"My mom taught me how to drink."

Mary Grace never taught her homework considering that she herself was not able to finish high school. She started working at an early age to support herself after she was thrown into one foster family to another. Mary Grace was thankful that Athena did not inherit her brain. Athena studied on her own, which is a relief for Mary Grace.

Mary Grace, tried to be responsible in her own way when she raised Athena. There was barely enough food for both of them so she would ask Athena to drop by the bar so she can eat there. Bar food isn't necessarily what a growing girl needs but they had to live by. Athena wasn't complaining, though. Sometimes, Mary Grace thought what kind of good deed did she do in her life to deserve a daughter like her.

Mary Grace knows that Athena doesn't get invited into any parties when she was in her teenagers because of she probably fucked some of her classmates' dad's, and although Athena would say that she doesn't like to go out, she can sense her daughter's sadness from being left behind. So Mary Grace thought of bringing the party to Athena. She taught her liquors when she was sixteen and though illegal, she would let her drink at the comfort of their own house. She told Athena that drinking is a life skill that can help her in the future during negotiation or handling men so she needs to develop her alcohol tolerance. Athena surprisingly enjoyed their weekend girly talks over a few cans of beer which Mary Grace stole from the bar.

Mothers, in their own way, really know what's best for their kids.

"Mom, I've beaten an asshole in his own game." Minji was glad that she was able to shut Joey up. Chiku was praising her, eyes wide while asking her how she did it but she just scratched her head.

Nam-il went to her. "Noona, you're unfair. You didn't you tell me you were an alcoholic." He hugged her. "This is my Noona." He raised her arm to declare her as a champion. They clapped again.

She gave him another death stare. "I'll be a murderer too if you don't take your hands off of me, traitor!" She stood up, ready to tackle him but Nam-il used Chiku as his shield.

"You were awesome, unnie!"

Nam-il rested his head on her shoulder. "Noona, I did what I had to do. Don't be mad now, you won!"

"Goodness, I just lost 50 dollars!" Aera screamed.

Jennifer bit Namjoon's arm. "I told you Minji will win. Ughh! We lost 150 dollars!"

Namjoon ran his thumb over the bitemark on his arm before he held on Jennifer's waist tightly. "It's just money, babe."

"Money, your ass...I'll make you my bitch tonight." Jennifer then wrapped her arms around her boyfriend's neck and kissed him, not giving a damn to her team, who in return wasn't even paying attention because they were discussing how did Minji win.

Jung Kook was laughing on the inside hearing how they are disappointed with the result but really surprised that Minji, out of all people, can play the drinking game. He was looking at her again. Her hair is now down and sweat formed on her forehead but still looking pretty.

Joey went out of the comfort room, walking wobbly towards them. His body was swaying that Jimin had to catch him before he completely falls down.

"Uggg...y-you cheat...cheated." He said in a slurry line while pointing at Minji. Joey was coming near her.

"I didn't. Not my fault if you concentrated in getting laid instead of winning."  Minji thought to herself.

"Admit that your ass was kicked by a girl." Jung Kook came in between before Joey can pull her in. "Jimin and Namjoon, take him out. He's done."

"We look forward seeing you in red lipstick, sir!" Nam-il shouted. The crowd laughed and Joey wanted to break free from Jimin and Namjoon but the two gentlemen were holding his shoulders tight as they drag him out.

"Are you alright?" Jung Kook turned to Minji who was hugging Chiku while the others continue with their drinks.

"Y--yes, sir." she answered not looking at him. "Chiku join them, I need to get air. The vodka might kick in." Chiku then let her go and join the circle in. They were teasing her because she's the richest tonight.

Minji went to the balcony and grab on the railings. She's not gonna lie, her head is starting to ache. She dialed Tia Isabelle's number because of the 5 missed calls.

"Tia, I'm going home now."

"Are you still out? I am going somewhere"

"Where are you guys going? You mean you're the one who is not going home?"

"I just texted you. You have the key, take care see you, Monday!"

With her almost blurred vision, she read that she and Atty. Choi will be spending time together in a resort spa. Minji cannot really say that she is happy for her. But she isn't the right person to judge either. Her head was down, she can hear loud music but her head is starting to pound.

"Drink this." Jung Kook handed him a bottle of water but she refused to take it.

"Please." He insisted. "Or i'll take you home" She looked at him and grab the ice cold water and chug it. She wiped her lips afterwards using the back of her hands.

"Thank you, sir. I just need air." She explained.

"I don't wanna leave you here in the balcony. You're drunk now." He went closer to her. "Let's get you inside."

She pushed him "Why do you care? I thought you're letting me go?"

"Minji..."

But before he can finish, Minji left him alone and went to join her colleagues. Jennifer then ran to Jung Kook.

"Sir, I have to go. Namjoon texted that Joey is being stubborn and refused to go home. They're still downstairs."

"I'll go. Watch over them." Jung Kook instructed.

"Uhhhh..they're not kids anymore. Please, Jung Kook. My Namjoon might get hurt." Jennifer pleaded as a friend.

Jung Kook looked at his editors who were having fun drinking again. He noticed that Chul and Minji were sitting closely on the couch while drinking beer. She was smiling at something he said and Chul whispered something into her ear which made Minji gasped. It is painful to watch her being with someone else.

"Jung Kook..."

"Let's go." Jung Kook went back inside and explained that they have to go lying that Joey passed out a few blocks away. The editors then bid their goodbye except for Minji. Jung Kook looked at her one last time and noticed that Chul was playing with her hair.

Minji was aware that Jung Kook and Jennifer left so she continued with her drinks. Her colleagues are now getting wild. Aera was dancing on the table together with Ji-hun while Nam-il and Chiku were cuddling on the bed. Some of them went downstairs to the dance floor while Chul and her were still  drinking beer. Aera and Jihun eventually excited the room to join the party downstairs.

"You surprise me, noona. Joey is an ass. I'm glad he lost." Chul commented.

"I thought you guys are friends?"

"Nah, He is my brother's friend so whenever he is at home, he will bully me. That ass doesn't know how to shut his mouth. I didn't invite him. He just went to tell me that he's going because you are here" Chul confessed.

"Well, it's payback time because by Monday we'll be seeing him in red. Let's hope he'll man up and go to work." Minji finished her first bottle and Chul opened a new one for her. Their bottles clanked when they toast.

"Wanna know why Joey bullies me?" Chul asked.

"Is it because you...maybe...uhh...gay?" Minji looked at him intently while waiting for an answer.

Chul nodded. "A lot of people don't know it. How did you figure it out?"

"Well...from where I'm from...let's just say that you give that vibe." The bar where Mary Grace worked has shows about drag queens every third Saturday of the week. Drag queens are one of the nicest and most glamourous people on earth, one of them, which goes by the name Lucilla Thunderlegs will tell her stories before she will go on stage. She will point out random customers and give her thoughts why she thinks that person is gay.

Chul laughed. "The gay vibe?" Minji slapped his arm hard.

"I won't tell anyone if you're not ready yet." She rested her head on Chul's shoulder comfortable that she had a sister in him. "This feel's nice."

"I think you would prefer Jung Kook's chest." Minji was surprised and sit back up.

"Don't deny it, sister. You look at each other like you were craving. Too bad, you're engaged."

"I'm...I'm really...really not engaged." Minji confessed then turned her second bottle upside down into the bucket. "I can't attract attention....so I lied about getting engaged." She looks at her but Chul's expression didn't change. There was no judgment in his eyes. "It's a....really, really long and fucked up story."

Chul wrapped his arms around her. "I guess we both have secrets we have to keep. I got you, sis."

Chul stood and pulled her up. "Now let's go downstairs and make them believe that I I'm into girls by fake flirting with you in a crowd." She hugged him close.

"Gosh..I wish it's Jimin doing this."

Minji slapped his arms again. "He's our boss."

"Jung Kook's our boss, too." He picked her up in his shoulders and before she can ask why he answered. "This will make me manly-ish." They both laughed.

Minji would love to invite Nam-il and Chiku down as well, however, he saw the two of them cuddling; Chiku is sitting on Nam-il's lap while her bestfriend caresses Chiku's face. They are both good people and good people deserve each other.

Minji squealed when Chul started walking while she is on his shoulders. Some people clapped when they saw them going down the stairs as if Chul rescued her. He brought her down to to sit on the bar stool and they were giggling.

"Delilah, meet Minji. Minji, Delilah" Chul pointed at the waitress. Minji extended her arm. "Nice to meet you."
Delilah took her arm. "I hope you are enjoying the night."

Minju couldn't her what the blonde lady said so Chul whisphered what his friend. She yelled back, "I am ecstatic!" and Chul turned her seat around as if it was a merry-go round.

"She owns the place, by the way" Chul whisphered on her again.

"Oooohhh.. Thank you for having us tonight! Your place is lovely!" She was almost yelling because she and Delilah couldn't hear each other. The owner placed another bucket on their front.

"My treat, for my new friend!" Chul opened two bottles of Budweiser and gave him one. They were enjoying the loud music and people dancing. They saw Aera dancing with some dude and though she was  bitchin' on her, she enjoys watching her have the time of her life.

Minji never enjoyed clubs because it looks to her as some kind of office rather than an entertainment hub considering that her mom works there but this right now, she thought is what she needed and deserved. A night without thinking about Jung Kook.

The music and the party went on and on and people are slowly leaving. Nam-il and Chiku bid goodbye to them because he will take Chiku home and Minji warned him to be on his best behavior. Soon, the bar was almost empty and Minju couldn't count how many bottles of beer had she drank.

Chul's head is now rested on the counter while Delilah joined them. She sat on the counter top and began to gulp Chul's leftovers. Her butterfly tattoo on her wrist became visible when she lifted her hand. Minji didn't notice it earlier but she kept looking at it, admiting it.

"Sober a bit and I can ink you if you want." Delilah suggested when she noticed her scrutinizing her tattoo.  She tossed a peanut in the air and catch it using her mouth. "I'll just clean up."

Minji doesn't know if it is the alcohol thinking, but when she saw Delilah's tattoo, she suddenly wanted one. "Can you design an owl sitting on a spear?"

"Unique one. Why that design?" Delilah asked while wiping the rim of the glasses.

"Nothing in particular. It was just the first thing that popped in my mind." She answered. Owl and a spear were just some of the insignias of the goddess Athena. She thought it would be nice that it will serve her a reminder of who she really is.

"I'll draw a draft and if you liked it we can get started." Delilah winked at her before she went to the back of the bar to place the glasses.  Chul, on the other hand, is now asleep on the counter.

Minji walked to the comfort room to wash her face, her make up is all gone now but she smiled back at her own reflection. Her vision is doubling and everything seemed to be hazy whereas her head is pounding. Her hands gripped on the sink when she vomitted suddenly. She let her right hand grasp all her hair in one as she continued to barf. She was disgusted at herself. She turned the faucet on and let the water wash all of her vomit down the drain but she felt more icky.

Her body was swaying while she exit the ladies' room, forgetting that she had not turned the faucet off. She was  using the walls to guide her while she try to walk straight ahead, but everything is starting to blur.  A cold set of arms wrapped around her.

"We are going home." She is not drunk enough not to recognize Jung Kook's voice. She lifted her face and smiled at him. "I can't leave. I'm getting inked." She reached for his hair and twisted its ends.

"You are not. I was obser--"

"Get your hands off her, pervert!" Delilah shouted at Jung Kook. Minji signaled her to stop but almost fell down. "This..." she then pointed at Jung Kook "is my husband." She rested her head against his chest and the sound of his beating heart was like a lullaby to Minji.

******************************************************************************************************************

Jung Kook's hand tightened around on the steering wheel while he was driving. Minji is now on the passenger seat, sleeping like a baby. He explained a lot of things to Delilah before she believed  that he knew Minji.

Joey was throwing a fit earlier because he lost to a girl so he and his friends thought it was best to drive him home. Jimin and Namjoon couldn't handle him very well because he was bigger so Jung Kook had to help. He threw a punch at Joey too for sexualizing about Minji. He doubt however if he will remember that tomorrow.

When Joey was taken home, his friends decided to call it a night but he couldn't stop worrying about Mimji. While she had proven herself worthy that she can handle booze, Jung Kook's worry was more about the people who might take advantage of her. So he went back and saw her with Chul, enjoying each other's company over buckets of beer. Chul was flirting with her and Minji seems to be enjoying it. He couldn't blame her though. 

She was enjoying herself and seems like she was lost in her own inhibition while she take down a bottle of beer after another. She resisted all men that asked her to dance which was a relief for him but seeing how alcohol is drowning her senses made him worry. The best thing for him to do is wait.

Jung Kook almost fell asleep when Minji went to the ladies' room. As much as he would love to enter, he can hear from the distance, that she is groaning and vomitting. The sound of water gushing was what he heard next and after a few minutes, Minji was palming the walls of the hall, her body swaying and eyes squinting.

He caught her before she can fall. She was mumbling about getting inked but he knows that it was just the alcohol talking. A petite young woman almost strangled him when she saw him holding her like that. It was Minji, much to his surprise who pulled him in and confidently told the woman that he is her husband.

"This is my husband." and Minji fell into his arms.

Jung Kook did a lot of explaining to Delilah before she let him off the hook. He showed her pictures from the office potluck earlier today and GC conversations just to ensure her that he is no stalker. Jung Kook was trying to wake Chul up so he can attest to his statements, but Chul is already snoring, unawaked by every nudge.

He was on his way to drive Minji back to her Tia Isabelle but he had to stop for a moment to search for her keys. She overheard on the balcony that her godmother is going somewhere. He rummaged through her tiny pouch and even flipped it inside out but there is no key. As much as he would love to take Minji home, that would just be opening a can of worms.

His eyebrows are now furrowed and would love to wake Minji up so pick a fight with her, but seeing her lovely features softened him. Even without her make-up on, she still looks like an angel, but this time a fallen one. He exhaled deeply before he drive her to the place  where he can keep an eye on her.

"This is my husband." Those were music to Jung Kook's ears and he found himself giggling before turning right.

"I don't mind being your husband." He looked at her and ruffled her hair.