DERANGER - SEULRENE

023

you throw the shot back and let out a cough as the passing liquor burns down your throat.

you slam down the shot glass, your face contorting into a grimace. tears start pooling in your eyes.

"this kamikaze is strong!" you wipe your mouth with the back of your hand.

tiffany chuckles. "hence the name. you like this one better?"

"can't say yet. can i have one more?"

"you sure? you've never had this much alcohol in the history of me knowing you."

"i just need something to," you gesture with your hands while tiffany looks at you eagerly, "to relax."

"relax? irene, i seriously think drinking all the possible vodka mixes on one night will cause you more trouble than relaxing. don't you have classes tomorrow?"

"just one more, unni. please." you press your palms together.

tiffany smirks and raises an eyebrow. "okay. i'm going to do one more. but you'd have to tell me what's up with you."

you blink. "with me?"

"yup!" tiffany opens the mixer and starts pouring stuff in it. "unless we'd rather pretend that i don't know something's bothering you. you're wearing it on your sleeve, girl."

you frown as you look at your sleeve, thinking if you are that obvious.

"is it love matters? family stuff? you know you can tell me anything."

you drum your fingers on the bar as you contemplate. tiffany is a trustworthy person. you've proven that many times before. but you're not sure if you're ready to tell her about this one secret of yours--the one thing you're sure will shock her entire being.

you're not even sure if it's still worth telling now that it's over.

"i'm stressed." you sigh. "bar results are coming out in a few days. i don't know what to expect."

"okay. that's something to be stressed about." she pours you another drink. "have you got any plans yet of what to do in case things don't go out as expected?"

"that's what stressing me, unni." you prop your elbows and cover your face with your palms. "i don't know what to do anymore if i fail the second time around. and how will i handle dad? ugh."

smiling, tiffany pushes the shot glass towards you. "i don't think it's a good idea to stress yourself over something that's not in your control. i'm sure you'll be able to figure it out once it's there. you're an amazing person, do you know that?"

you feel something inside you kick in, remembering seulgi telling you the same thing.

oh how you miss hearing her non-imposing comments whenever you share problems like this.

and her comforting hugs. sweet kiss--

"you've already done something about donghae, which i think is admirable," tiffany adds. "i know you'll be able to handle this one as well. and if everyone is against you, come back to me. we'll drink to that." she raises her empty mixer.

you giggle. "thank you, unni. thank you for always being patient with me."

"oh. come on. i love you as much as taeyeon loves you. have you forgotten you're her favourite cousin?" tiffany smiles at you. but it is gone the next second when her eyes catch something from the bar entrance. "hey. what is kwon yuri doing here on a sunday night?"

you look over your shoulder and see yuri in casual jeans and shirt attire, approaching the bar.

"tiff, can you give me one of that?" yuri points at your drink as she sits beside you.