Side Story 1.5

One drink, two drinks, three drinks, four…. Junhee stared blankly at the liquid disappearing from Dowook’s glass. Despite drinking so quickly, his movements as he emptied the glass and poured another were steady and unshaken.  

“You turned down every group date and blind date last year. How did you two meet?”  

“I chased her to death.”  

“What? You did what?”  

The disbelief in their voices was clear.  

“I’ve known her since we were kids. From the moment I first saw her, I was head over heels.”  

Another round of loud exclamations followed. Still dazed from the alcohol, Junhee tried to recall her first encounter with Dowook.  

Was that Dowook really head over heels for me back then? He kicked a ball at me threateningly, shoved me to the ground, called me a beggar, and teased me endlessly. All he ever did was torment me.  

What a lie. When were you ever head over heels for me?  

Junhee wanted to call him out but felt too self-conscious with so many people around. Instead, she raised an eyebrow and stared at Dowook.  

“Wow, our junior. It’s impressive you’ve known that jerk since you were kids. If that guy chased me to death, I’d probably say yes out of fear too.”  

“He’s probably not a great boyfriend. It’s not too late, Junior. If you want to escape, just shake your glass.”  

“What are you even saying? Stop spouting nonsense.”  

Annoyed, Dowook covered Junhee’s ears. His large hands completely enveloped her face.  

“And what if she does? What then?”  

The smug tone of the other person seemed to irritate Dowook. For a moment, he looked like he was gritting his teeth, his expression on the verge of spitting out a harsh curse. But then, as he glanced at Junhee, he exhaled sharply. Looking into her innocent eyes, it seemed like he was holding back. His cold, hardened expression softened noticeably.  

“Even if she does, it won’t matter. I’ll just chase her to death again.”  

He grabbed Junhee’s hand and helped her to her feet.  

“So, we’ll be leaving now, okay?”  

Suddenly, Dowook directed his question to the senior across from them. It was then that Junhee realized why the senior had suddenly shrunk back. Dowook’s gaze toward the man was chilling, sharp enough to seem like he might grab him by the collar at any moment.  

Though he had asked, Dowook didn’t wait for an answer. It was clear he hadn’t needed one in the first place.  

As Dowook helped Junhee out of the bar, she nodded politely to familiar seniors and classmates along the way.  

The gazes directed at Junhee varied. Some seemed amused, others envious, others curious. Some even seemed to be sizing her up from head to toe.  

Even though she was drunk, her head heavy and her body weak, she felt an odd need to present herself as composed as possible. Yet, whenever her legs gave out and she stumbled, Dowook firmly supported her.  

“Are you sure you’re just drunk? Are you feeling sick? Are you hurt anywhere? Do you feel like throwing up? How’s your stomach? Can you walk?”  

Junhee had only had a bit too much punishment drinking and was a little tipsy, but Dowook acted as if something serious had happened.  

“I’m not a kid. I’ll sober up soon. I can walk just fine on my own.”  

Though she insisted stubbornly, Dowook stuck close to her and didn’t let go. From behind, Junhee could faintly hear voices marveling at his behavior. She sighed, thinking that attention would linger on her for a while.  

“Should I have kept it a secret?”  

Dowook spoke just as they stepped out of the bar. Junhee turned to look at him. His gaze, fixed on her, held no trace of fear.  

That’s why Junhee found his question amusing. As if he ever had any intention of hiding it. The way he pretended to care about her opinion so belatedly was laughable. They had known each other far too long for her to fall for such an act.  

“No, it’s fine. It’s not something that needs to be hidden anyway.”  

She hadn’t specifically planned to hide the fact that she had a boyfriend. It was just that, in the atmosphere earlier, she hadn’t felt the need to openly declare that Choi Dowook was her boyfriend.  

Satisfied with her answer, Dowook smiled.  

“Good call. You wouldn’t have been able to hide it anyway.”  

Curious about what he meant, Junhee considered asking but decided against it.  

The night breeze was unusually refreshing. They had said it might rain tomorrow, and though there was moisture in the air, it wasn’t unpleasant. After being surrounded by the stale air of the bar, stepping outside made her head feel noticeably lighter. She paused for a moment, taking a deep breath of the night air.  

“Ah, I feel alive again….”  

From behind, Dowook suddenly wrapped his arms around her. Junhee’s upper body wobbled forward for a moment, but his strong arms kept her from falling.  

Just as Junhee inhaled the fresh air, Dowook buried his nose into her hair.  

“I feel alive again too.”  

He exhaled deeply, as if inhaling her scent.  

“…You’re such a weirdo.”  

Even at Junhee’s small complaint, Dowook only chuckled, continuing to breathe in her scent. She tried to push him away, claiming it tickled, but it was no use. To Dowook, even their playful squabble seemed like a source of joy, and he simply laughed more.  

“Don’t hang out with those guys anymore.”  

Junhee laughed at the words that said they were bad news, that if she keep hanging out with them, they’ll rub off on her, sounding like a parent scolding a child. His words made Junhee laugh.  

“Don’t hang out with them? What am I, a kid?”  

“They’re not even fun.”  

“Well, thanks to them, I made some new friends today. I got closer to Ji-won too. She’s a year ahead of me, but we really clicked….”  

“You’d have more fun with me.”  

“I’ve already spent plenty of time with you. We can hang out again later.”  

“Woo Junhee.”  

His voice was soft and low. The arms that wrapped around her shoulders and chest tightened.  

“Just stay by my side.”  

Since they had started dating, Dowook occasionally showed signs of impatience. While he was thrilled and in disbelief that they were together, he also seemed anxious that Junhee might change her mind and leave him.  

‘Because someone made me so damn anxious’

It was his cheeky response when Junhee asked why he was so unsettled. But in truth, he wasn’t wrong.  

Junhee bore some responsibility for making him that way. After a brief hesitation, she slowly turned around, burying her face in his chest and wrapping her arms around his waist.  

In moments like these, Dowook would quickly forget his earlier worries and embrace her happily. For someone so sharp and calculating, he could be surprisingly simple at times.  

Although Junhee was naturally shy, her occasional displays of affection made Dowook act as if he owned the world—or as if he were ready to give her the entire world.  

“Originally, I was just going to take you straight to the car.”  

“…And?”  

“I can’t help it.”  

With that, Dowook grabbed her wrist. Taking long strides, he led her into a narrow alleyway beside the street. The space was tight and dimly lit, with no one paying attention to them.  

As soon as they entered the alley, Dowook wrapped his arms around Junhee’s waist and tilted his head toward her. His large hand completely cupped one side of her face. Just before their lips met, he asked,  

“Can I?”  

“…….”  

“I want to.”  

His eyes were fixed on Junhee’s lips. While his tone was languid and seeking permission, his hungry gaze was intense. That gaze brought back the words she had overheard at the drinking party.  

‘Well, that’s just because he looks like that. He looks like he’d be amazing at kissing and… other things.’

Was it because of the sharp and defined lines of his features? Dowook, with his somewhat decadent appearance, had been the subject of some rather explicit remarks at the table.  

‘He’s probably great at… you know, down there too.’  

Ah, that one she overheard while returning from the restroom outside the bar.  

‘And the way he smokes is killer.’  

The men had been chatting in a narrow alley as they smoked.  

‘Guys who are good at smoking are usually good at… other things too.’  

Junhee had tried to ignore their words, to keep them out of her mind, but the truth was, they upset her. She hated how people who didn’t truly know Dowook would talk about him so carelessly.  

Dowook wouldn’t do anything without my permission. No, even if I gave him permission, he’d never do anything that would hurt me. Those people didn’t know anything about him, yet they spoke so recklessly.  

“Be careful.”  

“Of what?”  

She couldn’t bring herself to repeat what she had heard word for word.  

“Careful of what, exactly?”  

After a brief pause, she told him, 

“At the drinking party… people were making inappropriate jokes about you. They were even spreading false rumors. So just… be careful.”  

Dowook was sharp. He seemed to understand immediately what kind of crude jokes she was referring to, but he didn’t seem particularly bothered.  

“And what did you do?”  

His relaxed tone made it sound like he was scolding her for just sitting there and listening while he became the target of such lowly jokes.  

Junhee couldn’t answer and hesitated, her gaze dropping to the ground. Dowook tilted his head slightly, following her line of sight. His eyes glimmered with amusement.