Chapter 259: My Old Friends
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 259: My Old Friends
“Wait, do people really hold reunions in places like this?”
Seo Ye-rin stared up at the massive passenger ship with her mouth hanging open.
To be fair, the reunions we usually imagine involve just booking a restaurant and drinking in a large group. It was only natural for her to wonder if calling this extravagant party a 'reunion' was even appropriate.
“…….”
Senior Ju-hee, standing beside us, also looked a bit taken aback. She seemed particularly unfamiliar with this level of opulence.
“I don’t know either. It’s my first time.”
And I meant it. It was my first time, too.
“I figured it would be somewhere nice, but I didn't expect it to be this over-the-top.”
As we approached to board, the bodyguards guarding the entrance blocked our path. Ju-hee stepped forward to meet them, her posture looking quite professional.
“Only those with invitations may enter.”
“I am one of those invited guests.”
When I gave them my name, Kim Woo-jin, they scanned the list and immediately stepped back.
“My apologies, Mr. Kim Woo-jin.”
“No, no. It’s fine.”
Normally, they would have asked for my name right away. It seemed they had been on edge because my clothes were so out of place compared to the atmosphere of the event.
As we stepped inside, we were given fluorescent bracelets. We were told not to lose them because they were for an upcoming event. Even Ju-hee, who was here as a bodyguard, was made to wear one, though hers was blue—a different color from ours.
“The prizes at a place like this are bound to be luxurious, so I’m actually a bit tempted,” I said with a grin.
Ju-hee’s eyes widened, and she gave a small chuckle and a nod. Until a moment ago, she had felt strictly like a bodyguard on duty, but as I struck up a casual conversation, we were slowly slipping back into our relationship as university seniors and juniors. I found this much more comfortable, too.
“If it’s a shipboard party, we should head out to the deck, right?”
Ye-rin looked around curiously. Seeing an arrow at the end of the hallway, we headed in that direction. As we followed the signs, the night breeze began to blow stronger.
Before long, we arrived on the deck of the passenger ship.
There was a significant crowd, dazzling lights, massive round tables, and a buffet-style spread of food. That wasn't all—there was a separate pool area, and they had even brought in a DJ, with a stage and sound equipment set up in the center.
In front of the stage was a space for dancing, much like a club. The guests were already dressed to the nines and enjoying themselves, even though the ship hadn't even departed yet.
If the word 'extravagance' were to take a physical form, this would be it.
“Wow, I’ve seen this in movies. You know, that one. The one with Senior Leonardo, LetsBe.”
“LetsBe is a brand of canned coffee. You mean Gatsby. And he’s already your ‘Senior’?”
“Doesn’t calling Leonardo DiCaprio ‘Senior’ make me sound kind of impressive?”
“Well, I guess so.”
Ye-rin giggled, saying it was just a joke. She looked at the party with fascination but didn't seem particularly eager to join in.
“…….”
In contrast to Ye-rin, who was making a fuss about how amazing everything was, Ju-hee was frowning. She didn't seem to like this place very much.
“Looks like a waste of money, doesn’t it?”
I nudged her with my elbow and smiled. Ju-hee forced a smile and nodded.
“Yeah.”
She looked like she had more to say.
“It is a waste of money. People who make a lot of money always want to show off how much they’ve earned, so they make a big deal out of everything.”
“…….”
“You don’t need to try to understand them. They aren't trying to understand us, either.”
Everyone has their own way of living. There’s no need to understand it, and certainly no need to force yourself to accept it.
“It’s okay to just talk trash about it. It’s ridiculous, after all.”
“Um, if I’m being honest—”
“If you’re being honest?”
“If you’re being honest?”
Ye-rin and I both looked at Ju-hee, our eyes sparkling with curiosity. Feeling embarrassed, she hesitated before confessing.
“I kind of feel like smashing everything to pieces?”
At Ju-hee’s words, Ye-rin and I burst into laughter at the same time. I guess most people feel the same way deep down.
Seeing us laugh, a small smile finally touched Ju-hee’s lips as she pointed toward a corner. There, people dressed in black suits similar to hers, wearing blue bracelets, were eating light snacks.
“It looks like bodyguards aren't supposed to go any further than this. I’ll keep an eye on you guys from over there, so go ahead and have fun.”
“If the ship doesn't leave in thirty minutes, let’s just go back.”
HOOOOONK!
As if on cue, the ship’s horn blared, and the vessel began to move. I let out a deep sigh.
As soon as Ju-hee left, Ye-rin quickly linked her arm with mine. It seemed she had been mindful of the lingering tension between Ju-hee and me from the past.
Well, we’ve moved past all that now.
Both the Senior and I. There wasn't really that kind of feeling left between us. Nothing had happened on the way here, either.
As we walked further out onto the deck, Ye-rin whispered to me softly.
“Earlier, while I was getting ready, I-seo and Ah-rin told me to keep my talking to a minimum.”
“Hmm?”
“I wasn't sure at first, but since it’s your reunion, Woo-jini, I’m going to try my best.”
She then made a gesture as if zipping her lips.
“Ziiip.”
I couldn't help but laugh at her performance.
“Hey, just talk normally.”
She shook her head firmly. Her stubbornness was cute, but I wanted her to talk for her own sake. I could already hear the noisy whispering around us.
“Whoa, is she a model?”
“Isn't she an actress? She definitely has that actress vibe.”
“Which agency is she with? She’s insane…”
“Ah! I know her. She’s the one who had a supporting role in Casino recently.”
“The one everyone was talking about after the trailer, but then she only appeared for a few seconds and got flak for it?”
“Who’s the guy next to her? Why is he dressed so shabbily?”
“Is he loaded or something?”
“Who here isn't loaded?”
“She definitely had work done. Her chest, too, for sure. Sigh, how many times did she go under the knife?”
“Didn't you have work done, too? Why do you look like that, then?”
The noise from the surroundings drifted over. Ye-rin’s expression darkened slightly as she realized what they were saying. She was someone who didn't crumble under such gossip anymore, but she probably hadn't expected to hear such things in a place like this.
I led her toward the food.
“See? People are the same everywhere. If someone is better than them, they get jealous, envious, and talk trash. It’s all the same.”
“…….”
“If you stay quiet, those voices will only sound louder. I don’t want to hear it, and I hate it even more when you have to hear it.”
So.
“Just talk to me. The only person I want to be with, talk to, and play with here—is you.”
I smiled and handed her a buffet plate. Ye-rin took it, looking touched.
“Okay! I love that! Let’s just play by ourselves and ignore everyone else!”
We started chatting as we piled food onto our plates. The surrounding noise was still there, but we were so engrossed in our own conversation that we soon stopped hearing it.
After gathering our food, we sat at an empty table. There was wine available, but since alcohol was strictly forbidden today, we both declined.
“Wow, this is delicious!”
Ye-rin tapped the table in excitement as she ate. Judging by the natural smile on her face, the food really suited her palate. I tried a few bites myself, and it was definitely higher quality than your average buffet.
“It’s a buffet, so eat a lot. We have to get our money’s worth.”
“I can’t eat too much because of the dress.”
“Still, fill up as much as you can. You don’t get to eat stuff like this often.”
At my words, Ye-rin bit her fork regretfully.
“I wish the others could have eaten this, too.”
It would have been great if Choi I-seo and Yoo Ah-rin had come along. I felt like the food alone made the trip worth it.
“We can just let them experience it indirectly.”
I reached into the crossbody bag I had brought from the dormitory. Just as I was about to proudly declare that this was why I had insisted on stopping by the dorms...
“Mr. Woo-jin, you actually came.”
“Hmph.”
Two people approached us. One was Choi Jin-ah, her platinum blonde hair elegantly braided and wearing a sophisticated dress. The other was a handsome man with an exotic look—skin as fair as a Caucasian's but with brown eyes.
“I’m here. You asked me to come, after all.”
“Hello, we met at the filming set last time, didn't we?”
Ye-rin immediately stood up and greeted them politely. Her mother had certainly raised her well; she was flawless when it came to etiquette.
While Choi Jin-ah and Ye-rin exchanged brief greetings, the man stared intently at me as I ate my steak.
“Your partner?” I asked Jin-ah, gesturing toward him.
She waved her hand dismissively. “This is James. Our classmate, James.”
“James? Why the English name? Did we have a foreigner in our grade? Hi, where are you from?”
When I asked him, the guy gritted his teeth and replied.
“Korea.”
“Oh, you speak Korean? Sorry, sorry.”
“Why are you apologizing in English if you know I speak Korean?”
He looks like he has an 'American mindset,' but he’s surprisingly petty.
“Sorry.”
“Why you—!”
James looked like he was about to explode. Wait, was there really a kid named James? Even if it was from elementary school, I had zero memory of him.
“Were you in a different class?”
“I was in the same class as you from first grade to sixth grade, Kim Woo-jin.”
He even knew my name.
“Hmm, is there some kind of anecdote or something? I need to remember you to greet you properly.”
Even I felt I was being a bit shameless and rude. But then again, it’s not like I’m going to see these people often.
At my question, James huffed and replied.
“Do you remember selling fake cards?”
“Vaguely?”
“Back then, you auctioned them off to the kids, claiming they were legendary cards. I bought one for 50,000 won.”
“……An auction?”
Wait, I think I remember.
“And then, when I was playing a game with kids from another school, I got mocked for having a fake card! When I asked you for a refund, you—!”
“Ahhhhh!”
I remembered! I remembered!
“Bong-geun! It’s been forever!”
“James! My name is James!”
“Wow, Bong-geun! Man, how long has it been? Thanks to you, my elementary school life was so prosperous!”
In my excitement, I tried to hug him, but he shoved my chest away.
“Shut up! It’s James!”
“Alright, Bong-geuns. You came at the perfect time. Jin-ah, you take one of these, too.”
I had been interrupted earlier, but now that there were more hands, it was actually better. I pulled LocknLock containers out of my bag and handed them to Jin-ah and Bong-geun.
“Let’s go fill these up with food together. There are some people I want to take some back for.”
“…….”
“…….”
Both of them stared down at the LocknLock containers with blank expressions. It was strangely frustrating.
“Hurry up. If the owner of the ship finds out, they might complain about us taking food.”
“Mr. Woo-jin.”
Choi Jin-ah glanced awkwardly at Bong-geun.
“James is the host of this party.”
“…….”
A brief silence followed. Beside me, Ye-rin pretended not to see anything and focused intently on her food.
I scratched my cheek a few times before handing the LocknLock container to Bong-geun.
“Pack some of that for me when I leave, Bong-geun-ah.”
“Fuck you.”
His swearing was certainly top-tier.