Chapter 20
Chapter 20
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: Booze 3
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"Give me a piggyback ride."
Yoo Si-eun said it with a completely expressionless face.
There was no slur in her voice, no playfulness in her tone. She stared at me blankly, as if it were the most straightforward request in the world, leaving me flustered instead.
"You're joking, right?"
"No."
"Yeah, I figured as much."
I let out a sigh and continued.
"Why on earth do you want a piggyback?"
I could understand if she were stumbling from the alcohol, losing her balance. I might not carry her, but I'd at least support her on the way home.
But Si-eun looked perfectly fine right now. Her face was a bit flushed, sure, but that was it. Wasn't she standing straight and talking just fine?
At my question, Si-eun tilted her head as if puzzled.
"Why?"
She blinked her slightly relaxed eyes.
"Because I want you to."
She answered as if it were the most obvious thing.
Come to think of it, she had mentioned back in her freshman days that she got sent home early from a drinking party. Now I was starting to guess why.
My head throbbed, and I rubbed my temple.
"Umm, can't you just walk?"
"No."
"What if I say no?"
"Then I'll just sit here."
Lipping out her lower lip, Si-eun plopped down on the stairs at the building entrance right in front of me.
With her legs stretched out and looking up at me, she reminded me of a kid throwing a tantrum at the supermarket.
At this point, my mind was in chaos.
Maybe I was the drunk one, not her. Normally, when a guy and girl drink together, the guy gives the girl a piggyback—that's common sense. Was I too wasted to remember?
Ridiculous. No matter how I looked at it, Si-eun was just being stubborn.
"Hah..."
I cradled my head, lost in thought.
Should I call someone I know for help? I didn't have many contacts, but my friend or So-hye might come if I asked.
But even if one of them came, we'd still end up at my place. Asking them to escort Si-eun all the way home would have me meeting the cops in minutes.
Explaining the whole story would just expose the secret Si-eun had been hiding all this time.
It was a dead end, no way out. No point overthinking it.
"Sigh."
I trudged over to Si-eun. She craned her neck up to meet my eyes. Her half-closed eyes looked tired, unlike her usual self.
"I'm only doing this because I have no choice."
I mumbled an excuse to no one in particular, turned my back, and squatted down.
In short, the signal to hop on.
"Hee hee hee."
A giggle came from behind me.
"You do care about me after all."
"Hurry up and get on instead of saying nonsense." I replied, a bit irritated.
"It's not that I care—I'm just giving up because there's no other option."
"You could just leave me here."
"And abandon a girl on the street? No way."
"See? You do care."
Think whatever you want. Wasting time arguing like this was pointless.
"Fine, I'm caring extra special, so get on already."
"Okay."
Finally satisfied, Si-eun placed her arms over my shoulders. She crossed them in front of my chest, then leaned her body against my back.
At the same time, a soft, full sensation slid across my back. It pressed gently, asserting its presence unmistakably.
It was prominent even at a glance. In this position, there was no ignoring it. Trying to block it out as much as possible, I hooked my arms behind Si-eun's knees.
Once settled, I pushed up with my legs, feeling her weight.
"Someone might see, so I'll go fast. Tell me if it gets uncomfortable or you feel sick."
"Hey."
"What?"
"Am I not heavy?"
What a random question.
I took the first step and answered.
"Nah, you're not heavy."
Si-eun wasn't short, nor was she just skin and bones. Even if she had some weight, it wasn't odd. But for my out-of-shape self, she didn't feel heavy at all.
She seemed genuinely pleased with my answer and giggled again.
"Good."
Her breath touched my nape. Her breathing filled my ears. The sensation I'd been ignoring was still there. Whether she meant to or not, Si-eun was tormenting me in all sorts of ways.
"I'm sleepy."
"Sleep when we get home."
"Can't I sleep here?"
"What?"
I barely got the words out when Si-eun buried her face in my back without answering.
Did she get this clingy when drunk? Well, better this way. If a schoolmate saw her, it'd be over. With her face hidden, no worries.
I quietly stepped forward like that.
The walk home felt especially long today.
"This is comfy."
How much time had passed? Si-eun, waking from a short nap, casually shared her thoughts.
"I'm uncomfortable."
"Then put me down."
"You gonna walk from here?"
"I'll wait here until you give me another ride."
No difference then. Meaning I'd carry her all the way, I hoisted her up and adjusted.
"You know."
Silence in this situation felt awkward. I spoke up casually.
"You don't even seem drunk."
"Really?"
"Yeah. You don't look it at all. If you hadn't asked for a piggyback, I wouldn't have known."
Honestly, I thought she was sober until So-hye left.
And not just that—her speech wasn't slurred, and we could hold a normal conversation. Without the piggyback request, I'd have thought she was fine.
Maybe she was faking it to mess with me. It was the kind of silly thought crossing my mind. But Si-eun had no reason for that. It wasn't her personality.
"Is that so?"
I hoped for an explanation, but she ended the conversation on her own.
Well, deep talks with a drunk person were pointless anyway. As I gave up, Si-eun spoke again.
"When I get drunk, I want to act spoiled."
Her voice carried a hint of breathiness.
Yeah, seemed like it. I was about to snort and move on when her quiet voice continued.
"Maybe because I never got to as a kid."
Hearing that, it made sense.
Si-eun lost her dad young. Her mom must've been working, leaving her alone at home. Behind her tough upbringing, there was a past of giving up a lot.
I listened silently, and Si-eun murmured softly.
"Being like this reminds me of Dad."
"Your dad?"
"Yeah."
Si-eun still had her face pressed against my back.
"He passed when I was little, so his face and voice are fuzzy now... But memories like going to the amusement park with him in kindergarten pop up sometimes."
"Hmm."
"Back then, our family wasn't struggling too much yet..."
She trailed off, but probably after Dad died, things went downhill fast.
That must've forced her to handle housework alone from a young age.
Eventually, even her mom got weak. That's why she bounced between part-time jobs until starting as our housekeeper.
The one thing that changed when Si-eun got drunk, despite staying mostly the same, was her urge to act spoiled.
After hearing her story, I felt sorry for her.
◎
"We're here."
I squatted again at the apartment stairs. Si-eun detached her legs and arms from me and stood on her own. Not a word. Had the alcohol worn off on the way?
With her behind me, I headed home. I could feel her following close.
We took the elevator, reached the door, punched in the code, and entered. Si-eun followed silently.
Without turning, I spoke to her.
"You seem drunk, so wash up and go to bed first."
"Okay..."
Her voice sounded languid.
I glanced back. Her eyes were even more half-closed than before. Cheeks flushed, she seemed to wobble a bit.
I thought the buzz had faded. Apparently, it hit her during the piggyback.
"Then I'll wash up."
She mumbled unclearly and stepped away.
But her path to the shower was crooked. She walked carefree, but watching made me anxious.
I sighed and approached.
"Better skip washing and just sleep."
"No."
"Then what?"
"Wash me."
"Don't say crazy things..."
"Fine. Help me change then."
Still nonsense. Ignoring her grinning babble, I opened the door to her room.
"Enough. Just sleep like this today."
"...Okay."
She finally showed some sense with my firm tone. I worried she'd keep whining. Relieved.
I supported her lightly into the room.
At the bed, she tilted her head. I pressed her shoulders gently, and she finally sat.
"Sleep. Call if you feel sick. Want some water?"
"I'm good. Thanks."
Her compliance showed she was really drunk.
Soon, she slipped under the covers. No need to watch her sleep. I turned away.
She'd sober up by morning and cringe at her words and actions. Hopefully. But she probably wouldn't remember.
"Hey."
As I headed to turn off the light, she called me.
What now? I frowned slightly and looked back.
"What? Want a lullaby?"
"Wanna kiss?"
...
I thought I misheard.
But no. Her tongue was tangled, pronunciation off, but no other interpretation possible.
"...Don't joke. Go to sleep."
But Si-eun didn't budge.
"What if I'm not?"
Her tone dead serious, no hint of kidding. Face utterly earnest.
I'd never thought of her that way, not once. But even so, hearing this flustered me. Human, male—unavoidable.
I caught my wandering gaze and looked straight at her face.
Slightly tousled hair.
Half-lidded eyes.
Straight nose and... quivering pink lips.
Anyone would call her attractive. No tastes debated. Her beauty was objective fact.
And she asked me, "Wanna kiss?"
My heart raced as a man—no escaping it.
"..."
I approached silently.
Her dazed eyes fixed on me. With each step closer, she lifted her head to meet mine.
I gripped her shoulders.
"Sigh."
I let out a breath and carefully laid her back on the bed.
Ignoring her puzzled tilt, I pulled up the covers. She seemed about to speak, but I didn't want to hear.
"Good night."
That was all. I fled to my room.
Door shut, hand on chest.
My heart pounded loudly. Thoughts spun wildly.
A feeling I'd ignored—or not noticed—seemed to bloom.
Maybe.
Maybe this feeling is...