First, Ye-rin took a shot.

"If you're jealous, just admit it. Always trying to interfere. Do you know how much I can't stand you?"

Sip.

Then it was Chae-yeon's turn.

"Why would I be jealous of you? Get real."

Sip.

They had only had five shots each, but their faces were already beet-red.

As the showdown between the goddesses of the Tourism Management Department, both lightweights in drinking, continued, their peers' gazes were fixated on them, while Si-hyun smacked his forehead, waiting for the inevitable fallout.

Ye-rin, holding the soju bottle again, spoke boldly.

"Take another shot. Scared? If you're scared, just die."

"Who's scared? Hurry and pour."

The laughter from their peers started to leak out, wondering how much they'd actually dared to drink.

Ye-rin, downing another shot, started coughing as it burned her throat, then spoke to Chae-yeon, who was equally suffering, in a slightly intoxicated voice.

"I've known Si-hyun for 15 years... We've even slept together and... we went to the sauna together... and we even bathed..."

"Please, just shut up! Are you trying to anger me on purpose?"

A near-screaming reaction erupted from their peers at the mention of the bath incident.

Ye-rin, her mouth covered by Si-hyun, struggled as if to indicate for him to let go, while Chae-yeon watched her mockingly.

"What did you even do in those 15 years? I was the first one to date Si-hyun, and I was the first to kiss him."

"Mmph! Mmph!!"

At Chae-yeon’s provoking words, Ye-rin almost convulsed in response.

If her mouth were free, no doubt harsh words would have flown back and forth.

Si-hyun, still holding Ye-rin's lips tight, spoke.

"Sohui, please take Chae-yeon away. This is going to get out of hand."

"Sorry, Si-hyun... My stomach hurts. I need to go to the restroom."

Sohui, who had been picking at samgyeopsal until just moments before, left, clutching her belly.

'Chae-yeon, this is your chance.'

To Sohui, this situation was very favorable. She hoped the drunken Chae-yeon would finally reveal her true feelings for Si-hyun.

"What? You need to use the restroom all of a sudden?"

"Shoo!"

While Si-hyun was momentarily flustered, a wild Ye-rin broke free from his grasp. With a face as red as her inflamed eyes, she glared murderously at Chae-yeon and pointed a finger at her.

"It's all because you seduced Si-hyun with your lewd body!"

"Look who's talking. I'm not the one who used their body to seduce him. You’re the one doing that, you fatty!"

"F-fatty?"

Ye-rin, momentarily stunned, looked down. Then, she alternated her gaze between her own chest and Chae-yeon's…

"Pfft..."

Ye-rin smiled triumphantly, curling her lips upward.

"What was that smile? It made me really uncomfortable..."

"It's nothing. It's just that my shoulders are stiff."

Stretching her shoulders, Ye-rin sneered at Chae-yeon.

"I envy you. You must never have shoulder pains in your life."

"What... Did you say everything you wanted to?"

Objectively, Chae-yeon also had a substantial figure, but compared to Ye-rin's, it could be seen as lacking. The remarks about Chae-yeon's chest, especially after the bikini incident, hit a sore spot for her.

Snickering, Ye-rin hugged Si-hyun's right arm and leaned her body forward provocatively.

"Si-hyun, you like the big ones too, right? The kind that you can't hold with just one hand?"

All the men inside the lodging swallowed hard at Ye-rin's aggressive display. Si-hyun became the target of envious and jealous glances.

Struggling, Si-hyun managed to peel Ye-rin off him. He sighed, filled a paper cup with water, and pressed it to her lips.

"You're really drunk. Stop talking nonsense and drink some water."

"Tch..."

Ye-rin chugged the cold water, visibly displeased by Si-hyun's reaction.

Meanwhile, Chae-yeon, staring at them intently, held out an empty paper cup with both hands.

"I-I'm thirsty too. Give me some water."

"Don't you have hands and feet? I'll give you the water jug, drink it yourself."

Si-hyun's response was icy cold.

When they were dating, he used to refill her glass whenever it was empty. But now, he doesn't take care of her anymore.

While Chae-yeon's heart ached at this sad reality...

"Hm... I'm sleepy..."

After drinking the water, Ye-rin blinked sleepily. Gradually losing consciousness, she leaned her head on Si-hyun's shoulder.

"Hah... Finally, some peace and quiet."

Si-hyun let out a sigh of relief. He looked at Ye-rin, who was now fast asleep on his shoulder, with a tender gaze.

Gently, he swept her messy bangs to the side and supported her body with his hand...

"You should drink in moderation and head inside too."

He gave Chae-yeon a sincere piece of advice, then lifted Ye-rin in a princess carry.

And he slowly walked away from Chae-yeon.

"Ah..."

In the past, Si-hyun would often carry her when she was drunk. She used to feel his broad back and the scent of fabric softener. He used to take her home and kindly tuck her in...

All of that was now Ye-rin's.

'Si-hyun...'

Unconsciously, Chae-yeon reached out her hand. She held onto a faint hope that Si-hyun might come back for her and stayed, drinking.

"Chae-yeon, it's time to go in..."

"No..."

But Si-hyun never came out of the room, and it was Sohui who ended up taking her back to her room.

Si-hyun entered the room with Ye-rin in his arms. Since everyone was still drinking outside, the room was empty. He gently laid her down on the bed that had already been prepared.

"I told you not to drink so much..."

He sighed deeply and covered Ye-rin with a blanket. As he tried to remove her hand draped over his neck, he bent down carefully...

"Huh?"

At that moment, something wrapped around Si-hyun’s back. Realizing it was Ye-rin's legs, he let out a helpless laugh.

"Really, you have the worst sleeping habits."

Ye-rin, who would teleport to his side whenever she fell asleep and woke up. Si-hyun had experienced her terrible sleeping habits firsthand, so he wasn’t surprised.

‘I need to get out of here before anyone gets the wrong idea.’

Currently, Si-hyun was completely trapped by Ye-rin. To get her arm off his neck, he leaned down, making the arm slide off and then reached between her thighs to lift her legs off his back.

It was at that moment...

"Ooo..."

He realized that Ye-rin had woken up and was looking at him with a keen interest.

"What... When did you wake up?!"

"Just now. I felt someone touching me and was about to give them a hard time..."

Ye-rin glanced at Si-hyun with a mischievous smile, then continued.

"If I knew it was you, I would’ve pretended to be asleep."

"Geez... Don’t get any weird ideas, okay? This is all because of your weird sleeping habits..."

"It’s alright. You don’t have to explain... I already know everything."

"Know what?"

"What do you think… It's about your preferences, Si-hyun."

Avoiding Si-hyun's gaze, Ye-rin blushed and spoke.

"I wouldn't mind if it happened while sleeping, but let’s make sure the first time is when I'm conscious..."

"You’re still drunk if you’re joking like that."

Embarrassed, Si-hyun grabbed Ye-rin's hips and shook them gently. He then stood up and prepared to return to the drinking party.

Suddenly, Ye-rin wrapped her arms around Si-hyun's neck and pulled his face close to hers, fixing his gaze with a serious look.

"I'm not joking. I mean it."

"Ye-rin, you..."

Ye-rin pulled Si-hyun's neck even closer until their noses touched. With her beloved so close, she swallowed nervously and spoke in a trembling voice.

"Kim Si-hyun, I like you. I've liked you even before you dated Lim Chae-yeon, and I love you so much that no one else can compare."

A faint smell of alcohol escaped from her lips. However, Si-hyun knew that these were not drunken ramblings but her true feelings.

The current Ye-rin reminded him of his past self when he was infatuated with Chae-yeon.

‘So this is what it feels like to be loved by someone.’

Having always been the one to give love, Ye-rin’s confession felt like it was filling an empty space within Si-hyun's heart.

Her heartfelt affection warmed him from the inside. Just as Si-hyun was about to give his reply, "Are you asleep?"

Drunk Ye-rin said what she wanted to say and fell back asleep.

‘What is she thinking, making my heart race like this?’

Si-hyun was about to playfully flick Ye-rin on the forehead but stopped himself. Instead, he freed himself from her grip and gently smoothed out her hair.

"You always nagged me about my taste in people... If you've fallen for a guy like me, it seems your judgment is just as flawed."

As he straightened her hair, her face became more visible. Watching her sleep reminded him of the time he performed CPR on her.

"Anyway... I'm just really glad you came back safely."

Si-hyun's hand, which had been caressing her cheek, eventually brushed against her lips. He had kissed those lips so many times today.

Unintentionally, Si-hyun swallowed his spit and stared at her pink lips, entranced.

And then...

Smack.

He stole a kiss from sleeping Ye-rin. Lying down next to her, he soon drifted into a deep sleep.