Chapter 492: Civil War
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 492: Civil War
“…….”
“…….”
Both of their gazes shifted toward Seo Ye-rin at the same time.
The final and ultimate decision-maker.
One of the pillars in our family’s separation of powers.
‘But why am I, the head of the household, not included?’
I wondered why I wasn't part of that dynamic, but I decided to let it slide for now.
“Ooh.”
Seo Ye-rin let out a faint exclamation as she basked in the attention.
It seemed she found this interesting, as it was rare for their opinions to be so diametrically opposed.
Seo Ye-rin didn't seem to care whether I went out or not; rather, she looked like she intended to use this situation for her own entertainment.
“Hmm.”
She crossed her arms and gestured with her chin toward Yoo Ah-rin.
“Ah-rin, why do you want to send him? Is it because of Pyo Jin-ho? Because you two are connected?”
They did have a bit of a history.
Back in high school, you could have called it a bad relationship, but they had since settled their scores.
Before Pyo Jin-ho enlisted, he used to join Yoo Ah-rin’s Neutube Taekwondo team to film videos together.
I saw that he recently appeared in a video to give an update after his discharge.
“The thing is,” Yoo Ah-rin sighed as if she’d been waiting for this, then confessed honestly. “I really want Pyo Jin-ho to find someone and start dating soon.”
“……Hm? Why?”
“I think I’ll feel more at ease then. Remember how Kim Woo-jin and I used to tear that guy apart with our words back in the day?”
She was talking about when we used to diss him.
Back before we started dating.
But we should really get the facts straight.
“You did that, Ah-rin. I just watched from the sidelines.”
“…….”
“You beat him down with such joy. I honestly thought it was impressive that Pyo Jin-ho didn't cry right then and there.”
“Ahem! Anyway! So, when Pyo Jin-ho was filming at our dojang, he mentioned he still has a bit of trauma from that.”
“……Don't tell me it's because you feel bad for him?”
When I asked just in case, Yoo Ah-rin furrowed her brows.
“Why would I feel bad? It’s just annoying and pisses me off to see him acting all mopey.”
“Ah, I see.”
So, she just couldn't stand the sight of a dejected Pyo Jin-ho.
‘But the Jin-ho Hyung I know is extremely interested in women.’
I had a feeling he was just acting weak to try and flirt with another girl at the dojang.
Well, whatever.
I roughly understood Ah-rin’s reasoning.
Despite her words, it seemed she wanted Pyo Jin-ho to live a good life in his own way.
Basically, she wanted him to do well as long as it was out of her sight.
“Ho-oh, I’ve heard enough.”
Seo Ye-rin nodded and turned her gaze toward Choi I-seo.
“I-seo, why don't you want to send him? Usually, you’re the one who takes Woo-jini’s side in these situations.”
That was true.
Ah-rin and I both nodded in agreement with Seo Ye-rin.
Usually, Choi I-seo was the first to tell me to go and have fun.
Not only that, she generally liked it when I spent time with my male friends.
Since Choi I-seo had many friends herself, she probably thought it would be good for me to have friends to hang out with too.
“Ahem.”
Feeling the eyes on her, she scratched her cheek awkwardly.
“Well, usually when Woo-jin drinks with those guys, he ends up getting into some weird accident.”
I couldn't exactly deny that.
Lately, we’d even established a slogan before we toasted.
Let’s not cause any trouble.
And yet, it was truly a mystery how we managed to cause trouble every single time without fail.
Last time, Kang Han-gang suddenly called his former company commander and started hurling curses at him.
Fortunately, the fallout didn't hit us, but something always seemed to happen.
“Especially this time, Pyo Jin-ho? You said it’s for dating advice. I’m a hundred percent sure some incident involving a woman is going to break out.”
“Hey now, what do you take me for? Are you doubting the married man, Kim Woo-jin?”
But that was the Kim Woo-jin of his bachelor days.
Just as there’s a difference between someone who hasn't served in the military and a veteran.
The married Kim Woo-jin, who now had wives and even a child, was strictly different from those uncivilized brutes.
I planned to give him some mature and dignified advice.
“…….”
Of course, I-seo didn't seem to have much faith in that.
Seo Ye-rin, the final decision-maker, stared intently at Choi I-seo without a word before finally speaking up.
“That’s not the real reason, is it?”
Was that playful jab a critical hit?
At Seo Ye-rin’s words, Choi I-seo’s expression stiffened, and she flinched.
“What is it? What’s the real reason?”
It seemed there really was a hidden motive.
When Ah-rin and I both stared at her, Choi I-seo, realizing she couldn't escape, covered her reddening face with her hands and whispered softly.
“Well, I asked Woo-jin to go for a walk with me earlier.”
“…….”
“If he goes out to drink now, he won't go on the walk.”
Where on earth did she learn to be this cute?
I just wanted to give her a big squeeze.
* * *
“Who drinks at a Gamjatang place?”
Having dressed and headed out, I muttered to myself as I looked up at the sign of the Gamjatang restaurant where the guys were gathered.
Even though I’d lived a long time cut off from the world in the villa after my discharge.
I knew that Japanese-style Izakayas were more popular these days than places like this.
I’d seen several nearby when I looked it up, so why were they going against the trends of the times?
Drinking at a Gamjatang place was usually something older uncles did.
“Sigh, whatever.”
As I opened the door and stepped inside, I saw the idiots already deep in conversation, centered around a dark-faced Pyo Jin-ho, who seemed to be in the middle of his counseling session.
“Yo, you dumbasses. Long time no see.”
“Oh, the dumbass finally made it?”
“I thought you died on the way, you prick.”
“Why are you so slow when you’ve got so much money?”
A barrage of insults poured out.
Yet, hearing them actually made me feel a sense of peace.
‘What is this?’
I wondered what this emotion was. Was I actually glad to see these idiots?
Of course, I was happy to see them.
But finding those curses welcoming was a bit strange.
As soon as I sat down, a glass was filled for me.
“Hey, cheers.”
Since we were all gathered, we toasted as if starting anew.
“Kaaaah!”
The moment the soju slid down my throat, my senses snapped awake.
I’d sipped a glass or two of wine here and there, but I hadn't touched soju at all since the girls got pregnant.
The moment I downed the most common alcohol in South Korea, a thrill surged through me.
It was as if the dopamine I’d been suppressing and restraining for the sake of my pregnant wives was suddenly exploding.
Anyway, it felt like something I’d been holding back had finally burst.
“Kiyah!”
The moment I drank that electrifying soju, something in my brain started spinning.
Only now did I understand why I was so happy when the guys welcomed me.
While I’d lived as the husband of my wives and the father of my children for several months.
The guys here treated me as just the ordinary Kim Woo-jin.
‘I didn't realize it, but I guess I was feeling quite a bit of pressure.’
Naturally, that didn't mean I disliked my life.
But just as one needs to rest and look back on oneself no matter how much they love their work.
Today, I decided to rest, set down my burdens, and drink and laugh with the guys.
“Hey, cheers! Dammit, let’s never change, brothers!”
“Look at this guy, he hasn't drank in a while and he’s already wasted!”
“Hahaha! Brotherhood is great! We’ve got ten balls right here at this table! Whoever betrays our friendship has to cut theirs off!”
“A friendship forged in balls, I love it!”
“If this had continued in the military, wouldn't we already be a brotherhood of blood and camaraderie?!”
“Wow, these guys are all hammered.”
“Cheers! Cheers! May our ball-bond last forever!”
“Ah, forever!”
* * *
“Ugh, my head.”
I slowly opened my eyes to a familiar headache. Struggling to wake up despite the hangover, I realized I was lying in a soft bed I’d never seen before.
‘What the…?’
I tilted my head, unable to remember much of last night, when I felt a presence beside me.
Someone had their arm wrapped tightly around my waist, and their strength was no joke.
“…….”
Based on my experience so far, this was definitely a man.
Thinking it was likely one of the idiots, I lifted the blanket.
“You son of a— Huh?!”
But the person waiting for me there was actually Senior Ju-hee.
She was fast asleep, her eyes closed as she breathed softly.
Confused, I was about to wake her when my phone vibrated violently.
“Ow, my head.”
I checked the phone next to the pillow.
There were several missed calls from the girls.
Looking at the logs, I saw that I’d actually answered some of them.
This call was probably what led Senior Ju-hee to come and pick me up.
‘Looking at the Toks, they don't seem that angry.’
Since they knew I was coming here to play, they must have anticipated this possibility to some extent.
The problem.
Lay elsewhere.
“Wait, what?”
[Pyo Jin-ho has left the chat room.]
[Ahn Hyun-ho has left the chat room.]
[Jeong Chan-woo has left the chat room.]
[Kang Han-gang has left the chat room.]
“……What the hell happened?!”