Chapter 32
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: Karaoke Room Revelry
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"Welcome! Come on in."
Enough with the over-the-top enthusiasm already. How many times are you going to greet us?
She was so aggressively welcoming that Han Aebom actually flinched and clung to my back. Hmm. Not that I'm complaining.
"...This way, please. We'll take payment upfront for the karaoke session."
The woman at the counter shot the four guys a cold, disdainful look that matched my own pitying stare and called me over. Ah, right. That thing from the internet—women know when guys are perverts. Yeah, I can kinda see why now.
"It's a weekday, so if you order snacks, it's unlimited time. No snacks, three hours max. We're charging 30,000 won upfront as a day-use fee. What'll it be?"
"We'll order snacks. And booze."
"Got it."
That's when Oh Hana, her buzz clearly kicking in cheerfully, shot her hand up like a kid in class.
"Can we smoke inside?!"
"Yes, you can."
"Woohoo! Score!"
The guys' eyes lit up even brighter at the news that Oh Hana smoked. They were probably dying to see a pretty girl like her light up. And let's be real, their minds were likely wandering to filthier places—like pounding her from behind while she puffed away.
...Guilty as charged. I'd done exactly that.
I snapped out of my dirty thoughts and quickly handed over my card.
"We'll pay the 30,000 won."
"Yes, sir."
Beep boop. Payment approved. The four guys immediately went berserk, all volunteering to show us in like they were about to throw punches over it.
Even as a guy myself, watching them made it crystal clear just how much early-20s dudes are slaves to their hormones.
In the end, the one who won the unspoken battle of stares hustled us along. Can't exactly play rock-paper-scissors in front of customers, after all.
"Room 7, right this way!"
"Enjoy your time!"
Is this what it's like working for the popular crowd? One guy yells, and every part-timer in the hallway echoes him in unison. Impressive.
"Have a great time!"
The guy escorting us shouted it with the most sincerity, right up until he shut the door—still looking utterly devastated at the thought of never laying eyes on Oh Hana and Han Aebom again. Dude, quit staring. You're gonna burn holes in their faces.
Eh, not that I can't relate.
Even back at the rib joint, I'd felt the stares piling up. But now, crammed in this room with just the three of us kicking back in chairs...
I could really see just how ridiculously gorgeous Han Aebom and Oh Hana were.
Oh Hana had that fresh, spring-like smile that just lit up the room, while Han Aebom looked like nobility straight out of some period drama—no matter the angle.
"Whoa, oppa! Premium whiskey's 97,500 won!"
"We're doing soju. Hell, even that's 7,000 a bottle."
We ended up ordering the "three-or-fewer soju set" for 48,900 won. Snacks? Whatever—odeng stew would do.
Unlimited time, they said, so we prepaid for 10 hours straight. We could party till morning.
"Before we sing, let's have a smoke first. You too, oppa. Come on."
Oh Hana dangled her pack like she was offering me one myself, shaking it up and down. I shook my head carefully.
"Nah, I'm good."
After a few pleasant drinks, saying I didn't want one would be a lie. Post-booze is top three for toughest cravings on smokers.
Still, I didn't want to puff away shamelessly in front of a nonsmoker. Secondhand smoke's worse, after all. If I really couldn't hold out, I'd step out while they sang.
Or so I thought.
"Smoke! Smoke it!"
Huh?
"I wanna see you smoke. For real. Promise."
What is this, some delinquent-wannabe high schooler or '90s drama vibe? First time I've seen a girl beg a guy that earnestly to light up.
"Secondhand smoke's bad for you, Aebom."
"One cig's fine. Or... mostly fine. So, can you?"
Oh Hana, who'd been eyeing us both, suddenly shoved a lighter in my face.
"Hey now! Even the girl next to you's begging! Pucker up already!"
"Jeez..."
Against my better judgment, I caved to temptation. Indoors? Heaven. Hadn't done it once even in my one-room days.
I popped a cig in my mouth and leaned in. Oh Hana grinned mischievously and lit it for me.
"......"
Somehow, Han Aebom was staring hard at the scene. My face heated up, so I took a long drag, pinched my nose with my wrist, and turned my head away.
"Phew..."
"Puha!"
Both me and Oh Hana tried not to blow smoke her way. But cig smell's inevitable.
"You okay, Aebom?"
"Oh. Yeah. Totally fine. Smoke more if you want. Uh, next time, I could..."
"Hm?"
"Nothing. Never mind."
I scratched the back of my head. Halfway through my cig, the odeng stew and basic snacks rolled in—along with the soju.
"Sssip, fwoo."
"......"
One of the part-timers unloading from the cart froze mid-motion, utterly transfixed by Oh Hana smoking.
Makes sense—I'd seen it plenty after shifts and was used to it. First time? Mind-blowing. Only time her usual playfulness gave way to pure seriousness.
"Hey, we ordered three soju, but two bottles came?"
Oh Hana asked, cig wedged between index and middle finger. The part-timer snapped to attention.
"Sir, yes sir! On the house! Enjoy!"
"Yay! Thanks!"
"No problem! Have fun!"
I nearly asked about her past watching her crack a soju one-handed like a pro, small smile and all.
Wonder what middle and high school she went to.
"Hey, Oh Hana."
"Yeah?"
Han Aebom took the soju glass I passed her and asked for me.
"What high school did you go to?"
"Pfft, random much? Nothing to hide, just don't love sharing."
She sucked the last of her cig down smooth, flashing a sultry smile.
"Knowing might hurt you."
Yeah. Sounds about right.
"Alrighty, I'll kick us off! Glasses up, everyone!"
No searching the title—Oh Hana punched in the number blind and hit play. Had to be track 18 of hers.
Singer – Genesis Eleven
Song – Let's Have a Drink! Everyone, Drink Up!
Of course.
Total idol stan move. Genesis Eleven on repeat all night, guaranteed.
"Okay, raise 'em when the intro hits! Cheers!"
"Cheers!"
Clink!
...And down the soju goes again. Starting to feel heavy now. Wild that it's still going down smooth. Least we'd each knocked back two bottles already?
"Aebom, don't push if it's too much."
"Oh, I'm good."
She looked fine on the surface. Laughing easy, chatting away from the buzz—but her face stayed serene otherwise.
"Guess I'm stronger with booze than I thought. Who knew? Hehe."
"Same here! Haha!"
♪♩♬♪♩♬
Oh Hana pouted into the mic, so I grabbed the tambourine, buzz fueling me, and joined her up front with some moves.
Oh Hana, glass refilled somehow, raised it high.
Damn. She crushed it. No exaggeration—singer-level perfect pitch, dancing to boot, voice hitting just right. Born talent, plain and simple.
Though probably belted out a ton of practice, too.
Clink. Another soju clash—I shook my shoulders harder, riding the high.
"Aebom, get up here!"
"Me? Eek! M-me too?"
She blushed, but booze works wonders. Han Aebom shuffled out, swaying with us. Even that overflowed with elegance. We just gawked at each other, cracking up like idiots.
Fun. Pure bliss.
We're tight now, right? Quest cleared for sure come morning.
"Bam-para-bam, bam-para-bam~!"
Your score: 100 points.
Amazing! You could be a pro singer!
Told ya.
Oh Hana could debut as an idol, singer, celeb—whatever—right now. She'd kill it. Ditch the fandom; she belongs on stage.
"Next up, Aebom!"
"Me? Oh, um... Hyunwoo, help? Never used one. No clue how."
"Whoa, first person in Korea born without touching a karaoke remote. Life milestone unlocked!"
I handed Oh Hana fresh soju and scooted to Han Aebom. Faint booze scent mixed with her natural one—head-spinning.
And yeah, she loved stockings. Those sheer black ones today? Eyes had nowhere safe to land. Look up? Not cleavage-heavy top, but those absurdly full tits still made me dizzy.
Oh Hana-level stacked.
"What song?"
"Don't know many. Any OSTs from Never Ending Story? That's all I got—foreign flicks."
"Yep."
Thought it was the one I knew at first, but search pulled up three theme songs from the movie.
"This one?"
"Yes! Perfect."
I queued it up.
Singer – Woodard Dasia
Song – I Love You
Title screamed sweet ballad. Lyrics popped with the backing track—tough English words.
3, 2, 1. Han Aebom gripped the mic, lips parting slow.
-♪♩♬♪♩♬
Hearing flawless, elite-study-abroad English pour from Han Aebom's mouth? Instant thought: Another pro singer in the room.
"Holy shit! Insane...!"
Even Oh Hana—mid-cig, sipping soju solo—went wide-eyed in shock.
Han Aebom flushed beet red at the praise. I thumbs-upped nonstop. She got redder.
My turn.
"......"
Those two crushed it—no way I could top that. Don't know many songs, can't sing worth shit.
But bailing? Nah.
Singer – Play With Me
Song – Total Clusterfuck
Wasn't great, but damn if I didn't have those two in stitches.
[AM 2:44]
"Ugh, freezing."
Brain's not firing right. Properly wasted. Stared in the karaoke bathroom mirror thinking I was fine. Nope. Drunk.
Me and Han Aebom: at least three soju each. Oh Hana soloed four or five. 100% sloshed.
"Whoa. We went hard tonight."
Out at 7 PM, still raging at 3 AM. Even college days weren't this wild often.
"Ugh, stomach's churning."
"You good, Aebom?"
"Yeah. Kinda good. But stomach's off. Urp."
We staggered back to the apartments together. I dashed into the convenience store out front, splurged 10,000 won on hangover cure, and handed it over.
"This'll help. Less headache tomorrow morning, at least."
"Tha—urp—nks. Sorry, can you pop the lid?"
"Here."
Han Aebom grimaced but chugged it. As she headed inside, Oh Hana pounced my nape like a leopard.
"Night, Aebom. Me and oppa'll smoke out here first."
"Sure thing."
She's hurting, alright. Han Aebom bolted upstairs without a glance back.
"Another cig? You've chain-smoked a pack already."
"Yup. Smoked my fill."
She's definitely tipsy—slurring a bit. My high hadn't faded either. Wasted confirmed.
"Hey, where you—"
Expecting a smoke spot, Oh Hana dragged me deeper instead—to a dim alley nook by the smoking zone.
Then she grinned.
"Smoked enough cigs. Time for something else tasty. Dessert."
And just like that, she squatted, rubbing her face against my pants. Right on my dick.