CEL 29

Four pairs of black eyes moved in the dim light.

Who is that person?

I don’t know either.

Why is he here?

They exchanged words with their eyes, but the one who should answer stayed quiet.

An awkward silence followed. Unfortunately, it was still too early to drink, so the place had only one table of customers. The ones who didn’t know the situation thought they might suffocate soon. At that moment, the door opened with a jingle.

“Ah, Woojin-sunbae! Over here!”

Yejin waved both arms in an exaggerated way and made a fuss. Normally, Choi Woojin was a senior she hated to even look at, but right now he looked only like a savior who could rescue her from the uncomfortable silence.

“Ah, Yejin-ah.”

Woojin, who was dressed up far too much for a simple drinking spot, walked with a showy gait. Watching him sit naturally in the middle and pick up the menu, Hamin sneered inwardly.

Anyone would think he was the one paying.

He called the staff and ordered food he couldn’t possibly finish. While he explained the situation to make himself look good, people who didn’t know the truth finally let out sighs of relief.

“Ah, I see! I thought the seniors were trying to keep us in line, you looked so serious.” Yejin smiled brightly and looked at Hamin.

Jaeha noticed who she was looking at and laughed inwardly. She had chosen the wrong person to ask. It was obvious what Seo Hamin would say.

First. You guys are the ones making the atmosphere serious.

Second. This isn’t the army, no one’s keeping anyone in line.

Third. If you didn’t do anything wrong, you don’t need to be scared, right?

It would surely be one of these.

He was thinking he could write an encyclopedia of Seo Hamin when an unexpected answer came out of his mouth.

“Really? You must have been startled.”

The voice was so gentle that Jaehan almost dropped the glass in his hand.

His eyes widened at the kind tone.

… Seo Hamin has gone mad?

It wasn’t just him thinking that. Woojin too looked at him like, What is that trick?

There was no way Hamin didn’t notice those looks, but he calmly kept chatting. While the others were still dazed, the real conversation began.

Complaints about not resting even during vacation, professors being devils, then soon the topic shifted to a currently popular variety show.

Jaeha thought this time Hamin would be left out. There was no way he watched a romance show he himself didn’t even see. Not knowing that, Yejin explained excitedly.

“I think Taegyu and Hyeri are definitely exes, but everyone else says no!”

“Why do you think that?”

“Well, even though they act awkward, when they’re together it’s like, you can feel something… And I rewatched it four times, they both have this habit of hiding their hands behind their back when they’re in trouble. Having the same habit means they must be a long-term couple.”

Hamin paused. He placed his curled index finger near his lips, thought quietly, then nodded.

“If they share a small habit like that, they could really be exes.”

“You think so too, sunbae? Finally, someone who gets me!”

“You’re observant. Not many people would notice that.”

Hearing that, Yejin froze and stared at him. His casual compliment made her face feel hot for no reason. She hurriedly drank beer to cool down.

Woojin and Jaeha exchanged glances as they watched. What’s with that guy? With no reply to give back, Jaeha only sighed.

If anyone was dumbfounded, it was him more than Woojin. The kind tone and expression from Seo Hamin, who always sneered, scolded, and acted indifferent, made his stomach churn even if he pretended otherwise.

So he could talk like that, but he treated me the way he did?

It went beyond disappointment to betrayal.

He bit his lips and drank one glass after another. Hamin, who hadn’t been paying him any attention, casually pushed over some dried snacks. That made him even more irritated.

Looking at Jaeha, whose thoughts were obvious, Hamin held back laughter. Just from his expression, it was like he could hear his voice. You never treated me like this, so why are you acting like this here? That’s probably what he was thinking.

Gor someone with plenty of social experience, matching the atmosphere of a simple college gathering was nothing. Until now, he just never felt the need to bother. If anything, a lawyer close to sales work couldn’t afford to spill private emotions, that would only cause bigger problems.

After that, Hamin naturally blended into the conversation. Unlike other seniors who only boasted about themselves, he spent more time listening, so the mood gradually warmed up.

At first, some wondered if he was interested in Yejin. But when his attention spread evenly to everyone, the awkward air eased. To be honest, it was impossible from the start to be wary of a senior who was handsome in a different way than Han Jaeha, and also good at studying. Once alcohol added in, they laughed at even small things. The only ones not enjoying themselves were two people.

Woojin, who didn’t like this atmosphere for reasons different from Jaeha, broke in with a sarcastic remark.

“But sunbae, you’re really different from the rumors.”

Hamin tilted his head and looked at Woojin.

That guy really talks like a villain.

He glanced around. Of course the others didn’t look pleased.

Seeing the cheap little scheme that almost looked cute, Hamin asked calmly.

“What rumor?”

“Well, how should I put it? I heard you don’t really fit in.”

Hamin covered his mouth on purpose and laughed. Anyone could see it was close to a sneer.

“Didn’t you just say I look like a loser?”

“…What?”

“There it is again, ‘what?’ You’re not saying what you said before. Loser, psychopath, things like that.”

He’s really saying it out loud?

He hadn’t expected him to say that out loud in front of everyone, so Woojin’s face turned red. He wanted to argue, but nothing came out of his mouth, only his lips silently moved.

Until now, he had only seen people next to Han Jaeha who softened their voices and went along with him. This was the first time he saw someone openly attack.

“Well, it’s true though. Ah, what Jimin said earlier. Wasn’t it this song?”

Woojin’s pupils wavered without direction at the sudden change of topic. If he said, no, that’s not it, he would look strange, but if he joined the talk as if nothing happened, there was no space for him to enter. And Seo Hamin’s attack, which he thought had ended, repeated several more times after that.

“You really follow Jaeha a lot, you look like his little brother.”

Each time he said something, “That’s not right, is it?” It sounded like scolding.

If he got angry, he would look petty, but if he acted unaffected, his anger only built up.

After the same thing happened a few times, Woojin had no choice but to realize that bastard was deliberately trying to humiliate him.

He lifted a large beer glass and gulped it down. He hadn’t even drunk that much, but his anger made the alcohol hit him quickly.

He set the empty glass down on the table with a loud bang. The noise was so loud it seemed the glass might break, and only then did everyone’s eyes turn to him.

Different eyes lingered on his face for a while. When he felt attention return to him, he started to feel a little better.

Hamin’s lips, who had been watching him silently, looked about to open again. Woojin, who had been on edge, couldn’t control his anger and slammed his fist on the table.

Again, again!

Again, damn it. Trying to show off!

“Sunbae, aren’t you going too far?”

“What?”

“You’ve been picking on me since earlier. Don’t you feel embarrassed doing that when juniors are here to hang out?”

“I don’t feel embarrassed.”

His face, strangely looking pleased, tilted slightly. The warm mood cooled down like water poured over it.

“I was picking on you?”

“You’ve been doing it since earlier! Why are you pretending not to know!?”

“Woojin-ah, you look drunk.”

Hamin tapped Woojin’s shoulder as he panted with anger. Already overheated, Woojin swung up his hand to knock it away…

“…Sunbae!”

It was supposed to be only knocking his hand away.

Yejin covered her mouth and screamed.

Hamin, who had suddenly been hit on the shoulder, raised his hand and held the spot. His quiet gaze turned cold.

Silence fell.

Jaeha’s eyes, which had been looking at Hamin with dissatisfaction, shifted to Woojin. His expression disappeared from his face, and his blinking eyes slowed down. Woojin stood frozen, unable to deal with what he had just done.

“Sunbae, are you okay?”

Jaeha calmly checked on Hamin first. Seeing him hold his shoulder with an unreadable face made his heart pound with anger.

Whose body do you think you just touched?

The thoughts he usually carried like breathing – managing reputation, pretending to be good, acting fine – none of that came to mind. He was too angry. He bit his lip then released iy again.

Just as he was about to speak…

“Choi Woojin, you…”

Hamin smiled. It was a smile that looked amused, even entertained.

Everyone held their breath, waiting for his next words.

Will he get angry?

Some people, feeling the mood was about to freeze, closed their eyes.

“You’ve got quite a punch.”

Hamin spoke in a playful tone.

Weak sighs escaped here and there. Among them was Jaeha’s.

He had expected Hamin to talk the way he always did, lecturing about law or punishment, but he ended the situation like this. The fist he had clenched loosened on its own. The anger that had spiked disappeared instantly.

Why didn’t he just snap back like he usually does, why is he acting like this?

And Jaeha didn’t have to wait long to understand the reason for Hamin’s behavior.

“How much is it?”

“Jaehan’s paying this time.”

“Why Han Jaeha?”

Woojin bit his lips, his face distorted from anger that wouldn’t fade. No matter how he thought about it, that bastard must simply hate him.

Was it because of what he had said after drinking last time, that left some grudge? But does he have to vent it like this, in front of everyone?

Seyeon-sunbae had been wrong. Seo Hamin wasn’t just a bit of a psychopath or a loser.

He was completely insane.

Woojin forced a smile while his head throbbed. By nature he wanted to ignore him, but after what had just happened, the mood around him wasn’t good.

Hamin had brushed off the situation like a joke, but that didn’t erase what happened. He could feel everyone still looking at him with discomfort, and it made him feel wronged and bitter.

What did I even do wrong for them to look at me like that… Damn it, if not for me, half of them wouldn’t even be here.

“Well, Jaeha has a lot of money.”

“Right, Han Jaeha has money, but why is he buying for you?”

“Someone with money can treat people sometimes.”

Did you help Han Jaeha’s family earn their money? Do you own shares I haven’t seen? You know you have to report if you hold more than five percent, right?

Jaeha pinched his thigh hard over and over with a stiff face. Otherwise, he might have wrapped his arms around Hamin and laughed without caring about the mood.

Between Choi Woojin’s blank face and the nameless juniors only watching carefully, Hamin sat with his arms crossed in a slouched pose and lectured.

“In society, they call spending money without reason charity. Then you’re the one receiving charity? Do you have no pride?”

He didn’t even need to finish with, Or are you broke? Because angry Woojin suddenly shoved out his card.

“Fine, fine! I’ll pay then!”

“…That’ll be 255,000 won.”

Woojin tried to calm his frustration. He had assumed Jaeha would pay and hadn’t even looked at the bill, but split between seven, it wasn’t a big amount.

What bothered him was only one thing, that in front of Yejin, whom he had been trying to impress, he had been utterly humiliated by that lunatic. In any case, it was the worst day.

While trying to calm his breathing, the staff looked at him and asked cautiously.

“Would you like to pay in one installment?”

“That’s a debit card, it doesn’t do installments.”

At that moment, Woojin sincerely thought he wanted to rip open Hamin’s mouth running beside him.

Hamin suddenly smiled as he watched Woojin mutter in disbelief. No one could mistake it for a kind smile.

“Thanks for the meal, Woojin-ah. Hey, everyone, what are you doing, say thank you.”

“…Ah, yes. Thank you for the meal, sunbae.”

“It was… fun.”

Urged on by Hamin, the gathered group offered their thanks one by one. In that absurd situation, Woojin turned his head like a meerkat. Then Hamin poked Jaeha’s side and spoke.

“You’re not even going to say thanks for being treated?”

“Wait a second. You just said it was charity. You said I had no pride!”

“I did. But I like receiving charity. I have no pride, and no money either.”

…What kind of bastard even says things like that?

Woojin grabbed the back of his neck, unable to hold back. Otherwise, he might really fall over from anger. No wonder in dramas people always hold their necks when they get mad. His blood pressure shot up, the back of his head felt tight and sore.

Woojin looked at Jaeha with an expression that begged for help, but he only stared at Hamin with a blank face. In truth, he didn’t care about Choi Woojin at all.

Light brown eyes trembled as they took in the small figure. Even in a ridiculous pink outfit, he looked more like a main character than someone on screen.

Why even watch movies? You can just look at Seo Hamin.

Though he wasn’t drunk, light seemed to shine behind Hamin. The inside of his cheeks tingled, and it was hard to keep his hands and feet still. The strange feeling made him press his fingertips.

Leaving Woojin whose face changed by the second, Hamin pulled along Jaeha, who looked like a few screws had come loose, into a quiet back alley. People glanced over, wondering, Why here?

“Don’t smokers want to have a cigarette when they drink?”

“What… Why are you talking like I’m some addict?”

Even as he said it, he fumbled in his pocket and pulled out a cigarette.

“And you still never get caught doing this?”

“This is my first time smoking near school.”

“First time?”

Hamin’s eyes showed disbelief, but it was true. It was really his first time putting a cigarette to his lips in such an open place.