Chapter 26
Chapter 26
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: Drunk Da-jeong is Dangerous!
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The day after our long-awaited debut broadcast, which went off without a hitch if I do say so myself.
I took a quick shower and headed out.
We were celebrating wrapping up the debut show with the members at an afterparty.
It was originally planned for yesterday, but Ra-hee unnie had something come up, so we pushed it back a day.
A one-day delay was no big deal to me.
"Thank you. Have a good night!"
We'd agreed to meet at 11, but I left home at 10:50, so I had no choice but to grab a taxi.
Sure, it stung to spend that hard-earned cash.
But the members' time was more precious to me.
"Huff... huff...!"
The second I got out in front of the chicken joint at the address Ji-ah unnie sent, I bolted like my life depended on it.
"Welcome in."
"Oh, hello..."
I glanced around, brushing past the greeting server.
Weekend night, everyone out for late-night eats—place was packed.
Wonder where the members are.
"Da-jeong! Over here, here!"
"Ah...!"
Amid the swarm of servers darting back and forth, I spotted someone waving enthusiastically from a cozy corner booth, shoulders hunched like a little chick.
It was Chae-yoon unnie, of course.
"S-sorry I'm late. I had to tidy up a bit before heading out..."
"You're not even late. Sit, sit."
Chae-yoon unnie brushed it off with her usual easygoing grin and patted the seat.
That's when Ra-hee unnie propped her chin on her hand, flashing a playful smirk.
"If you're really sorry, sit next to unnie. Might make it better~?"
"Tch! Ra-hee unnie, you've been sneaky about hogging Da-jeong from the start?"
And just like that, Yuna's complaints kicked off.
No clue what they were even fighting over.
Still, to soothe Ra-hee unnie's mood a little, I scooted over to the seat beside her.
"Ah, there's an open spot here too..."
Ji-ah unnie muttered in disappointment a beat too late, but switching seats now would've been awkward.
Why's everyone so keen on having me sit next to them, anyway?
A random thought popped into my head.
Squeeze—
"Our Da-jeong, you did amazing yesterday. Way better than I even worried about."
"R-really? Hehe... Glad to hear it."
No sooner had I sat than Ra-hee unnie pulled me into a hug, showering me with praise.
Her overwhelming chest made it a little hard to breathe, honestly.
But hearing her compliments lit me up inside, so it was no big deal.
"Here's your order of chicken."
We'd been locked in that warm embrace for a while when the server piled the table high with chicken and beer on trays.
Looked like they'd ordered ahead while waiting for me.
"Da-jeong, you like chicken?"
The garlic-cloaked chicken's aggressive look had my jaw dropping before I knew it.
Ji-ah unnie, who'd been watching me, asked about my tastes.
I nodded eagerly.
"Yeah, I love it. Whenever those dining-out welfare vouchers came around, I'd get chicken."
"Dining-out welfare vouchers?"
Weird term to her, maybe.
Ji-ah unnie blinked and tilted her head.
"The community center hands them out. You can use them at participating restaurants. Once a quarter... Lucky for me, there was a chicken place nearby that took them."
"No way, really?"
"Yeah, and they gave out 50,000 won worth, so I could snag a whole bird every month."
The place didn't deliver, but prices were fair.
50k got you four meals with change left over.
Seasoned would've run short for four, so I always stuck to fried.
Which was delicious in its own right.
"I-I see. This place's chicken's gotta be good too. Super popular on SNS. Dig in."
"Da-jeong, dip it in this sauce and top with garlic—next level."
"For real? I'll try that."
Following Ji-ah unnie's nudge and Yuna's sauce hack, I gave it a go.
Too big for one bite, so I sliced a piece...
Added garlic, sauced it up, and chomped.
Crunch—
"Mmm...?!"
A wave of flavor hit me, and I let out some weird noise, eyes popping.
Crispy batter even through the sauce.
Then garlic's punch, sauce's sweet-spicy kick.
Perfection.
Made my old fried chicken feel like kid stuff.
"Hehe, sooo good...!"
Happiness bloating my chest, I grinned like an idiot.
Pathetic, getting this hyped over food... but whatever.
Too tasty to resist.
"Glad it hits the spot. Eat up, Da-jeong. More if you want—got it?"
"Yes, unnie."
Ra-hee unnie wiped sauce from my lips and patted my shoulder.
Felt like a total kid, but no time to dwell.
Chicken took priority.
"By the way, Da-jeong, ever had booze? We got beer, but..."
"Once. After turning twenty. Curiosity killed the cat."
"Not your thing?"
"...Yeah, tasted awful, honestly."
Heard chimaek hype everywhere, but why?
Still haunted by that first beer at twenty.
Pairing this godly chicken with that? People's tastes must be busted.
"We got fruit liquor too—sweeter, tastier. Want that?"
"Fruit liquor?"
I'd been ignoring the beer glass, laser-focused on chicken.
Chae-yoon unnie pointed at the menu, and I blinked in confusion.
Fruit liquor?
Alcohol's alcohol, right?
"Tastes nothing like booze, just fruit. Wanna try?"
"If it's like that... sure, I'll give it a shot."
Everyone else beering up—sitting it out felt off.
And no booze taste? Should be fine.
Just like juice, yeah?
"Gotcha. Apple beer coming right up."
"Okay!"
As Chae-yoon unnie flagged down a passing server, a twinge of unease hit me.
No way I'd mess up drunk, right?
I'll know when to stop.
Booze tastes bad anyway—no urge to overdo.
Yeah, totally.
What the hell is this situation?
That was the shared thought among the Blue LUV members, Da-jeong excluded.
The scene unfolding before them was just too unbelievable.
"Ehehehe... drank it allll..."
Da-jeong gulped down her half-empty beer glass, then melted like slime.
She let out a dreamy giggle, and the four exchanged glances.
The eldest, Ji-ah, stepped up.
"D-Da-jeong? You're looking tipsy—maybe ease up?"
She snuck the glass out of sight.
Rubbed her back, coaxing gently.
"Huh? Hehe, Ji-ah unniiiie..."
Squeeze—
"D-Da-jeong...?!"
Da-jeong gazed up with hazy eyes, then lunged into a hug out of nowhere.
Caught off-guard, Ji-ah's eyes went wide as she peered down at the girl in her arms.
This wasn't like the Da-jeong she knew—not the type to initiate something so bold.
"Hehe, love Ji-ah unnie so muchhh... Love all the Blues toooo..."
"Hng...!"
Ji-ah clutched her chest at Da-jeong's adorable mumble, like sleep-talk.
A creature this harmless and cute existed in the world.
UNESCO would slap world heritage status on her in a heartbeat.
That level of destructive charm.
"Unnie, let's settle the bill and grab Da-jeong."
"Yeah, I'll hit the bathroom quick."
"Me too."
The others, green with envy, snapped to and prepped to head out.
They'd arrived around 11.
Now it was pushing 2 a.m.
Chicken forgotten midway, lost in giggles and chatter—time flew.
Place closing up; time to bounce.
"Da-jeong, sorry—unnie's just grabbing her bag and stuff."
"Yeees..."
Ji-ah, still cradling her, wasn't much different.
She gently set the maknae down and fetched her bag and clothes from the corner.
"Hm...?"
Meanwhile, Da-jeong's half-lidded eyes caught a glow.
Her phone on the table.
Maybe a message?
The thought pierced her buzz, so she fired it up and checked notifications.
A red play button app sported "152" hovering over it.
"What theee...!"
Felt like it was mocking her height.
Fuming, she tapped the app and hit the bell icon.
Comments on her Clip Channel flooded in.
Most comments begged for Lulu—her debut footage edit.
But Da-jeong had zero plans to edit her own debut.
Seeing them irked her anyway.
Comments she'd normally scroll past emotionless.
Proof booze was dangerous.
"Ugh..."
Pouting cutely, Da-jeong fumbled a finger.
Dragged it to the three-dot menu by the Lulu-waiting comments.
[Delete/Block Comment]
Tap—
First popup: delete.
[Delete this comment?]
Tap—
Confirm with 'Yes.'
No hesitation; one gone.
Her hand didn't stop.
Purge time.
"Da-jeong, time to head out. Unnie's got you."
"Yeees..."
Only when Ji-ah returned, bags packed, and hoisted her up did Da-jeong's hand pause.
They shuffled out.
"Zzz..."
"Da-jeong's out cold."
"Gonna crash at my place tonight."
"Yeah, good call."
With the purge done, Da-jeong conked out in Ji-ah's arms.
The rest sorted her overnight spot, then piled into taxis.
It happened the day after Blue LUV's historic debut—their first reveal to the world.