Chapter 5
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: Drinking Game
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"What's your name? You've been catching my eye for a while now."
Seon-woo Lee asked me that as he naturally pulled out a chair and sat down.
I scowled and answered.
"...Ha-rang Seo."
"Nice to meet you, Ha-rang."
I narrowed my eyes in annoyance, shooting him a sharp glare.
I'd run into the one person I was most wary of at the worst possible time.
Sure, I'd vaguely thought someday I'd have to put Seon-woo Lee in his place, but not now.
Above all, I didn't want this guy—who'd once targeted Su-a—in the same drinking circle.
To draw a clear line, I spat out the blunt words.
"We'll drink on our own, so go take care of your business. You must be busy."
Could anything fit "sudden intruder" better than this?
The air froze in an instant at my firm attitude.
I ignored the shocked stares from around me.
Even Seon-woo Lee scratched the back of his head awkwardly, like he hadn't expected it.
"Ah... really? Guess I'm a bit oblivious."
Poor you, my ass. I already knew exactly what he was.
But knowing it myself didn't solve the problem.
"Ha-rang, what's with you all of a sudden?! What about the vibe?"
"You're making it awkward for the rest of us..."
"Sorry, sunbae. She chugged some earlier and must be wasted already."
A classmate across from me forced a smile and jumped in to smooth things over.
Her eyes were glaring daggers at me while her mouth grinned—it was kinda scary.
I felt a twinge of regret for being so openly hostile, but Seon-woo Lee was that dangerous.
Especially seeing Su-a next to me with her innocently naive expression snapped me alert.
This time, I absolutely wouldn't let him take anything from her.
"Have fun, everyone. I'll head back to work."
As Seon-woo Lee showed signs of leaving, the girls freaked out and tried to stop him.
"Eek... don't go, sunbae!"
"Yeah! It's just us girls right now, so it's super boring!"
"I have to get back to student council stuff anyway. Just popped out to say hi to the freshmen."
"You don't need to work, sunbae! Your face does all the heavy lifting!"
Was it really worth making that big a fuss?
I needed to reinforce the walls, but their momentum threw off my timing.
Seon-woo Lee sat back down, pretending he couldn't resist.
This was bad. If things kept going like this, I'd be out of luck.
Then he tossed out a casual line.
"But is it okay for me to be here?"
"Huh? What do you mean?"
A classmate next to me asked, and Seon-woo Lee curled his lips awkwardly, glancing my way.
"Ha-rang's got such a fierce look on her face."
"..."
"She's been staring at me like I'm her mortal enemy... Did I do something to piss her off?"
"N-no! Her eyes are just naturally like that!"
"Yeah, sunbae! Ha-rang's just shy around strangers!"
They desperately tried to cover, but I had no intention of playing along.
As the mood chilled again, Seon-woo Lee spoke first.
"Don't misunderstand. I just want to get to know you, Ha-rang."
His sly words left me speechless.
Seon-woo Lee smiled, eyes crinkling.
Then, dropping the playfulness, he flashed a disarmingly gentle smile.
"I think I like you already, Ha-rang."
What the hell kind of nonsense was this?
Was he trying to pick a fight?
If he meant to rile me up, it worked perfectly.
But at the same time, his eyes were too clear and piercing.
Transparent enough to dissect every sharp emotion inside me.
'...'
It made my struggles to push him away feel pointless.
I felt embarrassed, like a kid caught red-handed by an adult.
Not that I was wrong and he was right.
His gaze had just thrown me off a bit.
"Cheer up. Let me buy you a drink."
It happened before I knew it.
When I came to, his poured beer was already in my hand.
Gulp gulp gulp.
I'd even downed it in one go.
Seon-woo Lee watched me drink intently.
His gaze traced my lips on the glass and the ripple of my throat.
That was when it hit.
"Alright, the mood's heating up! Drinking without a game would be lame, right? Let's play something!"
"Drinking game? How do you know about that as a freshman?"
"Prepped on NewTube!"
A classmate sliced through the tension between Seon-woo Lee and me.
The atmosphere warmed up in a flash.
That's how drinking sessions always went.
I felt vaguely trapped, uneasy, and without a good excuse to shove Seon-woo Lee out, it was awkward.
I could storm off, but then I couldn't guard Su-a.
I had zero interest in drinking games, but for now, I'd have to watch.
As long as I could stop him from going after Su-a...
"Okay! Game on!"
"Wait, just like that?"
Why were they always so gung-ho?
"Drink while~ you learn~ it's fun~!"
"I'm not ready yet..."
"Cleopatra!"
"..."
In the end, I got swept up in the vibe and joined the game.
Cleopatra? The one thing I sucked at.
Cleopatra was a game where you go around saying nonsense like "Cleopatra did whatever," raising the pitch one note each time.
Mess up, and you drink.
It favored girls from the start, so my enthusiasm deflated immediately.
Then a realization hit me.
'...Wait. I'm a girl right now too?'
Right.
My vocal cords were those of a fresh 20-year-old college girl.
Not the old Ha-rang who'd choke on a karaoke monologue.
I sneaked a glance at Seon-woo Lee beside me.
He looked relaxed, tapping chopsticks to the beat.
'You're done for, Seon-woo Lee.'
I could already picture that smug face turning red straining for high notes. It'd cure years of heartburn.
Time to drown him in booze and get him out of my sight.
"Hi! Cleopatra! The world's best potato chip!"
The self-appointed MC kicked it off.
Standard start.
"Hi!! Cleopatra!! The world's best potato chip!!"
The pitch climbed through the second and third rounds.
Soon it was the girl right before me.
I cleared my throat slowly.
First time hitting high notes in this body, but it'd be fine, right?
'You die, I die, Seon-woo Lee.'
I was psyching myself up when—
"HI!!!!! CLEOPATRA!!! The world's BEST!!! POTATO CHIP!!!!!"
"...?!"
The girl next to me suddenly screeched like a dolphin possessed.
My eardrums nearly burst.
Was that a human voice or ultrasound?
She was basically telling the next person to drop dead.
Everyone else was thrilled, but I sat there like a refugee, dazed.
Forfeit? Fill her glass?"
Her taunt sparked my competitive fire.
Fine. I had a girl's vocal cords now.
Theoretically, I could top that.
I took a deep breath, visualizing the highest note in my head.
You got this, Ha-rang.
No—you have to.
"H-hi Cleop... cough!"
Of course it didn't work.
"Kyaa! Ha-rang's out! Drink up! Drink up!"
"How long you gonna shoulder-dance?"
"Shit..."
The curse slipped out.
My grand plan to force-feed Seon-woo Lee was crumbling before it started, and my liver was toast first.
The glass in front of me gleamed suspiciously white.
Soma my ass—pure soju.
Just looking made me feel liver cancer coming on, and when I turned, Seon-woo Lee was smiling at me.
"You okay? Can you handle it?"
Those annoying eyes.
I glared instead of answering and snatched the glass.
Then slammed it down my throat.
My stomach twisted, but I powered through the one-shot.
"Crazy."
"Ha-rang's badass."
I set the glass down without flinching, and Seon-woo Lee's brow twitched faintly.
Su-a cheered wildly beside me, loving it.
This was nothing.
The next game started right away.
"Bunny bunny from the sky! Says hop hop hop hop hop!"
Who knew I'd hear that cringy chant again at 29.
Bunny Bunny game. Simple rules.
One person says "bunny bunny" and passes it; receiver says it back, while sides chant "carrot carrot."
Repeat till someone slips and drinks.
Looks easy, but tricky when it speeds up—needs focus.
The MC cupped her hand to her mouth and started.
"Bunny bunny~ bunny bunny~"
"Carrot! Carrot!"
Su-a and another girl wildly waved on either side of the targeted classmate.
Su-a especially—face flushed, loving this childish game.
'Good she's having fun... but.'
Cute, but it weighed on me.
Su-a couldn't hold her liquor and was too pure for this.
I never wanted to see this innocent girl blacked out on hard booze.
Especially not in front of Seon-woo Lee.
My goal tonight was clear.
Even if I drowned in booze, no more alcohol touching Su-a's lips.
The pace ramped up.
I'd tried everything to make Seon-woo Lee drink, but he blocked it all, frustration building—
"Bunny bunny!"
A classmate suddenly targeted Su-a.
"Wh-what?! Bunny b... no, carrot...?"
Su-a froze, mouth agape in panic.
The cheers flipped to penalty chants.
"Drink! Drink!"
"No one-shot, no marriage~!"
"N-no way... Do I really have to?"
Another soju-heavy soma landed in front of her pouty face.
I snatched it away.
"Hey, Ha-rang?"
"Spare Su-a. I'll take it."
Gulp gulp. I drained it in one.
So harsh, tears welled up involuntarily.
Urk, straight soju for sure.
Endless volume, but better me than her.
"Ha-rang! Are you insane? Why drink it all yourself?!"
Su-a grabbed my arm, eyes wide.
The classmates went nuts, making every fuss imaginable.
"Ha-rang's a girl crush, what?"
"So cool. Almost fell for her."
"Black knight saved her—kiss! Kiss!"
Someone started the chant, and it exploded into a group yell.
Not wanting to embarrass Su-a too, I waved frantically.
"Hey, you guys sane? Kiss my ass!"
"Ha-rang, your ears are red? Blushing?"
"Shut up! Where do kids learn this crap?!"
"Kyahaha! Ha-rang's such a Confucian girl."
I huffed and plopped back down.
Seon-woo Lee, who'd watched it all, slowly clapped and spoke.
"Ha-rang, you're awesome. Truly touched by your loyalty to your friend."
I gritted my teeth.
Just wait. Let's see how long you stay that smug.