What It Takes (Inspired by BAP' One Shot MV)
Chapter Four: Old & New Friends
The door chimed right as Kim was handing Yong-guk the packets to sign. She clenched the keys in her fist, immensely displeased.
Sam came through the door, looking relieved, but hesitated once she caught sight of Yong-guk signing away and Him-chan lounging on the sofa. Kim waved her in. They would be finished soon, and she had a feeling she needed to rant a bit.
“You better return my yacht back in one piece,” Kim said for what felt like the hundredth time.
“OK!” Yong-guk replied carelessly, as if Kim's words held no more significance than saying the grass was green. Kim pursed her lips. Him-chan chuckled. She turned her glare on him.
“You, too, Him-chan. You know I mean it. One. Piece.” She did not stomp her heel while she said it, but only because she did not want to seem juvenile in front of these two especially.
Him-chan, at least, nodded obligingly. Yong-guk thrust the papers in front of her.
“All done,” he smirked, tossing the pen onto the desk.
Kim shot him a look, then walked to the copier and shoved in the packets. She hit the green start button, as Sam approached her.
“Uh, Kim, are you all right?” Sam asked tentatively, eyeing Yong-guk suspiciously. Ah, Samantha. Kim now knew it wasn’t her fault that the guys had arrived early. She shouldn’t have been so abrupt with her.
“I’m good, thanks for asking. Sorry for sending you off so suddenly,” Kim apologized.
“It’s okay. Mr. Morillo thinks I’m nuts now, but that’s probably true,” Sam replied. Kim laughed.
“I’ll make it up to you, k? But right now, I need you to come with me and help me tape these copies all over Yong-guk’s damn yacht,” Kim split the large stack in half and handed one pile to Sam.
“Uh...okay?”
“Is this really necessary Kim?” spoke Him-chan, standing up and putting his hands in his pockets. Blast him and his ability to look good. Blast them all.
Not that physical attractiveness had anything to do with why she was agreeing to lease them a yacht. She was going to have a talk with her father about warning her less than 12 hours before he and T.S. sent this lot into her office.
“You know it is, Him-chan. Don’t deny the past. Plus, if something happens to him,” Kim pointed at Yong-guk, “Say, I don’t know, if he dies, then you will be the one that I hold liable for my yacht and any or all damages therein. Now, let’s go Sam!”
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Kim and Sam had covered nearly the entire interior of the Trimaran when Young-jae opened the main cabin door.
“Whoa, what the fuck is all this?” he exclaimed. Young-jae looked the same to Kim, if older. His earrings still glinted in each lobe, and his hair was shorn close on the sides, left longer on top.
“Agreements,” Kim answered back concisely.
Young-jae gaped, but wisely chose not to protest when he saw Kim’s expression. Kim smiled, satisfied. Young-jae and the other four, at least, always had a healthy fear for Kim’s angry moods. Yong-guk, unfortunately, loved to aggravate her. And Him-chan was simply amused.
“You see these?” Kim pointed to the copies, “They better still be here when you all return with my yacht. No tears, no stains, no contraband, nothing! You got me?”
Kim bustled past him and out the door, intent on continuing her mission by taping the remaining papers on the windows and railings. Sam followed dutifully, sending a small “hello” to Young-jae.
Outside, Kim spotted Dae-hyun, Jong-up, and Yong-guk all walking toward the yacht. Each man had a girl on both arms.
“Oh, no no no no no! Yong-guk! We did not agree to this, now did we?” she objected, hands on hips, even though she knew it’d do her no good.
The group boarded the yacht—her yacht, dammit—not minding Kim at all. Him-chan followed last, giving her a sheepish grin. At least he knew enough not to bring girls. Then again, he was probably trying to stay on her good side. He was good at that.
Yong-guk made a show of plucking one of the contracts out of Sam’s hands. He scanned it (not reading it at all, of course), pointed to it with one long finger and said, “Bringing girls is not listed on here.”
Kim was speechless.
Oh, this was not happening! Yong-guk outsmarted her! She was going to draw up a contract just for him the rest of them as soon as she returned to the office, and so help her, it was going to be rock solid.
She stormed past the group, not caring who she bumped into. Him-chan graciously stepped out of her path of rage. He opened his mouth, about to give her some useless reassurances, but she shot him a glare.
He smiled disarmingly instead, “What about your assistant?”
Kim jolted, “Oh, right. Sam, let’s go.”
“Coming!” Sam replied. She shoved her remaining copies into a random girl’s arms and headed towards the prow. Dae-hyun stood in her way, at the entrance.
“Omg, not again,” Sam said, “Can you please move? You’re blocking the passageway. Again.”
“Is that how you talk to your rescuer? Besides, there’s really not that much room now with so many people on the deck. Here. Just squeeze by. You’ll fit,” Dae-hyun said. Kim rolled her eyes. That boy was always flirting; it was like a code in his brain. Worse, he was exceptionally good at it.
Kim could see Sam hesitating, irked. In the end, she sighed, and moved on by, brushing against Dae-hyun as she passed. He just smiled angelically.
“Ignore him,” Kim advised.
“Done,” Sam agreed.
The two walked back to the office.
()()()()()()()()()()
Sam walked intoLe Yacht’slobby to find Kim stomping aggressively back and forth. Her hair swirled about her. Sam remained silent as a survival technique.
“What do those girls see in him?” Kim asked Sam, “He’s not even that attractive!”
Sam walked over to Kim and patted her shoulder, “I know. It’s okay, Kim….He is kind of cute, though,” Kim glared.
“That was a rhetorical question,” she grumbled.
“Oh, well…if the personality doesn’t match the exterior, sooner or later, those girls will figure it out,” Sam conceded, “Maybe.”
“Ah, I shouldn’t care about the girls. As long as they bring back my yacht with no permanent damage, everything will be fine,” Kim sighed. She smoothed back her hair, calming herself.
“One day, you’ll have to tell me about these other yachts that met such terrible ends,” Sam said, “but right now, here. I don’t know if this will make you feel better but I made you this,” Sam pulled out a handmade friendship bracelet from her pocket.
The children at the orphanage had given her one, along with some extra twine, and using spare beads from Ms. Gabriella’s tourist trinket stand, Sam was able to braid a colorful strand last week while Kim was out.
“Happy birthday!” Sam exclaimed, “I know it’s not Fendi or anything but I didn’t know what to get you so…you get this.”
“No, no, it’s really pretty! I like it. Thanks!” Kim replied. Her tone switched immediately from angry to extremely happy, “At least someone remembered.”
Sam helped her knot it around her wrist. It was a lucky thing that she even recalled how to make the gift. The last time she made one, she had been twelve.
Kim held it up to the light, appraising it. She turned to look at Sam, hesitation in her eyes.
“Really, I…thanks, Sam,” Kim said quietly, and then all at once, two arms gripped her in a tight hug. It ended just as abruptly. Kim backed up, seemingly unused to the action.
Suddenly Kim’s father, Derek, burst through the inner office doorway, enthusiasm radiating off of him. His many rings flashed as he spread his arms, stretching yet another Hawaiian shirt across the shoulders.
“Kim! There you are!”
“Dad? You’ve been in here the whole time?” Kim queried, “Hey, you have got to warn me earlier about Yong--”
“Later, Kimmie. Come outside with me!” Derek directed with an outstretched arm.
Kim immediately narrowed her eyes, “Why?”
Without replying back, Derek threw her a brand new key. Kim snatched it out of the air, peering at the insignia. She smiled.
“Another car, hmm?” Kim assumed.What does she mean ‘another’ one?Sam thought.
She followed father and daughter outside to the parking area beyond the dock. There was a big crowd gathered on the paved area, sounds of awe echoing among them.
Sam pushed her way through the crowd, curious, and soon found her jaw unable to resist gravity.
Sam was standing in front of a brand new Lamborghini Aventador J.
The gleam of the hood looked like a dolphin’s hide, all smooth lines and kinetic potential. Fresh, unmarred, wealth immortalized. Sam knelt down on one knee, awe-struck. The tires’ hubcaps reflected her slack face. It was her first time seeing a vehicle so magnificent.
Meanwhile, Kim just walked over, accepting her gift with a cheery grin, patting the door like a new happy parent. Derek smiled, as well, smug.
Sam opened her mouth to speak, but was interrupted by an ecstatic voice.
“Damn, Noona! That’s a sweet ride you have there!” A tall young boy with dyed ochre hair ran up to them. Sam didn’t know why, but she got the strangest feeling that his style reminded her of Yong-guk and his gang.
“Hey! Get away Zelo! You don’t get to touch it!” Kim snapped.Yep. Kim’s using that tone again; this Zelo kid is definitely with Yong-guk.
“But it’s the Aventador! Take me out for a ride?” Zelo asked, hands together in supplication. His expression did not measure up to Dae-hyun’s angelic one, but his youth made up for the difference. Kim, however, held firm.
“No! What are you doing out here anyway? Where were you before?” She inquired.
“Oh...um,” Zelo tapped his chin in thought, then snapped his fingers, “I’m here to wish you a ‘happy birthday,’ of course! Happy Birthday, Noona! The bestest Noona of all!”
“You would’ve been better off without that second part, Zelo,” Kim replied flatly.
Zelo dropped the act, straightening, “Ah, I overdid it, huh?” Sam and Derek both nodded with Kim, agreeing.
“Yes. Leave the outrageous compliments to Dae-hyun. But thanks for the birthday wish either way,” Kim said genuinely, “It’s good to see you, kid.”
“I’m eighteen now, you know. I’m not a kid,” Zelo spoke with the air of someone who said that line often, “In truth, I was finishing up some research earlier this morning, and when I joined them on the yacht, the Hyungs said they would be doing something with the girls soon and told me to leave.”
Kim gripped her new keys.
“What? They’re planning to do…that? Onmyyacht?” Kim took a deep breath, clearly trying (too late, Sam could tell by turn of her lip) to avoid the disturbing thoughts that just popped up in her head.
Zelo was circling the Lamborghini casually, inspecting it from different angles. Sam followed his lead, and touched her index finger to a headlight. She swore it felt like diamonds.
“Noona, c’mon, I bet nearly all of your clients do the “dance with no pants” on your yachts. Yachts are recreational objects after all,” Zelo remarked.
Kim’s disgusted expression froze.
“Ew,” she stated, “I don’t know what’s more perturbing: that what you said is true, or that you’re old enough to talk like that now.”
“Aw, thanks, Noona! I’ll let Yong-guk and Him-chan know you approve of me.”
“OK, fine, I will, but you have to watch the shop for me while Sam and I go on a joy ride.” Kim grabbed Sam’s arm and hauled her over to the passenger side door. It clicked open, and Sam settled into the seat, dazed. The beloved new-car smell wafted into Sam’s nostrils. Somewhere in the back of her mind, a part of her was hyperventilating with glee. Outwardly, she exhaled forcefully, her smile wistful.
“You know, since this car doesn’t have a roof, perhaps you should close your mouth before it catches flies,” Kim remarked amusedly.
Sam snapped out of her awe and stuttered, “Huh? No. I-I mean, yes. Right.”
“So I take it that you like the car huh?” Derek finally spoke up.
“Yes, yes, Appa. You did very well,” she gave her father a quick peck on the cheek, and met his eyes, conveying thanks without words.
“Now, watch the shop with Zelo!” Kim demanded of him, turning to leap right over the driver door. She landed gracefully in the seat and buckled the seat belt.
“Well...you’re welcome!” Derek laughed.
Kim turned over the ignition and the Aventador purred to life. Sam could feel the 700 horsepower rumbling beneath her seat.Not like a cat,she thought,More like a dragon.
Kim expertly shifted gears and pulled out from the parking area, scattering the crowd, who had cheered when the V12 engine roared. She yelled over her shoulder, “Zelo, tell Yong-guk to take back the Ferrari. I don’t need it anymore!”
“Wait, you have a Ferrari, too?” Sam asked, stunned.
“Oh that’s right! You don't have a car...then you can have that one!” Kim said merrily, then returned to yelling, “Zelo, never mind! Don’t touch my Ferrari! I mean it!”
They lurched forwards, zipping across the road in no time.
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Kim whooped in excitement as she and Sam raced east on Highway 22 in her new Aventador.
She accelerated as they came out of the curve. A look sideways told her Sam had a death grip on her seat.
“WHOOOO! Yea! This isawesome!!” Kim let out, thrilled, “Sam, just relax!”
“Um... Kim. You should slow down. Speeding tickets…” Sam warned.
“Man! This is one of those times when I can fully forgive my father his faults, know what I mean?” Kim asked. She exhaled, releasing all the stress that had accumulated since she received that text last night.
“I needed this. I really need to get my mind off those trouble-makers. I swear my headache set up a permanent camp in my brain the moment they arrived.”
“So...are they your friends? You guys seemed really close, with all that teasing, but the way they stress you out, I can’t really figure it out,” Sam wondered aloud, confused. It was a bit difficult to hear her words due to the wind, so Kim slowed down a bit.
The gusts lessened and Sam’s grip eased. Both women took a moment to admire the white-sand beaches to their right before refocusing on the topic.
“Well...sorta,” Kim began, “I mean that guy Yong-guk...he’s a pain fifty percent of the time, but him and Him-chan, and all the other boys…let’s just say we have a lot of history. And Yong-guk and Him-chan took care of me, too…when my mother passed away,” Kim explained glancing over at Sam. She was taking a risk. Sam hadn’t been around when everything happened, so she didn’t know the full implications. Kim hoped to keep it that way. Andy knew everything, and look what happened to her. No, I won’t tell Sam all the details unless I really have to.
“Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to be so insensitive,” Sam apologized. She paused, “Oh man, that means that woman I saw in your family photo…” Sam blanched.
Kim smiled reassuringly, “No worries. It’s fine. I’m still glad you found that picture.”
They were both quiet for a moment. Kim knew Sam was feeling awkwardly guilty.
“Really, it’s okay. It’s been awhile, and like I said, Yong-guk and Him-chan were there for me. I met them even before my mother died. My father…he was never around much. Busy managing things all over the world so…yeah. The two of them and I grew up together. They’re family…in a way,” Kim elaborated.
“How old were you when your mom passed away?” Sam asked, her voice gentle.
“Fourteen.”
“So young!” Sam gasped, cringing, “I keep sticking my foot in my mouth. Sorry.”
“Yes. But’s it’s okay,” Kim reassured, “Really. I’ll be fine.” Once I get revenge, her mind added.
“Okay...so how did the guys first come into the picture?” Sam kindly changed the subject.
“Yong-guk was working as detail for my father, so he just kept an eye on me, too.”
“Detail? As in bodyguard? Wow, he still looks so young.”
“He is. He was only fifteen when he started. That’s when I first met him,” Kim remarked, memories of Yong-guk at that age—tall and gangly, but skilled—flashing in her mind. He had tried so hard back then to be intimidating. Nowadays, he didn’t even need to try.
Sam seemed lost for words, in her disbelief, “Fi...fifteen...? And he worked bodyguard detail?”
Kim grinned, “Haha, yeah. He’s employed by my father’s partner, who groomed him specifically for that type of work.”
“You mean…dangerous work?”
Kim nodded, but didn’t go into specifics, not wanting to scare Sam, “What makes you say ‘dangerous’?” she deflected instead.
“He gives off that vibe,” Sam admitted, playing with the cup holder nervously, “Kim, I don’t mean to pry. It’s not just Yong-guk, you know?” Kim looked at her questioningly, “Okay, you remember when you sent me out on that pointless task to Mr. Morillo? Well, a couple thugs started coming onto me, and Dae-hyun, Young-jae, and, um…that kid with the broad shoulders?”
“Jong-up,” Kim answered.
“Yes, Jong-up. They all came over to help me out. I mean, I’m grateful and all, but the look in their eyes sorta…scared me. Most guys just look like they’re cocky and itching for a good fight, but them? They looked like they’d win the fight. In a very…permanent way,” Sam concluded, looking unsure of Kim’s reaction.
Kim kept her eyes on the road. What was she supposed to say? No way she’d admit that they were T.S.’s mafia hit-squad who had been wildly successful for years perfecting permanent ways—as Sam put it—to end a fight. Or that Kim had also helped them succeed on a few occasions. Or that her father, being a mafia lord himself, approved of her association with them.
She took a breath.
“Yea...well…you know by now that my father owns many businesses across the world. I know he doesn’t look like it, yes, but he does.”
“Apparently so, since he bought you a car that sold for nearly three million dollars when it was first revealed,” Sam pointed out sardonically.
“Right. So, that much success and money breeds enemies. He’s been threatened before through the years. He required protection during those times until things were sorted out,” Kim skirted the truth, but tried not to lie, in case Sam had to be told later on.
Sam leaned back into the passenger seat, quiet. When she spoke, the question surprised Kim.
“So now they’re here because your father—or you—needs protection again,” Sam deduced, a worried look on her face. Her hand clenched at the seat once more.
Not exactly, Kim thought, but she wasn’t about to contradict her. Sam was half right. They were here not only to protect the Le’s, but also what Derek Le currently had in his possession.
“Don't worry, Sam, okay? You're safe with me,” she forced a smile on her face, “It’s just a precaution. The threat isn’t that serious.”
Okay, so that was a lie, but Sam would freak out.
“As long as you just continue doing exactly what I told you before, you'll be fine,” Kim reassured her.
I promise, Kim vowed. Sam was her friend now. She wouldn’t end up like Andrea. She wouldn’t.
Sam just gave her a faint smile, and Kim drove on.
()()()()()()()()()()
That night, Sam was preparing dinner. Mofongo was featured in nearly every Puerto Rican restaurant, and Hector had splurged to introduce her to that particular cuisine early into their friendship. Sam liked it so much, she had peppered the orphanage cook with questions until she’d finally gotten the entire recipe.
Today was mofongo with shrimp day.
Hector came out of the bathroom, took one look at Sam, and asked, “What did those plantains ever do to you?”
Sam stopped mashing, realizing that she had been gripping the masher in a white-knuckled fist. She sighed.
“So how was work today?” Hector hazarded, sitting down at the table as well. It wobbled, but held up. Hector and Sam had found it on the side of the road so they couldn’t complain.
“Well, Kim got a brand new convertible Lamborghini from her dad for her birthday and we took the rest of the afternoon off test driving it,” Sam deadpanned.
“Qué?! Lamborghini?” Hector exclaimed, “And she just took you on a scenic ride?”
“Yep.”
“Huh,” Hector blinked, “So, why do you look…not thrilled? The Sam I know would be bouncing all over the place.”
Sam sighed again. She couldn’t tell Hector about Kim’s past. It was personal, and Sam wouldn’t appreciate it either if the situation was reversed. Kim had heard a lot about Hector from Sam, but she had yet to meet him. Would she trust him as much as Sam trusted him?
“We…also had some interesting customers this morning,” Sam began carefully, while she turned away to continue cooking. Hector went around setting the table.
“And? Were they celebrities or something?” Hector prompted.
“Uh, no. They were returned customers. Kim and Derek knew them really well. In fact, Kim and one guy, Yong-guk, quarreled with each other like brother and sister,” Sam smiled then, “It was actually pretty funny.”
“Yong-guk?” Hector struggled to repeat the name.
“Oh, yea, it’s Korean,” Sam explained, repeating the name slowly. Hector frowned.
“Anyway, there’s, like, six of them. All kind of annoying in their own way, but then again, I guess they are handsome young men used to a rich lifestyle,” Sam said.
“I’m handsome young man, and I’m not annoying,” Hector pointed out, stretching his arms behind his head. Sam chuckled, tempted to reach out and flick his ear.
“Yea, don’t get ahead of yourself, mi hermano menor.”
“I’m twenty. Not ten. But hey, good use of the word ‘menor’ there,” Hector declared.
“Gracias,” Sam said, “You still need the rich part though, right?”
“Yes, that will come in time. Patience is a virtue,” he stated calmly. Sam smiled. Hector seemed more mature than most of the guys she met today, and she felt ridiculously proud of that.
The mofongo was finished now, and she plated the portions and brought them to the table. Hector led the prayer, then Sam picked up her fork.
“Sam,” Hector said. He was using his serious voice. Sam looked up.
“Don’t be fooled by those guys, ok?” Hector warned, his brown eyes locked with her own.
Sam frowned and looked away.
“I-I know, Hector. They…dangerous,” Sam concurred. A thought occurred to her, “Wait, how do you know that?”
“I think I saw them this afternoon,” Hector said. Sam felt her eyebrows rise.
“What? Where at?”
“At the restaurant I work at,” Hector explained, “There were just three of them though, not six, all Korean, wearing really nice clothes and had hundred dollar haircuts, verdad?”
“Yea, sounds like them,” Sam nodded. Who else could it be around San Juan? “Did they do something?”
“No,” Hector denied, “But I know their type. They are no good. Just stay out of their way, Sam.”
His tone brokered no argument, but Sam had to ask, “How do you figure this, Hector?”
Hector didn’t say anything at first, pushing his food around his plate. He seemed to consider something, then opened his mouth to speak.
“There was just this look in their eyes,” Hector said finally, unknowingly echoing Sam’s earlier concerns, “I…Sam, they remind me of Gonzalez’ men. The ones you escaped from.”
Sam froze.
Kim had told her they were bodyguards. Hector was implying they were criminals, evil ones. Sam’s mind couldn’t match the image of those nasty kidnappers with the vibrant young men she had met today.
Who should I believe? Sam thought worriedly.
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