08 | "I can't help myself!"

The two drink together, smiling as they get along. Yerin can barely take a sip to not make sure Jaeyun spends a lot (since he offered to pay.) She crosses her feet, whistling lowly. Yerin looks around the place. She found it a nice spot to bring Sunghoon if he'd ever want to go again. "Did you put Mrs. Sim into the center yourself?"

Jaeyun nods, grimacing at his big chug of alcohol. Pushing up his glasses towards his nose, he smiles. "Yes, I had no choice. I struggle to get good jobs, and most of them I've quit because I have to help my mother. So, since I can't take care of her while I'm at work, I let her go there. She stays often, for weeks. So, I visit her so that she can still see her son! Me!"

Yerin found him cute. His intentions were usually innocent, well, besides the part that he'd try harder to get her attention. In addition, Yerin thought that if she had to choose between her and Jaeyun, well,

it'd be Sunghoon.

What did you expect?! She's smitten, don't ask me why!

"You must love your mother a lot, right?"

"She's the only one I had growing up," He nods in agreement, eyes sparkling at the thought of his mother. Mrs. Sim was a great woman, Yerin must admit. She seemed strict. She was kind, though. "For her to be a mother, she sacrificed a lot for me. So, I should help her when I can. That's why I came here!"

Yerin chuckles. "Oh, right. Did you get the job?"

"Yep! I mentioned you briefly, so thank you for allowing me to use your name," The two laugh together, taking another swig of beer. "I invited her for dinner tonight, Department Head Choi so that you'd feel more comfortable. However, she said that she didn't want to go so that we could enjoy it."

 "She's dating the accounting head, also known as my boss," His mouth shapes into an 'o', taking in the knowledge. "Department Head Park."

"I see, do you think they're on a date right now?"

"They have scheduled days they go on dates. Yeojin likes to be organized whereas Jongseong kind of hates it," Yerin explains, looking at the time. "They go out every Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. On other days, Yeojin and I hang out. We're somewhat roommates. She comes over now and then."

"You guys must be close friends, then."

"Yeah!" I nod happily. "Yeojin is my biggest supporter. She was the first one to know that I liked the boy in the public relations department!"

"Oh... Right..." Yerin bit her lip, thinking that she must've misspoken. She could see how disappointed Jaeyun was hearing about Sunghoon again. 

"I'm sorry, I won't bring him up anymore," As soon as her devastation is noticed, Jaeyun shakes his head quickly. Denying it as quick as his head moves, his hands shake the same way.

"No, no, it's just that... you seem very interested in him, Yerin. You can keep talking about you if you'd like," He nods happily. "Whatever it takes to get along and talk more, I'm fine with it. I can listen to you talk about it if it makes you happy."

Happiness.

Oh, what she wishes she had.

"Anyway-" Her phone starts to buzz, 'Department Head Park / Yeojin's Boyfriend' reading across the top. "Hm? Why is he calling me?" Looking back up to Jaeyun from the phone, her eyes express an apologetic look as she picks up the device. "I'm sorry, give me a moment to answer this call. It's my boss-"

"Don't worry. Go answer it," Jaeyun allows her to leave, to which she quickly nods before running to the corner. Answering it in a bit of anger, she places the phone to her ear.

"I thought you said I could get off work early, Mr. Park!" She says with an eyebrow raised as her feet tap against the marble. "Are you now an oppressor? You're oppressing your most loyal worker to come back to work?!"

"What are you on about now? Did that boy do something to you? Gee!" Jongseong scoffs. "I'm not calling you to come back to work when I've already left! You see, we have... a problem..."

Yerin widens her eyes, trying to comprehend such a phrase. "What problem? Is it a problem with Yeojin? Did you accidentally get bird poop on her sweater again?"

"Again?!" Jongseong scoffs, shaking his head from the other side of the line. He couldn't believe his friend made such an assumption (although it's happened a few times.) "No, Yerin, I- Anyway, Mr. Park's very drunk right now."

"You're drunk?"

"The other Mr. Park, Yerin," He says, looking towards a passed-out Sunghoon. However, for precaution, he places his hand over his mouth, whispering into the phone only for Yerin to hear. "The one you love. Park Sunghoon."

Yerin sits in silence for a moment, blinking quickly. Soon, she starts to scream at the boy on the phone. "Why did you let him drink that much!? Don't you know that he has a limit? He can only go past 3 soju bottles! How many did he drink with you!?"

"...Five."

"Oh my god, I'm on my way to pick him up-" She hears sudden sobbing in the background, one that's louder than Jongseong trying to shut him up. She softens, shaking her head. "I'll be there in a few minutes. Send me the location."

"Okay, bye."

Ending the call, Yerin sticks her phone in her back pocket. She grabs her coat and looks toward Jaeyun. Sharing another apologetic look, she bows. "I'm sorry, Jaeyun. Someone's causing a ruckus, so I'm going to go get him. Is it alright if we do a rain check and do it another night?"

"Of course, don't worry," Jaeyun drinks another sip of his beer. "Go ahead and go get him. I'll text you."

Yerin sighs of relief. "Thank you, Jaeyun! See you tomorrow!"

"...Bye!"

As she runs off, Jaeyun looks down at the beer in his iced glass. Instead of it tasting like sweet paradise, all because Yerin was accompanying him,

when he drank it,

it turned bitter.

She shows up at the restaurant, storming in as if her life depended on it. Yerin's eyes search the premises, seeing Jongseong shaking her crush and yelling "Get it together, Park!"

"Jongseong!" She waves, the boy turning around quickly. His smile grows as he points at the blushing, drunken Sunghoon who was holding onto Jongseong for dear life. Walking over, Yerin looks at the boy's state and pities him. 

"I'm glad you're here, Yerin," Jongseong grabs Sunghoon's hands from his tuxedo, placing them onto Yerin's coat. "He's now your problem, thanks!"

Jongseong runs off, even before Yerin could curse at him. "Wait, Jongseong, why are you-"

"I have to go see Yeojin!" Placing some money on the counter, which Yerin assumed would cover the food, he runs off again. "Bye, Ms. Cha!"

She was left with the drunk co-worker, moreover, her crush. She lifts Sunghoon's face in the palm of her hands, seeing his eyelids flutter from the light. Watching them open, she brushes her thumb against his flushed cheeks. "You're so cute. Even when you're drunk."

"Ooh~ Yerin!" He happily cheers, hands off of her coat and into the air. She laughs at his words, shaking her head. "I n-never thought I'd see you here!"

"I'm here to pick you up, Mr. Park," Yerin replies, clearing her throat. "Shall we get going?"

Trying to pick him up, Sunghoon widens his eyes, placing his arms around her. Yerin flinches, feeling his touch. His head lies against her stomach, snuggling into her warmth. Her hands are frozen in the air. She was stunned. "Noooo~!" He whines, starting to fall asleep. "I can't help myself! I want... to stay here... with Yerin forever."

Soon looking down, she taps him, wondering if he's still awake.

"I love..." He whispers. Almost inaudible, Yerin tries to listen to his words.

"You love..."

"Ye..." He starts to droop. "Ye..."

"Ye..." She tries to voice, making him spit it out. "C'mon Sunghoon, a little more..."

However, he's already fallen asleep, and Yerin gives up. She doesn't listen anymore, grabbing his things and placing them on her shoulder. That's when-

"Yerin..."