Taehyung was sweating buckets as he drank the soup in one go.

Did he also burn his tongue?

Why did that guy have to choose a ramen restaurant when autumn hasn’t even arrived yet!

It’s too hot already and he’s even having this hot rament right now!

 

He sighed as he glanced at Jisoo who was tearing up while talking to that friend of hers.

How could that guy steal her money and just come back like this?

And why doesn’t Jisoo get mad at him for doing so?

 

And of all moments.. why did he have to interrupt him while he was talking to her?

 

It was the perfect timing.

He was about to tell her something important and then..

 

Wait.. what was he going to tell Jisoo anyway?

What was he going to say?

 

He put the bowl down and sighed.

Now that he thinks about it.. he doesn’t know either..

 

What could have he said if her friend hadn’t come?

And what would have been Jisoo’s reaction?

 

He didn’t know he sighed loudly.

 

Jisoo turned to him.

 

“Professor Kim.. I’m sorry..” she said apologizing. “It’s just.. I haven’t seen Jhope for a long time.. we must have made you feel out of place”

 

She has a lot to ask and tell Jhope so she asked him to have dinner with her but she couldn’t just leave Professor Kim behind so they went to eat together.

 

But maybe it was rude of her to ask him to come with them..

Only she and Jhope have been talking and she has not paid attention to him at all!

 

Jhope grinned as he saw Jisoo’s worried face.

 

“That’s why I told you we should just talk at your apartment..” he said as he glanced at Taehyung. “We could have had ramen together and then we can talk all night..”

 

Taehyung looked at him.

Is he nuts? Why would he have ramen at her place? And why talk all night? Haven’t they talked enough already?

What else do they need to talk about?

 

“Aren’t you coming to my place anyway? Where will you go at this time? I don’t think you’ll be going back home..” said Jisoo making Taehyung’s eyes wide.

 

Is she in her right state of mind? Why would she allow him to sleep at her place? 

 

Jhope smiled.

 

“Well.. we can continue talking at your place so your professor can go home now..” he replied.

 

Jisoo nodded.

 

“I also think the same..” she said as she turned to Taehyung. “We should hurry up and go home.. you must be tired already..”

 

Taehyung looked in disbelief.

Did she just agree to send him away?

How could she just tell him to go? He thought they were-..

Wait.. they are.. friends, aren’t they?

That’s right.. they agreed to be friends outside the university..

 

The three of them went home soon after and when they reached the front of their building..

 

“Jisoo.. can we drink tonight? I missed drinking with you..” said Jhope as he put a hand on Jisoo’s shoulders.

 

Taehyung’s throat moved fast.

Did that guy really have to put his hand on her shoulder like that?

And what did he say? Drink? The two of them together?

All night? Alone? At Jisoo’s place?

What’s wrong with him?

 

Jisoo nodded.

 

“I have a few drinks at home.. we can do that.. it’s Sunday tomorrow anyway..” she said nodding her head.

 

Then she looked at Taehyung.

 

“Thank you for today Professor Kim.. I had a nice day thanks to you.. I’m really grateful..” she said bowing her head.

 

Taehyung was in disbelief.

Wait.. it’s fine with her?

Does he trust him that much? 

He understands that they are really close..

But the two of them are both adults now and.. didn’t he betray her by running away with her money? 

That means.. he is also capable of doing other things..

 

Jhope also bowed his head.

 

“Thank you.. Professor Kim.. now Jisoo and I will go and stay up all night..” he said almost sarcastically.

 

Taehyung clenched his fists.

Why does he not like this friend of hers?

He makes his blood boil!

 

Jisoo held Jhope’s arm as they went upstairs.

 

“Goodnight Professor Kim-..” 

 

“Wait!” said Taehyung following after them.

 

Jisoo and Jhope turned back.

 

“Why? Is there anything-..?”

 

“Me too..” said Taehyung.

 

Jisoo looked puzzled while Jhope was refraining himself from smiling.

 

“You too? What-..?” asked Jisoo still trying to figure him out.

 

Taehyung took a deep breath.

 

“I want.. to drink too..” he said closing his eyes tight. “Let me join you..”

 

 

 

————————-

 

 

“Are you sure you can drink?” asked Jhope as he poured Taehyung another drink.

 

“Of course..” said Taehyung who didn’t hesitate at all. 

 

Jisoo looked nervous as she watched the two.

Why do they look so competitive in drinking? Is this really their first time meeting?

 

“Then drink it..” said Jhope as he drank his.

 

Taehyung took a deep breath.

This is his fourth consecutive glass.. 

He will be okay, right?

 

“Are you getting drunk already?” asked Jhope. “You can stop if you want..”

 

Taehyung looked at him then turned his head to Jisoo who seemed concerned.

 

“You don’t have to drink if you can’t..” said Jisoo. “I mean.. I’m just worried you’d-..”

 

And fell open when Taehyung gulped down the whole glass.

 

“You.. really drank everything..” she said sighing.

 

Why is Professor Kim drinking too much? What is going on with him?

 

She remembered how wasted he was the first night she saw him..

He doesn’t even remember anything that happened that night..

 

And she could already foresee that the same thing will happen if he continues drinking like this..

 

She turned to Jhope and found him staring at her with a smirk.

What’s his deal? Why is he so weird tonight?

 

He came back after almost two months and now he’s showing off!

 

Yes.. Jhope can drink well.. very well..

It’s the only thing he does best.. it’s his specialty..

Is this even something he should be proud of?

 

She was still thinking to herself when Taehyung suddenly passed out.

 

She sighed.

 

Not again.. 

 

“Professor Kim..” she called him softly as she tapped his arm.

 

“He must be drunk..” said Jhope as he poked Taehyung’s cheeks.

 

Jisoo glared at him and hit his hands.

 

“Didn’t you get him drunk? Of course he’d get drunk!” she said irritated. “Why did you have to make him drink too much? Professor Kim isn’t a very good drinker-..”

 

“You seem to have seen him drink already..” said Jhope thinning his eyes.

 

Jisoo bit her lower lip.

 

She did.. that’s right..

Professor Kim was totally out of it!

 

She cleared .

 

“Just.. help me carry him to the bed..” she said holding Taehyung by his head. “Hurry up so he can sleep comfortably..”

 

Jhope didn’t budge.

 

“You’ll let him sleep on your bed? How about me?” he asked putting his hands on his waist.

 

Jisoo sighed.

 

“You’ll sleep on the floor beside me of course.. Professor Kim is a guest so he needs to sleep on the bed.. and he took good care of me when I slept at his place so-..”

 

“You.. slept at his place?” asked Jhope in disbelief. “You mean.. you spent the night at a man’s house? You?”

 

He was only gone for two months and this girl slept at a man’s house?

How could it happen?

 

Jisoo’s cheeks turned red.

Why did she have to blurt it out herself? She must be insane!

 

“Whatever.. just.. help me carry him..” she said trying to lift Taehyung alone.

 

Jhope shook his head as he helped her put him on her bed.

 

Jisoo took off Taehyung’s shoes and put on him her blanket.

Good thing that he’s only sleeping peacefully.. it would have been a problem if he had started vomitting like the other time..

 

She took some blankets from her cabinet and laid them down the floor so she and Jhope could sleep as well.

 

“You should rest too..” said Jisoo as she gave him a pillow.

 

Jhope saw she didn’t have one for herself.

 

“Just use it for yourself..” he said giving it back to her but Jisoo returned it again.

 

“I can sleep without a pillow but you can’t..” she said lying down. “You used to cry a lot back then whenever you couldn’t find your favorite pillow so just take it..”

 

Jhope remained silent.

 

Jisoo is someone who gives everything even when she has nothing..

She’s that kind of person..

She’s amazing..

She’s the kindest person he has ever known..

 

And yet he is such a jerk to a gem like her..

He knows it himself that she has no one else but him yet he ran away with her money without a word..

 

And look at her now caring for him and remembering every little thing about him..

 

“Aren’t you.. mad at me?” he asked as he lain himself down beside her.

 

Jisoo turned her back against him.

 

“I am.. very much..” she said with her eyes closed. 

 

Jhope smiled.

 

“Liar..” he said. “I know you missed me a lot..”

 

“I did.. but still.. I am mad at you..” Jisoo replied. “I’ll get revenge on you-..”

 

She took a deep breath.

 

“For.. leaving me alone..”

 

Jhope turned his head towards her.

He feels bad for doing such a bad thing to her..

This girl isn’t even mad at him.. she was just worried.. she was just sad that he was away from her..

How can she forgive him like this? She should be asking him for her money.. she should be blaming him for having to work like crazy..

But she isn’t saying anything..

 

“I’m sorry.. Jisoo..” he said softly as he looked at her back. “I’m.. really sorry..”

 

Jisoo smiled a little as she wiped a tear.

 

 

————————

 

 

“Are you awake now, Professor Kim?” 

 

It was Jisoo’s voice.. 

Taehyung was sure of that..

 

But why is he hearing her sweet voice as soon as he wakes up?

And why does his head feel so heavy? 

 

Ohh.. he drank.. A LOT.. last night..

He must have gone insane again..

It was all because of that Jhope! He was challenging him last night and he didn’t want to lose to him!

 

But.. he didn’t do anything weird, right? 

How could he pass out again? And with Jisoo around him!

How embarrassing!

 

He was still regretting drinking when he heard that cute voice again..

 

“Professor Kim.. are you okay?” 

 

He smiled a little.

Wait.. it’s actually pretty nice to hear her voice this early..

It’s making him sober for some reason..

 

He opened his eyes slowly.

 

And that’s the moment he became really sober..

 

“You’re awake now.. Professor Kim..” said a man’s voice this time.

 

It was Jhope who was smiling at him while lying down beside him.

 

Taehyung got up quickly and felt the room spinning around him.

 

Jisoo quickly pushed Jhope out of her bed.

 

“I told you not to scare him!” she said as she hit him continuously.

 

Jhope was laughing out loud while Taehyung looked embarrassed as he tried to hide himself with the blanket.

 

“Are you feeling okay now?” asked Jisoo as she sat on the bed to check on Taehyung. “Do you need some medicine?”