I'm fucking shaking…
The group date's *today*…!
Why's time moving so damn fast?
Still, I busted my ass preparing the last two days. Got my hair trimmed—just the messy bits—and decided to use a curling iron for the rest. Honestly, I think it looks better than a perm… or maybe I'm just too chickenshit to go to a salon. Fucking around with my hair at home feels safer.
Two days of hardcore curling iron practice, and it's… okay? Maybe? Or maybe I just look like a nerd trying too hard. *Sigh…*
Swapped my glasses too. The contacts I used for cross-dressing weren't bad, but they felt weird otherwise, so I got new frames. Went from horn-rimmed to round ones. Not much difference, honestly. Kinda better, kinda not. I'm more comfy with my old look, but In-ha said I finally look "human," so I guess this is an upgrade? Fuck, no one to ask for a second opinion.
If I had a girl to ask… Running to Juha or Joo Ye-jin for style advice would be hilarious and pathetic.
"Ughhh…"
I'm so fucking nervous…
Not excited-nervous—terrified I'll fuck up and ruin the vibe. Scared shitless…
"Ughhh…"
I'm thinking of Ji-hyun noona. Wanna bury my face in her soft tits and rub my head there. That'd calm me down…
Hell, I'd settle for rubbing my face in Juha's massive rack!
I'm so tense my armpits are sweating buckets…
"Thirty minutes… thirty minutes…"
I sat in an empty classroom, legs shaking like crazy.
Ten minutes, then I'll head out… right?
"Arghhh…!"
I can't do this! I *can't*!
I'm dizzy, sweating cold. If I bail, In-ha's gonna beat my ass, isn't she?
*Gasp…* I can't breathe…
*Buzz.*
A call from Kim Myung-jun.
Fuck… it's here…
No escape now…
"Y-Yo, Myung-jun."
"Where you at? We're at the gate."
"I-I'm coming. On my way."
"Cool, we'll wait."
My legs were trembling like jelly.
I took a deep breath and stood. Honestly, drinking with just the guys sounds more fun…
If the girls all bailed 'cause they got annoyed… please, God…!
*
Fuck.
Time's a heartless bitch. Ruthless.
The meetup time hit me like a truck.
Met up with the two guys first—Kim Myung-jun and Park Do-hyun.
Myung-jun's his usual handsome self. Do-hyun's new to me, but damn, he's good-looking too. Kinda delinquent-hot, the type girls drool over. He was cracking jokes in the group chat, so he's probably gonna steal the show.
"Yo, thanks for the invite, man," Do-hyun said, grinning.
"Uh… no prob…"
"Same department, but first time meeting. Let's hang more."
"Y-Yeah…"
He shook my hand, and I already felt crushed by his vibe.
My goal today? Simple. Don't fuck up so bad I get PTSD. No cringeworthy moments to kick myself over later. That's enough!
"What's with your neck, though?" Do-hyun asked.
*Eek!*
I slapped my hand over it. That bitch In-ha! Her bite marks are still there. Tried to hide 'em, but it's too hot for a turtleneck.
"Uh… my cat bit me. I got a cat, yeah."
"Cats bite like that?"
"Y-Yeah, mine does."
Barely covered it…
No one'd guess a girl did this, though. It's not one or two bites—it's like she went feral with dozens. Looks insane.
"Let's go, let's go."
"Y-Yeah."
Walked side by side with them. Felt kinda awkward…
Hanging with two hot guys makes me shrink. But also… kinda badass? Like I'm part of the cool crowd just by being here. Insta-insider vibes!
"This the place?"
"Yup."
A fancy bar with private rooms, picked by In-ha. Looks stupid expensive. Plenty of roomy spots around, but she chose this bougie one. Not huge, but not cramped either. The table's tight, but the side space is open… vibe's kinda sleazy, honestly.
"Ttaeng-ttaeng loves random games~!"
…
Noisy-ass music from another room. Friday night, so probably lots of groups.
We shuffled in, half-laughing awkwardly. In-ha texted she's almost here. I chugged water, throat burning. Please, don't let this be a nightmare…
*
"Yo!"
"H-Hi."
"Hey there."
"Hi…"
Not long after, In-ha and two girls walked in.
In-ha's all chipper, but the rest of us? Awkward as fuck. The silence is suffocating.
"Ordered yet?" In-ha asked.
"Not yet."
She grabbed the menu. Good, let's focus on food…
I snuck a glance at the girls while sipping water. Hmm… they look different from their pics. Way more done up. Guess it's 'cause it's a group date. I thought they were less hot than In-ha, but nah, they're holding their own. Just a more casual style usually.
"This and… this."
In-ha seemed nervous too. Probably came in ready to dominate, but the girls showed up looking fierce, throwing her off. I can just *see* her thinking, *"These bitches!"*
"Tang set and fried set, right? We'll bring the tang first."
"Thanks."
Orders done, silence crashed back in.
Ugh… In-ha was smirking, though. She'll take charge, right? She's good at this shit.
"Let's do intros," she said.
"I'm Park Do-hyun, this is Kim Myung-jun, and that's Joonhyung," Do-hyun jumped in.
Why're you speaking for us?!
Not that I mind…
The girls introduced themselves: Yoo In-ha, Jung Eun-sol, Park Da-kyung.
Eun-sol's the shy one, Da-kyung's the athletic one with killer thighs. Got it.
"You guys all in the same department?" In-ha asked.
"Y-Yeah. You too?"
"Yup."
Small talk started…
I glanced nervously at In-ha and Do-hyun. They'll handle it, right?
"How'd exams go?" Do-hyun asked.
The girls' faces darkened. Bombed, huh? Do-hyun scrambled to recover.
"Uh… cheers, then!"
"Y-Yeah, cheers."
In-ha poured soju like a pro. Full glasses… I'm gonna die if I drink this much. Fuck it.
We clinked glasses, shouting "Cheers!" and downed them. Soju on an empty stomach hit like a fireball. *Urk.* Fuck…
"Ugh…"
The tiny girl, Eun-sol, made a small noise, eyes darting for snacks.
She spotted the puffed macaroni and grabbed a handful, sneaky-like. I nabbed some too.
"Here's the tang set."
Thank fuck, oden tang's here.
With food on the table, In-ha's eyes lit up, like, *"Let's fucking go."* Yo, aren't we here for a group date?
*Buzz.*
My phone vibrated. A flood of KakaoTalk messages from In-ha.
[Yoo In-ha: If we play drinking games, take out the girl next to me.]
[Yoo In-ha: Crush her ass.]
…
What is this, a hit order?
Next to her is Da-kyung. Guess she's ignoring Eun-sol and wants Da-kyung dead.
Fine, do your thing…
[Got it…]
I replied secretly and focused back up.
Drinking games… can I survive this?
*
"Da-kyung's favorite~ random game~!"
*"That damn apartment! That damn apartment! My head hurts! My head hurts!"*
The sweet group date vibe? Gone. It's a fucking kill-one-person drinking game now.
In-ha was gunning for Da-kyung, but somehow Eun-sol and Do-hyun were the ones getting slaughtered.
Do-hyun looks like he'd *own* drinking games, so why's he so bad at this?!
"Ugh… urp… urp…"
Eun-sol's practically face-planting.
Da-kyung, though? Dodging like a pro. Why's she so good at this?!
"I need the bathroom," Da-kyung said.
"We'll go too," In-ha chimed in quick.
They went earlier, but now it feels like they're plotting something.
"Ehh… heh…"
Eun-sol, half-drunk, got dragged along. She needs to go home…
I'm a miracle for surviving. Good thing In-ha gave me a drinking game crash course yesterday. Without it, I'd be chugging blindly while they laughed, *"Learn as you drink, dumbass!"*
"What… what now?" Do-hyun slurred, barely holding it together.
What now? You need to go home, dude.
"So… who do you guys like? I'm into In-ha," he said.
Knew it. He's been staring at her all night.
Eyes turned to Myung-jun. He thought for a sec. "I don't care either way. I'm good with anyone."
"Joonhyung, you?" Do-hyun asked.
"Uh… I'm fine with anyone too…"
Honestly, Eun-sol seems easiest to talk to, but the girls are all eyeing Myung-jun, so I'm kinda deflated. I didn't come here to hook up anyway—just don't want to fuck up.
"Should we… mix up the seats?" Do-hyun suggested. "Y'know… show our stuff."
Now? Dude's trying so hard it's almost sad…
[Yoo In-ha: Yo, what're they saying?]
[Yoo In-ha: Da-kyung's fine with anyone, Eun-sol's into Myung-jun.]
KakaoTalk from In-ha. I replied quick, glancing around.
[Do-hyun's into you, Myung-jun doesn't care…]
[Yoo In-ha: What the fuck?]
Is this… okay?
This isn't a group date, it's a damn conspiracy.
Another message from In-ha.
[Yoo In-ha: I'm leaving with Myung-jun now.]
[Yoo In-ha: If you like Eun-sol, ditch with her.]
…Leave?
Like, just bail? Or… what, grab ice cream or something?
The three girls came back from the bathroom. Do-hyun stammered, trying to gauge the vibe. Dude, shut up.
Then someone tapped my arm.
"Joonhyung."
Huh?
"Wanna step out for a bit?" A girl smiled shyly. "For ice cream."
…Me?