2026

It's 01:11 AM on a Sunday and the abrupt sound of someone at your door knocks you out of your thoughts.

Familiar to the song and dance, you get up from your bed, stretching and groaning, “Ugh, don’t these kids have a bedtime?” you say anticipating another juvenile prank.

Knock Knock, Knock Knock

“Yeah yeah, I’m going.”

Arriving at the door you swing it open, expecting another cannon of confetti to the face, “Oh noo, you got m–?”

Instead you’re not greeted by a mischievous act, but rather a smirk hinting towards mischief, a fair woman in a contrasting sultry, breathtaking black dress.

It’s your friend and coworker.

“Minjeong!? What the hell are you doing here this late!?” 

…

Nothing. 

She just stands there phone in hand, with that smirk that begins to induce anxiety into you.

Tired of waiting, you ask “Are you alright, did something happen?

…

While asking you take a glance at her phone and notice it’s a map, the destination, your apartment. 

“But why?” You think to yourself. 

Still not getting an answer, you invite her into your home, “C’mon get in, it’s cold, we can talk inside.”

She accepts your invitation with dizzy feet, stumbling into your home.

Noticing, you grab her by her forearm stabilizing her for a moment, a moment long enough for you to close and lock your door.

Once the moment passes she collapses towards you, her face digging in your chest, followed by the rest of her.

Catching her fall, you can't help but notice her frail body and her jarring scent.

Her body is fragile.

Like a snowflake.

Her scent, reminiscent.

Like a Birthday, on a Thursday.

Sweet, smoky, and alcoholic.

—Catching yourself, you snap back to reality.

“Oh god, you’re drunk. C’mon, you can sleep on my bed, I’ll sleep on the couch.” 

With gravity you hold her upright, and start to lead her to your bedroom.

Dazed, she complies, following your lead.

Clack!—

Suddenly, she stops with a stamp of her heel and finally speaks, “Drink with me Yongssik.”

Clear.

You reply confused, “What?”

Again she says, “Drink with me Woo Yongssik-ie~” 

Concise, with the addition of an undeniably cute twang to your name.

“Ugh, why did Seulgi have to go on that damn trip.” You think to yourself

Dumbfounded, you ignore her and tug at her arm again, but like a stubborn puppy she stands her ground.

Picking up that she’s not going to give up, you indulge her, “Fine, but just water for you, you’ve had enough.”

Like a happy puppy she celebrates with an, “Okayyy! Yesss!” and a small-fisted air punch.

Now moving towards the dining area, you guide her to sit at your dinner table.

Noticing she’s secured, you head to the kitchen and grab a pitcher of water, and an empty glass cup.

Observantly she asks, "Where's the alcohol?"

Sighing, you set the pitcher and glass on the table, and make a u-turn back to the kitchen for a single bottle of soju and a shot glass.

Back at the table you set the bottle and glass down and begin to interrogate, “Why are you even here?”

“Drink. For every question, you drink." She demands.

You roll your eyes, “We. Drink.” Returning a command, and aiming your head towards the pitcher of water.

“Deal.” She responds with a giggle.

Satisfied, you grab and twist the cap of soju, pouring it into and filling your shot glass.

You drink, the bitter taste making you whip your head.

Giggling and following your lead, Minjeong roughly fills her cup with water, lightly spilling some onto the table 

Soon as you see her take a sip from her cup, you begin to interrogate again.

“Alright, again, why are you here?”

“I thought you’d be lonely while your girlfriend is gone, and I thought we could celebrate New Years.” She says cute and poutingly.

“Minjeong, we celebrated New Years three days ago, stop messing around, that can’t be true, tell me the real reason.” You say firm.

“Fine, I’m the one that’s lonely, I drank because no one celebrated my birthday. Stupid New Years! Are you happy now?” She concedes, breaking the cute veil, while still remaining cute at the same time.

“I-I’m sorry Minjeong, I could have sworn I greeted you Happy Birthday.”

“You did. You were the only one that did... That’s why I came here.”

“Oh…”

“Yeah, Oh. Now can we just go back to drinking alcohol?”

Reluctantly, but sympathetically, you agree, “Y-yeah we can, I’m sorry again.”

“Yay! And don’t be, you aren’t the one that birthed me!” She says, returning to being giggly.

Her mood shift gives you whiplash, but you still proceed to pour the bottle of soju into your cup and drink.

“Hey, at least you have a cool birthdate! One, one, one! That’s pretty sick if you ask me! You say trying to make light of the situation.

“That’s the only thing cool about it, everything else about it is sickening.” She says, dampening your attempt.

“Alllriiight then” You respond, awkwardly and pour yourself another shot and drink it.

“I appreciate you trying to cheer me up, but the only thing keeping me cheery is this bottle.” She says, while poking lightly at the bottle of soju.

“Minjeong, you need therapy. I can help you if you’re shy, but really you need it.”

“Therapy is exhausting.”

“So is hiding how you feel.”

“You can be my therapist!” She says excitedly.

“That’s not fair for both of us, and you know that.”

Sigh. “You’re right.”

You gently place your hand on the table, stare into her eyes, and offer her your pinkie.

“She’s beautiful.” 

“One more bottle, and you go to bed, we can take care of everything tomorrow.” 

Returning the stare, she wraps your pinkie with hers.

“We’ll see.” Said with a mischievous smile.

“Her hand is so soft. So smooth. Silky.”

With your pinkies tied, you point your thumb to the ceiling.

“Stamp it.” You say sternly.

“Huh?” She replies confused.

“Put your thumb to mine and it’s a deal.”

She erupts into uncontrolled laughter.

“Gosh. She is so cute.”

You stare, with your pinkies still bonded and your thumb still aimed at the ceiling, waiting for her to settle down.

Calming down slightly she looks down at your conjoined hands. 

“What even is this!?” Hahaha “Deal!” She says, sealing the deal with her thumb pressed to yours.

It’s 02:10 AM on a Sunday and you can’t think straight.

Stranded bodies, dazed.

Unavoidable stares bridge.

Nervous fingers entangle.

Deceitful webs weave.

An alluring island stitched.

Yielding to temptation.

It’s 03:00 AM on a Sunday and you’re thinking about what you just did.

Getting up from the bed, you sit yourself at its edge.

Quivering hands on your face, suffocating yourself in your own skin.

“I’m sorry, we shouldn’t have done this.”

Jumping out of your newly stained sheet, your partner in this crime, crawls towards you softly and places her arms around your waist, pressing her naked soft chest against your back and leaning her lips towards your ear.

“This can be a fun game, just between us. A little secret in your back pocket whenever you get sick of her. An emergency contact.”

Your skin shivers into goosebumps.

“Minjeong...” 

“Don't you get tired of eating the same cake day in and day out? Have some variety. Don't you want something spicy~”

Despite her attempts to seduce, her words instead make your blood boil. With reddened skin you unravel your naked bodies and burst off the bed.

“You need to leave.” you say almost growling

She stares at you unfazed, a smirk landing upon her face, almost as if she’s enjoying this. Popping off the bed like an excited puppy, “Okay cutie, I said what I wanted to say. The offer is always on the table.” 

She gets up facing away from you and bends down, displaying her teasing backside to pick up her scattered clothing.

In your heated state you make your way to the door staring at the ceiling, and pay her behind no mind.

As if you’re talking to the ceiling, desperate, “Just get your clothes and leave. Please.”

“I am Ssik-ie~, relax will ya, you want me to go out there naked in the cold?” She says smugly, securing the straps of her black dress onto her shoulders.

“You’re such a brat you know that?” You say, leading her towards the front door 

“I could be your~ brat.” she says with a wink.

“You really do need therapy.” You respond in disgust.

You open your front door, gesturing to her to leave.

“Happy New Year!” She says sarcastically.

You slam the door, lock it, and collapse to a seated position with your back on the door. 

“Fuck!” 

You start knocking on your head with your knuckle, talking to yourself, “StupidStupidStupid! Fucking dumbass! What am I gonna tell Seulgi? How am I gonna tell Seulgi? Should I tell her? Why did you have to go on that trip?” Absurdly your thoughts try blaming your innocent girlfriend.

You pause.

“Stop it!” You yell to yourself, trying to shake yourself out of it.

Whipping your head around, you snap to a still and finally make a decision.

“I’m going to tell her...”

Ding… 

Like a gunshot to the chest, the ring of your phone makes you instantly burst into a flood of tears and keel over.

On the cold tiled floor, you lay soaking in shame, in your now empty husk of a home.

Betrayed.

Defiled. 

Tarnished. 

It's 03:34 AM on a Sunday.