Chapter 127: Stop Drinking

“Are your teeth okay? Do they not hurt?”

Tae Hwan asked Bodam, who had put a gold-dusted dim sum in his mouth and was savoring it seriously.

Bodam, who was impressed by the caviar that popped inside the thin dough, ignored Tae Hwan’s words and only moved his chopsticks.

This was not a situation to be having a conversation.

“Yoon Bodam. Eat mine too.”

“Just order more.”

Seung Ho stopped Ji Oh as he tried to share the dim sum that Bodam was particularly enjoying with his long chopsticks.

‘Trying to share food with chopsticks that have been in his mouth.’

“Right, let’s order more.”

Tae Hwan, who also seemed to be enjoying the food, quickly showed his empty plate and called the waiter again.

Bodam also frowned seriously, saying that he thought they should order more of this.

And so, it was already the third dish they had reordered.

They were finishing off the course meal as if it were a tasting menu.

With extremely happy expressions.

Bodam, who was listening intently to the explanation of the steamed lobster, one of the main dishes recommended by the chef, glanced around at the Espers.

He had arranged the team dinner, but he felt like he had been too focused on the food, so he tried to strike up a conversation.

“No! Two dim sum, please. Yes, the one with the roe. Thank you.”

His focus was snatched away by the food again as he cut off Tae Hwan, who was only ordering one dim sum.

‘Let’s talk later.’

“Try this too.”

Tae Hwan, who was worried that the excited Bodam might choke, but also found the sight of his cheeks filling up insanely cute, kept recommending the next menu item.

“What’s that?”

“Duck meat. It’s delicious.”

“Give me more sauce.”

“Like this?”

“Yeah. More. A lot.”

At the shameless sight of Tae Hwan, who only picked out the meat of the crispy-skinned Peking duck and took the leg for himself, Ji Oh cursed with only his mouth.

Seung Ho completely averted his gaze at the sight of Tae Hwan picking up food with the chopsticks he had used and passing it over.

“Ah, Team Leader.”

Bodam, who had noticed Seung Ho’s uncomfortable expression, called out to him.

“Are you okay with the chopsticks? If you’re uncomfortable, you can use a fork.”

“What’s uncomfortable?”

Tae Hwan and Ji Oh asked at the same time, turning towards Bodam who was suddenly concerned about Seung Ho.

“It’s hard to use chopsticks because you’re left-handed.”

“That hyung is?”

“The team leader uses both hands.”

Bodam clearly remembered Seung Ho saying he was left-handed.

Perhaps because of his habit of being a fan of his during his school days, he was particularly good at remembering Seung Ho’s trivial habits.

“You’re not left-handed?”

Bodam, who had taken a bite of his king crab soup, looked at Seung Ho with a puzzled face.

Seung Ho, who had been using his right hand skillfully, silently put down his chopsticks and picked up a spoon.

“That’s right.”

Tae Hwan, who clearly remembered Seung Ho handling weapons with both hands, frowned.

Bodam asked the waiter, who had come to clear the empty plates, for a fork.

At the sight of him taking care of the team leader, Tae Hwan’s expression hardened.

Ji Oh openly glared, then ordered cold water before the waiter left, and after ordering the water, he felt like having a drink.

“Yoon Bodam, you drink too, right?”

Bodam’s eyes lit up at the word “alcohol,” and he swallowed the shrimp ball without even chewing it completely.

‘My goodness. To think I didn’t order alcohol.’

“I’m a good drinker.”

He gave a vague nod to Tae Hwan, who was worriedly telling him to chew his food, and showed off his drinking pride for the first time in a while.

When it comes to alcohol, it’s Yoon Bodam.

Bodam was on a roll, as if he would spend the entire 6 million won on alcohol alone.

No one could stop Bodam as he added one bottle of the kaoliang liquor recommended by the staff after another.

Everyone became weak in front of that pale face, which brightened to the point of illuminating the room.

And Bodam became weak to alcohol.

“Team Leader-ah. Why aren’t you eating more?”

Bodam, who had quickly succumbed to the kaoliang liquor that was over 50 proof, denied his drunkenness and pretended to be sober.

He was a complete mess, speaking informally to Seung Ho and Ji Oh, then using honorifics with Tae Hwan.

He had chugged the kaoliang liquor like it was soju, so it was only natural that he would get drunk.

“Why aren’t you eating? There’s still so much food left. Should I feed you?”

“Let’s stop drinking now.”

“Right. Lee Tae Hwan, put the bottle away.”

“Hey!”

Bodam glared with all his might at Tae Hwan and Ji Oh, who dared to try to take away the liquor bottle while he was still holding his glass.

It was just cute because the strength in his eyelids had gone, but it was an atmosphere where he would get genuinely angry if they took away his drink.

Tae Hwan, who had no choice but to pour him a drink, soothed Bodam, telling him to drink just a little.

The more he did, the faster Bodam’s pace became.

Attack Team 3, unable to do anything about their dedicated guide who had become an untethered green frog, quickly finished their drinks instead.

If Bodam tried to order a new bottle, they planned to tell him that the alcohol had run out because he had drunk it all.

They were still novices who hadn’t yet mastered the skill of refilling empty bottles with water.

They were far from being Bodam’s drinking buddies.

“You really don’t eat much… Team Leader, you’re an Esper, so why do you eat about the same as me? I’m not an Esper.”

They had already finished all the dishes in the reserved dinner course, including dessert, and the wide table was filled with separately ordered dishes.

Tae Hwan and Ji Oh had eaten two-thirds of it, and the rest was being nibbled on by Bodam, who ate as well as an Esper.

Seung Ho had not touched the shared dishes at all.

“Does it not suit your taste…”

“I’ve eaten enough.”

Bodam’s gaze went to Seung Ho, whose hand injury had not yet healed, rather than the two guys who were eating well on their own.

“Still, you should eat more.”

“I’m full.”

“I’m full too.”

“Then stop eating.”

“What are you talking about.”

As Bodam only showed interest in Seung Ho after getting tipsy, Tae Hwan and Ji Oh just drank their alcohol silently.

‘What’s so great about that rude person, Yoon Bodam…’

“This is really delicious. If you don’t eat it, I’m going to eat it all.”

“If you’re full, leave it.”

“Just try one. Huh? Just one. You’ll want to eat two.”

Bodam, whose body was staggering but whose chopstick skills were steady, picked up a piece of grilled abalone, which was good for stamina, and offered it to Seung Ho.

Seung Ho accepted and ate what Bodam gave him without hesitation.

All of it, without leaving a single piece.

“Where are you going?”

Tae Hwan asked as Ji Oh, who could no longer watch the two, got up from his seat.

Bodam, who didn’t even know he had gotten up, was diligently piling grilled abalone onto Seung Ho’s plate.

‘Because you have to eat well when you’re sick.’

“A smoke.”

Ji Oh, who let out a sigh-like answer, disappeared.

Tae Hwan pushed a glass of lemon water towards Bodam, who was blinking at the empty seat in front of him, telling him not to worry about it.

Bodam, who naturally refused the water, looked for alcohol.

“Wow. You really are a good drinker.”

Tae Hwan, who was watching Bodam down the strong liquor, went beyond worry to admiration.

He thought it would be better to just get him more drunk and put him to sleep, so he only guided him to drink slowly.

While feeding him a full bite of food with each glass he emptied.

Then, Seung Ho, who was watching this, stopped Tae Hwan.

“Stop feeding him.”

Bodam, who had been patting his already full stomach even before the alcohol was poured, seemed to not feel his fullness due to being drunk.

An excessive amount of food was going into that small body.

“He’s going to burst.”

Seung Ho was genuinely concerned that something might happen to Bodam’s body.

As the thoroughly drunk Bodam said he was fine and started to shovel in the food, Tae Hwan’s phone rang again.

Bzzzt—.

It was already the third time today.

Tae Hwan filled Bodam’s glass exactly halfway and checked his phone.

Bodam, who was so drunk that he couldn’t even taste the expensive liquor, glanced over as he sipped the drink he had been poured.

‘…Is it that woman again?’

Bodam recalled the name he had happened to see on Tae Hwan’s phone screen, which had been ringing frequently recently.

Lee Hyo Rin.

He didn’t know who she was, but she was a woman who called and texted Lee Tae Hwan every day.

‘No way. Nah, it’s possible. But he likes me—.’

“I need to take this call for a bit.”

Tae Hwan, who got up, dragging his chair, secretly hid a new bottle of liquor and took it with him.

Now, there were only two bottles of kaoliang liquor left, and Bodam and Seung Ho were also left alone at the table.

“…I should eat it all before he comes back.”

Bodam, who had followed Tae Hwan’s back as he quickly went out the entrance, picked up his chopsticks and ate the Dongpo pork with bok choy.

He passed on the tip to Seung Ho that it was delicious this way and finished the remaining food.

While trying to deny his gaze that kept going to Lee Tae Hwan’s empty seat.

“Is Kang Yi Jun doing okay?”

Then, he brought up a name that had suddenly come to mind and casually asked about his well-being.

‘It seems like it’s about time for him to leave. As expected.’

“He’s leaving tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?!”

“At one o’clock.”

Seung Ho was going to tell him anyway if Bodam asked.

Kang Yi Jun was leaving the Center tomorrow.

He would never see him again.

“I… want to go see him. Before he leaves.”

“Alright.”

Bodam, who was facing Seung Ho who had surprisingly agreed so readily, fiddled with his empty glass.

It felt empty now that Tae Hwan, who had been pouring him drinks, was gone.

“If you want to see Kang Yi Jun, then see him. Do as you please.”

Seung Ho, who had picked up a water bottle with lemon slices instead of alcohol, poured water into Bodam’s glass.

“But cut back on the drinking a bit.”

The tips of Bodam’s fingers, which were holding the glass, cooled as the cold water was poured in.

He was so drunk that he wouldn’t have been able to tell if he had been tricked into thinking the water was alcohol.

He probably would have drunk it, thinking it was alcohol, if they had put water in a liquor bottle.

However, Han Seung Ho did not trick him into thinking the water was alcohol.

Because he was a person who didn’t know how to embellish his words.

“Let’s stop drinking for today.”

Bodam didn’t get angry even as he watched Seung Ho put away the liquor bottle.

He just slowly rolled the cool glass in his hand.

He wasn’t aware that he was nodding his head.

As Tae Hwan had said, Bodam was weak to Seung Ho.

Seung Ho, who was intently watching Bodam chew his food for a long time with his lips pressed together, pushed the plate towards Bodam like Tae Hwan had.

He wanted him to stop eating, but he wanted to see his eating face more.

If possible, for a very long time.

Continuously.

“What are your plans after you leave?”

“Me?”

Bodam, who was briefly flustered at Seung Ho’s personal question, stopped chewing his salty asparagus and made a “hmm-” sound.

Whether it was because of the alcohol or because he had become much more comfortable with Han Seung Ho.

A playfulness that hadn’t come out in front of him before was triggered.

“A building owner.”

Thinking that Seung Ho, who didn’t react, might not have heard him, he repeated it again, louder.

Half-joking, half-serious.

A. Build. Ing. Own. Er.

“…Alright.”

“It’s true. I’m going to be a building owner.”

“If you need help, let me know.”

Seung Ho, who had taken Bodam’s quite serious expression as sincere, replied.

“Really?”

“I told you I would support you financially. There’s no limit.”

“No. Not that.”

Bodam shook his head and made it clear that even if he bought a building, he would be the one to live in it.

“Then what can I do for you?”

“Clean the building. Not by hiring a company, but by myself. Wearing rubber gloves.”

Seung Ho’s lips also lightened along with Bodam, who was chuckling, saying that the building wouldn’t be that tall.

That Han Seung Ho, smiled.

A chuckle.

“Professional staff would be better.”

It was strange to see Han Seung Ho carrying on a light conversation with a faint smile.

Bodam’s head tilted slightly as he faced him.

‘He had dimples. On that face.’

Bodam, who poked his own cheek, following Seung Ho’s dimples, which he was seeing for the first time, was lost in a past memory at that moment.

It was information he hadn’t known even in his days of being a fan of his day and night.

Dimples.

“Team Leader. I.”

If he had known then, Bodam would have probably walked around with pens stuck in both cheeks to make dimples too.

He probably would have imitated that expression of a faint chuckle without making a loud noise every day.

That’s how much.

“I liked you. Han Seung Ho.”