Page 8 - My FlipBook
P. 8

For some reason, I don’t think Ming is jealous over Yun                            “I’ve been looking for her. Since yesterday. She left the fac-
           anymore. It’s me who’s jealous over him. I should go after him.                    tory. I don’t know where she went.”
           I don’t know how to talk to him about my jealous feelings, but                         “Why don’t you call her?”
           I can tell him I’m sorry.                                                              “No phone.”
               I’m standing beside the door, waiting for a break in the line                      He reaches into his back pocket for his phone. “She called
           of people coming in so I can leave, when Yong enters the club. A                   me a few times yesterday, but I was traveling.” He dials now and
           small duffel is slung across his shoulder over his blue leatherette                holds the mobile to his ear. After a moment, he shrugs and puts
           jacket with metal buckles. He nods at the bouncer and heads to                     his phone away. “She’s not answering.” He stays half turned on
           the bar. There, he hands the bag to the bartender, who takes it                    his stool and drinks his beer, watching the dancers.
           and stashes it under the counter before getting him a beer and                         I try to think what to say. I guess he still doesn’t know
           leaning in to speak to him. Yong props forward on his elbows.                      about the baby, but of course, I’m not going to say anything
           His head turns to the side as the bartender talks into his ear, the                about that. “Do you know where she could be?” I finally ask.
           spinning dots of light crossing over his back and profile.                             His eyes move left and right like he’s thinking. He shifts to
               I’ve never spoken to Yong, never really met him, only seen                     the edge of his stool, putting his mouth close to my ear. “She’s
           him a few times meeting up with Yun. She’s never introduced                        not in her room? Out with her friends?” I can smell the beer
           any of us girls or invited us to hang out with the two of them.                    and cigarette on his breath.
           He’s good-looking with his square face, though now his fore-                           I shake my head. “She got fired yesterday. No one’s
           head is furrowed at whatever the bartender is saying. I wait                       seen her.”
           until the bartender moves away before I edge around clubbers                           His head rolls back, and he chuffs out a noise of irritation.
           to approach Yong.                                                                      “Could she be at your place?” I ask.
               He is facing the bar, hovering over his beer. I stand behind                       “I told you I’ve been away. And she doesn’t have a key.”
           him for several moments biting my lip, before I work up the                        Yong catches the bartender’s eye and ticks his head toward the
           nerve to speak. “Have you seen Yun?” He doesn’t hear me over                       door. The bartender gets his bag and hands it over. Yong drains
           the music, so I tap him on the shoulder.                                           his beer, peering at me over the edge of the glass, before setting
               He twists around on his stool, his eyebrows up in a startled                   it on the bar. “What’s your name?”
           expression.                                                                            “Luli.”
               “Have you seen Yun?” My throat is sore from trying to talk                         “You’re from the orphanage too?”
           to Ming over the music, and my raised voice sounds strained                            I nod. He nods back and gets up to leave.
           and unnatural to me. I’m not used to yelling so much.                                  “Wait! Where are you going?”
               “Yun? No. I just got back in town.” His eyes move over me                          “Home.”
           as he swigs his beer.                                                                  “What about Yun?”





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