Side Story 1.1

“Hey, have you heard the rumors about Choi Dowook from the Business School?”

This was right after a round of drinking games. The hand pouring water into a glass hesitated.

“Oh, you know, that insanely handsome guy who joined the Business School last year? They say he took a break after one semester but has returned this time.”

It was one of the seniors sitting diagonally across from Junhee. She briefly glanced at them before quietly sipping her water. A cold sensation spread through her chest. Despite that, the alcohol she had been continuously consuming left her head hot and dizzy.

She realized today just how bad she was at drinking games. The melodies from the games still seemed to linger in her mind. Around her, people from the same department were chatting noisily.

Junhee didn’t have the energy to join the conversation. Whenever someone spoke to her, she only responded with a faint smile. 

It was the semester opening assembly, a good opportunity to make friends and get to know the seniors—or so she had initially thought. But that thought faded as her head tilted slowly. Eventually, her head bumped against the wall to her side, but she didn’t bother lifting it again. The voices around her floated in the air as if trapped inside soap bubbles.

“They say he was already a big deal on social media since last year’s orientation. It’s going to be chaos again. I heard his family is rich too. There are even rumors that he’s from a chaebol family.”

“Is he really that good-looking? I’ve only seen photos, but is he just as stunning in person?”

“He’s even more insane in real life. His proportions are unreal, and he has this bad-boy vibe that photos can’t capture. With that face, I don’t know why he’s studying. He’d succeed as a model or actor.”

“His reputation is kind of wild, though. There were rumors he took a break last year because he got someone pregnant or was caught doing… stuff with a female classmate in a lecture hall.”

“Well, that’s just because he looks like that. He looks like he’d be amazing at kissing and… other things. But honestly, Choi Dowook might feel unfairly treated. He didn’t date anyone last year. Those rumors were spread by girls he rejected.”

“You seem pretty close to Choi Dowook. Oh, didn’t you say you worked on a group project with him last year?”

“So what? Are you asking me to set you up with him? Get in line. There’s a truckload of girls asking me to connect them with him. Anyway, you should ask Kwak Jun-gi for that. They’re closer since they’re in the basketball club together.”

For some reason, only the mentions of Choi Dowook stuck in Junhee’s ears. Listening to the descriptions of him, she found herself unconsciously nodding.

Yes, Choi Dowook was handsome. Broad shoulders, long legs. He had always been good-looking, even as a child. And he could hold his liquor well too…

“They say he has a new girlfriend.”

“Really? Oh, is it Joo Ha-yeon from the Business School? I saw them together until the end of last semester.”

Ha-yeon was someone Junhee also knew. They had gone to the same high school, and Ha-yeon had been in the same class as Dowook for three consecutive years. Their families were close too, so Junhee had heard they’d known each other since childhood.

But… no, that’s not right. Choi Dowook’s girlfriend is me.

Junhee tapped the glass in front of her absentmindedly, recalling the boy who had been calmly downing soju beside her. She should have learned not just how to drink from him, but also how to play drinking games.

She should have asked him to teach her what “Bunny Bunny” or “Mandu Mandu” were all about. Since entering college, there would be plenty of drinking occasions. She thought it was important to figure out her drinking habits or tendencies beforehand. 

Previously, when she drank with her close high school friends, she felt like she was the only one with a weak tolerance. She had wanted to learn from her dad, but her grandmother strongly disapproved of her dad drinking.

So, she had asked Dowook instead.

‘Teach me how to drink.’

At that time, Dowook had momentarily raised an eyebrow.

‘You’re good at drinking.’

‘I’m not.’

‘Liar.’

He looked like someone who would enjoy strong drinks like whiskey. She had heard that his grandfather and father were famously heavy drinkers, and even his half-brothers were known for their tolerance. Surely, Dowook would be the same.

‘Why don’t you believe me?’

‘Your face says otherwise.’

At Junhee’s words, Dowook chuckled.

‘Trust your boyfriend a little, Woo Junhee.’

Then, he pulled her close and pressed his lips firmly against her cheek. Startled, Junhee, who had been sipping on bubble tea, flinched.

They were at a crowded amusement park, surrounded by people. After riding attractions non-stop since the park opened, they had finally found a bench to rest on.

Once, during middle school, Dowook had taken Junhee to an amusement park as a graduation gift. This time, after Junhee finished her second college entrance exam, she brought him to the park as a belated high school graduation present.

At such a bustling place, Dowook casually showed affection, even sipping from Junhee’s bubble tea straw without hesitation.

He had been like that the entire time at the amusement park. Without any particular reason, he would randomly press his lips against different parts of Junhee’s face.

Until now, they had always kissed in secret, away from others. The public display of affection in such a lively place felt unfamiliar, but Junhee let him be.

After all, as Dowook said, he was now her boyfriend. And she didn’t dislike his actions.

She wanted to appear just as nonchalant as him, to act like an adult who wasn’t fazed by such things. But it wasn’t as easy as she thought, leaving her slightly flustered.

‘Why bother learning something that’s not even good for your health?’

Dowook asked, chewing on a tapioca pearl.

‘When I go to college and eventually join a company, there’ll be times when I have to drink even if I don’t want to.’

‘If you don’t want to drink, then don’t.’

‘How can I do that?’

‘I can make sure you never have to drink against your will.’

It was such an arrogant response, typical of him. 

What would it be like to live a life where you could refuse things just because you didn’t want to? 

Having never experienced such a life, Junhee couldn’t even imagine what it felt like. That’s why she couldn’t fully understand his words when he spoke like that.

Dowook rested his forehead on Junhee’s shoulder, gently rubbing his hair against her. It was like a big dog playfully asking for attention. The nape of her neck tingled with an unfamiliar sensation. Junhee suppressed the feeling.

‘If you don’t want to teach me, then forget it. I’ll just drink with someone else.’

‘Who’s ‘someone else’?’

Dowook abruptly lifted his head. His hand gently wrapped around Junhee’s shoulder, but his eyes gleamed with a sharp intensity.

‘Who are you drinking with if it’s not me?’

‘I’ll start looking now.’

Junhee took out her phone and pretended to scroll through her list of friends. Dowook let out a long sigh. Watching the troubled crease form between his brows, Junhee stifled a quiet laugh. She knew all too well how to get Choi Dowook to do exactly what she wanted.

In the end, things went Junhee’s way. That weekend, she went drinking with Dowook. They went to a pub located in the basement of a hotel in Namsan. Inside, there were private rooms that ordinary people wouldn’t know about.

As expected, Dowook could hold his liquor well. He drank any kind of alcohol, no matter what it was, with a clean and effortless ease. Watching him, Junhee thought she could do the same.

If Dowook can do it, why can’t I?

With that thought, she accepted the drink he poured for her.

At first, it was just a sip, then another… Junhee drank little by little. When she grimaced while downing her soju, Dowook chuckled as though he found it amusing. While teasing her for her scrunched-up expression, he slyly popped a sweet piece of fruit into her mouth.

‘If you can’t even drink this much, why’d you ask me to teach you?’ 

He teased, planting a kiss on Junhee’s cheek before laughing again. He kissed her so often that her lips didn’t have a chance to feel dry.

That night, Junhee learned from Dowook what an “on the rocks” drink was, the different types of whiskey, and how to properly open a wine cork.

Dowook drank everything without so much as a frown. He made drinking look so enjoyable that Junhee thought the drinks must actually taste good.

Well, when she drank with Dowook, they did seem to taste good in their own way. And back then, it didn’t feel like she got drunk so quickly either.

She got just tipsy enough to feel good, chatted away about anything and everything, and then… they kissed.

That night, Dowook’s tongue tasted unusually sweet. His hands, wrapping around her shoulders, felt especially ticklish, and his breath, brushing against her lips, was unusually damp. Looking back, it wasn’t the alcohol that made her drunk—it was the heat of the moment.