a cup of coffee • kim doyoung

twenty three

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Kim Seyeon

My head hurts. My throat hurts. Everywhere hurts. Gosh, what the hell happened?

I forced my eyes opened, bright lights blinding me immediately. What is this? Am I in heaven? Did I perhaps die from intoxication? I jumped out of my covers, my body pounding hard in every area possible. Okay, I'm alive.

"Sigh, I just asked for one thing, and you come back like that?" An annoyed voice filled the room as I blinked hard to adjust to the surroundings. Seha stood beside me with her arms crossed, exasperation written all over her face.

"Oh Seha, what happened?" I scratched my head in utter confusion. She took in a deep breath, slowly letting it out a few seconds later. I stooped back under my covers, an ominous feeling arousing in me.

"What happened? You're really asking me that? You came back home super drunk without my vitamin water!" She shrieked in upmost anger, steam almost visible above her head. If I was in my right mind, I would've screamed back at her for screaming at me and took off. But of course, I was planted to my bed.

"What...?" I rubbed my temples vigorously, trying to recollect the events that unfolded yesterday, but I have absolutely no memory of everything that happened after visiting my grandparents. Then it hit me like a bullet train.

---
Yesterday, at 9.35 pm

I plopped down onto the table for the fifth time, my head throbbing hard. Muffled words floated all around me as I drifted in and out of sleep. Suddenly, someone shook me and I jolted up.

"Seyeon, it's time to go," a gentle voice whispered into my ears as a shiver went down my spine.

"Your voice is so nice, let me hear it more," I giggled and gazed up at the mysterious person, trying to make out who he is. However, my eyes were already dysfunctional.

"She's seriously drunk, I don't think she can go home on her own," the same voice commented.

"I can!!" I yelled at the top of my lungs. Tsk, do they look down on me? I'm overly capable enough to go home by myself.

I took a step in front, but my legs have officially given up on me and I collapsed onto the floor, laughing at myself for being so clumsy. Just then, I felt someone haul me off the ground and onto my feet again.

"I'll take her home," another voice announced. I looked up at my saviour, before submerging into total blackness.

---

I shook my head hard as the throbbing came back. Seha was still standing there, as mad as ever.

"Sorry about that, I guess I got too drunk last night," I mumbled apologetically, a new memory unlocking in my mind. "But I did buy your vitamin drink though."

I recalled dropping by the grocery store in Yongsan and getting a carton of those drinks. Did I perhaps leave it somewhere? Oh no, don't tell me it's at the cafe.

"Whatever, I'm going to preorder them. Shouldn't have trusted you." She whipped around and headed for the door, but I stopped her.

"Wait, who brought me home?" I asked because I don't remember walking all the way here.

"You came home yourself and lied on our doorstep," Seha retorted, "You don't even know the hassle it took to get you washed up."

She left the room before I could say anything else. I was still in my recollection of thoughts, straining my brain to remember what happened and how the hell I got home. I could've sworn someone else was with me. Was it Hyejoo? No, she can't even walk by herself. Mark? That guy would just dump me on the streets. Wait...

---

"Ugh." I was awoken by my motion sickness suddenly kicking in. I blinked open my eyes and took in my surroundings, sensing a familiar atmosphere. Wait, something seems off.

I dangled my feet, not feeling any ground or hard surface beneath me. My legs were strangely secured around something, with my body being supported by what feels like a bent-over pillar. My arms were wrapped around it, and we're... moving?

"Are you feeling better?" A soft voice came from it, startling me, but I was in no condition to even answer. It continued, "Don't be alarmed, I'm just taking you home."

I felt myself drifting back into wonderland, my mind scattering random thoughts all around. Who's this person carrying me? Why do I feel queasy?

"I didn't know you would get drunk so easily," the voice laughed and somehow, it sounded very familiar. I couldn't bear it anymore.

"Who the hell are you?" I mumbled with my remaining energy, "How dare you bring me home..."

I guess my intimidation didn't work, because now the person is just laughing away. Is he trying to take advantage of my vulnerable state?

"Well, I don't know who am I to you either," he sighed deeply, his steps slowing down too. "Did I really seem like that to you?"

A string of silence filled the air, only his heavy footsteps could be heard. A sudden realisation hit me on the back of my head.

"Dong... young?"

---

I screamed into my pillow, embarrassment gobbling me up as a whole. What the hell did I say for him to react like that? Ugh, how am I supposed to go back there now? To think that I may have left Seha's vitamins there too. Gosh, what the hell have I done?

I jostled upright. Right, I just have to pretend nothing happened, I mean, I can't even remember half of the events that unfolded last night; just the thought of it irks me enough.

I got off my bed in determination. I know what I have to do.

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