Beyond The Control

Chapter 20

It was definitely like that. But what a surprise.

After quite some time had passed and we were both fairly drunk with our bodies swaying, Song Ji-hyeok was the first to bring up the topic of his older brother.

“Do you know why I hate that bastard Song Tae-hyeok?”

“How would I know?”

“As far back as I can remember, that bastard was always like that. Looking down on people, ignoring them, staring at them like bugs. You have no idea how many times I wanted to stab his eyeballs.”

Just hearing it, his resentment seemed considerable. I inwardly recalled Song Ji-hyeok’s brother that I had seen earlier. The arrogance that was evident in his expression matched too well with what I just heard.

As I listened, another question arose. Given the sensitive nature of the topic, I carefully posed a question despite being drunk.

“It seems you’ve had a bad relationship with your brother since you were very young. Was there a specific incident?”

Song Ji-hyeok twisted one corner of his mouth in response.

“There’s nothing like that. He just said he hates me because I’m slow.”

“…What?”

“He said he hates having a stupid and foolish brother like me. For your information, we’re not half-siblings, we’re from the same womb. But that bastard who calls himself my older brother has been saying those words since I was young.”

The more I heard, the more shocking it was. Of course, siblings can have bad relationships. But to consistently say such things to a young brother, and a biological brother at that, not even after growing up a bit but when he was just a child. It was something I couldn’t comprehend with my common sense. How must it have felt for the kid who grew up hearing that?

Unable to find words to say, I just moved my lips silently, and Song Ji-hyeok smirked at me.

“Your expression right now is hilarious, sunbae. You look like a puppy that needs to poop.”

That’s not my expression, you know?

“Let’s stop with the gloomy talk and just drink.”

Song Ji-hyeok emptied his remaining glass in one go. Fortunately, or not, the atmosphere wasn’t awkward. Music like white noise was playing, and people at nearby tables were busy chattering and laughing excitedly.

I fiddled with my own glass for a moment before raising my head as if I had made a decision. I could naturally change the topic of conversation now, but before that, I wanted to say at least something.

“Your brother must have had foresight. He must have been jealous, knowing you’d turn out this well.”

Song Ji-hyeok made a ‘what are you suddenly talking about’ expression, but then his eyes seemed to say ‘go on’.

I can do that. Originally, when I set the stage, I’m the type to not just perform tricks but even do tumbling.

Moreover, with a fair amount of alcohol in me, words flowed smoothly from my mouth.

“You’re tall, have a good body, handsome, young, and on top of that, an S-class Esper. What’s lacking? Is it okay for a person to be this perfect?”

And even with my drunken, half-closed eyes, I clearly witnessed at that moment. Song Ji-hyeok’s lips twitching, in a different meaning from before.

I went on to praise him to the skies. It wasn’t particularly a lie, and it was true that he was excellent.

As a result, it eventually reached the point where Song Ji-hyeok was trying to stop me, saying ‘that’s enough now’. After making a fuss for a while, the atmosphere returned to its usual state. Now, while munching on the cold chicken, I spoke in a subdued tone, as if reciting.

“I don’t particularly intend to contribute to humanity, nor am I capable of it… but it does feel good to see people who are grateful.”

“……”

“I won’t freeload, I’ll work hard to keep up. So, look at me a bit more favorably.”

“…With those cod-fish eyes, I can’t trust you at all.”

“You think you’re any different? You look like someone who set a fire and ran away.”

Indeed, I chuckled at his reddish complexion reminiscent of a sweet potato. Even so, he was still handsome.

“Let’s just drink.”

Song Ji-hyeok didn’t refuse the glass I readily offered. After a vigorous toast, as we gulped down the drinks, I thought to myself once again.

I really made the right decision to suggest going for a second round.

***

What woke me up was the sound of my phone alarm. Somehow hearing that sound, I fumbled around for my phone without even being able to open my eyes.

But no matter how much I groped around my pillow, I couldn’t find it. Groaning, I had no choice but to barely raise my body.

I saw my phone crying at my feet, having fallen off at some point. I crawled over to turn off the alarm and then leaned against the door.

‘Oh god, I’m dying.’

The words ‘I’m dying’ came out naturally. My head was throbbing as if it was about to split from the hangover. My body wasn’t in great shape either. Although I had laid out a blanket, perhaps because I had sprawled out on the floor, my whole body ached as if I had been beaten all night.

You might ask if I don’t have a bed?

Of course I do. Even in this cramped room, there is a bed. A cute super-single bed that’s just right when I lie down.

The reason I slept on the floor despite having a bed was that I had given up the sleeping place to my guest. I peeled off my dried eye boogers and glanced at the bed. The guest who had taken over my bed, Song Ji-hyeok, was lying with his back turned towards the wall. Seeing his two feet sticking out from under the bed was funny even amidst my throbbing headache.

‘He sure can sleep.’

He didn’t even stir despite the alarm ringing quite loudly in this tiny room. Well, considering yesterday’s events, it was understandable.

After exchanging stories about his brother, it was as if some restraint had been loosened, and he and I truly went all out.

Despite his youthful face, Song Ji-hyeok was a heavy drinker. He gulped down whatever I mixed for him, and later even asked me to teach him how to do it. Of course, in my drunken state, I giggled and generously passed on the golden ratio recipe.

I wasn’t the only one consumed by laughter. Song Ji-hyeok, who had maintained an expressionless face at first, started to snicker at some point. Later, he was busy laughing at anything I said, and feeling uplifted by this, I said, half-drunk and swaying like an octopus:

‘You laugh so well now, why were you so serious at first?’

‘Who’s laughing?’

‘Who else? You.’

‘I never did.’

‘What are you saying when you’re laughing right now. Want me to show you a mirror?’

We both laughed like people with air in their lungs as I held up my phone that wasn’t even turned on. We’d take a bite of food, not wanting to waste the side dishes, then take a sip of the remaining alcohol, not wanting to waste that either. Then, feeling the need to urinate, I briefly left my seat.

When I returned, a different scene greeted me than when I left. Song Ji-hyeok, who had been blinking with a reddened face, had his face planted on the table.

Realizing it was time to go home, I tried to wake him up.

‘Get up. Let’s go home and sleep.’

‘……’

‘Hey, Song Ji-hyeok.’

My hand shaking his shoulder became increasingly vigorous, but Song Ji-hyeok remained motionless. He seemed to have completely passed out, not even stirring.

But I couldn’t just leave him there. It’s a senior’s duty to take care of their junior.

‘It’s definitely not because I’m afraid of future consequences… Well, that’s part of it too.’

If he found out I left him alone in the bar, he probably wouldn’t associate with me anymore. That absolutely couldn’t happen, so I let out a heavy sigh like I was psyching myself up, then knelt in front of Song Ji-hyeok. I draped his arms over my shoulders, securing his upper body first, then somehow managed to piggyback him and stand up.

Honestly, I was surprised that I could carry him. Wow, this actually works.

Anyway, the amount of alcohol we two had consumed at the pub yesterday was three bottles of beer and four bottles of soju, seven bottles in total. It was understandable that he had passed out so deeply, having drunk several glasses of soju mixed with beer despite it being his first time with soju.

Looking at my phone again, I still had some time. Ugh. Groaning again, I went to the bathroom and quickly washed up.

Unfortunately, there wasn’t anything suitable for hangover relief at home. It was rare for me to drink as much as yesterday, and I usually had breakfast at the company cafeteria unless there was something special.

Instead, I dug out a hangover relief drink from the refrigerator. I remember the Team Leader giving it to me at some company dinner, but it was about a week past its expiration date.

This should be fine, right?

It’s absolutely not because it’s not for me to drink. On the contrary, if it had been my share, I would have opened it right there and drunk it, thinking ‘it’s only a week past’.

When I returned to the room, Song Ji-hyeok was still in the middle of the night. Looking at his sleeping face, he appeared even younger, and I was newly struck by the fact that he had just shed his minor status this year.

Feeling a belated pang of conscience for drinking so much with such a guy, I shook his shoulder to wake him up. I’d like to let him sleep as much as he wants, but time was running short. If we didn’t want to bear the disgrace of being late together, it was time to get up.

“Song Ji-hyeok, wake up.”

“……”

“Wake up, man. We need to go to work.”

After shaking him awake repeatedly, Song Ji-hyeok finally opened his eyes. He managed to sit up groggily, but that was it. I handed him the hangover relief drink that I had opened myself as he sat there with a deadpan expression.

“Drink this. It’s a hangover cure.”

Even after gulping it down, he couldn’t gather his wits immediately. After a while, he finally raised his head and looked around as if surveying his surroundings.

“Where is this?”

Thinking how quickly he asked, I smiled and answered.

“It’s my house. You fell asleep drunk yesterday, so I carried you here on my back.”

I’m not trying to show off. After adding that, I sent him off to the bathroom. Now we really had no time to dawdle.