Ch.4545. Drunken Truth

There are people who sometimes completely change their personality when alcohol enters their system.

This happens because their normally suppressed true nature unconsciously surfaces due to ethyl alcohol…

Whatever the reason, that’s not what matters here. What good would it do to coldly analyze this situation?

After being momentarily flustered by the fact that the drink Hwa Nabi had downed was alcohol, I gradually came to my senses and spoke to her.

“Nabi, are you really okay?”

Hwa Nabi still seemed displeased, but at least she responded.

“Huh? What do you mean am I okay?”

“The drink you just had, it’s not just a beverage, it’s alcohol.”

At 10 percent alcohol content, it’s quite strong for a beer. Yet Hwa Nabi emptied it in an instant without hesitation. While it varies from person to person, someone who can’t handle alcohol well would definitely be feeling the effects by now.

Judging by her flushed cheeks, that seems to be the case.

“Oh, really? That’s strange. It clearly said diet drink on it.”

“…What country in the world classifies beer as a diet drink?”

If someone had developed such a beer, they’d probably be sitting on a mountain of money by now.

It would likely be a new sensation in the alcohol industry. Women who love drinking would go crazy for it.

“Well, I guess not then. I must have ordered the wrong thing.”

Hwa Nabi reached out for my portion of the drink—no, the beer. Alarmed, I quickly moved to the table and snatched it away.

“Hey, what are you doing?”

“What do you mean? I’m trying to drink alcohol.”

“…What did you say?”

Since when did underage drinking become something you could openly talk about in Korea? Hwa Nabi declared it so confidently that for a moment I thought I was the one in the wrong.

“If you’re not going to drink it, give it to me. I’m thirsty.”

“If you’re thirsty, why drink alcohol? Don’t you know alcohol makes you more dehydrated?”

“How would you know that, Siwoo?”

“Huh? Well…”

My mouth opened to answer “because I’ve tried it,” but then abruptly stopped. I realized such a response would be pointless.

After all, if I tried to discourage drinking based on my own experience, wouldn’t I be just like those hypocritical adults saying “don’t do what I did”? It would be even worse since I’d be telling her not to do something I’ve done myself.

“How would you know? Have you been drinking behind my back?”

“When you say ‘behind your back,’ it makes me feel like I’ve committed some terrible sin…”

“…So that means you have drunk alcohol before? Then why won’t you let me drink?”

The first time I tasted alcohol was during my university freshman orientation.

So technically, I drank legally… but explaining that would just get me labeled as delusional or mentally unstable, wouldn’t it?

I carefully chose my words before finally answering.

“Why? Because it’s illegal for minors to drink alcohol.”

“…What are you talking about? It’s illegal for minors to purchase alcohol, not to drink it.”

Hwa Nabi’s statement was technically correct.

Yes, under current law, only the “purchase” of cigarettes and alcohol by minors is illegal, while there aren’t really specific penalties for smoking or drinking.

Of course, drinking in alcohol-prohibited areas would be punishable, but this wasn’t such a place. Legally speaking, there was no issue.

Well, if we were to assign blame precisely, the VVIP lounge staff who served alcohol to minors would also be responsible, but what fault is it really of the staff? Hwa Nabi ordered so confidently that the staff probably didn’t realize we were minors.

“…Huh?”

As I was about to let it go, a chilling feeling suddenly rose from the pit of my stomach.

…The staff didn’t know we were minors? That doesn’t make sense.

Typically, customers with VVIP status are separately listed and managed by the company. And Hwa Nabi is undeniably a VVIP of this hotel. That fact is evident just from the bracelet I’m wearing now.

Right. Even if they didn’t recognize me as a first-time visitor, they couldn’t possibly not know Hwa Nabi, who is a VVIP customer of the hotel.

Having reached that conclusion, I gulped.

What if the alcohol placed before us wasn’t a mistake by the lounge staff?

What if Hwa Nabi had actually ordered alcohol?

…It’s just a hypothesis, an absurd one at that.

But what if Hwa Nabi knew it was alcohol and deliberately ordered it, planning to make me drink it…?

“Heh, then that’s fine.”

For a moment I had such suspicions… but they quickly disappeared.

It’s just my imagination. How could this girl, smiling tipsily from alcohol, have planned something so elaborate? And for what purpose?

Unless she was trying to play a prank on me, she wouldn’t have done that. There’s no reason for her to.

“…Still, no alcohol.”

“Aw, why not? I want to drink more. I told you I’m thirsty.”

“If you’re thirsty, why drink alcohol? …No, wait. I’ll get you some water.”

“Then I’ll come with you.”

“I don’t mind, but can you stand up?”

“Of course. I’m completely fi—”

Wobble.

As soon as she spoke, Hwa Nabi lost her balance. Having anticipated this, I quickly grabbed her shoulders and pulled her into my arms.

I was relieved she didn’t fall, but I still lightly scolded her.

“…You should have just stayed seated.”

“No, that’s not acceptable.”

“Why not?”

“Why? Because you were planning to leave me here and run away. Did you think I wouldn’t notice?”

“…Why would I run away?”

“Who knows? Maybe you wanted to ditch me and drink by yourself?”

Hwa Nabi seemed to find her own words amusing, suddenly smiling and then grinning broadly.

…The way she rambles whatever comes to mind is typical of drunk people. Though her loosened state due to the alcohol was cute, it was somewhat overwhelming to handle.

I sighed deeply without realizing it.

“Siwoo, they say if you sigh without reason, your good fortune runs away.”

“Since I’m sighing because of you, it doesn’t matter.”

“Really? Why because of me?”

Saying that, Hwa Nabi subtly leaned her body against mine. The alcohol seems to be making it difficult for her to stand properly.

“You’re asking why? …Anyway, be honest. It’s hard for you to stand, right?”

“Yes, a little. I don’t know why, but my head feels fuzzy.”

She’s definitely drunk. I was worried she might stubbornly deny it, but fortunately, she admitted it readily.

“Then, do you want to go back and rest?”

“…I don’t want to. I want to stay a bit longer.”

“Why? You said your head feels dizzy. Wouldn’t it be better to rest?”

The evening recreation was optional anyway, so there wouldn’t be any problem if we skipped it. That’s why I suggested it, but Hwa Nabi shook her head slightly.

“No, I want to stay here with you, Siwoo.”

“I understand how you feel, but I need to rest too.”

“…Do you dislike being with me?”

“…It’s not that.”

“Then it’s settled.”

That’s not something to settle so easily. There were words rising to my throat, but I swallowed them and tried to focus.

She doesn’t understand how others feel, and she’s asking difficult questions while wearing an outfit that makes it hard to know where to look… To be honest, it was very troublesome.

“Alright. Alright, but first let’s put something on. It’ll get chilly once the sun sets.”

“Oh? Siwoo, are you ordering me around right now?”

“…It’s not an order, it’s a request.”

True to being drunk, she had a talent for twisting people’s words.

“Hmm, really? It’s a request, not an order?”

“Yes. Please, let’s just do this.”

For the sake of my mental health, at least.

“Siwoo, how should one make a request to someone?”

“Well, politely… I guess?”

“Bzzt, wrong. The correct answer is, ‘I’ll grant one of the other person’s requests too.'”

I didn’t have the courage to ask “What’s your request?” so I just asked with my eyes.

Then, after taking a deep breath, Hwa Nabi exhaled slowly and said:

“…Please hug me tight.”

“…”

Hwa Nabi was already half in my arms, so I wondered if this was really necessary, but arguing seemed like it would only make things worse.

So, I decided to comply with her request.

I moved my arms from around her shoulders to her back, applied a little pressure, and pulled her closer.

With that simple series of movements, Hwa Nabi buried her face in my chest.

With her arms around my back, she suddenly murmured:

“Siwoo. Being like this, doesn’t it remind you of what happened not long ago?”

“…When are you talking about?”

“You know, about a month ago. Under the streetlight.”

“Ah…”

That did happen. Come to think of it, the positions were reversed this time.

The hug under the streetlight was initiated by Hwa Nabi, but this time, I was the one who hugged her first.

“Siwoo, can I make one more request?”

“What is it this time?”

“Um, can I touch your back?”

“…You’re already touching it.”

She seems to think I haven’t noticed… but Hwa Nabi was already gently caressing my back with her fingertips.

Since I was in my swimwear with no top on, it was impossible not to notice.

“Heh, you’re right. Our Siwoo. How can you be so obedient? Good boy, good.”

…What is this, treating me like a pet? And why is her tone like that? And if she’s going to say such things, shouldn’t she be patting my head?

Hwa Nabi was unnecessarily seductively playing with my back, which didn’t seem like a situation where “good boy, good” would be appropriate at all.

“So… how long are you going to keep touching? It’s going to wear out at this rate.”

“…Why? Do you dislike me touching you?”

“It’s not that, but it’s unfair, isn’t it? I’m not doing anything.”

I said this hoping she might stop.

But I didn’t expect this response:

“Then… you can touch me too.”

Given our position, I couldn’t see her expression, but her earlobes were bright red.

…Is it because of the alcohol?

“Th-that’s a joke, right? If that’s the case…”

“…Just, 10 seconds.”

“…”

“Really, just for 10 seconds… I think it would be okay.”

…Without a doubt, this was the greatest crisis of my life.