synonym
*leave open-mouthed – amazed, surprised, shocked, astonished

phrases
*muddle through/along – cope, manage, get by/along

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As the new season was approaching, Jiah took a break. She planned to spend time with her father. Though, if she correctly counted, it had been five days since she had a job interview at the Bejiwoo. She doubted the staff would call her.

Jiah's lips puckered as her eyes wandered around the space and hummed deeply. Both of her palms were under her chin, elbows on top of the old, wooden table. One of her legs moved side to side to a random tune she hummed.

Her high school batch's invitation she received a few days ago came to mind. She wanted to bring Shinhye, but it was announced that the reunion was only for students who studied in the same batch. She was debating whether to join the party or not.

She did not have any issues with her classmates when she was in high school, so she did not see why she should not attend. Her class environment during high school was fine compared to other classes that might have bully cases or rebellious teenagers. Fights due to misunderstandings happened at times. Still, that did not affect their friendship.

However, her friendship with them was ambiguous. She remembered she never tell them anything deep regarding her problems.

"Appa," Jiah called, still with her chin propped on her palms.

Mr. Lee was busy trimming a young man's hair when he gave a quick response. "Yeah?"

Jiah started carefully. "Tomorrow night. There will be my high school's batch reunion party."

Mr. Lee paused as he looked at his daughter through the mirror. Then, he gave another quick response. "Okay."

"Can I go?"

The father chuckled. "You always tell me that you're an adult now. Why the permission?"

Jiah's lips frowned. "That's because you're my father."

Mr. Lee chuckled again. "Of course, you can. I'll give you my –"

"No!" Jiah enlarged her eyes to warn.

"Oh, right. My daughter is an adult and she has her own money." He paused to sweep the hair off his customer's shoulders with a small, white, rectangle cloth. "I was trying to say I'll give you some of my mint candies. You got motion sickness the other day. You forgot, my child?"

Jiah blinked her eyes multiple times. She became flustered as she remembered an event. "A-ah! The weather was hot. I rode a bus too."

"Oh. You can handle riding the bus well now?"

Jiah nodded once.

Mr. Lee rested his hand on his customer's shoulders. "I will give you the candies. I don't believe you. Share with your friends, okay?"

A sudden drop of her forehead on the table gave rise to a loud thud. And a whine.

**********

The next day, Jiah used the neighbor's grandfather's scooter to avoid her father from giving her the candies. A red helmet was given to her for safety. The moment Grandpa Ji gave her the helmet, she was left open-mouthed upon seeing the stickers on it. They didn't seem to be old stickers, still sticking well and the color had not faded.

Stickers with a 'rock-and-roll' hand sign, a small dark rose, and a winking skull on the helmet. Jiah could not help but raise a slow thumb with her mouth forming an 'o' and said, "you're cool!"

Grandpa Ji chuckled at the response before mimicking the poses of the stickers.

The chilly air brushed through her skin as the scooter moved along the highway in Seoul. Her palms tightly gripped the handles. A smile plastered on her face, forgetting the fact that she had not obtained a driving license.

She went to Seoul a little too soon, so she visited Shinhye's workplace to wait for the right time to go to the venue. After she parked the scooter and the scooter's engine turned off, Shinhye left the shop with two big, green garbage plastic bags in her hands. However, Shinhye did not notice her presence. Consequently, Jiah began planning something mischievous.

Biting her bottom lips to suppress a laugh, she tip-toed to the girl who was dumping the garbage into the trash can. She gripped her best friend's shoulders hard and yelled, "hm-boo!"

Shinhye jumped and turned around swiftly. She cursed as she slapped laughing Jiah on the arm. Glaring at her friend, she bent down to pick up and closed the trash can with its cover. She exhaled a quick breath and calmly said, "stop it."

Jiah pouted. "Aww, come on! I have fun."

"Fun, my ass! I could have gotten a heart attack if you continue!" Shinhye scolded.

But Jiah did not stop laughing.

"Is getting a heart attack funny to you?"

Jiah sealed her lips, immediately standing there like an obedient child. "Nope," she said.

Shinhye rolled her eyes and stomped her way from the area. Jiah sensed something was wrong. She chased the taller girl's paces and walked beside her. "Are you okay?" she asked.

Shinhye kept mum. She snatched a rag from a vacant table and brought it to the counter. Jiah followed her.

Shinhye stood in front of a coffee grinder at the counter as she stared at Jiah after exhaling another sigh. Without thinking twice, she unbuttoned her black, oversized shirt, showing Jiah a big dark brown stain in her white half-buttoned uniform.

Jiah's mouth opened wide at the view. Immediately, she asked, "what happened?"

Shinhye slammed the rag in her hand on the counter. "My boss' wife came. She ordered her favorite and when I made it for her, she said that it wasn't what she ordered," she told. "Fuck!"

Jiah knew where this story was leading.

"I don't understand why that old lady likes to do me dirty. I've done nothing to this café or her husband or her but work."

Jiah's face turned into a worried frown.

"I've endured everything in this café. I don't think I can do it anymore. But how am I going to feed my siblings if I quit?" Shinhye's voice strained at the end.

"Do you want to go home?" Jiah asked.

Her best friend's voice was almost quiet when she said, "I wish I can."

"Hey, you can use the scooter," Jiah said. "And you don't have to worry about money. I can help you."

Shinhye snorted. "I don't like asking for money. Furthermore, from you."

"You don't need to pay me back." Jiah fished out her wallet from her bag and took out a few notes. "Just treat me to good food when you get a new job." She giggled with her eye smile.

"You don't have to."

"Aish," Jiah grumbled, furrowing her eyebrows. She grabbed her best friend's wrist and placed the money in her palm. "Just take it! Get some KFC for your siblings."

Jiah swore she saw a glisten of tears pooling at the line of her best friend's eyes, but she blinked it away. Knowing Shinhye so well, she hated the fact that her best friend tried to conceal her hardship. And that, she only shared her hardship when everything was on the verge to collapse. With that, Jiah was worried about her best friend and her siblings' beings.

Helping Shinhye was never a trouble. She wished Shinhye knew that. Her heart crunched upon finding out her youngest sibling had been telling Shinhye that his classmate brought fried chicken from a restaurant to school for an afternoon class break. Jiah remembered how Shinhye reacted to him. Torn, she did not know how to tell them they could not afford one. Even getting jjajangmyeon for four with side dishes was hard for them.

Sometimes, Jiah realized Shinhye seemed to regret telling her how her family's condition was. She treated them to Subway meals, her siblings getting free haircuts at her father's barbershop, helping her to buy her siblings' school needs. She didn't want Shinhye to think asking for help was a burden.

Her life was nothing she could compare with Shinhye. She was grown with care and love. Her best friend was otherwise.

Her father was a drunkard, and her mother ran away from home and left three of her siblings and herself. After graduating from college, she worked her ass off to provide her siblings with proper meals and pay off their school fees and needs. Back when she saved money for the first time for her siblings' use, it had never been easy. Until Jiah suggested a way to hide her money.

Reality worked badly on her. But one matter that they were thankful with. That they had each other.

She was an atheist, yet she believed in angels. Once, when they had a drink together and she got drunk, she told Jiah she was a blessing from angels to her. Though, she did not want to take advantage of Jiah which was why she was always reluctant when it came to accepting something.

To her, Jiah was her soulmate.

Her thoughts snapped out when she heard the girl ask, "how are your siblings?"

Shinhye let out a soft laugh. "Other than ranting to me about their classmates, they're complaining about homework. Routine, routine," she sarcastically cooed.

Jiah squinted her eyes and her lips pouted. "Having younger siblings is fun right?"

"Fun, my ass. Being the eldest child is when you have to hear them bickering over silly things."

Jiah laughed. "At least, you aren't alone. I'm jealous of you."

Shinhye let out a flustered laugh and said, "and you have your father."

Jiah scoffed, "huh! All that oldie does is trap himself in the barbershop and try to give me his money." She pouted at Shinhye and whined, "why does he always mind giving me his money? His shop is on the verge of bankruptcy. He could have kept the money to pay the debts. I can look for a job and earn money on my own."

"Hmm, he has his reasons."

Jiah lazily uttered, "yeah, yeah."

"You gotta understand your father, buddy. The older you get, the more you understand why we gotta keep some things hidden."

Jiah sadly hummed, "hmm." She played with the edge of the woven basket, staring at it with sad eyes.

"Cheer up, girl!" Shinhye said, patting her friend's shoulder with one hand while another reached for a medium-sized transparent, plastic cup. "Do you want your favorite drink?"

Jiah beamed and said, "yes, please!"

**********

Jiah arrived at the restaurant by six in the evening. As the restaurant had private rooms for customers to have gatherings, she assumed that they would have one as well.

Jiah took her phone out and called one of her high school classmates, Pyo Heejin. Once the call was answered, she said, "hey, Heejin."

"Hey!" Heejin cooed. "You here?"

"Yup. Where are you?"

"Wait there. I'll go get you."

"Okay," Jiah said and hung up. She moved to the counter and waited for her friend. It was not a long wait when she heard someone calling her name.

"Jiah!"

The mentioned woman found another woman waving at her with a genuine grin. She beamed, scurrying to Heejin. They hugged each other and asked about their well-being. Getting that both of them had been doing well, they giggled and Heejin guided her to a room.

Heejin slid the door when they stood in front of a noisy room, filled with laughter and chatter. Jiah highly anticipated welcoming smiles at that moment and it happened. Greets came from all the occupants in the room warmed her. The women who were nearby the door got up and caught her in their hugs one by one. One of them rocked her side to side, telling her that she missed her. In return, Jiah told the feeling was mutual.

"Our sweet Jiah is finally here!" Shouted a man, whose name was Kang Maru. He clapped with full of fun. The rest cheered as Jiah shyly stopped them.

"I think I need more beer. The sweetness that Jiah shows us later gives us diabetes," said another man, Lee Ahn.

As Jiah made her way to a vacant seat beside Heejin, she heard a female voice diagonal to her seat. "Do you remember she gave all of us chocolate balls for Valentine's?" All reacted loudly. "I wasn't in a good mood. And knowing I got one chocolate for Valentine's from Lee Jiah. Ah, I almost had a huge crush on her."

Jiah waved her hand bashfully, trying to stop the female. The more they reminisced the memories of the deed she had done to them, the shyer she became.

She was the last one to arrive and that made the attendance complete. Amusing, she found out that they came earlier than the time promised.

Good old times give the best future. That was what Jiah thought at that moment. The laughter they shared that day brought Jiah back to the times they spent together.

They were still the same, but more mature in different ways. Some went through a huge glow-up. Some of them seemed to be more careful with words and more careful with actions to be shown. Out of all of them, Kang Maru stood out the most.

Jiah could not help but smile at knowing that her friends were growing up well in this crazy world. Still be able to smile, still sitting together for that reunion.

It would not be perfect for a reunion without soju or beer or any type of alcohol. Her friends had been feeding her food and needless to say, soju. She could handle alcohol, but the problem was, constantly consuming without a break would snap her mind from reality.

She was engaging in the conversations lively a while ago, but after a few cups, barely five words left her mouth. She tilted her head to the side with a fist supporting her left cheek. Her face was shaded in bright red, eyes droopy and blinking slowly.

At last, the drowsiness and heaviness forced her to shut her eyes. She ended up sleeping on the table, her head on top of her folded arms and left cheek squished.

Two hours passed so fast. One by one left the event but drunk Jiah was stuck on the table, sleeping. Until she felt someone was carrying her by lifting one of her arms. Later, she heard Heejin saying, "the event's ended."

Jiah whimpered. She tried her best to get her consciousness by forcing her eyes open, but failed; only to get it half hooded. She lifted her chin up and then stared at the door.

No one asked, but she said, "I'm... o, o, okay!"

Both Maru and Heejin were sober, stifling their laughs.

Heejin asked, "you sure you okay?"

Jiah enthusiastically nodded despite the drunkenness.

Heejin then looked at Maru. "Can you accompany her?" She asked.

"Of course! It's not a problem."

Jiah whined, "Noo-O! I said I'm ooo-kay. I have a black belt in karate!" Drunkard karate stunts were shown, making Maru and Heejin stifled their laughs again. Then, her head drooped and her arms fell on her sides.

"If she insists she's okay, it's better to let her be," Maru said.

Heejin was a little hesitant. "O... kay. But let's not leave her alone. Not now." She made a glance at Jiah to make sure she stood properly.

Maru agreed. He took the drunk girl's arm to wrap around his shoulder. On the other hand, Heejin grabbed her things and hung them on one of her arms.

Despite the drunk mind, Jiah believed she could reach home safely. She let go of Maru as she clumsily stepped back. They were already outside of the restaurant. Jiah pressed her eyes, blinking multiple times before recognizing the surrounding. Vision blurry and her system buzzing, she managed to show a smile to her friends.

Giggling, she said, "you two. Go home. I'll be okay."

Heejin looked at Maru. Maru only shrugged with a frown. Heejin asked, "you sure?"

Jiah gave her a drunk nod.

Although hesitant, Heejin said, "if you insist." She passed the young woman's things. She added, "call me tomorrow!"

With a drunk smile, Jiah nodded. Maru and Heejin waved her goodbye and she did too. As her friends walked farther, her eyebrows furrowed with a long whine. She sighed, "why did I drink too much? Oh, my head."

With a spinning sensation around her, she muddled through* her way. At some point, she regretted lending Shinhye Grandpa Ji's scooter. She could have gone home safely even if it took her a long to arrive home. Her mind was not working properly already; she forgot about taxi and bus existence. She complained, complained and complained, and scolded herself for drinking soju constantly while on her way going through the path to go home.

Her feet led the way to a dark pathway. Only one lamppost lit up and it wasn't helpful. The shine from the moonlight too dimmed for her sight. Nonetheless, she continued her way on the path.

Fortunately, someone was using the path. She thought this could be the right person to ask for help. Swaying clumsily to the individual, she waved at him like a slug. "Sir, help me."

The man's eyes widened. He froze there for a while, before making tiny steps backward.

"Sir."

With small steps backward, he gulped his saliva.

Using a whining tone, Jiah called out again. "Siiir!" All of a sudden, she tripped on her own feet and fell hard on her face.

"Oh no!" The man rushed to her and asked, "are you okay?" He lifted the girl from her shoulders, laying her back on his thighs and her head on his arm, then noticing a small scrap in her nose. The man's face contorted as if he felt the pain.

Jiah fluttered her eyes open and made a good look at the man. "Sir." She displayed a drunken smile. She landed her palm on his cheek and rubbed it lightly. The man flinched. "You have smooth skin." As she drunkenly pointed at a spot, she pouted and slurred, "I have a pimple here. Biiig one. And then, I had to attend a party! I want to pinch it, but it's paaainful! I'd to cake up the foundation on this spot. I feel ugly, hmm..."

"Uh... okay."

Her stomach churned. It grew more uncomfortable when she tried to hold it back. She gulped her saliva, only to taste something disgustingly sour in her throat. Jiah tried to hold back from gagging but failed. She let out a small, "woo-ek."

The man was aware of what was going to happen. He stiffened and muttered, "miss, no."

Jiah gagged louder and deeper.

The man rapped, "m-miss. No. No, no, no, no, no. Not right now. Y-you need to find a toilet." Anxiously, he turned his head left and right to look for a sign of a public toilet.

However, it was too late. Jiah spewed up her stomach's contents as much as she had to. The man was left aghast.

The disgusting substance, accompanied by a nauseous smell splattered on the man's jacket's long sleeve when she threw up. The man could not help but grimace at the feeling of dampness on his skin.

"This isn't what I want for a walk," he muttered. The stomach-churning smell danced around his nose, making him gag too.

Finally, Jiah let out a long relieved sigh. She mumbled, "Ugh, sick. Good, good..."

The only thing the man did was hiss a curse. His jawline formed as he looked up and exhaled a deep sigh. "Dear god, what did I do wrong?"

When he looked down, Jiah had passed out on his arm. He grew anxious again. He shook her body lightly by the other side of her arm as he said, "miss? Miss." The response he got was a whine and a light push. He was baffled. Clicking his tongue with a contort on his face, he muttered, "what should I do with her?"

When an idea drew in his mind, he checked the surroundings first. The path was quite dark and there wasn't anybody around. Grunts of vehicles were barely heard in that area, though he knew it was one of the safest routes since he often used the path to have a night walk.

With one of the sleeves soiled because of the vomit, he thought it would not be a good idea to carry her. Thus, he did not hesitate with the idea he had in mind at that moment.

Carefully, he hooked his arms under the young woman's underarms and yanked her by one step back to avoid the pool of vomit. He exhaled another deep sigh and then, started to drag her out of the area.

As they almost reached a well-lit area, the man stopped to exhale a breath. He was not going to lie, his mind was complaining about how heavy the woman was that his back started to ache. Then, he ducked his head to smell his shirt.

Contorting his face, he let out a harsh exhale from his nostrils. He hissed, "ugh, sheesh!" Then, he gagged.

One more sigh left his mouth before continuing to drag the girl out of the place.

To motivate himself, Jung Hoseok kept in mind that the pitiful woman needed to be sent to the police station to get her guardian's contact. His anxious mind was hoping the passer-by would not judge him while on his way to the police station.