Drunk Woman – 3

I couldn’t believe the scene unfolding before my eyes.

No, to be precise, I didn’t want to believe it.

My precious friend who, until just a moment ago, had touched my heart deeply,

“Se-ah-yaaa, don’t you think this is too muuuch~!?”

“Ahaha, it is a bit too much…”

Was now clinging to my arm, showing such a bothersome side.

…No, how did she get drunk from eating this in the first place? I can’t quite understand…?

Even though they were chocolates containing alcohol, it was only enough to make your tongue feel slightly tingly.

Ye-rin seemed a bit tipsy from the first one she ate, and before I knew it, she had gobbled up five more.

Now both her eyes and tongue were completely loose.

If oppa found out about this situation later and asked why I didn’t stop her, I would like to answer like this:

ㅡ Who would think someone would get drunk from eating just one…?

The boy who brought these Whisky Bon Bons seemed to have noticed the troublesome situation and quickly escaped to his own room, which made me even angrier.

…Just wait until tomorrow, seriously.

“Se-ah, are you lishtening to meee~!? You’re not lishtening!!”

“W-what are you saying~ I’m listening, ahaha…”

Even in this situation, she somehow knew when I was thinking about something else, and whenever I had a different thought, she uncannily sensed it and grumbled as if feeling hurt, which made me break out in a cold sweat.

Moreover, Ye-rin’s conversation topic was basically “beginning-middle-end-oppa is mean,” which made it even more awkward.

“Um… Ye-rin, did you fight with your boyfriend before coming here?”

“We didn’t fiiight!!!”

“Ah, yes…”

ㅡ They fought.

That’s what everyone is thinking… No, it’s true they didn’t fight…

One of the girls who had been watching in bewilderment cautiously asked a question, only to retreat in shock when Ye-rin responded with a “poo-poo-” angry sound.

“Haah…”

Thinking I should buy something like a hangover remedy, I slowly got up from my seat.

Then, Ye-rin, who had been hugging my arm, asked with a startled face.

“Se-ah, where are you goiiing?”

“I need to buy something~ I’ll be right back!”

“Oh, should I come with youuu!?”

I instinctively pressed down firmly on Ye-rin’s shoulders as she wriggled to get up.

“?”

Ye-rin tilted her head and looked up at me.

…Ugh.

She’s too cute. For a moment, I almost said, “Should we go together?”

“…I’ll go alone, so Ye-rin just stay put and rest nicely. Okay?”

“Yes!”

Something that would be unimaginable with the usual Ye-rin.

Seeing Ye-rin nodding her head enthusiastically with high tension.

Though it was definitely annoying at first.

As I kept looking at her, I thought she was becoming cuter, making me think, “I must be in the advanced stages too~”

“Everyone, I’m going to the convenience store real quick, so could you please watch over Ye-rin for a bit? Thanks!”

“Oh, okay. Hurry back!”

“Huh? Why do I need watching?”

I thought I heard Ye-rin’s voice, not understanding what was happening, amid my friends’ sendoff, but,

ㅡ Sorry, Ye-rin…!

I just pretended not to hear.

I urgently left the karaoke room.

**

Finally, Han Se-ah, who had been guarding Seo Ye-rin, vacated her seat.

Seo Ye-rin.

I didn’t know she had gone to study abroad, but as soon as I saw her in the classroom today, I could tell.

That she was that girl who was bullied by kids in elementary school.

Even in my innocent childhood, I thought, “Wow, she’s pretty,” but now that she had become a high school student, she had become unbelievably beautiful.

Without exaggeration, seeing her beauty, which was almost dazzling, made me regret joining others in bullying her when we were young.

The person in question didn’t seem to remember me or care about me at all.

But the more I looked at her, the more I regretted my actions back then.

Honestly, I wanted to be friends with her. I tried to excuse myself by saying I couldn’t help it because everyone else was doing it.

But I kept imagining what it would have been like if I hadn’t joined in and had approached her kindly instead.

Thinking this was my chance, I slightly moved to a different seat.

It wasn’t at all about aiming for her boyfriend’s position. Probably.

I had no confidence in beating that senior I saw this morning, either in looks or physique. I would be lucky not to get my waist snapped if I tried to approach her.

Just.

I wanted Seo Ye-rin to call my name just once. And if I could be a bit greedier, I thought perhaps we could be friends now, even though I couldn’t be back then.

Yes, just that much.

That was the extent of my feelings.

Probably.

“Excuse me…”

When I cautiously spoke to Seo Ye-rin, a reddish tint slowly seeped into her eyes, which had been shining with a yellow light until just now.

Those eyes that were once the subject of ridicule when we were young.

Now, I thought it was unfair that she had such eyes on top of such looks.

Witnessing the change in real-time right before my eyes, I found it not just fascinating but mystical.

Her emotions were reflected in them, right?

What emotion did the red color represent?

Since her eyes were red when she was contemplating something before coming to the karaoke, is it worry, curiosity, or something like that?

Then, does the change to red when she saw me mean that perhaps she’s curious about me?

It’s unlikely, but maybe. Maaaaaaybe, I thought.

“……”

Seo Ye-rin, who had been talking non-stop when Han Se-ah was here, was now just looking at me silently in response to my call.

“You’re Seo Ye-rin… right?”

Feeling somewhat impatient, I opened my mouth again, and Seo Ye-rin quietly nodded.

“You said no earlier, but you did fight with your boyfriend, right?”

“…Eh?”

Excited by the first response from Seo Ye-rin, I unconsciously continued.

“I broke up with my girlfriend after a fight not long ago. If you need someone to talk to about your concerns, feel free to tell me. I’ll help you. Oh, if you’re uncomfortable talking here, later, or let’s have a meal separately…”

“What are you talking about right now?”

“Huh?”

“Why would I fight with oppa?”

“…Wasn’t it,”

“And even if I had fought with oppa, what business is it of yours?”

Seo Ye-rin, with her eyes now completely dyed red, looked at me with her head swaying as if she really couldn’t understand.

I could feel the other kids looking this way too, wondering what was happening.

“What do you mean ‘I too’?! I’m just feeling a little upset, I get along perfectly with oppa!”

Seo Ye-rin let out an “ugh-” as if frustrated, banging on the table.

Then, she unwrapped another Whisky Bon Bon that had rolled toward her due to her banging, and put it in her mouth with a chomp.

“But just a moment ago, you were saying you hate him…”

“Can’t hate him.”

“Huh?”

“I can’t hate him.”

“…Why?”

“Because I really, reeeeally like him a lot…”

Seo Ye-rin chuckled and gently stroked the empty Whisky Bon Bon wrapper with her finger.

Then suddenly, she clutched the wrapper tightly,

“…But why isn’t oppa here?”

“No, of course he wouldn’t be here…”

“When I like him this much…?”

Seo Ye-rin, who had been creating a sentimental atmosphere until just a moment ago, suddenly shuddered with an “ugh…” sound.

She took out her phone from her pocket and started calling someone.

…Is this what being drunk is like?

Watching her emotional state fluctuate like a roller coaster made me feel dizzy, as I couldn’t follow the flow with a sane mind.

“Oppa!”

I was worried, but as expected.

The person Seo Ye-rin called seemed to be her boyfriend.

“I miss you, so come see me, right now! If you don’t…!”

By now, even those who had been singing had fallen silent and were listening attentively.

“Hic, I’m going to cryyyy…”

Sniff.

…She seems to be crying already.

I thought I heard someone urgently calling “Ye-rin!” from the other end of the phone, but.

Seo Ye-rin hung up abruptly, as if she had said everything she needed to say.

“…I should never drink alcohol in the future.”

Someone who had been watching said that, but no one refuted it.

Soon, Han Se-ah, who had returned from the convenience store, asked what had happened upon seeing the atmosphere in the room. After we explained the situation, she made an “argh-” expression and left the room again while making a call somewhere.

And so, after a while.

About 5 minutes later, the karaoke room door burst open with a bang.

The protagonist of this grand entrance was, as expected, that senior from this morning.

Anyone could see he had run here urgently, as he was heaving breaths heavily.

After catching his breath for a moment, the senior looked around the room and soon, upon finding Seo Ye-rin, strode towards us.

At this sight, I slightly moved to a seat further away. Somehow, it felt like I should.

“Ah, it’s oppa~!!!”

Seo Ye-rin, who had been gloomy until just now, immediately smiled broadly and spread her arms as if asking for a hug as soon as she saw the senior.

The senior, who was about to say something while looking at us, seemed to prioritize this first.

He bent down, gently hugged the seated Seo Ye-rin, patted her once, and then.

After asking us to wait a moment, he turned to us.

“Everyone, I’m Ye-rin’s boyfriend. Sorry for barging in suddenly, but could you tell me how much she drank, no, how much she ate?”

When the kids silently looked at the table in front of Seo Ye-rin, the senior also directed his gaze there.

Soon, upon seeing the pile of Whisky Bon Bon wrappers, he sighed and wiped his face once.

“…Did Ye-rin eat all of these by herself?”

When we just nodded silently, the senior let out a bigger sigh with a “hah…”

“If something like this happens again…”

Just as everyone tensed up, shrinking their bodies as if expecting a scolding,

“…Please stop her. Or you can contact Se-ah. I didn’t know either, but it seems Ye-rin is a bit weak to alcohol, so I’m asking a favor, everyone.”

“Yes…”

“And tell the kid who brought this, I’d like to see them tomorrow.”

…He’s screwed.

Everyone present prayed for the soul of the culprit who had brought this trouble and then quickly ran away. Not that anyone really felt sorry for him.

Having finished what he needed to say to us.

The senior turned around again, crouched in front of Seo Ye-rin, and gently took her two hands that were resting on her knees.

“Ye-rin”

“Hee, it’s my oppa…”

“Yes, it’s your oppa. Are you okay? Not feeling dizzy or anything?”

Markedly different from how he spoke to us.

A caring, gentle voice filled with concern was directed at Seo Ye-rin.

“Mmm, I’m fine!”

Contrary to her words, a voice that didn’t sound fine at all was directed at the senior.

“Oppaaa, where have you been? I missed you sooo much!”

“Sorry. I should have come sooner.”

“Uuu… That’s right! It’s all oppa’s fault!”

“You’re right. I admit my fault. Now that I’ve admitted it, should we go outside for some fresh air so I can reflect?”

“Yes yes, I’d like that…”

Despite rushing over at the sudden call.

Far from receiving a thank you, with Seo Ye-rin whining while shaking their clasped hands,

One might expect him to be a bit irritated or annoyed, but.

Without showing any such signs, the senior kindly smiled and accepted even Ye-rin’s disheveled state and.

The eyes of Seo Ye-rin, who was smiling broadly while looking at the senior, were.

Something I hadn’t seen even once today.

Pink eyes, which she hadn’t shown to us, were sparkling, so.

Only then could I realize.

From the beginning.

I.

No, anyone.

Had absolutely no chance to come between the two of them.