Chapter 73: The First Mistakes of a Twenty-Year-Old (3)

    TL: looloo

    Schedule: 4/Week Mon-Thu

    Illustrations: Here

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    Suhwang''s suggested location was surprisingly not near our school, but closer to Heena''s house instead.

    I wondered why he chose this spot, but then I remembered there weren''t many bars near our school. Going to a busier area would have made it harder to get home later.

    It seemed like an awkwardly chosen spot. Close to Heena''s house, but not exactly nearby. Compared to our house, it was like a 7:3 proximity ratio.

    When we arrived at the bar, the usual crew was there: Kim Suhwang, Jung Yoonsung, Shin Uihyun, and Lee Hyunwoo. There were a few other friends who hung out with us, but it seemed like they only invited these guys knowing Heena would come. To avoid awkwardness.

    I felt a bit guilty but also thankful.

    "The big bro is here!"

    "Hi~"

    We greeted them and sat down side by side on the connected chairs. The table, a square rectangle in the corner, was just the right size for six people.

    The bar was bustling, probably because it was New Year''s Day evening. It looked like we could be loud without worry. There were already tables filled with people loudly enjoying themselves.

    I thought the Izakaya, a Japanese-style bar, would have a calmer atmosphere, but it was the opposite. Just full of drunk and noisy people.

    "Here you are. Long time no see, Heena."

    "It''s been a while. Sorry for tagging along~"

    "We''ve decided to just think of Heena as part of the set when inviting Yeonho..."

    Suhwang said this with a resigned laugh, and I couldn''t help but smile.

    Sorry for bringing her along! But honestly, it couldn''t be helped since we were on a date. If they had called when I was alone at home, maybe it would have been different.

    After a brief exchange of greetings with the others, I looked around. Everyone seemed a bit tense, glancing at the menu.

    "Uh... so what are we ordering? Oh, and we''re splitting the bill at the end."

    "Yeah. You guys new to drinking or what?"

    "What, showing off your drinking skills just because you drank first yesterday? Give us a break."

    "It''s not that. If it''s your first time, just order a beer per person and maybe a bottle or two of soju to taste."

    "That sounds good. Hey, Snack Shop Heir! Can you handle the order?"

    "Impossible. Don''t make me order in places like this."

    Yoonsung, shy as ever, was earnestly imploring us not to make him order, while Uihyun and Hyunwoo were excitedly choosing side dishes. Heena and I browsed the menu together.

    There were some interesting items. Jjamppong, okonomiyaki, and other dishes fitting for an Izakaya.

    What caught my eye was the stew section.

    "Oden stew? This looks good. Yesterday''s clam soup was great too. It really settles the stomach."

    "Then let''s go with that. And let''s drink just a little today, okay?"

    "Of course. You should start by deleting that video on your phone."

    "No way. It''s my treasure."

    "Ah..."

    I wish she wouldn''t consider that her treasure. Anyway, Heena and I decided on just the oden stew, leaving the rest of the side dishes for the others to choose.

    Usually, in such situations, I would have continued with kisses and other forms of physical affection, but today, with the other guys around, Heena seemed to be holding back a bit. She didn''t hesitate in front of my family, but in front of my friends, she showed restraint, which I appreciated.

    After everyone had made their choices for side dishes, I raised my hand to call over a server.

    "Excuse me!"

    "Yes! Coming right now~"

    Despite the bustling atmosphere of the bar, there were enough staff members to promptly attend to us.

    "We''re ready to order. We''ll have six 500ml beers, two bottles of Chamxxul, oden stew, chili shrimp cheese stir-fry, and... Jung Yoonsung, what was your pick again?"

    "Mixed skewers."

    "Ah, right. Mixed skewers, please."

    "Got it! Six beers, two sojus, oden stew, chili shrimp, and mixed skewers, right? Can I see your IDs, please?"

    "Sure."

    We all eagerly pulled out our IDs, using them for the first time since getting them. Hopefully, no one had forgotten theirs.

    The server checked each ID carefully, matching faces, and then left with a smile, taking our order.

    "Wasn''t that a bit nerve-wracking?"

    "I thought we''d get busted."

    "Why would we? No one''s faking their age."

    Everyone laughed, enjoying the moment. Just the act of having our IDs checked at a bar and passing felt amusing. It really made us feel like true adults.

    However, I still felt a bit dizzy. So I decided to visit the restroom and splash some water on my face.

    "Is there a restroom here? I''ll be right back. Heena, can you hold my phone and coat?"

    "Sure, I got it. Take your time."

    "Han Yeonho! Give us a bathroom review when you''re back. I might need to go too."

    This utterly pointless drinking battle seemed to be turning into a must-do event. Seeing their somewhat mocking expressions.

    You''re all trying alcohol for the first time today, do you really have to do something so pointless?

    "Come on, your girlfriend is going this far and you''re backing out?"

    "Yeonho has gotten so weak~"

    I couldn''t help but sigh at the sight of Suhwang and Yoonsung, teasing and mocking.

    The rookies who had never even tried a cocktail or a bomb shot were challenging me!

    "Bring it on, you brats!!"

    I''ll show you what I''m made of!

    ---

    Raei Translations

    ---

    My vision was pitch black. How much time had passed? I vaguely remembered frantically drinking in a frenzy.

    "Ugh..."

    As I woke up, I immediately cursed myself for the headache and dizziness that tormented me again. I was such an idiot for falling for their provocation.

    But more importantly.

    Even though my eyes were open, I couldn''t see anything. Amidst this, I felt a soft touch on my face and all over my body. I was holding onto something, and that something was also holding my head, almost suffocatingly tight.

    I couldn''t immediately assess the situation due to the effects of the alcohol. Since my memory had faded during drinking yesterday, I had no idea where I was. Despite the headache, I knew I needed to figure out what was happening, so I shifted my body.

    "You''re awake?"

    "...Huh?"

    Heena''s voice came from above my head. This snapped me out of my daze. Startled, I lifted my head to see Heena, smiling down at me, her face just inches away.

    Only then did I realize our current state.

    On the bed, I was holding Heena, and she was tightly embracing my head. Quickly glancing around, I recognized the familiar room.

    It was Heena''s room.

    "What, why am I here?"

    "Hehe, you were really drunk yesterday, so we came to my house together~ Don''t you remember?"

    "......."

    I had no recollection at all. What was going on?

    Wait a minute. The soft, curvaceous sensation I had felt on my face moments ago...

    As I realized what it might have been, I momentarily forgot about the headache and dizziness, and hastily pulled myself away from her.

    And staggered out of the bed.

    "Ah..."

    As I moved away, Heena let out a disappointed sigh. There she lay on her bed, wearing a white tee and sweatpants, just as I had seen her countless times before.

    I instinctively checked my body to make sure I was still dressed, and thankfully, I was. My coat was just hanging on one side of the room.

    Phew, I couldn''t have my first time be while drunk.

    Relieved, I let out a sigh, which made the tension drain away from me. That brief moment of forgetfulness allowed the headache to hit me hard again.

    "My head hurts..."

    "You''re struggling, aren''t you? Let''s rest a bit more~ Come back here. You know you want to."

    Despite my feeling of unease and wanting to rush to the shower, the soft allure in her voice was tempting.

    I was surprised and pulled away from the unexpected situation, but honestly, I strongly desired to go back to the way we were just moments ago.

    It shouldn''t matter, right? It''s not like we''re doing anything wrong, just embracing each other like usual.

    With that thought, I feigned defeat and approached Heena again. As I quietly returned to her, her face blossomed into a smile.

    She slightly raised her body and once again pulled my head to her chest. We both fell back onto the soft bed.

    Once again, I could feel the softness of her chest, along with the pleasant scent that always tickled my nose.

    Enjoying the indescribable sensation, I also wrapped my arms around her waist once more.

    "Hehe, it''s still early, want to sleep a bit more?"

    "Mhm..."

    "Sleep well~ Hehe, you''re so cute..."

    With a mindset of ''whatever happens, happens,'' I closed my eyes. Maybe because I had taken the hangover remedy midway yesterday, my condition wasn''t as bad as wanting to throw up right away.

    This allowed me to drift off in her embrace, though I had to adjust our lower body positioning a bit.

    If I ever drink to the point of blacking out again, I''m no longer human. Seriously... I can barely remember what happened yesterday, and who knows what business I got into. I will just not ask or hear about it from anyone. Please.

    Thus, our first day as twenty-year-olds ended, drowned in alcohol. Heena seemed quite happy about it, though.

    Author''s Note:

    Yesterday... I waited in the Novelpia Twitch channel for the ''My Girlfriend is Very Good to Me'' reading session...

    But I had to leave even before the reading started, when someone posted a summary of the story content.

    I just couldn''t bear to watch any longer... If I did, I felt like I would die of embarrassment...