43
While staring blankly at Gu Wanjae, a staff member placed something on the table and left. It was alcohol. One large kettle and a cup shaped like a gourd. Soon after, pajeon was also placed on the table. While things were whooshing by, Gu Wanjae also briefly went outside and came back. He came back quickly, but his face carried the cold air.
“Where did you go?”
“Just. It seemed like it was raining outside.”
The sky wasn’t clear, but it wasn’t to the point where it would rain either. It seemed like a random excuse, so Taein didn’t add more words. It seemed like he had gone out to feel the cold wind to cool down the heat in his lower body, but he didn’t bring up anything similar either.
“Eat first.”
Smooth wooden chopsticks were wrapped in paper. Taein took out only the chopsticks and handed them to Gu Wanjae, then brought his chopsticks to the hot, well-cooked pajeon.
“Hey, it’s delicious.”
Taein, who said it was delicious as soon as he put it in his mouth, must have been funny because Gu Wanjae raised only one corner of his mouth high.
“Aren’t you eating?”
Gu Wanjae’s chopsticks belatedly touched the pajeon. Gu Wanjae, who put a piece of pajeon in his smiling mouth, also nodded. He said it was good.
The tomato ramen, mentioned as an add-on like an additional order, came out last. Taein had forgotten about it and made a strange expression at the ramen that smelled like tomatoes. Gu Wanjae was the first to taste it. Gu Wanjae, who made a displeased face like chewing bitter medicine, pushed the bowl toward Taein. Gu Wanjae even wiped his mouth with tissue.
“Is it that bad?”
Originally he wasn’t going to try it, but seeing Gu Wanjae’s reaction made him curious. Taein scooped noodles with a spoon along with the broth and put it in his mouth.
“Mm.”
It was better than expected. He thought they would clash, but the spicy taste was felt first and only the aftertaste was somewhat refreshing. It wasn’t a strange taste.
“It’s edible.”
“If I’m going to eat this, I’d rather just eat cup noodles.”
“Who told you to try it?”
“This isn’t the taste. This.”
“Hey, but you know we also ordered alcohol.”
They had only drunk makgeolli once each, poured into wide cups. Gu Wanjae said “Hey, right” and poured alcohol from the kettle. Since he filled both cups, Taein clumsily touched the kettle. He knew this was the proper manner toward someone pouring drinks alone. Gu Wanjae looked at Taein’s hand and chuckled.
“Where did someone like you learn this?”
“I’ve seen it fucking tons of times.”
“Oh, is that so. Please see a lot more.”
While saying that, he raised his cup. Taein also brought his full cup next to Gu Wanjae’s cup. Then a clinking sound rang out as the cups hit each other. Taein was already full, so he only drank half a cup of makgeolli, while Gu Wanjae drank the whole cup. Then seeing Gu Wanjae trying to fill his cup with makgeolli again, Taein picked up the kettle.
“Hey, I’ll pour for you.”
“Okay.”
Taein, who had only talked shit, carefully poured alcohol into Gu Wanjae’s cup. The sweet and slightly sour taste seemed to suit Gu Wanjae’s palate. Gu Wanjae continued drinking makgeolli after that, then ordered another kettle. Being a heavy drinker, he wondered how many kettles he would empty here too. Gu Wanjae pushed the new kettle completely toward Taein. It meant the one who wasn’t drinking should at least pour the alcohol.
“I’ve always been fucking weak to makgeolli.”
“This?”
“Even so, today seems fine. Feels like I haven’t drunk at all?”
Taein stared at the guy tilting his head back and continued filling his cup, saying “Well then.” Gu Wanjae said “This is delicious, the more I drink the better it gets” while examining the cup and downing the alcohol. At first he picked at some side dishes too, but as the cups kept repeating, he didn’t even touch his chopsticks. He only gulped down alcohol.
“Should we order one more?”
Taein, who shook the nearly empty kettle, opened his mouth saying “Wow.”
“Hey, are you really okay? You finished this whole thing again.”
“That’s right.”
“Huh?”
“I’m fine.”
Something about his words sounded strange. Taein, who asked “Huh?” again, looked closely at Gu Wanjae’s face.
“I’m on the fine side.”
The words coming out were slightly off context.
Taein, who didn’t answer, only observed Gu Wanjae’s face. Whether his face had turned particularly red or his eyes had become unfocused. There were no such signs. Gu Wanjae cupped the plump golden kettle with his hands and made similar sounds again.
“I’m fucking fine right now. Makgeolli, shibal. It’s nothing.”
“I think.”
Gu Wanjae seemed a bit drunk from the makgeolli that was supposedly nothing.
“You might have… gone a bit.”
“Gone where. You’re saying I went somewhere?”
“Yeah, you seem drunk.”
“Bullshit, hey.”
“……”
“I’m fucking fine, Kang Taein.”
Gu Wanjae said while frowning. From then on, Taein didn’t pour alcohol for Gu Wanjae. Even though this was a drinking establishment, it was combined with a restaurant, so there wasn’t anyone drastically drunk. He didn’t know about late at night, but it was still evening.
The sun had just set. Taein thought he should eat roughly and leave. If Gu Wanjae got more drunk, a situation he couldn’t handle seemed likely to come.
Gu Wanjae had somehow brought him from the seafood restaurant, but for him to drag Gu Wanjae to the guesthouse…
Taein thought about this and looked over Gu Wanjae’s body. The broad shoulders, wide chest, and sturdy thighs were all too much for him to handle.
Gu Wanjae’s body had gotten even better than when he had carried him last year, and the circumstances here, where he’d have to walk more than 10 minutes, were very different from carrying him less than a minute’s distance at the hospital. While he was half-giving up and trying to protect at least the alcohol, Gu Wanjae suddenly stood up abruptly.
Taein looked at the space between his still angry legs and also stood up abruptly.
“What are you doing? Sit down.”
“Hey, am I not fine?”
“Yeah, you look fine. So sit down. You crazy bastard.”
“Bastard.”
Gu Wanjae’s eyes had been clear since earlier. He didn’t seem to have problems moving either, but… he definitely seemed half out of it. After the repeated words and Gu Wanjae’s impulsive behavior, Taein deliberately concluded and took out his wallet from his pocket. Two makgeollis, seafood pajeon, and tomato ramen. Roughly calculating, it seemed like it would come to 40,000 to 50,000 won.
“Hey, just sit still for a moment.”
Even until Taein went to the counter to pay, Gu Wanjae sat quietly in his seat. He was someone who hated friends or younger people paying more than death. Since such a guy was sitting too quietly, Taein broke out in a sweat instead. He thought he was only half out of it, but it felt like he had completely lost it. He was also scared he might suddenly act strangely.
Taein, who hurriedly finished paying and returned, told Gu Wanjae to go.
“You can stand up, right? Let’s go for now.”
“Why should I. I’m fine.”
“Yeah, I know you’re fucking fine. But we still have to get up.”
“Right, yeah.”
Gu Wanjae pushed his chair back and stood up. The bulge protruding over his pants seemed to still be there. Taein deliberately averted his eyes and waited for Gu Wanjae at the entrance. Gu Wanjae walked to the entrance with a normal face, and it was the same after going outside. He didn’t stagger or stutter, nor did he make a scene that everyone would notice. He had only changed slightly enough for his friend Taein to notice.
Taein walked while firmly holding Gu Wanjae’s arm to prevent his impulsive behavior in advance.
Since he had never seen his drinking habits, he had no choice but to vaguely block his body and head to the guesthouse.
“Hey, how fine am I.”
“…Yeah… you’re fucking fine.”
Taein, who answered in a tone that wasn’t fine at all, earnestly dragged Gu Wanjae. Fortunately, the distance to the guesthouse was manageable. Taein walked steadily for several minutes and arrived in front of the familiar building.
Gu Wanjae was still in a state of neither here nor there until then. In some ways he seemed drunk, but when observed quietly, he also seemed to be acting with a sound mind. Taein, who had been watching Gu Wanjae start climbing the stairs first from behind, belatedly lifted his feet.
Gu Wanjae smoothly entered the password and entered the room.
Taein, who followed behind, properly engaged the door lock and closed the door.
Gu Wanjae wasn’t in the room.
All that immediately caught his eye was the disheveled blanket, clothes, and the window letting in greenish light.
Taein, who pressed the switch near the entrance, turned on the kitchen light and sat down there.
He caught his breath without even taking off his shoes.
How long had he been like that?
It was strange that no sound could be heard.
Taein, who belatedly took off his shoes and entered the room, turned toward the bathroom.
Even approaching close to the door, no sound could be heard.
Taein, who put his ear right against it, tried hard to hear even small signs of presence through the door crack.
Gu Wanjae was definitely in a strange state.
Though he was confused, he definitely wasn’t in a normal state.
When such a guy was too quiet in the bathroom, worry surged.
“Hey.”
Taein, who suddenly called out “Hey,” pressed his face close enough to crush his ear.
No answer came.
“Hey, are you okay?”
Even when he asked again, the inside was only quiet.
Finally, Taein, who turned the doorknob, added words for courtesy’s sake as he entered inside.
“I’m coming in. Huh? I’m coming in?”
The guesthouse bathroom had a somewhat unique structure. When you opened the door, you could face the toilet directly, and the sink was attached to the side in an elongated form. The mirror was large enough to occupy an entire wall, so Taein saw his own face first as soon as he opened the door. Only after the door was fully open could he see inside.
Taein lost his words at the scene reflected straight ahead.
Gu Wanjae, sitting on the toilet, had his pants and underwear completely removed.
Between his thighs, which were split wide without applying force, a large piece of flesh could be seen rising prominently.
Taein immediately turned his head as if sand had been scattered in his eyes. He stared at his own reddened face in the mirror for a long while.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
