118. The First MT, Separated from Aki for One Night, Two Days…! (3)

Long story short, my team lost the arm wrestling match, meaning we had to buy the drinks.

I was the representative for our team. Sung-chan was the representative for the other team, and at first, I almost won, but he managed to hang on and reverse the situation at the last moment. It’s all because of that dodgeball from earlier. Not an excuse, it’s the truth.

If I hadn’t wasted all my energy on dodgeball, if I had been in my usual condition, I would have definitely won…. But a loss is a loss, so I went to the nearby mart with a few classmates, taking responsibility for making my team lose to buy liquor.

Since there were 40 people. We bought about 80 bottles of soju and beer combined, in proportion. Because we bought so much, the cashier *ajumma* was surprised and asked, ‘Are you four going to drink all of this yourselves?’ I found that kind of funny, so I laughed along with my classmate.

Of course, I explained properly. That it wasn’t just for us, but for all the classmates at the *pension*.

“Here, Woo-joo. Have a drink~”

“Ah, thank you.”

Anyway. After buying the drinks, everyone participating in the MT gathered in the *pension’s* living room and started a drinking party.

Starting with a smooth toast from the 2nd-year department president, So-young *noona*, classmates who weren’t close yet introduced themselves. Those who were already friends, or knew older and younger classmates, laughed and talked while drinking. Just like me, right now.

“Oh, Woo-joo drinks well~? Looks like you’ve had your fair share of drinks, huh?”

“Nah, noona, I’m not good at drinking. My limit is only two bottles.”

“Two bottles isn’t drinking pretty well? Sis here can’t even finish half a bottle before she’s out.”

“Ah, really? You’re about the same as my girlfriend then? She’s out after half a bottle too—”

“Lee Soyoung, you can down three bottles of soju. Where are you getting these lies from…”

“Hey, you punk…! You wanna die…?!”

Soyoung-noona bristled, rising to her feet at the second-year sunbae’s harsh words. I chuckled softly, finishing my drink, and pulled my phone from my pocket.

The current time… 9:32 PM. The drinking session had barely started, and there were so many side dishes, we’d probably be at it for at least two or three more hours. That meant I’d have until around midnight to talk with Aki. Provided she didn’t fall asleep before then, of course.

*Click.*

I snapped a picture of the gathering and sent it to Aki. Then, I added a quick line. [Aki-ya, still awake?? We’re drinking right now lololol]

*Kakao-!*

“Uh.”

A reply came back almost instantly. It was late, so I’d wondered if she might be asleep, but I guess not.

[You know you can’t drink too much, right?? Drink in moderation, moderation!!!]

[(An emoticon of a cat with its arms crossed and a speech bubble next to its head that says, ‘Watching you…!’)]

“…Heh.”

Ah. Even her texts are cute. Seriously…

It’s a shame Aki isn’t in the same department as me, and it’s also a shame that she couldn’t come to the MT (Membership Training Retreat) together. I should be seeing her say those things in person, right now. I should take her on a trip together during the break.

“What’s up? Why are you grinning all of a sudden, Joo Woo-joo?”

“Huh? Oh, I’m just texting with my girlfriend.”

“Aish, goddammit, shouldn’t have asked…”

“Uh. By any chance, is she that girl you showed us the picture of earlier?”

“That’s right. Why?”

“Why else? Introductions to girls. Have you asked if she’ll set me up?”

“I haven’t asked yet…”

“No, why haven’t you asked? I’ll do your homework for a month! Ask her, please!”

One of my close classmates said with deadly seriousness. He must be truly desperate for a girlfriend. I chuckled and nodded in agreement.

“Hold on, I’ll ask her right now.”

“Oh. I’m counting on you, got it…?!”

[lololol Don’t worry. I’ll drink in moderation and go to sleep]

[Okay, okay. I trust you, my dear!! (An emoticon of a cat with a prim expression and crossed arms)]

[Trust me. Ah, but Aki-ya. By any chance, are there any girls around you who would be up for an introduction?]

[Hmm? Why all of a sudden??]

[One of my friends is going crazy wanting to be set up. If there’s a suitable girl, I want to introduce him and get him off my back, haha.]

[Ah, I see…?]

[Okay, wait a sec!]

I waited a moment, as Aki told me to. About thirty seconds.

Before long, my phone buzzed. A message from Aki.

[Hey hubby, remember Dong-hee, the girl you met at the after-party??]

[Yeah, I remember. Is she getting set up?]

[No, not her, but her friend. She’s in a different department apparently… I don’t know her name. But she looks cute in the picture. And she’s apparently full of *aegyo*! What do you think???]

[Hold on. Let me ask!]

“Hey, Jinwoo. There’s a girl who’s supposed to be cute and full of *aegyo*. Interested?”

“Is she pretty?”

“Well, I haven’t seen a picture either… but she’s supposed to be cute and full of *aegyo*, right? Wouldn’t you think she’s pretty?”

“Really? Then I’m definitely in. I’m okay.”

[He’s okay!]

[Alright. It’s a bit late now, so how about… the day after tomorrow? Let’s connect them then!!]

[(Cat emoji with wide, sparkling eyes)]

[Haha, okay. I’ll let her know~~]

[(Puppy emoji bowing politely, saying ‘Thank you’)]

“Okay. Done. He said they’ll connect you the day after tomorrow.”

“What, really? No joke?”

“Yeah, really.”

“…Woo-joo.”

Jinwoo grinned and held out his glass, filled with *soju*.

I smiled back and held out my glass too.

“Thanks. If it goes well, I’ll buy you dinner.”

“Dinner’s fine… just keep your promise. I’m introducing you, so that’s one month of you doing my homework. Okay?”

“Ah, of course, I will. Trust me. *Aniyo*, trust *me-seyo*!”

*Jjan*—!

We clinked glasses and emptied them in one go. The liquid, a curious mix of *soju* and beer, flowed into my mouth and down my throat with a *hool-hool*.

“Seriously, what’s up, Ju-u-ju? Why only Jin-woo? I, I was supposed to get a homework shuttle too, you know. Helping him just because our names are similar – that’s too much, isn’t it?”

“Hey, me too. Can’t you help me too? Just this once, I’ll buy you dinner.”

“…It’s not like I’m a matchmaking service or something. Why is everyone asking me?”

“Ugh, why else? Because you’re the only one who can introduce us to girls!”

“Yeah, man! You even have a foreign girlfriend, it wouldn’t kill you to help us out, would it?”

“What does that even have to do with…”

“Just do it. I’m begging you!”

“No… Ah, fine. I’ll do it. I’ll do it, so just let me go…!”

* * *

Thirty minutes later.

Yoshida Inn, Japan.

Aki, belly down on the tatami mat, was staring intensely at her phone.

The reason was simple.

Uju, who promised to send updates every ten minutes via messaging, hadn’t sent a single message in… thirty minutes since he’d mentioned he was having a drink.

Yes, thirty minutes.

Not fifteen or twenty, but a full thirty minutes without a message…!

‘…It’s not like I told him to contact me first.’

He was the one who said he’d send updates every ten minutes, said he’d be messaging every ten minutes.

He must be too busy drinking and having fun with his friends, not sending any messages at all.

Worse, it wasn’t just that he wasn’t sending anything – he was ignoring them. Ignoring them! Even though I sent him messages every five minutes!

[Husband-sama, you’re not drinking too much, are you?? (cat emoji with eyes slightly open, glancing sideways)]

[lololol why aren’t you reading my messages. are you having too much fun with your friends to look??!!]

[Husband-sama!!!! What are you doing!!!!!]

[Heyheyheyheyhey]

[Uju, what are you up to!!!!!!!]

“…Tch.”

The persistent ‘1’.

Even after repeated prodding, not having his messages read for thirty minutes was pushing Aki’s patience to its limit.

After I used my connections to introduce his friend to a girl, all so he could benefit from having a girlfriend… is he running off and having fun by himself? While I’m lying here alone and lonely in Japan…!

“What is he doing…?”

My pride wouldn’t let me call first, absolutely not…. But maybe I should just give a quick ring. Say it was a mistake and subtly ask why he hasn’t read my texts.

Deciding on that, Aki tapped on Woo-joo’s profile picture on KakaoTalk. And then she froze.

Woo-joo’s profile picture had changed.

The background was the pension Woo-joo had sent a photo of earlier, and the people in the picture were Woo-joo and some of his classmates, and behind them…

Some girl she’d never seen before, had her hand on Woo-joo’s shoulder, smiling…!

“…?!”

Aki’s eyes widened.

“……”

Then her pupils shrunk to about half their normal size.

With eyes that had lost a little of their light, Aki stared intensely at the girl behind Woo-joo.

Who is this.

No, who *is* she…?

Just who is she that she dares touch our Woo-joo’s shoulder…?

“…Ha.”

Aki jumped up from her seat.

This, as Woo-joo’s girlfriend, she absolutely couldn’t let it slide.

Aki glanced around wildly, then bit down on her lower lip and headed toward the bathroom.

And, going inside…

—Click, click!

* * *

“…Ah. My head.”

Leaning against the wall, he sighed.

After finally fending off several classmates who were persistently begging him to introduce them to girls, and fulfilling all the requests from older friends and acquaintances. He even participated in a group drinking game and downed almost, but not quite, two bottles in under an hour.

Two bottles was just barely within his limit, but this wasn’t just soju, it was *somaek* so he was feeling the effects a little more.

“Oh? What’s this~? Woo-joo. Already drunk?”

As he was catching his breath, So-young *noona* approached him. That business about only being able to handle half a bottle of soju must have been a lie, her face was flushed but she seemed perfectly alert.

“Not drunk, but a little dizzy. Did I drink too much…?”

“Really? Then, how about going to sober up with *noona*?”

“Pardon…? Go where?”

“There’s a convenience store just out there, how about just to there? Get some air, sober up a bit.”

“Ah, um…”

Just the two of us, me and Soyoung noona, at a convenience store.

Well, we know each other. Shouldn’t be a problem… Though, is this okay without asking Aki?

“Uh…”

I was just about to say something.

*Vrrrrr-*!

My phone, which I’d switched to vibrate earlier, buzzed loudly in my pocket.

‘Ah, that’s right…’

I need to text Aki too, forgot all about it while I was having fun. I hurriedly pulled out my phone.

And then I was shocked.

[Photo]

[Photo]

[Photo]

[Photo]

[Video]

Photos of Aki.

And not just any photos, photos of her half-undressed, in her underwear.

“……?!”

Not just one, but several, and even a video… !