Party's Over, Party Just Beginning?
The moment she got the call, Chairwoman Yurim burst out laughing.
She cackled at Yeoncheong for ages, asking how on earth she was only seeing it now.
Then came a round of scolding aimed at the friends who'd come over to play — no matter what, nobody was allowed to die in a place like that.
After the call with Chairwoman Yurim, the ringleader of the whole fiasco, an awkward silence settled over Yeoncheong's home.
"Um... here. Take this."
Suyeon folded the lingerie up neatly, tucked it back into the box that had borne the surprise gift note, and handed it over to Yeoncheong.
The look in Yeoncheong's eyes as she accepted the box was ice-cold.
Returning it is out of the question...
Far too much time had passed; the window for a refund had long since closed. Now she just had to figure out how to dispose of this garbage.
Sensing the need to break the awkward air, Nayun licked her lips and ventured a question.
"You're gonna throw it out?"
"And then what — wear it myself?"
A gaze as frigid as the polar tundra, a voice sharp as a drawn blade.
"N-no, I'm not saying wear it... But look at it, it's obviously expensive. Throwing it away seems like a waste..."
Nayun's voice grew smaller and smaller as she answered.
Still, that one phrase — *expensive* — tugged at something in Yeoncheong's heart.
She had never been one to squander money in the first place, and it was true that living on her own had made her even more sensitive about anything money-related.
Come to think of it, how much was it?
When she thought about it, all Chairwoman Yurim had said was that she should gratefully accept gifts from her elders — she'd never mentioned the price.
Noticing the shift in Yeoncheong's mood, Seoha spoke up.
"That's a pretty expensive brand. Knowing the Chairwoman, she probably splurged."
At her friend's remark, Yeoncheong flinched.
As if dozens of conflicting thoughts were flashing through her mind all at once, Yeoncheong shoved the box straight back where it had come from.
"It's a gift... a gift, so."
Muttering those words, she closed the closet door and surveyed her friends.
"I'm not wearing it. Don't get any ideas. Got it?"
Her face bright red.
Offering up an excuse no one had asked for.
***
Compared to the black lingerie with its surprise gift note, the friends' questions about why there was beer in the fridge were practically child's play.
It belongs to the Chairwoman.
Having already learned a whole new side of the Chairwoman during the clarification call, the friends needed no further explanation.
With two misunderstandings resolved in an instant, Yeoncheong let loose a proper scolding at the friends who had invaded her home.
Fortunately, her anger didn't last long.
If food was to be served soon, she needed to start cooking this very minute.
After sternly warning everyone to sit still and not move a muscle, Yeoncheong began pulling out the ingredients she'd bought from the mart along with whatever was left in the fridge.
Sprawled half-lying on the bed, kicking her legs idly, Suyeon was thoroughly at ease — she knew exactly what Yeoncheong could do in a kitchen.
"What are you making us?"
"Secret."
"Yeoncheong, I'm bored."
Nayun grumbled at the busy, bustling Yeoncheong.
"Go do something on the computer."
The moment the homeowner's permission was granted, Nayun switched the computer on as if she'd been waiting for it.
"You really were a boy, huh. I can tell from the fact that you play this kind of brain-rotting game."
"Is that a compliment or an insult?"
Nayun logged into her own account with practiced ease at the game already sitting there.
A brief exchange followed — *which position do you play?* and the like, the sort of talk only players seemed to understand — until Yeoncheong cut it off, saying she needed to focus on cooking.
Nayun must have plunged into the game too, because she soon went quiet as well.
Hasol, who had been sitting quietly on the bed, stole a glance around and then slithered up out of her seat.
"Yeoncheong, is there anything I can help with?"
Yeoncheong whipped her head around and fixed Hasol with a terrifying glare.
She didn't say a word — just stared — and Hasol slowly sat back down on the bed.
Only then did Yeoncheong smile, nod, and return her attention to the cooking.
Hasol's face plainly demanded an explanation of what on earth that was about.
"It looks like it means 'what kind of guest helps the star of the party?'"
It was Seoha, sitting beside her, who supplied the translation of Hasol's wordless behavior.
Granted, these friends had barged into her home uninvited — but it was, first and foremost, a party to celebrate Hasol and Suyeon's birthdays.
Hasol nodded as if she understood. And yet a small question still lingered about Yeoncheong's behavior.
"Then she could've just said so. Why did she only stare?"
Seoha tilted her head slightly.
"Hmm... maybe she was too embarrassed to say it out loud?"
Yeoncheong, bustling between the two burners, jolted.
Seoha snickered.
The apartment wasn't exactly spacious — she'd clearly heard every word. And Yeoncheong's reaction just now was proof enough of that.
Hasol, touched, murmured Yeoncheong's name under her breath.
Yeoncheong thought she'd made a pointless remark, but seeing Hasol's ears go scarlet, Seoha kept her smile in place.
"Yeoncheong, you two suit each other."
With red ears, Yeoncheong turned her head away and licked her lips.
"Is that a compliment?"
"Of course it is."
Yeoncheong cleared her throat.
She fished the cooked spaghetti out of the pot, set a frying pan on the now-empty burner, and tumbled in the pre-chopped green onions.
For whatever reason, her ears showed not the slightest sign of returning to their original color.
***
The first to sneak over, drawn by the most delicious smell, was Suyeon, who cocked her head.
"This is different from what you made last time, isn't it?"
"Last time I just threw something quick together from whatever was in the house."
When Yeoncheong mentioned there was a desk in the small room, Suyeon said she knew the way and dashed off at once.
"Unbelievable... We played a thirty-minute game for fifty minutes."
Having just finished a heated match, Nayun clicked her tongue at the spread Yeoncheong had laid out.
"Wow... you made all this by yourself?"
There had been a reason she'd rushed around worrying the time might not be enough.
There were braised short ribs, simmered for hours in seasoning until the flavor soaked deep into the meat; dongpa-yu, a slow-cooked soy-braised pork dish that demanded just as much time; a spicy pasta made with scallion oil and streaky beef brisket and chili flakes.
And just in case it wasn't enough, even simple egg sandwiches made from morning bread rolls.
Seeing the full lineup of dishes, Hasol's eyes went round as well.
"This must have cost a fortune..."
Being in the cooking club, worry about the expense came to her first.
Yeoncheong waved her hands, insisting she hadn't made that much and it was fine.
In a flash, Suyeon hunted down the desk and set it up, while the other friends carried over the dishes Yeoncheong had plated, one by one.
In front of the food arranged in clean, colorful dishes, the friends took their seats one after another.
Nayun still shook her head back and forth, as if she couldn't quite believe it.
"Wow... even my mom doesn't do this much for my birthday."
"What are you waiting for? Eat."
Taking her seat last, Yeoncheong looked at Hasol and Suyeon.
Hasol and Suyeon looked at the other two friends, and Nayun and Seoha gestured for the guests of honor to take the first bite, as if it were only natural.
Yielding to their consideration, Suyeon and Hasol each brought the braised short ribs and the braised pork to their mouths.
Yeoncheong swallowed hard as she watched their reactions, looking utterly wound up.
Being confident in her cooking and gauging the reaction of the person eating it were two entirely different matters.
But the worry turned out to be needless.
A appreciative *mm*, a smile blooming across blissfully melting faces.
Relief and joy mingled on Yeoncheong's face as she watched.
"Is it good?"
"Yeah, it's amazing!"
"It's really delicious. This was in that recipe notebook you gave me, right?"
Yeoncheong started to explain, excited, but Nayun stared at her while noisily sucking on her chopsticks.
Catching herself a beat too late, Yeoncheong cleared her throat and said,
"Ahem, ahem... You two should eat too."
Only then did Nayun and Seoha pick up their chopsticks.
The moment Nayun took her first bite, she flashed Yeoncheong a thumbs-up with wide, rounded eyes, and Seoha answered with a satisfied smile.
Relieved at last, Yeoncheong finally picked up her own chopsticks — and so began the riotous party.
***
Yeoncheong glanced over her friends with a slightly apologetic look.
"Was there not enough?"
They'd even asked for rice, so she'd broken out instant rice packets for them.
Yet not a single dish showed the bottom of its plate.
Sprawled flat on the floor, Nayun waved her hand.
"No, it was just right. Besides, there's still cake."
Yeoncheong had deliberately increased the number of dishes while keeping the portions small to show off her skills a little — and they seemed more than satisfied.
Similarly sprawled out beside her, Suyeon offered her thanks along with a blissful smile.
"Yeoncheong, that was seriously delicious. I could eat it every day."
"Saying that won't get you anything, you know."
Suyeon licked her lips at the flustered Yeoncheong.
"If we get married, could you make it for me every day?"
"Wh-what are you saying?!"
Both the one who'd said it and the one who'd heard it went red in the face.
Yeoncheong set the dishes in the sink to soak, then pulled the cake out of the fridge.
"Hurry up and eat your cake, then open your presents."
Yeoncheong brought out the shopping bags she'd hidden in the closet, and the friends dug presents out of the bags they'd brought too.
Nayun sprang up and swiftly stuck candles into the cake.
"You're really going that far?"
"Obviously. Now, lights off."
Yeoncheong had a brief moment of doubt, but remembering it was a birthday celebration party, she went along with her friend's instructions without protest.
Everyone hid their chosen presents behind their backs, Yeoncheong turned off the lights, and as they gathered around, Nayun led off with applause.
"Happy birthday to you~ Happy birthday to you~"
Yeoncheong and her friends clapped in unison as they sang.
Hasol and Suyeon looked embarrassed, wearing awkward little smiles.
"Dear lovely Hasol and Suyeon~ Happy birthday to you~"
The two of them blew out the candles at the same moment, and Yeoncheong flicked the lights back on.
"Huh? Suyeon, why is your face so red?"
Suyeon, who had been fanning herself with her hand over her scarlet cheeks, startled.
"Uh, um? I-I'm just... happy?"
At her flustered state, the friends burst out laughing.
The friends — except for Yeoncheong, who had already given her recipe book — presented their gifts to Hasol first.
When it came to Suyeon's turn, Yeoncheong was the first to hand over an entire shopping bag.
Face slightly flushed, Suyeon checked her present and tilted her head.
"Aroma candles? Didn't you say these were for Siyeon?"
They had definitely been bought together with Suyeon as presents for Siyeon. Before Suyeon could even ask whether she'd gotten it mixed up, Yeoncheong spoke.
"Yours are in there too. I labeled them."
At that, Suyeon examined the shopping bag closely and found several aroma candles with her name attached.
"These?"
"Yeah. I thought about it for a long time, but I still don't really know what you'd like best. So I got the same ones as Siyeon's. Um... you know how they say you're supposed to give twins matching things?"
"Oh... I see..."
There was a faint trace of disappointment in her voice.
Compared to the handmade recipe book Hasol had received, it felt a little underwhelming to Suyeon.
"...And also, I made those myself."
"Huh?"
At those words, light flickered back into her dying eyes.
Yeoncheong paused for a beat, then scratched her cheek.
"Well, it's you and me, after all. Just buying something off a shelf felt wrong. I looked into it and it wasn't that hard, so I tried making them myself... I don't know if they turned out well, though."
"Oh~"
Nayun jabbed Yeoncheong in the side, saying how smooth she was, while Yeoncheong — who'd gotten embarrassed all over again the moment she'd finished explaining — averted her gaze.
Covering her face with both hands, Suyeon whispered in a small voice.
"Thank you... I mean it."
Suyeon's face, even as she said it, was red enough to give Yeoncheong's a run for its money.
And Seoha watched the two of them very, very closely.
***
With the gift-giving done and dusted.
Dinner and dessert are different things, after all.
Yeoncheong and her friends polished off the cake as well.
Having oohed and aahed over their presents and chattered to their hearts' content, the friends now lounged comfortably around Yeoncheong's home.
Yeoncheong stood up to do the dishes and looked down at them.
"You guys should head home now. If it gets too late, it's too dark to go."
At those words, the friends suddenly began exchanging glances.
Just as Yeoncheong was about to press them — what scheme were they cooking up *this* time?
"We're sleeping over at your place."
Seoha dropped the bomb as casually as could be.
Yeoncheong, who hadn't understood the situation — or more precisely, didn't *want* to understand it — asked again.
"What?"
"We're sleeping over at your place, I said."
And to Yeoncheong, whose jaw had dropped open, Seoha added:
"The birthday party's over. Which means now it's time for the pajama party."