The Wine, the Warmth, and the Dream
It was hot.
I headed back to where my classmates were, both hands full of the wine Doyun had carefully selected for us.
I could see everyone’s eyes light up.
I understood why.
Even a quick glance was enough to tell them this wasn’t ordinary wine.
It looked expensive to me, too.
And I’d already heard that it really was.
“...Didn’t you bring too much?”
“Feels kind of overwhelming...”
“Hey, Seoha must have had her reasons for bringing it.”
“Yeah. Let’s just be grateful and enjoy it.”
I set the wine down.
My classmates fetched an opener and started uncorking the bottles.
And then someone started talking about the wine.
“Whoa... I’m in a wine club, so I know a bit about this stuff, and these are seriously rare bottles.”
“R, really?”
“No matter how much of a catch Seoha is, these wouldn’t have been easy to get... And to share them with classmates she hasn’t seen in ages? Honestly, thank you, Seoha.”
“...It’s nothing.”
“It is something. Most people in our club are pretty well off, and even then, we only drink wine like this maybe once a year. Most of the time, we’re just wetting our throats.”
Once the classmate who knew wine inside and out said that, everyone’s eyes seemed to spark.
We’d all suspected it wasn’t ordinary, but hearing it out loud gave it a whole different feel.
I felt the same way.
So these were that rare?
It was a clear sign of how much effort Doyun had put into this for my sake.
My classmates hurriedly poured the wine into their glasses and took a sip.
They all closed their eyes, savoring it.
They looked awkward, like they weren’t used to wine at all.
Even so, seeing how much they liked it made me feel happy, too.
I drank it the way Doyun had taught me. The aroma really was unlike anything ordinary.
Everyone opened their eyes and offered their verdicts on the wine.
“This is seriously delicious... Honestly, I never understood why people spend so much money on wine, but now I get it.”
“That’s because this is genuinely good wine. Expensive, too, obviously—but hard to get.”
“Makes sense. Even I can feel it, and I don’t know the first thing about wine.”
“Thanks again. Because of you, we got to experience something rare. I’m really sorry I couldn’t step up earlier.”
“Don’t mention it. There’s plenty left, so just relax and enjoy it.”
“I can’t believe I get to enjoy wine this rare without worrying about a thing.”
Everyone kept thanking me, and my friend looked even happier than if it had been her own accomplishment.
I felt the same way.
It’s been a while.
Come to think of it, when was the last time I’d had an experience like this? I couldn’t even remember.
Usually, whenever I met up with friends, I was the one who had to make apologetic little remarks. That was how things were, and I couldn’t afford to spend a lot just to protect my pride.
Every time that happened, my friends would tell me not to worry and help me out instead...
But this time, it felt like I’d been the one doing that role, and it honestly made me so happy.
Since everyone kept sipping wine, they gradually got tipsy.
They didn’t look like they had any intention of going home.
I carefully brought up the idea.
“Could I... head out first?”
“Already? We haven’t seen you in ages, so that’s really disappointing...”
“We can see each other again later. This gathering won’t be the only one.”
“I guess that’s true, but...”
“Let her go. Maybe we’ve been making her feel pressured. Honestly, bringing this wine alone was already an incredible courtesy.”
“Come to think of it, for someone like Seoha, time is probably more valuable than money. Just showing up here is enough to make us grateful.”
I was just as disappointed, but when I thought about Doyun waiting for me in the car, I couldn’t stay any longer.
I was already feeling pretty tipsy, and if I stayed much longer, I might not be able to keep my head on straight.
So I left.
After saying my goodbyes, I headed toward the car.
He must have been waiting for a while.
My steps quickened.
***
While I was waiting in the driver’s seat, I saw Aunt approaching from a distance.
She’d clearly had quite a bit to drink in the short time she’d been gone, since she was swaying slightly.
In the year I’d known her, this was the first time I’d ever seen her this drunk.
I got out of the driver’s seat quickly and went to support her.
“Are you all right?”
“...Sorry. I came out quickly because I was afraid I might get drunk, but I got a little tipsy on the way back.”
She was definitely feeling it, because she gave me a faint smile and apologized.
My heart skipped a beat.
I’d never seen her like this before.
I helped Aunt into the passenger seat safely, then got back into the driver’s seat myself.
She took a deep breath, as if the alcohol had finally caught up with her.
“Phew... Thank you. Aunt will never forget this. The help you gave Doyun.”
“...”
“You have no idea how grateful I am. I don’t even know how I’m supposed to repay you. Hmm... It’ll be difficult, but I think the best thing I can do is never forget this gratitude and keep it close to my heart.”
“I’m the one who’s received so much help.”
“No one could honestly say that. What you’ve given me is far too much. You didn’t just save my life—you saved my whole family.”
“...”
I could see how sincerely grateful she was.
I wanted to hold her again after so long.
More exactly...
I remembered those times when I’d been struggling after coming up to Seoul, head bowed low. Aunt had patted me on the back then, and I’d gained so much strength from it.
If not for that, I might have gone back down already.
Even though it was only a part-time job, Seoul had felt endlessly cold to me back then, when I came up here with my chest full of inflated dreams.
It felt like it was whispering in my ear several times a day that I would never make it.
If it hadn’t been for Aunt’s comfort then...
I would have gone back already.
And who knew how my future would have turned out if I had? That might have been an exaggeration, but maybe my mother never would have found the USB, or maybe I would have found it before her and thrown it away without knowing about Bitcoin...
Either way, there was no guarantee I’d be where I was now.
“You’ve had a hard time, haven’t you?”
Normally I’d have to lean on my own drunkenness to say something like this, but tonight I borrowed Aunt’s drunkenness instead and pulled her into my arms.
Aunt, startled at first, soon let out a soft laugh and patted my back.
When I tightened my arms around her a little more, I could feel her flinch.
She must not have expected me to go this far.
Still, she only laughed awkwardly; she didn’t push me away. If anything, she even stroked my back.
After holding each other like that for a while, she wore an awkward expression and slowly pulled away.
“I guess I was mistaken. Even though Doyun has achieved such great success, you’re still young at heart... I think I’ve been seeing you as too much of an adult. They say success only makes people lonelier, and I should have stayed by your side all along... Maybe I treated you too much like a grown man.”
Hmm.
Honestly, I didn’t feel all that lonely. With Sihyun and the others around me, there were plenty of women nearby.
I still saw my family from time to time, too.
I didn’t exactly have much room to feel lonely.
Still, that didn’t mean I disliked what Aunt had just said.
After all, she was the one who’d comforted me when I had the least and was struggling the most, when I had nothing at all.
That she would still keep that gentle, familiar self of hers...
That kind of happiness was something I’d want to keep feeling no matter how successful I became.
Maybe no one else would understand, but I wanted to brag to Aunt like a kid—wanted to say, look, I’ve made it this far.
On the way back, Aunt explained what had happened today.
“So what happened was...”
Still, it seemed like she had received her reward for all the hard work she’d put into preparing for today.
It was the first time I’d ever seen her speak like that with such delight.
It made me wonder if Aunt might have been like this when she was younger.
Before long, Aunt had drifted off without even noticing.
I understood. I’d heard she hadn’t slept well last night because she’d been so tense.
On top of that, she’d even drunk enough to get tipsy from alcohol she usually didn’t touch much.
There was no way she wouldn’t fall asleep.
Especially in a Rolls-Royce.
While waiting at a traffic light, I looked over at Aunt sleeping soundly.
Who would ever look at her and think she was over forty? She looked even better maintained than most top-tier celebrities.
I waved a hand in front of her face. It felt like I’d slipped back into the days when I had nothing.
Back to that time when I had no choice but to keep wishing desperately for something, anything.
“Aunt, are you okay?”
I called out to her softly, but she didn’t answer.
I placed a hand on her forehead as if I were worried, but she still gave no reaction.
Before I even realized what I was doing, I kissed her.
She was sweet. The alcohol had faded away, leaving behind the soft, mellow scent of wine.
At the same time, my hand moved.
Toward Aunt’s chest.
I held myself back with all my might from slipping my hand under her clothes.
If she happened to wake up...
This relationship might break apart.
So I decided I’d be satisfied with this much for today.
***
Han Seoha could feel that someone was waking her up.
She jolted awake in a panic.
Doyun was there, patting her on the shoulder.
“Oh my... What am I going to do? How long was I asleep?”
“We’re home.”
“...I’m really sorry.”
“It’s okay. But it looks like you had a nice dream. You fell asleep with a happy expression on your face.”
“...”
Her face felt like it might burst.
Without meaning to, she remembered the dream she’d just had.
Usually dreams faded the moment you woke up, but...
That one had been far too vivid.
Doyun stealing her lips, his hand...
Get a grip, Han Seoha...
She must have lost her mind. No matter how drunk she was, how could she dream something so shameless?
Calm down.
She absolutely did not want things to end between her and Doyun.
She absolutely did not want to lose him.
And for that, she had to keep her head straight.
She was so flustered that she felt hot all over.