Chapter 156
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 156
The moment—delightful for Dokyun, humiliating for Eun-seol—passed.
After they finished discussing their original purpose, Eun-ah’s uncle, the rest of their outing proceeded normally.
They had a simple lunch, stopped by a department store to check on something Eun-ah had arranged, and after that…
[Kkiiieeeek—!]
“Hiiieek!”
…there was a horror movie.
Dokyun squeezed his eyes shut, clinging tightly to Eun-seol’s arm as his body trembled.
Why, why…!
Why a horror movie again? No, this too was ultimately his own mistake.
He should have realized it when Eun-seol said she wanted to see a movie! He should have remembered that this was the time of year when horror films were released!
As Dokyun lamented his own painful blunder, trying to endure the agonizing passage of time…
“Don’t cling to me. It’s annoying,” Eun-seol whispered.
It was only natural that Dokyun’s gaze turned resentful.
She knows I can’t watch horror!
Was this her revenge for what happened at the cafe? For some reason, Eun-seol’s composed face seemed infuriatingly smug.
After what felt like an eternity, the movie finally ended, but not before Dokyun’s energy had been completely drained by the chilling sounds and the cold theater air.
“Pathetic bastard.”
The insult came again. Dokyun, who was walking out of the theater, flinched.
“…A person can be a little scared of ghosts.”
“Sure. Keep telling yourself that.”
A smirk tugged at the corner of Eun-seol’s lips.
Seeing Eun-seol look at him with an expression that was, to anyone’s eyes, one of pure mockery, Dokyun felt his fists clench.
H-how petty…!
What kind of petty behavior was this? He had only received the apology he was rightfully owed, yet she held a grudge and got her revenge like this?
He trembled with a rising sense of injustice.
As Dokyun was glaring daggers at Eun-seol…
“Keep your eyes open and just follow me,” she spat.
Dokyun let out a deep sigh and followed up with a question.
“…Where are we going now?”
“Drinking.”
Hearing that single word—a word that had now become Eun-seol’s very identity—Dokyun let out a hollow laugh and shook his head.
*
The city at night pulsed with a different kind of heat and energy than it did by day.
The streets were packed with young people gathered in small groups, the space filled with loud music and a kaleidoscope of colorful lights.
It was a scene Dokyun hadn’t experienced in a long time, not since graduating from college. Feeling as if he had returned to those days, he savored the pleasant nostalgia before following Eun-seol’s lead into a bar tucked away in a corner alley.
Tinkle—.
A bell chimed. As Dokyun took in the bar’s interior, a small “Oh” escaped his lips.
The display shelves were packed with liquor, and the atmosphere was quiet. It seemed they were the first customers; only an older bartender stood watch over the place.
The bartender seemed to know Eun-seol, greeting her with a short nod before retrieving a bottle from a corner of the shelf.
Watching this, Dokyun felt a sense of awe, as if he were witnessing a scene straight out of a movie.
It had a certain vibe. The kind of mood you only saw in films. To be precise, it was the kind of scene he might have seen in the Westerns he was obsessed with during his school days.
For some reason, his heart fluttered.
As Dokyun’s gaze shifted between Eun-seol and the bartender, Eun-seol sighed and tried to calm him down.
“Calm down. You look like a country bumpkin.”
Her words instantly sank his spirits.
Dokyun made an awkward face, cleared his throat, and sat down next to her.
“You must come here often?”
“I used to.”
The bartender prepared two cocktails and placed one in front of Dokyun and Eun-seol.
Eun-seol lifted her glass, took a sip, and wore a look of satisfaction.
How should he describe it? Was Eun-seol truly at her happiest when she was drinking?
Chuckling at the thought, Dokyun followed her lead and took a sip of his own cocktail, letting out another impressed “Oh.”
“This is delicious.”
“Don’t just chug it. You’ll be out cold before you know it.”
“Come on, how old do you think I am? You think I can’t handle that much?”
Eun-seol’s gaze fixed on him. Seeing the skepticism in her eyes, Dokyun waved his hands dismissively to put her worries to rest.
“I may not look it, but I’m a working member of society. I know how to pace myself.”
He said this, and then took another sip.
This is seriously good.
…And after that, he remembered nothing.
*
The next day, Dokyun woke up to a stomach that felt like it had been turned completely inside out. He was greeted by the sight of Eun-ah’s hangover soup.
Seeing Eun-ah, who looked half-dead herself, shoveling soup into her mouth, Dokyun thought, So I wasn’t the only one who got drunk, and let out a small sigh of relief.
“…How’s your stomach?”
“D-death…”
Clatter. Clatter. The sound of a spoon hitting a bowl echoed a few times. After finishing their meal, Dokyun and Eun-ah staggered over to the sofa and half-lay down to settle their stomachs.
A thick stench of alcohol wafted from Eun-ah, who was groaning softly in his arms.
…Wait, is that smell coming from me?
He couldn’t tell. It just felt like the entire room reeked of booze.
Dokyun let out a long groan, “Kkeueo-eo,” and tried to rack his brain to recall the events of the previous night.
Let’s see…
He remembered being captivated by the cocktails that went down like water and the bar’s moody atmosphere, and drinking for quite a while.
After that, Eun-seol had suggested that maybe he should stop, but he had insisted he was fine and drank more.
Faintly, he remembered Eun-seol sighing at him.
Ugh…
Had it just been too long since he’d last had a drink? It was true he hadn’t had much occasion to drink lately, so he’d probably gotten too swept up in the mood.
…But.
Dokyun’s gaze fell on the groaning Eun-ah.
If Eun-ah is like this, then…
That must mean Eun-seol had also overdone it last night.
In other words, it was possible that both of them had drunk until they were staggering messes.
As he continued this line of thought, Dokyun’s eyes narrowed.
Something…
It was on the tip of his tongue, but he couldn’t quite grasp it…
As he was lost in thought…
Click—.
A scene flashed through his mind, and Dokyun’s entire body jolted.
On this very sofa, right next to him, was Eun-seol, her glasses sitting crookedly on her face.
She swayed, leaning into him and…
“Hk!”
“Eung…?”
As Dokyun’s body jerked, Eun-ah tilted her head. Seeing her questioning eyes on him, Dokyun forced an awkward smile and shook his head.
“Ah, I just had a sudden chill.”
“A-are you cold…?”
“No, I’m fine.”
“Eung…”
Eun-ah buried her head in his chest again, a little “eu-eoh” sound escaping her lips.
Watching her, Dokyun felt cold sweat trickle down his back.
So…
With Eun-seol.
…A kiss?
He thought their lips had met.
Dokyun’s fingertips trembled. His pupils shook violently.
No…
His gaze shifted to Eun-ah, who was burying her face in his chest, still groaning. A profound sense of guilt washed over him.
…Really?
How did it happen? What led to it?
A thousand questions raced through his mind. He tried desperately to remember last night, but nothing concrete came to him.
Dokyun squeezed his eyes shut.
I should have just drunk in moderation…!
And why did the alcohol have to be so damn delicious!
As he cursed the tasty drinks and the atmospheric bar, Dokyun looked down at Eun-ah with a hardened expression.
This…
Does Eun-seol remember?
The thought surfaced.
*
Alcohol was the enemy. That damn alcohol was the problem.
Haunted by the memory, Dokyun spent the entire day walking on eggshells around Eun-ah.
It was because of the guilt.
Of course, Eun-ah didn’t know what happened the night before, but he knew, and he couldn’t help the stabbing feeling in his gut.
Over the course of that one day, Dokyun came to fully understand why cheating husbands become nicer to their wives.
It’s because they have something to hide, because they’re constantly on edge.
He flinched when Eun-ah stretched. He flinched when she yawned. When she spoke to him or touched him, he felt his heart shrink in his chest.
A feeling of deep regret began to settle in Dokyun’s stomach.
If I ever drink again…!
I’m not a man, I’m a dog! I’m the brother of Chunshik from back home!
He spent the day lamenting like this.
Late in the evening, when Eun-seol finally returned, Dokyun stared at her with a dumbfounded expression.
“What.”
“Ah, nothing…”
Dokyun’s gaze fell on Eun-seol, who was stretching with a refreshed look on her face.
…Don’t tell me.
Did she just wait until it was time for the hangover to pass before coming out again?
At the hypothesis that formed in his mind, Dokyun’s jaw dropped.
A demonic idea. An inhumane act.
How could a person be like that? It was such an absurd stunt that the guilt he’d been wrestling with moments before completely vanished from his mind.
“Um…”
“What.”
“…It’s nothing.”
Dokyun’s head drooped.
He wanted to lash out at her, but he knew that in situations like this, it was best to just pretend he didn’t know.
Besides, was he really in a position to criticize Eun-seol right now?
A kiss. Remembering it, Dokyun’s eyes narrowed as he looked at her.
Does she remember…?
On the surface, she didn’t seem any different.
As she calmly brewed and drank her coffee, there was nothing unusual about her demeanor.
…She probably doesn’t, right?
Please, let that be the case.
Dokyun closed his eyes and clenched his fists.
A desperate prayer rose within him.
As long as Eun-seol didn’t know. If he just kept his mouth shut, this could remain a secret forever, couldn’t it?
Dokyun’s gaze shifted back to Eun-seol.
Still, you never know. She might just be pretending to be nonchalant. With that thought, Dokyun decided he had to probe her. He parted his lips and spoke.
“Um, Eun-seol-ssi?”
“What is it.”
Eun-seol’s eyes met his. Dokyun looked back at her slightly dazed and haggard face, still showing the remnants of a hangover, and asked in a voice thick with tension.
“Um, was I a bad drunk yesterday?”
It was an indirect question. What happened yesterday? Do you remember? That was the meaning hidden within his words.
To which Eun-seol replied.
“I don’t know either.”
Dokyun’s body flinched.
Was this a positive sign? You could say so. At least there was a chance Eun-seol didn’t remember that scene.
Dokyun let out a small groan, caught between a rising sense of relief and a guilt that was, for some reason, growing even stronger. He followed up with another question.
This was to confirm it.
“You don’t remember how we got home, either?”
“Of course not. I handed over control to Eun-ah midway through.”
Her words hung in the air.
A moment later, as Dokyun processed their meaning…
“…What?”
…an incredulous question escaped his lips.
Dokyun shot up from his seat and stared at Eun-seol with a blank expression. Puzzled by his sudden movement, Eun-seol continued.
“You slammed your head on the table, so I couldn’t be bothered and just handed things over.”
Suddenly, Dokyun felt the strength drain from his entire body. He collapsed back onto the sofa with a soft thump.
Eun-seol tilted her head again, but Dokyun just shook his, muttered, “It’s nothing,” and took a deep breath.
Ah…
Thank god.
It wasn’t cheating.
If what she said was true, then the one he had kissed was Eun-ah. They had just drunkenly pressed their lips together! It was the same thing they always did!
Relief flooded his entire being.
Dokyun felt like he was about to burst into tears as he offered a prayer of thanks to some unknown deity.