Chapter 118
Chapter 118
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: A Three-Person Drinking Party
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It looked like the fun start to vacation was off the table.
Having something like this happen on the very first day.
Well, Yoon Hye-yoon lives next door, so it's not like I hadn't seen it coming at all.
It would be a lie to say I hadn't anticipated anything like this.
I'd gotten a weird vibe the moment she suggested coming over to my place earlier.
"Oppa... you're not planning to just leave it like that, right?"
Leave what? Her wording felt a bit aggressive.
She'd probably been looking forward to some quality one-on-one time, only for an unexpected interruption to ruin it.
"I'll go check."
"I'll come with you."
Shin Ayoung looped her arm fully through mine and nudged my side with her chest.
Since she was wearing a sleeveless top, the shape of her massive melons pressed clearly against her shirt.
Feeling that pleasant softness mixed with a bit of pressure, I slowly made my way to the door.
"Hey... Hye-yoon. What's up?"
"Huh? Oh, oppa! Hi... there...?"
She beamed at the sight of my face, but her expression hardened again when she spotted Shin Ayoung beside me.
"Hye-yoon. Hi there. Talk about perfect timing, running into you here."
"Hi. I live next door, so of course I'm around... but what about you, Shin Ayoung?"
"I'm here hanging out with oppa. All night long... ♡"
"Oh... so you're planning to make noise all day like last time? That's a huge nuisance to the neighbors."
"What? You heard us 'all night'? I'm so sorry about that."
"I put in earbuds and slept through part of it. It wasn't that bad."
The two traded barbs without missing a beat.
If I didn't step in soon, they'd probably keep this up all night.
"Enough, both of you. Exams are over, so let's not fight. You just finished yours too, right, Hye-yoon?"
"Yeah, oppa. That's why I bought this stuff to drink together..."
Yoon Hye-yoon trailed off, glancing toward my side.
Catching the look, Shin Ayoung bristled.
"I got dibs first, okay? I took the exam with him, waited in the hall, and came over together."
"I finished early and prepped everything in advance."
"Seriously, stop. Exams are done, so let's all hang out together. Sound good?"
"Sure."
"...Fine, whatever."
I couldn't drop a bomb by picking one over the other here.
I scrapped my plans and led both of them inside.
"Can I open this?"
"Yeah. Here."
I set down my bag and opened the bag Yoon Hye-yoon had brought.
Four cans of beer, frozen gopchang, and chicken feet.
Shin Ayoung saw it and let out a hollow chuckle.
"No way, you bought all this to eat just the two of you? And four beers on top of that."
"Hmph. If you drink slowly, it's doable. Better than running short midway."
"True, you can always burn it off with some nighttime exercise if you overdo it."
"What’s that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing."
I got that they were bickering over me.
Still, they were my closest acquaintances, so I hoped they'd get along.
"Now that we're three, let's hit the convenience store for more snacks."
"Okay."
"Sounds good."
"I'll go alone—you two rest."
"I'll come with."
"Me too."
As I turned toward the shoe rack, they followed right behind.
Looked like they'd be stuck to me all day.
On the way to the store.
Shin Ayoung on my left, Yoon Hye-yoon on my right, perfectly in step.
Even their footsteps hitting the ground sounded rhythmic, like one person walking.
All without a word.
Ding-a-ling.
"Welco—oh."
"Hi. Busy as always."
Han Hee-jin frowned the second she saw me.
But her eyes widened at Shin Ayoung and Yoon Hye-yoon trailing in behind.
"Whoa... did you guys remodel or something?"
"First time here?"
"Yeah. There's a closer store near my place, so I don't come this way much."
"Pretty big, right?"
"Yeah... I'll browse a bit. Pick out what we need while I'm at it."
Shin Ayoung admired the store as she wandered toward the back.
"I'll check for stuff too."
"Okay, go ahead."
Yoon Hye-yoon followed her, and I turned toward the counter.
Zing.
"...You said you were skipping your shift for an important exam today. And here you are with girls on both arms? You're totally messing with me, right?"
"Just finished the exam and came with some acquaintances."
"Oh... so now you're off to have fun. Lucky you. With girls that pretty, too..."
"Haha..."
Seemed like Han Hee-jin was in a sour mood. Any more chat, and I'd get an earful.
As I slipped toward the shelves, someone called from the stockroom.
"Oh? Woojin. You said you were off today."
Han Chae-ah, her radiant looks shining as always. She was stocking shelves, basket overflowing with goods.
Her breasts resting right on top.
"Hi, store manager. Exams are done, so I came to grab some stuff."
"Got it. I stuck around to help Hee-jin today, so go have fun without worrying."
"Thanks. See you next week."
"Yup~"
I picked out chips and ion drinks while wandering the aisles.
Then Shin Ayoung and Yoon Hye-yoon approached, each holding something.
"All set?"
"Yeah. This."
Like they'd planned it, both clutched soju bottles—one in each hand.
Four in total.
"Isn't that a lot? We've got beer at home too."
"Three people, this is fine. And I hold my liquor pretty well, so no worries."
Shin Ayoung shook a bottle with a grin.
"What about you, Hye-yoon?"
"I'm good too."
She'd passed out at that bar last time. Was she really okay?
I'd carried her home on my back.
I worried for a second, but we were drinking at home, so it seemed safe enough.
Yoon Hye-yoon lived next door anyway, and Shin Ayoung planned to crash here.
"Checkout."
Han Hee-jin’s expression shifted subtly as I set the four soju bottles on the counter.
But with people around, she rang us up quietly.
"Have a good one."
"See you later."
Ding-a-ling.
Outside, Shin Ayoung spoke up right away.
She'd clearly been holding back her curiosity.
"Oppa, you a regular here? Everyone seems to know you."
"Didn't I mention? I work part-time here."
"Wait, really? Since when?"
"About a month now. Wed-Thu-Fri, 6 to 11 PM."
"Hmm..."
She pouted for a split second before smiling again.
"Can't stop you if you wanna work. But... all the staff are super pretty. Like, really."
"To be precise, the tall one's the manager, and the blonde at the counter's her little sister."
"Whoa, she's the manager? Looks so young. Impressive."
"You might know her too, Ayoung. The Mirae University branch #1. She runs that one."
"Oh! Yeah, now that you mention it, she looks familiar."
"You've been here a few times, right, Hye-yoon? You know."
"Yeah, oppa told me before."
By the time we got home, the mood had thawed compared to the walk there.
We sat in a circle on the floor like last time, piling our haul in the center.
Four beers, four soju bottles, one ion drink, chips and snacks.
"You two picked all this confident you could finish it?"
"It's only 9 PM. Plenty of time."
"If not, we finish tomorrow."
Planning to stick around till tomorrow? We'd see after eating.
I grabbed a beer can first and raised it for a toast.
"Let's keep it simple with beer. Cheers!"
"Cheers!"
The crisp clink echoed as we all took a few gulps.
Setting the cans down, Yoon Hye-yoon spoke first.
"Oh, right. Where do you live, Shin Ayoung? Alone or dorm?"
"About seven minutes from here. Renting solo."
"You're in the same year as Woojin oppa, right? Third-year?"
"Yep. Electrical Engineering, third year."
"So you're older than me. Twenty-two?"
"Yeah. And you're twenty-one, Hye-yoon?"
"Right. Can I call you Ayoung unnie then? Shin Ayoung doesn't roll off the tongue."
"Sure, whatever's comfy. Hye-yoon for you?"
"Yeah, fine."
The two warmed up fast, dropping the formalities already.
Much better than sniping at each other.
I sipped my beer quietly, listening in.
"But unnie, why engineering? Isn't it brutal?"
"Just thought building and tinkering sounded fun. Turns out it's all math and theory."
"Sounds headache-inducing already."
"What's your major again, Hye-yoon?"
"English Lit."
"Passion or grades?"
"Dad's in trade, so languages appealed. Plus, good English pronunciation is kinda cool."
"Huh. Unique reason."
Shin Ayoung and Yoon Hye-yoon peppered each other with questions, downing beer nonstop.
By the end of one can, Shin Ayoung shook a soju bottle.
"Ready to switch?"
"No soju glasses. Water cups okay?"
"Yeah. Mix with soda."
I fetched three cups.
Poured some drinks, toasted, and chat flowed again.
But now the questions turned to me.
Yoon Hye-yoon, cheeks slightly flushed, eyed me.
"Come to think of it, I don't know much about you, oppa. Why engineering?"
"Eh, good job prospects. No big reason."
"That's the best reason. Hehe..."
Yoon Hye-yoon giggled nonstop, swaying.
She'd nearly finished a whole soju bottle—barely a third of our intake—and was already like this. Pretty lightweight.
Shin Ayoung noticed and spoke softly.
"Hye-yoon, you look tipsy. Wanna crash in the room?"
"Not drunk. Totally fine."
"You'll regret pushing it tomorrow."
"If I go... you'll pounce on oppa. No way."
"I won't. Promise. Go rest."
"Liar."
She said that right to her face.
Pounce? Come on.
Shin Ayoung was probably teasing because she knew it'd get a rise.
Yoon Hye-yoon's dead-serious reply was kinda cute.
The room warmed up, so I grabbed a fresh soju.
Normally it'd be straight to sex with Shin Ayoung, but this casual vibe was nice too.
"Oppa, hold off on opening that."
"Huh? Why?"
"I brought something fun today. Let's play. Meant for two, but three works."
Shin Ayoung rummaged in her bag and pulled out a suspicious pink box.
She shook it with a smile.
"Isn't this super novel? Should be a blast."
On the box's surface, in flowing script, it read:
'Love Jenga - For Couples'