The Bullies Eat Me Up

"Gosh, that was fun."

...Fuck you.

Fun for you assholes.

My crotch is soaked from sweating.

"Gotta come back."

...Come back?

No fucking way I'm doing this again.

"What's that look? Like you're never coming if we call?"

"N-No, it's not that..."

Did she learn to read minds?

Yoo In-ha slings an arm around me, grinning with creepy-ass eyes.

"Got all the pics. You know what that means."

"Y-Yeah, I get it..."

These bitches...

They didn't come to pick up guys.

They came to play with me!

"Kinda don't wanna end it."

"Yeah."

It's freaking dawn already.

Buses and subways are done.

Kinda awkward to keep going...

There's bars still open, but...

Juha, yawning hard, thinks for a sec and spits out, "Fourth round at my place?"

"For real?"

...Your stomachs made of steel?

Stop drinking, you lunatics.

---

You guys... fourth round, really?

You're tipsy, but why aren't you passed out?

I'm dying after half a bottle... can't keep up.

"Damn, drinking makes me want a cigarette."

"Go smoke."

"Ugh..."

Yoo In-ha digs through her pockets.

Looking for a cig?

"Got a cigarette?"

"Nope."

"Fuck..."

Juha chuckles, nodding.

"You said you quit.

Just use this."

"That shit's gross."

Yoo In-ha sighs, propping her chin.

...Why's she staring at me? Like I'd have smokes...

"Ugh, gotta buy some."

"Want me to come?"

"Nah."

Yoo In-ha clicks her tongue and stands.

Fumbling, she throws on Juha's jacket and gestures.

"Joonhyung, come with me."

...

Said she was going alone...

Sighing inside, I grab my stuff and stand.

Changed into pants ages ago... wish I had a jacket, but fuck it.

"Be back soon?"

"Yup."

Juha's sprawled out, staring at her phone.

Bet she'll be asleep when we get back.

I shove on my shoes and follow Yoo In-ha.

"Fuck, it's cold."

Yoo In-ha shoves her hands in the jacket, looking moody.

Yeah... nights are still chilly.

Rubbing my bare arms, I trudge behind. Dim streetlights hit the ground.

...

...

She's quiet today.

Guess she's not in the mood to talk...

Still, I'm curious. What'd she say to get her ass beat and kicked out?

"Oh, right. How'd your grades turn out?"

Grades...?

Pretty good. Never talked about it, huh.

"Mostly... decent, I think."

"Yeah? What'd you get in organic chem?"

"90..."

90... points?

Yoo In-ha stops dead.

"No... fucking way."

"It's true..."

"You fucking liar!"

Why... why's she freaking out? What'd you get? Why the tantrum?

"F-Fuck, what'd you get?"

"30, so what! You hogging all the good shit?"

We never said we'd study together!

If you'd asked, I'd have helped!

Not sure you'd have gotten it, but still!

"Fuck, I'm pissed!

Nothing's going right!"

"C-Calm down, I'll help you study."

"You sucked at studying too, fucker! Wait—headache—"

Yoo In-ha stumbles, clutching her forehead.

Drank like a fish, no wonder she's got a headache.

"Fuck... my head..."

Should've said something...

Who did all your assignments?

You turn brain-dead at times like this...

"Fuck, no cigarette vibe anymore..."

---

This crazy bitch...

Yoo In-ha grumbles, spinning around.

Why'd we even come out? She's flailing, freaking out.

"Fuck, I'm so pissed! Nothing works out!"

...What, I should've gotten a 30 too?

Wanted some solidarity? No fucking way.

"Should've at least aced my grades..."

Her face drops.

Oh... I get it.

Must've mentioned the incident, then grades came up, and she got fucked.

Pure or just dumb? Gotta cover for grades!

"They... cut your allowance?"

"Dunno, fuck..."

Yoo In-ha wobbles, then grabs the ground.

...What now? This feels like a fucking drama.

"Fuck... headache... hold on..."

What's causing it?

The drinking? This mess? My grades? Fucking hell...

"W-Wait..."

Is she actually sick?

Yoo In-ha curls up, clutching her head.

Never seen her like this.

She's groaning, shoulders shaking.

Must've gotten pissed thinking about the allowance cut...

"My... head..."

Uh... what do I do?

Never learned head massages.

I crouch behind her, fumbling with her head.

Like... this? Gently press the crown and sides.

Temples too, right? Saw that somewhere.

"Ugh... yeah..."

...

You give me headaches too.

Rubbing her temples, her shoulders loosen.

"N-Neck too..."

Goddamn...

Laugh or get mad?

I dig my thumbs in, massaging her neck.

Back of the skull... trapezius... scalenes... right? Just rub.

Sternocleidomastoid's important too, I think. Gently rub the front.

Her neck's so thin... could snap if I squeezed.

"Ha... ah..."

Yoo In-ha slumps against me, limp.

Must've been a blood pressure spike.

Hospital time? This ain't a comedy... her body's a rollercoaster.

"Why's this happening..."

"Stop drinking."

"Yeah..."

Would've died smoking in this state.

I prop up her wobbly ass and drag her back to the house.

No answer at the bell. Probably asleep.

Struggling, I get inside—Juha's passed out.

Phone in hand, probably dozed off.

What a fucking mess...

"Lie down..."

Patient first. To the mattress.

Yoo In-ha flops down, face pale.

I'm kinda freaked out.

"W-Water. Drink and sleep."

"Too tired..."

"Drink water, seriously."

Feels like if she sleeps now, I'll wake up to a corpse.

I force her up, shoving a cup at her. She chugs.

"...Cool..."

"Another?"

"Yeah..."

...

Ugh.

She finishes another cup, nodding off, collapsing on the pillow.

Is it okay to let her sleep?

Doesn't seem like ER-level...

"Change before you sleep."

"Mmm..."

Yoo In-ha wriggles out of her clothes.

What, a kid?

I grab her squirming toes, yanking off her socks. *Pop.*

"Haaa..."

Her breath bursts out.

Clothes too tight? She looks relieved, breathing easier.

I can't help but laugh.

"Yo... rub me more... feel bloated..."

"Fine, fine..."

"Turn off the light..."

...

Why not ask me to brush your teeth too?

Sighing, I turn off the light and sit beside her.

Stop wiggling your ass...

"Ugh..."

Massage shuttle's gonna end my life...

Pressing her neck and back, her breathing softens.

*Snore...*

Sounds like she's out. I rub a bit more and stop.

"Pfft... mm..."

...Oh, Juha's here too.

I grab a blanket and pillow from the closet, sliding them under her head.

She mumbles, smacking her lips, hugging the pillow.

"When'd you... Yoo In-ha..."

Ugh...

Don't spill your drink...

I clear the floor and slump down, yawning.

No blanket or pillow for me. Too lazy to go home...

"Hmm..."

Lights off, booze, or both—I'm nodding off.

Oh, right...

Gonna run that Google Translate tomorrow...

I drag my bag over, using it as a pillow, and lie next to Juha.

Booze, vape, and some weird diffuser scent mix together.

Rubbing my nose, I close my eyes.

Their breathing fills my ears.

---

Had some dream...

Can't remember what.

Something soft and fuzzy.

A big house with a yard, marble floors.

Three of us, living like total losers, chugging booze, laughing.

Floating on clouds...

Drunk, giggling, having fun for no reason.

Lying on marble, staring at the ceiling, happy as fuck.

Don't wanna wake up...

"...Is that a boner?"

"Looks like it."

"Fuck, I gotta see this first thing?"

"First time I've seen morning wood."

...

"What's this fucker dreaming about?"

"Yoo In-ha getting fucked?"

"Fuck off with that."

"Maybe he fucked her last night."

"No way... I don't remember shit."

My eyes crack open.

Please, no...

Yoo In-ha and Juha's faces fill my vision, giggling.

Fuck...

Sun's high already...

"Goddamn..."

I glance down—my dick's pitching a tent through my boxers.

Why's it so hard today, fuck...

I roll over to hide it, but Yoo In-ha yanks the blanket off.

"Already saw it, dumbass."

...

Wanna die...

These bitches just keep humiliating me...

"Healthy, huh, Joonhyung?"

What do I look like...

Cross-dressed, sporting a boner...

Wanna die. No camera clicks, at least...

"Ugh..."

"No morning classes?"

...

I do.

It's 10 a.m.

Already late... fuck...

Hanging with them's turning me into a loser...

Juha tosses a wet towel, laughing. Smells like her. Nice...

"Shower and let's get gukbap.

Rock-paper-scissors for who pays?"

"Hell no, I'm broke."

"Don't get caught."

"Screw off, buy it."

Rubbing my eyes, I put on my glasses.

Sighing. Why's everything so chaotic?

But missing class doesn't feel *that* bad. Kinda refreshing...

"Stop spacing out. Wash up."

"Yo, I'm gonna smoke."

"Didn't you quit vapes?"

"Wanna smoke now."

"Dumbass..."

Clutching the towel, I shuffle to the bathroom.

What's gonna happen today...