Chapter 71: The First Mistakes of a Twenty-Year-Old
TL: looloo
Schedule: 4/Week Mon-Thu
Illustrations: Here
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The last December of high school flew by quickly.
I had a deep conversation with my homeroom teacher, who was quite worried about my vanished college entrance exam scores. At the beginning of the month, I even exchanged some solemn consolations with friends who had messed with my cast.
"But Han Yeonho is going to be fed by his girlfriend anyway, even without taking the college entrance exam. It's our lives that are problematic, not this fucker's."
"Wow, really a fucking asshole till the very last moment."
"Thanks to you, I could ruminate over the shittiness of every single day. Thanks, Yeonho."
"Don't mention it."
"I just hope you stop changing your profile picture during the vacation, fucker."
The end was inevitably filled with envious and resentful remarks.
Anyway, that's how we greeted our last winter vacation, chattering among ourselves, when Suhwang suggested something, holding onto the usual members.
"Who's up for hitting the bars from midnight on the 31st? I'm free."
"I'm totally in."
"Is there anyone who can't make it?"
Yoonsung and Hyunwoo immediately expressed their willingness to join, looking around.
Unfortunately, there was one who couldn't make it.
"I can't."
"Ah, why the fuck not again. Try saying it's because you're hanging out with your girlfriend. Fucking—"
"I've decided to spend it with my family."
"You should spend the New Year with your family, yeah."
"Of course, I'll also see Heena."
"Fuck."
Yet, a strangely sentimental feeling arose. It was the end of playing around in school with these guys. Even though we might see each other for a bit after the winter vacation ends, it wouldn't be for many days.
"Let's just gather and hang out for now. If it seems like I can sneak out in the middle, I might drop by. We're going to drink around here anyway, right?"
If it was just with my family that day, I would have calculated the chances of slipping out. But since it was with Heena's family too, I probably couldn't. Still, who knows what might happen until then.
My friends agreed with my words. Family gatherings obviously take precedence.
"But are you meeting her too?"
"Yeah. Heena's family and ours are meeting together."
"Wow, that's practically like you're married."
"It does feel halfway there..."
We even filled out a marriage registration form for commemoration.
"If you do sneak out, will you both come out together?"
"Probably? Heena would never let me go alone."
"We've been dating for quite a while now. Is she still crazy about you?"
What kind of question is that.
"Of course. Just last night, after our date, when I tried to go home, she wouldn't let me and kept trying to kiss me─"
Ah, did I say too much unnecessary stuff?
Responding thoughtlessly to Hyunwoo's question about yesterday's story, I might have blurted out something unnecessary and stopped midway, glancing around.
Then, I caught my friends looking at me with incredibly bland expressions.
In that silence, Suhwang was the first to speak.
"Han Yeonho. Remember when we decided to play baseball after dinner earlier this year, and we left the bat and gloves at school?"
Suddenly bringing up such a topic, memories of that time vividly came back to me. It must have been around the beginning of the year.
"Oh, right! But you quit after just two or three days. You almost broke a school window."
"Yeah, that's right. Thanks to you, that came to mind. Just wait. I'll bring the bat, you fucker."
"Let's not do this when we're turning twenty the day after tomorrow..."
These bastards would probably stop doing this if they go to college and get girlfriends.
If they get them, that is.
I parted ways with my friends after three years of being together, not being happy, and agreeing not to meet until each of us got a girlfriend. And then, a few days had passed.
---
Raei Translations
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A few minutes before January 1st.
Both families had gathered at our house. Including Yoonjung noona, who was naturally part of it. Especially, dad and uncle were grinning from ear to ear, laying out various types of alcohol on the living room table.
There were things I kinda knew, like soju and beer, and there was whiskey. And not stopping there, there was Japanese alcohol, and fruit soju and drinks that Yoonjung noona brought over. Even energy drinks like Hot Six.
"If you brought Jäger, isn't it obvious you need Red Bull? Who's the culprit that brought Hot Six, really?"
"Ah, the convenience store was out of stock, what could I do! It's my first time seeing Red Bull sold out!"
"Was it noona? But we gathered to feed these to them, who did you buy all this for?"
"It's all experience!"
Yoonjung noona and Heeseong hyung, who had started talking informally to each other at some point, were the most active in organizing the alcohol.
Watching that, I was sitting with Heena, eagerly waiting. It tasted awful when I tried a sip as a child, but it would be different now.
"You really wanted to drink that badly?"
Heena chuckled at me. Well, I was really looking forward to it. The alcohols I'm seeing for the first time, the glasses, the snacks like chicken and clam soup. And also a lot of snacks.
"A little? Don't you feel the same?"
"Um, kinda. More than alcohol, I like this kind of gathering."
"Ah~ I know what you mean."
It wasn't just about the alcohol, but the feeling of having a party was exhilarating. Just like last Christmas.
"Yeonho~ Ready to die tonight? No refusing an adult's glass."
"And mom's glass."
"Yes, of course!"
"What kind of confidence is that?"
"Do you drink well, hyung?"
"There's no one here who can't drink, so don't worry. We just need to verify you two."
Then, glancing at the clock, Heeseong hyung opened his mouth loudly again.
"12 o'clock! Happy New Year! Now, let's drink!"
"Happy New Year~"
"Happy New Year!"
Wishing each other a Happy New Year, we all started to open the alcohol nearby. Then, dad and uncle each held a bottle of soju and handed it to us.
"Now, when you receive from an adult, take it with both hands. Yes, like that. When drinking, turn your body a little to the side."
"Understood."
"Yes, father."
"Right. Congratulations to both of you on turning twenty."
"Thank you~"
Heena and I each took a glass, and following my dad's advice, I turned my body slightly and downed a shot of soju in one go.
-Gulp. Ugh, fuck, that's bitter!
The taste was so bitterly cold and awakening that my face contorted in disgust. It was far worse than I had imagined. What the hell do people find tasty about this?
Surprised by the bitterness that exceeded my expectations, I sneak a peek at Heena, wondering if she was okay. There she was, without a hint of disturbance on her face, downing her shot with a smile.
I was lost for words at her spirited action.
"You okay? Does it taste good?"
"Huh? It's just the taste of alcohol."
"But how can you drink it so well? Did you secretly drink in middle or high school..."
-Slap!
"Whose mouth is saying such bad things?"
"Mine..."
I got smacked by Heena's palm while talking nonsense. Maybe alcohol just doesn't suit me.
"It doesn't seem like it's your first or second time drinking."
"Oppa, can't you be quiet?"
"No, but Dad! Don't you think it's a bit odd?"
"What's odd about enjoying a drink! Here, Heena, let's have another."
"Okay."
"I'm so lonely. Mom, don't you think it's strange?"
"You just eat your snacks over there~ Our son-in-law! You need to take your drink."
"Sigh..."
Heeseong, realizing he had no allies after trying to find common ground, ended up tilting his soju glass by himself.
I watched him with a moment of sympathy before switching to a beer glass and receiving the beer poured by the lady with both hands respectfully. However, after receiving it, I noticed it was half foam, half beer.
"What's this?"
"Why is there so much foam?"
"Did you tilt the glass without thinking when you first poured it?"
"Everyone else was receiving it like that."
"You tilted it too quickly. Look."
"Ah, it's cute seeing someone receive it for the first time~ Watch how Noona does it!"
As if demonstrating, Jeongwoo poured beer for Yoonjung noona. She tilted the glass, then gradually lifted the head part while receiving the beer, creating about 3 to 4 centimeters of space for the foam.
"Oh~ So that's how it's done."
"Make sure to pour it properly next time. And pour one for the lady as well."
Excited by his words, I poured beer for the lady waiting with her glass held out, and then the four of us clinked our glasses together in a toast.
"Yeonho, aren't you going to pour for me?"
"Huh?"
Just as we were about to toast, Heena, who had already finished another glass, was sitting beside me with her beer glass.
"Did you finish it already?"
"I just had another shot of soju, but yeah. I'm upset you poured for Mom before me, so hurry up and pour!"
"Okay, okay."
I poured beer into Heena's glass, who was joking around. Then, silently, I also poured one for my mom sitting beside her.
"What, Yeonho is pouring? Dad needs one too!"
"Pour mine as well."
"Will you pour for me too?"
As I ended up pouring for everyone, one by one, I eventually filled everyone's glasses with beer, except for Yoonjung noona, who had received hers from Heeseong.
Anyway, we all lifted our beer glasses again and celebrated the New Year with raised voices.
"Happy New Year!"
"Yeonho! Heena! Congratulations on turning twenty!!"
Taking the opportunity to celebrate our twentieth as well.
"Thank you!"
"Thank you, sis!"
The overall mood lifted, and even though we weren't exactly drunk yet, I felt happier.
I wondered if this was the charm of drinking sessions.
The fun was already overflowing.
Pouring drinks for someone without a break, or receiving them in turn, I lost track of how much I had drunk. Feeling a bit dizzy and my vision spinning, I watched Yoonjung, who was making cocktails in front of me.
"What's that? You're adding cola?"
"Jack Coke! Try one!"
"Is it good?"
"Hmm, it's not that bitter? It's on the sweeter side."
"Really?"
"Yeonho, maybe you should stop now..."
Trusting her words, I tried the drink. The Jäger series and highballs she made earlier were quite drinkable too.
As soon as I took a sip, I could taste the sweetness as she mentioned. But it was a strong drink. I felt even dizzier as I drank. Still, it tasted quite good, so I ended up drinking about half of it.
"Are you sure you're okay? Don't finish it, give it to me. I'll drink it."
Heena, worried about me since I had been accepting every drink without refusal, started to caution me.
I gave her a smile and finished off the rest.
"I'm fine~ A bit dizzy, but nothing else."
"That's a relief then."
She's always so overprotective.
But that was one of Heena's charms. Always consistently caring and looking out for me.
So, out of love and appreciation for my girlfriend who always puts me first, I gently kissed her on the cheek.
But Heena was startled by my action. We had done this kind of skinship more than once or twice, so why was she reacting like this?
"Yeonho's drunk."
"Right~ When you're drunk, you can't see what's around you. At least he doesn't have any weird drunken habits."
"I was ready to give him a neck slice if he acted up. Too bad."
"Ah! Heeseong, photos! Take photos! No, a video!"
"Ahahaha!! Okay! Filming starts~"
I couldn't quite make out what everyone was saying around me. My head was spinning, and it felt like not just me spinning but the floor itself was whirling around.
I guess I did drink quite a bit. But the drink Yoonjung gave me was pretty tasty; maybe I should finish it.
As I tried to bring the glass to my lips again despite the dizziness, Heena grabbed my arm.
"Let's stop drinking."
"Huh? Just this one~"
"You've had too much."
"But I'm fine~"
Even as I said that, she held onto my arm tightly, making me wonder if we hadn't had enough skinship today. Thinking about it, we hadn't had much time to talk just the two of us today since we were all gathered for drinks.
With that thought, I momentarily set my glass down. It was only after seeing this that Heena let go of my arm, and I took the opportunity to stroke her hair.
"Heena, should I kiss you?"
"Uh...?"
"Huh? Heena~"
"......"
It was strange. Normally, Heena would lean into me with just that much said, but today, she was not moving at all.
Having no other choice, I leaned in close and kissed her lips.
-Smack
"Pfft, hah... I wonder if she'll remember this later? It's my first time seeing Yeonho being so affectionate!"
"True, we did give him a lot to drink. Especially Noona, you were ruthless."
"What did I do?"
"You only made stuff that would get him drunk. Look at him, totally gone after that last Jack and Coke."
"I made it because I thought Yeonho would like it! He loves cola so much!"
The surroundings were quite noisy. This high-pitched voice drilling into my ears, is it Yoonjung noona? I'm not sure.
Ignoring them, I gently caressed Heena's cheek, still looking dazed at me. Her cheeks were so soft, I felt like I could touch them all day.
Heena, quietly accepting my touch, finally opened her mouth with a slightly trembling voice.
"Yeonho."
"Yeah~?"
"Ha, just... one more drink?"
Somehow, she was blushing and offering me a drink. Why the sudden change when she was stopping me just a moment ago?
"Come on. What are you planning by getting more drunk?"
And that was the last thing I heard from Heeseong's voice.
The only thing that remains in a corner of my memory.