사랑하니까 (On the Wings of Love)

IV

Yoona chewed away vigorously at her samgyeopsal as she downed another glass of soju. The gang was having a rather enjoyable dinner but the situation was evidently more tensed up than usual since Tiffany was not there with them. It was not the girl’s absence essentially but also how Yoona had been stuffing herself with food for the past half hour without a word, and how she was already working her way down her seventh bottle of alcohol.

“Jeez, is she okay? I haven’t seen her drink like that in ages…” Murmured a worried Kris as he nudged the smaller boy to his left, who only shrugged in response before wedging another thick, fatty slice of pork belly meat into his mouth.

Sunny took a crack at getting the girl to speak up by asking if there was anything wrong between Tiffany and herself but the question was intentionally avoided when the taller girl went on to compliment how good the food was and how she was completely fine. She seemed to have a pretty good alcohol tolerance level. There was not a tint of pink in her cheeks, her appetite was voracious as ever, and she was still able to speak coherently.

“Forget it, Sunny. She’s not gonna say anything.” Whispered Kris as he reached out and attempted to fill the blonde girl’s glass, which she pulled away just in time, claiming that she was perfectly capable of topping up her own glass. They were on talking terms again but it did not appear as though Sunny was willing to let things go so soon. The young man barely sighed before emptying his own glass, not wanting to irritate the girl further.

Yoona grabbed another bottle and was about to pop it open when she heard that distinctive voice calling her name. No, not her name per se, the name she gladly agreed upon. Yoongie. As if on cue, four curious heads turned to the entrance of the eatery, where a beautiful young lady had just stepped in through. She was clothed in a white casual lace tank top coupled with a pair of denim shorts. Yoona swallowed her food hard as she examined the girl from head to toe. Damn, she never knew someone could look so fucking ravishing in side braids.

The whole group fell silent as the girl approached their table, making her way specifically to Yoona’s side before enveloping the girl in another overwhelming embrace, one that was perhaps even tighter than their first, not that Yoona was complaining or anything. Again, the taller girl felt a sense of calmness and peace engulf her as she gazed into the other girl’s smiling eyes. Her presence was just so therapeutic.

“Okay, can we please get an update here pronto?” A wide-eyed Luhan asked, probably on behalf of the rest of the group.

“Umm… well… Jessica, gang. Gang, Jessica.” Said a somewhat stupefied Yoona as she struggled to catch her breath.

The cheerful angel went on to exchange handshakes with the other human beings before pulling up a chair next to Yoona. Kris lightheartedly joked about not receiving a hug, and Sunny rolled her eyes to the back of her head at his words.

Jessica almost went ahead to point out that Yoona was her mortal but managed to stop herself before spilling the beans, giggling stiffly instead. Yoona could only wonder what the girl was trying to put across. What exactly was the meaning behind that uncomfortable snickering laugh? She, too, badly wanted to know the reason for the special treatment.

Sunny impatiently inquired where the unknown girl came from, asking if she was from the same school because she did not remember ever seeing her around. She felt a little uncomfortable knowing that Yoona was already so chummy with another girl when things with Tiffany were obviously still not cleared up. The angel executed her much-rehearsed reply with relative ease, revealing that she was here on a vacation.