Stay With Me - Hwang Inyeop

Chapter 19: Midnight Song

After drinking several cans of beer, Soomi starts to feel the effect of the alcohol in her body. Her words start to slur whenever she talks and her vision starts to blurry. However, she doesn't want to be a party pooper so she stayed and continuously drinks even though she has already reached her liquor tolerance.

All these actions are being observed by In-yeop. With his elbow propped on his leg and his cheek leaned on his fist, he stares at Soomi who is laughing at Chorong's jokes. The other two start to feel drunk as well but since they are still enjoying the night, they decided to drink more.

Hearing Soomi's story earlier in which she tried killing herself several times made him realize that the girl also has a past that haunts her, just like him. Yumi was right, she is brave. He thinks that she is actually braver than him. His past made him seclude himself with everything around him which is the total opposite of her. She used these dark pasts to motivate her and to keep her moving forward.

Soomi was about to bring the liquor to her lips again when In-yeop stopped him. "You had enough," he whispered. He carefully grabbed the can from Soomi's hand and the girl did not protest any more. She's starting to feel drunk as well and she thought that maybe it is time to stop.

Soomi felt the cold breeze and started to rub her arms for heat. In-yeop was about to remove her jacket to give it to Soomi but the girl stopped him. Alcohol must've really kicked in her system because what she did surprise In-yeop. She moved closer to him, sat in between his legs, and leaned her back on his chest, burying herself in the warmth of the guy's body.

"That's better," Soomi sighed in relief. In-yeop smiled at the sudden action of the girl. He then wrapped her arm around Soomi's waist, pulling her closer to him. Soomi leaned her head on In-yeop's shoulder and buried her face in the crook of his neck. The sweetness of the two doesn't seem to be noticed by Yumi and Chorong who are still arguing about their past wherein they fought and tried to recall who won the fight.

"You smell good," In-yeop heard Soomi whispered and he can feel her breath on his neck. When he looked down at the girl, he saw her eyes closed with a smile on her lips.

"You're drunk," In-yeop said as he lightly squeezed Soomi's waist. Soomi bent her legs and tried to squeeze herself closer to In-yeop if it is still possible given that there is already no space between their bodies.

"I am," Soomi chuckled. "But that doesn't change the fact that you still smell good." She looked up at In-yeop who is staring at Chorong and Yumi who are still arguing. She smiles in content seeing his face being lit up by the fire and the moonlight. She once again buried her face in the crook of his neck.

"See me in my room later," he whispered to her and kissed her hair. Soomi was startled at what he said and she can feel the hammering of her heart against her chest from beating too fast. But since she is drunk, she did not respond to what he said and remained leaning against his warmth.

They decided to call it a night after finishing the 34 cans of beer. They are all drunk when they went back to the house except for In-yeop. Feeling so sleepy, Soomi forgot about what In-yeop said earlier. She drifted to sleep in no time as soon as her back touched the soft bed Yumi and her shared.

Soomi woke up at around half past one in the morning feeling so thirsty. With her head throbbing, she stood up and went out of the room. As soon as she got out, a voice startled her which made her jump. She held her heart and sighed in relief when she saw that it was In-yeop. He is leaning against the wall near Yumi's bedroom.

"I told you to go to my room," he said as he stared at her. Upon remembering that, Soomi's face immediately flushed, and tried to come up with an excuse but her voice failed her. Nothing came out of her mouth.