Double Date (2)
"It was originally made for you, oppa. I loved reading Possession Master!"
"Still, that's..."
Seo Joo-hwan started to refuse but clamped his mouth shut again. Truth be told, he really wanted the song. The track Min Ga-hee had composed fit the scene perfectly in his eyes, boosting the story's immersion. It was good enough to serve as an official theme.
Min Ga-hee beamed at him with an innocent smile.
"Don't feel burdened. I made it specifically for your novel anyway, so I can't use it anywhere else."
"Hmm. I'm truly grateful, but is it okay to just take a song like this? How about I buy it from you instead? Or I can pay a usage fee."
"Huh? N-No, money's fine. Just take it, oppa!"
Min Ga-hee widened her eyes, as if he'd said something ridiculous. She had no intention of taking payment. Who was it that had shown her a new path when she was lost and wandering? From Seo Joo-hwan's perspective, it had just been a casual offhand remark, but a single light word could change someone's life.
To her, sunk in anxiety, frustration, and despair, Seo Joo-hwan had given her a fresh alternative. He was practically her benefactor.
"Oppa, think of it like fanart. You don't go around contacting every reader who sends fanart and paying them, right? I made it out of pure fandom."
She'd composed it simply because she'd enjoyed the novel so much. Right when she was getting really into composing, a scene from the story hit her—boom!—sparking inspiration she couldn't ignore.
Seo Joo-hwan hesitated for a moment before finally nodding. It wasn't like he was short on cash; buying it outright solved the issue. But hearing it called fanart made her point sink in.
"Alright... I'll gladly accept it, then."
"Hehe. That's what I wanted. If you need more tracks, just say the word."
Min Ga-hee lit up with pride in an instant. Seo Joo-hwan smiled faintly at the sight. He felt like a swindler preying on a naive girl.
Next time, I should commission her first.
If he requested it formally rather than accepting it as fan work, she wouldn't be able to refuse proper payment.
Just in case, he added, "Ga-hee."
"Yeah?"
"I'm really thankful, but don't do this for just anyone. Good work deserves fair compensation, right?"
It might be meddlesome, but he couldn't help lecturing her. Her innocence worried him. As a fellow creator, it was something he felt strongly about anyway.
Ga-hee's talent isn't something you find everywhere.
Min Ga-hee's current 'Composition' talent rank was C+, skilled enough to call proficient. But her potential was a whopping S-rank. High potential meant she could produce results beyond her current level even now. And the song she'd given him was clearly one such masterpiece.
Yet picturing this naive girl handing out tracks so carelessly filled him with unease.
Min Ga-hee blinked, then nodded quietly. Not because she agreed, but because his expression suggested she'd just get more nagging if she argued.
"Tch."
She spent the rest of the meal pouting sullenly.
It's not like I'd do it for just anyone...
Her lips puffed out in sulky offense.
*
Seo Joo-hwan had invited the trio to Anyang, so he took charge from dinner to entertainment spots. Including his pre-regression life, he'd lived there forever, and in this life, he'd explored everywhere with friends—nothing was unfamiliar.
The four started at an escape room cafe, hit a board game cafe next, and now they were at a bowling alley. Paired up and bowling, it really felt like a double date.
"Yes! Strike!"
Bowling was surprisingly competitive. Lee Jeong-hoon dominated personal scores, with Seo Joo-hwan close behind thanks to his 'Handcraft' talent. Min Ga-hee was unexpectedly good too. Only Yoon Seol-gi's score lagged, her mouth agape in admiration.
"You guys are insanely good at bowling."
"Seol-gi sucks the most. Total klutz!"
"What about you, Ga-hee?"
"Eek! My bad!"
"Too late!"
Yoon Seol-gi smacked Min Ga-hee's back playfully. Ga-hee couldn't exercise worth a damn, but Yoon Seol-gi was the best at grabbing her. Ga-hee laughed happily, so it seemed this was just their way of messing around.
"Joo-hwan, smoke break?"
"Again? Keep it up and your lungs'll rot. Doesn't Seol-gi say anything?"
It hadn't even been an hour at the alley, and he'd already smoked two. Lee Jeong-hoon was handsome, great personality, talented—but a chain-smoker. Some exes had dumped him over his habit.
Heading to the smoking room, Lee Jeong-hoon said, "It's fine. Seol-gi smokes too. She nags sometimes, but whatever."
"Oh, right—Seol-gi's a smoker."
Come to think of it, she'd mentioned it when they met at the club. He'd forgotten since she hadn't had one today.
Lee Jeong-hoon inhaled deeply and exhaled. "She doesn't smoke much around Ga-hee. Ga-hee used to want to be a vocalist."
"Thoughtful of her."
"Yeah."
He'd already smoked it to the filter. Tossing the butt, he said, "Gonna hit the bathroom first, Joo-hwan."
"Sure. I'll finish this slow."
Lee Jeong-hoon rushed off. Moments later, the door opened again.
"Oppa~ Let's smoke together!"
"Ga-hee? Oh, Seol-gi."
He'd mistaken her voice for Min Ga-hee's, but it was Yoon Seol-gi. She blinked, scanning the room—only Seo Joo-hwan.
"Oppa, where's Jeong-hoon oppa?"
"He went to the bathroom a bit ago. Didn't you see him outside?"
"Huh? Must've missed each other. I was gonna steal yours."
Stealing smokes a trend this year? Yoon Seol-gi glanced around, then grinned. "Joo-hwan oppa, can I have one? Wasn't planning to smoke, so I didn't bring any."
"No problem. Brand picky?"
"Hybrid 5? My fave."
"Here, light."
"Thanks~."
Yoon Seol-gi took a drag, her face blooming into a blissful smile. Seo Joo-hwan chuckled.
"Pfft-haha."
"Huh? Why're you laughing?"
"You smoke like it tastes that good."
"...This is my first one today. You smoke too—you get it, right? Right?"
She'd warmed up to him during the fun; her tone was affectionate now. Seo Joo-hwan nodded, chuckling. "Just realized—your voice sounds exactly like Ga-hee's."
Yoon Seol-gi blinked twice, then burst into windy laughter. "Hehe. Guess that means we're close now."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"Only close people notice. My tone's lower than Ga-hee's, but when I'm happy, it rises. Then we sound super alike. All our friends know."
"That's wild. Can Jeong-hoon hyung tell?"
"Ooh, now I'm curious. Gotta test him later."
She grinned mischievously, then added a chilling line. "He better guess right."
"......"
Seo Joo-hwan mentally vowed to slip Lee Jeong-hoon an extra stamina pill as apology.
*
Fun times always fly. Before they knew it, sunset brought evening.
Seo Joo-hwan raised his glass. "Hyung, belated discharge congrats."
"Jeong-hoon oppa, congrats!"
"Our oppa worked so hard!"
Lee Jeong-hoon downed his shot and grinned. "Kuh. Hearing it from my junior makes it feel real."
"Puhaha. Wanna role-play full discharge vibes?"
"Ooh, should we?"
"Hyung, sit! Can't even talk straight. Just kidding!"
"Heh. Me too, man."
Pretending to stand, Lee Jeong-hoon plopped back down. Min Ga-hee asked curiously, "Joo-hwan oppa was Jeong-hoon oppa's direct senior? That's the one right above, yeah?"
"Oh, you hadn't heard, Ga-hee. We were in the same company; three-month gap, so I was his direct senior."
Seo Joo-hwan glanced at Yoon Seol-gi before adding, "I was pretty clueless back then—hyung helped a ton. As expected."
Yoon Seol-gi smiled softly over her beer. Gotta shine for your girl. Lee Jeong-hoon subtly thumbs-upped thanks.
Discharged soldiers drinking naturally drift to army tales—especially fresh ones like him, just a month out.
At first, Yoon Seol-gi and Min Ga-hee listened eagerly, but soon grew bored. Seo Joo-hwan caught it and pivoted. "Speaking of army—my new work's a military story."
Lee Jeong-hoon's face scrunched reflexively. "......Gotta skip that one for now."
His sour reaction cracked up the other three.
Topics shifted from army life: what they did daily, college talk. Back to Seo Joo-hwan's novels—inevitable since all read them.
Web novel fan Lee Jeong-hoon gushed most. "I read Possession Master without knowing it was yours? Freaked when I saw the pen name. I'd read your old stuff too—huge glow-up."
He'd once dreamed of writing, loved web novels. Guard post shock: 'Author-nim, this the army you mentioned?' He'd even read the smutty prequel Martial Erotic Emperor.
Mid-chat, Lee Jeong-hoon recalled, "Hey, Joo-hwan. No paywall on that one?"
"Huh? Which?"
"Y'know, Demon God Returns. Free serializing."
"Oh, that's my stress-relief scribble. No paywall soon—irregular updates."
"Yeah, hasn't updated lately. I liked it more than Possession Master."
"Hyung's got smut tastes."
"No, it's legit fun! Right, Seol-gi?"
"Yeah, I liked that one better."
"Wait, you read it too? Uploaded on alt for you only."
Seo Joo-hwan eyed him reproachfully. Sharing smut with close ones was awkward—especially women.
Lee Jeong-hoon waved frantically. "Whoa, misunderstanding! I didn't tell her. She got hooked on her own."
"True. Just found out it's yours."
"But if she read it now, doesn't that expose you anyway?"
"Huh? That logic? Sorry, booze brain..."
"Pfft. Fine. You two even share tastes."
Perfect match. Who'd guess a club fling would turn serious?
Lee Jeong-hoon chugged. "Anyway, that was the best."
"Heh. Thanks, I guess."
"No joke—game adaptation material."
He slammed another. "Tweak story for dot-game, roguelite action genre, sexy illust since it's adult novel—hey, Seol-gi does real sound recording, then what? Uh......"
His words trailed, then thunk!—head on table.
Staring, he mumbled passed out. "Game... finish what I'm... doing first... ngh... zzz......"
"Huh? Oppa? Jeong-hoon oppa?!"
"No way hyung's out? Thought he held liquor."
Seo Joo-hwan shook him—no dice. Dark circles from the start; booze knocked him deep.
"Sheesh. Let's head out, guys. Ga-hee?"
"Ung?"
"...You drunk too?"
"N-Nooo! Not drunk!"
Min Ga-hee shook her blue hair, denying. But flushed cheeks and half-lidded eyes said otherwise.
"Heehee. Oppa sleeps so handsome too...!"
Yoon Seol-gi was wasted worse.
Wasted the item?
Seo Joo-hwan had popped a sustained 'Hangover Relief Pill' pre-drinks to handle drunks. Too fun, he missed the slide. Would've dosed all if he had extras.
"Tch. To my place first."
He shouldered Lee Jeong-hoon; less-drunk Min Ga-hee supported Yoon Seol-gi. Paid and headed home.
*
Seo Joo-hwan's place: living room, two bedrooms. Spacious for a solo student pad—friends like Lee Seok-chan crashed often, so one room was guest-ready with bed.
"In, hyung. No puking!"
Home, he shoved Lee Jeong-hoon in. Yoon Seol-gi clung like glue.
"Argh. Why's she a cicada now? Seol-gi, peel off. Sleep with Ga-hee."
"Nooo! With my oppa!"
"Drunk her's a menace... Fine, no barf's a win."
He sighed amusedly. Cute level chaos. But room split tricky...
Turning, Min Ga-hee grinned, head tilt. Blue hair swishing. "Whyyy? Just say they sleep together. Cuddle puddle anywayyy."
"Jeez. So you wanna bunk with me?"
She nodded eagerly, hugging his arm. "Yup! With oppa? Slept like that beforeee?"
"Man. Drunk mouth... Sigh. You take the room. I'll sofa."
He shook his head. Could share, but restraint tough. Booze amped his libido. Another round with her? Too many hang-ups.
I might be the axe-murderer type... Better safe.
Shoving her in, he turned to leave—
Squish! Soft, pillowy back hug. F-cup bounty crushed against him; dick sprang up.
Fuck, hard to hold.
He chanted inwardly. Maha Prajna Paramita Heart Sutra... East sea, White Head Mountain, firm as ever~! Buddha and anthem quelled the surge.
Deep breath, no turn. "...Ga-hee, let go. You'll regret it later."
"No. Sleep together, oppa."
He traced mentally. Three 'endures' dodge murder. If murder, surely lust too. Peeled her arms gently. "Whew. You'll regret this. Bed now. Good girl? You're drunk. Yeah?"
"......"
"Huh? What?"
He turned—and froze.
"...Ga-hee?"
Clear gaze locked on him. Flushed face, but calmest eyes yet. "I'm not drunk."
"......"
Faking it till now? She nodded softly. "And... I won't regret it."
"......"
Snap. Last thread broke.
Screw it, fuck.