It’s the Alcohol’s Fault

Eating, drinking, and having pleasant conversations. In the naturally formed atmosphere, everyone seems to have put down their heavy burdens, showing a game-like demeanor.

“Hmm…”

In this kind of atmosphere, alcohol is a must.

Sohee prepared the alcohol by having people get it, as I requested. From light canned beer to readily available soju.

Sohee, who had intended to bring out expensive liquor, didn’t seem to understand my choice.

“Why did you specifically choose the cheap stuff?”

“Because it’s easy to drink comfortably.”

Sohee still didn’t seem to understand my answer, tilting her head and coming to sit next to me.

I shook the cup in my hand, observing the guild members.

The orange juice in the cup slowly sloshed around.

The types of alcohol brought for the guild members to drink are commonly seen brands. Not expensive, and anyone can drink them anywhere. Since there’s no pressure, they reach out without hesitation.

Although they’re pretending not to, some guild members were feeling uncomfortable in this setting.

That atmosphere needs to be diluted for smooth interaction to occur.

That’s why I didn’t choose expensive alcohol.

I quickly scanned the surroundings.

Everyone’s gazes are scattered in all directions.

No one was watching me.

Even Sohee next to me was checking her phone, so now was the chance.

I shake the soju bottle I had secretly stashed away and pop the cap.

The moment the soju bottle cap flew off and fell to the floor, rolling around, I tilted my glass and poured soju into the orange juice.

Golgolgol-

My head burns white, sharpening my senses.

The swift, decisive action successfully accomplished what I wanted.

Now that the goal is achieved, I quickly hide the remaining soju bottle under the table.

At that moment, Sohee raised her head with good timing.

“Juice… did you get more?”

Sohee’s gaze was directed at the juice glass in my hand.

She seemed to find the sudden increase in the amount of orange juice strange.

I shook my head and tilted it slightly.

“Nope?”

A complex and deep orange scent covers the alcohol scent and quickly goes down my throat.

The taste goes down without hesitation, vividly reviving hazy memories.

The aftertaste that stimulates the tip of my tongue still has a strong alcohol scent.

“Ha-“

Feeling the slightly bitter aftertaste and the strong scent of orange juice at the same time, I was certain.

This body is incredibly weak to alcohol.

It hasn’t been long since I drank it, but a subtle heat was spreading throughout my body.

The feeling isn’t bad. It’s actually pretty good.

A moderate buzz makes me feel good.

But it’s a shame. As I lightly smack my lips, Sohee’s sharp gaze is directed at my face.

Why is she looking at me like that?

“Is there something on my face?”

“No.”

The heat spreading throughout my body gradually began to amplify, asserting its presence.

I feel slightly limp. I leaned back in my chair as if collapsing.

“Hueung.”

It’s a shame. I want to drink more.

If I could just empty one more bottle, I think I’d feel really good…

I carefully poured orange juice, watching Sohee’s reaction.

The moment the shimmering yellow liquid filled the clear glass, Sohee got up from her seat.

“Sohee-ya?”

“Just a moment, I need to take a call. My dad’s calling…”

Sohee said, sounding genuinely sorry, and got up from her seat, leaving the hall.

I was left alone. The gum stuck to my side had finally disappeared.

Harang was also busy mingling and playing with the guild members. The other guild members were also drinking and having fun.

I didn’t feel any gazes. No one is focusing on me.

This is my chance.

I quickly crawled under the table.

There, the bottle of soju I had hidden was sitting alone.

It’s about 2/3 full.

I smiled lightly and started mixing soju with orange juice, sipping it.

I don’t know when she’ll be back. I couldn’t even properly savor the taste.

Sip sip sip.

With each sip, the color of the orange juice gradually faded.

I emptied the bottle of soju in an instant. I kept gulping down the glass, thinking I had to drink it while I had the chance.

“Aigoo~”

My tongue started to slur. But who cares? I felt good.

My arms and legs feel limp. A happy smile spreads across my face. To feel this happy with just one bottle of soju.

Middle school girls are the best.

Heat flares up throughout my body.

I spread my swirling, shaking palms and caress my face.

My senses are jumbled, but the touch I feel is clear.

My vision spins, and I flop onto the floor.

My head is spinning, but my body, stuck to the floor, isn’t rotating.

That contrasting sensation is strange and familiar, making me laugh.

“Hihikheet…”

My face is reflected in the empty soju bottle that fell to the floor.

My small, cute face is getting farther and farther away.

I reached out and flailed, but my fingertips didn’t catch the soju bottle.

The rolling soju bottle slipped out from under the long tablecloth.

“Huk…!”

I quickly got up.

There’s no time for this. I had to get back to my original seat before Sohee returned.

I crawled on my hands and knees, peeking my head out from under the table.

Thanks to the long tablecloth, only my head would be visible.

I surveyed the situation outside in that state.

Thankfully, Sohee was nowhere to be seen.

It seems she hasn’t finished her call yet.

I let out a sigh of relief and crawled out.

“What… are you doing?”

“Oii…”

As I crawled on the floor like a puppy, a long shadow fell right in front of me.

Thinking ‘what the heck,’ I raised my head and saw Harang standing there with a dumbfounded expression.

That lanky bastard. Why is he so tall?

I frowned and got up from my spot.

Even after evolving from quadrupedal to bipedal locomotion, I had to tilt my head painfully to look at him.

I didn’t like that.

“What… did you drink alcohol?”

“A little?”

I drank a little. Why, is that a problem?

I tapped my wobbly legs and returned to my original seat.

The path keeps shaking. You punk, you. Stay still.

Taptap-

I imitate Harang’s footsteps. Like a dinosaur.

“Is this bitch crazy…”

Crazy? Me?

Unbelievable.

A hollow laugh escaped my lips.

I’m not crazy. I properly returned to my seat and sat down.

If I were crazy, I wouldn’t be able to sit in a chair in such a perfect manner.

“Where did Sohee go?”

This guy is still after Sohee.

I glared at Harang and grabbed a can of beer next to me.

The seemingly large can of beer slowly came along in my small, white hand.

“Hey!”

At that moment, a hand suddenly reached out with Harang’s horrified voice.

It was clearly an evil hand trying to snatch the can of beer from me.

My head burns white. I start to summon that feeling like when I’m playing a game.

Beep- Beep- Beep-

Short flashes of light momentarily illuminate my vision.

The reaction was a little strange compared to before. It felt like I was in a dream.

My small, flexible body moved quickly, evading all of Harang’s touches.

But I had no strength. I collapsed onto the table as is, dropping the can of beer I was holding.

“Hueae~”

Rolling rolling rolling. The can of beer rolled away and fell with a thud.

“Ah. I’m going crazy…”

My vision flickers on and off.

Harang’s voice was heard scattering beyond my hazy mind.

My arms and legs are burning. It wasn’t just there. My whole body was hot. It’s hot. My eyelids kept getting heavy.

If I close my eyes, I feel like I’ll fall asleep right away.

I went straight up onto the table and lay down.

Lying down was more comfortable than sitting in a chair.

I lay there, blankly feeling the time passing.

Slowly, very slowly, the light flickers.

Beyond my flickering vision, I could see Sohee with a somehow urgent expression.

“Hayun-ah…”

“Hello.”

Did she finish all the important calls?

I got up from my seat.

But my body wouldn’t listen. So I just gave up on getting up.

“Oppa… did she drink alcohol?”

“I think so…”

“Hayun-ah, get up…”

I didn’t want to get up. Or rather, it would be more accurate to say that I couldn’t get up.

I frowned and shook my head.

“Ah…”

“I’ll take her for now. Oppa, please sort things out with Iyap-nim.”

“Me, me?”

“Yes, Hayun is like this. The gathering can’t proceed any further.”

“Ugh… okay.”

“Thank you. I’ll lay Hayun down and come back, so please take care of things until then.”

Lay me down, lay me down? Where?

As I blinked with blurred vision, Sohee lifted my body with a groan.

Sohee is stronger than she looks…

The moment I was blankly admiring, my consciousness broke.

***

The first thing I felt when I came to was a splitting headache.

My head throbbed so much that it couldn’t be compared to a normal hangover.

It felt like several giant dinosaurs were stomping around in my head.

“Ughhh…”

A parched voice flowed out weakly.

I strained my eyes, which were hard to open, and only then did my blurred vision slowly begin to recover.

The sensation in my body slowly returns. Only then did I realize that this place was not my room.

I carefully pulled back the soft, cozy blanket.

I was wearing unfamiliar pajamas. It was a soft, flowing white negligee.

“Ah…”

I sat on the edge of the unfamiliar bed and stroked my forehead. Only then did hazy memories begin to surface.

I emptied a bottle of soju without Sohee knowing… crawled on the floor… and even stomped my feet, saying the road was shaking.

I let out a deep sigh and wiped my dry face.

What kind of disgrace is this? I showed a very unsightly appearance in a place where I should have been setting an example as the guild leader.

The guild members must have been disappointed.

“You’re already awake?”

At that moment, a familiar voice was heard from behind with a rustling sound.

Why is Sohee’s voice coming from right behind me?

The moment I had that question, a hand reached out from under the blanket and hugged my neck.

“Ah-!”

The moment I let out a short scream, my body was pulled back abruptly.

I was pulled as is and embraced in a soft, warm embrace.

“It’s still early morning. Sleep more.”

“So, Sohee-ya…?”

“Yeah. It’s me.”

“Th, this is…”

“I’ve already told my family too. That I’m sleeping over with you. The guild members have all gone back, so don’t worry.”

Sohee spat out all the things I would be curious about.

Then, she hugged my body even tighter.

As if she had no intention of letting go.

“It’s okay. Be comfortable.”

Sohee said that and pulled up the blanket.

Sohee’s scent was filling the blanket that covered me up to my head.