Bamboo Forest Manager

Making Up

Early morning.

Yuarin and I had made our way to the convenience store inside the school. Since we both spent a lot yesterday, we were just making do with instant noodles for breakfast.

Slurp.

Slurp.

In the silence, only the sound of noodles being eaten could be heard. The meal was quickly finished since it was just instant noodles; our stomachs were full but there remained a lingering dissatisfaction.

I remained seated without getting up when Yuarin sighed deeply and said,

“Well, what can we do? We have to attend the first lecture together with Seo Yerin.”

“You talk about other people’s business so lightly?”

“It’s none of my business anyway?”

Look at that shrug and swagger. If she wasn’t tough enough to handle a fight herself she would have jumped right in by now.

I covered my face with my hands then squeezed my eyes shut as I complained,

“Ah, because of Yuarin… So yesterday she just went home.”

“Because of Yuarin…?”

Was it irritation?

Heat could be felt in Yuarin’s voice from across me,

“This b*stard enjoyed everything then blames me?”

“I told you from the start that I wanted to go home!”

“Just stop already! You’re disgusting hanging around until five minutes before leaving!”

“Why did you even bother doing cat cosplay! If you had those naughty thoughts since yesterday when we met, I wouldn’t have seen you!”

“You crossed the line?! So did you hate it? Was it only good for me? After enjoying everything yourself!”

“Stop it, I begged you over and over, yet you still went ahead and crammed everything in! And why did you only buy three condoms?”

“…”

“Be honest. You did that on purpose, bought just a few so we’d end up using them all!”

She’s been an absolute goddess of rhetoric since yesterday.

When I had nothing more to say and shut my mouth, Yoo Arin stamped her final point with a huff.

“Fucker, my thighs are still numb.”

“…I’m sorry.”

I did force things a bit. Maybe this was payback for the beating during the day by nightfall.

Surprisingly, we might have good chemistry.

“Ah, forget it. I have lectures from this morning anyway; just drop me off there.”

“Yes, understood.”

After quickly cleaning up what Yoo Arin and I had eaten, I turned my back to her.

“Oh God, it hurts so much.”

Yoo Arin groaned as she climbed onto my back.

“Hurry up. It’d be embarrassing if someone saw us like this.”

“Ahrin-ah, you said there’s time before your lecture starts; keep an eye on Bamboo Forest while waiting. Someone might snap a photo of this kind of thing.”

“Got it.”

With Yoo Arin on my back complaining about how hard it was to move because of me, we headed straight to her lecture hall.

It felt somewhat like a diet regimen wasn’t supposed to be like this.

If yesterday’s me indulged in excesses then today’s me has to deal with the consequences.

If yesterday’s pleasure was mine then today’s cleanup is too.

But still,

it was worth it.

“Don’t touch my butt.”

“I need to hold you securely like this.”

“I get that but stop moving your fingers around dammit.”

“It’s because I’m nervous.”

You know how when people get nervous they start fidgeting with their fingers?

It’s something like that.

…Perhaps.

* * *

It was just as I had expected.

– Anonymous454: A couple’s photo in front of the school this morning. Damn, so jealous.

Several photos of me carrying Yu Arin were posted on Bamboo Forest, but I swiftly deleted them all.

Whenever anyone wondered why they disappeared, I’d mention something about portrait rights and they’d naturally quiet down.

Posting such photos was simply a matter of ‘take it or leave it.’

I could elegantly extinguish even the smallest ember left smoldering.

“Sigh.”

Breathing deeply, I sat in the empty classroom, trembling my legs which I normally wouldn’t do.

I was sweating coldly and felt chills; I just wanted to go home, but with final exams starting next week, skipping wasn’t an option.

‘I wish Seo Yerin wouldn’t come.’

I sincerely hoped so, but my wishes were completely ignored.

Having arrived somewhat early and alone in the classroom when suddenly the next person to enter was…

“Ah, Woo Jina.”

It had to be Seo Yerin.

‘Damn.’

From noble mtl dot come

Why did she have to come so early when no one else was around?

She wasn’t usually late but wasn’t known for being extremely early either.

“Yes, Yerin! Oh wow you came!”

My voice cracked awkwardly as I tried to greet her nonchalantly as if nothing was wrong.

Naturally enough,

As Seo Yerin sat next to me, I blurted out anything that came to mind first.

“You’re early?! You came really early. There’s still some time before class starts.”

“Yeah, saw Bamboo Forest where you were carrying Arin around. So decided to get ready quickly and come over.”

Damn it,

I thought for sure that photo had been deleted,

But then again – she practically lives on Bamboo Forest; how could I forget?

No way she checked faster than both Arin and me.

Seo Yerin nonchalantly prepared for class while pulling out her writing tools and notebook.

Seo Yerin catches her breath slightly after finishing her preparations and then looks at me with a beaming smile.

Her smile is truly beautiful.

It’s no wonder she makes a living off her looks.

If only she weren’t angry, things would be perfect.

“Woo Jina, I watched a documentary yesterday with my mom and dad.”

A documentary out of the blue?

But that’s fine by me.

Let’s just go along with any topic of conversation for now.

“Wow! What kind of documentary? I secretly love those kinds. Aren’t they even more interesting during exam periods?”

“Right? I watched it without realizing how time flew. It was about the Joseon Dynasty.”

“Wow, the Joseon Dynasty is great. Civil and military officials! Kings! Secret royal inspectors! It’s just an era of romance! I love it too!”

Does this kid have a mental illness?

He’s making such a fuss over it, but what does it matter?

When angry, Seo Yerin is the scariest person to deal with.

‘Or is it Choi Isuh?’

Well, anyway.

Both are equally terrifying so there was no hesitation in diving into their eyes when speaking to them.

“Yeah, it was interesting. Especially the part about eunuchs.”

“Oh! That-!”

I tried to keep up my overly enthusiastic response but suddenly stopped talking and moving mid-sentence.

Eunuchs mean…

“My… self?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Sweat beads on my forehead.

I tried to force a smile and respond back but all I could think about repeatedly was that eunuchs are castrated men.

“It was fascinating. Apparently you couldn’t become an eunuch through surgery back then because in Joseon times you weren’t supposed to harm the body given by your parents.”

“Oh, oh wow…”

“But there were still illegal places performing such procedures. How could they endure that without anesthesia?”

Damn it; I feel like crying.

I miss my mom.

“Really, you think?”

As I reluctantly responded while holding back tears, Seo Yerin crossed her legs and flashed a chilling smile.

“People in the past endured it all. It seems endurance is possible.”

“Yes, Yerin.”

“And I’ve learned a few more fascinating facts.”

I didn’t want to know.

I wanted to cover my ears, but before I knew it, I had no choice but to listen to Seo Yerin’s explanation—her face not smiling at all.

“They don’t cut off the penis; they cut off the testicles. When castrated as children, most were unable to achieve an erection.”

Damn it, what kind of documentary provides such detailed information?

Now I felt like confronting the producers of that documentary.

Unconsciously, my head bowed towards my lower body.

It felt as if it was speaking to me.

Thanking me for making good use of it all this time.

Swiftly,

Seo Yerin grabbed my chin and forced me to look at her again.

Meeting her eyes which acted as if nothing had happened she continued explaining,

“But if you castrate an adult male, erections are still possible.”

“Is that so? That’s really fascinating…”

“Right? Fortunately.”

Why fortunately?

Biting my lip hard, I glanced stealthily towards the classroom door. Seeing no one coming to rescue me made up my mind finally:

“Yerin! I’m sorry!”

I immediately stood up and bowed deeply. It seemed there was no other way left for survival now:

“I should have been more thoughtful! Please forgive me for succumbing to temptation!”

A brief silence followed.

“Sigh…”

It ended with a long sigh from her end:

“Woojin-ah,” she said without hiding any jealousy or forcing herself not to be annoyed. “You chose this path yourself. If you can’t endure anymore eventually just choose one.”

Because I hold onto everyone, no one can leave.

Seo Yerin, who has been scolding me, sighs deeply and taps the spot where I was sitting.

“I really want to just pluck it out but…”

“Ugh.”

“I know that’s not possible. Sit down quickly and think about how you can appease my anger.”

Quietly taking my seat, I began to seriously contemplate.

How could I possibly soothe Seo Yerin’s anger?

No matter how much I thought about it, there was only one answer.

“Should we have s*x after this?”

I said this while confidently raising my thumb, but Seo Yerin glared at me as if truly annoyed.

“Woojin, do you think of me as an easy woman who only needs s*x?”

Caught in the act.

After all, she’s the one who always wants to have s*x as ‘anonymous69’.

Naturally then, isn’t it inevitable for thoughts to gravitate that way?

Though feeling somewhat unjustified, I suppressed it and tried thinking of something else.

“Hmm, can’t you give me a hint or something?”

“How would I know what will calm my anger enough to give hints?”

“…”

Damn, she’s being really difficult.

I wanted to say that but then again is there any way a man who spent a night with another woman could be forgiven?

While pondering various things without finding an answer,

“…”

Suddenly,

I reached out and touched Seo Yerin’s chest.

“…Are you joking?”

Normally she would’ve laughed off such antics but not this time. She looked at me with a cold gaze reminiscent of Choi Yi-seo’s glare.

“Sorry; I just wanted to touch big breasts since yesterday left me somewhat unsatisfied.”

It was meant as praise for experiencing a sensation that petite Yu Arin couldn’t provide,

“I’m annoyed.”

Perhaps it backfired?

It must have backfired after all.

I tried to pull my hand away, apologizing, but Seo Yerin murmured as she subtly pushed her chest forward.

“Sigh, just keep thinking about it.”

All the while trying to hide it, but I could see she was enjoying me touching her chest.

Not everything was resolved yet.

‘What? This actually works?’

It seemed like the immediate crisis had been averted for now.

“I should message Arin.”

“Wait a secooond!”

Of course, stopping Seo Yerin from starting another fire was a whole different story.