Chapter 98: The Uninvited Guest and the Unintended Housewarming

As the afternoon wore on, Myeong-tae and Da-eun burst through the door. Their arms were laden with rolls of toilet paper, laundry detergent, tissues, and six-packs of beer. It seemed their true purpose was a housewarming, rather than the team project.

“Yoonwoo, hyung! Wow, your house is amazing. I’m totally jealous!”

“Oppa, oppa. Is Yeon-chae treating you well? I have a feeling he wouldn’t be very nice.”

“What? Why me?”

“That’s just how you look. Anyone can tell.”

“Hyung, hyung. When is the baby due?”

“Next month.”

“Not much time left! But can we really just come over to play? Oh Yeon-chae, why would you call us over if it’s going to make Oppa tired?”

“No, I told them to come. I wanted to see you guys after a long time, too.”

“Hyung, is that true? Yeon-chae isn’t blackmailing you, is he?”

“Oppa, if you’re being blackmailed, just wink with your left eye.”

“Ugh, you guys. Will you quiet down?”

Yeon-chae grumbled, his brows furrowed. Yoonwoo, enjoying the rare boisterous atmosphere in the house, played along by winking with his left eye. This earned him a headlock from Yeon-chae.

“Oppa, but…”

They had barely settled down to start preparing for their group presentation when Da-eun spoke up, less than five minutes later. She was timidly glancing around, so when Yoonwoo asked what was wrong, she subtly presented the beer she had been hiding behind her back.

“Actually, we bought some alcohol too… Can we drink it…?”

Yoonwoo had noticed her carrying several six-packs in one hand from the moment they entered the house, far heavier than Myeong-tae’s toilet paper and detergent. He had secretly admired her strength, though she seemed to think she had hidden them well.

Yeon-chae, however, must have missed it earlier, as his brow immediately furrowed. Yoonwoo chuckled, patting Yeon-chae’s back.

“Of course. What’s a housewarming without alcohol? Don’t worry about me, just drink comfortably.”

“Hyung… This isn’t a housewarming, it’s a team project. Hey, Yoonwoo, hyung can’t drink, why would you buy something like this?”

“Oh Yeon-chae, don’t nitpick! Oppa Yoonwoo said it’s fine!”

“Well, who’s going to say no when you just show up with it and ask?”

“No, Yeon-chae. I actually bought some alcohol for you all to drink too. It’s rare for us to gather like this; it’d be great to have some fun.”

When Yoonwoo waved his hands in protest, Yeon-chae turned back, one eyebrow raised. ‘When?’ his expression seemed to ask, looking utterly displeased. Yoonwoo rolled his eyes, avoiding Yeon-chae’s gaze.

Behind the sofa was a box of soju he had bought to set the mood, hidden away because he thought Yeon-chae would object. He discreetly pulled out the box and let it drop in front of them, prompting an incredulous look from Yeon-chae. Da-eun shrieked.

“Wow, Oppa Yoonwoo is the best!”

“Whoa, Yoonwoo, hyung! We were just feeling a bit disappointed that beer was all we had. How did you know?”

Myeong-tae clapped his hands with delight, but Yeon-chae’s face only grew more sullen.

“Seriously, why so much alcohol…?”

“Actually, I bought some board games too. When are you guys done with your team project?”

Leaving the bewildered Yeon-chae behind, Myeong-tae and Da-eun excitedly chattered away.

Ultimately, the team project preparations dissolved into a party atmosphere before they even began. This was largely thanks to Da-eun’s bold declaration.

“If we’re doing the team project, what will Oppa Yoonwoo do in the meantime? We’d feel so bad for him!”

“Exactly!”

Myeong-tae chimed in. However, he quickly ducked behind Da-eun upon meeting Yeon-chae’s piercing, raised-eyebrow glare. He then hesitantly added:

“I didn’t even bring my laptop.”

“Me neither. The beer was heavy, you know?”

It was clear the team project had never been their intention from the start.

Inevitably, the housewarming began. Yeon-chae sighed deeply, whispering into Yoonwoo’s ear.

“Oh, seriously. This isn’t why I called them here.”

“Why? I like it. Are you in a rush with the team project?”

“No, that can wait until tomorrow… But if they drink and play, they’ll be really loud and stay for ages. Hyung, you must be tired. And you’re feeling heavy…”

“I’m fine. I want to play.”

“If you get tired, don’t mind them and just go to your room and lie down.”

“Don’t worry, don’t worry.”

Despite Yoonwoo being more excited than Myeong-tae or Da-eun, Yeon-chae remained constantly worried. He barely touched his own glass, leaving the stacked bottles of alcohol entirely to Myeong-tae and Da-eun. Yoonwoo enthusiastically pulled out the Halma Galli he had prepared.

Yeon-chae, who had dragged his friends to the house solely to witness Yoonwoo’s jealousy—even though he didn’t particularly enjoy board games or rowdy drinking sessions—now regretted his decision and called the Chinese restaurant to order food.

As the Halma Galli game intensified, the atmosphere grew increasingly heated. Da-eun and Myeong-tae’s eyes were already glazed over, while Yoonwoo, who hadn’t touched a drop of alcohol, felt as if he were drunk. Only Yeon-chae, the sole sober one, wore a somewhat grim expression, busy tidying the living room that was slowly turning into a mess.

It was then that the doorbell rang. Yoonwoo, who had been mixing a soju-and-beer bomb for Da-eun’s outstretched cup, snapped his head up. A sudden sense of unease washed over him. He had a foreboding feeling that this vibrant atmosphere was about to be completely shattered.

“Oppa, Oppa. Someone’s here.”

Da-eun fumbled, her face flushed with alcohol. Yeon-chae was in the kitchen, searching for snacks. Myeong-tae stumbled to his feet, swaying as he headed for the door.

“Hyuung, I’ll get it!”

“Uhh…”

“Who, who is it!”

Myeong-tae imperiously shouted towards the front door, then, without waiting for a reply, he unlocked it. *Click.* The sound of the door opening echoed.

Yoonwoo glanced at the wall clock. It was almost 9 PM.

Few people would ring the doorbell of a newlywed home at this hour without prior contact. It could be a salesperson, a religious proselytizer, or…

“Jaesu! Jaesu! I’m here!”

It could only be Kevin.

Kevin wrapped his arms around Yoonwoo, who simply stared up at him with a deadpan expression, offering no greeting. The non-existent alcohol Yoonwoo had consumed instantly sobered him up.

“Ah, let go of me!”

“Jaesuuu! Didn’t you miss me? Aren’t you happy to see me? I missed Jaesu so, so much!”

“I can’t breathe! Aren’t you going to let go?”

“Aww. Jaesu missed me too, you’re just pretending!”

“Ah, why would I, of all people!”

Yoonwoo gestured towards Da-eun and Myeong-tae, who were standing dumbfounded. The two immediately rushed forward, each grabbing one of Kevin’s arms and prying him off.

“…What? Hyung, why are you back again? How long has it been since you went back to America?”

Yeon-chae, who had emerged from the kitchen, gaped. It was the exact question Yoonwoo wanted to ask. Kevin, his arms still restrained, cackled. The long drop earrings below his earlobes jingled in the air.

“My semester’s over! It’s winter break!”

“Oh, damn it. Why is it already break again…?”

As Yoonwoo mumbled, Da-eun and Myeong-tae’s eyes widened in surprise. Unable to show his annoyance in front of his juniors, Yoonwoo offered an awkward smile. Kevin seized the opportunity to interject.

“But what are you all doing? A housewarming? Include me, too! Let’s play together!”

Yeon-chae and Yoonwoo sighed in unison.

The reason Yoonwoo always felt uneasy around Kevin was that he had initially mistaken him for ‘Yoon-hyung.’ However, it had all been a misunderstanding due to a lack of communication, so now it was only right to welcome Kevin.

Yet, welcoming Kevin was not easy. No matter how close a friend he was to Yeon-chae, Kevin was far too clingy with him. Yoonwoo gritted his teeth, glaring at Kevin, who was plastered to Yeon-chae’s side.

“Wow, are you playing Halma Galli?”

“Yes, yes. Do you like it?”

For some reason, Da-eun, who had been occupying the other seat next to Kevin, nodded. However, Kevin shook his head.

“Hmm, I’m not very good at this. I haven’t played it much.”

“Oh… Hmm… Then should we play a different game? I’ve been playing this for so long, I’m getting a bit bored!”

“Then let’s play a different game! And include me!”

“Yes, let’s! Oppa Yoonwoo, do you have any other games?”

Da-eun quickly turned to Yoonwoo and asked. Yoonwoo narrowed his brows.

Da-eun and Kevin got along famously. The energy of a drunken Da-eun and a completely sober Kevin was surprisingly similar.

However, it wasn’t just a matter of energy; Da-eun’s gaze towards Kevin was unsettling. Every time she looked back, her pupils glinted as if she were eyeing Kevin opportunistically. The perpetually cheerful Kevin, however, seemed oblivious.

If Da-eun and Kevin hit it off, it would be a good thing for Yoonwoo. But did it have to happen *here*? Couldn’t they just hold hands, get along, and leave? Yoonwoo felt his energy draining, harassed by Kevin and Da-eun from both sides.

Yeon-chae, noticing Yoonwoo’s tired expression, narrowed his brows.

“No, there aren’t. Stop playing and go home now.”

“What? I just got here!”

“Ah, who told you to come? Call ahead next time!”

“Aww, if I called, you wouldn’t let me come.”

“Then why did you come, knowing that?”

Whatever they said, it simply bounced off Kevin. It was likely this very personality that allowed him to become friends with Yeon-chae. Yoonwoo imagined the thoughtlessly cheerful Kevin as a boy, clinging bravely even when Yeon-chae scowled with tightly pressed lips. It wasn’t so different from now.

‘Still, I should treat him well…’ He was the hyung Yeon-chae had relied on when he was lonely and alone in America, without anyone he knew… Yoonwoo was trying to reassure himself that there was no reason to avoid him, especially since he wasn’t ‘Yoon-hyung,’ when suddenly…

“So, should we play a round of Go-Stop?”

Kevin rummaged in his back jeans pocket and pulled out a Hwatu deck. Yoonwoo was silently astonished. ‘Why on earth does he carry something like that?’

“Wow, Go-Stop? That’s awesome!”

“Whoa, let’s even make a bet!”

“Great, great! What should we bet? Jaesu! What do you think would be good?”

“Bet what, you idiot…?”

Next to a flustered Yoonwoo, Yeon-chae scowled. He looked as if he was about to tell them not to engage in illegal gambling in someone else’s newlywed home when Da-eun, who had been clapping, suddenly shrieked.

“Let’s bet a kiss! Kissing time! How about that?”

“Kyaaah, I love it!”

Kevin clapped like a seal. Myeong-tae, surprised by the sudden turn of events, muttered, “What… kissing time…?” with a bewildered face, but he was easily ignored by the two drunkards.

“Then, then, how about the person who comes in last gets a kiss from the person who comes in first?”

When an excited Kevin, with an innocent face, shouted, “Yes! Sounds good!” Da-eun’s eyes sparkled.

Yoonwoo had gone on several retreats with Da-eun, and Go-Stop games always broke out, so he was well aware of Da-eun’s skill. Moreover, Kevin had lived in America his whole life. Yoonwoo didn’t know where he had gotten the Hwatu cards, but he doubted Kevin was familiar with Go-Stop.

It seemed Kevin’s chastity was in danger.

But Yoonwoo didn’t care.

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