Chapitre 21: Drunk
“Aigoo! You sing so well!”
I remark while I stare tenderly at Dr. Gu, whose voice complements the room that is turning warmer and cozier for me. I can feel the warm rush inside my cheeks after the last shot of soju I took, the world seems like it is sort of wrapped in a cotton. Everything suddenly seems a bit softer. Everyone suddenly seems fluffy and cuddly.
Like a baby.
“Sister will give you a kiss on the cheek,” I hear myself saying. My own voice appears as it came from a distance like I’m sitting inside myself listening to myself, but it isn’t really me actually speaking.
Standing up, I feel kinda lightheaded, as if the ground is moving below me.
‘Stop ground, please!’
I force myself to take a step and walk towards him. The cute big baby with a voice that can calm an ocean deserves a treat, I say.
But before I can reach him, darkness fills the room. As if the blurry vision I’m having is not enough there’s...
... a sudden blackout.
“Aaaah!”
A faint sound is heard, most probably coming from my colleagues. To be honest, the sounds around me sort of diminish a little. My hands and feet are moving as if I’m asleep, I can’t feel them. Unable to see and my feet wobbly for feeling so light, I feel like falling deep into an abyss, just when something hops beside me and two solid arms, like armchairs, support me from behind.
Those same arms assist me until I plop down in my own accord back in a soft place where I belong to be. I can feel the slight touch of breath in my cheeks coming from the stranger as he tries to adjust my head on the headrest. Oh, sweet human! A baby!
Very much deserving of a sweet treat! Then I reached out to him.
* * *
Se Ri and the other ladies have their hands on each other’s back, singing altogether while walking in an unstable manner. It is a relief because they are supporting each other in the process, still, I opted to walk behind Se Ri just in case.
Not singing along, her head is a bit tilted to the side and her shoulders drooped. Only shows that she’s already tired and any time she will pass out. I badly want to snatch her bag from her shoulder, yet I don’t want to create any suspicion.
“By the way, where will I drop you off?”
Ms. Seo Dan glances at Dr. Gu who has just spoken, her eyes squinting in a pique way when he turns to the ladies.
“Oh, no need, Dr. Gu! We can manage it. I think you better get going now,” Soo Hyun replies. Among the four of them who dunk a lot, she seems to have a strong tolerance for alcohol.
It is evident that Soo Hyun knows something about the two as she sneaks a peek at Ms. Seo Dan, who is looking at her menacingly, relaying a threat through her stare. Understanding what Soo Hyun meant, he retreats and has walked a few steps already when he turns around again as if he forgot to say something.
“How about Se Ri? I think she’s a bit drunk. Do you know where she lives?”
“Oh! I don’t-”
“I know.”
I suddenly had the urge to speak up, and now they are all looking at me astounded with my revelation, except the tipsy ones including Se Ri of course. So much about not creating suspicion. They turn to me at the same time as if I have announced a hold-up.
“We- we live... near each other.”
I felt the need to explain further when none of them reacted.
“We bumped with each other one time and found out that she lives nearby.”
“Oh yeah! I think I remember. That’s why I thought I had read your address before somewhere.”
There are sparks in Ms. Seo Dan’s eyes when she says that. Apparently, it seems that I have saved her peace of mind on her way back home. Now, we are quits.
“Ms. Hong, hand Ms. Yoon to Dr. Ri. And, you two, you still have a duty tomorrow. Go home now,” she continues.
Soo Hyun breaks from the other two and hands Se Ri to me, “Bring her home safely, Dr. Ri.”
I nod at her and take Se Ri by her shoulder, pulling her closer underneath my arm.
“BUT! Don’t ever think of doing anything! Don’t lay a finger on her!” Soo Hyun suddenly bursts out. And as if it’s not what I should be surprised of, she instantly shifts her voice back to her usual cheery tone when she bids me to drive safely.
Whoa~ women are scary when drunk.
After several minutes, we are already back in the house. I glance at the passed out Se Ri beside me in the passenger seat, her face so serene like a child on her blanket asleep. Although there were times when I’d catch her looking so calm; sipping her coffee or tending her seeds that have grown a sprout to my surprise, she always wears a slight frown on her face whenever she looks at me. Thus, something inside me wants to savor the moment and so I watch her for a minute. Ah, more than a minute to be honest.
While I don’t want to disturb her from her sleep, we can’t stay inside the car. I get out of the car and open her door.
“Se Ri, wake up. We are home.”
I only get a moan from her as a response.
‘This can’t be...’ I walk to the gate and unlock it, then snapping off her seat belt, I pick Se Ri up. How can a small figure like her be so heavy?
Upon reaching the door of the house, Se Ri slowly gains consciousness. Finding herself being lifted up, she looks around her surroundings, panicking, I immediately unlock the door before she gets hysterical.
“Who are you?... put me down!” she squeals, her intoxication subsided a little by sleeping.
Thank goodness, we are already inside the living room when she starts struggling away from my arms. I am planning to at least settle her down in her bedroom, but it seems impossible now as she grabs my head and pulls my hair down, shrieking to put her down.
And her power... I well know, her power.
“This is me, Jeong Hyeok.”
But despite that, she still keeps on squealing and moving against my arms like a fish wanting to get out of the net. Without a choice, I put her down in the nearest spot before I stumble down. I am able to align the cushions on the floor of the living room to serve as her back pillow, but they all come into disarray as she continues to struggle even on the floor.
A final pull of hair...
A smack on my left chin...
A kick landed on my stomach...
And when I got up... a slap of cushion right in my face.
Sweet.
“Get away from me, you jerk!”
And all the cushions end up right on my feet after hitting me. My assessment:
Name: Yoon Se Ri
Claim: Calm and can handle oneself when drunk
Drunk State: Affectionate/Treats people like a baby
Post-drunk State: Violent
Expectation versus reality, indeed. After a few scuffles on the floor, Se Ri falls into slumber again, her breathing getting steadier as the clock ticks slowly. Sensing that she’s already calm, I pick up the cushions; place them beside her, and put the other one underneath her head.
“Jerk!”
She mouths as her final spurt.
* * *
It’s already 1 AM, sitting with my back resting on the wall, I gaze at Se Ri who is sleeping sloppily. The blanket which I covered her a while ago is now loosely wrapped on her body.
Moving beside her quietly, I cover her up once again. Even though the floor has a heating system, it can still be a little cold and hard to sleep on. I can already imagine her complaining about her back once she wakes up.
Pulling the blanket up to her shoulders, my eyes land on her face. From her thin eyelids that shield her clear as sky eyes to her soft cherry lips. Reminding me of what happened a while ago...
Back in the karaoke room.
Cadeaux
-- Cadeau
reçu État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone