Chapter 10.14

There had been an unknown disappointment, fear that was difficult to define, sexual rejection, vague anxiety, lust that wouldn’t disappear, and even a sense of defeat after losing the game and failing to get the keyboard. It was a mixed soup with an assortment of negative and ambiguous emotions. If he could just forget everything after drinking, he would help himself to it.

“Krrrrr… Alcohol and snacks have arrived. Krrr…”*

[T/N: 안주]

“Again? Thank you so much. Aren’t you giving us too much?”

“Creak. Foolish people…”

“Oh, I’m gonna drop it. Hand me the butter for the corn. I’ll hold it.”

Jihye had been wary of Frankenstein at first, but since she got used to him later on, she didn’t get surprised at whatever prank he would pull.

They sat in silence for some time while enjoying free snacks and a bottle of soju. At some point, Jihye’s face had even turned red from the alcohol. She hummed through her nose and swayed her upper body. Then, she burst out in laughter. Sangwoo slowly blinked. His eyelids were heavy. He was drunk.

“Oppa… Remember how I told you I had something to tell you today?”

“Yeah? Go ahead.”

Jihye shook her head. She fixed the strands of her hair with her hands and then pulled her chair close to the table. Then, with a very serious face, she said, “I think I’m a bit drunk so… rather than saying something wrong, I’m gonna tell you next time.”

“When is next time?”

“There will be another opportunity. Please remember that we read manhwas, played games, drank, and had a lot of fun together, okay?”

Jihye smiled while extending her palm. It was too much like the high-five they had done when they won the gaming console. Sangwoo giggled and raised his right hand as he remembered that time. It was the moment when their palms were to have met and made a slapping noise when…

“…”

He had definitely put as much strength into his hand as he could, but he didn’t know why his palm wasn’t touching Jihye’s hand, but the vampire’s instead. He tightly held onto Sangwoo’s fingers so that he couldn’t escape from his strong grip.

“Unfortunately, it’s closing time, guys,” Jaeyoung said while throwing Sangwoo’s hand onto his knee.

Jihye still had her palm up and made an expression reflecting how absurd she found the situation.

Jaeyoung smiled in her direction.

“It’s quite late. Did you call home?”

“There’s no curfew at our house and it’s a free vibe there, so it’s fine.”

“Still, you have to go back quickly, since your parents are probably worried. I don’t know where you live, but the last train hasn’t left yet.”

It was a pointless conversation. Sangwoo couldn’t overcome his sleepiness and closed his eyes. Strangely enough, his confused feelings had dispersed, and all he could think of was how good it made him feel to hear Jaryoung’s voice right above him. That wouldn’t solve anything, though. Since he drank too much alcohol, he was just being drunk.

“Thank you so much for your concern. I’ll do that.”

Silence followed for a moment after Jihye’s response. Soon, she continued to talk.

“Sangchu oppa… Aren’t you leaving?”

“Don’t worry about Sangwoo. I’ll bring him home.”

“What?”

“How could I send him home alone when it’s so dark outside? Something could happen.”

“…”

“Jihye, be careful on your way home.”

He seemed to have dozed off for a bit. Blinking. When he barely opened his eyes, he could see Jihye’s back disappearing through the tent. He had to go home, but he didn’t have any strength.

Inside the tent, people looked busy cleaning up the tableware and the tables. Jaeyoung was looking elsewhere and saying something. He glanced at Sangwoo. When they made eye contact, Sangwoo couldn’t control his facial muscles so he smiled broadly.

‘Ah… I probably looked like an idiot.’

Sangwoo turned his head away with a bitter expression. Heart-burdening palpitations and terrible anxiety coexisted in his chest. Then, a large palm approached and covered his eyes, making his vision dark. His mouth automatically opened as his heart was trembling.

“Hyungjin, you know where my car is, right?”

“Yes, hyung.”

“Take him and let him sleep in the passenger seat.”

“Yes! Give me the keys, please. What about you, hyung? Aren’t you going in?”

“Where can I go looking like this? I’m gonna change and remove my makeup first.”

“Oh, yeah. Oh, by the way, you worked really hard today. Thanks to you, hyung, the sales are no joke. It was legendary. I heard you were busy, but thank you so much for doing us a favor.”

“No worries. I had a lot of fun as well.”

“You were only supposed to help for a bit when it opened, though. It’s touching how you stayed until the end.”

“It’s just a few hours anyway.”

When Jaeyoung’s hand left, light penetrated through his eyelids. When he opened his eyes, he saw the silhouette of the vampire moving away.

“Hey?”

Someone roughly shook Sangwoo’s shoulders.

“Get up. Jaeyoung hyung told us to go to the car.”

Frankenstein ignorantly grabbed Sangwoo’s arm.