It was a cold night, and the city lights shone like distant stars drowning in a sea of mist. A low fog clung to the streets, curling around the neon signs and muffling the sound of traffic.
Inside SeoraeBBQ, the atmosphere was already in full swing. The air buzzed with warmth and energy, filled with the rich aroma of sizzling meat and the occasional bursts of laughter. Glasses of beer and soju clinked together in celebratory toasts as students leaned into one another, their faces flushed from alcohol and excitement.
Conversations overlapped in an incoherent but oddly comforting noise, the kind that drowned out all other thoughts.
But standing frozen near the entrance, Jihoon didn't dare take a step forward. His breath hitched as his eyes locked onto a figure at one of the tables--a man in a black leather jacket, smirking as he bumped glasses with the others.
Jihoon's hands twitched at his sides. 'Whyishehere?'
If he had known thatguy would be at this gathering, he never would have bothered coming at all. Not wasting another second, he turned on his heel, ready to slip away before anyone could notice but-
"Shit. Did you just get here now?"
Jihoon's shoulders tensed as an unwelcome voice stopped him mid-step.
Kijun stood in front of him, arms crossed, blocking the doorway with an unimpressed glare.
'Ugh!Wheredidheevencomefrom?'
Jihoon could only stare in stunned silence, watching his last chance at escape vanish into thin air.
"Yes, Sunbae. My shift just ended." He forced a nervous smile, trying to mask his unease.
"Well, whatever." Kijun scoffed, brushing past him and heading back inside.
Jihoon exhaled, glancing toward the road again, wondering if he could still make a run for it while Kijun wasn't paying attention. But before he could act on the thought…
"Man, what are you doing? Aren't you coming in? What, you waiting for us to roll out the red carpet for you?"
Kijun's voice carried through the open doorway, drawing the attention of a few people inside.
Jihoon stiffened. Now there was no way to leave without making it obvious. Swallowing his reluctance, he forced his feet forward. "I-I was… just about to come in."
As he stepped inside, he was greeted with cheerful waves and slaps on the back. The warmth of the restaurant enveloped him, but it didn't quite reach him--not with that uneasy feeling still lodged in his chest. He forced a polite smile as he greeted everyone back, his eyes scanning the crowded tables.
Spotting an empty seat, he quietly slid into place.
"I thought you weren't going to come! It's so nice to see you here."
A girl beside him smiled as she shyly poured him a drink.
"Cheers~"
The glasses clinked together lightly before they all tilted their heads back, downing the alcohol in smooth motions. Jihoon followed suit, feeling the familiar burn of soju slide down his throat. He told himself he'd stay for ten minutes at most… just enough to avoid suspicion.
But just as he was beginning to relax, a voice he really didn't want to hear cut through the air.
"Yo, isn't this our Jihoon? What a surprise."
The atmosphere at the table completely shifted.
The easygoing chatter dulled, and people stiffened, exchanging uncomfortable glances, but no one said anything outright.
Jihoon's fingers tightened around his glass as he slowly turned toward the voice.
There he was--Senior Hyunwoo.
The man stood with an air of arrogant ease, holding a soju bottle in one hand, his leather jacket gleaming under the warm lights. He took a lazy sip, his eyes never leaving Jihoon. His posture was far too relaxed for someone who had just ruined the mood.
"…"
With a smirk, he shoved the girl sitting next to Jihoon aside and plopped down in her seat.
"What the-"
"What? You got a problem?"
Hyunwoo raised an eyebrow, daring her to say something.
The girl clenched her jaw but bit back her words, choosing to move to another seat rather than confront him. The others exchanged uneasy glances, clearly wanting nothing to do with him.
"Ughh… I have to go to the washroom."
"Yeah, me too."
One by one, they excused themselves, leaving Jihoon alone at the table with Hyunwoo.
The rest of the restaurant remained alive with drunken cheers erupting from other tables as mugs clashed together in celebratory toasts. The grill sizzled as fresh cuts of meat were thrown on, smoke curling into the air.
It was as if they were in a completely different world, separate from the tense silence that had settled over Jihoon.
Hyunwoo leaned in, wrapping an arm around Jihoon's shoulders. "Why were you ignoring me so much? I even called you every day."
Jihoon instinctively recoiled, shifting his head back as Hyunwoo leaned in too close.
"Is that so?" he replied stiffly, willing himself to keep his tone neutral.
"Woow… Aren't you being too much?" Hyunwoo let out a dry chuckle, his fingers trailing over Jihoon's hand.
A shiver crawled up Jihoon's spine. He shifted uncomfortably and yanked his hand back.
"How cute are you?" Hyunwoo mused, inching even closer.
That was it. Jihoon had had enough.
Without a second thought, he shot up from his seat and turned toward the others. "Sunbaenim, I have to go… ugh, my younger brother's been calling me nonstop."
A few seniors looked up, mildly surprised by the sudden announcement. One of them waved him off. "Oh… alright, if that's the case."
Others nodded in approval, not questioning him further. Jihoon didn't waste another second. Bowing quickly, he grabbed his jacket and strode toward the door, pushing out into the cold night before anyone could stop him.
The door swung shut behind him.
Kijun, watching from his seat, scoffed. "Just look at that arrogant bastard," he muttered, swirling the beer in his glass.
A friend beside him rolled his eyes. "Why don't you give it a rest?"
"Yeah, let's just drink till we die!" another cheered, raising their glass.
Laughter erupted once more as the conversation shifted. Glasses clinked together, followed by the rush of liquid pouring into empty cups. The night roared on, voices rising in excitement as any residual tension melted away, leaving nothing but the echoes of celebration.