Chapter 10: It’s true that it’s because of him

[What’d she say? Am I the only one who didn’t hear?]
[If she whispers that close, of course you can’t hear.]
[They were way too close, damn;;]
[God Yuna doesn’t lose even up close, wow.]

Only then did I check and see the channel was still on.
Plenty of people were telling me to turn it off, but just as many were shushing them, hoping for some drama.
How did I miss this?

‘I almost screwed up…’

Even if I’m tipsy, I nearly broadcasted myself peeing.
Showing the inside of the women’s bathroom isn’t exactly ideal either, so I turned off the channel.

Good thing I caught it now.
If Yuna hadn’t said anything…

…Wait?

– Forgetting something?

I replayed Yuna’s words in my head.
How did she know to tell me?

It’s obvious.
Only viewers know about the channel.

So, Yuna’s a viewer?

‘Ugh… I’m too drunk for this…’

How am I only realizing this now?
A chill ran down my spine as Yuna stood close.

“You… you’re watching too?”
“Huh? Watching what?”
“You just said I forgot something…”
“Your phone! You left it at the table!”

Yuna smiled brightly and handed me my phone.
Oh, my phone… I forgot it.
That’s what she meant? Really?

“….”

I stared at Yuna, so close to me.
I couldn’t believe it.
Something felt off. Very off.

But my drunk brain wasn’t working properly.

Yuna, still pressed close, smelled like daisies.
And a sweet tropical fruit scent.

Does she wear perfume like that?

The fragrance mixed with my drunkenness, clouding my mind.
Yuna… felt like a different person.

“Step… back a bit…”
“Sorry, you’re just so cute, like a squirrel!”
“Squirrel, my ass.”

I finally pushed her away and escaped into a stall.
Sitting on the toilet, I didn’t go right away.
The thought of someone listening made me self-conscious.
Especially if it’s a girl, not a guy.

So I waited for Yuna to leave.

But there was no sound for a while.
If she came to give me my phone, she’d leave right away, right?

This was a creaky bathroom door.
I’d been listening closely, so I should’ve heard her leave.

“….”

What’s going on?
What’s she doing out there?

Unable to hold it any longer, I did my business.
The trickling sound made me cringe with embarrassment.

I cautiously opened the stall door, but contrary to my fears, Yuna was already gone.

“What, I was imagining things…?”

I was sure I’d been listening for sounds, that’s weird.
Guess I drank too much.
This is why alcohol’s the root of all evil.

Grumbling, I left the bathroom.

* * *

Yuna wasn’t in the pub either.
Did she step out for some air?

[Damn, that was such a missed chance.]
[What’d you and God Yuna talk about?]
[You two were so close, maybe…?]

“Ugh! I’m too drunk to read the text!”

[Damn lol, reading a textbook now?]
[She seems docile but has some guts.]
[Answer us, come on!!]

I cheerfully returned to the table, only to find Kim Taeyoon still sitting there.

My smile dropped instantly.
Why’s this guy still here?

“I told you, I’ve got nothing to say.”
“Still hung up on that?”
“….”
“Ugh, I apologized already.”

Apologized? Did I ask for one?

“I had a hard time because of that too. Honestly, I didn’t even say anything wrong.”
“Yeah, sure, you weren’t wrong. That’s why I stopped forcing myself to fit in, right? I’m only here today because of Yuna.”
“For real? Fine, don’t come around then. I’m saying this because I’m uncomfortable seeing you too.”

What does your discomfort have to do with me?

[This guy’s mentality is trash.]
[Sounds like he wronged her and now he’s whining about being uncomfortable?]
[Why are there so many shameless jerks like this?]

I was pissed, but I’m only here today.
I won’t have to see his face again.

I was about to snap back but held off because others were cussing him out for me.
I decided to let it go.
I never expected him to be decent anyway.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

A voice came from behind. Yuna’s.
She wasn’t in the pub earlier.
How’d she appear from the opposite side of the entrance?

Yuna was smiling as usual, but something in her eyes was scary.

“I asked what you meant.”
“Oh, Yuna, it’s nothing.”
“Nothing? Saying you’re uncomfortable and telling her not to show up? Who are you to say that?”

Taeyoon was visibly flustered.
Yuna doesn’t know about his deal.
Neither do most department people—I never told anyone, so of course they don’t.

Even though Taeyoon was in our orientation group, the people he gossiped about me with were others in the department.
I just overheard it passing by.

His “hard time” probably means things got awkward with those people after I caught them.
But it’s not like they’d spread that he got busted gossiping about me.

‘They’re all the same kind of people.’

That’s why they were gossiping together.
I had no intention of outing him for it.
What’s the point of being petty as an adult?

That’s part of why I got tired and distanced myself from department stuff.
People assumed I didn’t join because I couldn’t fit in, which is partly true.

Human relationships, department life—is this just how it is?
I hate it. It’s childish, annoying, and frustrating.

“I’m asking. Who are you to talk like that?”
“Yuna, chill, it’s really nothing. I can’t even talk to Yeseung?”
“Oh, so conversation means one-sided demands and pushing people around? Yeseung doesn’t like it, so leave. And she’ll be doing department stuff with me from now on, whether she does or not is her choice. Don’t corner people with your pathetic behavior. Yeseung might let it slide because she’s kind, but I can’t stand seeing that crap.”

[God Yuna’s savage takedown, damn.]
[Angel Yuna! Angel Yuna! Angel Yuna!!]
[Smiling while pissed is scary as hell.]
[Lmao, that guy’s mouth flapping is hilarious.]

Wait… I’m not doing department stuff!

Flustered, I looked at Yuna, and she shot me a fierce glare.
I need to say I’m not doing it…
But she’s too scary to speak up now.

Let’s… talk about it later…

“Ugh, it’s a misunderstanding! I sorted it out with Yeseung! I apologized and everything!”

Taeyoon stammered and bolted.

Wow… he was so smug when I caught him gossiping.
This is the first time I’ve seen him flee like that.

Even after he left, Yuna’s expression didn’t soften.
She’s smiling, so it’s not like it could soften, but…
Could you maybe not smile like that?

Between the alcohol and this, I’m getting hiccups.

“It’s just… he got caught talking behind my back before…”
“What’d he say?”
“Just that I was forcing myself to fit in and it was obvious. Nothing big.”

Why am I explaining for him?
Her expression was so intense, I felt I had to say something. It’s not my fault anyway.

“…So that’s why you stopped doing department stuff?”
“Not just that. Like I said earlier, I already thought department life was tiring and didn’t suit me.”
“I see… it was because of him.”

[Lmao, she’s not even listening?]
[Yuna’s had at least two bottles lol.]
[Yeah, and she probably drank at other tables too lol, but her speech is so clear, damn.]
[It’s not just the alcohol, she’s pissed about Yeseung lol, it’s all his fault.]

Even I can tell she’s not that drunk.
He talked about me, not Yuna…

Though it’s not entirely unrelated to her.
She’s been thinking her actions made me avoid department life.

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t grateful for her standing up for me.

“Ugh, fine, let’s say it was him.”

When I said that, Yuna’s expression softened.
Well, she was already smiling, but the scary smile turned back to her usual bright one.

“Right? It was him, wasn’t it?”
“Yeah, yeah.”
“So it’s settled?”
“…Huh?”
“Since it’s settled, you can do department stuff now, right?”

…What??