Second Contact

Classes ended with no keychain in sight.

"Cheer up, Jae-ha!"

Do-seok smacks my back jokingly after I complained about my missing keychain for the rest of the day, bastard!

"Can't be helped, it wasn't with the faculty either."

Shinwoo tried to console me again.

"Ah.. where could it be.."

"Maybe just buy a new one?"

"That's the thing, we bought it a year ago during one of our family trips, doubt it's even available anymore.."

I leaned on Seomin, who was silently patting my back as usual.

"I'm sure little Hyesoo would understand," Shinwoo gave a warm smile. "She's a kind girl."

I felt comforted by those words.

"Yeah, you're right."

"Hyesoo's an angel compared to your brothers!"

Do-seok chimed in, arms folded behind his neck.

"That's because you let them bully you."

"How else am I supposed to handle them?? They're out for me, I just know it."

The rest laugh along as we head towards the busy streets of Myeongdong. A few stores and pushcarts had already started gathering for the nightlife.

"Speaking of which~" Do-seok directed a smirk at me.

Here it is.

"We should go drinking!"

"No."

I respond immediately.

"Why not!?"

"You just want fancy alcohol for free!" I try to shove him from hugging my arm. "And I'm the one who has to make them!"

"It's a labor of love~"

"'Labor of love' my ass."

"Shinwoo!" Do-seok complains.

"What Jae-ha says, goes."

"You guys are absolute buzzkills." Defeated, Do-seok finally lets go of me.

Nearing the station, it was time for us to go our separate ways. I check my wallet in hopes that I had enough to buy myself dinner tonight. Thankfully, it was enough.

「Fried chicken tonight, then.」

"Seomin and I are headed this way,"

"See you guys next week! And do your homework, Do-seok!" I teased.

"What are you, my mom!?"

The two soon disappeared from our view, and Shinwoo was getting ready to head off on his own as well.

I looked at Shinwoo, who seemed to have his mind wander elsewhere.

"Well, I'm leaving now."

"Oh, uh." Shinwoo's eyes looked around. "Jae-ha?"

"What's up?"

I looked at him.

"...no, it's nothing."

He gave me an awkward smile.

"Oh, alright then?"

"Have a nice weekend, Jae-ha."

Shinwoo gave one last nod and waved as he walked the opposite direction. That guy likes to cut off his own thoughts for no reason, if something is troubling him he should just say it.

「I'm sure he'll be fine.」

I shrugged and went on along.

.

.

.

"That'll be 8,000 Won."

I rummaged through my poor excuse of a wallet and handed the sales lady the payment, it's about time I start working again, it seems.

「Can't keep borrowing money forever. Mom will be mad anyway.」

Mom...

Right, it's been a while since I visited my home. I started living on my own ever since I entered college, and would go visit my family once a month.

「I'll visit them next week!」

I found myself smiling at the thought as I grabbed the plastic bag of fried chicken. Walking towards my apartment, I was thankful there was a convenience store just nearby, too.

/ click /

"Ah.. home sweet home."

Compared to my parents' house, the apartment's so much quieter. And empty.

"I still can't get used to this afterall."

I laughed at the thought.

"Doesn't help that my closest friends live opposite from here," I sigh, placing the bag on a table while I grab a plate and utensils.

A pause.

"..now I'm even talking to myself."

「Get a grip, Shin Jae-ha!」

I pinch my cheek in self annoyance. Just one more week and you'll see them again.. plus you have Shinwoo and the others to keep you company.

"Yeah.."

I placed the plate by the plastic bag and started getting my meal ready, before stopping to sniff myself.

「Before that, a bath.」

/ wshh /

...

/ click /

"That feels much better!"

Refreshed and a damp towel hanging by my neck, I step out of the bathroom feeling good as new. Nothing beats a nice cold bath at the end of the day.

I turned the TV on as I started eating, a drama was playing while my mind wandered away.

「Alcohol...」

Right, Do-seok wanted to go out drinking earlier. "That drunkard!" My hand curls into a fist as I remember the instances where I agreed to his invites.

"He'd order almost every drink known to man off the menu and it goes right to MY tab!"

I aggressively drink a glass of water.

Actually, I did have a part-time job before. Well 'job' is an understatement since I'll technically own the place soon. My dad passed the pub he used to manage to me right before he kicked the bucket, I visit it time to time whenever college wasn't in the way.

「Hah...」

I exhale.

"But that doesn't mean you get to make me slave off to your bad drinking habits..!!" I slam the glass on the table and chipped the edge. Damn you, Do-seok..

Which brings me to my current situation now.

「Thankfully Uncle was willing to take over in the meantime. I wouldn't have heard the end of it from Mom if he wasn't there.」

"Maybe I should try applying elsewhere."

The pub was off-limits. I don't even drink alcohol. Kinda ironic when liqour's gonna be my life as an adult, haha. But I should at least get experience at someplace, who knows, it might be fun.

I set my spoon and fork down.

"That settles it! I should apply somewhere!"

I needed extra pocket money anyway, or I'll end up starving to death. And bills, too.

"Who knew living on your own was this expensive.." Aka not me.

/ click /

I turn the faucet off as I start drying the plate I ate off of. After dinner, there wasn't really much for me to do aside from sleep, but what kind of college student sleeps before 8pm??

"I'm not in highschool.."

I cry to myself. "...trash.."

Eureka!

「Have I taken out the trash..!?」

And what greets me afterwards is the lovely view of a full trashbin.

"Yes!"

I throw my fist in the air like an idiot. I can't believe I'm happy about taking out the trash. I'm just glad no one's here to witness it.

.

.

.

/ pat pat /

I wipe the imaginary sweat off my forehead seeing the trash bag fit perfectly in the garbage. I cry to myself after realizing that I just did that.

"How far you've fallen, Jae-ha.."

Defeated, I turn back to walk home.

"Oof."

As soon as I did, my face planted right into someone's.. chest? No way.

"Um."

I froze. This was definitely someone's chest. Not just any chest, but a dude's. What the hell.

"My bad.."

I finally look up.

"Are you okay?" He asks.

Of all people, it had to be the council president.