The Boy Next Door

16.

Me and Jay get to my house to chill and I tell him to invite some friends so I can take my mind off things. Me and Jay watch some tv in my room while we wait.

"Are you sure? A lot happened today-" he says while I cut him off by saying

"Yes. Tell Jake, Sunghoon, Sungchan, Jihoon, and Donghyun to come. And tell Jake to get some beer and soju." I say making Jay laugh.

"Your funny. Beer and soju? You? Pfff." Jay says while laughing his head off.

"What? I'm serious. I want to forget everything I did today." I say while leaning my head on my bed backboard.

"Really? But for as long as I've know you, you never drink." Jay says while his laughing becomes more concerned.

I only drank one time, and that one time costed me a lifetime. It was when I finally turned of age for drinking, and I went out with my friends to a barbecue place.

I fell asleep after about 6 bottles of soju and that night I had terrible nightmares about me turning exactly into my father. I was a doctor with a wife, and 2 mistresses. I treated them like shit in the nightmare so that's why I haven't drank since them. If I ever did that with my owns hands to someone else, I wouldn't be able to live properly.

"I just... I want to forget everything. Just tell him okay?" I say while opening my phone. He nods shortly after and I decide to text my father. We never do this texting or calling thing like normal kids and parents do. He only ever texts me when he needs me for some kind of business meet with other families.

He texts me less after I decided to not become a doctor or lawyer like he wanted. Wow that time, I really thought I was going to die from how much he beat me.

I was coughing blood and almost about to pass out when Chaewon came by and barely stopped him. She took me to the hospital and the concerned look on her face was unforgettable.

Father:

Me: I'm having friends over today. Don't come home drunk or with women like you usually do. Better yet, don't come home.

Father: I have something important to say but I'll save it for another time. And your getting a new maid, she's supposed to come tomorrow so open the door when she comes tomorrow morning.

Me: fine.

~

Jake and Sunghoon arrive first with the beer and soju so we all sit down in the living room to chill. Shortly after Jihoon, Sungchan, and Donghyun arrive together.

"Bro your house is fucking gigantic!!" Jihoon says while eagerly looking around.

"Bro no wonder we are friends!" Sungchan says while laughing. Jake and Sunghoon give me a weird glare as they pass me the bag of alcohol.

"Are you really our Heeseung?" Jake asks making me chuckle. What is up with this dude.

"Yes. Now sit down." I say while looking over at the clock. 7pm. A bit early for drinking but it's fine. I go to the kitchen for glasses and ice for everyone.

"Here." I say while handing everyone a glass cup and a beer. Jihoon and Donghyun start playing with my games and the tv so the rest of us just sit back and watch.

"Yooo how is Miyoung? She's fucking smoking hot." Sungchan says while laughing with Jay.

"I think she lasted for about a couple days. I broke up with her. She was just like Seoyeon and you know how that ended." I reply while filling my glass with beer.

I hesitantly raise it to my nose and smell the disgusting smell I despise. Just like how my father smells everyday after coming home.

I take a deep breath and chug the whole thing down my throat. I cough right after from the burning sensation in my throat but I definitely feel it swirling around in my stomach.

"Heeseung you don't have to drink because of us." Jake says looking concerned.

"Yea we were just teasing when we said you were allergic." Sunghoon adds.

"I'm not drinking because of you. I want to." I say while sighing and leaning my body onto Jay.

"Ah shit! I died." Jihoon says while sitting down next to Sunghoon while Donghyun keeps playing.

"How's your bitch Chaeryoung? Wait Chaewoo? Ohhh Chaewon. How's the sexiest girl in our department doing for you?" Jihoon says while laughing although no one else is.

I glare at him and scoff. I shouldn't make a big deal right? Woah why do I feel so heated and mad? Is this the alcohol? I take another glass of beer and soju before saying something.

"She's not my bitch. And get her name right before calling her names." I say while looking away to the tv screen instead of looking at him.

"Oh? Has she moved to Jake? I see them together all the time now!" he adds making me stare at Jake. What? Why would Chaewon be with Jake? They don't even...

"What are you even saying? Your wasted already." Jake says while clearing his throat making me agitated. I down another beer mixed with soju next to me and then decide to say something.

"Yea why would Chaewon be with Jake? She has a boyfriend." Jay says while scoffing from beside me.

"Understandable. She's such a whore and attention seeker honestly. She's even trying to seduce Hyunwoo hyung." Donghyun says while sitting down.

"You don't know anything Donghyun. And don't fucking call her that." Jake says before I can even think about it.

"Woah what's the problem? It's true." Jihoon says making me scoff and roll my eyes. In my mind I want to say something but she's not even my friend anymore, should I even bother?

I'm defending her from people but is she even doing anything for me? Why should I care... Yea..

"You better shut the fuck up before I do it for you. Your just bitter since she rejected you haha." Jake says while laughing.

"Fuck off." Jihoon says while rolling his eyes. I drink another beer while watching the game Sunghoon's playing on the tv.

I feel my body become lighter and everything becomes woozy. I check the clock from afar and realize it's already 11pm.

I move my gaze to a painting on the wall and remember Chaewon again. We made that painting when we were 14 and on the back I remember clearly what we wrote.

We solemnly swear, if by 40 we are both single, we will get married together and get a puppy.

Oh the good days. I wish I could go back to when I didn't have as many responsibilities and worries as now. Shit. I was just forgetting her and now it hurts again.

I grab another bottle of soju and fully empty the bottle with nothing but air. It tastes so bitter. Has soju always tasted so bitter?

Maybe this will make the pain go away.

I feel my eyes becoming heavy and my vision go blurry. I try to keep them open but everything around me goes quiet and it's inevitable now for me to pass out.

~

Word count: 1196❤️❤️❤️