episode_0368

.

“Ah, Da-bin… Where’d you go…?”

“…Just the bathroom.”

“Aha~ The bathroom… But that way leads outside…”

“Got lost.”

“Aha~”

Truthfully, I’ve never gotten lost here.

I just stepped outside for a bit to call Hayoon’s boyfriend because it’d be weird if I texted him directly in front of her.

…Sigh. Seriously, what a hassle.

Including Hayoon, none of you can hold your liquor well, so why are you all drinking so much today?

Are you that excited she got her first boyfriend?

No, maybe it’s less excitement and more that you all had a lot of questions to pry out of Hayoon.

I replayed bits of the earlier conversation in my head before shaking it side to side.

I don’t get why people are so curious about others’ bedroom stories.

If you’re that curious, just grab a guy and experience it yourself.

Even Hayoon, who’s tipsy, was sweating bullets and looking uncomfortable when bombarded with those questions.

Penalty drinks this, penalty drinks that—normally you’d never play such childish games, so why are you all so insistent today…?

“Hey, hey, last week at church…”

“You’ve told that story four times…”

“This stew is really good… Though the smell sticking to my clothes is kinda…”

“…Huh? Where’s my phone…?”

“Hey, Lee Hayoon… Don’t pass out on the dirty bar table… …Ugh, I’m getting sleepy too…”

“Sigh…”

If even just two—no, one—out of the five of us here were sober, I wouldn’t have had to call Seo Woojin.

I stared blankly at my darkened phone screen before carefully making my way back to my seat.

“Guys. When are you heading home? It’s already 11:30.”

“11:30… Still some time before the last train…”

“You live right nearby, so fine, but what about the others? …Do I have to take care of everyone?”

“Mmm… Da-bin always complains but ends up taking care of us anyway…”

“That’s not the point—when are you leaving?”

“See, she’s already nagging… Back when Da-bin didn’t know any better, this would’ve been terrifying…”

“Idiot. If we weren’t close with Da-bin… hic… we wouldn’t even be out drinking with her…”

“Pfft… True…”

“Hey, stop changing the subject. When are you going home?”

“I’ll sober up a bit first…”

“You?”

“Me toooo…”

Sober up a bit.

Then it should be fine to pay soon.

I’d just sat back down, but I got up again, telling them to pack up while I went to settle the bill.

Five people’s worth of drinks and food wasn’t cheap, but thankfully, I barely managed with this month’s leftover allowance.

I immediately split the cost five ways and sent each of them a message to pay me back later.

That should cover everything I needed to do.

Now, to make sure none of these drunk idiots order anything else…

“Excuse me, hello? I saw there were five of you here earlier…”

“……”

…What does this guy want now?

“Leave. We’re not here for that.”

“Huh?”

“I said leave. Are your ears clogged?”

“…”

…This guy reeks of alcohol too. Maybe he’s drunk and acting out.

After that pointless observation, I brushed past him and returned to the table.

If he were drop-dead gorgeous, I might’ve kept staring, but he’s not.

If he had some impressive muscles to show off, maybe, but nope.

No matter how drunk my friends are, why would they follow someone like you? They’re not idiots.

…Wait, are you doing a dare or something?

I kept the rude remarks to myself, only rolling them around in my head.

“Hey, that table. Are they your friends?”

“…Uh, how…?”

“Most people just glance and move on, but they’ve been laughing the whole time.”

I glanced at the table where my friends were bursting into laughter—they looked just as messy.

Frankly, the guy who approached me was the most decent-looking of the bunch.

I thought they might’ve been doing a dare, but given the situation, they were probably just drunk and reckless.

Especially the guy in front of me—he’d been making an apologetic face this whole time.

“Ah, damn, those bastards pushed me into this… Uh, sorry about that.”

“…It’s fine. I was harsh too, so I’m sorry.”

At least he wasn’t the type to cling endlessly like some guys I’ve seen. This much is bearable.

I nodded politely and sent him on his way before sinking back into the couch.

Da-bin, do you act like this when you’re alone with your boyfriend?

Hayoon’s “boyfriend stories” are probably the complete opposite of this.

I half-listened to my friends’ teasing as it continued.

“Let’s get going. You’ve all sobered up a bit, right?”

“We’re not as good at drinking as you… How are we supposed to recover in 10 or 15 minutes…? Look at Hayoon. She’s still melted like slime…”

“Who said you had to be completely sober? Just sober enough to walk. Come on. You’ll miss the last train.”

“Ugh…”

“Ah, found my phone…”

“Leave one by one. I’ll take care of Hayoon.”

The other three were heading in roughly the same direction and could walk fine, so they’d be okay as long as they didn’t run into trouble.

The real problem was Hayoon.

After just two beers and some soju cocktails, she was completely out. I grabbed her shoulders and shook her gently.

“Hey. Lee Hayoon. Wake up.”

“…Mmm…”

“Don’t whine like that. I’m not your mom… No, whatever.”

“Five more minutes…”

“Stop adding time. If you’re going to sleep, do it at home. It’s the weekend tomorrow—sleep in all you want.”

“Okay…”

“‘Okay’ isn’t… …Sigh.”

No response.

At this point, lifting her seems impossible, so maybe I should just wait here until Woojin arrives.

While debating what to do with Hayoon, I stepped outside to see my friends off.

I’d managed to contact Hayoon’s boyfriend through her phone, and he agreed to pick her up.

I’d stay with her until then, I added.

…I was worried they’d insist on waiting too, but maybe the fear of late-night surcharges got to them—they all headed to the subway without protest.

Good. No extra hassle.

If they were sober, they’d probably have bombarded Woojin with weird questions.

…No, they definitely would have.

After watching them leave, I stifled a yawn and returned to Hayoon’s side.

Luckily, the place wasn’t packed, so we weren’t kicked out.

…Would it have been better to call my boyfriend instead?

The random thought crossed my mind.

“……”

About ten minutes later.

A large shadow approached the table where Hayoon and I sat.

I looked up to see a now-familiar face.

“Did you drink a lot too?”

“…No, I’m fine.”

“Ah, you looked a bit out of it when I came in.”

“That’s because I was spacing out. Obviously.”

“Was it?”

Seo Woojin stood there in casual clothes.

Honestly, I’m more used to seeing him like this than in a school uniform or lab coat.

“If you’re here, do something about your girlfriend. Carry her or something.”

“How am I supposed to carry her? Piggyback, obviously.”

“…Can’t take a joke? Here, help me get her up. I’ll assist.”

It wasn’t really a joke—just unfiltered words tumbling out—but I backtracked awkwardly.

After hoisting Hayoon onto Woojin’s back,

I picked up her forgotten phone,

and stepped outside the greasy-smelling bar.

The slightly fresher air was a relief. I held out my hand to Woojin.

“Take this. Hayoon’s phone.”

“…Ah, I don’t have a free hand right now…”

“…”

Then I’ll just put it in your pocket for you.

The words rose to my throat before sinking back down.

The intention itself wasn’t weird,

…but the action felt awkward.

Whether front or back pockets, it’d be hard not to overthink.

Especially since he’s not just any guy friend—he’s my friend’s boyfriend.

“Uh, then I’ll hold onto it for now… Ah, are you taking the subway?”

“I was thinking of a taxi at first…”

“Good luck catching one now…? They’re usually impossible to get at this hour.”

“That’s what I figured. The subway’s an option.”

“…We’re heading the same way, then. Different stops, though.”

As I finished speaking, Woojin’s gaze, which had been scanning the crowd, briefly turned to me.

Just for a moment. Soon, he looked away again.

“So you’re saying you’ll hold onto it until then?”

“…Just hurry and get on the subway. It’s almost the last train.”

Adjusting Hayoon on his back, he spoke.

For some reason, my reply came out snippy. Clutching both phones, I started walking ahead.

…My load increased.

Not literally.

Just someone else to keep an eye on.

– This station is Jongno 3-ga, Jongno 3-ga Station…

“……”

Woojin seemed fine while carrying Hayoon, but the moment he got a seat, he started nodding off like it was nothing.

Beside him, Hayoon slept with her head against his shoulder.

It’s barely past midnight—normally, I’d be tired but still functional at this hour.

Maybe he’s just an early sleeper?

…Or maybe he had a particularly exhausting day.

I sighed softly, leaning my head against the pole.

Watching the two of them from across the train, they looked unmistakably like a couple.

…Well, of course they are.

Hayoon seems to like Woojin well enough,

and Woojin—despite getting caught with a sex partner by me—claimed he was serious about Hayoon.

Not that I 100% believe him.

I’m sure he’s hiding another sex partner somewhere—that’s the level of suspicion I’m keeping.

I’m bracing myself for eventual disappointment.

But right now, they’re unmistakably a couple.

Unlike me, sitting alone and staring at them,

they’re so much more…

“……”

Did Baek Ji-ho and I ever look like that?

If we’d clung to each other like that, I’d have cringed and pushed him away.

Lost in thought amid the bustling crowd,

I leaned my head against the pole and sighed again.

The way Woojin and Hayoon are now…

…I can’t recall a single moment like that with us.

Maybe it’s natural.

Baek Ji-ho and I started as childhood friends… or something like that.

That’s the vibe of our relationship.

You know how married couples joke sometimes?

Like when asked how often they have sex…

or anything intimate, they’ll say, We’re family—we don’t do that.

That’s exactly what my relationship with Ji-ho feels like.

…Not that I dislike it,

but…

“Ah.”

Right.

Hayoon needs to get off at the next stop.

I hoped she’d wake up on her own so I wouldn’t have to get up, but no such luck.

Reluctantly, I stood and nudged the one who was still conscious—Woojin.

“Wake up. We’re here.”

“…Must’ve dozed off. Been tired today…”

“Whatever… It’s late anyway.”

…His shoulders are surprisingly firm.

I kept the observation to myself.

“Take your phone. And wake Hayoon up. If she’s completely out, it’ll be hard to move her.”

I handed Hayoon’s phone over, and Woojin drowsily held it against his own. His larger hands made it look effortless.

Meanwhile, both of us kept shaking Hayoon, but she was still out.

If anything, she nuzzled closer, like an affectionate puppy.

“……”

This was the problem.

“Noona. Wake up.”

“Mmm…”

…Can he really get her home like this?

Having done all I could, I gripped the handrail and watched.

The station announcement played again.

The train slowed to a stop.

“I’ll go ahead. Hope you two get back safe.”

“……”

Woojin staggered slightly, adjusting Hayoon’s weight.

Even then,

I still hadn’t realized

my mistake.

“…Huh?”

The phones.

Mine and Hayoon’s look similar.

…And I wasn’t completely sober either.

I’d given him the wrong one.