Post-Exam Party Explosion
Seo Joo-hwan and Jeong Ha-yeon, who had crashed in the early hours of the morning after cramming, woke up surprisingly early despite it all. Getting out of the same bed, they exchanged awkward glances before bursting into laughter. Jeong Ha-yeon playfully swatted at him, scolding him for no reason.
"You're ridiculous."
"You're laughing too."
"Whatever, I'm hungry. Let's eat."
"Let's just grab some leftovers and go. Eating too much will mess up your stomach."
"Yeah, that dakdoritang was delicious."
While eating, they checked their smartphones. There were messages in the group chat.
This was a message from 4 a.m. Seo Joo-hwan checked the chat, thought for a moment, and posted one message.
After sending the message, Seo Joo-hwan quickly cleared the dishes and said,
"Let's head out first and wait there."
"Why?"
"You wanna tell everyone you pulled an all-nighter at my place? I don't care, but..."
"Ugh."
"Send a quick message too."
Jeong Ha-yeon jumped up, cleared and washed the dishes. After a quick wash-up and brushing teeth, the two headed to school fast.
*
Seo Joo-hwan's group gathered in the department lecture hall for last-minute studying before the exam. Especially Lee Seok-chan, who never studied and even failed at cramming, was focusing fiercely.
"Joo-hwan! Lend me your summary!"
"Call me hyung first, punk."
"Hyung!"
"Alright. I bestow upon you my answer sheet."
It was a joke, but half-true—it was practically an answer key. He'd compiled problems likely to appear based on past regression knowledge.
Soon the exam started, and Lee Seok-chan said,
"Everyone except me, fail!"
But he was the first to leave the lecture hall.
*
Seo Joo-hwan finished his answer sheet quickly and left the hall. He'd crammed diligently and wrote everything down faithfully, but with no obsession over scores, his exams always ended faster than others'. Of course, today Lee Seok-chan beat him out.
Seo Joo-hwan teased Lee Seok-chan, who was smoking.
"'Everyone except me fail,' and you're the first out?"
"Fuck off. Grades don't matter anyway. Let's drink tonight instead."
"Yeah, gotta hit it after exams."
Seo Joo-hwan lit his cigarette and took a deep drag—right as Lee Seok-chan gave him a meaningful look.
"Hey, you were with Jeong Ha-yeon yesterday, right?"
"Cough! Hack! What? Ha-yeon was alone in the lecture hall..."
"Bullshit. I saw you two coming to school together."
"...Tch."
No point denying if he'd seen it all. Seo Joo-hwan exhaled long and nodded.
"She came alone yesterday, we just talked."
"Talked with your body?"
"You crazy bastard?"
Seo Joo-hwan stared at him incredulously. Lee Seok-chan's giggling tease was infuriating. Frowning, then smirking, he said,
"This punk doesn't hold back with his sister."
Lee Seok-chan flinched and froze. His shocked face was priceless.
"Ha-yeon told you that much? She's not the type... You two back together? Engagement?"
"Engagement my ass. No dating for a while. Just talked to clear the awkwardness."
"Huh. Well, things are better now. No more awkward vibes."
"...Was it that bad before?"
"You kidding? Ungrateful punk. I nearly busted my ass playing clown 'cause of you two losers."
Seo Joo-hwan scratched his eyebrow sheepishly. He knew Lee Seok-chan had worked hard to keep things smooth. He seemed carefree and annoying on the surface, but that was just him caring without showing it.
"Thanks."
"Eww! Gross! Just smoke."
"Even thanks gets a 'fuck you' from you."
"That's me."
Lee Seok-chan laughed again. Seo Joo-hwan grinned back, then said,
"Don't worry. I won't blab. That's why I'm telling you straight."
"Good. Rumors from early semester are a pain. Bugs swarm the second 'Yunsung Group heir' drops."
Seo Joo-hwan glanced at him and chuckled. In Ha-yeon's dream, Lee Seok-chan was famous even in elite privateschools, but he seemed to have suffered from his family background.
But anyway. Seo Joo-hwan quipped,
"Ha-yeon didn't mention Yunsung Group."
"...Pretend you didn't hear."
"You buying drinks tonight?"
"You got money, asshole."
"Sigh. Compared to Yunsung heir?"
"Argh! Fuck! Wrong guy to mess with!"
Lee Seok-chan scratched his head wildly, then shook it off. He knew Seo Joo-hwan wouldn't change over chaebol status. Instead, he grinned slyly.
"Hey, I'll treat big tonight, so pension mid-party? Got it booked. Just bring your body."
Seo Joo-hwan clicked his tongue. This mad bastard for sure—inviting his sister's ex to share girls.
"Call."
Thus, Seo Joo-hwan figured he wasn't normal either. Yoo So-jeong popped into his head.
Lee Seok-chan hooked arms with him, chuckling at the yes.
"Kept dodging, huh."
"It'd been days since the breakup then, man."
"Bull. Sounds like months now. Anyway, I dub thee best friend. Perfect for my dept."
This guy's suddenly cursing. They laughed long, then got pitiful looks from late-arriving Jang Deok-hoon.
*
After exams, playing billiards, the group checked the dept chat and groaned.
"We're fucked. How many is this...?"
"Around thirty, I think."
"Seo Joo-hwan, you madman. Who scales it this big?!"
"Hey, unfair! They latched on, I didn't start it!"
"Joo-hwan oppa dummy!"
"Raccoon, shut up!"
"Raccoon..."
"Why bully our raccoon?!"
"Ha-yeon unnie best!"
"Ah, shut the fuck up, you crazies! Can't tell 'em to fuck off. Argh!"
Lee Seok-chan yelled, head in hands. It started with exam talk in the dept chat. Post-midterms, kids chatted fails and wins, then pivoted to drinks. Seo Joo-hwan's emoji sparked it.
Outcon students chattered among themselves, soon settling on a group drink. Host? Emoji poster Seo Joo-hwan.
Lee Seok-chan said,
"No answer here. I'm out."
The group relayed:
"Me too. Ji-kyeong, just us."
"Sounds good, unnie."
"I'll pass too. Too crowded."
"Fine then. Meet at Joo-hwan's. He handles the kids. Hey, I'll cover billiards. Bye."
Seo Joo-hwan grabbed Lee Seok-chan's collar as he tried to pay and bolt.
"Traitor asshole."
"Who're you?"
"No pension for me."
"My bestie Joo-hwan, where to drink? Big crowd—need big pocha."
Secured Lee Seok-chan.
"Deok-hoon."
"Yes, hyungnim."
"Called Si-woo comrade?"
"Not my day."
"Before I smash your figures, let's go."
"...Yes, hyungnim."
Secured Jang Deok-hoon.
"Raccoon."
"Raccoon?"
"Come with."
"Raccoooon."
Shaking head Yoo Ji-kyeong. Seo Joo-hwan whispered in her ear,
"Slave bitch, you mocking your master?"
"What? Who's master?"
"Master, play with me~"
"Fine, slave punk!"
Seo Joo-hwan became slave.
"Ha-yeon."
"What."
"Bye. Drink alone at home."
"Hey! Bad bastard!"
Lost cause joined.
*
Nearly thirty people? Reserve ahead. Billiards abandoned, they scouted pochas from afternoon. Weirdly, daytime and most were booked. But legwork paid off.
Reserved, time came—people trickled in.
"Wooo! Exams over! Cheers!"
"Cheeeers!"
"Eat and die!"
'Don't die, fuck. If you do, I'm cleaning corpses.'
He screamed inwardly but was half-resigned. Twenty-year-olds post-exam have restraint inversely proportional to puberty lust. Seo Joo-hwan adjusted drinks carefully.
Inside pocha, drinking games started.
"God I'm hyped! Fun times! Game of Death!"
Lightweights flushed red.
"Apartment~ Apartment! 25th floor!"
No one over limit yet.
"Public seven!"
"Bang!"
Sudden 'Argh!' hand raise and crash!—glass shattered from hit.
Seo Joo-hwan calmed shocked kids.
"Guys, leave it. You'll cut yourselves. I'll clean."
"Uwaa, oppa sorry!"
"Sorry, hyung."
"It's fine, sit. No one's hurt?"
"Nope."
Sighing softly, he fetched broom, swept shards. Dept rep or babysitter? Parties aren't always fun.
Then Lee Seok-chan helped with shards and bottles.
Weird for him—glancing, he grinned.
"Hey, clean up then smoke one."
"Good. Needed it."
"Got girls to intro while smoking."
"Who?"
"Pension crew. Two here."
Seo Joo-hwan glanced at tables casually. Yoo So-jeong there. So the other one?