After ten minutes of walking, you finally reached the bar. The air was thick with the scent of spilled beer, sweat, and the faint tang of cigarette smoke. The room was crowded, mostly with men in their 40s or 50s trying to get rid of their stress.

"It smells like alcohol here.." You muttered to Se-mi, your nose wrinkling as you clung to her hand like a nervous child. The noise and the crowd made your skin prickle with unease.

"Of course it does," She said matter-of-factly, a small smile tugging at her lips. "This is a bar, after all. Stay close to me-we don't want any creeps getting the wrong idea, do we?" Her tone was playful, but her grip on your hand was reassuring as she led you to a seat near the counter.

"Two glasses of strawberry flavored soju, please," Se-mi called out to the bartender, sliding a few bills across the counter. You fidgeted nervously, the realization settling in-this was really happening. Sure, you were an adult now, but the idea of drinking still felt foreign, like stepping into a world you didn't quite belong to.

You watched as the bartender moved with practiced precision, pouring the soju and adding just the right touch of garnish. His hands worked quickly, and before long, he placed two glasses in front of you with a polite nod. "Here you go. Enjoy."

"Try it." Se-mi urged, her smile warm and encouraging.

Taking a deep breath, you picked up the glass. The sweet, fruity scent of the soju teased your nose as you brought it to your lips. "Here goes nothing," You whispered, taking a cautious sip. The liquid was a mix of sweet and spicy, warming your throat as it went down. It wasn't unpleasant, certainly better than you expected.

"It's... not bad." You admitted, setting the glass down with a small huff. "Could be better, though."

Se-mi laughed, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "It's alcohol, it's not supposed to be good. You'll get used to it." She raised her own glass, chugging it in one smooth motion before letting out a loud, exaggerated sigh, as if releasing all her worries in a single breath.

Just as you were about to respond, the bartender leaned over the counter, his expression mischievous. "Sorry to ask, but... are you two a couple?"

Your face ignited, the heat rushing to your cheeks so fast it left you dizzy. "No!" you blurted out, your voice loud enough to turn a few heads nearby. "No, we're not a couple!" You spat out once again. Why did the bartender even asked that question? Girls shouldn't like girls! Does he know that?

The bartender smirked, clearly amused by your reaction. "Really? That's a shame. You'd look cute together," He teased, his tone light but playful.

You shook your head so hard it felt like it might fall off. "No. No way. I don't like girls," You stammered, the words tumbling out awkwardly. Your parents' voices echoed in your mind, disapproving and firm.

─────

"My darling girl, promise me you'll never try to associate with those people," Meon-ji said softly, her voice steady but tinged with a quiet urgency. She crouched to her daughter's level, her eyes searching the little girl's face for a glimmer of understanding. "They're not... right in the head. Do you hear me?"

At nine years old, you were too young to fully grasp the weight of her words. Still, you nodded obediently, your wide, innocent eyes reflecting her concern. What did she mean by "not right in the head"? You didn't know, but the seriousness in her tone made you feel like it wasn't something to ask about.

Your father, standing beside your mom, gave a firm nod, his expression just as serious. "Your mother's right, sweetheart. They're a bunch of crazy people. Best to stay far away." His voice was low, protective, but lacked the softness of Meon-ji's.

He reached out, his large hand smoothing down your soft hair with a gentle motion, as if trying to shield you from the invisible "danger" they spoke of.

─────

You snapped out of your thoughts, glancing at Se-mi, who was watching you with an expression you couldn't quite read-a mix of something soft and bittersweet.

"Ignore him." She said gently, her voice steady as she smiled at you. "He's just trying to get under your skin."

You took a deep breath, nodding slowly. "You're right." You murmured, forcing yourself to relax.

After a moment, you glanced at your glass, then back at Se-mi, an embarrassed smile tugging at your lips. "I don't mean to be a begger or anything, but... can I have another glass?"

Se-mi blinked, surprised, before a smirk curved her lips. "Really? Look at you, all grown up." She motioned to the bartender. "Two more, please."

The bartender slid the second glass of soju across the counter. You grabbed it immediately, and chugged it down in one go. The liquid burned its way down your throat, leaving a warmth that spread through your chest. Letting out a loud sigh, you set the glass down with a faint clink, already feeling the edges of your thoughts blur into a haze.

"Getting drunk already?" Se-mi teased, her lips curling into a mischievous smirk as she sipped her drink with more restraint.

You waved a hand dismissively, though your voice betrayed you with a faint slur. "No... not even close." But the dreamy smile tugging at your lips told a different story, one of escape and fleeting relief.

Se-mi chuckled softly, but her laughter faded as she watched you. Her teasing demeanor shifted, replaced by something gentler. She leaned forward slightly, studying you. "So... are you going to tell me why you looked like a sad puppy earlier?" She asked, her tone laced with curiosity and concern.

Your fingers toyed with the rim of your glass, eyes dropping to your empty glass. A quiet pause hung between you before you finally spoke, your voice trembling. "Oh, that..." You hesitated, swallowing hard. "It's my dog, Ppang. He's really sick, and the treatment he needs costs a million won." Your voice broke slightly as you continued. "I... I don't know how I'm going to come up with that kind of money in just a few days."

Tears pricked at the corners of your eyes, blurring your vision. You bit your lip, forcing yourself to hold them back. Crying here, now, in front of Se-mi, felt like an indulgence you couldn't afford.

Se-mi's expression softened, her teasing entirely gone. She reached out and gently rubbed your back in small, soothing circles, her touch warm and grounding. "I'm so sorry," she said quietly, her voice carrying genuine sympathy. "I hope you can find a way to get what you need, for Ppang." She offered you a small, reassuring smile.

You looked up at her, returning her smile with one of your own, though it trembled slightly. "Thanks, Se-mi," you murmured, your voice thick with emotion. "I hope so too. That's why I'm doing everything I can to earn as much as possible." Your tone grew firmer, more determined, even as a flicker of doubt lingered in the back of your mind.

For a moment, the two of you sat in shared silence, the noise of the bar fading into the background. Despite the weight of your troubles, a small spark of hope flickered within you. You had to keep pushing forward-for Ppang, for yourself.

─────

How long has it been? An hour? Two? You couldn't tell anymore. Time felt like a distant memory, blurred by the warm haze of alcohol. The only thing you knew for certain was that you were absolutely wasted. Three or four glasses in-your limit, as it turned out-and the room had begun to sway like a slow-moving ship.

"How... are you handling all of that?" You slurred, your words tumbling out like loose marbles as you stared at Se-mi. She sat there with calm composure, swirling her nth glass like a seasoned connoisseur.

"I can handle alcohol pretty well." She said, a smug grin tugging at her lips. Her tone was casual, but there was a hint of pride, bragging, even. She glanced at your flushed face and burst into laughter.

"Look at you! You're like a hot chili pepper," She teased, her voice light with amusement. You groaned, leaning heavily onto the bar.

"You're pretty wasted huh? Alright, let's stop here. I don't want you waking up with a killer hangover tomorrow."

Her words were firm, yet kind, but you weren't ready to give up. "But I wanna stay!" You whined, drawing out the last syllable like a stubborn child.

She sighed, shaking her head with a mix of exasperation and affection. "We can't stay here any longer. It's dangerous."

With a few more gentle nudges, she managed to coax you to your feet, your legs wobbling like a newborn kitty.

"Fine..." You huffed, surrendering at last. Se-mi waved at the bartender, slipping a generous tip onto the counter before steering you toward the exit.

The cool night air hit you like a splash of water, but it did little to clear the fog in your mind. You found yourself leaning on Se-mi for support, your arm draped around her shoulders as she wrapped hers around your waist to steady you.

"Let's go to my place since it's not far." She said, her voice steady and reassuring. You nodded sluggishly, the words barely registering. All you could focus on was her steady presence guiding you through the spinning world, one careful step at a time.

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A/N: hope you guys like this chapter!!! i feel like it isn't as good as the previous chapters 😭😭 anyways, ive never drink soju before, so i dont actually know how it taste like lol. btw, is it chili or chilli?

also tysm for 120 reads in one day?!? thats crazyyyyy ty guys!! chapter 4 will come out in one or two days so stay tuned ;)))