32. I Want to Eat Your XX (2)
32. I Want to Eat Your XX (2)
"So."
Around the time So-jeong was trying to change the subject, the alcohol and non-alcoholic cocktail that Baek-seol had ordered were served at their table.
"What did Baek-hwa say? You haven't called her in a while, right?"
So-jeong carefully picked up the non-alcoholic cocktail placed in front of her, sniffed it to check if there was any alcohol in it, and then took a small sip.
Her eyes widened slightly at the refreshing, sweet, and clean finish of the cocktail, and she savored the taste.
Baek-seol gulped down a mouthful of soju with a large ice cube floating in it, placed it back on the table with a thud, and let out a rough sigh. "Puhu."
"What kind of meaningful conversation would she have with me? She just asks if I'm doing well on the surface, says she misses me, talks about how she's been lately, tells me to visit the family home next time, and then just says what she wants to say and hangs up."
Tsk, Baek-seol clicked her tongue and narrowed her already sharp eyes even more sharply.
"Why is she so jealous about inheriting that damn business that she makes life difficult for people? I never wanted to inherit it in the first place."
"Ahaha......"
So-jeong let out a weak laugh, empathizing with her feelings.
Baek-seol's father ran a business. It wasn't a nationally famous conglomerate, but Baek-seol had once briefly mentioned that it was a well-known company in the industry.
Baek-seol had been designated as the successor to inherit that company from her father. One of the reasons she entered the law school was because her father had insisted that she needed some legal knowledge to manage the business later.
"Why don't you just hand it over to Baek-hwa? I heard Baek-hwa is also a good student?"
"If Father were that sensible, I wouldn't be suffering like this."
Baek-seol, who had gulped down another mouthful of soju, let out a more helpless sigh than before. "Hoo."
"What's so special about being the eldest? Having the mindset that the eldest must inherit the business in this day and age... He just arbitrarily decides and then calls me every day saying things like you have to uphold the family and all that."
As Baek-seol's grip tightened on the glass, her nails scraped against it with a *scrape*.
"......"
Not knowing what words of comfort to offer, So-jeong silently grabbed Baek-seol's tense hand and held it tightly.
Feeling the warm heat covering her hand, Baek-seol turned her head to look at So-jeong and gave an awkward smile.
"Sorry. I made you worry and come here, and now I'm just talking about unpleasant things."
So-jeong shook her head vigorously.
"No. If talking to me makes you feel a little better, then I'm happy. I'm actually sorry that I can't help you more than just listening."
So-jeong's words seemed to lighten Baek-seol's heart a little.
"What do you have to be sorry about? You're just too kind."
"Me?"
"Yeah. You always try to help anyone who's having a hard time right away. Even if someone just shows a little sign of feeling down like today, you worry about it as if it's your own problem."
"Hey, you're exaggerating."
So-jeong took a gulp of her cocktail to hide her embarrassment.
"But it's not just anyone, it's you. How could I not care? You've helped me so much."
"Me?" This time, Baek-seol asked the same question.
"I don't think I've really helped you that much."
"What do you mean you haven't helped me that much......"
So-jeong said as if it was ridiculous.
"Don't you remember saving me in high school?"
"Of course I remember."
"And even after coming to college, you've always looked out for me. And you say you haven't helped?"
"Well, that's true but......"
Baek-seol held the top of her glass with her finger, clinking the ice, and gazed intently at So-jeong.
"That's more like repaying a debt than helping."
"A debt? You? To me? What kind?"
Seeing So-jeong with countless question marks above her head, Baek-seol let out a light laugh.
"Ahaha, that's a secret."
"Ah, what! Tell me~ please?"
"I'll give you a hint: it's a debt that occurred even before we became friends. And it's a really big one."
"Uh......? What is it? Baek-seol, can't you tell me?"
"Huhu, no."
Despite So-jeong's continued pressing, Baek-seol just refused.
With a pleased smile as if recalling a good memory.
***
Perhaps because her mood had lightened a bit after talking with So-jeong, Baek-seol started talking more about everyday things rather than family matters.
However, that didn't mean Baek-seol drank any less; she was already on her nth glass of the same soju, savoring and drinking it down.
'Wow......'
So-jeong couldn't grasp what part she should be more surprised about.
Should she be amazed anew at the wealth that allows Baek-seol to keep drinking what looks like tens of thousands of won per glass as if it were refillable cola, or should she be amazed at Baek-seol's alcohol tolerance that allows her to drink so much consecutively and only show a slight flush on her face?
"Baek-seol, are you okay?"
"Hmm? Huhuhu."
So-jeong spoke to Baek-seol with multiple meanings, but Baek-seol just gazed intently at So-jeong with slightly dazed eyes and tilted her glass.
"I'm fine. I usually drink much more than this. This amount is no problem at all."
Baek-seol's appearance as she clinked the ice in her glass again definitely wasn't that of a drunk person. It was just that the sharp energy she had been emitting after her sister's call had subsided, making her seem a bit more relaxed.
"The alcohol tastes especially good today. Is it because I'm drinking with you, So-jeong?"
Baek-seol muttered that and lightly rested her head on So-jeong's shoulder with a *tap*.
The scent of alcohol from the soju wafted up strongly, but mixed with Baek-seol's body scent, it didn't smell bad to So-jeong; rather, it felt like a strong floral fragrance.
"Hic."
Even though she hadn't drunk a drop of alcohol, So-jeong's face turned red, her body stiffened, and she hiccuped.
It had been hard to ignore Baek-seol's expression, voice, and skin, which had become even more alluring after drinking, since earlier.
"......I'm glad you're by my side, So-jeong."
As Baek-seol spoke while leaning on her shoulder, her resonance seeped into So-jeong.
"Then call me whenever you drink from now on. Don't drink alone."
"It's not about the alcohol...... I mean, I'm glad you're with me at college too."
So-jeong slightly lowered her head to look at Baek-seol, but she could only see the top of her head; it was hard to see her expression.
"If the only reason I came to law school was because of Father's pressure, I wouldn't have been able to endure it. Thanks to you coming to law school, I was able to stay here."
"......"
At the serious words, So-jeong just quietly listened to Baek-seol.
"So-jeong, is helping people still your dream?"
"Yes." So-jeong nodded slightly.
"Just like you helped me when I was having a hard time, I want to help people who are struggling too."
Baek-seol let out a shallow laugh at So-jeong's answer.
"As expected, you really are a kind person, So-jeong."
"Ehehe, I guess so."
"Yeah. Ordinary people...... don't immediately reach out to others just because they've escaped a difficult situation. Instead, they become greedy and try to grasp even more. Saying they'll enjoy everything they couldn't have until now."
"Well, if I'm really as kind as you say, Baek-seol...... it's because of you. It's thanks to you that I am where I am now."
"......"
Baek-seol didn't answer. A warm silence settled over the two of them for a moment.
In that silence, So-jeong suddenly thought that now might be the perfect timing.
The question she had wanted to ask for the past week but couldn't.
In this atmosphere, feeling like she could bring up that question without it being awkward, So-jeong opened her mouth.
"Baek-seol."
"Yes?"
"Um, you know the help I've been receiving from you lately."
"What kind of......"
Baek-seol, realizing mid-sentence what So-jeong was talking about, lifted her head to look at her.
"Did it become unbearable again?"
"Ah, no, it's not that!"
"Then?"
"Lately, um, you've been going through so much trouble helping me with my problem."
So-jeong quickly continued before Baek-seol could say anything else.
"But I feel a bit sorry that I'm just feeling good from you helping me! So......"
Huuup, a deep breath as if to steady herself.
"So I want to make you feel good too...... as, as repayment."
Baek-seol's eyes widened slightly as she looked at So-jeong.
There was no way she didn't understand the meaning. No matter how indirectly it was phrased, the 'repayment' So-jeong was talking about was all too obvious.
So-jeong closed her eyes tightly and waited for Baek-seol's answer.
Just as regret was washing over her, wondering if she had said something unnecessary,
"You're asking for permission even to repay me?"
At Baek-seol's answer, So-jeong opened her eyes slightly.
Baek-seol wasn't making an angry face or a disbelieving face.
Rather, she had an even more dreamy expression than when she was drinking just now.
"Well, if So-jeong wants to do it...... I guess it's okay."
"Oh, really?"
So-jeong said in a bright voice without realizing it.
"Yes. Actually, this time drinking with you like this feels a bit like a dream?"
Baek-seol said that, finished the remaining soju in her glass, and showed an enchanting smile.
"If it's such a good dream...... I think it wouldn't be bad to dream it a little longer."
Thump. Thump.
So-jeong's heart started racing again.