Everyone Says They're Fine

Everyone claimed they were fine.

"Hahaha, that was legendary. I only found out because my viewers told me."

"No, I'm telling you — it's circulating as a clip. Someone reposted it and I even saw it on Vtube Shorts yesterday."

"Isn't that just proof of how successful it was? World-class, man. World-class. Drink up."

It didn't take long for the whole group to get properly buzzed.

Fools get merry just from looking at each other's faces — another of alcohol's little magics. Even the stiffest, most socially awkward person in the world would eventually start showing a screw loose if they kept drinking long enough.

Any awkwardness from the first meeting had long since evaporated. Everyone's faces were flushed a comfortable red, voices raised, laughing over nonsense that didn't matter in the slightest.

"Shall we hit a third round soon? Third round?"

"Ugh. I'm starting to hit my limit."

"What, how much have you even had? Hyung, are you a lightweight?"

"You try being this age. It's not like it used to be, okay? Hyung is twenty-nine. Twenty-nine. Mid-twenties and late twenties are a whole different game—"

"Oh, here we go again. So are we going or not?"

"We're going. We absolutely have to go."

"Right? Once everyone starts streaming on their own, getting together like this again is hard."

They had left the restaurant — the site of their first meeting — a long time ago.

They were now at a trendy bar Hakchu had recommended. At the restaurant, the meal had been the main event, so the only alcohol on offer had been wine. This place was different. They'd drunk so much here that it practically felt like the real main event — especially Hangang, Limetaq, and the rest of the guys.

Limetaq's claim that he could hold his liquor hadn't been empty boasting; his face was only slightly flushed, and he still looked completely fine. Hangang, the oldest at the table, had been matching him drink for drink and was already going a little soft around the edges. Still, his insistence that they could push through a third and even a fourth round hadn't been empty talk either — he kept putting one foot in front of the other even while complaining about how tired he was.

"Nobody said they had plans tomorrow, right? Perfect. So we're all going the distance tonight?"

"Hyung, that line just now was pure middle-manager energy."

"For real. Next he's gonna suggest a weekend hiking trip."

"Pfft. Hiking."

"What's wrong with hiking? I like hiking."

The outside air seemed to have cleared Hangang's head a little. He looked around at the group.

"Okay, that was a joke — if anyone's actually tired or wants to head home, go ahead. Honestly, we've already drunk a lot just getting through the second round. No need to feel pressured, right?"

Then he turned to the ones who still hadn't given a clear answer, unlike Limetaq and Hakchu.

"Ririyang, Hoon, Teacher — you all good?"

"Yeees."

"I don't have anything tomorrow, so I'm fine."

"Same here."

At the chorus of yeses, Limetaq opened his mouth in surprise.

"…Is nobody dropping out?"

"Right? That's rare. Guess this really is our team."

"This is the kind of chemistry that wins championships, you know."

"So where are we going? Oppa, know any places?"

"There's a decent hop house nearby… it's the kind of place where the dried snacks are really good. Does everyone eat stuff like dried squid?"

He said "everyone," but Hangang's gaze was pointed somewhere very specific.

Ririyang, who by now was half-leaning on someone as she walked — and that someone was Kayak, serving as her personal support beam.

Ah. Hakchu made a small sound of understanding. That was it. Even she had trouble picturing someone with a face like that chewing on dried squid. It was a face that belonged in a wine bar or a cocktail lounge. The kind of person who'd snack on cheese, somehow.

Though that image didn't quite hold up, considering Kayak had been drinking soju at ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the trendy bar earlier and smacking her lips like she wanted more while Ririyang tried to keep her in check.

Kayak, who'd been looking somewhere else entirely, belatedly noticed everyone staring at her and opened her mouth.

"Is something wrong?"

"Ah, yes. Teacher. We're thinking of going to a hop house — are dried snacks okay with you?"

A soft laugh slipped out. It came from Kayak.

"I like dried pollack and dried young pollack too. And something with broth… fish cake soup would be nice if they have it."

"They do have fish cake soup. Teacher knows her stuff."

"Her tastes are surprisingly old-school…"

Hangang clapped his hands together, and Hakchu nodded as if she hadn't expected that.

"More importantly… is Ririyang going to be okay going to a third round? I feel like she should head home soon."

Kayak looked at Ririyang, who was still half-leaning against her. She definitely didn't look fine. She'd been perfectly sharp through the first round.

It was probably because of what had happened earlier. Ririyang had stuck right to Kayak's side under the pretense of controlling her drinking — and then proceeded to drink everything herself.

Hakchu clicked her tongue with a note of regret.

"Should we send Da-hee home now? We have to hit the main road to get to the hop house anyway, so she can just grab a taxi from there."

That was when it happened. Ririyang — Da-hee — who had been wobbling along, suddenly shot her right hand straight up into the air.

"No! I'm completely! Fine!"

Unfocused eyes. Flushed face. Raised voice.

"You don't seem fine."

Anyone could see she wasn't normal, and Kayak had just pointed it out with surgical precision.

Ririyang looked at Kayak with the face of a rain-soaked puppy.

"Teacher…? Are you trying to send me home?"

"You just looked tired."

"I'm not! I'm not tired at all!"

As if determined to prove she was fine, Ririyang peeled herself off Kayak and started walking on her own, step by careful step.

From the wooden bench all the way to the fountain up ahead, Ririyang trudged along. When she finally reached the edge of the fountain, she turned around with a triumphant expression.

"Did you see that?"

"See what…?"

"I can walk perfectly well without Teacher's help! A drunk person couldn't walk this steadily! Okay, I'm not saying I'm completely sober! But I'm not so far gone that I need to go home!"

Hakchu and the others held their tongues. None of them bothered to mention that Ririyang had been weaving and failing to keep her balance the entire walk to the fountain.

Kayak played along too.

"Hmm… you're right. I must have been mistaken."

"Exactly! I'm staying till the end, and I'll leave when Teacher leaves!"

Somehow Da-hee feels more like the little sister here.

From what Hakchu had heard, Ririyang was twenty-three and Kayak was twenty-one. But right now, it looked for all the world like Ririyang was the younger one. Compared to Kayak's long limbs, Ririyang was on the petite side — maybe it was just the height difference, but that was how it felt to Hakchu.

"Alright, alright. Let's get moving. Right turn from here."

Following Hangang's lead, the group slowly started walking again.