Celebration: Our characters celebrate together.
As far as he know, there’s no sane person in this world who would go all the way to spend some money to celebrate a breakup—with the ex. But as far as he know too, their whole one-week relationship isn’t even sane to begin with so it’s not like he’s one to blame anyone for missing out on things such as celebrating breakup with the ex.
It’s pretty admirable how Seulgi goes along with everything—coping up with his quirkiness and his peculiar habit of saying ‘sorry’ (because he genuinely feels sorry for Seulgi that she have to deal with him) for a week (and more, knowing that both of them had learned that being friend is a better choice and Jinyoung is actually happy to have Seulgi around as another list of younger friend he can tease) and being cool even when they broke up.
"So why don’t we celebrate it—the break up and everything else."
He said, spontaneously (as always) and jovially after speaking up about what he thought to Seulgi after they share their perspective opinion about ‘you shouldn’t be friend with your ex’, looking all grinning and smiley after their unexpected meeting in the coffee shop after work-time (cliche, right, but nobody should ever underestimate a coffee shop). Seulgi protested at first, telling him that it’s been a month since it happened but went along with his weird idea anyway (just like she always did, and he won’t even question her for her sanity any further).
The whole idea of celebration for Jung Jinyoung isn’t anything grande or fancy. He’s a guy who have to tighten his belt and save up for his family and Seulgi knew of that matter already and Jinyoung respect her acknowledgement. So by what he meant by celebrating is actually a few bottles of soju and chicken at the most affordable (and crowded) restaurant in the neighborhood.
There’s nothing extraordinary about the little dinner they shared that night, nothing sappy and emotional, with a light conversation thorough the night with inside jokes such as: “Remember that time when you dated me and said sorry all the time?” that spices up the night. And he knew that this is why he enjoy her company—he don’t have to delve into some emotional shit even after the breakup and be laid back together (and she’s easy to tease, so that’s a bonus).
There’s too many problems surrounding him already—with how his financial life going around and the huge responsibility he carried, and there’s some peoples who come to him carrying each problem and asking for advise to him (it’s still beyond him how he was seen as the wise guy, but Jinyoung is not the kind of guy who can easily say ‘no’) or even wreck him up, so he was thankful that Seulgi is not the kind of friend who came up to him that adds more issues into his already problematic life.
And it’s only through little things like paying the dinner (which he rarely did) that he could convey his gratitude. The night is getting colder and darker and when the clock has hit 11 P.M, they’re already in the third bottle of soju.
It such a strange sentence to say, he thinks (it’s like silently saying, ‘hey look we break up but we’re still looking great and nobody get hurts’), but he raised his glass for that time after filling up both of their glass and so did Seulgi, both looking amused with his words and the little ritual they did.
"…for the one week….” she said, holding back her laughter
"….and for your 22nd birthday."
"….but it’s already a week ago!" Seulgi was quick to react, but Jinyoung was quick to throw her a smile and shrug nonchalantly at the statement. At normal occasion, he would directly order her to ‘shut up’ and adding the nickname ‘kid’ at the end of the sentence—but thorough the night he calls her ‘Seulgi’ and acting up with good manner for once, silently mouthing ‘I know’ and press his index finger towards his lip as a sign for her to be silent that she respond with a glare.
Their glasses touches each other and Jinyoung drink it in one-shot, the alcohol burning his throat and making him winces at the same time; and Jinyoung surreptitiously inspected her, wondering whether she’s intoxicated enough knowing how many alcohol intake they both had consume, but they eventually fell into a moment of silence afterwards, nobody mention the word breaking up or the one-week relationship. Such a strange thing to celebrate, but then again, who gives a fuck about being normal?