……Is this really the place for dinner?
Upon arriving at the location, Haejin slowly blinked his eyes.
The place Jeong-yeon had brought him to was no ordinary restaurant.
The building’s exterior was so neat it resembled an office building, making him wonder, ‘Is there a restaurant here?’
But upon entering, a completely different world unfolded.
It seemed to be a members-only place; we could only enter after verifying Jeong-yeon’s membership.
The moment the tightly closed door opened, Haejin was utterly taken aback.
Given the building’s exterior and the membership system, Haejin had thought it must be an extremely expensive, high-end restaurant.
But it wasn’t.
Inside the dark room, lasers were spinning dazzlingly, and music thumped so loudly it felt like it would tear the speakers apart.
A crowd of people, indistinguishable from one another, filled the space.
Regardless of gender, everyone was wearing what could barely be called clothing—mere scraps of fabric the size of a palm—enjoying the atmosphere.
While I hadn’t necessarily expected delicious, expensive food, I never imagined an atmosphere like a club.
As Haejin stood frozen, feet glued to the ground, unable to step inside, Jeong-yeon, who had been leading the way, turned to look at me.
“Why are you just standing at the door? Come in.”
“Ah……. Uh, yes…….”
This was our first date, and it wasn’t a typical date course, so I wondered why he chose such a place and felt repelled……
But I had an obligation to fulfill the date, so I had no choice but to step in.
Following the waiter who guided us to our seats and Jeong-yeon, we pushed through the crowd.
Every time Haejin’s body brushed against someone or he saw something, he flinched like a frightened hamster.
Part of it was the bewildering atmosphere, but what was initially just a visual shock now assaulted all five senses, making it even harder.
No wonder, as the people rubbing against each other, regardless of gender, weren’t hiding their pheromones but rather flaunting them.
Each time the turbid mix of pheromones hit his sense of smell, he felt dizzy.
Enduring the strange feeling from the blatant pheromones, he followed along until they arrived at their spot.
The only small mercy was that their dining area seemed private, separated by curtains.
Outside the curtains, people were grinding against each other, but having his field of vision blocked even a little eased his tense mind a bit.
Traces of the pheromones people had scattered were lingering everywhere and subtly seeping in, but it was still far better than the overwhelming intensity inside.
As Haejin secretly let out a sigh of relief, Jeong-yeon, who had brought him here, raised the corner of his mouth in what seemed like amusement at Haejin’s weary appearance.
“Haven’t been to a place like this? You look like you broke down on the way here.”
“……Yes.”
It was a question laced with ridicule, as if asking if he’d never even experienced this, but Haejin glanced at him as if to say, ‘Isn’t that obvious?’ and nodded.
He wasn’t the type to come to such places, and although he had regressed, he was just past legal adulthood.
If he had been to a place like this, that would be stranger.
Not that it was a problem, but Haejin, being quite conservative, thought it would seem too wild if he said he had.
……In my eyes, Jeong-yeon seems that way too.
I’d heard rumors about drugs and such, but since I thought it had nothing to do with me, I never deeply considered what kind of person Jeong-yeon was.
I also had no reason to meet him.
But seeing him frequenting a members-only place like this and bringing me here for our first, supposedly ‘scoring’ date, he seemed like a hedonist.
To him, this behavior was so natural that he probably didn’t even think it was strange to bring me here.
As Haejin stared at Jeong-yeon with heightened wariness, he let out a short laugh and naturally picked up the menu on the table.
“I get why you’re shocked. I deliberately prepared something different because you probably only had stuffy dates with my other brothers.”
“Ah…….”
“You seem unaccustomed to the atmosphere. No need to be so tense. People have prejudices about places like this, but there’s nothing particularly dangerous.”
I thought he had no consideration at all, but Jeong-yeon explained he brought me here to offer a different experience, asking if I hadn’t already done the ordinary dates where you just spend money.
Even so, isn’t this too bold for a first date, and did he even have any intention of winning my favor……?
However, it’s possible he made this bold choice because he thought he couldn’t win me over with an ordinary approach.
While I don’t view him favorably, this choice isn’t entirely incomprehensible.
As Haejin slightly relaxed his guard and nodded hesitantly, Jeong-yeon smiled charmingly and spread the menu on the table.
“And this place is more delicious than you think. I guarantee the taste. Choose what you want to eat.”
“…….”
It looked like a place people came to just for entertainment, but Jeong-yeon insisted it was truly a great restaurant, his eyes sparkling as he urged me to choose from the menu.
Haejin still thought having a meal in such a place was absurd, but the other’s confident guarantee, plus the fact that we were already seated, made it hard to suggest moving.
It was evening, and he was getting hungry……
Reluctantly, Haejin accepted the offered menu.
As expected, the menu mostly consisted of spicy and salty side dishes.
Even though he was seeking something different, it didn’t feel like a proper meal course, making him think, ‘As I thought, this isn’t it……’ but Haejin chose what seemed the most harmless option.
“Then I’ll…… have this.”
“Sure. Good. But you’re not drinking?”
“Ah, alcohol…… I’m not very good at it.”
The menu had more alcohol listed than food, but Haejin hadn’t even unfolded that part.
It wasn’t just that he didn’t particularly like alcohol; he also had no desire to get drunk today.
So he declined indirectly, but Jeong-yeon, as if displeased, let his eyebrows droop dramatically and spoke almost petulantly.
“Just one drink. It’s awkward if I’m the only one drinking.”
“No, I really can’t handle it well……. If you want to drink, you can drink alone. I don’t really mind that.”
“It bothers me. Then, I’ll choose the mildest-looking drink for you. Something low-proof that won’t get you drunk. I swear, this stuff is practically soda. And they do it really well here.”
Jeong-yeon whined that it was awkward to drink alone and actively appealed for us to drink together.
Looking at it now, it seemed he brought me here more because he wanted to drink than to have a meal with me.
Nothing is more disgraceful than getting drunk from the first meeting, and I was in a difficult position as I neither wanted to drink nor get drunk.
However, his enthusiastic urging made it hard to refuse.
While I had often drawn lines and refused the other brothers lately, Jeong-yeon hadn’t directly wronged me much and was a hard person to read, which made it trickier.
“We need to have a drink together to loosen the atmosphere and talk more sincerely. Even if you don’t get drunk. Okay?”
“…….”
Forcing drinks on someone who says no is the worst behavior……
But as I could somewhat understand his reason for offering, Haejin remained troubled for a moment before reluctantly nodding.
“Then just, one glass only…….”
“Sure, sure. Good thinking.”
As Haejin agreed, a pleased look crossed Jeong-yeon’s face.
Jeong-yeon looked at the menu, explaining this and that, saying he’d pick a weak drink for me.
Haejin let the words go in one ear and out the other.
Since they weren’t ordinary drinks like beer or soju, even the explanations were hard to understand, and I figured it was better to leave it to him since I didn’t know anyway.
You’d think no one would know who was sitting here with the curtain drawn, but several people stopped by to greet Jeong-yeon as if they knew he was here.
He seemed to be a notable figure here.
The people who came to greet Jeong-yeon glanced my way and seemed to share a laugh among themselves.
Feeling awkward, Haejin took a gulp of plain water.
It might have been my imagination that they were laughing at me, but even I thought I didn’t belong in a place like this.
From my neat attire with buttons done up to the collar, to my plain looks—everything.
If I felt that way myself, how much more must I stand out in others’ eyes?
So, while feeling awkward under such gazes, I had no desire to fit in either.
As I was newly realizing how well Jeong-yeon fit in here and how different we were, the ordered food arrived.
Jeong-yeon jokingly shooed people away, saying he was on a date and they should scram, then set up the food on the table for sharing.
“Try it. I guarantee it for a reason.”
“Okay…….”
Jeong-yeon urged Haejin to eat.
He looked quite excited seeing the food and drinks that arrived.
Given that he called it a date yet chose this place, and considering how he was chatting with others earlier, his claim about it being delicious wasn’t very credible……
But it was evening, I was hungry, and we needed to finish the meal before parting.
Reluctantly, Haejin picked up his utensils.
Taking the first bite, it was more delicious than expected, as if calling it a great restaurant was no exaggeration.
Well, the prices weren’t insignificant earlier.
A club frequented by people with money might have something different.
As his displeased expression softened and he started eating faster, perhaps sensing the positive reaction, Jeong-yeon’s expression brightened further.
After a few bites, he picked up his full glass and spoke to Haejin.
“Come on, let’s make a toast. Cheers.”
“Ah, cheers…….”
Unwilling, but…… Having decided to play along, Haejin picked up his glass.
Taking a sip of the drink he ordered for me, it really didn’t have much alcohol scent, as he said it was low-proof.
Since I’m not a heavy drinker, there was a slight bitter taste……
But it felt the lightest among any alcohol I’d tried.
As Haejin unconsciously nodded and sipped his drink, Jeong-yeon, noticing this, smiled as if he knew it would be like this.
“Drinkable?”
“Ah, yes……. It’s much lighter than I thought.”
“See? I told you it’s practically at soda level. We’re just drinking for the atmosphere, not with any ill intent to get you drunk, right?”
“Ah, no! I didn’t think that…….”
Honestly, I was suspicious when he offered the drink, but I thought I hadn’t shown it……
Getting caught was embarrassing, so I hastily denied it, but he seemed to not even listen, casually taking another sip himself.
Embarrassed at being suspected and trying to ease the atmosphere, I ate more food and ended up drinking more than I intended.
Perhaps because it felt so weak, I let my guard down and drank more.
From the time the ordered food was almost gone, I started feeling strange.
My head felt floaty as if heavily drunk, and my body felt weak.
Am I drunk……? He clearly said it was low-proof, like soda.
Did he just say that to coax me, and it was actually strong liquor?
But for that, it didn’t taste much like alcohol……
While I don’t enjoy drinking, my alcohol tolerance isn’t extremely low either, so getting drunk from a few glasses of this tasteless alcohol was strange.
My mind was becoming foggy, to the point where it was hard to hold my body up now.
As Haejin half-leaned on the table, propping his chin, Jeong-yeon, sipping his drink, observed my condition.
“Your face is red. Are you drunk already?”
“Ah, I’m normally not this weak……. I feel a bit dizzy.”
To Jeong-yeon’s question, Haejin answered awkwardly.
I had said earlier I wasn’t good with alcohol, but appearing like someone who gets drunk from one glass was a matter of pride.
Awkwardly answering, I looked around; the food was mostly finished, and some time had passed.
We hadn’t met for very long, but since we met late and I was getting drunk, it seemed difficult to do anything more.
Though I felt sorry for him essentially wasting his rare opportunity so quickly, I thought since he was the one who urged the drink, it couldn’t be helped, and cautiously opened my mouth.
“It feels a bit rude to say this so soon after meeting……. But would it be okay if we leave? My stomach feels a bit off and all.”
“Really? Hmm……. Then I guess we have no choice.”
I thought he might try to hold me back, saying it’s a waste to part so soon, or ask to meet again, but surprisingly, Jeong-yeon was cool about it.
It was a relief; having to arrange another meeting like this would have been troublesome.
As I tried to get up from my seat as politely as possible, after taking a step or two, my knees suddenly gave way.
Just as I was about to collapse to the floor, unable to control my drunken body, a firm arm wrapped around my waist, supporting me.
“Are you okay?”
“Ah, th-thank, s-sorry…….”
I was shocked at almost falling, and now I was inadvertently in his embrace.
While not falling was fortunate, it was embarrassing.
Hastily trying to put strength into my legs and push him away, the sturdy body supporting me didn’t budge an inch.
Even if my body felt weak, he should know I’m trying to push him away.
Not only did he not move, he didn’t even let go.
Finding it strange, Haejin looked up at Jeong-yeon, who smiled with crescent-moon eyes, his face backlit.
“But, actually, our date is just beginning.”