Love

Three || Shots and Bottles

I always enjoyed karaoke parties. I like to rank them from the best experience to the worst. This one was by far the worst. 

Just over a month had passed since the company dinner. Cheong Chan-woo sits on the couch, grinning widely like a lovestruck puppy and watching the beautiful woman sing in front of everyone. I sigh at him and toss another shot of soju into my mouth. I've lost count of how many shots that is. 

The woman finishes her song and sits down beside Cheong Chan-woo. He places a light kiss on her cheek. She giggles and blushes in response as he wraps his arm around her shoulder and pulls her into his side. She wraps her arms around his body and snuggles closely into him. They look happy. It's so annoying. 

"Y/n," someone says. The beautiful girl's head turns in response. "What did he do to secure you? How'd he get you to go out with him?"

She giggles and looks at the man who holds her tightly against him. "I don't know, honestly. He was a bit of a cocky idiot when he asked me out at the company dinner."

"Hey, who you calling an idiot?" Chan-woo pokes his nose cutely into his new girlfriend's cheek and smiles. His giggle is dopey, idiotic. She's got him wrapped around her finger. 

"I guess I just thought he was cute. It's been the best two months of my life." 

It's not been two months yet, I think to myself. I pour myself another shot of soju and look at the clock. The place doesn't close for another hour. I sip my shot this time. I have to be coherent enough to tell the cab driver where to take me later. 

"Mr. Park," she calls over to me. 

The laughter in the room quiets as all heads turn to me. I freeze, mid sip, and look at her. 

"Yes?" 

"You haven't sung a song yet. You should join." 

I nearly choke on my alcohol. "No, no, singing isn't really my thing. I just came for the drinks." I quit sipping and take the soju full shot again. Maybe I will want to be drunk tonight. 

"That's ridiculous." She picks up the microphone and walks over to the song index. She beckons for me to follow, so I do. I can't deny her beautiful eyes. "Pick any number between one and three hundred." 

I give her a look. 

"Just do it. It'll be easier than searching through three hundred songs." 

I sigh gently. She's standing so close. I pretend that I'm not distracted and think for a moment. I wonder if she can smell the alcohol on my breath. Probably. I should've drank less. 

"Hurry up, Park Jimin. You're missing all the fun." She smiles lightly at me. 

I sigh again. "How about twenty-one?" 

She types the digits into the search bar and hands me the microphone. "Fighting!" She gives me a small smile and I smile nervously in return. Then she goes to sit beside Chan-woo again. I can't help it when my smile disappears. 

The song begins and my voice rings unsteadily through the room. It bounces shakily off the soundproof walls. Is it from my lack of confidence or my lack of vocal skill? The thought of the latter only gives me less confidence. 

I finally realize no one is really paying attention to me. Not even her, who fought so hard to put me up in front of everyone. 

I shut my eyes in annoyance and allow myself to let go. If no one pays attention, I can sing however I want. So I sing my should out. I haven't sung in years. It feels odd on my throat. 

When I finally open my eyes again, I'm attacked by eight or so gawking stares. My confidence is gone again, replaced by a humiliated blush. I didn't mean to do that. My voice is so out of practice, too. It was shakier than it used to be, the notes were higher than they should have been. 

"You have a magnificent voice," she says. In front of everyone. For all of them to hear. 

I blush deeper. I don't know if it's the compliment or the fact that it's her saying it that makes me blush. "I'm sorry," I say quietly. "I'm out of practice. I haven't sung since high school." 

"No." She stands and I take the opportunity to thrust the microphone back into her hands. "I think you've just out-sung everyone in the room." 

The stares follow me back to my alcohol. I sip again. 

Someone else finally steps up to sing again and I pop the cap off of a bottle of beer. Someone else sits beside me, doing the same. 

"You should sing again." It's her. 

My heart stops as I look up to her, mid-drink. She's looking at me, a gentle smile displayed on her face, which makes me swallow a lot faster than I intend to. 

"You really do have a beautiful voice. You saw everyone's faces."

I don't know what to say. So I say the first thing that pops into my mind when I lock eyes with Chan-woo. He's watching us. 

"Won't Chan-woo get upset if you sit with me?" 

What? That's what comes to my mind? I don't want her to leave. 

Her face falls, as does my heart. She's still so beautiful even when dejected. She does as I tell her, but not as I want her to do. She goes back to Chan-woo, leaving me to sit in the silence of my shots and bottles and idiocy. Idiot. 

"Idiot," I whisper to myself. 

I don't owe her anything, though. We split the cab bill from the company dinner. I don't owe her anything. I don't even know her. 

But I want to. 

A/N

We're starting to climb the story arc and get into the events. *rubs hands together*

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1000 words