Chapter 3: Protagonist of a Romance or Romance Thriller
I squeezed out every last bit of strength just to wash my own body. I never dreamed a goddamn hangover could be like this.
I discovered that I could gag even while smelling the fragrant scent of body wash. I barely managed to dry my wet body, and disgusted by my foolishness in trying to pick out clothes to impress Park Min-ah, I picked up the clothes I had carelessly thrown off and put them back on.
I stared at the still wide-open door and sighed deeply. I had agreed to close it halfway, but none of these bastards seemed willing to honor that.
I left the room, deliberately slamming the door shut. Bang! At the sound, the gazes of the four, scattered throughout the place, turned to me in unison.
I mean… this wasn't what I wanted.
"Oh… why does the door close so hard…"
I mumbled a pathetic excuse like a coward and walked towards the dining table. Seo Jaehoon and Park Min-ah seemed to be having tea in the living room, while Mo Taehee and Nam Kangwoo were sitting across from each other at the table. With food laid out that looked like it was for me.
I naturally assumed we would all eat together, but I guess not. It seemed the four of them had already eaten out. They could have at least had a cup of tea before coming in. They had no sense at all.
I headed towards the table with hesitant steps. My stomach was burning, and I didn't want to put anything in my mouth, but I had to sit down anyway. I roughly towel-dried my wet hair, and droplets fell, soaking my shoulders.
"Yeoul-a, didn't you dry your hair?"
"…Huh? Oh…"
I was so drained, really. I didn't even have the energy to hold a hairdryer. My mouth tasted bitter. I couldn't bring myself to say the rest and just smiled awkwardly. Instead, I muttered something that at least one of the three might want to hear.
"…I'm hungry…"
I sat next to Mo Taehee, cautiously watching them. Even dogs aren't bothered when they're eating. At least they won't bother me while I'm eating. These scary bastards… I decided to eat my food very slowly and deliberately.
Mo Taehee generously ladled a steaming hot hangover soup into a large bowl and placed it in front of me. A delicious smell wafted up. My mouth watered involuntarily. I picked up a spoon and immediately scooped up the soup and put it in my mouth. And then.
"Agh! Ah…!"
I let out a scream that wasn't quite a scream. The soup was too hot, and my tongue, which Seo Jaehoon had chewed up… As soon as something hot and spicy touched it, it felt like it would be better to just cut it off.
"Ah… no, it's too hot, too hot…"
The spoon I had unknowingly thrown clattered to the floor, leaving a red stain. Feeling a little embarrassed, I picked up a glass of water, took a sip, and then picked up the fallen spoon. "The floor got dirty," I mumbled awkwardly.
"Why… what's wrong…?"
Nam Kangwoo's and Mo Taehee's gazes lingered strangely on one spot. More precisely, on my lips.
"Yeoul."
"Ha Yeoul."
Since the last time, my two housemates seemed to be telepathic, their words matching perfectly. Why are they calling me like that? It's unsettling. I recalled the memory from the underground parking lot and involuntarily swallowed hard.
"Uh huh…?"
"I bought it for your hangover; you should eat the soup."
Mo Taehee slowly rose from his seat at the table. He walked towards the sink, making clattering noises as he took something out, and then returned to my side. He carefully placed something in my palm and even folded my hand over it.
"Try eating it again."
"…No, I…"
Mo Taehee personally put a spoon in my hand and held my hand to scoop up the soup.
"Yeoul-ah, does your mouth hurt?"
I glared at the cause of my mouth's condition. Seo Jaehoon, visible over Nam Kangwoo's shoulder, seemed to be having a very pleasant time with Park Min-ah. Ha… really. I can't even curse anymore.
"…Well…"
Nam Kangwoo and Mo Taehee both had fierce looks in their eyes. But why are these bastards acting like this now? I was eating.
"Should we talk after we send Min-ah off?"
"…Huh?"
"The four of us."
Nam Kangwoo, who had been watching silently, spoke in a low voice. Nam Kangwoo's gaze was still fixed on my lips.
I put the soup, which had cooled slightly in the air, into my mouth. It wasn't hot, but it was still spicy, and my tongue tingled. But being quick-witted, I didn't show any of it and swallowed it down. I also scooped up some rice and slowly chewed it.
How can I get through this crisis? What do they want to talk about, the four of us?
My heart was pounding. Shit… when my heart is racing like this, I should seriously consider the possibility of dying from a heart attack.
"Jaehoon."
Nam Kangwoo turned his gaze away from me and called out to Seo Jaehoon. Seo Jaehoon, who was sitting on the sofa and giggling about something, replied, "What?"
"Take Min-ah home."
"Suddenly?"
"Yeah, suddenly."
Seo Jaehoon stretched and got up. He approached the table with a smiling face, sat down next to me, and rested his arm on the table.
"Hey, Ha Yeoul. What's wrong with Nam Kangwoo? Why is he so serious?"
He still asked with a playful face. I don't know either, you bastard. As always, I barely swallowed the words that were dangling at the tip of my throat and shook my head slightly.
Seo Jaehoon stared at me like that, then smiled brightly and reached out to pat my head.
"I finally get to see you eat."
Seo Jaehoon seemed pleased that I was eating. He has no sense of the atmosphere, a bastard who traded his sense for taffy… With my cheeks puffed out, I slowly chewed and swallowed the contents of my mouth.
I need to anticipate what Nam Kangwoo wants to talk about after sending Park Min-ah away… But if Seo Jaehoon takes Park Min-ah home, then it'll just be me, Mo Taehee, and Nam Kangwoo left at home. I don't want that.
I met the eyes of Seo Jaehoon, who was still watching me eat with a pleased expression. Since he seems to be in a good mood, maybe…
"Can't I go out with Jaehoon?"
I quickly chewed and swallowed the contents of my mouth and asked.
"What?"
"When you take Min-ah home. I want to get some fresh air too…"
I cautiously watched Nam Kangwoo and Mo Taehee.
"Yeoul, you almost collapsed in the bathroom a little while ago. How can you go? You said you were dizzy. You'll get even dizzier in the car, no way. Stay home."
"I'm… fine—"
"You promised us you wouldn't go out, remember?"
Seo Jaehoon, sensing the strange atmosphere, smiled with a different expression than before.
"Ah—What are the four of us doing after Min-ah leaves?"
His voice was subtly sharp.
"We're not doing anything, the four of us, but we might be."
As if responding to the subtly sharp voice, an incomprehensible and strange answer came back.
Even though I am clearly a part of this conversation, I couldn't understand a single word. It was driving me crazy.
Park Min-ah grabbed my hand with a slightly sulky face. Her face, which was puffing out her cheeks and looking at me, was a mixture of petulance and worry.
"Yeoul, are you in a lot of pain?"
"Huh…? Oh…"
I'm not in pain; don't go. I couldn't bring myself to say the words and just looked at Park Min-ah pitifully. As if her small hand was the only lifeline I could grab, I held it tightly and met her eyes. Please understand. Please.
"You must have drunk a lot yesterday. Yeoul, let's meet up just the two of us sometime later, without the guys. Okay?"
"Really?"
I was so delighted by Park Min-ah's unexpected suggestion that my voice cracked. But I didn't care about that and nodded vigorously.
"Yeah, let's definitely meet up. I'll contact you."
I shook the hand i was holding. Park Min-ah burst into laughter, finding my actions amusing. I thought I would never meet her alone again after that day. Is there only the possibility of getting together with Park Min-ah left now?
I was needlessly excited. Even though I had kissed these scary bastards, if I just dated Park Min-ah, things would naturally sort themselves out. I have a girlfriend, so these bastards won't keep rubbing their lips on me.
I saw Park Min-ah off, reaffirming my grand ambition that rather than letting one of the three get her, I would have her myself.
"Min-ah, go carefully. I'll contact you. Bye."
"Yeah, Yeoul, you get some rest too. You guys too."
Park Min-ah also greeted the two who were standing like walls behind me. She left the front door with a bright smile on her face, waving her small hand. I watched Park Min-ah's retreating figure and sniffled for no reason.
Beep beep, the door lock beeped as it locked, and the three of us, standing alone in the hallway, were silent. No movement either.
I want to go with Park Min-ah too. I want to get out of this house too. I felt inexplicably gloomy. The warmth of the hand that had been holding Park Min-ah's still lingered.
As if waiting for it, someone's arm was draped over my shoulder as I unknowingly lowered my head.
"Ha Yeoul."
At the voice calling my name, a chill that rose from my core flowed through my entire body. I think I shuddered without realizing it.
Ha… these crazy bastards created this atmosphere just by calling my name.
"Uh huh…?"
"Let's go inside."
I barely moved my body, which had stiffened like a stone statue. I regretted too late that I should have somehow gone out with Park Min-ah when she left. Being dizzy and stuff is always happening.
Once again, I sat alone in the main seat on the sofa and glanced at Mo Taehee, who was sitting side by side with my housemate 1 or 2 or maybe 3. My feet were trembling because I couldn't calm down. My hands too. I couldn't keep my limbs still and kept shaking them.
"It's distracting, stop it. Stay still."
Nam Kangwoo said in an annoyed voice. My pathetic body, startled by the insignificant words, flinched greatly. And my body, which really has no sense at all, started hiccuping in this situation.
I was really hiccuping like in dramas. Ah… this damn body.
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