Loving You

Four

As planned, Rye Il and I bought two tubs of ice-cream, a few bottles of soju and a box of fried chicken, before meeting Hye Won at the lobby of Jihyo's house.

We went up to the 20th storey and was told to find the door that has a coloured pinwheel hanging on it. The only house that looks different was the one at the end of the corridor.

Hye Won knocked on the door, once and the door was pulled open.

"Welcome!" Jihyo greeted us with a huge smile. Her hair was tied up into a bun, exposing her wide forehead. A casual white t-shirt and acid-wash grey shorts were enough to complete her look, and I've to admit, she looks prettier than usual.

She led us into the living room and we settled the items down on the coffee table. I passed her the two tubs of ice-cream to keep in the freezer. I looked around and there was little to no clutter around the house. There was a framed photo sitting on the side table beside the sofa.

"Where are your parents?" I asked. It's basic courtesy to greet her parents since she invited us to her house and besides, I don't want them to think that we're ill-mannered.

"They don't live here," Jihyo replied as she carried a tray with three cups of water to the table. "I wanted to be independent so I moved out on my own accord."

"And you bought your own place?" Rye Il stared at her with his eyes wide.

Jihyo nodded and this time Hye Won is jumping around the house while exclaiming, "daebak."

While the both of them are getting hype up over Jihyo having her own house, I'm wondering where she gets the money to purchase one. I mean, afterall she's only a 23 years old final year student studying in a university and it cost more than a hundred thousand to purchase a house.

She looked at me and then tilted her head to a side. The frown on my face must be obvious enough for her to know what's on my mind.

"I've gotten a loan from my parents and I promised that I'll return them the money in three years. A one-room flat is not as expensive as you imagine."

I didn't noticed that it was a one-room flat until she mentioned it.

"Shouldn't we get the party started? Where's the bottle opener?" Rye Il asked, completely making himself at home. He was searching through the drawers in the kitchen with an unopened bottle of soju in his hand. 

"It's here," Jihyo said to him as she walked to the kitchen and took out the bottle opener from the drawer.

We sat down around the coffee table that was fully filled with bottles of soju, fried chickens and some kimbap that Jihyo made. Rye Il poured the soju into the shot glasses and initiated a cheer.

"Anyway, isn't it too early to be drinking soju?" Hye Won asked after taking a sip.

A loud satisfying gasp escaped from Rye Il's mouth after he did a one shot. "There's no fixed drinking time for soju." He replied, sounding like an old man.

By the time the four of us finished drinking the fifth and last bottle of soju, the guy who suggested to drink was already dead drunk. The girls, on the other hand, were still sober. We stared at Rye Il lying sprawled on the floor and murmuring gibberish sounds. He started waving his arms in the air and kicking his legs against the floor.

"Does he always do this when he's drunk?" Jihyo looked at me and then back at Rye Il.

"Without fail," I sighed and replied. "I think I should send him back before he starts creating a ruckus."

I threw his arm over my shoulders and pulled him up. "Are we going somewhere?" Rye Il mumbled and tilted his head backwards before it automatically drooped down again.

"Home. We're going back home." I replied and struggled to walk to the front door.

"Jihyo-yah, thanks for inviting us over. See you on Monday!" Hye Won said.

"Be careful while going home!" Jihyo replied. They gave each other a hug while I'm standing by the side, struggling to support a unconscious guy. "Not trying to be rude but there's something more important here." I cleared my throat and said.

Hye Won came over and placed Rye Il's left arm over her shoulders. "We're leaving! Bye!" She managed to wave at her. I don't even have the energy to do so.

We hailed a taxi and Hye Won sat at the front passenger seat while I sat at the back with Rye Il.

Seriously, I would have just dump him on the street if he wasn't my friend.