Bamboo Forest Manager

Incident

“…It hurts.”

Still at the PC cafe.

Thankfully the part-timer intervened when it got too noisy; otherwise, I might have been beaten up and carried out of here.

“It hurts so much, Seoya.”

“Shut up.”

“Yes.”

At Seo’s command, I immediately shut my mouth. She has been in a foul mood for a while now, just scrolling up and down on the homepage of a search engine continuously.

‘I shouldn’t provoke her.’

Provoking her further might really set her off. It would be better to give her some space for now.

Glancing over at Yuarin discreetly; she was watching a movie she had put on.

She had ordered some grilled squid and was chewing away on it already.

Feeling my gaze on her, she glanced over then without looking again tore off a leg of the squid and offered it to me.

“Yum.”

I popped it into my mouth right away.

Yuarin has always liked movies after all.

With not much else to do in the PC cafe, watching movies seemed like an obvious choice.

The food here is delivered immediately upon ordering which makes this place even better than a cinema in some ways for watching films.

This time I cautiously stand up to check behind me.

Seoyerin was huddled over in her chair under a blanket by now watching webtoons alone—expertly enjoying herself with even beverages ordered just for herself.

‘Surely they aren’t adult webtoons?’

I was worried just in case, but it wasn’t that.

“It’s a male-oriented harem webtoon…”

I don’t know why this girl is watching a webtoon aimed at males, but she seems focused, so I won’t disturb her.

Returning to my seat, I casually opened up the anonymous forum Bamboo Forest.

I didn’t really feel like playing games, and Bamboo Forest was the best way to kill time.

– Anonymous313: Honestly worried about Popo coming back next semester. There’s this really handsome sophomore in our department; I think they might end up dating.

↳ Anonymous305: Then I’d probably cry.

↳ Anonymous332: Ah, that guy has been changing girlfriends a lot recently. Wish we could tell Popo about this.

↳ Anonymous345: A sophomore like him probably wouldn’t even notice someone like Popo.

“That’s about Chanwoo.”

As far as I know, Jeong Chanwoo also uses Bamboo Forest.

What was his number again?

He’s in the engineering department so it must be in the 300s somewhere…

– Anonymous321: That guy currently has a girlfriend. And maybe Popo isn’t interested in dating guys either?

↳ Anonymous111: Yep, not me!

↳ Anonymous301: ?!?!?!?

↳ Anonymous305: It’s Popo! Popo is watching!

↳ Anonymous303: Turn on the broadcast!

“Huh.”

Popo actually showed up.

From what I experienced during the last incident, broadcasters surprisingly have plenty of time on their hands.

They’re quite free when it comes to commuting and especially can set their own broadcasting times which highlights that aspect even more.

If successful, it seems like one of the best jobs for enjoying leisure activities.

-Anonymous90:I wanna have s*x so bad!!!

-Anonymous407:Areyou still wasting your life on Bamboo Forest? Can’t you live a more constructive life? All you do is hide behind anonymity and trash talk others

↳Anonymous29:Persistence pays off.

-Anonymous124 Someone stole my bike from the bicycle storage area. Damn it really.

-Anonymous452 They released new items at Heartbeat Burger recently.The burgers there always drip all over when eating which is annoying.

↳Anonymous177:FML,I went there with a guy I’m seeing,and ended up looking like an absolute mess with sauce all over my face.

-Anonymous398:I actually saw someone peeing in the gym shower.It was shocking.And when he changed clothes

↳ Anonymous192: What major?

↳ Anonymous30: It’s always these types who ruin the school’s image.

– Anonymous152: Today was my 100th day with my girlfriend, but we fought. Honestly, it was my fault, but it sucked how she just cursed me out for everything wrong, so I cursed back at her too.

↳ Anonymous243: What did you fight about?

↳ Anonymous95: Serves you right!

↳ Anonymous430: This is why I don’t date women.

↳ Anonymous152 (author): Isn’t it absurd that the gift I gave to a female friend from my department was more expensive than the 100-day anniversary gift for my girlfriend? I bought an Hermès bag for the friend and just grabbed something from Nike at the supermarket in a hurry for my girlfriend. But it was urgent. I even sweated getting it.

↳ Anonymous185: ? Was it your female friend’s birthday or something?

↳ Anonymous222: The price difference is quite severe though.

↳ Anonymous152 (author): It was just a casual gift. Just trying to maintain good relations.

↳ Anon11: F*cking die already, asshole.

↳ Anon92: And this guy has a girlfriend too?

Anonymous185:

He really lacks manners; why would you even buy such things for your female friend unnecessarily?

-Anonymous152(author):

I didn’t give it to her. She felt uncomfortable and returned it.

“Hahaha! This guy is hilarious.”

Can’t believe such people exist.

I thought he could have given the Hermès bag to his girlfriend instead.

But he said he returned that as well.

As I watched with amusement, Choi Yiseo, who usually keeps to herself, peeked over curiously at my screen.

Since she now knows that I’m an admin anyway, there’s no need to hide anything.

“What are you doing?”

“Yiseo, look at this.”

I immediately showed Yiseo what anonymous152 had posted about his baffling behavior.

Thinking Yiseo would be shocked,

“He seems like a nice person.”

Surprisingly, Choi Yiseo responded generously.

“A nice person? How can you say that when he’s so clueless?”

From what I saw if his friend liked receiving an Hermès and things were fine she would have switched right away.

Isn’t that obvious?

“At least he isn’t openly trying to j

“Ahem, should I read something else?”

Once I think that, Anonymous152 doesn’t seem like such a bad person anymore.

“No, but I have the means!”

From noble mtl dot come

I was about to move on to another post but then I respond back to Choi Yiseo.

“If you want, I can buy you as many ErXs bags as you want! With my dad’s money!”

“Weren’t you just talking about becoming independent?”

“If you want, I’d even crawl between your legs while licking my dad’s shoes.”

“Haah, should this be called dedication or stupidity?”

“He’s an idiot.”

Yoo Arin chimes in from beside me while we were watching a movie.

“Hmm?”

After reading Anonymous152’s post she tilts her head and then reaches out to tap Seo Yerin’s chair lightly.

“Hey, hey. Isn’t that you?”

“Huh? What is?”

Now Seo Yerin joins in too.

Eventually everyone ends up looking at my screen.

“Ah, right. That’s me.”

Seo Yerin points at the post by Anonymous152 on the screen and says,

“That guy… what was his name? Donggyu from our department. He gave me an ErXs bag but I said I didn’t need it. It was quite unexpected.”

Seo Yerin nods as if remembering the incident.

Until now Anonymous152 just seemed foolishly innocent but now it kind of makes me angry.

“Huh, so a guy with a girlfriend was hitting on you? Tell me right away if something like this happens again.”

As I say this annoyed and warningly both Choi Yiseo and Yoo Arin stare straight at me.

“A guy who asks three people out despite having no girlfriend has no place saying that?”

“The epitome of hypocrisy. This guy is just full of it.”

“……”

I’m left speechless indeed.

“I still like such Woojini though. If everyone else hates it leave; I’ll take it!”

Seo Yerin immediately reassures me with a smile

Thanks to her my heart feels much lighter.

However, the attack was directed straight at Seo Yerin.

“You’re only saying that because she insists on dating all three of us!”

“Yerin, snap out of it! How long are you going to live in a fantasy? Is that even logically possible?”

Don’t be swayed by the attacks from Choi Iseo and Yu Arin!

I was about to help her out when,

“But aren’t we all on a date together right now?”

Seo Yerin asked, genuinely confused.

In an instant, the other two also glanced around. As Yerin had said, thinking about it, weren’t we indeed just hanging out together?

“…I’m going home.”

“Ugh, what is this? I feel like I’ve been bewitched.”

Choi Iseo hastily got up as if he had unwittingly become involved while Yu Arin slapped her own cheek instead of mine as if to come back to her senses.

“Kim Woojin really knows how to play the game?”

“Why does he use his brain only in these situations?”

“It’s so unfair. Weren’t you the ones who wanted to learn about gaming?”

They were the ones who suggested hanging out at the PC room; why blame me?

Anyway, it seemed like our gathering at the PC room was winding down so I was about to get up too when—

Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!

My phone started ringing.

Instantly all three pairs of eyes turned towards my phone.

Feeling somewhat awkward but having nothing really to hide, I casually grabbed my phone.

Under their interrogative gazes, I checked who it was and spoke comfortably,

“It’s Mom.”

The atmosphere lightened a bit then.

‘More than anything else, this kind of situation is kind of scary.’

Thinking how creepy it would be if we actually dated as three people made me shiver as I answered the call,

“Hello? What’s up?”

– Woojin dear, where are you?

“At a PC room near college.”

Worried she might have come looking for me without notice again,

– Ahh got nothing else planned? Then don’t hang around there like a loner; come home.

“…Mom, do you even know what ‘assa’ means when you use it?”

– Huh? I heard from Wooni that kids like you are called ‘assa’. I need to stay trendy too.

Seriously, little brother…

“You’re using words that don’t even suit your age. Why are you suddenly calling me?”

– Wooni’s wife is pregnant. We’re gathering as a family and they want you to come too.

“Ah.”

– If you have a girlfriend now, invite her over separately. Or it’s fine if all three of you come.

“Forget it, why bring all three.”

While on the phone, the three people staring at me subtly pull out hand mirrors from their pockets.

I couldn’t tell where they got them from but watching them primp was somewhat amusing.

– Anyway. Leave right away. Should I send a car?

It would be convenient if a car came.

“Forget it, I’ll just take the bus.”

Accepting small favors now might lead to unnecessary comments when needing bigger ones later on.

After hanging up the phone, I look at the three of them.

“I’m going to visit my parents’ house. Alone.”

I emphasized the last word on purpose,

but none of the others thought about following me home anyway.

Since I rode my bike here initially planning to leave with it before catching a bus,

“What? Where did my bike go?!”

My expensive bike had vanished leaving only one wheel behind without notice.