Chapter 44
[SaltySalt: Is Girmu-nim really not coming todayㅇㅅㅇ]
[Shotgun: Honestly, I thought he’d reach level 120 today; tsk;]
[SaltySalt: The economic loss is terrible~~ㅇㅁㅇ!!]
[Goyounghee: You guys are SOG residents that’s why.. Let Girmu-nim live his blessed life pleaseㅠ]
[Shotgun: Well well, game life is real life, so how can giving up game life be a blessed life?]
[SaltySalt: I’m not that badㅇㅅㅇ;;]
[Goyounghee: Look at you cutting ties nowㅋㅋㅋ]
[Shotgun: No loyalty;]
[SaltySalt: The one with no loyalty is Sinu who doesn’t come when Girmu-nim doesn’t comeㅇㅅㅇ]
[Shotgun: That’s true]
It seemed that Sinu also hadn’t logged in today.
‘There were no messages today either.’
Beodeul was about to dismiss it thinking he must be busy, when he suddenly recalled today’s date and thought:
‘Could he be a college student?’
If so, he might be in a similar situation right now.
[Shotgun: Wait, someone read the messages]
[Shotgun: Wow, they read everything;]
[SaltySalt: OMG Sinu shows up when we talk about him?]
[Goyounghee: I didn’t say anything~]
[SN: fukoff]
[Shotgun: ?]
[SaltySalt: ?]
[Goyounghee: ????]
[SN: so fukin tird]
[SaltySalt: Drunk?]
[Shotgun: ㄷㄷ ㄷ ㄸㄷㄷ What is this ㄹㅇ alcohol???]
[Goyounghee: ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ Should I take a screenshot?]
[SaltySalt: Seeing how well he types “fuckin” I think he’s genuinely drunk]
A drunk Sinu? In this unfamiliar situation, Beodeul stared blankly at his phone, not even noticing the full glass of alcohol placed in front of him.
[Shotgun: Is that his drunk habit?]
[SaltySalt: He never messes up curse words]
[SaltySalt: Call him when he’s drunk baㅇㅅㅇ He’ll help you live to 200]
[Shotgun: ㅆㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ I’m really curious but scared]
[Goyounghee: What pervert would call just to hear cursesㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]
[SaltySalt: Who would’ve thought I’d have a chance to live longerㅇㅅㅇ;;;; This is awkward!]
[Shotgun: You genuinely seem surprised, your concept disappeared midway]
[SaltySalt: ㅎㅎ… The nightmare is returningㅠㅅㅠ]
[Goyounghee: If he sees this when he sobers up, he might help you live to 300]
[SaltySalt: ㅇㅅㅇ;;;;; Is there insurance that guarantees up to 300 years?]
[Shotgun: As ifㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋthereㅋㅋㅋisㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]
The conversation that had drifted to a strange place quickly returned to the original topic. It was because Sinu was reading the messages but not responding at all.
[Goyounghee: But why are both of you reading without saying anything;]
[SaltySalt: Ohㅇㅅㅇ? Could it be Girmu-nim too?]
[Shotgun: ? Are you two meeting secretly without me?]
[Shotgun: I mean, both of you;]
[Goyounghee: Why would they meet secretly without youㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]
[Shotgun: ;; Ma’am;]
[Girmu: It’s not meㅎㅎ;]
[Goyounghee: Ah, it’s Girmu-nim]
[Shotgun: Girmu-nim hello but is Sinu really drunk?]
[SaltySalt: Seems like it?]
[Shotgun: How much did he drink;; He doesn’t seem like someone who would ever get drunk…]
[Goyounghee: If his hands are stumbling he must be completely wasted,,;]
[SaltySalt: Right, especially for someone who has exceptional fingersㅇㅅㅇ]
[Shotgun: Is that praise or criticism?]
[SaltySalt: Praiseticismㅇㅅㅇ?]
[Shotgun: It would be humiliating]
[SaltySalt: ㅇㅅㅇ…..? Are you drunk too?]
While Shotgun and SaltySalt were bickering, Sinu still hadn’t answered.
“Is he really drunk…?”
“What, already drunk? You’ve been ruining the table atmosphere just staring at your phone?”
Someone sneered after overhearing Beodeul’s mumbling. Only then did Beodeul look up to see an unwelcome figure standing in front of him.
“…Im Daeseok?”
“Long time no see, Han Beodeul? I heard you’ve returned from your leave of absence this semester.”
He was someone Beodeul had completely forgotten, not having seen him today. Come to think of it, Sein, the teaching assistant, had mentioned him.
“Right. Didn’t expect to see you here. You didn’t attend the department orientation.”
Daeseok’s brow furrowed at Beodeul’s gentle smile and words. But it was only for a moment; his face matched Beodeul’s smile as he replied:
“Well, the orientation is predictable. Seems like you diligently attended it all without knowing better?”
“Indeed. Because during orientation, they predictably form the groups needed for upcoming lectures.”
It wasn’t Beodeul who answered Daeseok. Beodeul maintained his smile as he looked behind Daeseok.
“Isn’t that right, student Daeseok?”
“P-Professor. You’re still here…”
“I was about to leave since I’ve stayed too long, haha.”
Faced with the department professor, Daeseok turned pale and stammered. The professor patted his shoulder, offering comfort that wasn’t really comfort.
“I decided to start taking attendance from next class, so don’t worry too much. Of course, that doesn’t mean you should miss other lectures from orientation onwards.”
“I-I’m sorry.”
“Then let’s definitely meet at the next lecture.”
“Have a good evening, Professor.”
After politely greeting the professor, Beodeul gathered his things before Daeseok’s anger could turn toward him. The drinks had been passed around enough, and everyone was sufficiently tipsy, making it a good time to slip away.
“See you at the next lecture.”
“Hey, you—”
“You probably don’t want to see my face anymore either.”
At Beodeul’s smiling remark, Daeseok’s face turned red and blue. It had struck a nerve. Ignoring his reaction, Beodeul said goodbye to those sprawled across the table and left the bar.
“Phew.”
Even his exhaled breath smelled of alcohol. He briefly wrinkled his face, and as he was about to head straight home, he paused. There was a familiar person standing in the alley right next to him.
He thought about greeting him if their eyes met, but for some reason, the other person was just glaring at the ground. He didn’t look drunk with his clean face, so Beodeul wondered if something unpleasant had happened at the gathering.
Even when he’d seen him earlier, he’d been constantly surrounded by crowds, so he must be tired.
‘Should I just go?’
Taking a step, Beodeul stopped in his tracks. Somehow, he didn’t feel like ignoring him.
After all, wasn’t he the person who stayed with him all day, even putting aside his own classmates? Thanks to him, despite concerns about adjusting after a late return from leave, he had been able to spend the day without any trouble.
‘Well, at least I can say see you tomorrow.’
Since he didn’t look in a good mood, Beodeul would just greet him briefly and go. With that in mind, he entered the alley.
“What are you doing here?”
The pitch-black eyes that had been directed at the ground met Beodeul’s. Momentarily startled, Beodeul soon stood at a slight distance and tilted his head.
‘But now that I see him up close, somehow…’
Just as he was thinking he might be drunk after all, Shin Wooseok responded in a sober voice.
“…Sunbae-nim?”
Not drunk after all. Beodeul smiled with relief.
“I was heading home when I saw you. I noticed you had a lot to drink earlier, and since everyone seems to be passing out, I thought you might—”
However, his smile quickly turned to bewilderment. Shin Wooseok, who had been standing perfectly still, suddenly reached out his hand. His large hand firmly grasped Beodeul’s cardigan and wouldn’t let go.
‘What’s this?’
Beodeul looked back and forth between Wooseok’s hand and face before asking what was wrong.
“Sunbae-nim.”
“Yes?”
“Why…”
His voice sounded normal, but the pauses between words were long. Just as Beodeul sensed something was off and was about to cover Wooseok’s hand with his own—
“Why don’t you drop formalities?”
“…Pardon?”
“You said you would drop formalities at the beginning of the semester. Don’t you remember?”
When Beodeul just blinked at the unexpected topic, Wooseok’s eyebrows curved in dissatisfaction.
“You don’t remember.”
“No, that’s not it…”
Beodeul found himself unconsciously moving his lips. He was hesitating, wondering if it was appropriate to say such things when dropping formalities for the first time.
But like Wooseok, Beodeul had also been drinking throughout the gathering and was actually being swayed by a subtle intoxication. When drunk, Beodeul’s inhibitions disappeared, and his mouth freely released his usual gentle voice.
“You’re drunk, Wooseok.”
*
There were still lectures the day after the beginning-of-semester party. Beodeul walked briskly across campus, overcoming a mild headache.
“What kind of crazy person suggests drinking on the first day of the semester? Shouldn’t any sane person schedule it for Friday?”
“I don’t know. That guy probably didn’t even attend orientation.”
“Maybe he has no classes on Thursday?”
“That bastard, at this moment I’m jealous of having no classes on Wednesday or Friday.”
He found himself nodding at the conversation of passing students. Even Beodeul, who possessed the rare Friday off that was said to be more precious than gold, couldn’t help but agree.
“Sunbae-nim, hello…”
When he arrived at the major classroom, a few people he’d met at yesterday’s gathering greeted him first.
“Hello. Everyone’s here early.”
“We just pulled an all-nighter, had some hangover soup, and came…”
“…Are you okay?”
One person who had been slumped over the desk shook his head and suddenly rushed out of the classroom, saying something was coming up from his stomach.
“Sunbae-nim, you drank a lot yesterday too. Why are you so normal…?”
“That’s right. We seem more worn out.”
“I usually don’t get drunk easily and don’t get hangovers.”
“Wow…”
But yesterday, he did get drunk. Just a little, but definitely. Beodeul tried to recall what happened last night but stopped when his headache intensified.
As lecture time approached, zombie-like students entered one by one and filled the seats. However, the seat next to Beodeul was still empty.
‘He’s late. Maybe he’s not coming?’
He opened the messenger app on his phone and searched for Shin Wooseok’s name. Wooseok, just as he’d saved it initially.
‘I should have sent a greeting message last night.’
Beodeul thought for a moment and then put his phone down. He had his number, but they had never contacted each other privately before.
‘If he doesn’t come to the next lecture either, I’ll have to contact him.’
However, there was no need for him to send a message. One minute before the lecture started, Wooseok barely made it to the classroom.
“You’re here? Are you feeling alright?”
Beodeul’s question was merely out of concern, but Wooseok’s complexion deteriorated rapidly in response.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
