Page 6 - My FlipBook

Ming rolls his eyes, but we thread our way through, more
slowly this time, glancing between the dancers and the people
clumped up at the tables. I don’t see her. We end up back at the
black-painted entry alcove, where the noise isn’t so deafening,
though cold air blasts in each time the door opens.
“Okay?” Ming thumbs toward the door. “Let’s get out
of here.”
I have to agree. “Where should we try next?”
“Don’t know.” He casts his eyes around the room distract-
edly. “I think we should go back. I’m tired. I want to go home.”
I’m tired too, thanks to sleeping badly, then working a full
shift, all the time worrying about Yun. But if I go back to the
dorm, I know I’ll sit up worrying again. I don’t like that she got
so angry with me, but she’s like that. I know she’ll get over it if
only I can talk to her. I only want to help her. She’s pregnant,
fired, with only a possible bride trafficker to rely on. I don’t
know what to believe about that. I just know I have to find Yun.
“Why not have something to drink and stay awhile?” I say to
Ming. “Maybe she’ll come in.”
“Luli, let’s go.” Ming pushes back his hair and scratches his
head, clearly frustrated with me. “Yun can take care of herself.
She’s probably with Yong right now.”
“With Yong. I know! You told me he was a kidnapper!”
Mostly I say it to get a reaction from Ming. It’s simpler than
explaining that Yun is pregnant and scared and angry at me,
and that I have to make things right.
“What are you going to do when you find her? She won’t
listen to you. You can’t tear her away from him. You can’t
help her find a new position.” He’s still yelling. “How can you
help her?”
I don’t know what I’m going to do when we find her. What
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she’s going to do. “I just want to make sure she’s okay! You’re the
one who told me to warn her. Will you try her mobile again?”
He huffs impatiently but pulls out his phone, taps her num-
ber, and covers his other ear so he can hear. After a moment
he shakes his head and shoves the phone into his pocket. “No
answer.”
“Do you have Yong’s number? Do know where he lives?”
I’m clutching at any hope. “She’s probably there if she doesn’t
have her things. Let’s go to his place.” I’ll tell her I’m sorry and
ask her to forget what I said. Beg her to be my friend again.
A dim light fixture overhead throws shadows on Ming’s
face. I can see him itching to go home. “No. And if I did, I
wouldn’t take you there. Maybe he’s a trafficker, or maybe he
just works for one, but something’s shady there. I don’t want
any part of it. And you should stay away. Yun made her choice.”
Anger shoots up in me and I feel my face grow hot. “Made
her choice? You mean she didn’t want you!”
His eyes flash, and the muscles around his mouth and on
his forehead twitch, not settling into any expression. I don’t
know whether he’s shocked, furious, or sad, but he turns away.
I watch him head back to the black-painted entry alcove, elbow
past the people coming through the door, and leave the club.
Right away I wish I could take back what I said. I stand
watching as the clubbers stream through the door, the girls
throwing off their coats to show their dressy, tight outfits.
Under my shapeless black coat, the long loose sweater I wear
is completely out of place. My hair gathered in a band at the
back of my neck isn’t pulled up high on my head or cut with
sharp bangs. My cheeks and lips aren’t stained red, my eye-
lids aren’t colored glimmering blues and purples. I don’t belong
here without Yun or Ming.
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