Mint Is Pure Love - Chapter 70

What Yeonseo thought would be nothing, Yang Jisoo’s little provocation, turned out to leave more of a sting than she’d expected.

Maybe that’s what people meant by “momentum.” With nothing to back her up, she’d blurted out some big words, and now she just felt like she’d lost.

You know that feeling, when you had plenty to say, but during the actual argument everything flies out of your head, and only later does it all come rushing back? That’s exactly it. That ridiculous, hollow sense of defeat was why she’d ordered soju instead of beer with their fried chicken.

“Take it easy,” Seokyung said.

Instead of refilling her freshly emptied soju glass, a tall glass of cola, fizzing with bubbles, appeared in front of her.

“Don’t you like this place? You haven’t even eaten much,” he said, his voice low and ticklish in her ear against the backdrop of the noisy crowd.

Yeonseo lifted her gaze from the glass to the man sitting beside her. Even here, in the cramped fried chicken joint near campus, with the smell of oil in the air and beer posters plastered over the walls, Cha Seokyung never lost that distinctive air of his.

Why did his eyes, nose, and mouth all have to be so annoyingly well-defined? If only he’d had a slightly piggy nose, or ugly lips, or at least crooked teeth. But no, his features seemed to have paired up with only the most flattering matches, harmonizing in a way that was unfair.

Just by listening, responding in that calm, unhurried way of his, he could make a table of seven noisy students feel light and balanced. He was steady, centered.

Over the last six years, Cha Seokyung had become such a polished adult, in looks, in manner, even in the effortless gesture of setting down a fork for someone.

Maybe that was why everyone wanted a piece of him. Yeonseo didn’t want to understand it, but she did, and she hated that she did.

“What?”

When she narrowed her eyes at him for no particular reason, Seokyung raised his brows and asked softly.

His solid frame was close enough for their shoulders to touch, and from him came that subtle, familiar scent of cologne. She kept looking up at him, her slightly flushed, tipsy face tilted toward his. His mouth curved faintly, as if he were about to share a secret.

“Your cheeks are red,” he murmured. “Like a kid’s.”

…Makes me want to kiss you.

The last part got swept away by the surrounding noise, like a feather carried off in the breeze.

“…Don’t say weird things,” she mumbled through her teeth.

Seokyung gave a low chuckle. She could tell from that sly sound he’d said it just to get a rise out of her,because he wanted to see her flustered like this.

Already fueled by Yang Jisoo’s spark, the four quick glasses of soju she’d just downed, and now the ticklish smile of the annoyingly handsome Cha Seokyung, it was a perfect storm. You dare tease me? Her breath flared through her nose.

“Well, I’ll be damned.”

The playful chiding came from Lee Jeongmin, the club president. The two of them broke eye contact and looked across the table.

“I’ve been at the same university as Cha Seokyung for five years and I’ve never been taken care of like that,” Jeongmin said.

Yeonseo blinked, suddenly aware of herself, and straightened up. She grabbed her cola and took a gulp.

Great, here came the teasing again. And Seokyung hadn’t even done anything remarkable, but the moment anyone noticed something, they got nosy… Yeonseo protested, feeling a bit wronged.

“What? We were just talking for a second. It’s not like he’s taking care of me—”

“Uh, Minseo, maybe take a look at your plate before you say that.”

“…Huh?”

She looked down. On her table were an empty soju glass, a cola, and a white plastic plate with the restaurant’s logo.

“If we ordered four chickens and all four drumsticks ended up on one person’s plate, I’d call that—” he hissed theatrically—“blatant couple privilege.”

“……”

When did this happen? Sure enough, just as Jeongmin said, her plate was stacked with four glistening, golden drumsticks.

“Feels like our dear Minseo came to a fine dining restaurant all by herself,” he teased.

Even the bottles of cola and bowls of pickled radish, which were supposed to be in the middle of the table, had been neatly placed near her plate, like a personal course meal. Her ears grew hot with embarrassment.

“If you want more, order more,” Seokyung said evenly. “Don’t tease her over something like that.”

That set off a chorus of cheers and playful groans. Someone joked, “So if we order more, then can I have a drumstick?” and everyone laughed.

Yeonseo shot Seokyung a glare. For some reason, she really wasn’t fond of him tonight.

And of course, because of the drumstick incident, Seokyung ended up paying for the meal, without a hint of complaint. Seven people’s worth of food and drinks wasn’t cheap, but he pulled out his wallet with a pleasant smile.

Yeonseo watched him with what could only be described as… alcohol-tinted eyes. After half a bottle of soju and two 500cc beers, she was definitely not sober.

“I’m not drunk…”

“Right… and that’s what drunk people always said.”

Seokyung stared down at her, looking completely dumbfounded. Her face was flushed red, obviously drunk to anyone who looked.

The club members, sly as ever, had left the two of them behind with a “Make sure you get her home safe,” before heading off to the second round. So, Seokyung plopped Yeonseo onto one of those flimsy plastic chairs outside a nearby convenience store.

“Wait here,” He said.

Then walked into the brightly lit convenience store. Just before summer fully arrived, the night had finally pushed away the day’s heat, letting out a cool sigh. Yeonseo felt the gentle breeze against her alcohol-warmed cheeks and let her gaze wander over the outdoor tables in front of each store.

Even with exams just around the corner, the streets were still lively, maybe there was just something about this season and this kind of night that no one could resist.

“Drink this first.”

Seokyung crouched down in front of her, opened a bottle of hangover cure, and handed it over.

“…This tastes weird.”

“Don’t think about the taste. Just think of it as medicine.”

A stubborn urge not to look weak bubbled up in her. Yeonseo forced open her tightly clenched mouth and gulped down the liquid.

She heard the crinkle of plastic in front of her.

“Have this too.”

A peeled, sky-blue soda-flavored popsicle was pressed into her hand.

Whenever she got drunk while drinking with classmates or seniors, she would always end up buying a bagful of these for everyone to share. Seokyung had never once joined those gatherings, so how did he even know about this?

But she was already halfway drunk, and her thoughts were starting to feel sluggish. She hated the slippery aftertaste of the hangover cure in her mouth.

Even though his knee was on the ground, risking getting his pants dirty, the tall man blocked her view, clearly determined not to move until she took a bite. She had no choice.
Without a word, she put the popsicle in her mouth.

The cold, sweet soda flavor filled her mouth, making her feel a little better. She licked and slurped at it, when suddenly she heard a hoarse, dry voice.

“…You sure are enjoying that.”

What’s he on about? She deliberately slurped it even louder, just to annoy him, when suddenly Seokyung snatched the popsicle from her hand. His voice dropped, almost ominous.

“Don’t eat popsicles in front of anyone else. Got it?”

“What? That’s so—”

Before she could finish, he bit into the half-eaten popsicle and finished it in one go, then tossed the stick into the trash without hesitation.

He crouched down in front of her again, back facing her.

“Get on.”

“I’m walking.”

“You almost fell twice just on the way to the convenience store. If you don’t get on, I’m carrying you on my back anyway.”

“……”

“Ji Yeonseo, let’s be efficient, yeah?”

Yeonseo was the type to quietly go along with things as long as they weren’t too unreasonable. Right now, she figured arguing would be pointless, Seokyung would just do what he wanted in the end, and she’d still end up on his back. Might as well save some time.

“……”

Obediently, she wrapped her arms around his neck and climbed on. Seokyung let out a pleased chuckle, adjusted her higher on his back, and started walking steadily, even humming a little tune.

First, he teased her in public, then stole her popsicle, and now he was humming like he was in the best mood ever. So annoying, Cha Seokyung.

With the alcohol buzzing in her head, Yeonseo grabbed his hair in both hands and tugged.

“Ow. Ji Yeonseo.”

“……”

She hadn’t even pulled that hard, but at the sound of “ow,” her heart softened. She gently smoothed down his slightly mussed hair and hugged his neck more snugly.

Then, almost absentmindedly, she voiced something that had been bothering her.

“…Why do you always pay for everything?”

She’d heard that every project team got a decent budget, but still, whenever they had gatherings or went somewhere that cost even a little, Seokyung was always the one footing the bill.

“It’s a waste of money…”

“As long as you enjoyed your meal, that’s enough for me.”

His reply was casual, almost unthinking.

“…Don’t spend so much, idiot.”

On the night road lit by orange streetlamps, all she could hear was his breathing, her own, and their shared warmth. After a long silence, his voice came, tinged with something faintly sorrowful.

“I have a lot of money now, Yeonseo.”

“……”

“I’ve earned a lot.”

Unlike back then, when the only things he could give her were a bottle of strawberry milk, a karaoke session, or a bowl of shaved ice.

Yeonseo sniffled, realizing she must really be drunk if she was making up things he hadn’t even said.

“I have plenty now. So—”

“……”

“If there’s anything you want to eat, tell me anytime.”

“……”

“Or a bag, clothes, somewhere you want to go, something you want to do, anything. Just tell me. …I can make sure you have reasons to smile now.”

He said it like he’d never once made her happy before.

Instead of replying, Yeonseo burrowed her face into the nape of his neck like a baby raccoon seeking warmth. She felt his temperature, his scent, the steady beat of his pulse, and let her unspoken words drift through her heart.

You already did, Seokyung. That 400-won strawberry milk you left at my gate that early morning, it made me smile every single day.

“So, Yeonseo.”

Can a voice sway in the wind? The alcohol’s haze, Seokyung’s warm back like a bed, and the sleepiness pulling at her vision blurred together. His voice, carrying a strange loneliness, felt almost like a lullaby.

Strange… it’s summer now.

Through his back, she felt a deeper vibration as he spoke.

“Let’s date.”