Peace (4)
In the end, with nothing else I could do in this situation, I had no choice but to watch Hyeon Ha-yeon's recording session.
"What, did you at least give her a little kiss before coming back?"
I wanted to punch the teasing manager who was grinning mischievously at me, but I shot him a quick glare and turned back to the booth.
Hyeon Ha-yeon had her eyes squeezed shut, singing her heart out.
[♬~♫~♬]
Emotion was finally pouring into her singing, and the results were starting to come out great. Thanks to that, the latter half of the recording—which had been a headache for the past few days—was progressing smoothly.
Unlike the cheerful atmosphere in the recording studio, my insides were burning up with anxiety.
What did Hyeon Ha-yeon want from me? The way she'd acted went way beyond a normal oppa-dongsaeng relationship. But it didn't seem like she was after some specific kind of romance; she just wanted honesty.
If she'd truly regained the hero's memories, she might burst out of the booth right now and drag me off to lock me away somewhere. But the goddess's words lingered in my mind, and Hyeon Ha-yeon's behavior was still far from the hero's.
She definitely hadn't recovered her memories yet. I had no idea when she would.
The best thing was to play along with her as much as possible. As long as I didn't lie to her, there'd be no reason for her to snap.
Thank goodness she didn't seem to be demanding my love, at least. With Lee Ji-yeon already staking her claim so boldly, if Hyeon Ha-yeon joined in, my sanity wouldn't survive.
···Thank God Baek Ga-eun's been quiet.
*
Every time I talked with Hyeon Ha-yeon, I'd flinch for no reason, but I was starting to get used to it bit by bit.
The next day, she showed her usual bright side again. Since the final recording was going so smoothly, we decided to push through without a dinner break, following the recording team's suggestion to wrap it up quickly and move on to the next schedule.
We skipped dinner and kept going, finally finishing the recording. There'd still be post-production tweaks for the release version, but the immediate work was done.
"Great job, everyone!"
Watching Hyeon Ha-yeon greet the team members—who'd worked the hardest—without a hint of fatigue made me feel a strange mix of emotions. No matter what, she was the first rookie I'd scouted.
With the recording wrapped, all that was left was to finish the remaining schedules and debut.
Pure Love by Hyeon Ha-yeon will definitely be a hit.
Everyone thought so—the results were that satisfying. Choi Dae-pyo, who'd had high hopes like me, couldn't join due to work but handed me a company card for a team dinner before heading out.
It was common knowledge that the team cheered when they heard he'd just dropped off the card and left.
"I know a great spot!"
I walked side by side with Hyeon Ha-yeon, a bit behind the team members leading the way. I'd been too intimidated to even talk to her for a while, but after confirming it was safe as long as I didn't provoke her, I started to relax a little.
It felt like I'd finally learned how to handle Hyeon Ha-yeon.
I glanced at the team members, busy chatting among themselves, and spoke to her.
"···Ha-yeon, good work."
She looked at me and grinned. "···You too, oppa."
Clenching her fist, she continued, "It's really almost done! Just the photoshoot and MV left···"
Seeing her excitedly talk about what was coming next put my mind at ease. If she could always be like this, how great would that be···
We chatted as we walked and soon arrived at the restaurant. We settled into a spacious room that looked perfect for a relaxed meal.
We took seats in one corner, and Hyeon Ha-yeon naturally sat right next to me. Remembering she wasn't great with alcohol, I didn't say anything.
The team members smoothly ordered for us. Laughter and chatter filled the air as food and drinks arrived, and with the project nearly done, everyone started going wild.
The thoroughly drunk manager shoved a soju bottle at me. But I had work tomorrow.
I smiled faintly and pushed the glass away, only for him to start yelling.
"Hey! Kim Cho-in! What the hell? Dodging?"
I firmly pushed the harassing manager away. "I'm a patient."
He glanced at my bandaged hand, clicked his tongue, and moved on to another team member.
I turned at the sound of stifled laughter to find Hyeon Ha-yeon covering her mouth, giggling.
"···What's so funny?"
"Nothing," she brushed it off and pushed a glass toward me. "Cheers!"
I clinked glasses silently and downed it in one go.
"Ugh··· Here, oppa."
Hyeon Ha-yeon picked up some food and held it to my lips. Her brows furrowed from the soju's bitterness, but she was still looking after me—it felt endearing.
Normally I'd take it and eat, but with the glass in hand, it was awkward. After a moment's hesitation, I chomped it down.
"···Thanks."
She watched me chew contentedly, then—without me noticing—refilled my glass. She clinked it arbitrarily and urged me to drink.
"Come on, cheers! Drink up."
"Uh, yeah···"
My mouth was numbing from the alcohol, but the soju's bitter aftertaste hit sharp and clear.
"Oppa, it's bitter, so eat this."
"Huh? No, you eat it···"
Despite my words, she poked food at my lips until I gave in and ate. We repeated the cycle—empty glass, grab snack—over and over. The buzz hit fast.
"Ha-yeon, you raising a puppy or something?"
One team member called out to her, his eyes glazed. Hyeon Ha-yeon stared at me blankly, then started poking my cheek.
"Aw··· Isn't he cute?"
The alcohol dulled my judgment, so I let her poke while meeting the team member's eyes. She startled when our gazes locked, then looked away.
"···Yeah, pretty cute."
The team member buried his head and started shoveling food. Hyeon Ha-yeon stopped poking and whispered in my ear.
"···Oppa, second round at your place."
She seemed drunk, so I figured I should take her home. I sighed deeply.
"···You're drunk."
She giggled. "Yeah, I'm drunk. Let's go."
As we stood, all eyes turned to us. The manager looked shocked.
"Whoa? Leaving already?"
I nodded toward him. "Ha-yeon seems pretty wasted···"
He snorted in disbelief. "You better watch out—she's fine. Get home safe."
I waved casually and slipped out.
Walking out of the restaurant, my steps felt unsteady. Maybe from recent fatigue, but the buzz hit quicker than usual. Even drunk, I had to get Hyeon Ha-yeon home properly.
The fresh air cleared my head a bit. I slapped my face to shake off the daze and stood by the road to hail a taxi.
No taxis in sight today—I peered down the street—when Hyeon Ha-yeon beside me asked,
"···Oppa, no taxis?"
"···One'll come soon. Hang in there."
"Oppa, then···"
As she started to say something, an empty taxi appeared. I muttered,
"Taxi's here."
She seemed like she'd been about to say something, so I waved it off. "Huh? What?"
"···Nothing. Hop in."
I brushed it off and got in, planning to drop her off first.
"Driver, we'll go to···"
But Hyeon Ha-yeon beat me to it. "To Building D, please!"
"···Huh?"
My neighborhood. Before I could speak, the driver took off.
"No, driver, Building C···"
Hyeon Ha-yeon grabbed my arm tightly, stopping me.
"···Oppa, just one drink··· okay?"
She pressed a finger to her cheek, tilting her head cutely, begging for one more.
She really seemed wasted. With my past close call, I couldn't take her home like this.
"Huh? Huh? Oppaaa···"
Her sharp features acting cute made my heart skip despite myself. Then my injured hand throbbed, snapping me back.
Her cute face overlapped with the chilling expression from that stormy night.
Being alone with Hyeon Ha-yeon was dangerous.
"···No, you're drunk."
While we tussled, we were already heading to Building D. I tried to turn back, but her fierce resistance won out, and we ended up getting off near my studio apartment.
I barely stopped her from heading straight to the convenience store and blurted,
"Sh-should we walk a bit?"
She pondered, then nodded. "Okay."
I led her down the longest route away from home. If I could just send her off like this, perfect.
"Oppa, what're you doing? Aren't you coming in?"
"···Go in."
It was futile in the end. Like a ghost, she turned into the alley with the convenience store. I couldn't stop her anymore, and we returned to my place with our hands full of booze.
Seeing Hyeon Ha-yeon standing in my apartment made my injured hand throb again. The image of her coldly scolding me that stormy night clashed weirdly with her now brightly smiling as she set up drinks and snacks.
"Oppa, come on!" Hyeon Ha-yeon urged as she laid out the booze and sides.
*
···Somehow, I needed to get Hyeon Ha-yeon out fast for my mental health.
"···Let me grab some glasses."
I moved slowly, racking my brain. As I opened the cupboard for glasses, an idea flashed.
I quickly set them on the table.
"···Oppa, what's this?"
Hyeon Ha-yeon pointed at the huge glasses.
"Drinking glasses."
She couldn't hold her liquor, so get her wasted. The easiest way···
"Let's play a game."
A drinking game.
*
The plan was solid, I thought. Winner picks a game, loser drinks as penalty instead of punishment.
I won the first round. Beating a just-turned-20 Hyeon Ha-yeon at drinking games wasn't hard—I'd survived countless.
I planned to ease her into bigger drinks for pace control. But I lost the second—my own game.
Hyeon Ha-yeon beamed, pouring half the bottle. "Oppa, half from the start··· meanie."
She handed me the full glass. I took it quietly.
Though I'd lost the second due to carelessness, from the third I'd send her packing. Eyes shut, I chugged the soju.
It burned like hell, but the throbbing hand spurred me—I forced it down.
"Puha···"
"Good job!" She stuffed a huge bite of side into my mouth.
Too much at once—the buzz surged.
"Hoo··· What game next?"
Grinning brightly, she shoved a soju cap at me.
"Wanna try this? Flick the tail off to win, right?"
Classic soju cap flicking.
"I'll go first?"
She frowned in focus and snapped her finger.
Tick—
A bit buzzed herself, her hand shook—she missed.
"Ah··· Mistake."
Smiling, she passed the cap. Sorry, Hyeon Ha-yeon, but one more drink and my film might cut.
I poured all my strength into flicking her cap.
Crack!
The crisp sound—I was sure it flew off—but her deepening smile dashed my hopes.
As I pondered the angle for mine—crack! The tail vanished.
"···Huh?"
I blurted dumbly at the instant loss.
"Next bottle?"
Beaming, she opened another. Deflated, I realized too late through the haze: her strength.
"Hmm··· Trying to get me drunk? Naughty···"
She upended the bottle over my glass.
Glug glug···
Cold soju filled it to the brim—no more left in the bottle.
I swallowed hard and took the glass. Propping her chin, she chirped innocently,
"Oppa, chug it."
Thanks to her "mercy," I downed it in sips over several gulps. Mixing with prior drinks, my head spun.
"I-I··· gotta take some meds."
Tongue thick, I stood. Seeing her leisurely prep the next bottle made me panic.
···I might actually die.
In my room, I rummaged for the pill pouch.
"F-found it···"
Baek Ga-eun's meds. Among famous hangover cures, vitamin-heavy ones existed. Baekil Pharma's premium vitamins might work.
Hers had varieties, but I couldn't tell the red and blue capsules apart. Head fogging fast, I popped both.
Then, in the games that followed, I lost repeatedly and blacked out.