North: How much is your love?

Chapter 1: If I didn't get drunk.

[>> North <<]

 

Soft music played, images of busy people flashed by, and the faint but strong smell of alcohol filled the air. Although it was nighttime, one could guess that rain would soon fall. The air was slightly cool, and a gentle breeze blew. Listening to good music was fine, but when it came to alcohol… no amount of bottles could ever be enough. I let the bitter wine flow down my throat once more, then slammed the small, empty glass down on the table. Duen Nao picked up the glass and poured more wine.

 

"Nao, slow down a bit, you're always busy mixing drinks," Sket, who was sitting opposite, said.

 

"North drinks too fast; I can't even mix the drink fast enough."

 

"Then let's not mix it at all," I said, reaching for the bottle, but Duen Nao snatched it back.

 

"Stay sober, you can't handle drinking it straight. Here, another glass and then you can rest." The person next to me said, handing me another glass of wine. I drained it in one gulp, slamming it down on the table.

 

"I hate people with high alcohol tolerance like you; you drink too much!" Duen Nao grumbled.

 

“That's crazy! "I'm not a heavy drinker, really!" I said, running my hand through my hair. Damn it, I'm so frustrated.

 

"But now your alcohol tolerance is even higher than your heart, right?" Sket teased. Judging by his appearance, he wasn't very sober either.

 

"Exactly!" I laughed, giving him a thumbs-up, "But hey, Kkyu, why are you drinking so 

little? I'm treating!" I turned to ask Ikkyu, who was only interested in eating. I won the lottery, so I'm treating them to food and drinks, like a belated celebration for my heartbreak.

 

"Oh my god, North, you're drunk, Sket is drunk, Duen Nao is drunk too. If I get drunk too, who's going to collect my body?" Ikkyu said, pouting.

 

"Duen Nao is drunk too? I can barely tell."

 

"He's the kind of drunk who doesn't show it. The kind who's drunk but won't say anything. He looks sober, but try standing up, and you'll fall over," Ikkyu said, trying to suppress a laugh at the annoyed look Duen Nao gave him.

 

There are four of us: me, Duen Nao, Sket, and Ikkyu, all studying engineering. And today we're going out for drinks… because I really can't take it anymore.

 

"Sigh. Why, guys? I'm just an engineering student. What do I have to compete with? Yeah, I don't have a future, but so what? I know how to take care of things! Can you give me another chance?" I said, the alcohol making my head spin and my words jumbled.

 

"Don't say that, you're hurting everyone's feelings, we're all in the same profession."

 

"Do I really have nothing to fight them with?" I kept asking the same question over and over, a question they couldn't answer. And I didn't even expect an answer anyway...

 

"I don't have the answer for you, just a shot of pure liquor," Duen Nao said, handing me the shot.

 

"Huh? Didn't you just say it couldn't be drunk neat?" I asked, frowning.

 

"Too lazy to mix."

 

“I’ve been strong all this time… until you gave me this glass of pure liquor.” I chuckled, drained the glass in one gulp, and let the burning sensation spread from my throat down to my stomach.

 

Honestly, I wouldn't dare say I'm heartbroken because it's been a while since we broke up. But the fact that she officially announced she's dating someone new really devastated me. 

 

Jaja, my ex-girlfriend, just updated her relationship status to 'Doctor Temp,' someone she's been talking to since we broke up, or maybe even while we were still together. She broke up with me right before we graduated from high school, saying she needed someone with a more promising future.

 

'North, I hope you understand. We've grown up now, so we have to choose someone with a future. We can't be impulsive like we were kids anymore, right?'

 

Yeah… But I wasn't being impulsive either, was I? But now, I have no right to say anything anymore.

 

"Hey, remember your ex? He went to the same school as us?" Ikkyu asked.

 

"No, we go to a nearby school. But Temp goes to the same school as us."

 

"Is that Dr Temp? I hope we never run into each other." Duen Nao shook his head. 

 

"When North gets angry, things get really tense."

 

"Nonsense, I'm not that kind of person. As long as he doesn't upset Jaja, that's all that matters," I said, reaching for some food and putting it in my mouth.

 

"Oh my god, so saintly? I'm not used to North in this mode, bring back the grumpy North from before!" Sket teased.

 

"North, are you coming home with me?" Ikkyu asked. He was driving today to pick up the drunk guys.

 

"No, my dorm is on a different street than yours. If I collapse, you can save my number as 'Messy Roommate' and tell him to come pick me up." I said this because I told Ter I was going out for drinks and had left my motorbike there, asking him to come pick me up.

 

"A messy roommate? Ter? It's not that bad, is it?" Sket frowned.

 

"No, it's because he's too clingy to his boyfriend that I'm annoyed."

 

“…”

 

"Well, his boyfriend is handsome, who wouldn't want to cling to him?" Sket sighed. They were already close friends with Ter, so they knew his boyfriend.

 

"I don't know if I'm jealous or happy. I can't really say much because ever since Ter started dating Hill, I've benefited a lot. Sometimes he buys me meals; sometimes he buys me cakes. Not only has Ter gotten fatter, but I've gotten fatter too. He even bought me some things for the room. I'll probably end up paying for the electricity and water bills too."

 

"The most beautiful and kind person of all time. I wish I could bask in some of that blessing too, because every month I have to argue with Ikkyu about the electricity bill," Sket lamented.

 

"Let's split the payment," I said.

 

"How can we divide it? He uses it more than I do."

 

We continued joking around, occasionally clinking glasses, our words becoming indistinct. Everyone started to slump over, their eyes glazed over, barely able to stay open.

 

“North, I remember now, I think I’ve seen that Temp guy before.” Sket drawled, his eyes half-closed, “Was it that face? You showed me a picture of him before.” He said, pointing in a direction. I instinctively turned around. That's true.

 

“Damn, I was praying I didn’t run into him. And who’s that person sitting next to him? It’s not Jaja.” Duen Nao also stared intently, “Damn! North, where are you going?!”

 

I stood up before my brain could process the situation. Ignoring the calls behind me, I staggered toward that guy—the one who had boasted so confidently that he would take good care of my ex-girlfriend. And yet now he has betrayed that promise!

 

"What the hell are you doing?" I snarled, causing the lively conversation at the table to suddenly fall silent. All eyes turned to me. Temp turned, looking surprised to see me, and slowly removed his hand from the girl next to him.

 

"North?" Temp stood up and called my name.

 

"I'm asking you what the hell you're doing?!" I didn't need an answer. Clenching my fist, I punched him straight in the face with all my might. Temp collapsed instantly. Shouts and murmurs erupted everywhere.

 

I admit, I'm not exactly a calm person. Besides, I'm already drunk. So if you ask me if I can control myself, the answer is definitely no.

 

I grabbed the collar of the guy who had just fallen; his eyes stared back at me without a trace of fear. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, but he smirked provocatively.

 

"Are you holding a grudge against me for that long? What? Are you bitter about losing?"

 

"You damn Temp!"

 

"North!" A familiar voice called out from behind.

 

"Don't stop me! Go home!" I replied without turning around. Judging by the voice, it was probably Duen Nao.

 

Temp seized the opportunity and punched back. Normally, I could dodge it, but in this drunken state, I couldn't. I staggered and wiped the blood from my mouth.

 

"Who said I was going to stop you?!"

 

"Damn! Nao, why did you punch him too?!" Ikkyu yelled.

 

"He was planning to gang up on my friend!"

 

"Damn it! You guys are all drunk and fighting like crazy! Don't drag me into this, I don't want to get involved!"

 

The small bar was in complete chaos. I punched Temp relentlessly, but he wouldn't back down. Nobody paid any attention to the people trying to stop us or what was happening around us. All I know is that Duen Nao was helping me fight off Temp's friends, and then Sket jumped in too. And Ikkyu, who usually doesn't like getting into trouble, still got caught up in it. Then, I don't know when everything went dark…

 

════[changbins_delulu_wife]════

 

"Ugh..." I bit my lip, slowly regaining consciousness. Pain coursed through my body, especially my head, which ached terribly. A faint scent of perfume lingered around my nose. Damn, is this a dream or am I awake? But I couldn't open my eyes. I guess I'm probably either completely drunk or got punched in the eye, and it's all swollen.

 

"My head hurts so much," I mumbled as the pain intensified.

 

"Who told you to drink so much?"

 

Huh?

Who is it? That voice was completely unfamiliar. And why do I feel like I'm being carried? Oh my god, I feel nauseous… Even though I wasn't fully awake, I recognised this familiar feeling.

 

"Be careful," I whispered.

 

"Huh?"

 

"Damn! My shirt!!" the other person yelled.

 

Because… everything I had just stuffed into my stomach, fried chicken, snacks, and alcohol came back up.

 

I'm really sorry, but I probably can't bring myself to swallow this.

 

"Sorry."

 

"Here we go again."

 

"Damned!!"