PS | Chapter 1.4

The hesitant smile still lingered on Sihoo’s face. It stirred an odd mix of emotions in Jehyuk. On one hand, he appreciated the concern; on the other, he felt irritated at himself for making Sihoo worry unnecessarily. Worse, there was a creeping fear that showing this vulnerable side of himself might make Sihoo dislike him.

It was bad enough that Sihoo already knew about him being dumped so many times. Now that he’d been caught showing the same kind of emotional struggle he hadn’t displayed since high school, Jehyuk felt determined not to make things any more awkward.

“Of course,” he replied curtly.

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At his brusque tone, Sihoo’s usual easy smile returned. He moved the hand that had been resting against Jehyuk’s forehead and let it fall behind him, nodding.

“Alright then. Let’s go.”

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Sihoo’s hand landed on Jehyuk’s shoulder, naturally draping an arm over him as they started walking. That familiar gesture, something Jehyuk had grown used to over the course of four years, slowly helped calm the lingering unease in his chest.

—

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The place Sihoo had brought Jehyuk to was located in a bustling district just up the sloping main road from their campus. It was the kind of area teeming with college students at this time of year, moving in groups that could easily be identified as gwating (group blind dates) if they were large, or meeting if smaller. While Jehyuk wasn’t interested in relationships, he still knew the terminology—mostly because half of the girlfriends he’d had in the past had been people he met at gwating events he’d been dragged into.

The last girl he dated, Hong Rina, was someone Jehyuk actually liked, at least to some degree. Since she was in the same physical education department, she didn’t complain about them not seeing each other often, and her laid-back personality meant she didn’t demand much from him. At first, she seemed to appreciate his personality. Jehyuk had always tried his best to be considerate when dating someone, buying gifts and making an effort to follow advice, no matter how awkward it was for him.

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He did the same for Rina. Their conversations were easier than with his previous girlfriends, and every time they met, he’d bring little presents and cover the cost of their dates whenever he could. But despite all his efforts, it always ended the same way. It was clear to Jehyuk that the problem wasn’t with them—it was with him.

Jehyuk trailed after Sihoo, his mind wandering as they passed groups of peers. Sihoo eventually led them off the main road and into a quieter side alley. The dim glow of streetlights illuminated the charming alleyway, where there were fewer people. At the end of the alley, Sihoo stopped in front of an elegant wooden building.

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Jehyuk glanced up, his gaze sweeping over the structure. It looked expensive at first glance. The places Jehyuk had gone to with his classmates were usually chain pubs with private rooms or casual beer warehouses—nothing remotely like this. He’d never been to a place like this before.

“This is the spot,” Sihoo said with a soft smile, turning to look at Jehyuk.

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While Sihoo spoke, Jehyuk took a peek at the menu displayed near the entrance. The well-maintained menu board was spotless, without a single speck of dust or smudge. Just a quick glance at the prices made him hesitate—cocktails and wines starting at tens of thousands of won, and even harder liquors were listed.

This month’s budget is already tight, Jehyuk thought. Just one drink here would be pushing it. But admitting he couldn’t afford it didn’t sit well with him either. Partly out of pride, partly because he didn’t want to ruin the mood, Jehyuk decided he’d just cut back on food expenses later.

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I’ll figure it out. Resolving to go along with it, he hesitated briefly before stepping forward. Sihoo, who had been waiting by the entrance, didn’t head in first but instead waited for Jehyuk to catch up.

“What’s wrong?” Sihoo asked as Jehyuk approached.

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“Huh? Nothing,” Jehyuk replied, licking his dry lips. But Sihoo, as if he could read Jehyuk’s thoughts, smiled knowingly.

“Don’t worry about it. I’ll pay.”

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Jehyuk stiffened, caught off guard. Had his expression given him away? He tried to hide his embarrassment by scowling.

“Why would you do that? I can pay for myself.”

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“It’s my treat. I picked the place, and I’m the one who invited you. You can cover it next time.”

“But—”

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“I’m thirsty, Jehyuk. Let’s just go in, okay?” Sihoo whispered softly, opening the door. He held it open, waiting for Jehyuk to enter. Something about the way he stood there, holding the door like that, made Jehyuk unable to refuse. Even though they were the same age, moments like this made Sihoo seem like an adult—not in the sense of a senior or authority figure, but simply… more grown-up.

Inside, a sharply dressed man approached them. The man, neatly suited, glanced briefly at Jehyuk before addressing Sihoo.

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“You’re here. Everything has been prepared.”

“Thank you, Manager.”

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“It’s my pleasure. Allow me to show you to your room.”

The manager spoke to Sihoo with a polite, deferential tone, and Sihoo responded as though he were used to it. Following Sihoo’s subtle gesture to come along, Jehyuk trailed behind stiffly.

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The interior of the establishment was filled with the soft hum of elegant jazz music. The tables on the terrace gleamed with polished marble surfaces, and even the bar counters sparkled under the dim lighting. The place exuded sophistication.

As they walked past the patrons on the first floor, Jehyuk caught snippets of whispers. People, both men and women, turned to look at Sihoo, murmuring things like, “Is he a celebrity?” Though Jehyuk could feel their gazes lingering on him too, he was too preoccupied to process it.

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The second floor was quieter. A small chandelier hung in the center of the hallway, its warm light reflecting off the velvet-finished doors lining the corridor. There were three rooms in total, each large and private, with plush finishes. The manager led them to the room at the very end and opened the door for them.

The room Sihoo had brought Jehyuk to was spacious—too much so for just the two of them—with a table, comfortable sofas, and elegant chairs neatly arranged. As Jehyuk stepped inside, the memory of the menu prices flashed through his mind. It seemed like this would cost more than he had initially anticipated, and the thought made his shoulders instinctively tense.

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“If you need anything, just call,” the manager said with a polite bow.

“Got it. I’ll let you know soon,” Sihoo replied.

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“Please enjoy your time.”

After another bow, the manager left the room. Jehyuk hesitated at the doorway, unable to step further in. Sihoo noticed and chuckled softly.

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“There’s no need to freeze up like that.”

Jehyuk, unable to hide his discomfort, muttered, “Do we really need to drink somewhere this fancy? We could’ve just gone somewhere simple.”

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“Those places are noisy. I want to listen to what’s on your mind, and it’s better to do that in a quiet place, just the two of us.”

Was this why people often tacked on the label of a “chaebol heir” to Sihoo’s name? Jehyuk hadn’t thought about it much, as they didn’t hang out often, but now that he considered it, Sihoo never seemed to have money problems. Reluctantly, Jehyuk decided to step in. Just this once, he thought. He’d find a way to pay Sihoo back later.

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The room smelled pleasant—none of the usual cigarette smoke or overwhelming alcohol stench typical of bars. Instead, there was a subtle, refreshing fragrance lingering in the air. The amber lighting gave the space a warm glow, and under it, Sihoo looked perfectly at home, smiling as he took a seat.

“Come to think of it, we’ve never had drinks together before,” Sihoo remarked as he picked up the glass water pitcher already set on the table. He poured a glass of water for Jehyuk, setting it in front of him.

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“Do you drink well?” Sihoo asked casually.

Jehyuk hesitated as he picked up the glass of water. He felt like he should do something in return since Sihoo kept taking care of him, but as usual, he was a step behind.

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“I can handle my drinks,” Jehyuk replied cautiously.

His tolerance was about two bottles of soju. Since he didn’t pass out or fall asleep after that, he could probably drink more, but two bottles was his comfortable limit. Thinking about it, though, two bottles of soju wasn’t much in the physical education department—it was considered on the weaker side. He wasn’t sure if that standard applied in other departments. Still, it was better than claiming he couldn’t drink at all.

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“I guess I’m not a lightweight,” Jehyuk added quietly, trying to sound nonchalant.

“Then I’ll order something I usually drink. Do you prefer beer?”

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“No, I don’t mind,” Jehyuk replied. Honestly, apart from beer and soju, he didn’t have any experience with other drinks, so he wasn’t sure. He simply went along with Sihoo’s lead.

Sihoo smiled, reaching for the button at the edge of the table. When he pressed it, a light lit up on the embedded speaker, and he spoke into it.

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“Manager, please prepare my usual.”

From the speaker came a polite response, “Understood.”

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So that wasn’t just a call button? Everything about this place felt unfamiliar to Jehyuk. He found himself glancing curiously at the button before catching Sihoo’s gaze.

“If you get drunk, I’ll take you home. Don’t worry about it.”

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“Who said I’d get drunk? I told you, I can drink just fine,” Jehyuk retorted.

Sihoo chuckled, his eyes crinkling with amusement, but he didn’t argue. Resting his chin on his hand, he watched Jehyuk with a steady gaze before casually asking, “By the way, I don’t even know your address. Does that Kim Ijun guy know where you live?”

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The mention of Kim Ijun made Jehyuk relax, a small smile tugging at his lips. Sihoo’s uncharacteristic curiosity felt oddly endearing and even a little amusing.

“Yeah. He’s stayed over a few times after practice since I live on my own.”

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“Must be nice. Even I’ve never been to Ji Jehyuk’s place.”

“I didn’t think you’d care about that,” Jehyuk replied with a shrug, smirking slightly.

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Sihoo gave a mysterious smile in return. Just as he glanced down momentarily, a knock sounded at the door.

“Come in,” Sihoo called out.

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At his permission, the manager entered, carrying a wooden tray laden with finger foods and an assortment of unfamiliar fruits. In his other hand was an expensive-looking bottle of liquor. A second staff member followed behind, bringing a stainless steel bucket filled with ice, tongs, and crystal glasses.

With polite bows, the two staff quickly set everything on the table and left with professional smiles. Sihoo reached for the sleek black bottle of whiskey, its golden trim gleaming under the light—a clear indicator of its value.

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Thirty-eight-year-old whiskey? Jehyuk noticed the label, but he didn’t recognize the brand, let alone know what kind of drink it was. Everything here was foreign to him.

“You’re right.”

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“I usually don’t meddle in other people’s lives.”

Pop. The sound of the cap being opened echoed softly.

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