Hungover Noona and Bean Sprout Soup
"Senior? Senior???"
Ugh... what is it...
"She won't even wake up."
"Her phone's locked too?"
"Yeah."
"What do we do, noona?"
So noisy...
"No choice. I'll take responsibility and move her to a nearby motel."
"Can you carry her, noona? We'll help too."
Snooore...
"Are you crazy?! How am I supposed to take you kids to a motel?"
"We have no other way."
"Ah! Let's take her to the company. There's the on-call room where employees crash sometimes."
"You think?"
Flash!
"Gasp!"
My mind snapped awake in an instant.
"Aaaah... my head...!"
My head throbbed like it was being stabbed, and my stomach burned. My gut boiled and screamed in protest. Not surprising. It was the familiar hangover.
Every time this hellish hangover hit, I'd swear I'd never drink again or I'd be a dog. But... life without booze wasn't an option, so those resolutions never stuck.
Feeling queasy, Han Minyeong dry-heaved and dragged herself up to head to the bathroom. She glanced around and jolted fully awake, her foggy mind clearing in a flash.
"Wh-what!?"
The surroundings were unfamiliar.
What happened last night?
Belated realization hit. She frantically rubbed her puffy, barely opening eyes and scanned the room.
A small space like a storage room. Bunks stood starkly empty, hinting it wasn't a motel. And definitely not her one-room apartment.
Bustling... People outside?
Voices and footsteps from beyond confirmed her guess.
You idiot! What the hell did you do drunk!!!
Her head whipped around. Her eyes darted wildly, rolling side to side.
She checked her body, shifted left and right, trying to figure out where she was.
No clue!
Her churning stomach settled from sheer shock. She stood and moved to the window, peering out.
Yep, unknown place. Pacing anxiously, fragments of last night started surfacing.
"You idiot, psycho bitch, stone-cold hag! Aaaah, how am I supposed to face anyone now? I'm done for. My life's over."
The sleazy drunken rant from last night's drinking party. Shame and embarrassment she couldn't face made her tremble uncontrollably.
Why no rat hole to crawl into here? If there was one, she'd squeeze in somehow.
Knock knock knock.
"Eek!"
As she stomped in panic, unsure what to do, a knock sounded. Frozen, speechless, she backed away as the door opened anyway.
"Oh? You're awake."
"Th-th-th...!!"
The intruder was, fortunately or not, someone she knew. Jin Haesol. The guy she'd drunkenly ranted at.
???
I left Han Minyeong in the company on-call room and posted a "No Entry" sign on the door. She was an actress, not our employee, so she might get upset seeing strangers. There were other on-call rooms, so blocking this one for a day was no issue. Not many people slept over anyway.
After heading back to the dorm for some shut-eye, I went straight to the company on-call room upon waking. One hand hangover relief meds, the other disposable wash kit.
"Oh? You're awake."
"Th-th-th...!!"
Inside, Han Minyeong sat disheveled, totally flustered.
"Was gonna leave a note before you woke up—must've scared you. This is our company's on-call room. You passed out drunk last night, and we couldn't figure out your address. Had to bring you here."
"S-s-sorry! I-I'm not usually l-like that... I was rude!!"
Seeing her all shrunk up tugged at my heartstrings. Most women I'd met were big shots in their own right. She was the first to give off such a raw "total loser" vibe.
"Anyway, there's a shower room right across the hall. Use these disposables and freshen up. Oh, and hangover meds since your stomach must hurt. This'll settle it."
"N-no, it's fine. You've already put up with me overnight—that was trouble enough. I'll head home."
"Uh... no, bad idea. Better wash up first."
"Y-yes?"
Not getting my drift, I spelled it out bluntly.
"Just look in the mirror."
"!!!!"
Her face paled; she slapped her hands over it and snatched the wash kit from me before bolting.
"Kyaaah!!"
The scream from the shower confirmed she'd seen herself. Common decency—you can't send someone looking like that out.
She was an actress, after all.
Moments later, she emerged hesitantly, hair damp, makeup gone.
Spotting me leaning against the wall, her expression soured.
"Wh-why are you still here?"
"Time for hangover soup. Skipped breakfast on purpose."
"...With me? You sane? You're an idol."
"Anyone'd think I'm a world star. Slap on glasses, no one recognizes me. No scandal worries."
Honestly, I should worry about scandals. A nobody actress linking with me would boost her fame.
"I can't handle articles either. You know I'm independent, no agency?"
"Won't happen, but if it does, I'll clear it up. Really though, these glasses have special powers. Wear 'em, and people don't recognize me."
"You're joking?"
To her disbelief, I grinned mischievously and grabbed her wrist.
"C'mon. Great spot near the company. What's your hangover go-to? Bean sprout soup? Sundae soup? Bone soup? Dried pollock?"
"...Let go? And bean sprout soup."
"Haha, feisty. Got it!"
Couldn't ignore her cold "let go," so I released her wrist gently and headed to the bean sprout spot.
Surprisingly, she followed obediently. Lost in unfamiliar territory, plus desperate for that soup.
Slurp~!
Slurrrp~!
Nom nom nom.
Meeting the shop's famed bean sprout hangover soup, Han Minyeong finally found bliss. My fave spot too—always top quality.
Tasty anytime, but post-binge? Irresistible.
"Mmm... mmmph... mm!"
Cheeks puffed like a squirrel hoarding nuts, she devoured it. More slurping than eating, really.
Cute.
I skipped my soup to watch her. Way more fun.
She'd kill in a eating CF.
Surrounded by beauties, her bare-faced plainness wasn't "pretty." But ugly didn't mean charmless.
Rose noona wasn't a knockout either, but I found her beautiful. Same with Minyeong.
She'd get "plain," not "ugly," flak. Not every film or drama needs only stunners.
She could thrive as a solid actress.
Her looks complex was massive though.
After her first rant and collapse, round two started when she woke.
Slurring drunk, she'd clung to me, venting face woes. Even joked about skinning mine for hers.
"I act so well? But ugly face kills it. Unfair. No one sees my effort."
Her initial hostility? Low self-esteem. No boldness or power to act on negativity—just pitiful.
Plain as plain gets.
Acting ain't for the average. No clue how she fell for it, but if she turned beauty? Star potential?
Should've watched her act more.
Slurrrrp!!!
She drained the last drop; I slid my bowl over slyly.
"Another?"
"!!!"
Snapped from soup trance, she startled at my words.
Wanted that squirrel-cheek show again—nearly gave mine up willingly.
"Ahem, guess it's the hype. Delicious, but stuffed."
"Stomach better?"
"Much."
Heard her hurling in the shower—no wonder.
"Sorry for last night."
"No stiff formalities, noona."
"Huh? N-noona?"
"Don't remember? We agreed sis-bro."
"No way?!"
We hadn't, actually.
"We did. You forgot? Drunk as hell, yeah. But no take-backs. Casual talk, call me Haesol."
"Liar!! I remember everything! And why sis-bro with you? What's in it for me?!"
"Filming together soon—better get close. You hate me, noona? Said you liked me drunk."
"Wh-when?! Don't scam me! I remember!"
"All of it?"
"Yes!!"
"Tsk, too bad."
"?!"
Shocked, her jaw dropped, finger pointing.
"Just be sis-bro. You need to know what an honor befriending me is. Grab chances when they come."
Rare kindness. I could fix her looks gripe with my powers.
"That face screams self-conscious. Rude much?"
"Flirting, and you call it rude? Hurt."
Guy aegyo not my thing?
Grumbling inwardly, she squeezed her eyes shut and yelled.
"St-stop the honey trap!!"
Honey trap? When? Unfair.
"Landing a bro like me ain't easy. Miss it, regret forever. No sis? 'Opportunities favor the prepared.' You've prepped hard—now grab."
"Jin Haesol, you saying you are my opportunity? Like you can make me a star."
"If you're as good an actress as drunk-you said, just lacking looks."
"......"
Fox-mode to seduce after ages—tongue felt rusty. Impulsive, but no regrets.
Long fantasized crafting my ideal woman with powers. She'd love any change, hating her face.
"P.S., sis means sex with me."
Pffft!!!
At my absurd line, mid-sip Han Minyeong sprayed water like a fountain. Even Perception-Lowering Glasses couldn't block the splashy show.