Chapter 46
Chapter 46
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: First Shots and Tipsy Promises
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#156
"Wow..."
Snacks like meat, chicken, pizza, and fruit—enough food to make your eyes spin.
And then there were the drinks, all gathered together in a dazzling array of varieties, the very reason we'd come here today. I couldn't help but let out a gasp of admiration.
"Hey... you think we can eat all this?"
"Better than running out."
—Oh, good point.
My doubts about there being too much were coolly dispelled by a single remark from Kang Ji-ah.
"Hey, Jae-hwan."
"...What."
"That Lee Soo-jin girl, Kim Seung-hyun's girlfriend... why's she so pretty?"
"I wonder that myself..."
Kim Seung-hyun's girlfriend, whose attendance had been up in the air, turned out to be surprisingly outgoing. After a quick greeting with us, she was off chatting with Seo-ah in the corner, laughing the whole time.
—Total social butterfly.
You gotta be like that to date a guy like Kim Seung-hyun...
As I mulled over such thoughts alone, Kang Ji-ah, the host of this gathering, clapped her hands sharply to grab everyone's attention.
"Alright, everyone, take your seats. I'll go get the parents now."
Thump-thump.
It's finally starting.
We settled around a large round table with snacks and drinks spread out in the center.
I sat with Seo-ah.
Kim Seung-hyun sat with his girlfriend, Lee Soo-jin.
Stuck between the couples, Kang Ji-ah ended up paired with Park Jae-hwan by default, shooting us a dead-eyed stare.
What can you do?
With the group we had, it was inevitable.
"So, what're we doing for the first round?"
No matter if Kang Ji-ah was glaring daggers—it wasn't my problem—so I chimed in excitedly.
"......Soju."
"Huh?"
"Soju."
"Wait, we've got tasty stuff like fruit makgeolli and wine—why soju of all things..."
"Shut it, Lee Jun-woo. First round's soju."
Are these guys trolls?
Like they couldn't stand seeing us sober and happy.
Starting with Kang Ji-ah's soju pick, Park Jae-hwan chimed in too, so we all reluctantly agreed on soju for the first shot.
"Kids~ Sorry for crashing your party like some old geezer. I'll just join for the first toast and bow out. Got it?"
At the same time, Ji-ah's dad—warm and friendly as ever—came over from the kitchen with glasses in hand.
"You all haven't poured yet, right?"
"“““““Yes~”””””"
"Haha. I know it's the kinda naggy old-man talk everyone hates, but your first shot should come from an adult. Everyone, bring your glasses over."
One by one, we got up and went to him. The glug-glug-glug of clear alcohol filling our glasses.
Huu...
Staring at the soju sloshing in my hand, it looked kinda tasty, somehow.
Makes me feel like I'm finally becoming a real adult.
Wasn't just me—glancing at Seo-ah beside me, she was eyeing her glass with a mix of anticipation and curiosity.
After filling the last one for Park Jae-hwan,
"Alright, you all worked so hard on the CSAT~ Even though me and your auntie will be home, don't overdo it tonight! Otherwise, you'll regret the hangover tomorrow."
Adding some life advice from a senior, he raised his glass high with a bright smile. We followed suit, laughing and clinking glasses.
First shot's a one-shot, right? I boldly tossed it back.
Gulp—
It was different from water somehow.
The cold liquid sliding down my throat brought one thought crashing in.
—Urk, gross...!
"Urghhh..."
"Gah..."
"Urp..."
Wasn't just me—everyone else was clutching their mouths, dry-heaving.
Is Seo-ah okay?
Even I, who prided myself on holding my liquor a bit, was like this—how's Seo-ah? Glancing over, she'd sensed something off the moment it hit her tongue and hadn't even swallowed yet.
Her cheeks puffed out like a chipmunk, soju still in her mouth, clueless what to do. The sight made me chuckle despite myself.
"S-Seo-ah, cough, you okay?"
"Mmmph..."
Coughing from the lingering alcohol burn, I asked if she was alright. Her eyes trembled as she shot me an SOS.
I grabbed a paper cup quick, held it to her lips,
"Seo-ah, uh... I won't look, so spit it out here. Don't force it down."
Figured it'd be awkward with me watching, so I turned away, holding the cup. A moment later...
"Hoo..."
A soul-exiting sigh from Seo-ah, followed by liquid trickling into the cup.
"Jun-woo, thwank yooou..."
"No need to thank me. You good?"
"It was so, sooo gross... caught me off guard..."
"Me too. Wasn't just bad—it was brutal."
"You swallowed it...?"
"Regretting it hard right now."
I tossed the cup and gently rubbed Seo-ah's back as she reeled from her first alcohol shock. Looking around, everyone else was in the same boat, dazed.
"Hey, what do adults even like about this stuff...?"
"Alcohol smell won't leave my mouth, damn it..."
"I wanna turn back time to before I drank..."
"Let's switch, anything but this. Soju's banned effective immediately."
You'd think at least one of the six would've liked it.
But nope—universally awful. Despite some left in glasses, soju got unanimously exiled from the table.
"...Told you we should've gone fruit makgeolli or wine."
"..."
"...But isn't starting with the nasty stuff better than drinking good stuff first then hitting soju?"
"...Kinda convincing."
I shot subtle glances at Park Jae-hwan and Kang Ji-ah. She averted her eyes like she had nothing to say, while he defended himself convincingly enough to nod along.
Imagining soju after tasty drinks... urk. Just the thought brought back that burn.
"Yeah, let's do tasty stuff from now on. We got strawberry and banana makgeolli—how're those?"
"Anything but soju..."
"Agreed."
Kim Seung-hyun, eager to rinse his mouth, was already pulling out fruit makgeollis by type.
"Seo-ah, wanna try strawberry makgeolli?"
"That one's better... maybe?"
"Take a sip—if it's bad, don't drink."
"Mhm, okay..."
Wondered if pushing booze on Seo-ah after one shot gave her booze-phobia was right.
But strawberry's her fave—should be fine.
I poured a little strawberry makgeolli into a makgeolli glass Ji-ah had prepped and handed it over.
Seo-ah stared at it blankly for a sec.
Brought it to her nose for a sniff.
Peeked her tongue out for a tiny taste.
Like a tense kitty—my lips curled up watching.
She was on edge from the soju trauma,
but to me, it was adorably cute. Couldn't look away,
"Gulp."
"...How is it?"
Seemed strawberry makgeolli passed muster—she gulped it down. I asked cautiously.
"Jun-woo."
"Yeah?"
"Yummy...!"
Unlike soju, it hit the spot.
Her eyes crinkled into pretty crescents, a happy smile blooming. Relief washed over me.
One shot buzzed her already?
Grinning wide, pink flush on her pale cheeks, she held out her glass with both hands like 'more please~'.
Enchanted by the cuteness, I filled it right up without thinking.
"Mmm, yummy..."
Another sip, hand on cheek, lisping in delight. Seemed okay, but
—Hmm. Makgeolli, fruit makgeolli's low-proof, right? Should be fine.
So I thought.
Looking back later, I realized I was clueless.
About the terror of makgeolli.
#157
"Apartment, apartment~"
As we each found our booze and the mood heated up.
Someone suggested a game, we chatted away,
"Haah..."
A loud sigh cut through the chatter, drawing all eyes.
"Whoa."
Spotlight hit him sudden—Park Jae-hwan looked flustered.
"What's up? Why the sigh?"
I asked first. He sighed again, heavy.
"Just... seeing you guys makes me jealous. Folks at home telling me to enlist quick. Probably gonna go soon."
Military.
That place every South Korean guy goes.
Even as the booze buzz rose, the name weighed heavy.
"Thought it'd be unified by the time I grew up..."
Military talk tanked the party's vibe into gloom.
Then Seo-ah's confused voice broke it.
"Jun-woooo... aren't going to the army...?"
"What?"
"Huh?"
"Eh? Me?"
Me, not going to the military? For real?
News to me too—I stared at Seo-ah for answers.
One hand propping her chin, the other swirling the empty makgeolli glass bottom with slender fingers, grinning ear to ear.
"Jun-woooo... I'll make sure you don't go, no, can't go to the armyyy..."
Slowly, but clear to all.
Licking her lips with a scarlet tongue, she gently moved her swirling hand to her belly.
—No way.
The one scenario where healthy-limbed me wouldn't—couldn't—go due to Seo-ah.
Not the method I just thought of...? Shock and horror gripped me,
"...Lee Jun-woo. You, you..."
Four pairs of horrified eyes on me. So unfair.
Don't look at me like that...
"...I had no idea either, damn it."
First I'm hearing of it too...
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