Today, it was just a glass of soju at the meat restaurant, like usual. However, since they hadn’t met in a while, Jua’s bright eyes led to adding beer, making it a somaek.

A proper drinking party unfolded. Gaeul sipped the somaek that Jua made and swallowed. Today, he planned to drink everything that Jua poured.

Putting down the glass, Gaeul stared at the quiet phone for a moment.

‘…Why isn’t the president saying anything?’

He thought he would contact her right away, but there was no contact at all. Startled by the thought of receiving a call, she anxiously checked, but all the messages were from Yeonwoo.

‘I thought he would contact me right away today…’

Too afraid to answer the phone, let alone calling first.

Gaeul completely put the phone away. In her anxious and impatient heart, her hand involuntarily accepted the drink. With her heart shaking nervously, she wanted to drink a lot of alcohol today.

“Look at you, drinking well. It looks very nice.”

“Gaeul, have a little more.”

Praising Jua and worrying Dojin, Gaeul shook her head.

“It’s okay.”
“Gaeuli is a child, isn’t she? It’s not coercion, and if she wants to eat, why stop her, Oppa.”

Jua, looking very satisfied with Gaeul’s response, raised her beer glass.

“Let’s clang, clang, clang.”

Three beer glasses clinked together, making a refreshing sound. Even Dojin, who had sighed, eventually joined in.

Today, Gaeul’s quick pace and unyielding attitude were somewhat irritating, but since the person in question was okay with it, there was no way to intervene.

“Gaeul’s painting had a decent response at the exhibition.”

“Really? I heard from the director that some of your paintings were sold. You should go home early that day.”

“Ah, don’t say that. Where would our department’s chief go?”

“That’s right. But Gaeul’s painting, it seemed a bit different?”

“…How was it? I tried something different from usual…”

“It felt different from what I knew, so at first, I didn’t think it was your painting. But I actually liked it because the colors were different.”

Gaeul’s expression noticeably brightened. It was so pleasing to receive recognition for the effort and challenge she had put into it.

The drinking party gradually warmed up. The amount of alcohol exchanged also increased.

This time, good news flowed from Dojin.

“I actually got a call from Sum Gallery. I told them I would think about it…”

At Dojin’s shy words, Jua suddenly cut in, expressing her anger.

“No, what are you thinking about! We’ll sign the contract right away!”

“Oppa is talking, and you interrupt like that, Baek Jua.”

“I haven’t received any calls! I envy you, pft!”

In response to Jua’s complaint, Gaeul burst into laughter.

The hot grill and alcohol warmed their entire bodies, laughter began to seep out, and their moods started to lift.

Laughter kept flowing. Although she knew she was drunk, Gaeul continued to drink, thinking that it would be okay for just today.

As soon as Juhyuk’s meal was over, Gitae, who came out of the wedding hall, got in the car and picked up his phone. Even though the ringing tone continued for a while, he frowned when the other party didn’t answer right away.

‘…Yoon Gaeul.’

This is getting boring. I wonder if she thinks she can avoid it.

There was no contact first, and even if he called, she wouldn’t answer, so irritation gradually built up.

Thinking that he should go to the annex right away, he tried to hang up, but the call was connected late.

“…But,”

However, no voice came through. Gitae, who frowned, called her first instead.

“Yoon Gaeul.”

Instead of Gaeul’s response, loud music and various voices from outside mixed together and noisily overflowed.

When Gitae called her again after a while, it wasn’t Gaeul but another woman’s voice that answered.

“Um, I’m Gaeul’s friend. Gaeul is very drunk right now…”

“…Ha.”

Sighing, Gitae transferred the call to the other ear and spoke again.

“Where are you?”
As instructed, when I went there, it was an old, worn-out barbecue restaurant. Inside, Gaeul was leaning against the wall, quietly closing her eyes as if she were asleep. In the meantime, her face was flushed, with a rosy hue.

Without hesitation, Gitae, who had stopped for a moment, approached the table directly.

“I’ll take her home.”

“Oh, yes.”

Ignoring the awkward response from Jua, Gitae left her behind and lifted Gaeul into his arms.

Yesterday was a kiss, and today, he came to pick her up after getting drunk.

As Gitae lightly embraced Gaeul and let out a chuckle, they left the barbecue restaurant.

Tak! At that moment, Dojin, who had been standing silently next to Jua, suddenly grabbed Gitae’s arm.