Bamboo Forest Manager

Popular Thing

“Woojin, what do you think?”

The lounge on the first floor of the dormitory.

I used to think this place had nothing to do with me when I saw Choi Yiseo and the freshmen huddled together here before.

In reality, there’s no connection at all.

It’s almost as if I was dragged here against my will.

“What am I supposed to think? You just try your best.”

I rested my chin on my hand and sipped the sweet coffee brought as a tribute.

Usually, I only drink iced Americanos because there’s no particular reason to drink anything else rather than actually liking them,

But this was tastier than expected.

What was it called again? Dalgona latte?

Even for someone who doesn’t like sweet things much like me, it wasn’t too bad.

‘Or maybe not. Maybe it’s just that I’m tired now and craving something sweet.’

Well, that could be possible too.

“I need a favor. Okay? Minsu told me last time that you’re quite an expert.”

“What expert? My own love life isn’t even going right.”

The boy from the next room.

He was in the same grade, but since we started living together in the dormitory, we had a few conversations.

Now he was asking me what he should do about his girlfriend.

With a sly grin, he playfully nudged me with his shoulder.

“Come on, who in the dorm doesn’t know you’re popular? Girls come looking for you all the time. And only the pretty ones at that.”

“Sigh.”

He wasn’t wrong.

He wasn’t wrong, but…

After getting beaten up by Yoo Arin yesterday and nearly having my peppers plucked, I’m starting to doubt whether I’m really that popular.

“Give me some advice, will you? My girlfriend’s been giving me some strange looks lately.”

Eventually, I listened to his story and gave him some advice that came to mind.

He liked it because it seemed like a clever idea, but whether it would work out well remained to be seen.

* * *

“Lately… haven’t kids been looking for you?”

On my usual way to my part-time job,

After midterms and sports festivals were over; as I was enjoying a somewhat leisurely college life,

An unexpectedly unusual challenge came my way.

“Did word get around even to our senior?”

I was commuting with Senior Juhee who also worked part-time,

If someone like Senior Juhee who usually didn’t bother with others’ affairs mentioned it like this; it must have spread quite a bit.

“What was it? A love guru or something. Weren’t there kids who got along better with their partners following your advice? And some even started dating?”

“The ones who got along better just had a small fight and made up. The ones who started dating already liked each other anyway.”

I didn’t think I did anything remarkable. All I did was give them a little courage.

Take the first guy for example.

I gave him courage about using tools during s*xual activities.

That sort of thing.

It seemed like confessing would work so I told him to confess; when weighing right from wrong if they seemed at fault so advised them apologize.

That’s really all there is to it.

“I just voiced what they didn’t have the courage to say themselves. Why make such a big deal out of that.”

What an annoyance.

It’s really annoying and frustrating.

Even though I’ve been turning away those who come asking about the rumors that keep spreading.

Unfortunately, it’s a quiet period in school without any events, so there are even more talks about relationships.

‘I’m not even dating anyone right now.’

I can’t complain since I confessed to three people. After all, a confession is still a confession.

The current situation isn’t too bad either.

Still, I was hoping for some progress.

‘It seems like everyone has already adapted.’

If more time passes, there’s a chance we might just settle into this ambiguous relationship.

‘Should I be more proactive?’

I had resolved to be sincere since the time with So Ye-rin.

It seemed necessary to make a clear move now.

While pondering over my own love life instead of others’, Ju-hee Sunbae walking beside me casually asked,

“Could you get me a coffee?”

“Huh? Oh…”

That reminds me of last time too.

The cafe where Sunbae works isn’t far from here.

But…

“No, it’s okay. I’m not that tired. If I want one, I’ll go myself.”

“You don’t have to feel obliged.”

“Do you know how much pressure it is when Sunbae offers to be my coffee shuttle?”

I said lightly while scratching my neck.

‘Being too close with Sunbae might not be good either.’

I need to restrain myself from actions that could cause unnecessary misunderstandings among others.

Even if out of sight, caution in behavior is necessary.

“…Alright then.”

Sunbae looked subtly disappointed.

But pretending not to notice, I headed straight for the shop.

Minju-hee, a junior in the English department at Gahyeon University.

She entered university a year late, making her one year older than her peers.

From noble mtl dot come

It wasn’t unusual in college.

If asked why she was late,

it was because she had jumped straight into the job market after graduating from high school.

Her mother had been absent since she was young. Her father was frail and always bedridden.

The cliché in dramas that they couldn’t afford hospital bills was a cruel reality they faced.

The reason Minju-hee had been labeled a delinquent since high school boiled down to just one thing:

Her twin siblings.

Since their father was weak, Minju-hee had to be strong.

Especially at school, having a strong sister meant that her siblings could have peaceful school days.

Shabby clothes, unapplied-for free meals, an outdated cellphone, and a ragged appearance—

During their school days, there were always kids looking for reasons to dislike others. To them, Minju-hee’s younger brother and sister were tempting targets,

but behind them always loomed Minju-hee like a menacing spirit,

so no one dared touch them.

Ironically,

back then Minju-hee thought she was taking over the role of their father and overflowed with confidence—

as the strong sister instead of their frail father,

thinking that’s all it took to live on.

However,

after graduating from high school, she realized that she was nothing but a twisted woman without any real power or ability—

the world wasn’t as kind or simplistic as school where just fists could protect her siblings.

– Sister?

“Ah, yes?”

During a break at work while talking on the phone with her siblings,

Minju-hee snaps back to reality.

Why did such thoughts suddenly come?

Regardless,

Minju-hee continues her conversation with her siblings.

They too have graduated from school now.

Working in factories,

they are earning money themselves for college tuition,

just like Minju-hee once did.

And Minjuhee had started working part-time, even if it was forced, because she wanted to support the two of them as much as possible.

– Are you at work? I heard studying has been tough for you, sis.

– What? You’re still working part-time, sis? Just quit that! We’re here for you!

“Since I became a third-year student, my classes have decreased so it’s okay. The midterms just ended too so I’m doing this in my spare time.”

A smile spread across Minjuhee’s lips without her realizing it at the sound of her siblings’ concerned voices.

These kids were the driving force behind her life.

– Sis, when you have free time like this, you should just enjoy yourself. Enjoy college life.

– Yeah right. Seeing that would make us want to go to college? All we’d see is our sister stuck in a cycle of study and work.

“……”

Is that so?

Am I not motivating them enough?

Minjuhee pondered with a cigarette between her lips.

“But everyone lives like this in college.”

– Don’t lie! Don’t you have someone special?

– Right. If you had a partner, even if things are tough, they’d help keep your spirits up.

– Look at him acting all knowing just because he got a girlfriend at work!

– Hey! Your time was way worse?!

“Do I have…a boyfriend?”

What are they talking about now?

Her siblings already experienced dating?

Stunned by their revelation, Minjuhee forgot to light her cigarette and gaped until the cigarette fell from her mouth.

“Love blossoms regardless of money or circumstances.”

“He kept insisting despite seeing me like this – asking me out!”

“……”

It was always nice hearing that her siblings were doing well.

But…

“I need to get back to work now. Gotta hang up.”

For Minjuhee who could only think of one person when topics shifted towards relationships or love affairs; such subjects weren’t exactly welcome.

“Sigh.”

The three siblings were hard at work.

There was also the life insurance money from my late father.

The financial situation wasn’t as precarious as when Min Ju-hee worked at the factory, but still, a sense of unease continued to shadow her.

“Romance.”

To think she had tried to pursue romance in such circumstances.

It was absurd when you thought about it.

To develop an interest in someone after seeing them in a threesome.

Interest turned into liking, and liking into love before she even realized it.

It was an unconventional route, but that was the outcome nonetheless.

However, Min Ju-hee had put those feelings aside.

Kim Woo-jin already had many women around him and he was too busy paying attention to them.

‘Even today was the same.’

Kim Woo-jin had even refused a simple offer of coffee from her.

He was drawing a clear line between them.

They might commute together since they worked nearby, but beyond that, he made it clear he didn’t want to spend personal time together.

‘It’s bitter.’

Today, especially so, the scent of coffee at the cafe seemed unusually bitter.

Maybe that’s why?

She kept working mindlessly until time flew by,

And before she knew it, Min Ju-hee found herself walking towards Kim Woo-jin’s shop again.

Did she want to see him?

Was there something she wanted to say?

Was there a lump left in her heart?

It seemed like all three were true.

Technically they were just seniors and juniors; why did he have to draw such a firm line? She wanted to argue about it.

She wanted to tell him how much his distance hurt her.

At that moment,

The door of the shop opened,

And out stepped an elegant middle-aged woman who looked young for her age; blushing with embarrassment as she stepped outside.

“Take care on your way home!”

“Mother?”

Hearing it like that, it seemed vaguely familiar.

The important thing is.

“Huh?”

That I had locked eyes with Kim Woojin, who had stepped outside to see someone off he called ‘mother.’

A moment of silence.

What excuse should I make?

Claiming I was on my way back to the dormitory wouldn’t work; wasn’t it in the complete opposite direction of the school?

If only I had known, I would have grabbed a coffee at least.

“Ah, s-senior. Haha. It seems you were just passing by.”

Kim Woojin took a step back with an awkward laugh and was about to close the door—

Right then, let’s be honest.

A surge of frustration welled up inside me.

“No.”

Thud!

Min Joohee caught the door as it was closing and stepped inside saying,

“I came to buy something?”

It was a poor excuse but not too bad.

“…Here?”

The problem was that Kim Woojin worked in an adult store.

“Oh.”

As Min Joohee entered, her eyes fell upon the dazzling array of obscene materials.

Her face flushed as if bathed in red light at that very moment.

But having come this far, could she really give up now?

“The most…”

During her high school days when she used to beat up boys with sheer grit and fists, Min Joohee mustered her courage once again after a long time,

“What’s popular here?”