Chapter 21

The lunch for the four of us was, as expected, delicious. It was a buffet. You could tell they weren't skimping on the budget. Food was lined up along one wall—everything from soybean paste stew to grilled fish, japchae, and salads. The setup let you pile your plate as high as you wanted. For a cafeteria at an isolated research center cut off from the outside world, it was shockingly good.

But more important than the food was having someone sitting next to me. Last night, I'd eaten alone. I'd watched Ha-young, Yoon Seo-yeon, and Na Ye-jin having dinner together from afar while I chewed my rice by myself. Right after I'd been branded a "pervert," no one wanted to sit near me.

But things were different now. Ha-young was sitting right beside me, eating together. Without a word. Just naturally. It was hard to believe that just a few hours ago, I'd felt this woman's naked body against my back and confessed to her while stark naked in front of her. Yet here she was, eating like it was any other day.

Well, not exactly like any other day. Normally, she wouldn't stop talking, but right now, she was quietly just eating. When our eyes met occasionally, she'd look away first. The awkwardness was inevitable. It'd be weirder if it wasn't awkward.

Still, I was grateful she was sitting there. And above all, the food tasted amazing. Having someone next to me made it even better. If the same soybean paste stew tasted different yesterday and today, it had to be because of the person beside me.

I noticed Ha-young struggling with her chopsticks to pick up a piece of grilled fish, the bones getting in the way. Normally, she'd say, "Si-woo, help me debone this~," but now she was quietly trying to handle it herself. The same Ha-young who'd declared so firmly earlier, "Let's win this afternoon," was being this awkward at lunch. Well, same here.

We were eating amid our mutual awkwardness when the sound of trays being set down came from across the table. I looked up. It was Yoon Seo-yeon and Na Ye-jin. My heart skipped a beat.

Yoon Seo-yeon. The most beautiful girl at school was sitting right in front of me. Voluntarily. We'd seen each other naked yesterday, yet she wasn't avoiding me—she'd chosen to sit here. And next to her, Na Ye-jin. The woman who'd given me that devilish command to "confess naked" just thirty minutes ago was now plopping down casually across from me.

Let's break down the seating: Yoon Seo-yeon in front of me, Na Ye-jin diagonally across, Ha-young next to me. The four of us who'd undergone the naked inspection in the same group yesterday were now gathered at one table. We'd all seen each other's naked bodies, shown them off. Was "hello" even the right greeting in this situation? Honestly, I had no idea, but the words slipped out anyway.

"Ah…… hello……."

I rushed the greeting, and my voice trembled. Yoon Seo-yeon gave a slight smile. Soft and quiet. That one smile restarted my heart. As expected from the school's top beauty. Just her smile seemed to change the air around us.

Na Ye-jin spoke up. "Hello? Now? Anyway, you're tougher than I thought."

"Huh? What do you……."

"Honestly, I never thought we'd lose to Group B even once. For some reason, it just didn't feel possible. And it wasn't just me—the whole Group A vibe was like that. But we lost twice, and both times it was you."

Her voice mixed surprise and acknowledgment. This woman was acknowledging me? We'd been enemies just moments ago?

"No, both times it was Ha-young who……."

I glanced at Ha-young. She'd paused mid-bite, chopsticks frozen, staring off somewhere. She must've felt my gaze because she turned her head slightly. Na Ye-jin nodded.

"Yeah, I saw Ha-young in a new light too. She was impressive…… But I didn't expect you two to start dating."

"Kek! Cough……."

The rice caught in my throat.

"Eek!"

Ha-young choked at the same time beside me. There we were, both hacking and coughing, while Na Ye-jin smirked, clearly enjoying it.

"Be grateful—I set you two up."

I swallowed my coughs, wiping tears from my eyes. It'd been that bad.

"No, that was just because of your command earlier, and Ha-young only answered because of the rules. We're just friends."

I explained quickly. It was the game's rules. We had no choice to win. There were no real feelings involved. There couldn't be. No…… there aren't any……

Na Ye-jin pouted mockingly. "Heh, sure, got it."

She clearly didn't believe me. Then, a tiny voice came from beside me.

"Just friends, huh……."

"Ha-young, what'd you say?"

I thought I'd heard her mumble something, but it was faint.

"Ah…… nothing……."

She shook her head hurriedly. Her face was a bit flushed. What was that? I hadn't caught it. I tilted my head, about to dig back into my food, when Yoon Seo-yeon spoke.

"Ha-young…… you're in for some real trouble ahead."

Her tone was soft but loaded with meaning.

"Wh-what…… that's not what I'm thinking……."

Ha-young waved her hands, her face turning even redder. What was going on? What did they think I was imagining? What "trouble"?

Na Ye-jin shook her head at me pityingly. Yoon Seo-yeon smiled faintly at Ha-young. Ha-young buried her face in her rice bowl. It felt like there was some context I was missing, something all three girls knew but I didn't. Girl talk I couldn't understand. I decided to just focus on eating.

Honestly, I never imagined the four of us would be eating together like this, even this morning. After yesterday, I'd been labeled a "pervert," and even Ha-young seemed to be keeping her distance. Yoon Seo-yeon and Na Ye-jin were out of the question. I figured I'd never be able to talk to them at school again. Hell, I'd probably have to take detours to avoid them.

I'd even worried before falling asleep last night about how to face them from tomorrow on. Yet here we were, chatting casually over lunch like it was nothing. My hand trembled slightly holding the spoon. Tears welled up.

"Hey…… Han Si-woo…… you crying?"

Na Ye-jin peered at my face.

Something must've shown in my eyes.

"No……."

I quickly wiped my eyes with my sleeve. Na Ye-jin started to say more, but Yoon Seo-yeon gently grabbed her arm to stop her. Yoon Seo-yeon just smiled silently. That smile seemed to say, "It's okay."

I looked down and scooped my rice. I felt grateful I'd taken this part-time job. Sure, there were mountains of humiliating, embarrassing things I never wanted to relive. Actually, there were also mountains of things I kinda did want to relive…… Anyway, getting to know these people this closely was definitely a good thing.

Until yesterday, Yoon Seo-yeon was just the school's untouchable flower passing by. Na Ye-jin was the pretty guard dog by her side, radiating intimidation. Ha-young was a classmate in my major, but I never expected to get this close. Now we were sharing a table, teasing each other, worrying about what came next. The price had been steep—we'd seen each other's naked bodies, exposed our weaknesses, shared our shame. But that price had brought us here. That's why tears were coming.

I forced down my rice, reining in my emotions.

"Anyway, this part-time gig…… isn't it way too much?"

Na Ye-jin said, scooping some soybean paste stew.

"Right, unnie…… I had no idea it'd be like this…… Can't back out now, though……."

Ha-young sighed in response.

Na Ye-jin looked at Yoon Seo-yeon. "Seo-yeon…… sorry. I feel bad dragging you into this. If I'd known, I would've come alone……."

Her voice was sincere, a far cry from her usual bold self. Guilt over bringing her best friend here.

Yoon Seo-yeon shook her head. "No…… I'd be more worried leaving you here alone."

Her voice was soft but firm. She seemed quiet and passive on the surface, but when it mattered, she was resolute. Like yesterday during the inspection when Na Ye-jin wanted to leave—she'd refused flat-out.

The girls were comforting each other. And they deserved it. This job was brutal. Even as a guy, it was tough—what must it be like for them? Naked inspections, naked ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠participation in programs. In front of guys. I felt sorry. I hadn't done anything directly, but I'd ended up seeing their naked bodies. During the inspection, during the programs. It wasn't intentional, but that wasn't an excuse.

What should I say? Sorry? That I didn't look because I wanted to? Half true, half lie. While I agonized, Na Ye-jin suddenly turned to me.

"Well, Si-woo must've loved it…… seeing us all naked…… Guess I'll have to knock you out later and erase your memory……."

"Guh……!"

I choked again. Impressive I didn't spit out my food. I looked up at the girls. Na Ye-jin was glaring, half-joking, half-serious. Ha-young was giving me the same ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠look from the side. She rarely eyed me like that before, but now it screamed, "Forget everything you saw." Only Yoon Seo-yeon looked away. Her ears were slightly red. Yesterday's memories clearly hadn't faded completely.

Best to stay quiet and shrink in these moments. At least they were talking to me…… I focused on my food.

After a brief awkward silence, Ha-young changed the subject. "But unnie, how did Group A get so united? We couldn't even coordinate our tops properly."

Her question perked my ears too. That's what I wanted to know most. Group A's unity was unnatural. The teamwork in the first program. The strategic moves in the second. They'd follow orders themselves whether the opponent forfeited or not, and when a screen was needed, someone stepped up like it was pre-planned. Worlds apart from Group B.

Na Ye-jin thought for a moment. "Ah…… that…… We don't really know either. Everyone was just calm, so whenever someone suggested something, they'd go along without much pushback……."

"So, did Group A have a separate leader?"

"No…… not really. I threw out the most ideas, but……."

Yoon Seo-yeon ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠cut in. "No…… Still, everyone probably sees you as the leader, Ye-jin…… I do too……."

Na Ye-jin shrugged. She didn't ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠seem to hate the label.

Ha-young tilted her head. "Really? So even without you leading, they were that united? How's that possible?"

I thought the same. Na Ye-jin had filled a leader role, but she hadn't really coordinated or issued orders. She'd just suggested ideas, and twenty people followed without complaint. Comparing to Group B, it made no sense. In B, any suggestion got a "Why should we listen to you?" vibe first. Everyone just watched each other, no one stepped up, and it devolved into every-man-for-himself. But Group A moved like a real team from the start. Like they'd always been one.

Was that even possible? Looking back, Group A's actions were beyond normal. In the second program, Nam Joo-yeon stripped her panties and wrote her name with her butt. Jeong Min-su got fully naked and erect. The women exposed their breasts to help with erections. Half of it was voluntary. Even with prize money, could strangers do that? Normally, they'd hesitate, eye each other, and no one would act—like Group B.

But Group A followed naturally, like under hypnosis. Hypnosis. No, not that. But—something flashed in my mind.

We'd taken the drug. New drug clinical trial part-time job. We'd been dosed when we arrived in the hall today, with a second dose scheduled for the afternoon. We'd felt no changes. At least, I hadn't. Same for Ha-young. No one in Group B mentioned anything unusual.

But Group A was weird. Could strangers unite like that? Overcome shame so easily? Even people without Na Ye-jin's personality moved in perfect sync?

What if…… The facilitator said it was the same drug, but what if it wasn't? What if Group A got a real drug suppressing shame or boosting unity, and Group B got a placebo?

This was a clinical trial. Dividing subjects into groups for different drugs was standard. That's why they'd split into A and B.

It explained everything. Why Group A stripped without shame despite being strangers. Why women bared their breasts to help the team. Why naked confessions felt like scripted lines.

If it was all the drug…… I glanced at Na Ye-jin. She was eating casually. If she was affected, did she know? Or did she think it was just her personality?

I had no idea. Nothing was certain. Just my guess. But the chills down my spine wouldn't fade.

Second dose at 1 p.m. If I was right, they'd given Group A the real drug this morning, so maybe Group B gets it this afternoon. Or maybe both groups already had the real thing, just different components or doses—

I set down my spoon. My appetite vanished.

This…… isn't a dangerous drug, is it?