Got Dumped
Sizzle… The sound of meat cooking fills the air.
The perfectly grilled meat looks mouthwatering. Normally, I'd be tearing into it with gusto.
But right now, I have zero appetite. I'm not in the mood to begin with.
"Looks delicious."
"Let's eat."
Unfortunately, my twenty-year buddies don't get where I'm coming from. They don't just fail to understand—they straight-up ignore it.
What can I do? With friends like these, I had no choice but to call them out for some meat to drown my sorrows.
"This guy's still moping."
"Leave him. Once we start eating, he'll join in."
"Both of you, shut up. Please."
My cursing only makes these jerks laugh harder.
"Shut up about what? You called us out."
"Yeah, you got cheated on by your girl, spent the day bawling, then dragged us here for a mood booster?"
"You assholes."
I hurl my harshest curses at these scum who poke at my fresh wounds without a care.
Yeah. That's right. I, Seonwoo Lee, just got dumped.
And that was exactly one month before my army discharge.
"What the hell got into Suhyun? You two seemed solid."
"For real. You guys were like, couldn't live without each other."
Maybe they're picking up on my vibe, because they're glancing at me cautiously as they talk.
From their perspective, this is probably the height of consideration. So I pour soju into my glass and say,
"No idea, fuck. She suddenly said we were done, then blocked me everywhere."
Yeah. Out of nowhere, she called it quits and cut me off completely.
I met my ex back when we were freshmen in college. We clicked so well from the start it felt like fate. I confessed right away, and we dated for a year and a half before I enlisted.
But this is how it ends. She said she'd wait faithfully, then today—bam—breakup notice.
Word from a mutual in our department: while I was away, she put her galoshes on backward and cheated.
That damn bitch. After all I did for her.
Fuming, I down the soju in my glass in one go.
"Gahhh…"
My body's shaking. The burning alcohol scorching down my throat has my whole body trembling.
I could say it's from pure rage.
"Dude… at least toast first."
"Not in the mood for toasts. I'm just drinking."
"You called us for a mood lift—gotta expect this much, right?"
They have a point, so I can't argue. I refill my glass and shove it forward.
"Fine, you do the toast then?"
"Yeah, go for it."
What even is a toast anyway? But I let it slide. No energy to think.
"To Seonwoo Lee's bright future~"
"To that~"
"…To that."
We clink glasses half-heartedly, and my loyal friends down theirs in one shot like me.
Watching them chug hits the spot, just a tiny bit. Lifts my mood ever so slightly.
Still gloomy as hell, though.
"Alright, let's eat."
"Thanks for the food~"
"…Thanks for the food."
After that, we devour the meat they hand me, drink more, eat more meat, drink again, repeat until…
—Ughhhhh…
…I pass out cold.
First time drinking till my memory blanks out. Kinda novel.
Definitely not a good novel experience.
*
—Tweet! Tweet!
"Ughhh…"
Birds chirping pull me awake.
My head throbs like hell. No clue how much I drank before crashing.
But that's not the issue.
"…Where the hell am I?"
Where is this place?
I look around. Thankfully, my so-called friends are passed out beside me.
"……Tch."
Something about waking up next to dudes feels off, but I can't make a fuss. They must've taken care of me after I blacked out.
"Aigoo… my head hurts…"
Clutching my pounding skull, I sit up and finally clock where I am.
"……Seung-min's house."
It's my friend's place—well, his family home, technically.
I'd been here a few times as kids, but never thought I'd crash like this.
"…Damn, what now."
Bugging Seung-min? No biggie. Kid's been a pain in my ass since we were little; this evens the score.
But his family? That's different. Can't dump a friend's mess on innocents. They've always looked out for me and Jisoo since we were kids.
Besides…
Before my thoughts could continue, someone interrupts.
"Ah, oppa. You're up?"
A cute, perfectly calm voice.
I turn toward it, and there's the last Jeong family member I was thinking of.
Na-eun Jeong, Seung-min's little sister, four years younger.
She's a high school senior now, starting to look more grown-up.
"Uh… hey."
"Eww, you reek of booze… Oppa, how much did you drink last night…?"
Seeing her pinch her nose and shudder, I bow my head like a criminal.
"…Sorry. I'll wake these idiots and get outta here."
I nudge Jisoo and Seung-min at my feet.
Na-eun shakes her head.
"No, you guys need to sober up anyway. I'll make ramen."
"Nah, we're good…"
"You're definitely gonna ask for it, so I'm doing it first."
She shoots Seung-min a fierce glare, then heads to the kitchen.
Soon, I hear the stove firing up. I decide to wake these two.
"Hey, hey. Get up, you lumps."
No dice. I got wrecked harder than them—why are they still out?
I give up and head to the bathroom. Splash water on my face, shake off the fog, and step out.
Na-eun's pulling out ingredients: green chilies, green onions, garlic, bean sprouts, eggs… It's a luxury hangover ramen setup.
I call out urgently.
"Na-eun, plain ramen's fine…"
"I wanna make it like this."
She glances at me, then focuses back. I sit quietly at the table, watching.
She notices my stare and speaks up.
"Don't worry about Mom and Dad. They're at church today. Just us four till lunch."
"Got it…"
Relief washes over me—no embarrassing encounters.
"They still out?"
"Yeah, dead to the world. They worked hard dragging you home… Let 'em sleep till the ramen's ready."
"…Yeah, they hustled last night getting you back."
"Ahaha…"
No idea how much of a mess I was.
I sneak a question, gauging her reaction.
"Hey… did I screw up bad last night…?"
She shakes her head without looking.
"Nah… you just slept soundly the whole way. No puking or sleep-talking."
"……Phew, good."
"So, why'd you guys drink so much?"
Maybe the booze lingering in my system loosens my tongue. I spill to Na-eun.
"……My girlfriend cheated. Put her galoshes on backward while I was in the army."
"Pardon…?"
Her soft voice carries shock. I realize my mistake.
Even with Na-eun, whom I've known forever, there are things you don't say. But the haze made me blurt it out.
I rush to apologize. Still salvageable.
"…Sorry, shouldn't dump that on you."
But she doesn't let me backpedal. Instead…
"Why would she do that? If she's gonna cheat, don't date to begin with…!"
…She's raging for me. Cutting me off mid-sentence.
Unlike me, who just kept calling her post-breakup hoping for answers, Na-eun's properly pissed.
Her brief fury packs all my unspoken anger and emotions. Feels kinda refreshing.
"Thanks for getting mad on my behalf. I couldn't even do that."
My gratitude just fuels her more.
"You're too nice, oppa. That cheater deserves a torrent of curses…!"
"Ahaha…"
I laugh it off awkwardly as the ramen nears completion. I stand.
"Time to drag 'em out for real."
"Please do. I'll set the table in the meantime."
I nod and head to the living room to rouse the sleepers.
"Hey, up. Get up, idiots."
"Ughhh…"
"What the hell this early…"
"It's 11 already, and Na-eun made ramen."
"What? Ramen?"
"Na-eun? For real??"
Hearing about the ramen, Seung-min bolts upright and dashes to the table.
He plops down and says brightly,
"What's this? You actually made it?"
"You were gonna order anyway."
"Since when do you cook on command?"
"If you're that picky, don't eat."
"Nah, gotta eat~ But eggs aren't supposed to be whole? That's the rule."
"Seonwoo oppa likes 'em popped, so I did."
"I'm your oppa too?"
"Shut it, blockhead."
We watch the siblings bicker. Jisoo and I sit quietly.
"“Thanks for the food~”"
We devour Na-eun's refreshing hangover ramen. Delicious.
"Oppa, more?"
"Ah, thanks."
She spoons extra into my bowl, probably knowing I got dumped and binged. Extra thoughtful.
Such a sweet girl. How'd she turn out so good under a punk like Seung-min?
And I had no clue—no, couldn't even imagine—that I'd end up dating that very Na-eun someday.