My Ex-Girlfriend Regrets Dumping Me

8 – Reunion (3)

Wow!

The atmosphere of the drinking party heated up, and excited voices were heard around.

“What’s this? Is this a couple getting together already? What about the rest of us, feeling lonely?”

As Jiho shook the table in the middle, the people burst into laughter.

And all eyes turned to Jia holding my glass.

‘Oh. It’s burdensome.’

I felt both a desire to scold Jiho and gratitude at the same time.

And I became curious about what Jia in front of me was thinking.

…Does she really have an interest in me?

At this point, it was reasonable to have such a delusion.

Since the beginning of the drinking party, the girl who had a good conversation with me was now coming to comfort me.

I tried to read Jia’s feelings with anxious thoughts, but Jia just smiled without saying a word.

“Hey, Yoo Jia, what’s with you? You’re such a shy girl. What’s going on today?”

Even the friend who gave her a shoulder hit her eyes with a sinister look.

The reaction was lively, as everyone was starting to get tipsy.

When Jia blushed and bowed her head, Jiho tried to liven up the mood again with a comment.

“Alright, let’s stop teasing her. Should the black rose Jia drink up?”

“Drink, drink, drink!”

With encouraging voices all around, Jia brought the glass to her red lips and drank it all up.

One-shot.

The soju goes down with a gulp through a white and slender throat.

“Awesome~! Yu Ji-a!”

“So cool!”

Yu Ji-a puts the glass in front of me with applause.

There was a faint red lipstick mark on that shot glass.

“Well, shall we move on to the next game? The random game that Gun-yul loves!”

And the drinking games continue.

While it’s someone else’s turn, I quietly express my gratitude to Ji-a.

“Thank you, Ji-a. For drinking on my behalf.”

Ji-a smiles brightly and nods her head lightly.

“No problem. If you’re thankful, how about you drink for me next time when it’s my turn?”

A casual tone as if nothing happened.

That sweet smile somehow makes my heartbeat faster.

*

“I’ll go to the bathroom for a moment.”

“Oh, me too.”

The gathering continues with high tension, and the people in the chat room seem a bit exhausted now.

It becomes temporarily calm, with only those who want to smoke going out and the atmosphere of going to the bathroom.

Ji-a also quietly follows Seo-yeon and heads towards the restroom.

“Phew… It’s hot.”

As Ji-a stood in front of the restroom mirror, her flushed cheek caught my eye.

Since Ji-a isn’t particularly good at drinking, even a few glasses make her face easily turn red.

Seeing Ji-a washing her face to cool down, Seo-yeon started talking from the side.

“Ohh, Yu Ji-a~. You looked pretty cool earlier, huh?”

“Hey, stop it. Stop it. It’s embarrassing.”

Ji-a glanced around and waved her hands nervously.

It seemed like her face, which had just cooled down with cold water, was getting hot again due to Seo-yeon’s teasing.

Kang Seo-yeon was one of Ji-a’s friends from the same major.

They have been friends since their first year and Seo-yeon was also the one who brought Ji-a to this gathering.

“Was his name Gunyul? Did you like that person?”

“Yeah. Honestly, totally my style.”

Confirming that there were no other people at the table in the bathroom, Jia confessed honestly to Seoyeon.

After all, Seoyeon and Jia had nothing to hide from each other.

Jia was embarrassed to reveal her taste so openly, but she had practically revealed it from the moment she entered the club.

She just resigned herself and opened up her heart to Seoyeon.

“What? What? What part about him?”

“Why did you like him more than me?”

“It’s fun. Men’s love stories are inherently more interesting.”

Seoyeon, perhaps drunk, got very excited.

With a sigh, Jia continued to answer Seoyeon.

“Well, first of all, it’s his appearance, right? I’ve always said it. I like that style.”

“Yeah. You did. Like a nerdy guy?”

“A little bit. Like wearing a sweater, round glasses, and really fair skin. Ah~ isn’t it cool?”

Seoyeon rolled her eyes when she saw Jia, poking her arm.

And then she shook her head in disbelief.

“Can I be honest?”

“Yeah.”

“I’m not really into that. That kind of style just doesn’t do it for me.”

“Why? It’s cute. It makes me want to take care of him a little bit. I’ve always wanted to date that kind of style.”

Seoyeon couldn’t understand why Jia didn’t agree with her taste.

How could anyone not like that kind of style?

There are plenty of women who like that kind of guy just by looking at the internet.

But Seoyeon started to hit Jia with blunt facts in response.

“Jia, that’s just your fantasy. You’ve never actually dated anyone, so that’s why you have this kind of fantasy, right? It’s just a moment when a nerdy guy becomes a nerd?”

“No. I’m not judging just based on looks. You saw we had a lot of conversations earlier, right?”

Compared to Jia, Seoyeon had quite a bit of dating experience.

So she had some concern for Jia’s innocence.

But she didn’t fall for Gunyul just based on his appearance.

“Jiado has her own thoughts.”

“…So, how was it?”

“Well, first of all, we communicate really well… Our hobbies and preferences are quite similar. Should I say that it would be fun to continue hanging out together?”

“Oh, really?”

“It’s like even from the beginning, you know? I felt a strong connection. I thought this person would get along well with me.”

“Oh my~ You seem quite smitten, our princess.”

It seemed like Jiado had already fallen head over heels.

Seoyeon gave up on trying to convince her in this state.

She didn’t feel the need to interfere either.

Besides, Seoyeon didn’t see her as a bad person, even though she appeared a bit uncertain at first glance.

Seoyeon wasn’t foolish enough to judge someone based solely on their first impression.

“Oh, and earlier, Yoori said he’s going to play Overwatch with his brother, you know? I said I wanted to try it too. Playing ranked matches with my boyfriend.”

“Oh my, so soon you’re using familiar terms? And you often play ranked matches with me too.”

“Is playing with you the same as playing with him? They’re completely different!”

That’s why people who are new to love don’t succeed.

While looking at Jiado lost in her fantasy, Seoyeon murmured to herself.

“Alright then. I won’t say anything to you. Just do as you please.”

With a resigned tone, Seoyeon turned her body to leave for the restroom.

From behind her, Jiado hesitated and called out to Seoyeon.

“But, Seoyeon.”

“Yes?”

“What should I do now?”

“What do you mean, what should you do?”

Jiado scratched her head as if embarrassed and asked Seoyeon.

“Well, I’ve made my move, but I don’t know how to proceed from here.”

“Just continue as you’ve been doing.”

“Continuing as I’ve been doing? How do I do that? You have more dating experience than me. Help me out, please. Pretty please?”

Jiado pouted while crossing her arms, trying to be cute.

Seoyeon still had the desire to cheer on her friend’s first love, even so.

“So we came out after the online chat.”

“Got it. Stay away, you kid. Do you want to continue the relationship even after this gathering ends?”

“Yeah.”

Jia looked at Seoyeon with sparkling eyes.

From Seoyeon’s mouth flowed a simple solution.

“After the drinking session, let’s go for a second round together. Just the two of us.”

*

Nevertheless, the atmosphere of the meeting was much better than expected.

As the drinking session continued, it gradually reached midnight, and people naturally dispersed, creating a dissolving atmosphere.

“You’ve worked hard.”

“Goodbye~!”

Jinho, who paid the bill on behalf of everyone, exchanged greetings with others and headed home.

With the night air blowing a slightly refreshing breeze, it cooled down their heated faces.

“How was it? Today. I’m glad you came along, right?”

“Yeah. Honestly, it was fun.”

I honestly answered Jinho’s question.

This gathering was enjoyable enough for me to stay until the end.

And maybe, the main contributor was probably Jia.

She stayed with me until the end and kept talking.

“And you seemed to have a good vibe with that girl. Did you get her number or something?”

“Ah, Jia? Nah, it’s fine. We had a good time.”

Honestly, after hearing Jinho’s words, I thought I should have asked for her number earlier.

But for now, I pretended to be cool and acted like I didn’t feel any regret.

Even if I tried to catch what was already over, it wouldn’t hold any meaning.

Besides, she might not have had much interest in me either, as she was probably carried away by the atmosphere.

“It’s not too late. Hey, isn’t she the one walking ahead?”

Bright brown bobbed hair.

Was her name Seoyeon? She stood out as she walked with her friend.

Whom is she looking for?

She glanced around, then turned around and suddenly made eye contact with me.

“But… maybe I shouldn’t.”

Honestly, I’ve never mustered up the courage to ask for her number before.

I was a bit nervous.

I thought it would be embarrassing if I misunderstood something.

“Hey, isn’t she coming this way?”

“Huh?”

Jia’s friend nudged her shoulder, and she fixed her expression as if decided.

Then she started walking towards me.

Without realizing it, I felt a strange sense of anticipation.

…Surely not, right?

Jia had approached us in no time.

Jinho was the first to ask Jia a question.

“Why? Did you leave something?”

“Oh no… It’s not that. Um, Yul said he wants to talk to you…”

Her face turned red, perhaps due to alcohol.

She glanced at me, subtly checking my reaction.

Jinho looked at my face, snickered, and said with a playful tone.

“Oh~ I didn’t catch on. Have a good time, you two! I’m out!”

“Oh, yeah. Go ahead.”

Hey, your house is not in that direction.

Maybe Jinho was trying to be considerate, as he disappeared in the opposite direction of our house.

I sighed as I watched him go, then looked back at Jia.

My heart began to race for no reason.

Feeling a restless sensation, I unintentionally avoided eye contact.

“Oppa.”

“Yeah?”

Jia clenched her fist next to her thigh, then opened her lips.

“Do you want to go for a second round, just the two of us?”