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“We’re still classmates and friends, right? Isn’t that right?”
Choi Cheol-ho was completely drunk. He wouldn’t dare to act like this if he were in his right mind, especially towards someone he’d normally be groveling in front of. Guk stared at him blankly.
“Give me a drink.”
“...”
“I said, give me a drink. What’s wrong? Don’t want to pour me one?”
“...”
“Is the son of the mighty HK Group too good to drink with the son of a small business? Not on your level?”
It was a complete drunken tantrum. The classmates around them tried to stop him, saying he was drunk, but he wouldn’t listen. His eyes glazed over, he glared only at Guk, looking for a fight.
“Ah, screw it... Fine, don’t bother.”
“...”
“I have my own plans.”
Choi Cheol-ho emptied his glass, let out a ‘keh,’ and chuckled.
“Where’s Kim Hyun-soo?”
Then he started looking for Hyun-soo. Guk’s eyes widened at the sudden mention of Hyun-soo’s name.
“Why are you looking for Kim Hyun-soo?”
“Oh, look at this. He didn’t say a word until Kim Hyun-soo was mentioned, and now he’s all ears. Just as I thought.”
He chuckled, refilled his glass, and quickly downed it.
“My glass is empty. Fill it up, my friend.”
“I’ll ask you again.”
“What?”
“Why are you looking for Hyun-soo?”
“Damn it, I told you, I need someone to pour me a drink.”
“So?”
“So?”
Choi Cheol-ho’s eyes were completely unfocused. Guk loosened his crossed legs, leaned closer to the table, and moved closer to him.
“Yeah, so? Tell me clearly.”
“Hoo. When she comes, I’ll have her sit next to me and pour me some drinks.”
“...”
“She’s not really my type, but if we’re just talking about her body...”
Guk slowly raised an eyebrow.
“Drinking tastes better when a woman pours it. Am I going to ask those girls over there? They’re too stuck-up and will just complain. But Kim Hyun-soo, she’s...”
“...”
“Nobody.”
“...”
“She’ll do what I tell her.”
Choi Cheol-ho was practically unconscious, even though he was sitting up. Otherwise, he wouldn’t dare to speak so disrespectfully, knowing that Hyun-soo was close to Guk.
Guk looked at him and scoffed. He sighed deeply, leaned back in his chair, and then slowly stood up. He couldn’t stand the sight of Choi Cheol-ho’s round head.
“Cheol-ho.”
“...Huh? Are you leaving already?”
“I should be going. But before that.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Guk reached out and grabbed Choi Cheol-ho’s hair, who was looking up at him.
“What, what is this? Hey, this is... Ack!”
Bang!
Guk, without warning, slammed Choi Cheol-ho’s head into the table.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
He slammed his head down with all his might, overturning glasses and shaking the table. Choi Cheol-ho screamed and struggled, but it was no use. With each slam of his head, there was a loud bang, and then blood started to splatter. It seemed like something was broken or burst.
The classmates, who had been screaming in surprise, covered their mouths and held their breaths. It wasn’t just the violence, but Guk’s expression, which didn’t change at all, that froze them.
After slamming his head down countless times, Guk finally let go. Choi Cheol-ho slumped onto the table. He wasn’t unconscious. He was gasping for breath, and bloody foam dribbled from his mouth.
“Alcohol. It’s good, isn’t it?”
“...”
“There’s nothing friends can’t share.”
Saying, “Excuse me,” he went to another table and brought back a bottle of soju and a glass. He stood in front of Choi Cheol-ho, who was lying there covered in blood.
“I’ll give you a drink, so take it.”
He poured the soju from the bottle, tilting it high. Half of it went into the glass, and half spilled around it. After emptying one bottle, Guk poured another in the same way. After pouring three bottles like that, the glass was overflowing. But Guk didn’t stop. The spilled soju pooled on the table, soaking Choi Cheol-ho’s face.
“Now you know. Alcohol tastes good even when a man pours it.”
“...”
“Drink.”
Everything was quiet. Only the faint sound of Choi Cheol-ho’s ragged breathing could be heard. Guk, staring down at him with still eyes, toyed with the empty bottle in his hand, then placed it on the table with a thud.
Guk took out his wallet from his pocket and pulled out a card. It was a so-called black card.
“The atmosphere’s ruined, but I have to pay.”
Guk threw the black card at Choi Cheol-ho. The card landed in the pool of soju next to the glass.
“Pay for it yourself. I’m trusting you with this.”
“...”
“If you have anything to say, call me. I’m leaving.”
Guk turned around and left without hesitation. He walked away from the table, opened the door of the restaurant, and left. For a while, everyone was silent and couldn’t even talk properly. After a while, they approached Choi Cheol-ho, who had collapsed. He was literally covered in blood.
“Why did he suddenly do that?”
“I don’t know. He must be crazy.”
“Was he always like this?”
“He was like that in high school too. He beat up a kid in the classroom. Wasn’t Choi Cheol-ho the one who got beat up then?”
“He looks normal, why is he like that?”
The classmates shook their heads, gossiping among themselves. No one knew why the handsome and seemingly normal Yoon Guk had done that.
“Kim Hyun-soo.”
Hyun-soo came to her senses at the sound of her name. Rubbing her tired eyes, she looked up and saw Yoon Guk looking down at her.
Why is he here? Hyun-soo, who couldn’t quite grasp the situation, looked around and then realized that she was still sitting at the bus stop.
“Why are you here... No, how?”
“Get in.”
“Huh?”
Guk gestured behind him with his head. Looking in the direction he pointed, she saw a sleek sedan parked on the roadside. The face in the driver’s seat was familiar too. It was Driver Park.
“Aren’t you coming?”
“Oh, yeah. I’m coming.”
Guk, after hearing her answer, turned around and walked away. Hyun-soo, who had sobered up a bit after dozing off, followed him. As she approached the car, Guk, who had been waiting, opened the back door and escorted her in. Hyun-soo glanced at him and awkwardly got into the car.
“We’ll be departing now.”
Guk got in next, and Driver Park started the car. As befitting a luxury sedan, it moved forward smoothly without any noise or shaking. Hyun-soo, who had been worried about getting motion sickness from drinking, breathed a sigh of relief.
“If you have to go out late at night, contact Driver Park.”
Hyun-soo, who was trying to avoid eye contact with him, turned to look at him. Yoon Guk, looking as neat and composed as if he hadn’t drunk at all, was looking at her. Hyun-soo’s mouth felt dry.
“No, it’s okay. Why would I bother Driver Park...”
“Then are you going to keep spacing out like you did today?”
“Who said I was spacing out?”
Hyun-soo, feeling guilty, raised her voice.
“You.”
“When did I?”
“I think I was the one who woke you up from your nap, wasn’t I?”
“That’s...”
She was speechless. She had no excuse. It was true that she had fallen asleep waiting for the bus. But that didn’t mean she wanted to be scolded by him like a child.
Hyun-soo turned her head away without saying another word. Her face was reflected in the window. Of course, she could also see Guk’s reflection.
“Don’t waste your time unnecessarily.”
“What?”
“Don’t make me worry.”
What is he talking about? Hyun-soo, bewildered, turned to look at him again. This time, she couldn’t hide her annoyed expression.
“I can’t keep running around and cleaning up after you.”
“...”
“It’s tiring for both of us, isn’t it?”
He was now leaning back in his seat, looking at Hyun-soo. He added, “Isn’t that right?” Hyun-soo scoffed and moved her lips, finally speaking.
“When did I ask you to? Why are you picking a fight over something I didn’t ask for?”
“Picking a fight?”
“Yes, picking a fight. It feels like you’re taking your anger out on me. Isn’t that right?”
“Why would I?”
“Well...!”
Because you kissed me when you didn’t really want to, you made a show of it in front of everyone, didn’t you? Weren’t you upset about that?
The words lingered on her tongue, refusing to fall.
“Speak.”
“Never mind.”
“Speak. I’m listening.”
“I said never mind.”
The alcohol and heat she thought had subsided seemed to be creeping back up her skin. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be so hot.
Hyun-soo assumed that their kiss at the reunion was purely due to the game. He had chosen her because of the rules of the slave game. Besides, now that she thought about it, he hadn’t even chosen her. She had grabbed him first when he was about to turn away.
From Hyun-soo’s perspective, not knowing about the incident with Choi Cheol-ho, Guk’s words could only be interpreted that way. Perfectly misaligned feelings, a mismatched conversation.
“Don’t go to any more reunions.”
Hyun-soo had no intention of going anyway. But being told to do so specifically made her want to respond spitefully.
“Why not?”
“...”
“No. If I want to see them, I’ll keep seeing them.”
Guk’s brow furrowed noticeably. He wasn’t pleased with Hyun-soo’s refusal to listen.
“Don’t see Choi Cheol-ho or anyone else. No one from Damyeong. Do you understand?”
“...”
“And another thing, Kim Hyun-soo.”
“...”
“You promised when we made the contract that you would obey my every word.”
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