Targeted Shots and Lifelong Single Shocks
Seo Joo-hwan's brow furrowed the moment he saw Baek Jeong-gi plop down. This asshole picks the worst spot to sit. Baek Jeong-gi had wedged himself right between him and Jeong Ha-yeon. His face already flushed from the booze, Baek Jeong-gi spent the next few rounds of the game cackling and trying to steer the conversation.
Baek Jeong-gi said, "Let's play the 19+ Hand Disease game. What do you think?"
A few people looked intrigued by his suggestion, but more than half wore clear expressions of distaste. Shaking his head, Seo Joo-hwan cut in. "Skip the 19+. Just regular Hand Disease."
"Hmm. That sounds kinda boring, doesn't it?"
"Jeong-gi, it's my turn to pick the game. And some people look uncomfortable. Save that stuff for when we've got fewer players."
"...Sure, whatever you say, sunbae."
Baek Jeong-gi twitched his eyebrows in annoyance but nodded anyway. He still had enough sense to remember Seo Joo-hwan was his senior.
"Fold if you're wearing a hat!"
"Fold if you cross-dressed today!"
"Fold if you're wearing glasses!"
"Anyone who hasn't chugged Captain Q, fold."
"All freshmen, fold."
Baek Jeong-gi made every freshman fold. Seo Joo-hwan folded a finger too. Now he had two left.
"Fold if you're a lifelong single!" Yoo So-jeong called out.
The room erupted in laughter.
"Whoa~! That's harsh!"
"Pretending you're not? Come on!"
"Leave it to your conscience!"
Playful jeers rained down. Seo Joo-hwan hesitated for a second before folding another finger. He could easily down two more bottles of soju—no reason to hold back.
"Huh? Why's Joo-hwan oppa folding?"
Everyone in the room turned to stare at Seo Joo-hwan in shock. Yoo So-jeong, the one who'd called it, widened her eyes. "Oppa! You're a lifelong single?"
"Uh... yeah? So?"
Seo Joo-hwan scratched the corner of his eye awkwardly.
"Why's everyone staring like that? Never seen a lifelong single before? You're embarrassing me."
It was like they were gawking at a monkey in the zoo. His words unleashed a barrage of chatter.
"Whoa, no way! A real lifelong single?"
"Oppa, you're just lying to get out of drinking, right?"
"Joo-hwan hyung, deception isn't cool."
"Hey, Seo Joo-hwan. Don't bullshit with weird excuses."
Even Jeong Ha-yeon chimed in, leaving Seo Joo-hwan baffled. He opened his mouth. "Why would I lie about this? Yeah, I'm a lifelong single... wait, this feels weird. Why do I have to prove I'm one? You're killing me here twice over!"
He shouted in protest. Being a lifelong single was bad enough—did he really have to defend it? Deep down, he wanted to blurt out that while he'd never dated, he'd gotten plenty of action. But he kept his mouth shut.
Jeong Ha-yeon, still looking skeptical, pressed again. "For real? You've never dated? I saw something, you know."
"Saw what? Just believe me already."
Seo Joo-hwan scowled in response.
"Hmph. Just found it surprising."
Jeong Ha-yeon finally looked away, though doubt lingered in her eyes. She'd once seen him taking a girl to a motel. Guess he just walked her home.
That's when Baek Jeong-gi glanced at Jeong Ha-yeon, then turned to Seo Joo-hwan with a smirk. "Sunbae, you're really a lifelong single? I thought we were the same age."
"Yeah. So?"
"Nah, just... surprising. You've got a decent face. Usually, if a guy looks okay and makes it this far single, there's something wrong with his personality. But not you, right?"
Baek Jeong-gi shrugged. Seo Joo-hwan let out a hollow laugh. Wasn't that basically calling him an asshole under the polite sunbae talk? This guy's lost it after a few drinks? He knew the dude lacked manners, but he at least pretended otherwise usually. Now the filter was gone.
For a moment, Seo Joo-hwan considered flipping the table. Instead, he flashed a grin at Baek Jeong-gi. No point souring the fun vibe. Eyeing the single finger Baek Jeong-gi had left, he said, "All sophomores, fold."
The four sophomores folded. Only Baek Jeong-gi had one finger remaining. He folded it reluctantly. "Did you just snipe me?"
"Yeah, pretty much."
"Pardon?"
"It's a game. What's the big deal? I've only got one left too—I'm next anyway."
"...Haha. True. It's just a game."
"Since I made you fold, I'll pour your penalty shot. Gimme your cup."
Seo Joo-hwan snatched Baek Jeong-gi's cup and filled it to the brim with soju, topping it off with beer like a glaze. It was the penalty honey shot he'd learned from the gym bros.
He held up the finished product. "Guys, isn't this the trendy penalty honey shot these days?"
"Pfft-haha! That's not penalty honey—it's just honey shot!"
"Oppa, how's that honey?"
"Huh? Isn't it? Well, it's a penalty drink anyway, so it's fine. Jeong-gi, you good for more? Speak up if it's too much."
Seo Joo-hwan smirked slyly. Baek Jeong-gi exhaled in disbelief, staring at him. Seo Joo-hwan quickly shoved the glass into his hand. "Whoa, Baek Jeong-gi, you're the man! True sophomore class prez!"
"Woo! Class prez is awesome!"
Jang Deok-hoon cheered enthusiastically from nearby—not because he'd caught on, but just reflexively backing Seo Joo-hwan.
Baek Jeong-gi let out another hollow laugh. "Everyone's having a blast. No buzzkills dodging drinks. Fine, let's drink till we drop tonight!"
Drop dead alone, then. Seo Joo-hwan didn't just think it—he acted.
【Multitasking】
▶ Effect: Consciousness splits into a form suited for multitasking. Enables handling multiple tasks simultaneously.
※ Applies only during games. (Drinking games count as games.)
Seo Joo-hwan pulled out the special ability he'd been holding back to actually enjoy the party.
"Baek Jeong-gi sunbae got hit again!"
"Drink! Chug! Drink! Chug!"
"How long you gonna make him do the shoulder dance~!"
"No time for snacks~!"
As the game went on, Baek Jeong-gi downed more and more. He laughed awkwardly. "Whoa... this is getting tough. Feels like everyone's gunning for me specifically?"
He glanced around at the stares. Seo Joo-hwan put on an innocent, friendly smile, feigning ignorance. Baek Jeong-gi didn't seem fully convinced it was intentional, so he drank obediently.
Gulp. Glug glug.
Baek Jeong-gi's face turned beet red. In just 30 minutes since arriving, he'd polished off at least a bottle of soju. He'd already been tipsy before—time to lose it completely.
Good thing I leveled up my gaming talent.
As he poured and sipped his own drink, his eyes met Jeong Ha-yeon's over Baek Jeong-gi's shoulder. She mouthed something.
How's that for an assist?
Seo Joo-hwan chuckled and gave her a discreet thumbs-up, just for her eyes. He hadn't done it alone. Sure, it was a B-rank talent, but wrangling nearly 20 people solo? Impossible. Jeong Ha-yeon had cleverly helped steer it.
Then someone called from outside the door. "Hey, Joo-hwan! Cig break!"
Lee Seok-chan from the next room. Glancing around in admiration as he entered, he said, "Whoa, you guys are having fun too? Holy shit, is that Captain Q?"
"They gave us two bottles as a liquor prize."
"Damn, that's rare right now! Hey, why didn't you call me?"
"When'd you ask?"
"Tch. What a waste—I haven't had it in forever."
Lee Seok-chan smacked his lips. Seo Joo-hwan chuckled and threw on his jacket. The booze had him craving a smoke anyway.
"Cig time. Guys, I'll be right back. Keep playing."
Someone grabbed his sleeve. Baek Jeong-gi. His face flushed crimson, eyes half-glazed—he was done for, yet still clinging to his seat. Creepy.
"Sunbae, you gotta down a penalty before you go. Let me pour."
He poured without waiting for an answer. "The penalty honey you poured me earlier. You won't dodge, right?"
"Hand it over. I'll drink and go."
Seo Joo-hwan took the glass without hesitation. Kim Dae-seop from Ribbon Fitness had mixed these in pint glasses. This was nothing.
Slurp. Gulp.
"There."
He drained it casually. Baek Jeong-gi stared in shock.
"You should pace yourself and crash. Face is red. Seok-chan, cigs."
"Yeah."
*
Lee Seok-chan lit up and said, "What went down with Baek Jeong-gi?"
"What do you mean?"
"Vibe got tense for a sec."
"Sophomore's wasted and embarrassing himself—kids were just awkward. Anyway, how's your room? Fun?"
Lee Seok-chan grinned and nodded. "Ours is a blast. Half the dept's probably in there. Other half's yours."
Seemed the heavy drinkers split into two rooms. He'd bonded with the girls in his group and made plans to hang later.
"Some cute ones. Join us next time. Pension trip after exams."
"For real? Hell yeah."
Dept friends at a pension! Classic college dream. One sharp guy like Lee Seok-chan beat ten average buddies.
Lee Seok-chan suddenly recalled something. "Oh yeah, Joo-hwan. You really a lifelong single?"
"What? Why bring that up?"
"Girls in my room spilled it."
"It spread that far? Come on."
Seo Joo-hwan looked baffled. So what if he was single? Why the gossip?
Lee Seok-chan cackled, puffing smoke. He remembered the girls' excited buzz. Decent personality, good looks, lifelong single? Wild. Especially after Joo-hwan's low-key talent show charm. Confessions incoming soon.
Oblivious, Seo Joo-hwan grumbled, "A guy can go undating sometimes..."
"Hmm. But you've gotten laid, right?"
"...Not that either."
"No way. You've done it but no dating? You were the clubbing pro-virgin type? Brothel? Club? Where?"
"Club if I had to pick... Anyway, drop it. Let's go if you're done. Baek Jeong-gi's probably passed out by now."
Jeong So-ra flashed in his mind—better change topics. Couldn't say army hookups or explain trainer Im Su-hee; too messy.
"Ugh. Dude, bathroom."
Lee Seok-chan, who'd been chuckling behind him, said, "Gonna puke?"
"No, emergency shit! Go ahead!"
Face green, he bolted for the toilet. Seo Joo-hwan clicked his tongue and headed back.
Mid-corridor, it hit.
- If you're drunk, go crash somewhere and sleep!
A sharp yell pierced from the inner room. Familiar voice.
"...Ha-yeon?"
Jeong Ha-yeon's voice. Realizing it, he bolted toward the sound.