Chapter 157: We’ll Be Okay.
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 157: We’ll Be Okay.
After taking Clover unnie back to her hotel, we decided to have a few more drinks in her room.
I was the one who suggested it.
Because if I left her alone right now…
“Luka. It’s really okay for you to go.”
Unnie staggered, her eyes hollow.
“No, no. Stay with me until you fall asleep tonight. Or should I just sleep here with you?”
“You really don’t have to…”
Saying that just makes it impossible for me to leave.
We bought plenty of soju, some disposable cups, and simple snacks, and so began our own little second round.
“I don’t think I can bear to lose him… What should I do…?”
Maybe it was because of the extra alcohol, or maybe because Taemin Oppa had left.
Clover unnie opened up to me even more honestly.
“I… I… I still really love him.”
She lowered her head, tears streaming down her face.
I pulled her into a hug and stroked her hair.
“…Unnie. You know what?”
“What?”
“This might be a little random, but do you want to hear a story about my boyfriend?”
“A story about Taemin-ssi?”
For some reason, it felt like now was the right time to tell her.
“My boyfriend. You don’t know who he is, do you?”
“We just met today, how would I know?”
“I mentioned him briefly on stream, but I guess you didn’t see it.”
Instead of answering, unnie just sniffled.
“My boyfriend. It was for a very short time, but… he used to be an actor.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. There are still videos of him online. He was even with our company.”
“An actor from YM? He must have been really popular then. He was seriously handsome.”
That’s a tough one to answer.
“Uhm… I think he would have done well if he’d kept at it?”
“What? Does that mean he’s not acting anymore?”
I began to tell her the story from the not-so-distant past, piece by piece.
Even the story of how we met, which I had kept secret from everyone else.
“Hey! You could have blown up the whole Closer Project!”
When I finished the story, her bloodshot eyes grew wide.
“Nah. I was pretty sure the company wouldn’t kick me out.”
I had been confident, but it was true that I’d been scared.
“Wow. Something that huge happened, and you didn’t tell any of us?”
“How could I…? Especially Jennifer unnie, she would’ve tried to kill me if she found out.”
That wasn’t a joke. It was the truth.
I’d already gotten an earful from her during the whole ‘Oppa’ and ‘Appa’ [Dad] naming incident. If this story reached her ears, she might have actually thrown me in a blender.
“Still, that’s amazing, Doah. But I don’t think I could ever do something like that.”
Unnie closed her eyes in resignation.
“Because our problem…”
Her lips trembled.
“It won’t go away unless I quit CLOSER.”
“If it were a problem the company could solve, I would’ve at least whined about it like you did…”
I couldn’t bring myself to tell her to just quit something like CLOSER right now, so I wracked my brain and blurted out any solution I could think of.
“No, but that oppa! Does he know how much you make? Did you show him our pay statement?”
“Yeah. I showed him.”
“I don’t know exactly how much a teacher makes, but we earn way more than a typical office worker. And he still doesn’t like it?”
Clover unnie just smiled faintly at my words and raised a hand to pat my head.
“Luka-tan. You really are a kid.”
“No, I’m not! What do you mean, a kid!”
“You’ll understand when you’re older.”
She had been squatting, but now she stood up and brought my coat over to me.
“You should get going now. I think I feel a lot better thanks to you.”
“…Really?”
“Yeah. Thank you, Luka-tan.”
“I really don’t mind sleeping over.”
Unnie shook her head.
“Your boyfriend is waiting. I’d feel too bad making you stay.”
“Hmph…”
Standing at the door, I hugged her one last time.
“Sleep well, unnie.”
“Get home safe, Luka.”
“If you want to hang out again while you’re in Seoul, call me anytime!”
Unnie nodded, her expression incredibly sad.
“I’m leaving then, okay? Call me if you really need anything!”
With Seo-jung unnie waving until the very moment the door closed behind me, I slowly took the elevator down and walked out into the lobby.
I should… call Oppa…
Suddenly being left alone, I could feel the tension drain out of me.
Sleepiness was washing over me, but my hands stubbornly moved, determined to keep my promise to Oppa.
[Hello?]
[Hee… It’s Oppa…]
Just hearing his voice made me feel so good.
How could anyone break up with a person like this?
[What, are you heading home now?]
His worried words felt so warm.
I slurred my words a little more, trying to sound cute for him.
[I’m at a hotel… Doah’s dwunk…]
[Ah. Send me the address. I’ll just grab a cab and come get you.]
[A cab…? That’s expensive…]
[Well, what else am I supposed to take to pick you up? I don’t have a car.]
I was going to tell him anyway, so I obediently typed out the address and sent it.
[Stay sharp and wait for me. I’m leaving right now.]
[Okaay…]
Even after the call ended, I stared blankly at my phone.
Clover unnie must have had times like this with her boyfriend, too.
Times when just looking at each other’s faces brought happiness.
…It’s scary.
This job as a VTuber.
Will it one day become a wall that separates us?
When time passes, and Oppa starts preparing for a job… when he becomes more of an adult…
Will he want me to stop doing this…?
I fidgeted with my fingers, tormenting the poor sofa cushion for a while, until a welcome voice called out from across the lobby.
“Kim Doah!”
“Huh? Lucario-ssi~”
I waved enthusiastically at my handsome boyfriend.
“Hey, why did you drink so much?”
“Why’d I dwink so much…? Because unnie was sad… so I dwank with her…”
“Haa… Are you feeling sick anywhere? Does your head hurt?”
“Nope… not at all…! An idol doesn’t get knocked down by this much…!”
“…Seriously.”
Oppa’s large hands scooped me up like a prize from a claw machine.
“I can walk.”
“The taxi driver is waiting outside. I’m doing this so we can go quickly.”
“Hmph.”
I was dragged out and forcibly delivered into the taxi, and we sat side-by-side on our way home.
“I’m sleepy…”
There was plenty of space in the back seat, but I leaned my shoulder against Oppa’s anyway.
Today, for some reason.
I needed a lot of Oppa’s affection.
A lot.
“Let’s get you to bed as soon as we get home.”
Oppa patted my head as if to soothe me.
I loved the warmth of his body, so I pulled his hand down and made him touch my cheek.
“…Oppa.”
“Yeah?”
“Do you think Clover unnie and her boyfriend will get back together?”
Oppa didn’t answer for a moment, then let out a short sigh.
“I wonder. I hope they do.”
“Unnie… seems like she still really likes him.”
“They dated for a long time. It makes sense.”
“I hope we date for a long time, too…”
As I let my wish slip out, Oppa gently pulled on my cheek.
“Why do you sound so sad saying that?”
“It’s just… I dunno… after drinking with unnie, I’m starting to feel sad too…”
If I said anything more, I felt like I would burst into tears, so I just threw myself into his arms.
It was definitely the alcohol’s fault.
It wasn’t a pleasant feeling, having my emotions escape my control.
“I’ll pay with this.”
When we arrived in front of my building, Oppa tapped his card and helped me out, walking me home.
“Phew… Doah… let’s get you to bed now.”
“Okay…”
The feel of my soft bed was incredibly comforting.
And good things are meant to be shared.
I stretched out my arms and threw the blanket up into the air.
“Oppa! Where are you going!”
“Me? I have to go home.”
“This is your home! Where are you going!”
I didn’t know what I was saying, but one thing was clear.
I didn’t want Oppa to leave right now.
“Oppa… you’re leaving me because I’m a VTuber, aren’t you…!”
“No! When have I ever said anything about you being a VTuber?”
He laughed, looking a bit troubled, then sat on the edge of the bed and leaned over me.
“I like that you’re a VTuber, Doah.”
“…Really?”
“Yeah. I really do. I was in the Pink Army from the very beginning, you know. Even before I knew you.”
That’s right… Oppa… was a die-hard fanboy…
“But are you sure you’re okay? You’ve been drinking, so it might be better for you to sleep comfortably.”
Instead of answering, I grabbed his wrist and pulled him toward me with all my might.
“Whoa. When did you get so strong?”
“I can be even stronger, you know.”
Now on top of me in an awkward position, Oppa let out a small laugh.
“Doah.”
“Yeah?”
“Wanna kiss?”
…He usually doesn’t even ask, so why is he asking now of all times?
“…I smell like alcohol.”
“So you don’t want to?”
Ugh. Why does he keep asking?
Feeling like he was teasing me, I got annoyed and just smashed my lips against his.
His hot breath was vivid proof that he was right here beside me.
“…Doah.”
As our lips parted, a thin, glistening thread of saliva connected us.
“…Yeah.”
“…We’ll be okay.”
He didn’t say what would be okay, but his words were so reassuring that I slowly…
closed my eyes in his arms.