Bamboo Forest Manager

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Surprisingly not bad at all.

That’s what crossed my mind during that time.

We had lunch, stopped by a café for coffee, and even tried out some games at an arcade she’d never been to before.

Every action of Jin-ah’s overflowed with consideration so natural that you wouldn’t notice unless you looked closely.

All these gestures of care came together into elegance itself.

Her appearance was beautiful, and her character noble.

“Look at this; my hands are bound to get calluses.”

We stopped by a park while walking.

Choi Jin-ah extended her finger towards me as she sat on the bench.

The calluses embedded in her fingers, befitting a violinist, indirectly conveyed to me how hard she had worked.

“I see.”

Elementary school classmates.

We were the same age, had spent the same time together, but at some point, she had become a famous violinist.

From noble mtl dot come

And I was just an ordinary college student.

“You’ve worked hard.”

Normally, this might lead me into self-loathing about what I’ve been doing all this time. But I wasn’t that type of person.

Choi Jin-ah stared intently at me as I responded and then gently smiled.

“Not particularly interested?”

“…”

How did she know?

Yes, honestly speaking, not really interested.

Jin-ah is a good person—kind and also charming.

Undeniably beautiful.

But I wasn’t interested.

“Um, Woo-jin, do you perhaps not like me?”

That’s quite direct to ask.

Was she always like this even when we were young?

Maybe not; otherwise, I would surely remember it.

Receiving Jin-ah’s gaze that pleaded for an honest answer, I took a deep breath and carefully chose my words while deliberating further so as not to upset her—

“There are actually people that I like.”

Nonsense!

How could one say they have someone else they like during a blind date without upsetting the other person?

Let’s accept what needs accepting.

It was very easy to make smooth-talking excuses and even easier to deceive.

He did not want to diminish the significance of his actions in that manner.

“Ms. Jin-ah is a very attractive woman. So much so, I wonder how I didn’t notice it when we were in elementary school.”

A prodigious violinist recognized by the public.

A childhood friend who had harbored feelings for me since we were young.

A refined and dignified woman, as if she had stepped right out of a painting in an art gallery.

Undoubtedly, she was a woman whose charm stood firm against anyone else’s.

Yet there wasn’t even a slight shake in my emotions from our brief encounter.

On the contrary, it was the opposite.

I wanted to see her again.

Even with Choi Jin-ah adorned with various accolades before me, I wanted to hear Seo Ye-rin giggling and cracking saucy jokes,

I wanted to see Choi Yi-seo grumbling as she tried to coax me into exercising,

And I wanted to counter Yu A-rin’s playful insults thrown at me for no reason.

“People you like…?”

“It might sound strange, but yes. I like several women and therefore have no intention of dating anyone. In fact, this arranged meeting was forced upon me by my father.”

Rising abruptly from the bench where I sat, I stood before her.

“I’m sorry, Ms. Jin-ah.”

With that said, I bowed my head sincerely in apology,

Thinking that perhaps she might slap my cheek,

“Huh.”

A laugh leaked out slightly.

As I slowly raised my head, there was Choi Jin-ah covering her mouth with both hands barely holding back laughter,

Tears welled up around her eyes – perhaps because she felt hurt because of me?

“Pffft!”

That wasn’t it at all.

“Oh gosh—really! Sorry—hahaha!”

Eventually,

Choi Jin-ah burst into laughter while covering her face with both hands and quickly bowing down.

Watching her giggle uncontrollably stirred complex feelings within me.

‘What’s going on?’

Scratching my cheek while pondering over the current situation.

“Ah, ow! My stomach hurts. Ah, it really hurts!”

Choi Jin-ah was trying to calm herself by taking deep breaths. She looked around, wondering if this could be some kind of hidden camera prank.

‘There doesn’t seem to be anything.’

Nothing special was there.

Although people were walking around in the park, it was so spacious that no one stood out.

Some recognized Choi Jin-ah and took photos, but that was all.

“Ah, I haven’t laughed like this in a long time.”

Wiping the tears from her eyes, Choi Jin-ah finally straightened up with an expression quite different from before.

The daughter of a wealthy family and a violinist who once exuded elegance seemed to have let go of everything; her shoulders relaxed.

Her legs that were primly together now spread out freely.

Not that she had lost all her inherent dignity and turned into a wild child overnight or anything like that.

Anyway,

She did look more at ease than before—that much was true.

“Do you know why I liked you back in elementary school?”

“I wouldn’t know.”

I didn’t even know you existed; how would I?

“It was really fun being with you. You introduced me to experiences I couldn’t even imagine.”

“Did you trick me?”

“Who would trick me?”

That’s true too.

“You’ve always been like that, Woo-jin. That’s why at some point I started following you with my eyes… And…”

Suppressing the laughter rising in her throat, Ms. Jin-ah smiled like a child.

“You’re still living like that now.”

“Ah.”

I remembered.

Seeing her smile brought it all back.

“My dear Jjin-a.”

As soon as I mentioned the nickname I used for her back then, Choi Jin-ah’s lips curved into a bright smile.

“Yes, Woo-jin.”

“That’s right! Jjin-a! You always fell for whatever I did and generously played along—I loved calling you my dear Jjin-a!”

“Right.”

“…It wasn’t as good a nickname as I thought. Let’s just pretend I didn’t remember it.”

I suggested we cough awkwardly and change the subject.

“Do as you like, Woojin.”

Look at him just accepting that too.

“Cough, I’m sorry for no reason.”

“No, no. I’m happy that you remembered. It’s not a joke; those times were some of the happiest moments for me.”

If he says being caught in a trap was fun, what am I supposed to respond?

Well, anyway.

Since it’s a blind date and he knows I’m not interested, shouldn’t we just call it off? Just as I was about to broach the subject,

“What kind of person are they?”

Jina still seemed interested in me and asked with a smile.

Maybe her face had become much more relaxed than before which made it easier to answer.

“No, who are they?”

After her question made me sit back down, I slowly opened my mouth.

“They’re friends from college, from the same department.”

* * *

Despite being scolded by her mother for sitting upside down on the sofa at her age, Yuarin had no intention of correcting her posture.

“I’m fine.”

Lying on the sofa with her hair touching the ground as if she were doing a handstand,

“I’m fiiine.”

Looking at her phone while humming might seem leisurely at first glance,

But toe-twitching or anxiously flicking back and forth through the same screen on her phone showed she was actually quite anxious.

“I’m really fiiine.”

Despite it being late into the night, not a single message from the wealthy young man she met for matchmaking earlier today,

She said he went out for lunch but now enough time had passed that even if he’d gone out for dinner afterward and then dessert at some hotel wouldn’t be surprising either.

“Fucking fine!”

“Yuarin!”

“…Sorry mom.”

Roused by her mother’s commanding shout, Yoo Arin quickly went into the room.

“Surely not, right?”

No matter how much Kim Woojin tends to think and act with his lower half, it couldn’t be that bad.

“Did he contact the others?”

Maybe he reached out separately to Choi Iseo or Seo Yerin?

Lying flat on her bed, she kicked at the blankets as if swimming and aimlessly browsed through an online community forum.

She wondered if Kim Woojin might be managing it but found that the forum was just as usual.

Except for one thing:

– Anonymous69: I want to have s*x.

– Anonymous69: I want to have s*x.

– Anonymous69: I want to have s*x.

– Anonymous69: I want to have s*x.

↳ Anonymous11: When are we going to permanently ban this guy?

It must mean our Miss Yerin is plastering this all over like she’s going through withdrawal symptoms.

“He hasn’t contacted her either.”

Feeling somewhat relieved, Yoo Arin let out a deep sigh.

What if he contacted Choi Iseo?

Now another worry started creeping in.

“He can’t even make a move on Choi Iseo.”

Although it was her role to rein in such a reckless person, there were often times when Yoo Arin disliked doing so.

Just then—

Wooong! Wooong! Wooong!

– Ownership 33.3% –

Speak of the devil and he shall appear; Choi Iseo called her up.

“Ahem, ahem. Hello?”

She cleared her throat once and answered nonchalantly as if nothing was amiss.

“So, Arin. What are you up to?”

His voice cautious as though probing,

But from that alone, his intentions were already clear to Yoo Arin.

“Ugh, I haven’t heard from him either.”

– I see…

Was that a sigh of relief or worry? His tone was ambiguous in many ways.

“Forget it, don’t worry too much. Although Kim Woojin is easily shaken, he surprisingly knows his boundaries.”

– True.

“Doesn’t the fact that he told us he’s going to a matchmaking meeting mean that he has no intention of doing anything with that woman?”

– That’s also true.

While talking, Yoo Arin realized she wasn’t really speaking to Choi Iseo but rather to herself.

She deliberately listed various reasons trying to convince herself not to worry.

In truth, she felt similar emotions as Choi Iseo did.

“Hey, why do we even have to like this guy so much? Don’t you ever think about that?”

– …You’re right.

Perhaps because they shared the same feelings?

With a slight smile on their lips, they continued their conversation.

Most of it was about Kim Woojin and mostly comprised insults towards him; there was no denying it.

But still,

– To feel this way means we really do like him a lot.

At Choi Iseo’s gentle words, Yoo Arin clicked her tongue bitterly. It was hard for her to deny she had thought the same thing.

“It’s just fun being with him.”

There were reasons behind these feelings but how could anyone maintain those initial emotions unchanged?

As time passes, even feelings dull.

But perhaps relationships continue because new memories keep piling up over those dulled emotions.

– Right. And honestly… hanging out with you guys is fun too.

“Us? You mean Yerin and me?”

– Yeah. Oh should I call Yerin too?

“She’s currently spamming Bamboo Forest though. Or should we take this chance to drink? Let’s go hunting and make Kim Woojin cry bloody tears.”

– Heh, sounds good.

“I’ll call Yerin too. Know any good places for drinks?”

– Want anything specific?

“Not really.”

“Alright. Let’s just grab a quick drink at a bar. I’ll pick the place, so come over.”

The call ended.

Choi Yiseo, having organized numerous gatherings, was well-versed in the local hangouts.

“Maybe I should call Yerin who’s busy dealing with some drama in the bamboo grove…”

Just as she was about to make the call:

Vroom! Vroom! Vroom!

– Crazy Beauty –

“Oh, I was just about to call you—”

– Arinahh! I just sent you a link! Check it out now!

“Hmm?”

Due to the urgency, Yu Arin switched to speakerphone and clicked on the link that Seo Yerin had just sent.

It led to the social media of a famous violinist.

She had recently appeared on a variety show that Yu Arin had also watched.

What mattered was that her latest post featured a familiar man’s face.

A park-like setting.

Two people sitting together on a bench taking a selfie.

And below were hashtags:

“#Schoolmate, #DearWoojin, #DearJjinah, #FatefulMeeting…”

– Shopbabtoobiduba! Toobidubaaa!

Seo Yerin cried out something amidst sobs,

But Yu Arin felt as if she’d been struck on the head and could only stare blankly at their photo.