Yes, I Am Drunk
It was around one in the morning.
The celebration party for Park Geon-woo had finally come to an end.
"I had so much fun today, everyone! Let's definitely meet up again next time, okay?"
Han Se-rin's cheeks were flushed bright red from the alcohol.
Most of Geon-woo's fellow writers were quite drunk as well.
"Geon-woo oppa, can you wait for me for just a second?"
"Go ahead. I'll clean up here, Se-rin."
"Okay~"
Even though the alcohol was hitting her, Se-rin grabbed her makeup pouch and headed toward the restroom.
She wanted to make sure she looked nothing but beautiful in front of Geon-woo.
"Do you want to go to the restroom together?" she asked the female writers.
"Sure! Let's go, Se-rin!"
At first, Se-rin had been wary of the female writers, but by the time the party ended, her attitude had completely changed.
As they drank champagne and chatted, she realized that the female writers cared for Geon-woo with pure, platonic intentions.
"Hyung-nim!"
The moment Se-rin disappeared into the restroom with the female writers, Yeong-jae and the younger writers rushed over to Geon-woo.
"Hyung-nim! Se-rin is seriously overflowing with charm! It's like an explosion! Tonight feels like a dream!"
"I'm so jealous, Park Geon hyung-nim. I can't believe Se-rin is your fan."
"I think today was the most fun I've ever had, Geon-woo hyung."
Yeong-jae, Seong-do, and another close junior writer who went by the pen name 'Mole' were still riding the high of the evening.
The other writers felt the same way.
Without exception, everyone gave Geon-woo a big thumbs-up.
"Haha..."
Geon-woo let out a soft chuckle.
Memories of Se-rin leading the atmosphere throughout the party flashed through his mind.
"Everyone! I'll mix you a glass of somaek! You're curious about an idol-style somaek, right? Aren't you?"
Se-rin had rolled up the sleeves of her two-piece jacket.
With a beer bottle in her right hand and a soju bottle in her left, she began to sway in a light, graceful dance.
The party room erupted in cheers at the top idol's impressive groove.
What followed was a god-tier display of somaek-mixing skills.
Even while grooving, Se-rin filled the glasses with beer and soju without a single drop out of place.
It was only natural that a warm smile had spread across Geon-woo's face as he watched her.
And that wasn't all.
After mixing the drinks, Se-rin had even grabbed the microphone.
"Your image~ like a violet hue~ softly approached me~"
An old song popular in the '80s flowed from Se-rin's lips.
Her clear, sweet voice instantly transformed the party room into a concert hall.
"Even when loneliness approaches~ do not be sad~"
At that part, Se-rin's deep, expressive eyes locked onto Geon-woo.
It was her gentle plea to him.
Naturally, there was no way Geon-woo could miss it.
Even back when she was just a devoted reader, she had always comforted him through direct messages.
"Geon-woo? Geon-woo?"
"Ah, sorry, Ha-jeong. I was lost in thought for a second and didn't hear you."
It took several calls from Ha-jeong for Geon-woo to snap out of his reverie.
Looking up, he realized the female writers had gathered around him.
"Where is Se-rin?"
Now that he thought about it, Se-rin, who had gone to the restroom with them, was nowhere to be seen.
The female writers began to exchange knowing, mischievous smiles.
"Se-rin? She's fixing her makeup to look good for you, Geon-woo. That's why she's taking a while."
"W-what? Look good for... me?"
Geon-woo stammered, completely flustered.
Following Ha-jeong, another writer, Yu-yu, added to his confusion.
"You do know Se-rin has feelings for you, right, Writer Park Geon? Right?"
"*Cough!* F-feelings?"
Geon-woo was so startled he choked on his own saliva.
"Make sure to treat her well, Park Geon. Got it?"
"Ah, there's no way. You're just teasing me, right?"
Even though another writer, Sup, chimed in to drop a hint, Geon-woo brushed it off with a light laugh.
But inside, his mind was in a whirl.
Se-rin has feelings for me?
He had never once considered the possibility.
Even if that were true...
Geon-woo knew his own situation all too well.
He was merely a web novel writer.
The biggest obstacle, of course, was his poor health.
Above all, Han Se-rin was a top-tier idol who had everything anyone could ever want.
He had never, even in his dreams, thought that he could be a good match for her.
Se-rin is my benefactor, first and foremost. So don't you dare get any foolish ideas, Park Geon-woo.
Geon-woo didn't want to distort Se-rin's kindness and pure intentions.
He wanted to protect the trust they had built over two years as writer and reader.
"Se-rin is just a long-time fan who likes my stories," Geon-woo replied, as if reminding himself.
"What's wrong with you, Park Geon?"
Knowing his personality, the female writers couldn't hide their frustration.
Park Geon-woo was different from other men.
Unlike ordinary guys who were full of useless confidence, he was incredibly cold and harsh on himself.
It was as if he was constantly whipping himself into submission.
"Anyway, thank you for looking out for me. And thank you for taking care of Se-rin today."
Geon-woo quickly changed the subject.
He expressed his gratitude to the female writers.
No matter how warmly Se-rin had blended in, everyone there except Geon-woo was a stranger to her.
Thankfully, the female writers had looked after Se-rin just as they did him.
"Geon-woo oppa!"
Right on cue, Se-rin returned.
Her makeup had been neatly touched up.
"Did you wait long?"
"No."
Even as he answered, Geon-woo found himself staring at her.
Se-rin... likes me? No way.
The words of the female writers kept echoing in his mind, bothering him.
One by one, the writers hailed taxis and left.
Once they had sent everyone off, only Geon-woo and Se-rin were left standing together.
"These guys, seriously..." Geon-woo muttered under his breath.
It was no coincidence.
The female writers, Yeong-jae, and Seong-do had practically planned this exit together.
"Hmm? Geon-woo oppa, did you say something?"
"Nothing. Aren't you cold?"
The streets of Hapjeong in the early hours of the morning were quite chilly.
"I'm fine."
Despite her words, the combination of the cold and the alcohol had turned Se-rin's cheeks and pale hands a rosy red.
What concerned Geon-woo the most was her two-piece skirt.
"You're already so pretty, why did you dress so lightly in this cold?"
To Geon-woo, her skirt looked rather short.
Her matching jacket was thin as well.
Meanwhile, Se-rin's eyes widened.
"W-what?"
She stammered at Geon-woo's casual remark.
Geon-woo, who had always maintained a frustratingly polite distance, had just called her pretty.
He was even worrying about her short skirt.
Of course, Geon-woo was simply worried she would catch a cold, but still.
"Ah... I mean..."
Geon-woo was startled by his own words. He had blurted out that she was pretty without thinking.
But the milk was already spilled.
Besides, he couldn't stand to see Se-rin shivering in the cold any longer.
"Here. This should help."
Geon-woo took off his coat and draped it over Se-rin's shoulders.
"What about you, Geon-woo oppa? Your health isn't even that good..."
"I'm fine. Besides, I owe you again today. Thank you for boosting my confidence. I don't think there's another reader in the world who goes this far to make their writer look good."
At Geon-woo's words of gratitude, deep dimples carved into Se-rin's cheeks.
Geon-woo was just that kind of person.
Someone who always knew how to express his appreciation.
Se-rin tightly gripped the lapels of the coat he had given her.
"It's warm... and it smells nice..."
The coat itself was warm, but it felt like Geon-woo's warm heart was being delivered straight to her.
In the meantime, Geon-woo successfully hailed a taxi.
"Se-rin, you go ahead. I'll catch another taxi and head home."
Geon-woo tried to guide Se-rin into the back seat.
"Um..."
Se-rin hated the thought of parting with him so soon.
They had spent the evening together, but Geon-woo hadn't been alone in the party room.
With so many fellow writers around, and with her busy playing the role of the ultimate supportive fan, the two of them hadn't actually had a proper conversation.
"It's such a shame... Tomorrow is the end of the month, so my schedule is going to be packed..."
Se-rin pouted.
She wanted to spend more time with Geon-woo.
She wanted to talk to him more.
She had barely managed to squeeze this time out of her busy schedule.
"..."
Geon-woo wasn't blind to Se-rin's disappointment.
However, the words of the female writers from earlier kept swirling in his head, making him anxious.
"Se-rin? She's fixing her makeup to look good for you, Geon-woo. That's why she's taking a while."
"You do know Se-rin has feelings for you, right, Writer Park Geon? Right?"
"Make sure to treat her well, Park Geon. Got it?"
Even if there was no chance of that being true, Geon-woo wanted to get Se-rin into the taxi and send her back to her dorm as quickly as possible.
He was afraid his own heart might start to waver.
He felt guilty toward Se-rin, as if he were harboring inappropriate thoughts.
"Ah."
Just then, Se-rin stumbled, losing her balance.
"Se-rin? Are you okay?"
Geon-woo quickly caught her, supporting her weight.
"Are you drunk?"
"Yes. I think I'm drunk."
Geon-woo let out a soft chuckle. Usually, the standard response in this situation was, "I'm not drunk."
Looking closely, he saw that Se-rin was still pouting with disappointment.
After a moment of hesitation, Geon-woo spoke.
"I'll drop you off at your dorm, Se-rin."
"Really?! You mean it?!"
"Huh?"
Se-rin's voice was suddenly crystal clear, as if she hadn't been slurring at all.
"Ah... I'm so dizzy."
She quickly clutched her forehead again, terrified that Geon-woo might change his mind.
"Haha."
Geon-woo couldn't help but burst into laughter at her antics.
"Why are you laughing...? I'm really dizzy..."
"It's nothing. I just thought you were cute, Se-rin."
"What...?"
"Ah..."
Was it because of the celebratory atmosphere tonight?
Words that the usual Geon-woo would never say kept slipping out of his mouth.
Amidst a strange mix of fluttering excitement and awkwardness, Geon-woo and Se-rin climbed into the taxi.
Let's not overthink things that haven't even happened. Se-rin and I just enjoy each other's company, that's all.
The taxi smoothly glided away from the early morning streets of Hapjeong.
Their destination was the Serazade dorm, where Se-rin lived with her group members.