Chapter 51
Chapter 51
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: Drinking Parties Always Bring Trouble (4)
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Without a word,
I walked along the sidewalk with her on my back.
Tracing the colored pavement blocks with my eyes, I crossed under the buzzing streetlights.
Azalea was sleeping soundly against my back.
What on earth had happened for her to drink so much?
Such thoughts ran through my mind as I adjusted her slightly slipping hips and lifted her up once.
"Mm..."
A nasal whine escaped her, like she was throwing a tantrum.
Soon, a faint dampness touched the nape of my neck where her face was buried.
Lick.
She'd desperately lick my neck, or lightly tap my shoulder with feeble strength. Sometimes she'd let out pained moans.
'Her sleep-talking is something else.'
Feeling the warm breath tickling my nape and the thin touch of her tongue, I slowly walked through the night streets.
I hadn't planned on this, but somehow I'd ended up bailing on the drinking party.
Thinking it over as I walked, it felt like this was how I'd always lived back on Earth too.
My old drinking sessions always ended with me looking after juniors or friends who couldn't hold their liquor yet, taking them home.
Not that I had many—maybe four or five at most.
I wasn't the social type, so I never had a wide circle of experiences.
"Mm,"
A little time passed, and the now-awake Azalea made a sound.
"Awake?"
"Si-heon...?"
Her murmur came in a half-teasing tone.
Maybe because she was drunk, even her voice sounded alluring, drawing a smile from me.
"Still using formal speech to the end."
At this point, switching to casual wouldn't be weird. That was the intent behind my words, but she didn't respond.
"Kinda hurts my feelings, y'know. You were all casual with the others earlier."
Letting a bit of my true feelings slip, the drunk her replied in a hazy voice.
"...You feel hurt?"
Her cautious tone.
It was a moist voice that seemed like it'd break into tears at the slightest harsh word. Though I couldn't see, she was probably making a pouty face.
"Did I really seem hurt? I was joking."
I quickly backpedaled. On second thought, she was way too sensitive about relationships.
In a way, similar to Cornus, but the approach was different.
Cornus basically had no experience, so she followed orders obediently. She was wary of new things, but only mildly so.
What about this girl, though?
On the surface, Azalea was the ultimate social butterfly.
Friendly with everyone in class, bright and outgoing.
But at tonight's drinking party, she'd shown slightly different reactions to me and Si-woo.
If I wasn't seeing things wrong, she seemed somewhat reluctant when talking to Si-woo,
and with me, it was just polite formality.
'If her affinity isn't lying.'
My hypothesis was that the deeper Azalea's affection, the more sensitive she got about relationships.
I had no idea why.
I'd met people like this before, but never anyone this pathologically sensitive.
"...Sorry."
"Don't apologize. You seem wasted—don't force yourself to talk. Rest up when we get in."
"I'm not drunk."
Step, step.
How long had we been walking like that?
Suddenly, she spoke up, her face buried against my back.
"The formal speech—"
Her low murmur, like a soliloquy, half-asleep as if making an excuse.
Her delicate voice was subdued.
"I did it because you're special."
I kept moving my feet forward steadily.
"Everyone else just tries to distance themselves from me, but you're the first to get this close... How could I treat you casually?"
"You're really drunk."
What was she gonna do tomorrow to deal with this? She'd regret it like I did.
I still remembered a few weeks ago when she'd rejected me. 'I want to be friends with you.' Back then, desperate for that hard-won friendship, I'd pushed too hard.
That night, I'd kicked the blankets in frustration like crazy.
It was a warning, knowing how she'd feel later.
"Sorry for being so cold back then."
But once the emotions burst out, they didn't fade easily.
"What's there to be sorry for?"
"Everything. I don't even know why I lived so badly."
"No, hey. Your reaction was normal back then."
Nearly sniffling, I hurriedly continued.
Truth be told, I hadn't wronged Azalea at all.
Even her coldness was understandable—anyone else might've swung at me. She was the patient one for holding back.
"I'm a bad girl."
But she saw it differently.
Pressing her cheek to the back of my neck, she hugged my shoulders tight. Our bodies pressed fully together.
Her tolerance was brutal. Was this what I'd see every time she drank from now on?
On the other hand, I was inwardly grateful to hear her true feelings.
No matter the quest, I'd put real effort into getting close to her.
Back in my old world, did I have a friend like this...?
They were all shallow connections—no decade-long bonds.
But now,
maybe not just Azalea, but with the others too, I could build deep relationships.
'No dad either... Wait, no.'
My thoughts reached that point,
then I shook my head.
Before I knew it, we'd arrived at the dorm entrance.
Beep, beep, beep.
I swiped my cadet ID to open the gate and headed to Azalea's room, which I'd memorized before.
I rummaged for her still-dazed face's cadet ID.
Side pocket, back pocket of her jeans. Fumbling around shook her body a bit.
"Mm."
I pulled her crossbody bag from her side and took out the ID to open the door.
Creeak.
Dim room. A floral scent brushed my nose.
One step in, and the entry light flicked on. Inside, casually discarded clothes and what looked like damp underwear caught my eye.
Was it my nature acting up? I swallowed hard.
"Ahem."
Staying here longer would drive me insane.
Ignoring the thick bodily fragrance of azalea flowers as best I could, I carried her deep into the room and laid her on the bed.
"Where... is this?"
"Your room."
"Oh."
Azalea mumbled in a dazed voice.
"...I wanted to drink with you."
Her raw, unfiltered voice hit me, and I froze for a moment.
Maybe my lewd demon trait was kicking in. Her voice was intensely seductive.
I swallowed, looking at her lying on the bed.
A pristine white dress exposing her shoulders. Her hiked-up skirt revealed glimpses of skin beneath.
Hand on her forehead, Azalea gazed at me where I stood, eyes half-open. Her armpit was fully exposed.
'What the hell?'
Was she seducing me?
I'd meant to cover her with a blanket, but getting closer felt like it'd snap my self-control.
At this point, could I...?
I'd die if I didn't have sex anyway. Maybe give it a shot.
Such sordid urges bubbled up.
'No.'
Azalea's personality wouldn't lead her to seduce me.
Her unrealistic behavior stemmed from obsession with relationships, not a desire to sleep with me.
It was just drunken nonsense.
No reason to delude myself pathetically.
I steeled my mind and turned away.
Thud.
A box at my feet.
Turning to look at the delivery box, small handwriting caught my eye.
[How to Win Your Guy Friend's Heart? Solidify the Friendship! - Sexywood No. 1]
└Clothes to wear when hanging out with friends later!! (Don't forget.)
Tug.
The hem of my clothes pulled. Turning back, the still-drunk Azalea was standing.
Her natural, not-unpleasant floral scent shook my brain.
One wrong move, and I'd commit a real crime.
Step.
I took a step back.
Step.
She followed a step forward.
"I, have something to say. No matter what else, I feel like I have to say this."
Thud.
Azalea pressed her forehead to my chest.
"...Thank you. For killing that guy."
They say drunken words reveal true feelings.
"And tomorrow—"
"Yeah."
Like she'd been dreaming of this for ages, she listed out what she wanted to do.
"Hangover cure in the morning... then a café... Dinner, just the two of us drinking. Talking about you, Mentor."
Then she looked up at me.
My mind blurred for a second.
The mental fortitude I'd clung to snapped, and like someone puppeteering me, my face moved.
"—Mm!"
Beneath the mask, the smooth feel of pale pink lips lightly pressed against mine.
Startled, I pulled back and apologized repeatedly.
"S-sorry. Suddenly."
I moved without thinking. A lame excuse anyone would see through, but it was the only way to explain.
"...Huh?"
Azalea's eyes widened round.
Her face mixed bewilderment and shyness. I greeted her like fleeing and bolted from the room.
"Get some good rest."
Bam.
Closing the front door. I slid down to sit in front of it.
What the hell had I just done?
The sensation of those lips filled my head, making me forget the curses I wanted to spit.
New ones came to mind, but soon even that felt like too much hassle.
"What's done is done. I'll just apologize profusely."
My brain overloaded, I decided to stop thinking altogether.
It was bold resolve fueled by the alcohol.
"...Time to wash up and sleep."
Stumbling to my feet, I headed to my room.
Passing responsibility to tomorrow's me eased my mind, and the alcohol buzz that had briefly faded returned.
Thus, I arrived at my room.
To cool my feverish head, I leaned my forehead against the door.
Whatever the material, it was cool and felt good.
Click.
Opening the door, I stepped inside.
Clutching my aching head, I kicked off my shoes at the entry, then yanked open the fridge and chugged some water.
Cool water trickled from my mouth down to my collarbone.
"...Hoo."
Exhaling shortly for a moment.
After a shower, I entered the bedroom.
The room was dark, but since I was just crashing anyway, I didn't bother with the lights.
"Ughhh."
Like a zombie shot full of holes, I collapsed limply onto the bed and let my heavy eyelids fall.
Swish.
In my hazy mind, the sound of fabric rustling. Listening closer, it sounded like skin brushing cloth.
Swish.
I tried to open my eyes, but like sleep paralysis, my body wouldn't move.
Fatigue, maybe.
Swish.
A slight weight settled on my stomach. Not unbearable.
Never thought I'd experience something this bizarre in life.
Sleep crept back in. I closed my eyes and surrendered to the wave of drowsiness.
Beep.
For some reason, a familiar chirp echoed in my ear.
Beep!