His head felt like it would burst. His insides were bubbling. Woojae blinked his stiff eyes repeatedly with a dazed mind not fully awake from sleep. The hangover struck his body and clouded his mind. It was his first time drinking whiskey and he even thought he never wanted to drink it again.
“Ah, fuck. My head. Ugh, it’s cold. Ah, I feel nauseous.”
Woojae muttered irritably to himself. As soon as he spoke, his throat stung. What is this familiar feeling? Moreover, it was unbearably cold. At the sound of Woojae tossing and turning in bed, Minwook, who had been sitting at the desk across from him, turned his head.
“Shall I serve you some honey water?”
What the hell is he imitating? Woojae frowned at the sight of Minwook clasping his hands together in front and bowing his head.
“What are you saying…… When did I come in?”
His clothes were strangely damp. He clearly remembered rushing into the general meeting yesterday in a fit of anger. There was an argument there, he saw Gye Sajun, and he became acquainted with Sunbae Jeong…… what’s-his-name. And he smoked cigarettes with Jang Yeonju, and after that……
“You don’t even remember that?”
Minwook looked at Woojae blatantly with an expression that said he was pathetic. No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn’t remember what came after. As far as Woojae knew, the dormitory only allowed entry at 5 AM, but seeing as he was in bed like this, he must have come in after that.
What time was it when he last looked at the clock? As Woojae lifted his heavy body from the bed and tapped his phone screen, seeing the time displayed on the screen, he had no choice but to spring up from bed. Unbelievable, but it was 4 PM.
“Hey, you crazy bastard. Why didn’t you wake me up?”
“It’s all orientation this week anyway, so what’s the big deal about missing two measly classes? Everyone who passed out yesterday besides you probably couldn’t go either.”
“Ah, what the fuck. Making me drink like a savage.”
Though he was deeply dismayed about missing class, there was nothing he could do. He couldn’t turn back time. Woojae plopped back down on the bed with a desperate heart. His whole body ached.
“Just how much did you drink? Well, they say Jayu is full of heavy drinkers.”
“I don’t know, my head hurts. Ugh, fuck. What kind of alcohol was that?”
“I don’t have honey water but I have regular water.”
“Give me that at least. I’m dying of thirst.”
His head really hurt. Woojae drank a bowl of water that Minwook handed him. Life-giving water poured down his throat that had been painfully burning with severe thirst.
“You look so pretty but you drink water like a total bumpkin.”
“Shut up.”
Along with that, he had to go to the bathroom first due to the urge that came flooding in. The appearance reflected in the mirror was the worst. Pretty my ass, his hair was a bird’s nest and the clothes he’d worn out yesterday were strangely damp. There was a weird smell too.
“Urgh, what is this smell?”
After finishing washing his face and hair all at once with his favorite cucumber-scented soap and brushing his teeth, he felt a bit refreshed. No matter how hard he tried to recall last night, only a few scenes flashed by without any clear memories. As he came out of the bathroom shaking his hair with a towel, a chill set in.
“But did I wash up alone after coming in? My clothes seem all wet.”
This was what Woojae was curious about.
“You really don’t remember anything. Should I be envious? Don’t remember.”
Minwook had an expression of holding back laughter. Woojae looked at such a Minwook and couldn’t hide his uncomfortable expression.
“What are you saying? Speak so I can understand.”
“Do you know how you came in yesterday?”
Only then did Minwook address what he was curious about. Woojae wiggled his eyebrows and silently urged Minwook’s next words.
“Sajun carried you here on his back.”
The answer that came back was worse than expected.
“What?!”
“Hey, but when did you two become that close? I’m getting a bit jealous.”
Minwook said with exaggerated gestures, pretending to cry. Woojae frowned as much as possible at the unbelievable statement.
“Are you crazy? Don’t be disgusting.”
How? Why? He had mountains of things he wanted to ask, but at the same time didn’t want to ask. His mouth wouldn’t open because he didn’t want to look at the truth.
“Did you have fun yesterday? Not even answering your phone.”
There were definitely several messages piled up on the phone screen he’d just seen, but he hadn’t confirmed that they were from Minwook. Sajun carried him on his back? That can’t be. Woojae ignored what he’d just heard with his last remaining pride and kept shaking his hair with the towel. As if trying to erase that fact.
“Geez, really, even if you drink, you should drink gracefully.”
“Why, what.”
When he answered curtly for no reason at the rebuke, Minwook let out a deep sigh.
“You have to buy Sajun a meal.”
“Are you crazy, why would I buy that bastard a meal?”
Woojae openly displayed hostility. The fact that he carried drunk him all the way to the dorm room kept pricking his conscience, but that didn’t mean he had a reason to buy him a meal first. Unless he’d thrown a tantrum asking to be carried. Surely, he didn’t do that.
And with eyes looking at completely shameless trash, Minwook said:
“Why, you ask…… You threw up on Sajun.”
Fuck. It was the worst.
***
Woojae didn’t know, but the time he lost consciousness from being dead drunk was 4:20 AM. Students who had passed out in the middle had been carried off one by one to the sunbaes’ studio apartments. Jang Yeonju quietly assessed the situation. If they waited just 40 minutes, the dormitory door would open, so even if uncomfortable, the best option was to let Woojae sleep in a corner of the beer hall and then take him. However, the problem was Jeong Minho. Because he stepped up saying he’d take drunk Woojae to his studio apartment.
“You have to stay here until the end. Don’t you know you have to go together when taking the kids to the dormitory?”
The one who objected was Student Council President Lee Heemin. Jeong Minho hesitated at the valid point.
“Noona, Woojae is really drunk. You know my studio is nearby, so why are you being so rigid?”
“Is he the only freshman? The dorm opens in a bit, so why are you running away? Right now we don’t have many student council members, so it’s hard to take care of the kids.”
“Then I’ll take Woojae there and come back to take the kids to the dorm at 5.”
“Why make things so complicated? Then I’ll just take him to my room instead.”
Heemin shot back sharply.
“Noona, no matter how much he’s a beta, he’s a guy. If anything happens, we’ll be in big trouble.”
At that sharp tone, Jeong Minho answered soothingly with an eye-smile. Heemin didn’t budge at such a statement from him.
“But why do I feel like it’ll be a bigger problem if this kid goes to your place?”
“Noona, what do you take me for? He’s not even an omega, would I touch a beta?”
While the two were having a bloody argument, Jang Yeonju was struggling to support Woojae who was practically sprawled out, sweating profusely. Because every time she tried to sit him in a chair, he would spring up from his seat, there was no better method.
“……He seems really drunk.”
Jang Yeonju muttered while glaring at the other male classmates, but not one of them came forward to take care of Woojae. But still, handing him over to Jeong Minho felt uncomfortable. Because like Heemin, Jang Yeonju had also noticed Jeong Minho’s schemes long ago. He was openly groping his body, so even though Go Woojae was a beta, she couldn’t help but be suspicious. She also knew of his track record.
“Give him to me.”
At that moment, the voice that was suddenly heard was Gye Sajun’s.
“You’re taking him now? The dorm door is closed. Handing him to Jeong Minho is-.”
Jang Yeonju hesitated even after saying it with her own mouth, as it didn’t seem right. Jeong Minho was looking this way watchfully even while arguing with Heemin.
“That can’t happen.”
Gye Sajun also seemed to have caught on to Jeong Minho’s scheme and answered with a stern face. Jang Yeonju was curious. Based on memories from a few hours ago, Gye Sajun’s contribution was significant in Go Woojae getting here.
“What are you thinking exactly?”
Gye Sajun lightly took Woojae from Jang Yeonju who asked that. Jang Yeonju felt embarrassed about sweating profusely until now. Because Gye Sajun easily lifted Woojae who had collapsed into his arms.
“The alcohol smell is a bit strong.”
“Of course, since he drank.”
“It’ll be hard to confirm.”
At his incomprehensible statement, Jang Yeonju had to furrow her brows. Confirm what?
“Are you going to take him and beat him up? You can’t commit crimes. Even if he’s a beta, it’ll be a headache if he sues.”
“I’ll take care of getting him in.”
“Hey, then what about Jeong Minho……”
Just then Heemin and Jeong Minho left their seats. They probably went out to fight in earnest. Now was the right time to sneak Woojae away. Jang Yeonju scratched her head vigorously with a tired expression.
“Ah fuck, whatever. Then you handle it. I’ll say you took him.”
“Do as you like.”
Thanks to Jang Yeonju’s help, Gye Sajun was able to safely carry Woojae outside. A few gazes that followed stung, but Gye Sajun had no intention of caring about such things. He draped the dangling long arms over his shoulder and firmly supported the thighs. The sight of him just breathing heavily was quite pleasing, but,
“Ah, fuck…… I think I’m going to throw up……”
“You drank everything they gave you.”
Gye Sajun spoke as if reproaching Woojae who was making groaning sounds, whether he’d sobered up or woken up. He curses every time he opens his mouth. This was a moment Woojae wouldn’t remember. Gye Sajun made a strange expression looking at Woojae who clung to him instinctively. He’d never seen him this close before, but he was quite pretty.
“Then…… you bastard, should I refuse what they’re giving me? Urgh, ah…… I feel nauseous……”
“Do you even know who I am?”
Before he knew it, they were on a hill road. Gye Sajun, who had been stepping carefully, suddenly became curious and asked a question. He asked without much expectation, but,
“You? You…… you bastard.”
“……”
“Gae…… Sajun. Fucking bastard. Unlucky bastard.”
The voice full of drunkenness recited his name. Even drunk, he can see, apparently. Gye Sajun readjusted Woojae’s buttocks and said lowly:
