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MIN CHAERI hasn't felt this relaxed in years. She nailed that bio quiz today, did all her homework, just now finished studying and it's only 8PM. Tossing her anatomy textbook over her shoulder without a single care, Chaeri digs through her drawers and pulls out a fluffy pajama set. When she comes out of her room, she is surprised to find only three people home. Soohyun, Chiharu, and Nakyung are all sitting on the couch, invested in some drama playing on the television.
"I don't think I've ever seen you out of your room past 4," Haru marvels, finally acknowledging Chaeri.
"I finished everything earlier than I thought I would," Chaeri explains, nodding toward the other two girls who still have their eyes glued to the screen. "What's their deal?"
"Oh, it's a Japanese movie called Hirunaka No Ryuusei. It's my favorite movie, so I wanted to show everyone. Want to watch?" Haru asks, patting the spot next to her.
"I'm good. I'm going to take a nice, steaming bath," Chaeri says, shaking her head and holding up her arm that has the pajamas draped over them. "Where's everyone else?"
"Haeun's at the store, Iris is at a game, Yaebin's doing whatever," Nakyung explained at light speed, still not looking at Chaeri. "Now be quiet and go away. We're trying to watch the movie."
"Rude. What's it to you, Four Eyes?" Chaeri teases. Tonight was one of the rare nights that Nakyung put on her glasses, which meant this must've been a damn good movie.
"Don't be mean!" Haru interjects.
"Bitch," Nakyung retorts, adjusting her glasses with her middle finger and simultaneously flipping Chaeri off. "Anyways, if you're gonna take a bath, my mom sent me this expensive bubble bath soak. It should be in the shower caddy. And because I'm so gracious, I will allow you to use it."
"I knew there was a reason why I tolerated you."
Before Nakyung can change her mind, Chaeri makes a mad dash to the bathroom and locks the door. She turns on the water and waits for the tub to fill, occasionally putting a hand in to check the temperature. She grabs an expensive looking bottle with baby pink gel in it and squeezes a good amount into the water. She smiles to herself, watching the suds build.
When everything is finally ready, Chaeri gently lowers herself into the piping hot water and groans in happiness when she finally reaches the bottom. She could literally feel all of the tenseness and stress leave her body and nearly fully submerges herself in relaxation.
Chaeri isn't sure how long she sat in the tub with her eyes closed and head back, but her zen state is quickly shattered when her phone blares. Muttering profanities under her breath, she dries her hands and grabs her phone, which had been sitting on a mini table next to the bathtub. The caller ID reads Yaebin, and Chaeri instantly knows trouble is brewing.
"What did you do this time?" Chaeri asks after picking up.
There's a slight shuffling before a very male and definitely not Yaebin's voice responds. "Uh, hey. Is this Yaebin's friend? Cherry?"
He says Chaeri's name with an American accent. She can hear music and yelling in the background of the call, and the voice also seems to be talking to someone else. "Who is this?"
"My name is Mark―whoa! Jungwoo, can you lift her?"
There's more shuffling, and Chaeri almost thinks he hung up before he starts talking again. "Sorry. My name is Mark. Uh, Yaebin is at a party at the Sigma Epsilon house. She's, like, really drunk and I didn't really feel comfortable letting her stay. She left her phone unlocked, and you were the last person she texted so I just called you. Could you come get her or like find someone who can?"
Chaeri quickly got out of the tub and dried herself with her phone tucked between her ear and shoulder. "I'm on my way. I'm about ten minutes from campus. Could you stay with her until then?"
"Yeah, definitely."
"Okay, meet me at the entrance."
She throws on her ratty t-shirt and sweatpants she had on before the bath, and wrangles her semi-wet hair into a messy ponytail. Without even draining the tub or cleaning up, Chaeri grabs Nakyung's keys and heads out the door.
"Nakyung, I'm borrowing your car!"
"What?"
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After an extremely dangerous drive and a sloppy parking job, Chaeri found herself at the entrance of the extremely loud and smelly Sigma Epsilon house. It was frigid outside, and she felt like an idiot with her thin clothes and house slippers. She knocks on the door loudly, praying it can be heard over the thumping bass. After a good ten seconds, the door finally swings open and Chaeri sees two boys more or less holding an almost unconscious Yaebin up.
"Jesus Christ, Yaebin," Chaeri gasps, immediately going up to them.
"Some idiot was slipping shit into girls' drinks," one of the boys, whose voice she recognizes as Mark, explains. "One of my buddies is escorting him to the cops right now."
"Thank you," Chaeri says, breathing out a sigh of relief. "for staying with her."
Mark smiles, revealing cheeky dimples, and pats the arm of his friend. "Don't thank me. Thank Jungwoo. He's the one who found her."
"Do you need help getting her in the car?" Jungwoo asks, seemingly ignoring Mark.
"That would be great, thanks," Chaeri nods, gesturing in the direction where she parked. "The car is over there."
Mark and Chaeri helped transfer Yaebin onto Jungwoo's back, and they followed her to the car. After she made sure an asleep Yaebin was buckled in the front seat, Chaeri turned to the two boys. "Thank you again for everything."
"It was the right thing to do," Jungwoo responds kindly.
"What he said. Oh, and say hey to Haru for me," Mark adds in casually.
Chaeri nods absentmindedly and waves them goodbye. It isn't until she's almost home that it hits her.
