My Girlfriend Is Very Good To Me [EN]: Chapter 72

Ep. 71

The last December of high school passed quickly.

I had a deep conversation with my homeroom teacher, who was very worried about my plummeting college entrance exam scores. And I exchanged words of comfort with the friends who had been giving me hell about my cast at the beginning of the month.

“But Han Yeon doesn’t need to take the college entrance exam anyway; his girlfriend will take care of him. Our lives are the problem, not his.”

“Wow, you’re a real bastard until the very last moment.”

“Thanks to you, I was able to ruminate on how shitty each day was. Thanks, Yeonhu.”

“You’re welcome.”

“I hope you stop changing your profile picture during vacation, you son of a bitch.”

The end eventually concluded with words of resentment full of jealousy.

Anyway, as we were chatting and welcoming our last winter vacation in that manner, Suhwang gathered the usual members and made a proposal.

“Anyone want to hit up a bar starting at midnight on the 31st? I’m free.”

“I’m totally in.”

“Is there anyone who can’t make it?”

Yoonseong and Hyunwoo immediately expressed their intention to participate and looked around.

Unfortunately, there was one guy who couldn’t make it here.

“I can’t.”

“Ah, why again, you son of a bitch? Don’t tell me you’re hanging out with your girlfriend. I’m really gonna—”

“I decided to spend it with my family.”

“You should spend New Year’s with your family. Of course.”

“And of course, I’ll meet Heena too.”

“Damn it.”

Still, I felt a strange sense of sentimentality. These days of hanging out with these guys at school were now over. We might see each other briefly after winter vacation, but it wouldn’t be for long.

“Let’s just gather and hang out. If I think I can slip out, I’ll join you for a bit. We’re just drinking around here anyway, right?”

If I were only having drinks with my family that day, I would have been calculating when to slip out. But Heena’s family was joining us too. I probably wouldn’t be able to get out. But you never know, I’d have to see how it goes.

They agreed with what I said. After all, they couldn’t prioritize it over a family gathering.

“But are you meeting her too?”

“Yeah. Heena’s family and my family are meeting up together.”

“Wow, crazy. Isn’t that practically married?”

“It feels half like that…”

We even filled out a marriage certificate for *gyunyeom yong* [for keepsake], after all.

“If you slip out, will you both come out together?”

“Probably? Heena would never let me go alone.”

“It’s been a while since you started dating. Is she still head over heels for you?”

Is that even a question?

“Of course. Just last night, after a date with Heena, I was about to go home, but she wouldn’t let me go and kept trying to kiss me—”

Ah, did I bring up too much unnecessary information?

Without thinking much about Hyunwoo’s question, I started telling the story of yesterday, but I stopped talking halfway through because I felt like I had said something unnecessary, and I glanced around.

Then, my friends came into view, looking at me with very dry eyes.

In that silence, Suhwang opened his mouth first.

“Han Yeonhu. Do you remember when we brought a bat and glove to school after dinner to try playing baseball?”

He suddenly brought that up. And that made me vividly recall that memory. That was probably around the beginning of this year.

“Oh, right! But we quit after like two or three days. We almost broke a school window.”

“Yeah, that’s right. Thanks to you, that came to mind. Wait a minute. I’ll go get the bat, you son of a bitch.”

“We’re turning twenty the day after tomorrow; let’s not do this…”

These guys wouldn’t be like this if they got girlfriends in college.

If they do.

—

We weren’t happy together for three years, and we parted ways with the promise not to meet until we each got a girlfriend. And today, several days later.

A few minutes before January 1st.

Both families gathered at our house. Including Yoonjung noona [older sister], who was *kkieo itneun* [wedged in] as if it were natural. Especially Dad and *ahjussi* [Mr./Uncle] were smiling broadly, laying out various kinds of alcohol on the living room table.

There were things I roughly knew, like soju and beer, and there was also whiskey. And to top it off, there was Japanese sake, and Yoonjung noona brought fruit soju and drinks. There were even energy drinks like Hot Six.

“If you brought Jägermeister, shouldn’t it be Red Bull? Who brought Hot Six, come out now.”

“Ah, the convenience store was out of everything! It’s the first time I’ve seen Red Bull sold out!”

“It was noona? But we gathered to feed them [alcohol], so why did you buy all this to catch someone [get them drunk]?”

“It’s all experience!”

Yoonjung noona and Heeseong hyung [older brother], who had been *seoro seoro maldo noheun* [speaking informally with each other] since some point, were organizing the alcohol more actively than anyone else.

Watching that, I sat with Heena, waiting with a pounding heart. When I briefly tasted it when I was young, it didn’t taste good at all, but it would be different now.

“You must have really wanted to drink?”

Heena chuckled at my appearance. Well, I was really looking forward to it. The *suljjan-deul* [alcohol glasses] I was seeing for the first time, and the snacks like chicken and clam soup. And countless *gwaja-kkaji* [snacks too].

“Well, a little? Aren’t you?”

“Eung [yeah], I just feel like this kind of gathering is better than alcohol.”

“Ah~ I know that.”

It wasn’t just the alcohol, but the feeling that we were having a party, which made me excited. Just like last Christmas.

“Yeonhu-ya~ Are you going to die today? You can’t refuse *ajumma’s* [aunt/married woman] *jan* [glass/drink], okay?”

“Mom’s *jan* too.”

“Yes, of course!”

“What confidence do you have?”

“Hyung, can you drink well?”

“Don’t worry, no one here can’t drink. We just need to verify you two.”

Then, glancing at the clock, Heeseong hyung opened his mouth again in a loud voice.

“12 o’clock! Happy New Year! Let’s drink!”

“Happy New Year~”

“Happy New Year!”

While wishing each other a happy new year, everyone started opening the alcohol nearby one by one. And immediately, our dad and *ahjussi* each held out a bottle of soju to us.

“Alright, alright, when receiving from an adult, receive with both hands. Yes, that’s right. When drinking, turn your body to the side a little and drink.”

“I understand.”

“Yes, Father.”

“Okay. Congratulations to both of you for turning twenty.”

“Thank you~”

Heena and I each received a *jan*, and I turned my body according to Dad’s words and poured a glass of soju into my mouth in one gulp.

-Gulp

Ugh, so bitter!

The bitter taste, which was very cold and *jeongshini hwak deulge haneun* [mind-awakening], made my face scrunch up. It tasted much worse than I thought. What’s the point of drinking this?

Surpassing my imagination, I glanced to the side, wondering if Heena was okay, but she was smiling without a single shake in her expression, taking a one-shot.

I was speechless at that cool *moseup* [appearance/figure].

“Are you okay? Is it good?”

“Eung? It just tastes like alcohol.”

“But why are you so good at drinking? Did you secretly drink a little when you were in middle or high school…”

-Tak

“Whose mouth is saying such bad things?”

“My mouth…”

I was punished by Heena’s palm for talking nonsense. You can be *chejil-e majeul sudo itji, mwo* [it could just be your constitution], I guess.

“It doesn’t look like you’ve only drunk it once or twice.”

“Oppa [older brother/term of endearment for older male], can’t you be quiet?”

“No, Dad! Don’t you think it’s a little strange even if Dad looks at it?”

“She’s drinking *mashitge* [deliciously/enjoyably], what’s wrong with that! Come on, Heena. Let’s get another *jan*.”

“Eung.”

“I’m so lonely. Mom, isn’t it strange?”

“You go eat *gwaja* [snacks] over there~ Our *sawi* [son-in-law]! You have to receive *jan*, right?”

“Ha…”

Heeseong hyung *jilcheogida* [whined/stuck close] here and there in agreement with my words, but he realized that he had no one on his side and *giulyeotda* [tilted/drank] a glass of soju by himself.

I looked at that *moseup* [appearance/figure] with pitiful eyes for a moment, then switched to a beer glass and politely received the beer that *ajumma* [aunt/married woman] was pouring with both hands. But after receiving it all, it was half foam and half beer.

What is this.

“Why is there so much foam?”

“Did you just tilt the glass without thinking at first?”

“Everyone was receiving it like that.”

“You lowered it too quickly. Look.”

“Hey, it’s obvious that it’s the first time he’s received it, so it’s cute~ Watch noona receive it!”

As if to show an example, Junghoo hyung poured beer for Yoonjung noona. Noona tilts the glass and then slowly raises her head as she receives the beer. Then, only about 3 or 4 centimeters of foam space is created.

“Oh~ That’s how it is.”

“Receive it well from now on. And pour a *jan* for *ajumma* too.”

At those words, I held the beer bottle with both hands and poured it for *ajumma*, who was shining her eyes and waiting with a *jan*. And then the four of us clinked *jans* and *jjan* [cheers]—

“Yeonhu-ya, aren’t you going to pour for me?”

“Eung?”

At some point, Heena had already emptied another *jan* and was sitting next to me with a beer glass.

“You already drank it all?”

“I just drank another glass of soju, what. I’m sulking because you poured it for Mom first than me, so pour it quickly!”

“Yes, yes.”

I poured beer into Heena’s *jan*, who was speaking playfully. And without a word, I poured a *jan* for our mom, who was holding out a *jan* next to her.

“What, Yeonhu is pouring it? Dad too!”

“Pour it for me too.”

“Will you give it to *ahjussi* too?”

As I poured for one person after another, I ended up filling everyone’s *jan* with beer. Except for Yoonjung noona, who received it from hyung.

Anyway, everyone held up their beer glasses and loudly celebrated the new year once again.

“Happy New Year!”

“Yeonhu-ya! Heena-ya! Happy 20th birthday!!”

We also got celebrated for our 20th birthday.

“Thank you!”

“Thank you, unnie [older sister/term of endearment for older female]!”

The overall heightened tension made me feel good, even though I wasn’t exactly drunk yet.

I wondered if this was the *mat* [taste/flavor] of having a drinking party.

Because it was already full of *jeulgeoum* [joy/fun].

—

Without rest, I poured alcohol for someone, or received alcohol. I don’t know how much I drank while doing that. Feeling a slight dizziness and seeing a slight turn in my vision, I was watching Yoonjung noona, who was *jejo jungin* [making/mixing] cocktails in front of me.

“What’s that? You’re putting in cola?”

“Jack Coke! Have a drink!”

“Is it good?”

“Um, it’s not that bitter, right? It’s on the sweet side.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeonhu-ya, slowly stop…”

Believing those words, I put the *jan* to my mouth as it was. The Jägermeister series and highballs she made earlier were quite drinkable.

The moment I swallowed a mouthful, I felt a rather sweet taste, as noona said. But it seemed like a strong *sul* [alcohol]. The moment I drank it, I became even more dizzy. Still, it tasted pretty good, so I drank about half of it as it was.

“Are you okay? Don’t drink it all and give it to me. I’ll drink it.”

Worried that I was receiving every *sul* [alcohol] she gave me without refusing since earlier, Heena started to stop me.

I smiled at her once and emptied the remaining *sul* [alcohol].

“It’s okay~ I’m a little dizzy, but there’s nothing else?”

“Then that’s a relief.”

Anyway, she’s too *gwaboho* [overprotective].

Still, that was one of Heena’s charms. The point that she always thinks of me and takes care of me.

-쪽 [kissing sound]

Because my girlfriend, who always does so much for me, was so lovely and cute, I lightly kissed her cheek as a reward for that *maeum* [heart/feeling].

But I see Heena’s *moseup* [appearance/figure], who is startled by my actions. Why is she like this when this kind of skinship isn’t something we only do once or twice?

“Han Yeonhu is drunk.”

“I guess~ It seems like he can’t see his surroundings when he’s drunk. Still, I’m glad he doesn’t seem to have any strange *jusa* [drinking habits].”

“I was going to give him a neck slice if he acted up. Too bad.”

“Ah! Heeseong-ah, picture! Take a picture! No, a video!”

“으핰핰핰핰!! Okay! Filming *deugamnida* [entering/starting]~”

I couldn’t hear what they were saying around me properly. My head was dizzy, and it felt like the floor was spinning around, not me.

I guess I drank a lot. Still, the one noona gave me was quite delicious, so should I drink this all?

As I was about to put the *jan* to my mouth again in the midst of dizziness, Heena grabbed my arm.

“Let’s stop drinking.”

“Eung? I’ll just drink this~”

“You drank too much.”

“I know, but I’m okay~”

Even if I said that, she was holding my arm tightly, so I thought she was a little short on skinship today. When I think about it, we didn’t have much time to talk alone today because everyone was gathered to drink.

With that thought, I put the *jan* down below for a moment. Seeing that *moseup* [appearance/figure], Heena let go of my arm, so I stroked her head as it was.

“Heena-ya, should I kiss you?”

“Eo…?”

“Eung? Heena-ya~”

“……”

It was strange. Usually, Heena would leave her body to me as it was if I said it to this extent, but today she wasn’t moving as if she was broken.

Without a choice, I brought my face close and kissed her lips.

-쪽 [kissing sound]

“Pu, 풉… I wonder if she’ll remember this later? It’s the first time I’ve seen Yeonhu acting cute!”

“Well, we fed him a lot. Especially noona was *akralhaetji* [evil/malicious].”

“What did I do?”

“She only made things that would make him drunk. Look at him. He’s gone from the last Jack Coke.”

“I just made it because I thought Yeonhu would like it! How much does he like cola!”

The surroundings were very noisy. Is this high tone that is *bakhineun* [piercing/stabbing] in my ears Yoonjung noona? I don’t know.

I turned off my *shingyeong* [nerves/senses] to that and stroked Heena’s cheek, who was still looking at me with a blank face. Heena’s cheeks are really *mallang mallang* [soft/squishy]. I think it would be okay to touch them all day.

Heena, who was quietly receiving my touch, finally opened her mouth in a slightly trembling voice.

“Yeonhu-ya.”

“Eung~?”

“Ha, just one *jan*… Do you want to drink more?”

For some reason, she’s blushing and offering me *sul* [alcohol]. She stopped me a little while ago, so why is she suddenly like this?

“Stop it. What are you trying to do by feeding him more?”

And, that was the last of Heeseong hyung’s voice.

What remains in one corner of my memory.