February 24, 2001
9:14 PM
After practice, Donghwa arrived early at the bar he usually frequents in Jung, where all his drinking buddies were already waiting. Suddenly, the bartender appeared with a box full of small bags. "Friends, everyone knows about the number of car accidents in Seoul this February, so I had an idea. This box contains several bags, each with seven MDMA pills; they all hold yellow pills, except for one containing purple ones. Whoever ends up with the purple pills stays sober tonight."
Everyone grabbed the small bags and opened them; luckily, Donghwa got the yellow pills. "Yes!" he shouted, but a colleague of his—Hyun Taeil, 35, married—wasn't as lucky and ended up with the purple pills.
The rest of the night was madness; everyone who took the yellow pills—Donghwa included—drank heavily as if they didn't have to work the next day, while the night felt like a psychological test for Taeil.
23:48
"The girls are here!" shouted Ho Junghyun—a colleague of Donghwa's who was practically wasted—as seven female escorts arrived for the seven men to enjoy the night; Donghwa had become the star of the bar, having gotten so high and drunk that he deliberately smashed a table while having sex like a madman.
03:00
Donghwa was in the car with a friend, chatting away and spouting all kinds of nonsense from the back seat while Taeil drove. After dropping the friend off, Taeil drove a bit further until Donghwa asked to take the wheel: "You... you mind if I drive to my dorm? Is that okay?" Donghwa said—even though he already reeked of booze, and anyone passing by would see he was down to just his underwear, having left the rest of his clothes at the bar.
"You're going straight to your dorm." Taeil got out of the car and called a taxi while Donghwa drove; it was clear he wasn't going to listen, as he was so drunk he was driving like a madman—running red lights, driving on the sidewalk, and ignoring speed limits as he tore across nearly all of Seoul. Donghwa had a brief moment of clarity when he realized he was near the waterfront and tried to swerve, though unsuccessfully; luckily, Donghwa survived.
07:45
Jumin had woken up early, showered, and checked his book collection; seeing that he had finished reading Margaret Atwood's *The Handmaid's Tale*, he would now have to read Louisa May Alcott's *Little Women*. "We'll see later if this one holds my attention as much as the other," Jumin said.
Jumin loved to read; his parents had always said that reading—not just books, but also the reading one does in everyday life—helped foster a better understanding of the world. His favorite books were true crime and dystopian novels, and especially those written by women, as they gave him greater insight into human behavior, politics, and society.
Jumin read a whole chapter before remembering he had to make breakfast, so he went to the kitchen to wash apples and tangerines, boil eggs, and make a light red berry juice; then, he turned on the TV... the first news story was about the accident.
Jumin took a deep breath, fearing the worst, when he saw Donghwa alive—walking off the beach with three minor leg injuries. "Oh no..." Jumin tensed up. "...it's unclear whether the guy was drunk or not, but right after the accident, he walked to a nearby pharmacy and came out carrying a pack of condoms and a small carton of coconut water, walking down the street in nothing but his underwear."
It didn't take long for Donghwa to arrive, wearing only the black boxers he'd had on for God knows how long; he was carrying a still-sealed pack of twelve condoms and a small, empty bottle of coconut water. "Donghwa, what the HELL happened to your car?" Jumin asked. Donghwa just scoffed and lay down on the sofa. "Fuck all," he replied.
"Do you realize you ALMOST DIED?" Jumin asked, even more frantic, while Donghwa shrugged. "But I didn't," he replied—which did nothing to reassure Jumin. "You have injuries on your legs," Jumin pointed out. "It's just a detail," Donghwa answered. "YOU'RE BLEEDING!" Jumin shouted. "Fuck it," Donghwa replied.
"Your car is wrecked!" Jumin kept warning. "Shove it up your ass." Donghwa grabbed the phone he had accidentally left at home that night and started using it. "I have to call the hospital!" Jumin picked up his own phone to call the hospital. "Mind your own business," Donghwa shouted.