Bamboo Forest Manager

108 – 107. First Day

There were only two simple restaurants in the basement of the Gold One C-dong Hotel.

A kimbap restaurant and a chicken restaurant.

The restaurants ended there, but there were also coin karaoke and billiard rooms, so it seemed like there wouldn’t be anything boring to do.

As I heard earlier, I could also go to the ski resort or water park.

“Wow, there are a lot of people because it’s the first day.”

“If we hadn’t come early, we wouldn’t have been able to get a seat?”

“Since there are no seats, we’ll have to sit at a long table. Let’s go to that 10-person table over there.”

The two people from Sesin Kangdae mostly talked to each other. It didn’t feel like they were trying to distance themselves from us, but rather that they were just awkward.

The only one who was older, Daesang hyung, didn’t seem to talk much either, so he often coughed in vain, unable to bear the awkwardness.

The chicken restaurant was noisy.

From what I could hear, the main topic of conversation was about where everyone would be assigned to work starting tomorrow, so it seemed like the other tables were in a similar situation.

It seemed like everyone had come out for a company dinner to relieve the awkwardness.

“If it’s okay with you, hyung, can you speak informally to us and we’ll just speak casually to each other? We’ll be working together for two months anyway.”

Everyone responded positively to my suggestion after ordering chicken. Rather, it felt like they had been waiting for someone to say something like this.

“Okay.”

“I’m okay with it too.”

“Ahem. Okay, if you’re okay with it.”

Daesang hyung accepted while coughing again. It seemed like he felt a little awkward speaking formally to kids who were six years younger than him.

“These days, if an older person says something like this, they say it’s like an old man.”

Daesang hyung looked cute again as he scratched his cheek and added something unnecessary.

As we started speaking casually, the atmosphere became more comfortable, and Jegal Jaemin came over to us with a smile.

“Tomorrow, we’ll find out where we’ll each be working, but are you all going to go to the casino?”

“Wow, I’ve never been to a casino before.”

“Right?”

Chanwoo added an awkward comment at the end. It was nice to see that he was trying to be friendly in his own way.

“It’s not just a casino. There are a lot of amenities inside, so we’ll probably be assigned there.”

Daesang hyung muttered as he ate the snacks that came with the drinks.

“For example, like the chicken restaurant we’re in now. There are a lot of restaurants inside that are run by the hotel.”

“Oh, as expected of a culinary arts major. You know right away.”

Jegal Jaemin exclaimed, but Daesang hyung just smiled shyly and didn’t say much.

As we talked about where we might go tomorrow with a mix of anticipation and worry, the Sesin Kangdae duo carefully leaned towards Chanwoo.

“Hey, Chanwoo. Can you sit at the end?”

“Huh? It’s not hard, but… why?”

This was a 10-person table, so the seat next to him was empty.

They had intentionally sent Chanwoo to the end so that someone could sit next to him.

“You, I saw you flirting with a lot of girls at the banquet hall earlier.”

“Aspiring actresses? Or do you have an agency or something? Are you not allowed to date?”

“……It’s not like that.”

Chanwoo finally realized his role and scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

Even so, Chanwoo didn’t refuse their request.

That meant he was interested in the opposite s*x.

If things went well, Chanwoo might be able to find love at Gold One.

‘Oh, right.’

It had been a while, but now that I had some free time, I decided to call Choi Iseul.

‘Hmm?’

The phone just rang and she didn’t answer. I was about to send her a message when I thought she might already be asleep.

Bang!

“Ouch!”

“Hey!”

A sharp pain shot through my back. I let out a gasp without realizing it, and Joohee sunbae, who was dressed lightly, was giggling.”Did you come here to drink with your roommate? Is it okay if I sit next to you?”

Since there are no seats in the chicken restaurant anyway, it would be difficult to sit anywhere but next to you. I was about to answer that it was obvious, but I wondered if the Sejong University duo would be okay.

I looked at Seo Ye-rin, Yoo Ah-rin, and their friends who followed me, and they nodded at me and signaled me to accept.

‘Oh, man.’

I wonder if there’s anyone here that those two can hit on.

First of all, I heard that the design and film majors have boyfriends.

Senior Joo-hee is invincible.

Seo Ye-rin and Yoo Ah-rin… I’ll make no comment.

Still, since we all know each other, I thought it would be better, so I moved to the end of the table and faced Chan-woo.

Senior Joo-hee sat next to me.

Seo Ye-rin stared at Senior Joo-hee but didn’t say anything and sat next to her.

Yoo Ah-rin sat next to Chan-woo, so I could see her face if I just looked up.

“How’s your room? Is it the same as ours?”

Senior Joo-hee nodded as she chewed on the snacks that came out as appetizers.

“I guess so. We’re on the 4th floor, what floor are you on?”

“We’re on the 8th floor.”

“Damn, that sounds nice. They say they have fireworks at the end of the year, can I come and watch them then?”

“Do you like fireworks?”

“They’re pretty. There was this time when some guys tried to light a fire to show me fireworks, and I gave them a fire extinguisher.”

“……That’s a dangerous story, but it sounds really funny.”

“Should I tell you the story?”

After that, the conversation continued with irrelevant topics. Seo Ye-rin and Yoo Ah-rin also seemed to be more comfortable talking like they usually do, unlike before.

Moreover, just like at the last drinking party, it was clear that Yoo Ah-rin and Jung Chan-woo had become completely close friends.

The chicken came out while we were talking.

Of course, we were the first to arrive, so all the women’s eyes were on the chicken leg I was holding.

“……I’m not going to give it to you.”

“We ordered some too.”

“But why do you keep looking at it?”

When I moved the chicken to the side, everyone followed the chicken as if they were possessed.

It was a little cute, but when I took a bite, everyone looked disappointed.

Anyway, it was cute.

“Let’s eat the chicken together! No, this is also fate, so how about we sit together?”

Jegal Jae-min immediately came up with a plan. It seemed that he had judged that it would be great if he could get involved with any of the women here.

Senior Joo-hee took a sip of her beer and replied in a low voice.

“No.”

“Yes, I’m sorry.”

Sorry, but this is Lu Bu.

Senior Joo-hee, who immediately crushed Jegal Jae-min’s plan, sighed with a mixture of alcohol and explained.

“Everyone here has someone. Those two have boyfriends, Ye-rin is precious, and Ah-rin…”

Senior Joo-hee looked at Yoo Ah-rin, who was blankly staring at the other side, and took another sip of her beer.

“Why me! You don’t have one either, Senior!”

Yoo Ah-rin slammed the table and retorted, and Senior Joo-hee laughed as if she found it funny.

“Hey, I’m an exception.”

I don’t know what’s exceptional, but it was strangely convincing. In fact, Jegal Jae-min was nodding his head vigorously.

Anyway, the chicken for the women came out, and the atmosphere became more relaxed as the conversation continued.

“I personally want to go to a Japanese restaurant. What was it? I heard there’s a place here called Cheonghae that sells Japanese food separately.”

“Did you get into cooking, Senior?”

“Oh, since I’m working part-time, I was able to apply separately, so I got into cooking.”

“A chef holding sashimi… It suits you so well.”

As the alcohol kicked in, everyone started talking more, and the topic turned to what they were going to do tomorrow.

Everyone started talking about where they wanted to work tomorrow.

“I want to work at a cocktail bar in a casino.”

“Is there such a thing?””I heard there’s a store here that only VIPs can enter. Do you know that place, Tio?”

“Don’t they use part-timers there?”

I felt the wall between us gradually crumbling as we started talking about various things. I discreetly checked my phone.

“……!”

There was a missed call from Choi Iseo. It seemed like she called me back because of my call earlier.

I got up and went outside the chicken restaurant. Since it was underground, I had to go up to the first floor to get some fresh air, but I didn’t mind.

– Hello?

Choi Iseo answered the phone cautiously. Her voice was a bit groggy, probably because it was a bit late and she had just woken up.

“Did you sleep? Sorry.”

– No, I just took a short nap. Did you get there okay?

“Yeah, I arrived safely. I’m drinking with my roommate right now.”

– Drinking again? You’ll get sick.

Her worried tone made me feel warm for some reason.

“Well, you see……”

I took a deep breath and thought about what I should say to Choi Iseo.

But the words got stuck in my throat and wouldn’t come out properly.

– Come over.

To me like that.

– Come over and tell me in person.

Choi Iseo said with a light laugh.

– We’re still freshmen, you know.

Choi Iseo gave me time, reluctantly bringing up her own words that we should only start dating after our sophomore year.

Choi Iseo and I had slept together, but she knew who I was struggling because of that day.

“I’m sorry.”

– Call me often. Okay?

“Yeah, I got it.”

– You call me first.

“I said I got it.”

– And… Minji said there are a lot of accidents like that there.

“Accidents?”

I wondered what she meant, but then I heard a rustling sound.

– W-well, you know, people making eye contact and stuff. Starting and breaking up relationships.

“Oh.”

That’s what she was talking about.

“I’m only going to be there for two months anyway. Who would I make eye contact with here?”

– ……I’m not worried about the people you’ll meet there for the first time.

“Huh?”

I was about to ask what she meant, but Choi Iseo changed the subject, evading my question.

– Anyway, be careful. If the work gets too hard, just come back.

“Okay.”

– Okay, good night.

“You too.”

– D-dream of me.

My head suddenly felt light and dizzy, and a pleasant smile came over my face.

“That’s such an old-fashioned line.”

– S-shut up!

Iseo hung up the phone, embarrassed. Choi Iseo’s dream… It’s a bit weird to have a wet dream on the first day of dorm life.

“You seem to be having fun.”

“Huh!”

At that moment, I heard a sharp voice from behind me. I turned around in surprise and saw Yoo Arin glaring at me with her arms crossed.

“What, what is it all of a sudden?”

I wondered if she had followed me here, but Yoo Arin didn’t stop glaring at me and pouted her lips.

“Was it fun with Iseo?”

“……It was good.”

“Oh, you son of a b*tch!”

Yoo Arin kicked me in the thigh right away. It really hurt, and as I rubbed my thigh, her nagging voice came out.

“You bastard. What about Yerim?”

“……Woojin is cute.”

“This bastard is trying to make me jealous!”

Yoo Arin threw a punch right away.

Even I thought this was a bit too much.

“Ha, what’s so good about this……”

Yoo Arin hit her forehead and shook her head. Chanwoo told me last time that Yoo Arin seemed to like me.

‘Looking at this, how could anyone think she likes me?’She hit me and cursed at me like this.

Yoo Ah-rin pointed her finger at me and declared firmly.

“You, if you’re dating Choi Yi-seo, you have to tell Ye-rin for sure. There’s something a little weird about her.”

Dating.

CC had already told both Seo Ye-rin and Choi Yi-seo that he would never do that.

But it was true that he had a feeling that Choi Yi-seo would be okay.

I have to tell Seo Ye-rin how I feel right now.

“Okay, I understand.”

“Ugh, why do I have to support your love life?”

Yoo Ah-rin sighed deeply and hit my chest with her fist in annoyance, but it didn’t hurt much this time.

“Thank you, noona! There’s a convenience store in the basement, let’s go! I’ll buy you a Choco Mong!”

When I thanked Yoo Ah-rin, she stopped for a moment and replied sharply.

“Okay.”

“Why? You’re not going to drink it?”

I wondered why she would refuse when I offered to buy her a drink. Besides, Choco Mong was her favorite drink.

Yoo Ah-rin glanced at me at my question and exhaled with a complicated look in her eyes.

“I’m not going to drink it anymore.”

She uttered a meaningful word.