When Min Ho entered the second floor, he spotted Il Woo right away. He was talking and laughing with the bartender at the far corner of the room. There weren’t a lot of people since it was a Thursday night, which he was quite thankful for. The place was dark enough, so people didn’t really notice him. The music wasn’t too loud either, which he personally preferred. Without making a sound, he slid onto the stool next to Il Woo. His friend turned to look him, a bit startled.
‘Ah, kapchagiya. Ya. You can’t just creep up on another man at a bar,’ Il Woo said.
Min Ho gave him a blank look before looking up at the bartender. He smiled. ‘Hyun Woo hyung, how have you been?’
‘I’m great, now that my favorite customer has finally paid me a visit after all this time,’ the ahjussi extended his hand and shook Min Ho’s. ‘I hear you’ve been very busy.’
‘Hyung, you said just now that I was your favorite customer,’ Il Woo interjected.
‘Before you arrived, Lee Kwang Soo was my favorite customer. He’s over there, at that booth,’ he pointed. ‘My favorite varies based on star power.’
‘You shouldn’t live like that, hyung,’ Il Woo responded, looking dejected. He took a swig from his beer and turned to Min Ho. ‘You want one?’
‘No, I’ll have a glass of Jack,’ he told Hyun Woo.
‘Whiskey?’ Il Woo looked at him incredulously, as the bartender prepared his drink.
‘Hmm,’ he nodded. ‘Wae?’
Il Woo studied his face. ‘What’s wrong?’
Min Ho frowned. ‘What do you mean? I just feel like drinking something stronger.’
‘Exactly. Because something’s wrong.’
Hyun Woo placed the glass in front of Min Ho. He thanked him and took a sip. He winced as he felt the liquor burn his throat lightly. ‘Stop being dramatic,’ he told Il Woo. ‘I’m just tired. Come on, amuse me with one of your stories. What’s up with you?’
‘Me? Nothing much. Still busy with the drama. Shooting ends in March so I’m starting to look at other projects. Uee is really cute.’
Min Ho laughed. ‘You end up having a crush on all the girls you work with. Remember when you thought you were in love with Eun Hye noona?’
‘Eh. Too bad she isn’t into younger men.’
‘Don’t forget Lee Chung Ah.’
‘Do you know she’s dating Ki Woo hyung? She ended up with me in the drama but the second lead got the girl in real life,’ Il Woo shook his head. ‘I think I’m unlucky when it comes to girls I work with. Look at Shin Hye. She ended up dating you.’
Min Ho tensed at the mention of Shin Hye’s name. He lifted his glass to drink again. This time, he downed almost half the glass.
‘Whoa, slow down. We’ve got all night,’ Il Woo told him, looking concerned.
Min Ho laughed and clinked his glass with Il Woo’s beer bottle. He then drank all of the contents and let out a satisfied grunt. Il Woo’s eyes widened when Min Ho placed his glass in front of Hyun Woo and smiled. ‘Another one, hyung.’
‘Ya, ya, ya. What are you doing?’ Il Woo grabbed his glass before Hyun Woo can fill it again. ‘Are you trying to get pissed drunk?’
Min Ho leaned over and seized the glass from his friend. ‘Don’t you know you’re not supposed to mess with another man’s alcohol? Aish.’
‘Just let him drink,’ Hyun Woo told Il Woo just when he was about to protest. ‘He looks like he needs it.’ He took Min Ho’s glass and poured him some more whiskey. ‘I’ve been a bartender for years and I can tell when someone wants to drink, and when someone needs to drink.’
Min Ho smiled at him. ‘Heokshi. You’re the best, hyung.’ After he received the glass, he turned to Il Woo again. ‘Let’s drink, chingu!’
Shin Hye walked toward the entrance, taking out her phone to make a call to her stylist. It was difficult making her manager leave; he insisted on coming along, saying it wasn’t safe for her to be there. Shin Hye had assured him that it was going to be fine, but he wouldn’t budge. It was only when she threatened him with the possibility of getting his hair pulled by her drunk stylist that he finally backed down.
When she looked up from her phone, her eyes widened in surprise to see Lee Kwang Soo by the door. ‘Kwang Soo oppa?’
‘Eo? Shin Hye! What are you doing here? Are you all alone?’
Shin Hye gave him a high-five. ‘Ah, yeah. But my friends are here. They came in before me. I’m actually looking for them.’
Kwang Soo clapped his hands once. ‘Ah, that’s right. I knew I recognized those girls! Your coordi, right? They came in here a while back, but they went upstairs since the booths were taken.’
‘Ah, kure?’ Shin Hye replied. ‘I should go up, then. It was nice seeing you, oppa.’
‘I’ll come with you. I want to say hi to them, too.’
When Shin Hye arrived at the table, the girls shrieked for joy. Shin Hye sat beside her stylist and immediately took the soju bottle to pour herself a glass. Kwang Soo introduced himself and stayed at their table for a bit. They were in the middle of giggling at something Kwang Soo said when her stylist leaned in to whisper.
‘Ya. Do you think Lee Kwang Soo could be my Lee Min Ho?’
Shin Hye laughed out so loud she almost fell out of her seat. She started teasing Kwang Soo and her stylist, and soon, they were all bursting in laughter. Shin Hye poured herself another glass and drank it eagerly, telling herself that she needed at least one night where she can laugh freely and not think about him anymore.
‘I knew it. I knew this was going to happen,’ Il Woo let out a frustrated sigh as he stared at his unconscious friend.
Min Ho’s head rested on his folded arms on the surface of the bar. Beside him was an empty glass.
Il Woo looked around to see if anybody recognized them at all. It looked like nobody bothered; they were all in their respective booths drinking the night away. He looked up at the bartender helplessly. ‘How many glasses did he have?’
‘Four,’ Hyun Woo replied, suppressing a laugh. ‘I didn’t peg Min Ho for a lightweight.’
‘Aish,’ Il Woo muttered under his breath. ‘I can’t carry him outside. People are going to notice for sure.’
‘You can use the employees’ exit. But maybe he can walk. Try to wake him up.’
Il Woo leaned closer and shook Min Ho’s arm. ‘Ya. Ya, ima. Wake up.’
Min Ho stirred and sat up, his eyes barely opening. Il Woo recoiled, surprised.
‘See, he’s fine!’ Hyun Woo exclaimed.
Il Woo stood up and put his hands under Min Ho’s arms. ‘Let’s go before you pass out again,’ he whispered, struggling to lift Min Ho up from his seat.
Min Ho shook him off. ‘Andwae! One more glassssss.’
‘MEO?’
Min Ho swayed, almost falling out of his stool. Il Woo was quick to support his back, stopping him from falling. Min Ho positioned his chin on his palm and looked up at the bartender, as if nothing happened. ‘One moooore glaaaass, chuse… chuseyowww.’
‘Aish, chincha!’ Il Woo placed his hands on his waist, unsure of what to do. ‘Ya, Lee Min Ho. Stop it or I’ll call Dong Woo hyung.’
Min Ho frowned at the mention of his manager and shook his head wildly ‘No! I don’t like that ahjussi! Call Shin Hye. Park Shin Hye. Call her, pleaaaaase.’ He sat up and turned to Il Woo. Min Ho placed his hands on Il Woo’s cheeks. ‘Park Shin Hye. I need her.’
Il Woo immediately reached up to remove Min Ho’s hands from his face. ‘Ya. She’s your girlfriend. You call her.’
The bartender’s eyes widened and he mouthed, ‘girlfriend?’ to Il Woo. He just nodded in response.
Min Ho let out a loud sigh. He spotted his empty glass and grabbed it. He extended his arm to Hyun Woo. ‘More,’ he said groggily. Hyun Woo reluctantly took the glass from him and instead of filling it up, hid it under the sink. Min Ho turned to a sullen-looking Il Woo. ‘I… I can’t call her,’ he shook his head. ‘She doesn’t like me. Call her, Il Woo-yah. Chaebaaaaal.’
Il Woo closed his eyes and hung his head low. This wasn’t how he expected the night to go. He just wanted to hang out with his friend, but now, he had to deal with a drunk Min Ho. It has been years since the last time he saw him behave this way. Min Ho was one of the worst drunks he’s ever encountered. He usually gets really loud, and very stubborn. He needed to get him out of there before he causes a scene. Il Woo looked up and saw Min Ho’s eyes watering. Panicking, his eyebrows creased as he quickly leaned closer. ‘YA. What the hell are you doing? Don’t you dare cry here,’ Il Woo whispered.
Min Ho bit his lip and put his head on the bar again. ‘Call herrr. Call Shin Hye. Make her come,’ he said, although his words were muffled.
Il Woo took another deep breath and reached for his phone inside his pocket. ‘I can’t believe you’re making me bother her at this time of the night,’ he mumbled. He scrolled down his contacts and found Shin Hye’s number. He placed his phone beside his ear and observed his friend. He was a mess.
‘The number you have dialled has been disconnected.’
‘Meoya…’ Il Woo hit Min Ho’s arm lightly. ‘Ya, did she change her number?’
Min Ho didn’t respond and turned his head to face the other direction.
‘Aish, this namja.’ Il Woo tried again but it was no use. He reached for Min Ho’s phone inside his jacket pocket, only to find out that he had changed his password.
Il Woo let out an exasperated groan and looked at Hyun Woo. ‘Hyung, ottoke?’
When Min Ho entered the second floor, he spotted Il Woo right away. He was talking and laughing with the bartender at the far corner of the room. There weren’t a lot of people since it was a Thursday night, which he was quite thankful for. The place was dark enough, so people didn’t really notice him. The music wasn’t too loud either, which he personally preferred. Without making a sound, he slid onto the stool next to Il Woo. His friend turned to look him, a bit startled.
‘Ah, kapchagiya. Ya. You can’t just creep up on another man at a bar,’ Il Woo said.
Min Ho gave him a blank look before looking up at the bartender. He smiled. ‘Hyun Woo hyung, how have you been?’
‘I’m great, now that my favorite customer has finally paid me a visit after all this time,’ the ahjussi extended his hand and shook Min Ho’s. ‘I hear you’ve been very busy.’
‘Hyung, you said just now that I was your favorite customer,’ Il Woo interjected.
‘Before you arrived, Lee Kwang Soo was my favorite customer. He’s over there, at that booth,’ he pointed. ‘My favorite varies based on star power.’
‘You shouldn’t live like that, hyung,’ Il Woo responded, looking dejected. He took a swig from his beer and turned to Min Ho. ‘You want one?’
‘No, I’ll have a glass of Jack,’ he told Hyun Woo.
‘Whiskey?’ Il Woo looked at him incredulously, as the bartender prepared his drink.
‘Hmm,’ he nodded. ‘Wae?’
Il Woo studied his face. ‘What’s wrong?’
Min Ho frowned. ‘What do you mean? I just feel like drinking something stronger.’
‘Exactly. Because something’s wrong.’
Hyun Woo placed the glass in front of Min Ho. He thanked him and took a sip. He winced as he felt the liquor burn his throat lightly. ‘Stop being dramatic,’ he told Il Woo. ‘I’m just tired. Come on, amuse me with one of your stories. What’s up with you?’
‘Me? Nothing much. Still busy with the drama. Shooting ends in March so I’m starting to look at other projects. Uee is really cute.’
Min Ho laughed. ‘You end up having a crush on all the girls you work with. Remember when you thought you were in love with Eun Hye noona?’
‘Eh. Too bad she isn’t into younger men.’
‘Don’t forget Lee Chung Ah.’
‘Do you know she’s dating Ki Woo hyung? She ended up with me in the drama but the second lead got the girl in real life,’ Il Woo shook his head. ‘I think I’m unlucky when it comes to girls I work with. Look at Shin Hye. She ended up dating you.’
Min Ho tensed at the mention of Shin Hye’s name. He lifted his glass to drink again. This time, he downed almost half the glass.
‘Whoa, slow down. We’ve got all night,’ Il Woo told him, looking concerned.
Min Ho laughed and clinked his glass with Il Woo’s beer bottle. He then drank all of the contents and let out a satisfied grunt. Il Woo’s eyes widened when Min Ho placed his glass in front of Hyun Woo and smiled. ‘Another one, hyung.’
‘Ya, ya, ya. What are you doing?’ Il Woo grabbed his glass before Hyun Woo can fill it again. ‘Are you trying to get pissed drunk?’
Min Ho leaned over and seized the glass from his friend. ‘Don’t you know you’re not supposed to mess with another man’s alcohol? Aish.’
‘Just let him drink,’ Hyun Woo told Il Woo just when he was about to protest. ‘He looks like he needs it.’ He took Min Ho’s glass and poured him some more whiskey. ‘I’ve been a bartender for years and I can tell when someone wants to drink, and when someone needs to drink.’
Min Ho smiled at him. ‘Heokshi. You’re the best, hyung.’ After he received the glass, he turned to Il Woo again. ‘Let’s drink, chingu!’
Shin Hye walked toward the entrance, taking out her phone to make a call to her stylist. It was difficult making her manager leave; he insisted on coming along, saying it wasn’t safe for her to be there. Shin Hye had assured him that it was going to be fine, but he wouldn’t budge. It was only when she threatened him with the possibility of getting his hair pulled by her drunk stylist that he finally backed down.
When she looked up from her phone, her eyes widened in surprise to see Lee Kwang Soo by the door. ‘Kwang Soo oppa?’
‘Eo? Shin Hye! What are you doing here? Are you all alone?’
Shin Hye gave him a high-five. ‘Ah, yeah. But my friends are here. They came in before me. I’m actually looking for them.’
Kwang Soo clapped his hands once. ‘Ah, that’s right. I knew I recognized those girls! Your coordi, right? They came in here a while back, but they went upstairs since the booths were taken.’
‘Ah, kure?’ Shin Hye replied. ‘I should go up, then. It was nice seeing you, oppa.’
‘I’ll come with you. I want to say hi to them, too.’
When Shin Hye arrived at the table, the girls shrieked for joy. Shin Hye sat beside her stylist and immediately took the soju bottle to pour herself a glass. Kwang Soo introduced himself and stayed at their table for a bit. They were in the middle of giggling at something Kwang Soo said when her stylist leaned in to whisper.
‘Ya. Do you think Lee Kwang Soo could be my Lee Min Ho?’
Shin Hye laughed out so loud she almost fell out of her seat. She started teasing Kwang Soo and her stylist, and soon, they were all bursting in laughter. Shin Hye poured herself another glass and drank it eagerly, telling herself that she needed at least one night where she can laugh freely and not think about him anymore.
‘I knew it. I knew this was going to happen,’ Il Woo let out a frustrated sigh as he stared at his unconscious friend.
Min Ho’s head rested on his folded arms on the surface of the bar. Beside him was an empty glass.
Il Woo looked around to see if anybody recognized them at all. It looked like nobody bothered; they were all in their respective booths drinking the night away. He looked up at the bartender helplessly. ‘How many glasses did he have?’
‘Four,’ Hyun Woo replied, suppressing a laugh. ‘I didn’t peg Min Ho for a lightweight.’
‘Aish,’ Il Woo muttered under his breath. ‘I can’t carry him outside. People are going to notice for sure.’
‘You can use the employees’ exit. But maybe he can walk. Try to wake him up.’
Il Woo leaned closer and shook Min Ho’s arm. ‘Ya. Ya, ima. Wake up.’
Min Ho stirred and sat up, his eyes barely opening. Il Woo recoiled, surprised.
‘See, he’s fine!’ Hyun Woo exclaimed.
Il Woo stood up and put his hands under Min Ho’s arms. ‘Let’s go before you pass out again,’ he whispered, struggling to lift Min Ho up from his seat.
Min Ho shook him off. ‘Andwae! One more glassssss.’
‘MEO?’
Min Ho swayed, almost falling out of his stool. Il Woo was quick to support his back, stopping him from falling. Min Ho positioned his chin on his palm and looked up at the bartender, as if nothing happened. ‘One moooore glaaaass, chuse… chuseyowww.’
‘Aish, chincha!’ Il Woo placed his hands on his waist, unsure of what to do. ‘Ya, Lee Min Ho. Stop it or I’ll call Dong Woo hyung.’
Min Ho frowned at the mention of his manager and shook his head wildly ‘No! I don’t like that ahjussi! Call Shin Hye. Park Shin Hye. Call her, pleaaaaase.’ He sat up and turned to Il Woo. Min Ho placed his hands on Il Woo’s cheeks. ‘Park Shin Hye. I need her.’
Il Woo immediately reached up to remove Min Ho’s hands from his face. ‘Ya. She’s your girlfriend. You call her.’
The bartender’s eyes widened and he mouthed, ‘girlfriend?’ to Il Woo. He just nodded in response.
Min Ho let out a loud sigh. He spotted his empty glass and grabbed it. He extended his arm to Hyun Woo. ‘More,’ he said groggily. Hyun Woo reluctantly took the glass from him and instead of filling it up, hid it under the sink. Min Ho turned to a sullen-looking Il Woo. ‘I… I can’t call her,’ he shook his head. ‘She doesn’t like me. Call her, Il Woo-yah. Chaebaaaaal.’
Il Woo closed his eyes and hung his head low. This wasn’t how he expected the night to go. He just wanted to hang out with his friend, but now, he had to deal with a drunk Min Ho. It has been years since the last time he saw him behave this way. Min Ho was one of the worst drunks he’s ever encountered. He usually gets really loud, and very stubborn. He needed to get him out of there before he causes a scene. Il Woo looked up and saw Min Ho’s eyes watering. Panicking, his eyebrows creased as he quickly leaned closer. ‘YA. What the hell are you doing? Don’t you dare cry here,’ Il Woo whispered.
Min Ho bit his lip and put his head on the bar again. ‘Call herrr. Call Shin Hye. Make her come,’ he said, although his words were muffled.
Il Woo took another deep breath and reached for his phone inside his pocket. ‘I can’t believe you’re making me bother her at this time of the night,’ he mumbled. He scrolled down his contacts and found Shin Hye’s number. He placed his phone beside his ear and observed his friend. He was a mess.
‘The number you have dialled has been disconnected.’
‘Meoya…’ Il Woo hit Min Ho’s arm lightly. ‘Ya, did she change her number?’
Min Ho didn’t respond and turned his head to face the other direction.
‘Aish, this namja.’ Il Woo tried again but it was no use. He reached for Min Ho’s phone inside his jacket pocket, only to find out that he had changed his password.
Il Woo let out an exasperated groan and looked at Hyun Woo. ‘Hyung, ottoke?’
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