Chapter 11
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Tonight, Please Stay With Me
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Gumiho.
Mi-na's mentioned bar was right in the heart of the university district.
Not quite on Hongdae's level, but it boasted a foot traffic that put any bustling capital area spot to shame, or so I'd heard.
In other words, a place I almost never had reason to set foot in.
Amid the chaotic street throng, a neon sign that unmistakably evoked a fox's tail caught the eye at first glance.
I double-checked the map, then pushed open the translucent glass door and stepped inside.
Ding-
"Welcome."
As I entered the bar proper, a bell chime followed by the bartender's suave voice greeted me in turn.
The street's clamor faded away under the soft strains of jazz.
Beneath sleek, dreamlike lighting, conversations from the earlier arrivals filled the space.
Just one door over, and it felt like another world entirely.
"Please, take any seat you're comfortable with."
"Ah, sure."
The bartender's voice snapped me out of my trance with the bar's vibe, same as before.
Shaking off the daze, I glanced around; Mi-na didn't seem to have arrived yet.
Well, I'd come straight from the office.
I eyed the bar counter and the regular tables back and forth before settling into a quiet corner spot after some thought.
"You can place your orders through the screen right next to you."
As I sat down and set aside my bag and jacket, the bartender approached like he'd been waiting and placed a plate of basic snacks.
He set it down and gestured to the order monitor mounted at the table's edge.
"Thanks."
Once the bartender headed back, I inspected the assortment of starters on the plate.
"Oh."
Crackers topped with tomato and blueberry cream cheese.
The lineup looked decent enough.
Not that I'd been to a place like this before to really judge.
Vrrr-
Just as I picked up a cracker, my phone buzzed in my pocket.
I pulled it out; one message from Mi-na.
-Senior, you there yet?
-Yeah. Just arrived.
-(Sweaty running bear emoji)
-Almost there myself.
-No rush^^.
Hearing she was almost here made my heart, which had finally settled, start pounding again.
Regret over coming at all.
Worry about screwing up.
A hopeful what if.
Emotions swirled in a tangled mess in my head.
Meanwhile, Lizetta back home kept nagging at the corner of my mind.
To distract myself, I fiddled with the monitor to scan the menu.
From the cheapest beers to cocktails and whiskeys.
"Oh, Godfather."
The cocktails especially—didn't know what most were, but plenty of familiar names made it oddly welcoming.
Right then.
Jingle—the bar door swung open, and a familiar silhouette stepped in.
"Oppa~ Long time~."
She traded easy, friendly greetings with the bartender before her orange eyes darted around, searching.
I gave a slight wave; spotting me at last, her face lit up as she headed my way.
As she drew closer, the click-clack of unfamiliar heels grew louder.
"Sorry. I'm a little late, huh?"
"Nah, this is early. But..."
I cut off mid-sentence, letting my eyes roam over Mi-na's outfit.
A thin white knit that teased a hint of cleavage, topped with a sky-blue cardigan.
Below, not her usual office hot pants but a black tennis skirt falling to her knees, paired with low heels.
Not a huge shift from her usual vibe, but it carried a somehow more mature air.
"Senior~, you staring a hole through me?"
"Huh? Oh, sorry. Got lost there."
At Mi-na's teasing jab, I scratched the back of my neck and looked away.
"Eh, if it's you, senior, a little looking's fine. So? Does it suit?"
Like she was doing me a favor, Mi-na spread her arms and did a slow spin right there.
Her black tennis skirt fluttered out prettily.
"Yeah, suits you great."
"How so? What part?"
The bare legs sans stockings, just like at work.
No way in hell I'd say that.
Lovers might get away with it, but between senior and junior? Cuffs, even if we're tight.
"Just vibes right with you."
"Aw. Dressed up special and that's all? Hehe. But that's peak senior."
Relief washed over me at how little she'd changed from work Mi-na.
Still, my gaze kept drifting to the bag with the condoms inside.
"This spot okay?"
Mi-na had slipped into the seat across from me at some point.
Shrugging off her cardigan revealed the delicate line from her shoulders to her slender arms.
"Yeah. Nice vibe. Chill, not rowdy."
"Right? My place isn't far, so I drop by to drink now and then."
"Solo?"
"Used to come with others, but lately just me."
Mi-na picked up a cracker from the plate as she answered my question.
Others.
She brushed it off casually.
Nine times out of ten, guys.
A friendly, stylish girl like her without a single boyfriend all this time?
"Coming here with someone? First time in forever, and it's you, senior."
That single line annoyingly swept away the creeping jealousy like dust in the wind.
"Orders first, then chat? What're you having, senior?"
"Dunno. Only canned beer or soju back home; first time in a spot like this."
"Names'll ring bells though? Martini, Mojito."
"Peeked earlier—over half were familiar."
"Kekeke, same for me first time. Sex on the Beach, even an Orgasm cocktail."
"They've got everything."
Names gave zero clue on taste.
That good, huh?
"Not much of a drinker myself."
"Right, you can't hold your liquor."
"Yup~. Love the drinking, but sadly my body's no fan."
"Newbie welcome party, thought you were a pro chugging nonstop."
"Aaak."
Mi-na let out a low wail and buried her face in her hands at my words.
"Was finally wiping it from my brain!"
Looked like I'd unearthed a sealed memory.
The women had sweated bullets getting her into a taxi that night.
Even blackout drunk, witnesses galore.
"Ugh. And senior, you're one to talk? Both lightweights."
"I don't make a scene like you."
"Kyaak. Meaaan."
This was kinda fun.
The girl who'd tease me every chance now couldn't even look up.
Gotta remember this ammo.
"Uuu. Sooo, what'll it be?"
Feeling good from the petty payback, I crossed my arms and replied.
"You're the regular—your recs. Not fancy enough for pickiness."
Even buzzed, tomorrow's the weekend.
Weekend.
No hesitation stood up to that magic word.
"No take-backs~. Starter Long Island and Blue Hawaii..."
Snapping back to her usual pep, Mi-na tapped away, ordering drinks and snacks like a pro.
Until they arrived, we killed time with idle chit-chat.
How long had it been since I sat across from someone for drinks?
Since going independent, "drinks" meant group dinners or meetups only.
Private ones? Nonexistent.
Was that why?
First time in a place like this, but talking with Mi-na made the liquor slide down easy.
Snapped to when I noticed five or six empties stacked by my side.
Shocking part: no buzz, not even a hint of intoxication.
'【Lewd Beast】 perk too?'
Body too peak now—even booze barely fazed it.
Still, the fun's in getting tipsy. Kinda lame.
"Uee~."
Mi-na, who'd drunk way less, swayed like a reed in the wind.
Face beet-red as a beet, her half-lidded eyes lost all focus.
"Mi-na, you good?"
"Yee? I'm gooood~. Just happy drinkin' with senior."
Drunk as hell—tongue slurring, stumbling over words.
"Stop there. More and you're toast."
"Senior~."
Not registering a word.
"What."
"Why... you so nice to me, senior?"
"Sudden what now."
"No, just..."
Mi-na trailed off, swirling her half-full cocktail glass gently.
"Guys I met? All pervs gunning for my body."
Her usual polish cracked into rough talk.
"Hit a bar, they'd force-feed strong stuff to knock me out. Sick to death."
"...And?"
"But you don't, senior. I brought it up first, yeah—but came half-expecting."
"Well..."
Which guy wouldn't hope when a girl's bar invite screams duo-date?
Even so.
"Can't pull that on a precious junior."
"Pffft."
"Hey... I'm being serious."
"Pffft. Sorry, sorry. Ahaha. Senior—body all man now, heart still total prude?"
Mi-na dabbed laugh-tears with a napkin.
"Sucker prude. Straight outta old romcom protag. Face just a tad short."
"Me prude sucker—what're you piling on?"
Worried for nothing, loss.
"Senior sulking? Sorry~ My bad."
"Forget it, dummy."
Not full-on grovel.
"...Still, don't hate it. Prude suckers like you, senior."
Face burning, I slammed back the dregs in my glass—then Mi-na's mumble grazed my ear.
Context echoed the rooftop words.
Vibe utterly different.
Glanced ahead glass in hand; Mi-na gazed at me with soulful eyes.
White-manicured fingers toyed oddly with the glass rim.
Jazz drowned my racing pulse.
Gaze nailed to her eyes.
"You are wasted."
"Sober as can be? Hehe."
Brief silence.
Gaze thick enough to choke.
"Senior... hate girls like me?"
Her voice sank; head dipped.
"You know, right? Company rumors 'bout me."
"Overheard... by chance."
Folks envy the better; but.
Those rumors spread wildest among the guys.
"Man-chaser slut, spreads easy."
Her laugh mid-sentence rang self-mocking.
"You believe 'em, senior?"
Truth? No clue, no care.
No taste for public trash-talk.
"Nah."
Least, the Park Mi-na I'd seen wasn't that shameless.
"Ah..."
Realized too late: I'd grabbed her hand on the table.
Pure impulse; reflex yanked to let go.
She clamped down instead.
Spring-sun warmth flowed fingertip to fingertip.
"Senior... one favor?"
Drunk-misted orange eyes quivered.
Pink lips trembled, hunting words.
"Tonight... stay with me?"
I couldn't shake free of Mi-na's hand.