. “Junhee’s not dying.” Namgyu responded.
Semi exhaled. “Put Junhee on the fucking phone.”
There was a shuffle followed by a loud exhale. “I think I’m going into labor.” Junhee said.
Semi stared at the file cabinet in the office; her mind racing with a thousand questions. “What?” She managed.
Junhee made a pained noise and took a deep breath. “I think the contractions are starting. Well, I think they started yesterday actually, but I thought I had just slept in a bad position. It really hurts now.”
Semi fiddled with her lip ring. Junhee wasn’t supposed to give birth for another two weeks. And of course Semi was at work. “When is Minsu coming home?” She asked.
There was a pause on the other end of the line followed by indistinct voices. “We don’t know.” Junhee replied.
Semi looked around the office; she needed to figure something out, but she was the only one at the store for another four hours. “Go to a clinic, I’ll meet you when I get off. I’ll check if anyone can cover, and I’ll let you know if I’ll be earlier.”
“We’re already on the train.” Junhee replied. In the background, Semi could hear Namgyu and Subong freaking out more.
Semi took a deep breath and nodded. “Okay.” She paused. “Don’t stress out over the idiots.”
Junhee let out a breathless chuckle. “It’s been a good distraction from the pain.”
Semi smiled softly. “That’s good.” She leaned against the desk. “I’m sorry I can’t be there.”
“It’s okay. You can’t leave the store without anyone there.” Junhee replied.
“Yeah…” Semi trailed off.
There was more shouting on the other end of the line. “Geumja is here. I didn’t know she lived nearby.” Junhee paused before chuckling. “She’s yelling at Subong.” She huffed. “Namgyu’s pretending he doesn’t know us.”
Semi chuckled. “Of course he is. What’s she saying?”
There was a pause on the line and Junhee giggled before abruptly stopping and exhaling. “Just that he brings trouble to everyone.” Junhee paused. “I feel embarrassed; everyone is staring at us.” She whispered.
“I’m sorry.” Semi mumbled.
“Don’t worry.” Junhee paused. “I’ll have a great story to tell the baby when she’s older.”
Semi chuckled and shifted. “Yeah.” She paused. “Now that you’re about to give birth, what’ll you name her?”
Junhee paused and Semi could catch a few words of Geumja’s scolding.
“Maybe Haeun. Like the girl from Soulmate.” Junhee replied.
Semi smiled. “That’d be cute.”
Junhee let out another suppressed groan. “Each one feels like I’m being stabbed.”
“That sounds like hell. Remind me not to have kids.” Semi replied.
Junhee sighed. “Just remember to use condoms.”
Semi snorted. “I don’t think I need to worry about that.”
Junhee paused.
“I’m gonna text Minsu to buy diapers and stuff. We’re so unprepared.” Semi changed the subject.
“It’s okay. We thought we had another two weeks.” Junhee replied.
Semi nodded. She heard the front doorbell jingle. “Shit. I have to go, a customer came in. I’ll text.”
“Okay, I’ll see you soon.”
“See you.” Semi ended the call and walked back to the front. It was about to be the longest four hours of her life.
☺
It was only half an hour later that Namgyu stepped through the door. He narrowed his eyes at Semi.
Semi raised her eyebrows and looked at him. “Why’re you here?”
Namgyu scoffed and stepped behind the counter. “Go—see your girlfriend.”
Semi coughed and stared at Namgyu some more. “Are you a shape-shifter? Has an angel possessed you? Wait, you would never let that one happen. Good twin?”
Namgyu shoved Semi out of the way. “This is technically my job, just go to the fucking clinic.”
Semi chuckled and headed out the door. “Bye Namgyu’s good twin.”
☺
The whole train ride to the clinic, Semi kept fidgeting, at least Junhee wasn’t alone, but Semi still couldn’t shake the tightness in her chest and the knot in her stomach. As soon as she got to the station she pressed through the crowd and speed-walked until she was standing in front of the clinic front desk.
The lady at the front desk smiled at Semi. “How may I help you today?”
Semi paused; what was she even supposed to ask? How did Subong even get to go back with Junhee? She glanced around the waiting room before checking her phone and then the clinic sign. She was in the right place. “Uhm…” Shit, she didn’t know Junhee’s last name. A force slammed into her, and she looked over to see Subong, well at least she was in the right place.
“Señorita!” Subong wailed into Semi’s shoulder causing the front desk lady to give them a taut smile.
Semi patted Subong on the back as he squeezed her. “So, is Junhee with the doctor now?” She asked.
“Yeah.” He pulled away and looked around. “They told me to go wait.”
They headed over to some chairs and sat down. They sat in silence for a moment before Subong needed to make some noise. “Whaddya think they’re doing, señorita?” He asked.
Semi had never been to a hospital before, and definitely not for someone giving birth. The doctor had said the birthing part would take hours. She leaned back. “I don’t know.”
Subong nodded and leaned over, propping his forearms against his legs. He started to rap to himself.
Semi watched the other people in the waiting room. “I heard it takes hours.” She chuckled and looked at Subong. “You’ll have a full song by the time she’s done.”
Subong sat up and looked at Semi. “Señorita, that is a fantastic idea.” He looked at the ceiling and scrunched his face. “You’re helping.”