[Chapter 137]
[Those Who Live Above No Eunha (3)]
Finding Jin Seo-na wasn't difficult.
Not long after contacting <Blabbermouth> Twenty-five, he found out where she was.
Apparently she and other friends were drinking at a bar connected to Lee Kang-hyuk's gang.
So Eunha gave Twenty-five instructions over the phone.
"—Tell them to provide lots of service there, and keep a very close watch to make sure the guys drinking with them don't try anything funny."
[Yes sir. I'll tell them to keep them there until the master arrives.]
Twenty-five who heard the situation from Eunha said he would keep them there even without being asked separately.
Soon after ending the call, Eunha waited for his friends to arrive at the meeting place.
The wait wasn't boring.
While talking with Jin Pa-rang, his friends arrived one by one.
"Boss, Seo-na isn't answering her phone now... I hope nothing bad happened?"
"They just said they're having fun. The guys drinking with them don't seem to be bad quality. But... what's with your face?"
"There's a very sad story here. Master said to handle my gift well I need to be able to not close my eyes in any situation..."
"No, I understand so that's enough."
Choi Eun-hyuk arrived first.
He who said he was going home after finishing training came with a black eye.
Eunha clicked his tongue after hearing the general situation.
It seemed he got hit a lot by <Sword Master>.
I at least didn't touch the face, but <Sword Master> doesn't seem to show mercy.
Eunha looked pitifully at Eun-hyuk who was reducing the swelling with mana.
Though he also treated other friends harshly all the same.
A moment later, Mok Min-ho arrived.
Min-ho came up from the subway station with a grumpy expression.
"Oh, you came?"
"No Eunha. ...Is it true?"
"Didn't you contact Eun-woo?"
"Seems her phone is turned off."
Min-ho with an orange scarf around his neck.
He frowned and immediately complained.
But Eunha knew his words showed he was worried about Cha Eun-woo.
No, he wasn't worried about her, but just anxious himself.
It was the same for Choi Eun-hyuk too.
Of course, Eunha—
—How scary is the world to go on a damn group blind date? What if they get kidnapped or something.
Eunha was sincerely worried about Ha-yang and friends who still didn't know the ways of the world.
Anyway, among the people gathered, only Jin Pa-rang had no thoughts.
"More importantly, did you see the photo they sent?"
"Yeah. It's a hyung I know. Seems Eun-woo asked people around about group blind date places."
"Doesn't seem like Eun-woo would do that... It must have been Puppy who made her do it."
"Boss, Seo-na isn't that kind of kid. We've known each other for how many years... You know that too boss."
"Yeah, it's definitely Jin Seo-na. She's the only one among them who would try to torment me like this."
"Yeah, that's right. That Seo-na has so many tricks in her head. You guys might not know, but at gatherings with just kids from Ain..."
"Idiot hyung, try contacting where Cheon-seo is."
The four stood to the side watching people pass by in the busy street.
They're all over 180cm now.
Eunha and Jin Pa-rang even put effort into their outfits since they came rushing after the engagement ceremony ended.
The other two said they dressed casually, but one was a Galaxy Group branch family member, and the other was a student enthusiastically sponsored by Alice Group.
In other words, they're casually wearing luxury brands.
Moreover, their clothes looked good because they're tall.
As a result, people passing by glanced at them standing shoulder to shoulder at least once.
"Boss, people keep looking, is it because my face is all swollen?"
"It's because of Mok Min-ho. He keeps frowning so they must be wondering if he's a criminal."
"Talking nonsense... It's not me, they're looking at your face."
They didn't know the reason for the gazes pouring on them.
They just brushed it off since they were used to getting attention at the academy.
Just then, Jin Pa-rang who was on the phone with Lee Cheon-seo shouted.
"Cheon-seo says he'll be late so let's meet in front of the store later?"
"...Can't be helped. Let's go first."
Eunha sighed.
He felt like he should have called Yoo Do-jun instead.
Anyway, Eunha led his friends towards the bar Twenty-five told him about.
As if they had received prior notice, the person who seemed to be the store owner treated them politely.
"Eun-woo isn't the type to come to a place like this..."
"Seo-na too..."
"Guess they wanted to have fun for once."
"Hah... it's all because of you No Eunha. I was already worried Eun-woo seemed to be becoming like you lately..."
"That's right, it's because of boss. She got bad influence from boss."
"...Why are you blaming me?"
A pub with a club atmosphere.
There's a stage on one side of the store.
People are dancing crazily there.
People sitting at tables were having fun listening to music filling the space.
Mok Min-ho and Choi Eun-hyuk who visited a bar they had never been to before were shocked.
Then they blamed Eunha.
For reference, Jin Pa-rang was bouncing his body trying to run to the stage right away.
Eunha held Jin Pa-rang's shoulder and was dumbfounded.
What did I do wrong?
Is it because they've grown older?
His friends had started openly criticizing Eunha unlike before.
Eunha felt unfairly treated inside.
It seemed like his friends kept blaming him for everything that happened.
When he was about to say something—
"—Sorry guys! Am I late?"
Lee Cheon-seo who appeared belatedly.
Cheon-seo who seemed to have put a lot of effort into his clothes approached waving his hand.
He chattered to his friends asking how they've been during break.
"Eunha, I heard you got engaged today? Hey, congratulations. But didn't you say you're dating Ha-yang too?"
"Why, what, why."
"...It'll just end with two-timing right?"
"What is this kid saying now? Nevermind, let's hurry and go to the group date."
"Ah, group date! That's good! Wow, I was really surprised when I heard you guys arranged a group date. I thought you wouldn't be interested in that kind of thing."
"No Eunha. Didn't you tell Lee Cheon-seo?"
"I just said let's go on a group date?"
"Huh? Weren't we going on a group date?"
"No, we are. You came at a good time. Let's go."
"But why is everyone... Oh right. So who are we having the group date with? Since Eunha you arranged it, it must be pretty good..."
"With Puppy."
"Huh?"
"Jeong Ha-yang, Jin Seo-na, Cha Eun-woo, Bong-gu-rae, Kang Si-hyung."
Eunha saw the men sitting at Seo-na's table go to the bathroom and signaled the store owner.
The store owner nodded.
The men would now be sent home by him.
Eunha moved his feet leaving behind the confused Lee Cheon-seo.
Jin Pa-rang followed.
"Hey, but this is a group date. I shouldn't go on group dates right?"
"I'm two-timing and going on a group date, so why can't hyung go?"
"You know. I'm currently sin..."
"Hah... We're not really going on a group date. The other side is people we know too. We're just drinking and having fun today. Isn't that enough?"
"Ah! So that's why Bong-gu-rae and Kang Si-hyung were there?"
No Eunha who persuaded the idiot Jin Pa-rang.
He then turned to look at Mok Min-ho and Choi Eun-hyuk following right behind.
The two had hardened faces.
"I'll take care of Jeong Ha-yang, so you each take charge of one person."
"I'll take care of Eun-woo."
"I'll take Seo-na."
"Hey! Then I'll drink with Bong-gu-rae! He seemed to drink pretty well?"
In a narrow sense it's a group date.
In a broad sense it's party play.
They each promised to definitely handle one person.
"—Hey! Eunha!? If it's not a group date, why did I come here?"
Then Cheon-seo who had been standing dumbfounded called out to Eunha walking ahead.
Eunha turned back with an indifferent face and retorted to him.
"—You're the bomb disposal. Take care of the leftover person."
"...Should I just go home."
☆
To be honest.
Being at home was stressful.
Jin Seo-na who was adopted as KK Pharmaceuticals' direct descendant two years ago disliked having to return home after the semester ended.
The person called father thoroughly ignored her, and her twin younger sister Jin Se-na just threw hysterics.
But that was still better.
Of course, her father and twin sister couldn't be stress factors for her.
Rather, Jin Seo-na was able to live a comfortable life without mental suffering because her father didn't interfere with her.
Of course there was despair from losing her fiancé, and it was somewhat fun to argue with Jin Se-na who trembled because of her existence.
She won anyway. And if necessary, she could just use telepathy to make her go crazy.
The problem was her mother.
I wish she would just ignore me...
Then I could settle my heart too.
Perhaps due to guilt, mother had difficulty dealing with Jin Seo-na and tried hard to treat her well.
As a result, Seo-na couldn't respond coldly to her who tried to cherish her.
In the end, she also became very careful in dealing with her mother.
At least during the semester she could spend time at the academy.
If it was going to be like this, I should have just stayed at the academy following Soo-bin.
She returned home since it was break.
Seeing mother every morning was truly embarrassing.
It was too burdensome when mother asked what she did yesterday and what she would do today.
So she contacted friends to play trying to stay out of the house as much as possible, but Choi Eun-hyuk often rejected her proposals saying he had to train.
I feel bad taking time from Ha-yang since she's dating Eunha...
Min-ji says she's busy taking care of I-byeol these days...
But how can Eun-hyuk only train every day?
Then she heard the news that Eunha was getting engaged to Han Seo-hyun.
She became depressed along with Jeong Ha-yang who was depressed.
In the end, her stress exploded.
That was the reason she planned the group date.
"Seo-na, how is it?"
"Don't they seem too immature in their thinking for being 2 years older than us?"
"Right. I thought so too. It feels like there's nothing in their heads?"
She happily drank and chatted with people she met for the first time.
It was very fun to see how normal people her age have fun.
But that was only for a very short time.
Seo-na talked with Cha Eun-woo when the men got up saying they were going to the bathroom.
"Eun-woo, how about you? Was there anyone you liked?"
"Huh? No. Just felt like neighborhood oppas? Ah, it felt just like playing with Pa-rang oppa."
"Ah, right. I felt that way too. But a bit..."
"Why? What is it?"
"...Nothing."
Jin Seo-na stopped what she was about to say.
The memory was still vivid.
The expression the man sitting across from her made when he first saw her.
It was contempt towards Ain.
Then the man surprisingly changed his expression after learning she was KK Pharmaceuticals' direct descendant.
So actually Jin Seo-na wasn't completely happy with this gathering.
Jeong Ha-yang who was revered as Alice Group's direct descendant seemed to feel the same way.
"But the oppas aren't coming back..."
"Maybe they're smoking?"
"...Huh? Didn't the oppas say they don't smoke earlier?"
"No, they must smoke. I could smell cigarettes on them from earlier."
"Wow... Then they lied?"
"We had fun anyway so it's fine. We're only meeting once anyway. Should we get up when the oppas come back?"
It's almost midnight.
It's gotten very late.
Seo-na decided to prepare to go home while talking with her friends.
Just then—
"—The people you were on the group date with said something urgent came up so they're going home first? We'll play with you instead."
""""...""""
"Oh my, daebak."
Familiar faces approached.
No Eunha, Mok Min-ho, Choi Eun-hyuk, Jin Pa-rang. And one kid whose name was fuzzy.
Except for Bong-gu-rae, Seo-na and friends were momentarily speechless.
They never imagined they would come here.
"...How did you know to come here?"
"There are ways to know everything. You'll get hurt if you know."
But the surprise was brief.
Seo-na quickly came to her senses.
Then she very naturally spoke to Eunha sitting across from Ha-yang.
Meanwhile, honey was already dripping from Ha-yang's eyes.
"Hmph, Eun-hyuk why did you come here? Didn't you say training was more important than me?"
"Wh-When did I..."
"You told me last time. That you'd have a hard time making time because you need to focus on training for a while."
"Ah, that..."
Seo-na knew from experience.
When No Eunha comes out so shamelessly, it's hard to deal with him.
So she changed targets.
She poured out all her pent-up frustration towards Choi Eun-hyuk.
Just then, Eun-woo was criticizing Min-ho in the seat right next to her.
"We met for the first time in a while since break started, are you just going to be like this?"
"What do you mean. You two-timer."
"That's right. Eunha, was the engagement good? Han Seo-hyun unni was pretty right?"
"...Right. I got engaged, that's right..."
No Eunha who was trying to change the mood then.
Seo-na who had been waiting for a chance quickly attacked him.
Taking that opportunity, Eun-woo delivered a follow-up attack.
As the attacks succeeded one after another, not only did No Eunha's face crumple, but Ha-yang steeled her heart again.
The tide of battle had clearly turned.
Afterwards, they vented a lot of anger at the men.
Phew... Ah, that feels better.
But I do feel a bit sorry for them.
Her anger subsided somewhat.
Only then did Seo-na feel grateful to them for coming because they were worried.
Her gloomy mood completely disappeared.
It seemed those sitting on either side felt the same way.
"Well, anyway you came at a good time. You're having the group date instead right?"
I should relieve all this stress.
Jin Seo-na decided to happily drink with friends she met after a long time.
But before that—
"—We've been drinking since earlier so you should drink that much too. First drink penalty drinks among yourselves."
""""...""""
"Ah, of course you know not to circulate mana in your bodies
"Ah, of course you know that mana doesn't circulate in the body, right? Now, drink! Drink! Eat and die!!"
Jinseon grumbled, holding a glass full of beer.
The faces of the men, except for Noh Eun-ha, turned pale.