Chapter 154: A Drinking Party
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 154: A Drinking Party
“Yua, you have no reason to apologize.”
Ahyu spoke as if to say, what more is there to talk about when there’s already a mountain of people who like him? But Kkotbi couldn’t bring herself to lift her head.
She still seemed to be feeling an immense sense of guilt for falling for her friend’s love interest.
“You do like Domi-oppa, right?”
The moment Ahyu asked again, Kkotbi finally nodded.
Ahyu watched her friend’s pink hair float on the water for a moment before reaching out and pulling Kkotbi’s head into a gentle embrace.
“Well, since it’s already happened, see it through to the end. I want to see my favorite idol be happy.”
“...Ahyu.”
“You confessed because you couldn’t control your feelings in the first place, right? I know exactly what that’s like.”
Having been through it once herself, Ahyu patted Kkotbi’s head comfortingly.
Hearing Ahyu’s words, Kkotbi’s shoulders began to tremble as she started to sob.
She was overwhelmed with emotion, feeling both sorry for and grateful to her friend.
Kkotbi no longer knew how to distance herself from Ha-chan, who had soothed her weary heart.
And so, she didn’t know how to give up on these feelings, either.
Ahyu knew this, and that was why she was saying these things to her now.
“Still, you’re much better than those ones who just charge ahead to satisfy their own greed.”
As she said this, Ahyu made a fed-up face, thinking of Si-ho and Seol-hyang in particular.
“Of course, in the end, it’ll be Domi-oppa’s choice.”
“...Yeah.”
Just as she said, Ha-chan’s feelings were the most important thing.
Kkotbi leaned on him so heavily that she wished he would look at her, even if only out of pity, but more than anything, she wanted him to be happy.
“For the record, seducing Domi-oppa isn’t easy. I went through so much trouble myself.”
Ahyu let out a weary sigh as she recalled the past.
“It won’t be easy for you either, Kkotbi.”
“R-Right.”
Having heard a bit about the situation from Ha-chan, Yua could only manage a bitter smile.
But they were unaware.
Unaware of the blonde woman who had half her face submerged in the water, listening intently to their conversation.
Without a sound, Eva rolled her eyes once before pulling her knees to her chest and slightly burying her face in them.
*
7
After the pool, I washed up and returned to the room, feeling refreshed.
It was already almost 10 p.m., and neon signs lit up the view outside the window.
Looking at them, I remembered Kkotbi’s confession from earlier and briefly wondered what I should do, but I decided to give my brain a rest for now.
“Looks like the girls are running late.”
Meanwhile, Hyeok-seo-hyeong flopped onto one of the beds and let out a long yawn.
“Domi Hyeong-nim.”
As I was thinking to myself how ridiculously huge Hyeok-seo-hyeong’s body was, filling the entire bed, Do Hwa spoke to me.
“Ah, yeah?”
“May I have a word with you for a moment?”
No one else was around, so I nodded and stood up.
I followed Do Hwa, and we soon stopped in a corner of the hallway.
Is this about Ahyu?
As I looked at him, Do Hwa hesitated before finally managing to speak.
“Hyeong-nim, it’s about Lady Eunha… no, I mean, Ms. Eunha.”
My eyes widened when I saw that Do Hwa was now calling Naek by her real name, Eunha.
I never expected him to bring up something like this.
“What about Naek?”
Perhaps because it was someone else’s love life, I asked with a look of great interest.
“...It seems Ms. Eunha is a bit cold only toward me.”
My eyes blinked once at his following words.
Then, I slowly began to cover my eyes with my hand.
That idiot, Naek.
“She’s so bright and cheerful with you, Hyeong-nim. But she’s always so cold to me, I wanted to ask if she dislikes me. I would like to get along with Lady Naek as well.”
Seeing Do Hwa’s crestfallen face, it was obvious how Naek usually treated him.
“Do Hwa, Naek doesn’t dislike you at all.”
Even though I’ve got my own problems to deal with, Naek is a close friend of mine.
I figured I could at least help with her love life. As I spoke, Do Hwa looked at me.
“Really?”
The moment he said that, his face brightened, and I felt a strange sensation.
Could this be…
‘The girl who’s only cold to me keeps catching my eye. Is it something like that?’
Indeed, Do Hwa seemed to be very conscious of Naek.
Had Naek unexpectedly gotten a head start?
Seeing Do Hwa believe my words without a shred of doubt, I scratched my head.
Maybe I didn’t need to worry about these two’s love life after all.
“So don’t worry, and just try to get along with Naek. I’ve seen her trying to look out for you a lot, too.”
“Thank you.”
With that, I gave them a little push and stepped back.
I truly hope the two of them get along well.
When I returned to the room, the girls had arrived.
“Domi-oppa, you’re back?”
Ahyu, her skin looking fair and clear, perhaps because of the good water, waved at me brightly.
I walked over to her and looked at the assembled group.
“What’s next?”
We’d eaten, we’d gone swimming, and we’d all washed up.
It was getting pretty late, but no one seemed to be in the mood for sleep yet.
“Isn’t it obvious?”
Just then, that rascal Naek wore a triumphant expression.
“Let’s get this started!”
The moment Naek shouted excitedly, I understood what she meant.
She wants to drink.
“Well, I guess at this hour, there’s not much else to do.”
“Hehehe, I’m gonna drink ‘em all dry.”
As Naek wiped her lips, I wondered how she would react if I told her what Do Hwa had just said.
But I decided against it and simply nodded.
“Is everyone else okay with that?”
Everyone seemed to be in favor, so we decided to head out.
“Manager-nim.”
“Ha-chan-oppa.”
Just then, Si-ho and Ji-eun suddenly clung to my arms.
I realized what they were thinking and firmly pulled my arms away.
“No alcohol for you two.”
“Aww, but we’ll be adults soon anyway. We’ll be of age in a month.”
“Still no.”
A person has to follow the law.
When I told them a firm no, Ji-eun looked dejected.
Just then, Geumjok appeared above her head and started patting it comfortingly.
“Okay.”
Surprisingly, Si-ho agreed rather meekly.
“Because Manager-nim will be teaching me soon enough.”
She wrapped her arms around my waist and giggled. I felt like I was no match for her.
“Ah, me too! I’m going to learn how to drink from you too, Oppa!”
Thanks to that, Ji-eun’s spirits were lifted again.
“Alright, alright. For today, you two are having juice.”
“Okay.”
They both answered in unison.
They were kind of cute at times like these.
“Tsk, tsk, kids should be in bed. Ha-chan, let’s you and I have a nice, long drink tonight.”
Yu U-jeong appeared out of nowhere, sidling up to me with a charming eye-smile.
But before she could latch on, my arm was already being pulled away by someone else.
“Wh-What!?”
Stumbling after I vanished just as she was about to grab me, Yu U-jeong was left behind as I was dragged away by two people.
“Hey, Iron-Blood, Domi-oppa is drinking with me.”
“What are you talking about? Ha-chan is drinking with me.”
It was none other than Ahyu and Seol-hyang.
Seeing the two of them already starting another war of nerves, I stopped in my tracks.
Pulled to a halt by me, they both turned to look back.
We came here today for everyone to have fun together.
I let them be at the pool since they were playing on their own, but it would be a problem if this continued at the bar.
As I stared at them silently, they finally began to hesitate.
“You both remember what I said, right?”
They had been like this all day, starting from the pool.
When I asked, the two of them glanced at each other and mumbled.
“Don’t fight.”
“...Okay.”
“Yes.”
At my warning, Ahyu and Seol-hyang answered, looking dejected.
Seeing this, I made them hold hands.
“You two are walking to the bar like that.”
At my words, they stared down at their joined hands before finally starting to trudge forward.
Well, they do look a little friendlier like that.
“Isn’t it a comedy, how the Heavenly Demon and the Association Chairwoman are so meek in front of Domi?”
As Hyeok-seo-hyeong passed by me, I heard him laugh in disbelief. Eva, who had been staring our way, quickly averted her eyes.
“Charge!”
Meanwhile, Naek, with a hooded Juksim on her back, sprinted past me.
Do Hwa followed after her with his head bowed, and then Seo-ho and Jo Si-a passed by.
“Ha Seo-ho, Student Kang Ha-chan must have his reasons. I’m sure Si-ho isn’t just some plaything to him.”
“Jo Si-a, shut your mouth.”
Jo Si-a, who still hadn’t grasped the full situation, started whispering, and Seo-ho, looking like he’d had enough, smacked her on the head.
Jo Si-a pouted, but Seo-ho paid her no mind.
“H-Ha-chan-oppa.”
Just then, I turned my head at the sound of my name.
It was none other than Kkotbi.
She looked at me hesitantly before approaching and hugging my arm tightly.
I felt the soft touch of her arm, and the scent of shampoo—perhaps from having just washed up—tickled my nose.
“Kk-Kkotbi?”
“Eek.”
As if embarrassed by her own actions, Kkotbi blushed and carefully opened her lips.
“...I got permission from Ahyu to like you, Ha-chan-oppa.”
So that’s what they were talking about in the bath.
Ahyu, what was she thinking?
“So I want to do my best to make you accept me, too.”
Kkotbi looked up at me as if to say there was nothing left for her but to charge straight ahead.
“I can do anything you want, Oppa!”
The moment I heard those words, my mind suddenly went blank.
Kkotbi’s entire face slowly turned red as she realized what she had just said, and she lowered her head.
“...I mean it.”
Leaving those words behind, Kkotbi fled as if running away.
Is it really okay for me to hear something like this from an active idol?
Feeling the countless curses of her fans ringing in my ears, I could only let out a hollow laugh.
*
8
Amidst the noisy, cheerful drinking party.
“The game only works if the tanker holds the line, you know?”
[ They say it’s meaningless if you ultimately lack the damage. ]
As expected of a gaming meetup, a lively exchange of opinions about Lord of Academy was underway.
Watching my friends, I sipped my drink at the bar.
It was some kind of aged liquor.
As a complete novice when it came to alcohol, I honestly couldn’t tell the difference.
The only time I’d ever had high-end liquor was at Seol-hyang’s house.
Still, it must have been quite strong, because I started feeling tipsy quickly.
That guy Baeksan said I could blow away the intoxication with aura, but…
I didn’t really see the need.
“Juksim, you can really hold your liquor.”
[ They say it’s easy. ]
I looked over toward Hyeok-seo-hyeong’s voice and saw Juksim, who had already finished four bottles of whiskey.
She didn’t seem drunk at all, flashing a V-sign as she sipped from her glass.
Does Juksim not get drunk?
Hyeok-seo-hyeong, on the other hand, seemed a bit tipsy, his energy level higher than usual.
“Excuse me. Who said you could drink all by yourself over here?”
Just then, Seol-hyang sat down in the seat next to me.
Dressed in a light one-piece dress, probably because we were indoors, she raised the glass she was holding toward me.
“Cheers.”
As I clinked my glass against hers, Seol-hyang smiled once, took a sip of her drink, and then rested her head on my shoulder.
Seeing this, I raised a hand and patted her head, and Seol-hyang closed her eyes, looking pleased.
“Thanks for putting all this together today.”
“There’s something I want more than a thank you.”
Seol-hyang looked at me as if throwing a cute tantrum, and I let out a small laugh.
“I love you.”
“Just with words?”
“Everyone’s here.”
She subtly puckered her lips, so I said that. Seol-hyang put her lips away with a look of disappointment and glanced at me.
“...Well, there is one more room. Should we go there and do it?”
I flinched.