Chapter 119: Blossoming (1)
One thing I realized from this mess was... well, three things, actually.
First off, I should never get a job in security or anything involving secrets.
Second, if I have any secrets, I should never touch alcohol.
And third...
"Taeyang, you're awake?"
"Yeah."
"Here, water."
"Thanks."
"Feeling any better in your stomach?"
"...Yeah."
"Then, how about we have a little chat, sis and bro?"
"......Urp!! I gotta hit the bathroom!!"
Yeah, the last one: even if I have to drink, I should never get drunk before everyone else. Otherwise, my life could go straight to shit in one go.
Just like now. I was regretting it like crazy.
I fled to the bathroom and slammed the door shut. But right away, I felt her presence outside.
"Taeyang, if you're feeling rough, want me to rub your back?"
"I'm fine. More importantly, shouldn't you get ready for school?"
Sis had to head to school too, so after a bit, she gave up and backed off.
"Haa~ It was just a drunken slip-up, can't she let it slide?"
Truth is, running away here wouldn't help anyway. I'd have to walk to school with her soon enough.
If I suddenly said I'd go alone, she might actually start suspecting based on what I said last night.
"In times like this..."
Just play dumb.
On the way to school, walking side by side with Sis. Naturally, she kept glancing at me, biding her time to speak.
"Want a hangover cure?"
"If we buy that at the convenience store in uniform, what'll people think we are?"
I waved her off. Staring at me intently, Sis finally spoke.
"Taeyang. About last night. When you were drunk."
"Huh? What about it? Did I do something?"
"You don't remember what you said?"
"Hmm... No clue at all. Probably just nonsense anyway. Nothing important, so don't sweat it."
Sis went quiet for a moment, eyeing me. Since I was still clutching my head and groaning from the headache, she didn't push further.
"Alright, take care."
"You too, Sis."
Somehow, I made it through morning roll call unscathed.
———
The second I sat at my desk, I face-planted onto it.
"Ugh..."
Part of it was the mess I'd made, but the hangover headache was real too.
"Taeyang."
I turned my head while still slumped. Yuyeong, looking pretty serious, called out to me.
What now, first thing in the morning?
"I've decided. I'll be the one to back off."
She was the one saying I'd choose the school, so what was there to back off from? My head was killing me, and here she was spouting more weirdness.
"I'll quit being the soccer club manager."
Ah...... So she'd follow me? I'd considered it, but I didn't think she'd actually change her career path.
"My head hurts right now. Can we talk later?"
I was too wiped to persuade her at the moment.
"Head hurts?"
Yuyeong scooted right over.
"Hmm... No fever..."
"It's not a cold."
I brushed her hand off my forehead and stood up.
"I'm heading to the nurse. I'll tell the teacher."
"Ah, I'll take you!"
I waved her off again. I wanted some time alone to sort my thoughts.
————
I explained the situation to the nurse. I'd heard somewhere that there are painkillers you shouldn't take with a hangover.
She gave me the right meds, and I lay down on the bed. Warmth seeped up from the heated mattress pad under the sheets.
If I slept like this, I'd probably feel better. I'd deal with my screw-up later. My brain wasn't working right now anyway.
I closed my eyes and dozed off for a few hours. When I woke up, the headache lingered, but the meds had kicked in—I felt somewhat human.
What time is it? The curtain blocked the clock.
Just check my phone.
A few chats had piled up, so I tapped in. Skimming the earlier ones, it started with thanks for agreeing to hang at the cultural festival, promo pics, a festival map marked with spots she wanted to hit, and messages full of excitement...
Even without my replies, Yuli was planning solo and spinning her hope circuits.
When did she trash festivals as normie hell? Attitude flip in one day, huh.
Maybe she just wanted to hang with friends but couldn't, so she lashed out. Kinda cute, kinda sad.
But sympathy aside, I had to turn her down. Seeing her happy emojis weighed on me, though.
Festival day, the committee would be swamped, and even breaks might not let me sneak off to meet her. Could get emergency call anytime.
~ Disappointing someone hyped up like this didn't sit well.
Dumping a no-show without explanation might hurt her. She'd think I was playing her, just like those bullies. Normies die. Can't let her feel that. FridayAngel had to stay a kind stranger.
Thank god. If I'd stayed up and sent that last message, it'd be unsalvageable. When I reopened the chat just now, "[Kill Me KimT]" was still in the input box—gave me chills.
Good, she got it and understood. Phew~ Thought I was done for.
Why was Yuli acting like it was her fault? I was the one bailing unilaterally.
Sighing deeply, I thought about my next words. Never enjoyed festivals before...
Per game lore, Yuli went straight from Pullyip Middle to Pulkkot High. Five years total, four alone.
Couldn't skip for mom's last words, couldn't run home mid-fest. Stuck solo every time.
Only after Seonwoo showed up did she get chances to hang. He'd even join her during fest.
Now with variables, fifth fest solo too.
"Next year, we'll go."
One more year. If I go to Elmae High, I could skip a day, hang with her. No one to eye me then.
Wait, no need—Sis and crew would play with her. Seniors skip fest for studies anyway.
One more year... Her final, sixth fest pre-graduation, she'd enjoy like everyone. Maybe just one day.
Chat ended. Wait, one more.
One issue down. The bitterness lingered, though.
Well, at least no drama at the fest now...
Wait, what was Love Chain's 2nd-year cultural festival Cho Yuli flag?
Starts when Seonwoo gets tangled briefly with Gahee and Juyeon, crowd pushes Yuli away.
She thinks they've ditched her, sees them having fun from afar, runs off.
Her phone shatters in the crowd.
Seonwoo finds her ages later on Pullyip Middle rooftop stairs—her hideout for four fests, enduring till short closing after fest ends.
By then, obsessed with Seonwoo, she's slashing her wrist with a cutter...
Shit! Just do it! I've managed so far—one more won't hurt!
Making excuses means no The World Is Still Warm ops.
As expected, quick reply. Like she was staring at the chat.
Isn't it class time? Whatever. If missed, she'll see later.
Nothing to lose. Time-killer anyway? Breaks might have Yuyeong, Iri, maybe Gahee hunting me down.
Better safe in bear costume with Yuli.
Chat cut off after. Found out why later.
Worth crying over? For Yuli, yeah probably. Anyway, replied vaguely and got up from the nurse's office.
Headache would fade with time. Yuli stuff woke me fully.
————
And time passed, until finally,
"We now commence the 35th Blossoming Festival!"
"WAAAAAAAAH!!!!!"
The festival had begun.