Music spilled into the night as Seojin began to play, the gentle strumming weaving through the crackle of the grill and the low murmur of the stream nearby.
His voice followed warm, steady carrying easily across the table.
Everyone ate as they hummed along, the melody settling naturally into the evening.
Some time passed.
"Seriously, Seojin," Irina said, while looking at seojin with amazement. "Your voice were already insane, and now you add a guitar on top of that?"
"Wow… that was beautiful," Hyewon said softly, genuine awe in her voice.
"Yeah," someone chimed in. "You could literally be an idol."
"Play some more," Irina urged.
Seojin laughed lightly. "Maybe later. I'm kind of tired."
Seolhyo handed me a cup of water.
I smiled and thanked her.
"Suwon grills way better than Park Dong, huh?" Daegyu said with a grin.
"Hehehe."
"Damn it, then you do it," Park Dong snapped.
"Is this pork neck? I like this more."
"It's always pork belly for me."
"Pass the soda over there."
Park Dong glanced sideways at Irina.
Is this the first time she's sat next to me?
No, that couldn't be right. Over all the years we'd spent together, it had happened countless times.
So why did it feel different now…?
His ears slowly turned red as he chewed, pretending nothing was wrong.
Her arm brushed lightly against his, and for no reason at all, his heart jumped. Park Dong stiffened, shifting his body away, his face burning.
That's why I ended up sitting like this…
"What the move over," Suwon complained from his other side, clicking his tongue as Park Dong awkwardly scooted, still refusing to get too close to Irina.
"Park Dong, don't you feel like drinking?" Daegyu said looking at Park Dong.
"Yeah," Park Dong answered. "It'd be super fun if we all drank together."
Just then, Ono's dad whose coming, carrying a ceramic pot that still steamed faintly.
He slowed when he overheard them.
"You know," Park Dong said casually, "pork belly just doesn't feel right without soju, right?"
"Not really," Inseop replied flatly. "I'm not into it. I don't like drinking."
"Tch, screw you," Park Dong muttered.
Ono's dad paused, his gaze lingering on the group for a brief second. He didn't say anything just turned around and headed back into the house.
Seolhyo, sitting beside me, frowned and shot Park Dong a sharp look. "Stop showing off. You're talking about drinking in someone else's house."
Irina, chewing on another piece of pork, glanced over. "Geez, what are you bragging about now?"
Daegyu looked between them, suddenly uneasy. "Come on, it's not like we'd be the only ones drinking… even Park Mijin and her friends drink on weekends."
"Just because they do, we should too?" Seolhyo shot back.
Daegyu scratched the back of his neck. "It's not like I really love it or anything…"
He glanced at Park Dong, clearly looking for backup. "But it's kinda fun when we drink together, right, Park Dong?"
Daegyu quickly shifted his gaze, searching for another lifeline.
"S-Suwon…?" he tried.
Suwon hesitated. "…I just happened to try it once. So I don't really know much about it."
Seolhyo's eyes widened in disbelief. "What? Even Ji Suwon tried drinking?"
She turned sharply toward the others. "You bastards were forcing him, weren't you?"
"N-No," Suwon stammered, waving his hands. "I drank it myself."
Seolhyo clicked her tongue. "Hmmph. You really don't look like the type who'd drink unless someone pushed you. So they must've forced you."
Irina nodded solemnly, pointing her chopsticks at the boys. "Yeah. These guys are a terrible influence. Look at them already corrupting Suwon."
"Hey!" Daegyu protested. "Why am I suddenly the villain here?"
Park Dong groaned and stuff another pork in his mouth. "This is getting unfair."
Before the argument could stretch further, Ono's dad came still carrying the steaming ceramic pot but now carrying a big green bottle of soju. He eyed them at table.
"you guys"
Everyone froze when Ono's dad appeared out of nowhere.
"?!"
"A-Ah… Ahjussi?!"
Park Dong and Daegyu went pale in horror, their backs stiffening.
Ugh… did he hear everything? We're so dead…
Daegyu swallowed hard, eyes darting.
Is he using some kind of stealth skill or what…?
He sat down cross-legged at the table, right between Ono and Daegyu, and calmly set a bottle of soju in the middle.
He asked still bluntly like Ono. "You're already drinking?"
Park Dong and Daegyu somehow found themselves kneeling straight, hands neatly on their thighs.
"A-ah… uh… that was just a joke between us," Park Dong blurted, bowing his head.
"Y-yeah… we don't really drink," Daegyu echoed quickly.
Then Ono's dad's gaze shifted.
"Suwon. You too?"
Suwon flailed his hands in panic. "N-no! No, never!! I swear!"
Ignoring him, Ono's dad opened the bottle, poured out cups for each of us, and spoke in a calm but firm tone.
"Alcohol is something you should learn from adults. It's important to know how to drink responsibly, how to stay aware in uncomfortable situations. Drinking with friends might feel fun…"
He passed each of us a cup, gesturing to take it with both hands. "…But do you really think it'll always end well?"
Suwon lowered his head, remembering his own messy slip-ups when drunk.
No sir... It never ends well..
Ono's dad said. "Even the quiet, well-behaved ones can end up causing trouble because of this. You should enjoy yourselves in ways that fit your age. In a few years, you'll be sick of it anyway. The only reason I'm letting you try this now is so you don't make a life-ruining decision later… just because of a few drinks."
The whole group fell silent, his words hanging heavy in the air.
Suwon's eyes sparkled. "He's… so cool."
Park Dong whispered, "Is he a former teacher or something?"
Irina shivered. "…Scary."
After some time, Ahjussi was already slurring his words, laughing to himself at nothing.
Eventually he leaned back, completely gone.
"Ah, he's done for," Park Dong muttered.
"Yeah, someone carry him," Suwon said.
Daegyu sighed, crouched down, and hoisted Ono's dad onto his back with a grunt. "Man, he's heavier than he looks." He carried him off to his room, and after a few minutes returned, wiping his hands.
"How is he?" Irina asked.
Daegyu snorted. "He passed out instantly… HAHAHA."
Irina burst out laughing too. "AHAHAHA, Ahjussi is seriously hilarious."
Daegyu, still chuckling, plopped back down he glanced at Ono, who was calmly gulping down a full cup, and stared at him in awe.
"Whoa… Ono, are you okay? Aren't you drinking a bit too much?"
Ono set the cup down, his expression as blank as ever.
"It's soda."
"…Oh."
Daegyu look at Jinkyung that's sitting beside ono. "Come on. Then what about Jinkyung? She drank a lot too, but she's not even flushed."
"Me?" Jinkyung blinked, tilting her head. "Did I drink that much? Why do I feel totally fine…"
Park Dong clicked his tongue, shaking his head in disbelief.
"Not even alcohol can defeat Kim Jinkyung."
I looked from him to the cup sitting in front of me. "…I've never actually tried it."
Park Dong leaned forward, smirking. "What? You're already in high school and you've never had alcohol? Pathetic. Just try it once, it's not gonna kill you."
The others started urging me to drink as well.
Seolhyo was about to snap back at them, but I stopped her, lightly patting her thigh.
I lifted my cup and looked into it for a moment instead, and gulped it down in one go.
The moment it hit my throat, my face twisted in pure regret eyes squeezing shut, brows knotting, lips puckering as I coughed hard, choking on the sharp burn rushing in my throat."Kh.. cough..hugh…!"
The others burst out laughing instantly.
"HAHA! Idiot! Who told you to drink it in one go?!" Park Dong cackled, slapping his thigh.
"HAHAHA look at his face!" Daegyu wheezed. "Jinkyung, did you catch that?!"
Jinkyung was already holding up her camera, shoulders shaking with laughter."Yeah HAHA! Got it!"