Alcohol couldn't take Seo-yeon's pain away.
So she kept drinking.
She sat at the bar, slowly turning the glass between her fingers.
The bartender looked at her.
"Girl, are you still drinking?"
Seo-yeon looked up. "Apparently."
"How much have you had?"
She glanced at the empty glasses beside her.
"I lost count."
"You should stop."
She gave him a small smile. "I'll stop when I'm done."
The bartender shook his head and walked away.
Seo-yeon took another sip.
She wasn't sure how long she had been sitting there when someone took the seat beside her.
She barely noticed.
Until she looked over.
Her eyes widened.
She knew that face.
There was no way.
"Oh my God."
The man glanced at her.
Seo-yeon stared at him.
"You're Suga."
"Yeah."
She covered her mouth.
"Oh my God."
He gave her a small, amused look.
"You seem surprised."
"I am."
She looked at him again, as if she needed to make sure he was real.
"Oh my God."
Suga raised an eyebrow.
"That's three."
Seo-yeon laughed.
"I'm sorry."
"You don't have to apologize."
She smiled.
For a moment, she forgot about everything.
She couldn't believe she was sitting beside Suga.
Her Suga.
Then he noticed the drink in front of her.
"You've had a lot."
Seo-yeon looked at her glass.
"Maybe."
"Maybe?"
She nodded.
"Okay. Definitely."
He gave a small laugh.
She smiled too.
Then her smile slowly disappeared.
Her fingers tightened around the glass.
"You know what?"
Suga looked at her.
"What?"
"I wish I could stay drunk forever."
His expression changed.
"Why?"
Seo-yeon stared down at her drink.
"Because when I'm sober, I remember what happened."
He didn't say anything.
She swallowed.
"My boyfriend cheated on me."
Suga stayed quiet.
Seo-yeon continued before she could change her mind.
"With my best friend."
His face lost its amusement.
"I'm sorry."
She gave a small laugh.
"I caught them today."
"Together?"
She nodded.
"I went to a hotel because someone sent me a message telling me they were there."
She looked away.
"I thought it was a lie."
Her voice became quieter.
"It wasn't."
Suga didn't interrupt.
Seo-yeon blinked quickly.
"I trusted him."
She rubbed her eyes.
"I trusted her too."
She let out a shaky breath.
"And now I don't even know what to do with myself."
Suga looked at her for a moment.
"Don't make any big decisions tonight."
Seo-yeon looked at him.
"Why?"
"You're drunk."
She frowned.
"That's your advice?"
"It's good advice."
She almost laughed.
Then she looked at him for a few seconds.
An idea suddenly crossed her mind.
It was probably the alcohol.
Definitely the alcohol.
She leaned closer.
"Suga."
"Hm?"
"Spend the night with me."
He froze.
"What?"
"Just tonight."
Suga stared at her.
Seo-yeon shrugged.
"I want to forget my boyfriend."
He looked at her as if he wasn't sure he'd heard correctly.
"You want to forget your boyfriend by spending the night with me?"
She nodded.
"Yes."
"Why me?"
She gave him a tired smile.
"Because you're here."
He blinked.
"That's your reason?"
"And because you're Suga."
He looked away for a second, clearly trying to process that.
"You're serious?"
"Very."
"You've been drinking."
"I know."
"You don't know me."
"I know that too."
She leaned back against the bar.
"I just don't want to be alone tonight."
That answer made him quiet.
Seo-yeon looked down at her hands.
"I don't want to go home and stare at the ceiling while thinking about them."
Suga watched her.
After a moment, he said quietly, "You should sleep somewhere safe."
She frowned.
"Is that a no?"
"Yes."
She sighed.
"You're really boring."
"I'll survive."
Seo-yeon picked up her glass again.
"Fine."
She took a sip.
Then she muttered, "I still think it's a good idea."
Suga shook his head.
"It isn't."
She looked at him.
"Maybe tomorrow."
He almost smiled.
"Definitely not tomorrow."
Seo-yeon laughed despite herself.
Then she rested her head against the bar.
For the first time that night, she stopped reaching for her drink.