Yoon Hana's Drunken Decree
Yoon Hana, the official drunkard of Spirit's 23rd generation. Her early exits from drinking sessions were as predictable as tomorrow's sunrise. She often wondered why the heavens had cursed her with such a feeble liver when she loved alcohol so much. All she wanted was to stay until the bitter end, diving into deep conversations, but instead she always blacked out and woke to birdsong. A body that couldn't process alcohol shattered her reason.
"Lee Suhyun."
Suhyun, who had been chatting with Taeho about the performance, turned around. Hana staggered over and planted both hands on his head.
"Mmm?"
Like petting a dog, she began vigorously ruffling his shaggy hair.
"Ha. Hana?"
"Let's go get ice cream."
She smiled brightly, as if she'd forgotten how she'd grabbed him by the collar and shaken him just hours earlier. Her cheeks were flushed a soft pink, like cherry blossoms blooming on a spring day, or the face of a girl in love. Even the juniors watching couldn't help but find her adorable; she radiated an idol-like charm that drew every eye.
"Ice cream?"
"Yeah. I really want chocolate ice cream."
"Then let's bring the others too..."
"The others?"
The playfulness vanished from her voice for a moment. "What are you talking about~ Just the two of us! We have to buy enough for everyone!"
"...Is that how it is?"
"You're the senior! Huh? The least you can do is buy us ice cream! Hey! Taeho, you want some too, right?!"
"I-I'll just have bibimbap..."
"Old man. Taeho. Kihihi."
Whatever she found so funny, she rested her chin right on top of Suhyun's head and giggled.
"Should I come with you guys?"
Juyeon lifted her head slightly and met Hana's eyes. Hana pulled her hands away from Suhyun's hair and planted a quick kiss on Juyeon's cheek.
"The princess stays here."
"I'm the princess?"
Hana kissing people on the cheek when drunk wasn't new, so Juyeon wasn't particularly surprised. Still, "princess" felt like a title that suited Hana far better. Juyeon blushed faintly.
"Yeah. I'm the prince."
"Then what about Suhyun?"
"Lee Suhyun? Lee Suhyun is... hmm..."
Hana cupped Suhyun's cheeks with both hands. The sudden skinship made his face grow warm too.
"Sapsalgae."
"Pfft."
Jiyeon, sitting across from them, burst out laughing in agreement.
"Suhyun oppa does kind of look like a sapsalgae."
"...Seriously?!"
His bangs were long, sure, but was it really that bad? And while he knew it wasn't meant as an insult, hearing a junior call him a dog still left him feeling strange. He'd grown his hair out to become the symbol of Rock Spirit, not to be treated like some puppy!
"Anyway! Get up, Lee Suhyun."
In the end, Suhyun stood and followed Hana outside. May—the month with some of the best weather all year. A cool, pleasant breeze brushed past their shoulders.
"...Did you drink a lot?"
Their tables had been at opposite ends, so he hadn't been able to talk to her much.
"No?" Hana answered playfully.
"You look like you drank a lot, though."
"I didn't?"
The way she dragged out the end of her sentence proved she was lying.
"Lee Suhyun."
Hana, who had been walking a step ahead, suddenly spun around.
"Yeah?"
"I have a favor to ask."
"A favor?"
"Yeah. You're the only one who can do this for me."
Her tone was almost wistful, so Suhyun nodded with a grave expression. As long as it wasn't asking to borrow money... well, even that would be fine if it was under 100,000 won...
"What is it?"
"Come to the salon with me."
Suhyun's eyes blinked rapidly. What? Did she want him to go with her while she got her hair done?
"Um... you're getting your hair cut...?"
He'd heard girls spent forever at the salon. Maybe he should bring a portable charger...
"No? You are."
"Me?"
"Yeah. You."
Her tone made it sound like the answer was already decided. Suhyun instinctively covered his head with both hands.
"Ah. I'm not cutting it."
"No? You have to cut it."
"I said no! I grew it for a whole year just to show it off at the performance."
"I refuse to watch you go on stage looking like a sapsalgae!"
"No matter what you say, Hana, I can't give this up!"
The alcohol in his system gave him the courage to stand his ground.
"Oh? Come here."
Hana lunged at him like she was about to rip his hair out. He tried to dodge, but—
"I'm. Not. Going."
He was caught like prey in a predator's jaws. Her arm locked around his neck in a solid headlock.
"I-I'll go!"
For the first time, Suhyun seriously considered taking Choi Kang's gym lessons more diligently.
* * *
Seven days until the performance.
"Ugh... this is so boring..."
Even the practice-obsessed Hana let out an honest complaint. Everyone else probably felt the same, even if they didn't say it. That was just how final rehearsals always went. Spirit's 23rd generation had been looping the same two songs for two straight hours. Repeating the same mismatched sections until they were perfect was standard procedure. You had to rehearse at 120% if you wanted even a chance of hitting 100% on stage. And that process was never fun. No matter how much you loved a hobby, once pressure turned it into an obligation, the joy drained away. The same went for ensemble practice and playing instruments. The members reminisced about the more relaxed early semester while regretting they hadn't pushed themselves harder back then.
"Want to take a break?"
Seoeun asked, perching on an amp.
"Yeah. Let's rest."
After removing his strap, Suhyun gave his shoulders a few taps with his fist. Even without any flashy performance, his shoulders ached from carrying the guitar for so long.
"Ugh... On Saturday, Juyeon and I are going to pick out stage outfits. Anyone want to come?"
Seoeun, looking exhausted, called for volunteers. Juyeon wasn't particularly interested in clothes. She was still better than Suhyun, who lived in the same gray hoodie, but she usually stuck to ordinary ready-made clothes. For just one day, though—the day they stepped on stage—they had to look their best. They needed to stand out under the intense lights and clearly express who they were through color. You could argue that a college band doing this as a hobby didn't need to go that far, but Seoeun believed that was exactly why they should care more. This was an experience they could only have now. The full-time musicians among them would have plenty more performances ahead, but for the rest, unless they formed a working band or kept performing on their own, this might very well be their last show. At least, that's how Seoeun saw it. So she wanted a stage they wouldn't be ashamed of. She wanted them to play so well that no one who came to watch would be disappointed. Both their performance and their outfits had to reach 100% satisfaction—that was her ideal.
"I'll go."
Hana raised her hand weakly, still half-lying down.
"I'm not going!" Choi Kang declared. "This year I'm definitely taking my shirt off on stage!"
"Kang. I told you not to do that."
Seoeun dismissed his idea without even listening.
"What about you, Suhyun? Do you have an outfit ready?"
"Uh... well..."
Suhyun actually did have something he'd bought for performances a while ago.
"What is it? Got a picture?"
Seoeun dragged her tired body over and set her bass upright beside her.
"...How about this?"
The female members, curious about his outfit, gathered around. Their differently colored heads crowded over Suhyun's phone screen.
"It's not bad, but..."
"The clothes themselves are nice, but... will this work? Is it okay?"
Juyeon was the first to look up, shaking her head as if her mind was made up.
"...Suhyun."
"Yeah?"
"If you wear this on stage, you'll collapse from dehydration."
The outfit Suhyun had shown them was a thick black leather jacket. It would've looked great for a winter performance. But this was spring—May, already edging toward summer. Sweat would pour down like a flood. Suhyun, who had never experienced how hot stage lights could get, still couldn't let go of the jacket.
"But I've been saving this since my senior year of high school because I wanted to wear it for a band performance..."
It was a jacket with a story—stuck in his closet because of those Purple Storm guys, never even taken out once. He wanted his first performance to be with this jacket, no matter what.
"Hey. Forget it. Wear that for a winter show later."
Hana had apparently made up her mind too, and crushed his resolve completely.
Ah... Did he really have to seal it away again for another half year...?
When Suhyun slumped in visible disappointment, Hana placed a hand on his shoulder with determination.
"Lee Suhyun."
"Yeah?"
"You don't need to worry about what to wear."
She wagged her index finger side to side and grinned.
"Come with us on Saturday."
"I'll make sure you get rejected at least three times when you ask for my number."
From haircuts to fashion—something about the way Hana was burning with enthusiasm made cold sweat trickle down Suhyun's back.