I was curious too. Why would he willingly come to such a humble gathering?

“Just because it’s fun. I wanted to experience a place like this at least once.”

A place like this, at least once… His tone somehow felt dismissive. Was I imagining it…? I tilted my head and picked up my glass. Seeing everyone laughing, it seemed like it was just my own inferiority complex.

“Really? Come more often then. I never thought I’d drink with you in my life.”

“Hae-jeong, now that you’re here, the girls’ faces are just… Hey, what are you all doing? Pick up your glasses!”

“Come on, everyone raise your glasses!”

Right, it’s just my imagination. I shook my head vigorously to clear my thoughts, then raised my glass as ordered by the senior. I planned to drink just one more somaek (soju and beer mix) and go home. I had a part-time job to go to tomorrow, and a mountain of assignments to complete. I sighed deeply and emptied my glass.

Bang. I put the empty beer glass down on the table, then pulled up the bag that was getting in the way at my feet. I intended to quietly go home without anyone noticing. Just as I hid my bag inside my coat and stood up, the senior sitting next to me suddenly grabbed my arm.

“What’s this, Yeo Eun-ah? Where do you think you’re going! Right now!”

“What?”

Is this senior crazy? He’d been annoyingly flirtatious earlier, offering to cut my meat and such, and now he was rudely calling out to me again. In an instant, everyone’s eyes turned to me. Including Yeo Hae-jeong’s table. The stinging gazes made my cheeks flush red. I clutched the bag hidden under my coat and smiled awkwardly.

“I’m… going to the bathroom.”

“Come on, have one more drink before you go. I’ll mix a strong one for you!”

“Woohoo, sh*t. Kim Ho-tae, the pervert has appeared!”

With the mischievous comment, the seniors started making “woo” sounds, creating a strange atmosphere. I really hate this kind of thing. I forced myself to hide my crumpling expression and took the glass that Kim Ho-tae had mixed.

“Here, I poured as much as I love you! Drink up, my junior!”

This bastard even added a shot of soju. I could imagine how strong it would be without even tasting it. But I didn’t want to be the one to break the mood or attract more attention in a place like this, so I quietly brought the glass to my lips. The smell of alcohol stung my nose so much that it made me dizzy.

I closed my eyes tightly and gulped down the glass. Applause erupted from all around. I really hate this…

“Wow, you drink so well! That’s the spirit!”

I placed the empty glass on the table and staggered for a moment. Laughter erupted from here and there. My cheeks immediately turned red.

“…Then I’ll go to the bathroom now.”

“Alright!”

As I bowed my head and looked up, I found that Yeo Hae-jeong had been staring at me all along. Why is he looking at me like that? Did I drink too well? As I tilted my head in confusion, Yeo Hae-jeong suddenly clapped for me. As if praising me.

What the… Is he crazy? I bowed my head once more toward Yeo Hae-jeong, then quickly turned my back. My stomach was churning. Drinking it all at once was already making me feel sick. I covered my mouth and ran to the bathroom. Fortunately, nothing came up.

When I came out after rinsing my mouth with the gargle provided by the restaurant, it was already almost midnight. I stood in the dark back alley and looked up at the sky for a moment.

“Wow…”

A sigh escaped as soon as I saw the sky. I didn’t realize there were no stars at all. I would have to have had the leisure to look at the sky at this hour to know that. My daily life was far from romantic, always exhausted after work. Even without stars, it’s still pretty. I staggered under the influence of alcohol, admiring the pitch-black night sky.

The bustling music, people’s shouts—it felt like I was truly a college student. Not Jang Yeo Eun who was chased by part-time jobs and money, but just an ordinary college student like everyone else… How nice would that be? After indulging in unnecessary sentimentality while admiring the sky, I shook my head.

“Sigh, let’s go home…”

I had no time for leisure. I barely had enough time to go home, shower, and sleep. Just as I was about to turn around without regret—

“Ah, you startled me.”

I bumped my nose into a figure that appeared out of nowhere and stepped back cautiously. I covered my nose with both hands and looked up.

“Hello.”

“Oh… ah, hello.”

It was Yeo Hae-jeong, with a cigarette tucked between his lips. How long had he been here? He had approached me without making a sound.

And did he always smoke? I had no idea… Yeo Hae-jeong lit his lighter in front of me. With a click, the tip of the cigarette in his mouth began to glow red.

Yeo Hae-jeong smoked quite skillfully. The image suited him strangely well. I watched his languidly relaxed gaze for a moment, then slightly shifted my body to the side. It was a gesture indicating I wanted to pass by.

“Yeo Eun-ah.”

“…Yes?”

However, Yeo Hae-jeong blocked my steps by calling my name. He knows my name too? Somehow, I felt honored. It was surprising that our school’s famous figure knew the name of an invisible loner like me. I just blinked with an embarrassed face.

I kept my mouth shut, thinking it would be better not to say something awkward like ‘Do you know me?’ Yeo Hae-jeong looked at my bewildered face and chuckled. The pale cigarette smoke gently settled on my face.

Gentle cigarette smoke—even I thought it didn’t fit, but anyway, that’s how Yeo Hae-jeong was. His whole atmosphere was different.

“Feel free to smoke. I’ll…”

I was about to say ‘I’ll be going now,’ when Yeo Hae-jeong suddenly thr*st his cigarette pack right in front of my nose.

“Want to smoke?”

“……”

“A cigarette.”

His seductive words accompanied the offer. What? How did he know I smoke? I looked down at the white cigarette with a bewildered face.

I wasn’t a heavy smoker, but I did occasionally have one, so it was somehow difficult to just ignore it. With the alcohol clouding my mind, it seemed like having one cigarette would be perfect. After hesitating for a moment, I pulled a cigarette from his hand.

“Thank you.”

The thin, long cigarette fit snugly between my fingers. As I naturally brought it to my lips, Yeo Hae-jeong raised his hand in front of my face to block the wind. Then he lit the tip of my cigarette. As soon as I sucked on the end, pale smoke rushed into my throat.

I almost coughed from the cigarette smoke I hadn’t tasted in a long time. After desperately holding it in, I took a deep breath, feeling the acrid smoke spread between my lungs.

It’s been a really long time… The tingling sensation in my head was both unfamiliar and pleasant. Just as I was about to take another deep drag, Yeo Hae-jeong exhaled smoke and murmured in a low voice.

“You s*ck it really well. You don’t look like you would.”

“…Ah, yes.”

“Impressive.”

What is this, a compliment? I felt strangely exposed. I wrinkled the bridge of my nose and took another drag on the cigarette. Somehow it felt stronger than before. Just as I was about to cough, Yeo Hae-jeong flicked the cigarette ash with his smooth index finger and stood in front of me, leaning against the wall.

I silently looked him up and down.

Yeo Hae-jeong, who had been receiving my gaze with a nonchalant face, moved his lips.

“Don’t you want to be friends with me, Yeo Eun-ah?”

Did he notice? Well, I did make it quite obvious that I was uncomfortable. After hesitating for a while, I opened my mouth honestly, borrowing courage from the alcohol.

“…No, not particularly.”

Yeo Hae-jeong, who had been laughing at my honest answer, persistently asked again.

“Why?”

“……”

“Everyone else wants to be friends with me. You seem uninterested in me.”

“……”

“You sat far away. You just ate meat the whole time.”

He’s quite persistent. After being speechless for a moment and freezing up, I barely managed to open my mouth.