Chapter 7: Be Careful with Men Too
-Bzzz bzzz
The small rectangle of glass and metal on the table pulsed with a silent urgency. Eunwoo’s phone, vibrating, seemed to pull her back from a distant, hazy shore.
Her eyelids fluttered, heavy and reluctant. She fumbled for the phone, a desperate attempt to anchor herself in reality. But the world swam before her eyes, a kaleidoscope of blurry colors and shapes. Answering felt like trying to catch smoke. Beside her, Lee Jiyeon, whose hands had been steadying her shoulders, saw her struggle. With a gentle squeeze, Jiyeon’s finger reached out and pressed the answer button.
-Go Eunwoo! Where are you? The company dinner’s over!
“Hakyuuh…” The sound was thick, slurred, barely a whisper.
-Hey..!! Are you drunk??? Hakyung’s voice sharpened with alarm.
“Dizzy…” Eunwoo mumbled, leaning into Jiyeon’s support.
-Hey, where are you..! Don’t move! I’m at a company dinner too, but I’ll call Eun Woogyung! Send me your location right now and stay put! Don’t you dare wander off alone! Got it?! The frantic edge in Hakyung’s voice was unmistakable.
“Mm….” A soft moan was all Eunwoo could manage in response.
Miles away, Eun Woogyung sat engrossed in a book, the quiet hum of the apartment a familiar soundtrack.
-Bzzz bzzz
His phone, resting on the end table, vibrated.
“What,” he answered, his tone flat, already expecting his sister’s usual demands.
-Oppa! Quick! I just sent you an address. You have to go pick up Go Eunwoo! Hakyung’s voice was anything but usual – it was tight with panic.
He lowered his book, the spine closing with a soft snap, and adjusted his posture, sitting straighter. “Go Eunwoo?”
“Sigh… Yeah. They had a company dinner, and I think she drank way too much. She’s totally out of it. I called her thinking we could meet up after mine finished, but… anyway, can you go now? Please?”
A muscle tightened in Eun Woogyung’s jaw. After the call ended, he rose from the couch, the leather sighing beneath him, and headed towards his room with a determined stride.
The cool evening air hit them as they spilled out of the bustling Chinese restaurant. Eunwoo felt like a fragile glass doll filled with lead – nauseous, spinning, utterly drained. Yet, she plastered a shaky smile on her face, a desperate attempt at normalcy.
“Eunwoo, are you alright?” Lee Jiyeon asked, her brow furrowed with genuine concern.
“Yes..!” Eunwoo widened her eyes, trying to project sobriety she didn’t possess, her voice pitched slightly too high. Jiyeon exhaled a soft sigh of disbelief. The girl could barely stand without listing, yet insisted she was fine.
“Rookie, you okay?” Bae Suhyuk sauntered over, leaning in to peer at her face with casual familiarity. Eunwoo snapped her eyes open again, nodding vigorously.
“Yes!”
“Haha, our newbie’s kinda like a puppy, isn’t she…” Suhyuk chuckled, his hand lifting, seemingly intending to pat her head.
-Smack
Just as his fingers neared her hair, a large, firm hand shot out, catching his pale wrist in a vice-like grip.
“???” Suhyuk froze, his smile vanishing.
“?????” Jiyeon’s eyes went wide.
“?????????” A collective gasp rippled through the knot of employees watching. And when they saw the man attached to the hand, the female employees’ eyes widened even further.
He was breathtakingly, unfairly handsome.
Tall, easily over 190cm, with shoulders that seemed to stretch the fabric of his relaxed shirt. The casual clothes couldn’t hide the solid build of his thighs. His skin was slightly tanned, and his gaze, tired and indifferent, held a distinctly unsettling, yet undeniably sexy, aura.
Standing next to the slender, almost boyish Bae Suhyuk, the contrast was stark. This man was darker, heavier, radiating an energy that warned you to keep your distance. Merely being near him sent a strange jolt through the air.
“Oh? That’s rookie’s oppa?” Suhyuk finally managed a light, perhaps forced, chuckle escaping him.
Eun Woogyung released his grip on Suhyuk’s wrist. Without a word, he moved past Jiyeon, gently but firmly taking Eunwoo from her, supporting her weight against his side.
“Eunwoo can’t hold her liquor,” he said to Jiyeon, his voice low but clear. “Thank you for looking after her.”
He offered a polite bow, his eyes sweeping over the group. Eunwoo slumped against him, a dead weight.
Everyone watching held their breath. They didn’t look alike at all. But the CEO had called him her “oppa,” and the protective way he held her, the sheer presence he exuded, broadcast older-brother energy loud and clear. No one dared voice their confusion.
“Ah… I’m sorry. One of our staff insisted on giving her kaoliang liquor as a welcome.” Jiyeon explained, a hint of apology in her tone.
“Ah…” Eun Woogyung’s gaze, previously neutral, turned ice-cold. His eyes slowly, deliberately, landed on Bae Suhyuk, who raised both hands in a placating gesture.
“It wasn’t me. Seriously. I wouldn’t go that far.”
At that precise moment, Eunwoo, who had been swaying in a drunken stupor, suddenly straightened up with a jolt, her voice surprisingly clear.
“Thank you for your kindness!!!” she declared in a loud, earnest voice, bowing awkwardly while leaning against him.
Startled by her sudden, jerky movement, Eun Woogyung let out a soft sigh, his hand moving to gently support her odd, upright posture by the shoulders.
“I’ll be taking care of Eunwoo now. Please excuse us.” With another polite, yet dismissive, bow, he carefully guided her away from the stunned group.
Watching their retreating backs, Bae Suhyuk lit a cigarette, the flame illuminating his thoughtful expression.
He didn’t seem like her real brother. Not at all.
But still… There was something about them. Not quite special, but maybe that was what made it special – an odd, undefined connection hanging in the air.
Settled in the back of the taxi, Eunwoo smiled faintly to herself, eyes closed, a picture of tranquil, drunken contentment.
Mission “Pick Up Sister’s Friend” accomplished. Eun Woogyung glanced over at the half-asleep girl leaning against the window, a faint sigh escaping him. He pulled out his phone. He should call Hakyung, let her know he had her friend safe.
-Thud
Suddenly, a heavy weight landed on his thigh. He froze, every muscle locking up.
“..?”
The spring night air, already carrying a chill, combined with the alcohol warming her system, had rendered Eunwoo’s body completely limp. She’d simply toppled sideways, her head coming to rest heavily on his leg.
His eyes darted around the confined space of the taxi in a silent panic. He quickly adjusted his posture, awkwardly shifting away slightly, then hastily grabbed the coat he’d been holding and threw it over her legs, a flimsy shield against the sudden intimacy.
“Mm…” Eunwoo, now lying on her side, shifted uncomfortably, burrowing deeper. Eun Woogyung carefully repositioned the coat, trying to provide some semblance of distance, some barrier.
Then, she turned her face towards him, and perhaps jostled by the taxi’s gentle sway, her hand reached out, blindly fumbling until it found purchase on his shirt. With a heavy sigh that seemed to carry the weight of the world (or at least, too much kaoliang), she buried her face against him, her warm breath exhaling directly against his thigh.
“..!!!”
This was… profoundly awkward. Her head nudged deeper, settling between his legs as if finding the most comfortable spot, her breaths warm against his skin.
-Gulp
She’s… my sister’s friend.
Stay calm.
Sister’s. Friend.
Calm down… Please… Stop squirming…
They weren’t actual siblings, no blood relation, but still. This felt… wrong.
He made a firm, silent decision. She should never drink again. Not like this.
What if he hadn’t come? What if that white-wolf-like guy, Suhyuk, had ended up taking her home instead…?
The mere thought sent a shiver down his spine, entirely unrelated to the chilly air.
He carried the completely passed-out Eunwoo into the apartment. He pushed open the door to her room – unnecessarily tidy, the floor bare from her morning cleaning spree.
With another sigh, he pivoted and carried her into Hakyung’s room instead. Letting her sleep in his bed was out of the question.
-Thump
He gently lowered her onto Hakyung’s bed, pulling the blankets up around her shoulders, tucking her in with almost paternal care.
Just as he was about to quietly slip out, his hand hovering over the blanket he’d just patted down-
“Mmm…” A soft murmur from the bed.
“…Yes?” he paused, turning back.
“Water…” The request was barely audible, a thirsty whisper.
“Ah…” He looked at her for a moment, then nodded and hurried out to the kitchen.
“Here, drink this.” He held the glass of water out. Eunwoo, with visible effort, pushed herself up, her hair a mess around her face, and gulped down the water as if she’d been wandering in a desert.
He watched her, still half in a drunken daze, and let out a soft sigh. “Why did you drink so much?”
“…They gave it to me…” she mumbled, looking small and apologetic.
“You should’ve just said no.”
“Was that okay..?” Her eyes, still slightly unfocused, blinked up at him, a genuine question in their depths. He smiled faintly, a ghost of a curve on his lips, and nodded.
“…I see…” she whispered, absorbing the information.
“Be more careful with drinking from now on.”
She nodded firmly, then winced, squeezing her eyes shut as the room spun again.
“…And be careful with men too.”
His voice was low, almost a continuation of his previous thought, but the words landed with unexpected weight.
Her eyes snapped open. ‘Did I hear that right…?’
She blinked slowly, her lips slightly parted in surprise.
In the dim light of Hakyung’s room, Eunwoo sat on the edge of the bed, and Eun Woogyung sat beside it, his gaze fixed on her.
And in that moment, their eyes met. The air between them thickened, charged with a sudden, hot, breathless tension. Until now, the alcohol had blurred the edges of awkwardness, but this felt sharp, pointed, almost… suggestive.
They stared, neither saying a word, both acutely aware of the same strange current flowing between them.
Ah… he’s my friend’s brother… Eunwoo thought, a blush creeping up her neck.
Ah… she’s my sister’s friend… Eun Woogyung’s internal mantra felt weaker than usual.
-Thump thump thump
The sound of hasty footsteps approaching the door shattered the fragile quiet.
“Hands off.” Hakyung’s voice, sharp and clear, cut through the tension, startling them both.
“..!!!” Eunwoo flinched.
“..!!!” Eun Woogyung jolted back, his calm facade cracking.
They both whipped their heads towards the door, caught red-handed by an accusation they weren’t even sure how to deny.
“Looks like the man to watch out for is right here,” Hakyung declared, standing in the doorway, hands on her hips, eyeing her brother with suspicion.
They wanted to protest, to stumble out a denial, but they were too flustered, too caught off guard to speak.
“Get out!!! You damn wolf!!!” Hakyung stormed into the room, a force of nature, and unceremoniously shoved Eun Woogyung towards the door.
“Ah..! Why are you like this..!” he protested weakly, allowing himself to be pushed out.
The commotion, Hakyung’s sudden appearance, snapped Eunwoo, who had been slowly sobering up, back to full, mortified awareness.
-SLAM
Hakyung slammed the door shut, then turned to Eunwoo, her expression softening slightly, though she still reached out and pinched her cheek.
“You..! Who told you to drink so much?”
“…They offered…” Eunwoo mumbled, rubbing her stinging cheek.
“Who?” Hakyung demanded.
“Senior Shin Yewon..? She was… kinda scary…”
“Ugh..! I was so worried!”
“…Sorry…”
“Sigh… Go Eunwoo, the working world is a jungle…” Hakyung sighed dramatically, flopping onto the bed beside her friend.
Then, her eyes narrowed, and she eyed Eunwoo again.
“You and Eun Woogyung… anything going on?”
“Huh? What? No..!” Eunwoo’s denial was instant, perhaps too instant. Even in the dim light, the bright red flush spreading across her face was undeniable. Hakyung leaned in close, a knowing glint in her eye.
“Did something happen while I was gone?”
Shake shake. Eunwoo shook her head furiously, the movement sending another wave of dizziness through her.
“…Hey,” Hakyung’s tone became serious. “Eun Woogyung’s still a man. Even if he’s my brother, be careful.”
“…Okay…” Eunwoo whispered, her face still burning.
“Hey, let’s sleep together tonight. It’s been ages.” Hakyung’s voice lightened, a familiar comfort returning. Back in their teens, Hakyung had often slept over at Eunwoo’s place. Though she projected a tough exterior, Eunwoo knew Hakyung was scared to be alone at night. When her brother had night shifts, she’d pretend she wasn’t scared, but Eunwoo could always tell – and always invited her to sleep over.
So that night, the two girls lay side by side, the familiar comfort of shared space easing the awkwardness of the evening, chatting and laughing softly until sleep finally claimed them both.
Next Morning
“Ugh… my head…” Even after hours of sleep, the dull, throbbing ache behind Eunwoo’s eyes persisted. All this from just two shots of kaoliang… Her pathetic alcohol tolerance was a cruel joke.
-Bang
The door burst open. “Hey! You up?” Hakyung stood there, looking annoyingly bright-eyed.
Eunwoo, still sitting on the bed, clutching her aching head, nodded weakly.
“Ugh, headache?”
“Yeah…”
“Who told you to drink like that?” Hakyung scolded lightly. “Come out and eat.”
Dragging herself out to the living room, Eunwoo felt a fresh wave of embarrassment wash over her. The events of last night, especially the taxi ride and the moment in the bedroom before Hakyung’s arrival, resurfaced with painful clarity. She hesitated awkwardly in the doorway.
“…Did you sleep well?”
Eun Woogyung was at the table, sipping water, looking equally awkward as their eyes met across the room.
Eunwoo nodded eagerly, desperate to dispel the tension. “Yes..! Thank you for last night..!”
He nodded slowly, his gaze dropping, and quietly stepped away from the table, giving them space. Hakyung breezed over, oblivious or perhaps deliberately ignoring the lingering weirdness.
“How many packs of ramen?”
“I’ll take two,” Eunwoo said quickly, latching onto the mundane.
“…Just one…” Eun Woogyung murmured from his safe distance.
Even amidst the palpable awkward air, the universal call of hunger after a night of drinking (or dealing with someone who drank) was strong. Hakyung shook her head, pulling out a large pot.
“Get the utensils.”
“Okay..! I’ll do it..!” Eunwoo seized the opportunity to escape the awkward silence and hurried off to the kitchen. Eun Woogyung, meanwhile, practically fled back towards his room.
“Thank you for the food..!” As Hakyung placed the steaming, giant pot of ramen on the table, Eunwoo’s eyes genuinely sparkled. Hangover food was a miracle.
“Pfft, can’t believe Go Eunwoo is doing hangover soup after a company dinner. Shocking.” Hakyung teased, already digging in.
“…That’s embarrassing…” Eunwoo mumbled, frowning slightly, and took a sip of water to soothe her still-grumbling stomach.
Eun Woogyung, having cautiously returned, served a generous portion of noodles and broth into a bowl and placed it in front of Eunwoo. “Eat, then let’s go buy clothes.” He then served himself and began eating.
“Wait a sec.” Hakyung paused, raising her head from her bowl. “Why didn’t you serve me?”
He didn’t even look up. “Got no hands?”
“…Wow…” Eunwoo’s eyes widened at his bluntness, while Hakyung sighed in theatrical disbelief.
“I’ll serve you…” Eunwoo quickly intervened, gently taking the ladle and dishing up a bowl for Hakyung, making sure to include plenty of the precious broth.
“What clothes are you buying?” Hakyung asked between slurps.
“Work outfits.”
“Yeah,” Hakyung nodded, swallowing a mouthful. “Your wardrobe’s a bit tragic.”
Eunwoo tilted her head, looking genuinely confused. “…Was it that bad?”
Hakyung slurped loudly, then added, “Your outfit yesterday looked like something straight out of the 90s.”
“…..” Eunwoo was speechless.
“I’ve got a date today, so you two go,” Hakyung declared, checking her phone with a smile at a message from her boyfriend. She tapped out a quick reply, completely missing the sudden stiffening of the two people across from her.
‘The two of us..?’ Eunwoo, mid-chew, peeked discreetly at Eun Woogyung, half-expecting him to object, to find an excuse.
Eun Woogyung, meanwhile, found himself staring dumbly at her, a knot tightening in his stomach. Was he okay with this?
“…!” Eunwoo choked slightly on her ramen.
“..!!” Eun Woogyung flinched, his gaze snapping away the moment their eyes met, the shared flinch far too obvious.
-Clack
Hakyung, looking between the two of them, slowly set her chopsticks down on the table with a decisive sound.
“…I really need to move out soon.” she muttered, her expression a mixture of amusement and exasperation.
To Be Continued
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