April Loves Black Coffee: First Impressions (16 page)

At the same moment, the familiar ring of Eunhye’s cell phone breaks through my thick fog of thoughts.

‘That’s my phone.” Eunhye turns toward the living room for her bag.

I’m glued to my stool with only two sips away from finishing my coffee. I am lost in a trail of thoughts as I listen to Eunhye’s muffled voice. When she returns, it is as though the restart button activates.

“I’m heading to work now. Afterwards, I’m going to play poker at Dongwan’s house. If you get home before I do, turn off the light in the fish tank ok? You’ve been forgetful about that.” Eunhye begins packing her items. Ordinary day, ordinary conversation. Just like that, we sweep everything under the rug once again.

“Ok mom. Have a good day,” is all I can I say.

Im Dongwan is Eunhye’s best friend from childhood. Mr. Im doesn’t have any children and lives alone in a house not far from here. Ever since I can remember, Mr. Im and Eunhye have been very close. They spend most of their time watching dramas, playing cards, eating, telling stories, and acting like the teenagers they once were. Together, they have been through a lot. Eunhye appreciates Mr. Im very much because he was there when she really needed him, when our family was going through the problems. At least once a month, Mr. Im holds a poker game at his house and Eunhye always makes it a point to support him.

As though she read my thoughts, Eunhye gives me one last smile before she leaves the apartment. I stay rooted with my cup of coffee. I hear the distinct ringing of my cell phone from my bedroom. I have to snap out of it quickly. Time is ticking.

I clean up my area and prepare to leave.

L
INA WANTS TO MEET AT
Mula, a local milk teahouse we frequent since middle school. Its distinct interior of blue and yellow colors attracts many teenagers as well as college students. Mula has private booths and partitions for study sessions and confidential conversations. It is close to the perfect meeting place for Lina and me given the circumstances.

Mula is only two blocks away from my apartment so I end up walking there. When I enter the bustling store, I scan the area for my cousin. There are five people standing in line waiting to order. Others fill the open tables, including the seating area by the window. Even the cushioned sofas near the exterior walls are unavailable.

I decide to round the main area towards the partitions.

I find my cousin sitting at the last booth. She is wearing a black baseball hat to match her black leggings and droopy black T-shirt. Lina twitches lightly when I round the partition. When she sees me, Lina relaxes.

“Thank God. I thought you were a vampire,” she says with a nervous glance behind me. Her reference to gangsters doesn’t escape me. Lina’s voice is a mixture of apprehension and breathlessness. “Did anyone follow you?”

I look around Mula. Nothing seems amiss. “Not that I know of.” My intuition has her brown detective coat on.

“Sit down. I got you a drink.” Lina pushes the original honey milk tea towards me. The liquid at the bottom makes a clear streak on the wooden brown tabletop.

I notice that Lina’s halfway done with hers. I am slightly alarmed at my cousin’s need to stay inconspicuous. I’m not as nearly prepared as she is. Compared to my cousin, I am too casual for someone who owes a dangerous gang lord an obscene amount of money.

“Thanks for meeting me.” Lina strums her fingers on the table. Her anxiousness and apprehension is contagious. 

“Are you okay?” I ask her, taking note of the fact that my cousin is on the verge of falling to pieces.

“I’m not.” Lina shakes her head. “I couldn’t sleep last night. I couldn’t stop thinking about what happened. I’m feeling mad, sad, guilty, and everything in-between. I wanted to call you a million times, but I knew you needed to rest too.”

I listen to my cousin’s confession with a heavy heart. “What about Spyder?”

“He’s staying at my house for now. I told my parents he got hurt and there’s no one at his house to take care of him, especially with his parents gone. So my mom let him stay in the guest room. He’s still sleeping. He’s in a lot of pain,” Lina recounts softly. She makes a frustrated face. “I can’t wait until he gets better so I can kill him the right way.”

I shake my head. I want to ask Lina how my aunt and uncle are responding to Spyder sleeping over, but refrain against it.

“You and me both,” is my remark. My eyebrows burrow together in frustration. “Lina, why did it get so bad?”

Lina remains silent. She doesn’t want to talk about her poor decision in a partner. From the very beginning, Lina’s been Spyder’s first line of defense. I don’t expect my cousin to let her guard down when it comes to her no-good boyfriend, but I don’t want her to make excuses for him.

“Why did you guys borrow money from Mayhem, Lina?” I ask instead.

Lina’s eyes flick in a rapid blinking pattern, giving the impression that negative thoughts are tugging at her tear ducts. Lina begins her confession at a
rapid pace. “My parents are underwater with their bills. The hardware store is not doing so well. I’m not making enough money and I couldn’t rely on Spyder. We heard through his friends that Mayhem’s loan shark division is one of the wealthiest to borrow from. Their interest and turnaround rate was supposed to be low and slow. We really thought we could pay the twenty thousand back within the given time frame. But I didn’t know Spyder was going to go behind my back and launder out the money to Mayhem’s rivals. To be honest, I don’t even know why he did that.”

“Breathe Lina.” I reach across to touch her shoulders softly. “It’s going to be okay.”

My cousin nods her head, but her brave face does little to hide her impending tears. “I’m sorry I got you involved in this. Before the end of this week, Spyder and I might be able to scrounge up about ten grand. We still need twenty more.” 

I am hesitant to speak up next, but I know I cannot have an honest conversation with Lina without telling her the truth. I know now is not the time to introduce another complex issue, but I am willing to reduce my cousin’s pain. “I asked Choi Sangwoo for help. He’s the leader of Crist,” I disclose with conviction.

Lina lifts her head up, revealing her misty eyes underneath the worn baseball hat. “What?” It is clear she’s beyond surprised.

“Sangwoo, from yesterday, is actually the leader of Crist. He says he’ll help,” I repeat with a low tone. 

If Lina’s eyes can pop out of their sockets, they probably will. “I knew it!” she exclaims with a whispered gasp. “How did you meet him? No wonder why you told Mayhem you were an associate of Crist. How did he know to come to Spyder’s house yesterday?”

I take a deep breath before I tell Lina the truth–from how I met Sangwoo last week to hi
m leaving his necklace behind in my apartment to how we said goodbye last night. I tell Lina the facts, but keep my emotions out of it. By the time I am done, my cousin is dizzy with the amount of information.

“Wait a minute, so he’s willing to give you thirty thousand to pay off your debt to Mayhem under the condition of a contract? What is the contract made of?” Lina remains flabbergasted when I end my recount.

“It’s not like that, Lina. I don’t know what contract he’s going to propose.” My voice is barely a whisper. “We’re supposed to have dinner tonight after I get off work.”

“You’re having dinner with the leader of Crist?!” Lina gasps too loudly.

I motion for Lina to lower her voice. Swinging my head around, I make sure no one is listening. “I’m thinking of canceling.” The thought of being alone with him scares me beyond reprieve. I don’t want to tell Lina about my Google history. She will definitely be upside down about the situation.

“Canceling?” Lina gives me a winded look. “You are not going to cancel dinner with the Crist leader. Give him a chance May. You can’t go through life exiling yourself from new people and new experiences.”

I feel drained now that I have divulged to my cousin the truth. “But he’s from a different world than ours. He’s a gangster. Regardless of the fact that he’s a high-end gangster, he’s still involved in illegal and volatile businesses. You saw how Mayhem dealt with us yesterday.”

“Yes, but that’s Mayhem. Choi Sangwoo was incredibly nice yesterday. He helped us. He took us to the hospital and took care of everything. He’s offering to draw up a contract to lend you money. Who does that? He clearly likes you.” Lina chucks reason after reason at me. My cousin is on a mission to help me see the light.

I am aware that I am gaping at her bold statement. “He doesn’t like me Lina. It’s not like that.”
Eunhye and Lina are both seeing something you’re so blind to.
With one eyebrow lifted, my conscience sticks her head into my business again.

Lina shrugs and simultaneously takes another sip of her milk tea. “You’re very naïve May. Men are very simple. Men only want one thing in this world . . . and that’s a woman. Everything they do, create, make, and maintain is always for a girl or woman. Everything that they do would mean nothing without a woman or a girl, as James Brown would say.” Lina’s penchant for music proves itself useful. 

“Why would he be interested in me?” I am definitely not his type. I am not very interesting or exceptional beautiful. I know nothing about his world. All I know is work and school. I’m not especially talented at anything, and I have a marred childhood.

Lina narrows her eyes at me. “Hey, what’s wrong with you? You’re smart, ambitious, motivated, and pretty. He’s the one who’s lucky. You’re a Lee, May. Where’s your self-confidence?”

They always say no one loves you like family does.

“But if you’re really uncomfortable with the idea, then don’t worry. Spyder and I will still find a way to pay Mayhem back,” Lina concedes softly. A dark look crosses Lina’s face and I know she is thinking about her debt. Although it is entertaining to Lina that Choi Sangwoo can help us, my cousin will support my choice.

I reach for her hand. “I’ll help you.”

“Ah hell May, don’t worry.” Lina tries to take her hand back but I don’t let go. “Besides, one dinner and talking about a possible contract won’t kill you.”

“Are you sure?” I mean for it to be funny, but I know the truth is all too real.

“Choi Sangwoo might be a gang leader, but he doesn’t seem scary or intimidating. You can tell he has a good heart. He didn’t flip out when you told him you lied about being associated with him. He actually wants to help you. I don’t think you should judge him yet, especially since he was sincere in helping us yesterday. He took us to the hospital and then dinner,” Lina reminds me.

When I don’t answer her, Lina grows anxious.

“I'm not defending him or even advocating for you to like him.” Lina throws her hands in surrender.

“Oh god, Lina.” I place a hand against my forehead and sit back in the booth. “I just wish you told me all of this earlier instead of putting me through all this shock in less than forty-eight hours.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t plan it like this. I wasn’t going to involve you. I didn’t know Mayhem would send one of his guys out for me like that.” Sorrow clouds her gaze. Lina’s regretful tone is difficult to bear as her family member.

“I’ll figure it out with Sangwoo.” I am determined.
Damn it Lina! You’ve been getting us into trouble since we were young. Thought this crap was over with!
My intuition puts on red boxing gloves. “I’ll help you as much as I can, but you have to promise me you’re never going to borrow from another gangster again.”

“I’ll be homeless if I have to.” Lina holds two fingers to her heart. “You don’t know how much this means to me.”

Now that I can share with Lina my worries, I feel better. Just when I think I can manage the stress, a shrill voice breaks through our quiet meeting.

“Lina? Is that you? Is my brother with you?” 

“Oh crap,” I mumble when I recognize the voice.

“I swear I didn’t know he was going to be here.” Lina gives me an apologetic look. She squirms in her seat.

“May? Is that you, May?” He approaches the end of our booth with such eagerness that I have to brace for the worse.

“Hi Bryan.” My tone marks the dark clouds spilling over a sunny day.

Sang Baean, who often goes by his American name, Bryan frowns at my lackluster greeting. “May, where have you been? I missed you!”

“Busy,” I mumble as I stare at him in disbelief. I have forgotten the fabulous Bryan.

Bryan is Spyder’s younger brother at the fresh age of eighteen-years-old. Even though he and Spyder are biological brothers, one would never know it because they look nothing alike. Bryan is shorter in stature with a lean and muscular body to accompany a childish face. On the outside, Bryan appears quite average. It’s the inside that has severe issues. Ever since Lina started dating Spyder, Bryan attached himself to me like a lost puppy in love. When I first met Bryan he was normal, but over time he’s developed an intense crush on me. It isn’t a serious crush, but it is serious enough where Bryan is convinced I will be his wife one day. I don’t like to talk about Bryan for the same embarrassing reasons why some people are simply uncomfortable discussing their bowel movements. 

“I called you, texted you, left you messages, and you never got back to me.” Bryan takes it upon himself to sit down next to me. He wraps an arm around my shoulders.