Seo Minjae.
It's a name that often appeared in his mind these days. Fierce and unguarded, invading his space like it belong.
Jiho didn't know whether to push him away or just let him take an inch.
It's not like he was losing a piece of meat by letting the guy lean on him, but… this bastard was pushing it to the limit!
Ugh!
Seo Minjae suddenly took his arm and hugged it, leaning in even closer.
He spoke sluggishly.
"Yun Jiho… Has anyone ever told you you've got a terrible personality?"
Then he parted his lips slightly and chuckled.
"Unreasonable... and unpredictable. You're weird as hell."
Jiho silently rolled his eyes and shoved him lightly, but Seo Minjae clung like a leech, refusing to let go.
Bad personality? He didn't want to hear that from him.
He sighed and calmly reminded.
"Sunbae, you're drunk."
So maybe stop drinking that shit?
Minjae paused, looking offended.
"I'm not drunk. I can prove it to you."
Then he grabbed another cup and downed it.
Fuck.
Why is he talking to a drunkard?
Jiho stabbed at the meat in front of him. It had gone cold, but chewing it was better than dealing with this.
He was sure Seo Minjae was going to regret this tomorrow.
As if reading his mind, Minjae picked up a fork, jabbed it into a pile of noodles, and clumsily wrapped them.
Jiho stared at the mess, a sense of dread creeping in.
Then Seo Minjae held the fork out, grinning.
"Jiho, ahh~ Open up."
Jiho's mouth twitched, his heart resisted this absurdity.
But he finally gave up resistance when he saw the man almost tearing up.
Okay.
Jiho lightly parted his lips and bite the noodles off the fork.
Whatever. Let him do what he wants. It's not like I'm the one who's going to be embarrassed tomorrow.
While he minded his own business, Jiho eyes drifted across the table unintentionally.
The pretty girl in a pink dress, Han Yujin, Seo Minjae's first love, stood out easily.
She had that goddess-like refined aura, gentle and sweet.
To be honest, Jiho could see why Minjae used to like her.
Guys probably fell head over heels around her.
No doubt, she seems to be in bad mood right now. Which was visible in her stiff reaction even if she tried to cover up.
Well, no surprise after what happened.
Jiho guessed, she maybe even a little upset or a lot...
Han Yujin responded to a half-hearted conversation and said abruptly.
"I think we should go. It's getting late."
"Huh? This soon?"
Lee Sangmin looked up at a daze, probably still clueless about her sudden change.
Jiho look away silently but his ears still perked up against his will.
"We have a curfew." Yujin forced a smile, lips tightening. "Thank you for having us, we had fun tonight."
"Oh right, we have to be back before ten." Another girl echoed, perhaps she knew.
"Hana, let's go."
Lee Hana paused, glancing sideways at the situation before nodding in understanding.
"Yeah, it was nice meeting you all, we'll be going now."
Then she nudged the drowsy girl next to her, most likely wasted.
"Seomi, get up."
After a round of polite goodbyes, the girls quietly left.
.
.
.
A few hours later, the party finally saw its end.
Gunwoo was sprawled on the floor, half-conscious and mumbling deliriously.
"It's my chicken… you can't take it."
He hug the cushion tightly, not willing to trade it for anything.
While the others clumsily helped clean up the area, Sangmin groaned and nudged him with his foot.
"Hey. Get up, it's time to go back."
He eventually bent down and hauled him up.
Hyunsuk, still fairly conscious despite being drunk, helped too.
"This guy's wasted. Told him not to drink that much, but does he ever listen?"
"Forget it. Just drag him out."
Sangmin then turned toward the host, Seo Minjae.
He look pretty normal with clear eyes but those who knows him knew he was pretty much wasted as he can be.
Well, he probably can't even walk by himself right now.
Sangmin felt his mind weighing down, then he suddenly remember someone who might be of some help.
Jiho look up obliviously when Sangmin grabbed his arms, eyes pleading with stars.
"Jiho, can you help me get this guy to bed? We'll finish cleaning this up soon. It's a request."
Sangmin knew as friendly as Minjae was, he hated people entering his room.
But recently, he seemed to adore this new junior. Minjae wouldn't mind. Probably...
At this time, Kyungho stood up groggily but then paused, as if something just clicked.
"Jiho-ya, take good care of Minjae-sunbae, yeah? What'll we do if he gets sick? We're just starting our project."
Hearing this, Gunwoo suddenly opened his eyes and sobbed, startling everyone.
"Yes… Hyung. Minjae-hyung, you have to stay well…"
Jiho felt a vein throb in his temple. Just so you know, he's not dead or anything.
Is this really how computer science majors bond?
Forget it.
He lightly shook the arm clinging to him.
"Sunbae... Can you get up? Come on, sleep on the bed."
Minjae squinted up at him, drowsiness thick in his voice.
"Hm...? Help me up."
Jiho sighed in relief. At least he was still a bit reasonable.
"Okay, hold on."
Jiho wasn't exactly the muscular type.
Hell, he hated exercising.
That's why dragging a grown ass man across the floor was its own kind of hell for him.
Minjae was even heavier than he looked, and by the time Jiho managed to half-carry, half-drag him to the bed, his arms felt like noodles.
He let go and exhaled sharply.
Minjae grunted, tugging off his sweater as he flopped onto the mattress, already drifting off.
Jiho came out of the bedroom just in time to hear Sangmin asked the guys.
"All done?" Sangmin asked, rinsing his hands in the sink. "We can head back now. Minjae'll figure out the rest in the morning."
"I washed all the dishes earlier. We can throw the cups and trash on our way out."
Sangmin wiped his hands and nodded. "Let's go. We're done here."
Then he saw Jiho standing there and asked, concerned. "How's he doing?"
Jiho pressed his arms which was still somewhat feeling the weight and replied.
"He's asleep. Do you need help with anything else?"
"It's fine. We'll see each other on campus again. We're heading out."
Sangmin shook his head and carried his bag as they made their way out.
Jiho paused for a while and followed them to the elevator.
Then he stopped.
This should be enough, right?
He watched them step in, the doors closing with a soft ding.
Jiho breathed a sighed of relief after finally sending them away.
He return to his apartment and sank into his bed, too tired to even change.
A faint refreshing scent tug at his nose.
Must be Minjae's...
His vision blurred and at some point without even realizing, he drifted off to sleep.