Love is better than pain
9. The waves created by an unexpected appearance
강주아
"Siyeon, you know we're having a company dinner today, right? It's a welcome party. You don't have to drink much, just brighten up the party. It's a welcome party for new employees."
Siyeon shrugged her shoulders for no reason at Kang Joo-ah's words.
강시연
“…Ah, yes… I understand…”
I didn't really want to go to a company dinner. It was a night where I just wanted to go home and quietly cook some ramen.
But for a new employee who had just joined the company, rejection was an unacceptable option.
As work hours drew to a close, all employees headed to a company dinner as a group.
Siyeon, feeling uneasy, slowly followed behind.
???
“Huh? Sunyoung? Why are you here?!”
The door to the company dinner venue opened, and suddenly a familiar voice was heard. All the employees turned their heads simultaneously.
Hoshi. One of the members of Seventeen, he's a bundle of energy who always sets the mood.
호시(권순영)
"I came because there's a company dinner~! It would be a shame to miss a day like this!! I posted it in our members' group chat!! I told anyone to come running!!"
The demonstration is a moment,
강시연
‘Uh… wait, a group chat? A notice??’
I was gripped by fear.
Sunyoung sat down anywhere and ended up sitting right across from Siyeon.
호시(권순영)
"Ahhh~ You said it was a demonstration for new employees? Drink, drink~!"
강시연
“Oh… yes…”
Siyeon, flustered by Soonyoung's tension, carefully nodded her head as she accepted the glass.
강시연
‘Ah… I’m dying from awkwardness…’
People started to get into the mood one by one, and not long after the glasses started passing around.
The door to the banquet hall opened abruptly.
And then, Myeongho entered into it.
He was wearing a loose black shirt, and his hair was flowing down naturally, as if it was slightly wet.
호시(권순영)
“Huh? Myungho’s here? Hey, hey, over here! There’s a seat!!”
Sunyoung raised her arm and waved warmly, and Myungho nodded and walked in slowly.
And— His gaze naturally fell on Siyeon, who was looking at him with surprise.
Our eyes met for a moment.
Siyeon, startled, grabbed her glass with both hands, and Myungho, with a slight smile, took his place next to Sunyoung.
강시연
‘No, really… why… here again…’
Siyeon lowered her head silently, screaming inwardly. Myungho, seeing this, smiled strangely and casually asked her.
디에잇(명호)
"Again... seeing it?"
At those words, Siyeon's face turned red once again.
호시(권순영)
“Okay, now let’s play a drinking game~!”
After a few rounds of drinks, and the atmosphere heating up, Hoshi raised both hands and shouted.
호시(권순영)
“Let’s go to the truth game!! Let’s go!!”
Suddenly, a bottle of alcohol clattered onto the table, and the staff nearby began to respond.
호시(권순영)
“Turn this around and ask the person you’re pointing at anything!!”
???
“Hey, bite hard~ It’s no fun if you don’t bite hard!”
The bottle swirled around, and amidst the playful chatter and laughter— the tip of the bottle pointed at Siyeon.
호시(권순영)
“Oh~ I caught a new employee!!”
Hoshi asks with a playful smile on his face.
호시(권순영)
“Do you have a boyfriend?!”
At those words, Siyeon's face turned red in surprise.
강시연
“Oh, I… No… I don’t have any…”
Exclamations of "Wow~" erupted from those around him, and Myungho's gaze was soon fixed on Siyeon.
I tried not to notice those eyes, but our gazes kept meeting.
The bottle was spun around again. Siyeon's fingers grasped it and turned it carefully.
And— Where did the tip of the bottle end up?
Myungho.
For a moment, Siyeon's hands began to sweat. She cautiously opened her mouth.
강시연
“…Do you have a girlfriend?”
In an instant, another "Ooo ...
And he looked at the demonstration and spoke quietly.
디에잇(명호)
“If you guess correctly, I’ll drink this.”
At those words, Siyeon's eyes widened.
강시연
‘… What… Really, are you asking me…?’
My heart pounded loudly again. Myungho didn't look away.
Still, he stared straight ahead, only at Siyeon. At that moment, there were several people— but strangely, Siyeon felt like the two of them were alone in this space.
Taking a small breath, Siyeon opened her mouth.
강시연
“…I don’t think so…”
A moment of silence. And—
디에잇(명호)
"that's right."
Myeongho smiled briefly and downed his glass in one gulp.
At those words, Siyeon's heart began to pound again. Thump, thump, thump.
Siyeon also raised her glass as if trying to hide the suffocating heartbeat.
호시(권순영)
"No, haha. You're funny~ Why are you drinking, Siyeon~"
As Hoshi laughed and teased her, Siyeon laughed for no reason and said.
강시연
"...Just...this.."
Those words, filled with tension and excitement. And from then on, Siyeon kept raising her glass.
To hide this trembling, even if only a little. To cover up the constant pounding, with a smile on my face.
But— Myungho's gaze never left hers.