"Wanna step out? Grab some ice cream."
Me?
I froze, too stunned to answer.
Park Da-kyung… wasn't she into Myung-jun? She was staring at him the whole time.
As I blanked out, Da-kyung poked me again, like, you coming or what?
"Yeah, yeah."
Gotta go.
I stumbled to my feet, fumbling like an idiot.
The others looked shocked. Not only did she make the first move, but with me?
"Be right back…" I mumbled.
In-ha's dumbfounded face burned into my brain. She was probably planning to swoop in on Myung-jun first. Did Da-kyung just steal her thunder and mess up the flow?
Screw it, I don't know. I scurried after Da-kyung like a nervous puppy.
They'll sort out the mess… right?
"Wow, it's refreshing," Da-kyung said, stretching her arms and flapping them like wings.
Cool night breeze…
A bit chilly, but not bad. After all that booze, it feels nice.
"Let's walk over there," she said.
"Yeah…"
Pretty sure she doesn't have a thing for me. Probably just wanted some air and picked me to tag along. In-ha was glaring daggers at her—bet that got awkward.
Makes sense. This wasn't a group date with close friends; it was a mercenary squad thrown together. More tense than flirty.
Step, step.
Walking in silence felt… kinda chill. The noise from nearby bars filled the quiet, making it less awkward.
Dim yellow streetlights. Cherry blossom petals drifting down here and there.
Same old path I always take, but it feels different tonight. Cherry blossom buff's real, huh…
"Feels nice, right?" Da-kyung said.
"Yeah."
I glanced at her.
She's the kind of person I'd never cross paths with normally. Not because she's too hot, but… I'm a basement-dwelling nerd, haunting PC bangs and quiet cafes. She's an outgoing insa, probably into active stuff, always out and about. We'd never click without this group date.
"Why'd you keep targeting me in the drinking game?" she asked, pouting.
Gulp. She noticed?
I was following In-ha's orders, but… was I too obvious? Honestly, even without In-ha's hit list, Da-kyung was the only one to go after. Eun-sol was half-dead after a few shots, and targeting In-ha felt like suicide. Myung-jun dodged everything, and Do-hyun crashed out fast. Who else was I supposed to hit?
"Uh… it just happened…" I muttered, looking away.
Feels guilty because I was sicced on her.
"Really? Okay then," she said.
Her easygoing vibe's kinda nice. Tall, confident, and chill—unlike In-ha. If In-ha had half this personality… though, I barely know Da-kyung, so who knows.
"Whatcha drinking? My treat," she said.
"Nah, I'll pay."
At the convenience store, she grabbed a Choco Lemon. I wanted a Jjoo Jjoo Bar, but sucking on it while walking might look dumb… I grabbed a chocolate drink instead. Gotta play it safe.
She caught me eyeing the ice cream and laughed, nudging my shoulder. "What? Get the ice cream."
"Nah, it's fine…"
"Then I'm eating it."
An angel?
I shuffled back and grabbed an ice cream too. Tank Boy, not Tank Boji. What's wrong with my brain?
"I'll pay," she said.
Shoot, I was gonna—damn, she's quick.
My hand flailed in the air, lost. Sigh.
She handed me my drink and Jjoo Jjoo Bar, smiling. "Send me the money."
"Nah, it's cool."
It's just a small thing.
A literal angel? Five thousand won's no joke, though—that's a cup rice meal!
"Thanks…" I mumbled, snapping off the Jjoo Jjoo Bar's cap. Perfectly frozen. I sucked it hard, the icy rush hitting my brain. Hell yeah…
"Wanna chill a bit before heading back?" she asked.
"Why?"
"They might still be in there."
Fair point.
No rush to go back. In-ha's probably ditched with Myung-jun by now. Wonder if they settled the bill.
Gotta check, though. Worried about the two drunks left behind…
Beep-beep! Beep-beep!
On the way back, an arcade caught my eye. Claw machines blaring their siren song.
Da-kyung slowed down. She's thinking the same thing, huh?
"You good at shooting?" she asked.
"Uh… decent, I guess?"
I'm dogshit at it!
Back when delinquents dragged me around, I tried a few times and sucked so bad they laughed their asses off. Instant PTSD…
"Wanna bet? Loser pays for the shots," she said.
"Sure."
Money's fine… but losing and looking like a clown's the real problem!
She strode into the arcade confidently.
"Hoo…"
I'm shaking.
The place feels familiar, though. Delinquents used to drag me here all the time. But they were obsessed with claw machines, so I barely touched anything else. Just shooting or punching games sometimes, and even then, I had no cash left after they bled me dry for the claws.
"You first, or me?" she asked.
"You… wanna go first?"
"Cool."
Pussy move, but I'm watching first! It's been forever, so I need to see how it's done.
Da-kyung slid in 3,000 won.
Bang!
First shot.
A small target flipped over.
Nailed it right off the bat…
Bang bang bang!
She fired nonstop, bullets flying. She's done this before. Targets dropped like flies, screaming as they fell. Why's she so good?
"1,500 points!"
1,500? That's… high, right?
I clapped awkwardly, and she flashed a V-sign, grinning.
My hands were sweating. Can I beat that? At least tie?
I stepped up to the shooting stand, feeling her eyes on me. Gulp.
Click.
The gun's weight… cold and heavy, fitting my hand like it was made for me.
Time to show her… the power of Sergeant Attack!
Bang-bang-bang!
Why's it firing bursts, damn it!
Her pfft laugh echoed behind me. Goddamn it, why am I the only one getting bursts?!
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Why won't it hit?!
I blew three shots on the first target and missed every one. Cold sweat poured down my back.
Where's a big target?!
Bang! Bang!
Screw it.
I gave up. Forget precision—just aimed for big stuff, firing carefully.
"900 points! Giggle giggle!"
The scoreboard's mocking me? Wanna die?
I glared at it, turning away. Wanna die… my face is probably red as hell…
"Woo! I win!" Da-kyung cheered.
"Pfft… sigh…"
It's not the money, it's the embarrassment…
I dug out cash, handing it over. She took it, laughing, and nudged me. "I went easy on you, yeah?"
Sure, think that… please…
"Sent you a pic. Check it," she said.
"Pic?"
KakaoTalk. A photo of me holding the gun, looking like a total nerd.
When'd she take this? I look so damn lame. Even I can see the nerd vibes. My mouth's dry as hell…
"Thanks…" I muttered.
"My pleasure."
Fine… as long as it was fun…
I'm coming back alone to practice. Screw this…
Tears of shame streamed down my face. So embarrassing…
"Ready to head back?"
"Yeah."
Looked around for other games, but nothing caught my eye. Claw machines were overpriced and lame.
By now, In-ha's probably ditched with Myung-jun. Maybe the drunks are faceplanted on the table…
I trailed behind Da-kyung slowly.
A weird feeling swirled in my chest. After hanging with freaks like In-ha, chilling with a normal girl feels… odd. Like my head's clearing up.
"Huh?" Da-kyung's eyes widened, pointing.
"They're still in there?"
For real.
Back at the bar, all four were still in the room. Their shadows were visible through the frosted glass.
Did they already go out and come back?
"…You're back?" I said, opening the door.
Yup, all four still there.
What's up?
Did they not leave, or did they already dip and return?
In-ha looked drained. Do-hyun seemed less drunk. Myung-jun's face was unreadable, as usual.
"Took you long enough," In-ha muttered, her voice icy.
What's her deal? Did it not go well?
Feels like In-ha and Do-hyun stepped out together. Something went wrong, judging by In-ha's low-pressure vibe…
"Wanna bounce?" I asked.
"Yeah."
What happened?
I glanced at Myung-jun. He gave me a "What?" look.
Can't read this guy…
After settling the bill, all six of us shuffled out.
Now I get why pairs kept dipping mid-date. Six people leaving together feels… off. Less like a group date, more like a class outing for drinks. The flop vibe makes it worse.
Da-kyung supported Eun-sol, saying, "Had fun today. Let's keep in touch?"
Sounds like courtesy…
Feels like we won't see them again.
"Take care of Eun-sol," she added.
"Yeah, don't worry. See ya."
Eun-sol's basically passed out.
Da-kyung waved, propping her up. I waved back weakly. Bye…
"Gotta go too. I'll handle Do-hyun," Myung-jun said.
He's better off than Eun-sol, but still wobbly. Shouting about second rounds? He'll collapse on the way.
They're friends, so he'll manage…
"Catch ya later, Joonhyung," Myung-jun said.
"Yeah, see you Monday."
"Cool, I'm out."
He waved at In-ha too, dragging Do-hyun off.
The noisy bar went quiet.
Just me and In-ha, standing there awkwardly.
"Hah…"
So this is how a group date can end.
Gathered hot guys and girls, and still crashed and burned. Bitter aftertaste…
In-ha stared at Myung-jun's back, then turned sharply.
Yo, where you going?
I trailed after her trudging steps.
"Screw it…" she muttered.
Back to the real In-ha, huh. No more fake smiles.
She lit a cigarette, head bowed.
What happened?
"Yo, did Myung-jun say he's not into you?" she asked.
"Huh?"
He didn't say that, but he seemed uninterested. Like he just showed up to check out the group date. Sneaky jerk…
"He didn't say that… just that he doesn't care either way…"
"Screw it…" she groaned.
Smoke curled up from her bowed head.
What went down? Wish I knew.
"You didn't get to dip with Myung-jun earlier…?" I asked.
She looked up, puffing smoke like a chimney. Her hollow face screamed "Life's over."
Haven't seen her smoke like this in a while.
"Got rejected, jerk," she snapped.
Why you mad at me?
Rejected? Maybe she asked him to step out, and he shot her down. That's my guess. Probably pushed for Do-hyun because they're friends.
"Hoo…"
I stood there, staring at the smoke rising.
In-ha kept puffing, clearly shaken by the rejection. Deep drags, one after another.
"Hah…"
"Dressed up so much for this…" she mumbled.
True, she went all out today. More than usual.
Her face was gloomy. What can you do? Life's like that. Landing a hot guy ain't easy…
"Wanna hit a club…?" she muttered.
Again?
Last time was a disaster.
She glanced at me, still muttering. "Why you standing there?"
"Huh?"
Why? You didn't tell me to go.
Wait, why am I here? Did I get trained to be her errand boy?
"I'm… heading out?" I said.
Don't wanna catch her bad mood's shrapnel.
Gotta go home, catch up on games.
"Yo."
Her dark expression turned to me.
A creepy smirk curled up, her eyes glinting. Oh, no.
"Got nothing to do, right?"
"Nah, I'm swamped."
Suddenly, my schedule's packed!
"I'm out—gack!"
"Where you going, jerk?"
My neck…!
In-ha grabbed my nape, shaking me like a ragdoll. She chomped her cigarette, leaning in close.
"Trying to ditch? Huh, jerk?"
Her grin screamed "Found a fun toy."
My precious Friday night…!