“Ki Young-won. Happy Birthday! Since I rolled it with all my heart, drink it all the way.”
A beer mug was put in front of me. No matter how much I mixed it, the color was hazy and dingy. I even saw energy drinks and spirits poured into them earlier.
“Take it away. You want me to eat and go after you?”
He pushed the glass away nervously. However, those who were drunk to the fullest were unmatched in spirit. Normally, if I did this, I would have been suppressed and kicked it out, but rather, it caught fire and shouted loudly.
"know? One shot for birthday giving!”
“This is enough for a nobleman. Do you remember when Youngbeom was on his birthday? He told me to mix the water with which he washed his brush and drink it. I was so fucking nervous that I was going to be taken to the emergency room.”
“You didn’t drink much today. I know you saved your liver for this, man.”
Annoyed, I glared at the man who had said that. He stumbled, but didn't back down. He turned his head and spoke like a snitch.
“The reason I don’t have this bastard girlfriend is because I have a dirty temper. It’s a waste to have it.”
“I remember that girl from the other day. The kid who came to pick up the number after the metal sculpture class. Ki Young-won only looked at you, but he was scared and apologized.”
“Unless you are a saintly gentleman and a bodhisattva, you won’t be able to handle him. It should be enough to make you laugh after hearing what that bastard says.”
“Is there such a person in the world? Hey, Ki Young-won. If you ever meet someone like that, check your back. Don't you have wings on your back?"
It was not the same as fearlessly gossip in front of the person concerned. I slowly traced the rim of the birthday wine glass with my fingertips. I was thinking of sticking a glass in those bastards' faces if they didn't want to listen.
“But forever. Who is the older sister who came to pick you up with that super car? Rumors have spread that you are meeting some conglomerate wife.”
"So! Hey, let me tell you about it. I thought I was going to die because I was curious.”
“I knew this bastard would work someday. right. It doesn’t make much sense for Ki Young-won to have a fresh relationship with someone his age normally.”
“Isn’t that sister great? Wow, so damn smooth. Dressed up from head to toe. You knew what kind of actress I was.”
They giggled as they drew body lines in the air. Everything he carried on his head and his actions were all vulgar. I saw it and tossed it.
“It’s mom.”
“… … uh?"
"What?"
I gritted my teeth and chewed and spit out word by word.
“My mother. You fucking bastards.”
A cold silence lingered, as if ice water had been poured on it. Everyone looked at me with their mouths wide open in contemplation. It was as if all the alcohol he had drunk had been broken. After a long silence, they stammered to open their mouths in an attempt to somehow resolve the situation.
"Well… … . Uh, that's... … . sorry. I'm really sorry.”
“Uh, Mother… … . So, really... … Straight, this, no, you correct it… … haha."
“Mother, live long and live forever… … You are always filial... … .”
My patience was at its limit there. I lifted my glass and poured it into the bowl of snacks in front of me.
After that, the atmosphere became very languid. Everyone looked me in the eye and kept silent. Even the taste of the alcohol I had was gone. When the time passed late at night and went to dawn, someone came after receiving a call from a comrade. he was a stranger With a tired face, he wore loose clothes and even wore glasses with high prescription.
“Brother, are you here? I hear you're writing your thesis all night long. Did you finish soon?”
“I don’t know, I just finished it roughly. still running Aren't you tired? Is it because they are all young?”
It seems that it was not only me but also the other guys who were new to him. Confused glances came and went.
"Who is it?"
“Roommate hyung. postgraduate student. What did you say? what molecule? DNA? Anyway, they say they’re researching something like a virus.”
“Oh, Master of Science!”
“The bag strap is fucking long!”
Since he is a person that is not usually easily encountered, everyone greeted him with excitement. It was a characteristic of art majors. Taking on all the worries of the world and feeling depressed, but quickly feeling better about something insignificant and going on a rampage like a madman.
"Seniors. Sorry for the first meeting, but let's have a drink.”
Someone borrowed the spirit of alcohol and boldly put him on the shoulder. The man laughed awkwardly at the glass being pushed in front of his nose.
"no. I brought you tea. Even if you stretch out, you have to go to my room and stretch out.”
“Wow, do you have a car?”
“Isn’t anyone here with a car? The school is remote, so it won’t be easy to get a taxi at this time.”
I had a car, but I didn't have to bring it to school. It was because he did not feel the need to drive a car while he was confined to a valley school that was not much different from a monastery. He pointed out with the hand holding the car key.
"Go. I'll drive you to campus."
Cheers erupted all at once.
“Brother, do you want to go to school and have another drink? call?"
“Park your car hard and have another drink with us. This is also a relationship.”
“Someone has a birthday here today. Let’s celebrate together.”
“It’s no fun to be alone in your room at Christmas.”
“Even so, it’s the first time I’ve seen them all. What should I do if I am uncomfortable wearing it?”
My eyes were focused on me, who was making an expression of embarrassment because I was uncomfortable. They pretended not to see me.
“Ah, there is nothing like that.”
"Right. I like to drink with someone I'm seeing for the first time.”
“Hyung, you haven’t been drinking with art students, have you? Drink it now.”
After thinking for a moment, the graduate student lifted up the heavy glasses frame and nodded. He even took a credit card from the counter on his way out and paid for the drink. It became very festive.
A car full of strong men in the front and back seats ran down the road. There were still quite a few people in the downtown where we drank, but as we headed towards the campus along the national road, the popularity of the street disappeared like a lie. After all, the only creatures that roam here at this hour will be insects and wild animals.
“But, brother. what about our drink? Aren't you supposed to buy more?"
"uh? are you okay. there, there There is a break room next to the lab room there.”
The graduate student answered, looking ahead as he was driving.
“How many bottles have you bought?”
"Well? How many bottles of soju are in a box? We only buy in boxes, so we don’t know.”
“Wow, crazy. Also a graduate student. Look at what's hot."
A plastic bag with a convenience store logo was neatly held in the arms of the sibling, who was talking with a bare face. The inside was filled with snacks, including dried squid and nuts. Every time I bumped into people who smelled alcohol, I got annoyed. I always looked out the window. The front gate, which was buried in the eul-like darkness, swept past.
The car arrived in front of the experimental wing not long after. It was a place that art students rarely came to because they were always locked up in the art museum and occasionally went to the lecture halls of other departments to take liberal arts classes. A graduate student unlocked the security system by placing a card key on the entrance lock.
“Can we just come in?”
“No one is there now. When I got home from work, I went through all the door locks. It’s okay if you eat it secretly and put it away before morning.”
“Aren’t graduate students usually working until dawn? I heard that it is because I heard about it from my friends who went to graduate school. All night on a fictional day.”
“No matter how much, they didn’t make it all night until Christmas. Do professors have a last conscience?”
"yes? Then, what about your brother’s professor?”
“My professor? He's the one who doesn't even have that last conscience. He is a very respectable person.”
Each of them walked cautiously, whispering nonsensical words. The graduate student entered the familiar dark hallway and turned on the light in the break room.
“Here, here. come in."
The break room was as laggy as the graduate students' psychological state. The old water purifier with stains everywhere was concerned about whether cockroaches lived in the filter. Cup noodles and convenience store lunch boxes were piled up in the trash can. Those who saw soju piled up in boxes in the corner were amazed.
“Brothers and sisters are running really hard.”
“As high school graduates, our learning is short, so we can’t keep up.”
“Hey, this is why people have to learn and see. Also Master of All Things. Masters!”
“Are you kidding me right now?”
Loud laughter erupted. Soon, soju was spread all over the table in the middle of the break room, and a bag of sweets was laid out. The smell of alcohol wafted. I sat with my back on the sofa. Avoiding the bright fluorescent light, I closed my eyes and pressed my forehead tightly. My head hurts already.
