A Toast to New Beginnings
Siheon took Jeong Dayeon to a high-end restaurant not far from here.
When he opened the door of the luxury sedan, she was surprised, and when he brought her to the restaurant on the high-rise building, she was so startled she nearly fainted.
Before entering the restaurant, Dayeon grabbed his arm and said in a small voice.
“Teacher. I just wanted congee with bean sprouts.”
Is there a ghost in the family who died from not being able to eat congee? Why is she talking about congee from daytime?
Moreover, she's dressed like that. Was she really thinking of going to a congee restaurant?
“Enough. No more nonsense, just eat.”
His words made Dayeon close her mouth tightly and follow him closely.
No matter how hard she looked, she couldn't understand the menu and stared at it for a long time before ordering two menus like Siheon's.
Before long, a stream of luxurious course dishes came out.
The night view of the beautiful restaurant, delicious food, and the teacher in front of her. For a moment, Dayeon forgot about Doo-seop's call or the part-time job she had to do again tomorrow.
When she had eaten half of the grilled galbi that came as the main dish, Siheon asked.
“How's school life going?”
“Um... It's better than I thought.”
“Did you make any friends?”
“A few...?”
In fact, there was only one person she could call a friend, Han Seung-hyun, but she didn't add that.
“That's good.”
He took a sip of wine and added as if advising.
“Now that you're a college student, study, and do some part-time work appropriately.”
“And...?”
Is he going to meet her in the future too? Dayeon looked at Siheon with a slightly expectant face.
He placed his clasped hands on the table. And said in a flat voice.
“Instead of worrying about me, invest more in your future.”
Dayeon's fingertips holding the fork trembled.
Despite seeing Dayeon's flustered expression, Siheon continued calmly.
“You probably know now. The situation is different from when you were a high school student.”
“...”
“Love or whatever, there's no point in wasting emotions on unnecessary things. Wasting time. You didn't want to become a doctor like Teacher Do Hee-ok, did you?”
She didn't know what meaning was in it. But the hope that she might still hold on to him.
“Aigoo. It's not a waste. Teacher has given me so much strength. Just seeing your face makes my energy rise.”
Dayeon smiled forcedly and said playfully, but her voice trembled slightly.
“Teacher,”
She swallowed her emotions and continued with a forced smile.
“If Teacher accepts me, then I can really study hard and become a good doctor, even if not as good as my mom.”
“Jeong Dayeon.”
A sigh-mixed voice called her to stop. Don't you know there's no such thing?
“So, so...”
Dayeon repeated the same words as if looking for what to say. But in front of the firm refusal, she couldn't find any words.
Dayeon finally dropped her gaze towards the table.
She understood. Siheon's words now were for her sake.
It was better to make her give up hope rather than leave room for it.
However, the cold words that pierced her heart didn't fade easily.
She knew that there was no time to spend on other things.
She knew better than anyone how much effort she had put into her dream of becoming a doctor.
The fact that she had to escape from her violent father as soon as possible.
But that didn't mean her feelings towards Siheon disappeared.
How could that be.
It was the emotion she had cherished during the time without him.
It was the only thing that gave her the strength to sit in front of her desk when she was exhausted after the work, and to stand up again when she wanted to give up.
That much,
“Teacher is good.”
After wiping the bitterness from her face, Dayeon deliberately smiled with narrowed eyes.
“Then, please make this a celebration for me today.”
“What celebration.”
“Jeong Dayeon has overcome hardships and entered medical school.”
Dayeon said while urging and lifted the glass in front of her.
“You haven't congratulated me yet. So this is a congratulatory drink.”
To Siheon, who was smiling brightly as if he had completely forgotten the previous conversation, he couldn't be harsh anymore.
“Okay. Let's do that.”
He followed her and lifted his glass as if he couldn't win.
Dayeon, who took a sip of wine following him, frowned slightly at the unfamiliar taste. Siheon noticed it and narrowed his eyes.
“Have you ever drunk alcohol before?”
“Huh? Of course.”
Dayeon answered quickly as if it was natural, but her eyes, which didn't hide the anxious feelings, shook rapidly.
In fact, this was the first time she had drunk alcohol. There had been several parties and OT where alcohol was served, but she had never attended because of part-time work.
But if she said she hadn't drunk before, she would definitely look even more like a kid in this situation where she's already being treated like a kid.
It doesn't matter, just stay alert.
“Aigoo. Don't worry, Teacher. I know how to drink.”
She said boldly and emptied the wine glass without hesitation.
After one glass, two glasses, when she had emptied the wine glass about three times.
At first, her eyes, which had been tightly closed as if holding back every time she drank, gradually loosened.
Dayeon with flushed cheeks from the alcohol, the last course dessert menu came out.
“Wow. Pretty.”
She put a small decorated cake slice in her mouth and chewed it messily, then took a sip of the sparkling wine that came with it.
It seemed to suit her taste well. A flower-like smile descended on her slightly folded eyes.
“Eat mine too.”
Looking at Siheon who put the dessert in front of her, Dayeon asked.
“Teacher isn't eating?”
“My sweet tooth isn't a preference.”
She, who was checking, picked up the dessert on Siheon's plate with a fork. Seeing Dayeon who emptied the remaining wine as well, Siheon's eyes lifted slightly.
“You seem drunk.”
“Huh? No... .”
Dayeon's tongue, which had loosened, produced a slurred voice.
For a moment, Siheon closed his eyes at the changed tone.
It was strange that she had been laughing silly from earlier.
He reached for Dayeon's glass to take it away.
“Stop drinking.”
“I'm fine.”
Dayeon's eyelids, which had been trying to force it, gradually became heavy and she blinked slowly.
“Why is this... .”
Dayeon opened her eyes wide to chase away sleepiness. But that effort didn't last long and collapsed.
The time with her eyes closed seemed to get longer, and her head drooped towards the table with a bow, and one shoulder tilted.
The jacket she had draped over her shoulder slid off and fell to the floor. All of this happened in less than a minute.
“Drinking alcohol? What.”
Siheon sighed, recalling the words that were obviously a lie. He bent down and picked up the jacket. As he tried to stand up, something caught his eye.
The short skirt was so tight that it barely covered her hips when she sat on the chair, and due to that, her smooth white legs were exposed in front of him.
Siheon, who was staring blankly at that place as if caught, hurriedly stood up from his seat.
“Truly, you're driving me crazy.”
With teeth clenched, he put the jacket over Dayeon's shoulder. Only after the white flesh that was being caught was hidden from view did Siheon turn his gaze to Dayeon.
He patted her shoulder while looking away.
“Let's go, Peanut.”
“Euuh...”
“Get up.”
When he grabbed her sleeping arm and shook her body, Dayeon opened her eyes groggily and pointed at Siheon with her finger, laughing foolishly.
“Wow, Teacher. Hehe.”
“...Laughing?”
Is laughter appropriate in this situation?
Siheon's brows furrowed, and Dayeon's mouth corners lifted higher.
“Huh? Wrinkles appeared.”
Dayeon, looking at his face with dazed eyes, smiled bashfully.
“Teacher, let me smooth your wrinkles.”
Dayeon raised her hand and slowly reached towards his forehead. But before her fingertips touched.
Her eyelids slowly closed, and the arm floating in the air fell weakly.
Siheon quickly caught Dayeon's head that was about to fall forward.
“Peanut.”
“...”
“Jeong Dayeon.”
No matter how many times he called, there was no response. Instead, only regular breathing sounds came.
It was a difficult situation. He put his hand to his forehead for a moment, then took out his phone with the other hand and called somewhere.