Bamboo Forest Manager

The First Night

It was nice that Yoo Arin came out to meet them.

Although the plan to surprise her had failed, that in itself turned out to be quite good too.

Stopping by a convenience store before heading home to eat ice cream together was also nice.

For meals, they decided they would casually grab breakfast tomorrow at a bakery or a simple diner and then go grocery shopping at a large supermarket for lunch.

Surprisingly, as they talked about one thing after another time flew by quickly.

And soon we were able to arrive home.

“Ugh, I feel grimy. I need to shower quickly.”

Yoo Arin who had sweated from Taekwondo swiftly claimed the bathroom first.

Well, she is also the homeowner after all.

This apartment has two bathrooms so there’s one left over.

“Who wants to shower first?”

As I asked this question Seo Yerin and Choi Yiseo both glanced around cautiously; it seemed they were eager since it was getting late.

Normally this would call for rock-paper-scissors but,

“To be honest with you. It only takes me 10 minutes.”

I laid out my logic somewhat confidently,

“But you guys usually take at least 30 minutes right? Wouldn’t it make sense for me to go first?”

“What does timing have anything do with deciding order?”

However, Choi Yi-seo immediately shot down my idea. It seemed she had realized that the two things were actually not related at all.

“Hmm, how about I shower with Woo-jin? Wouldn’t that save a lot more time?”

Seo Ye-rin came up with a suggestion typical of her quirky self.

I quickly jumped on board.

“Oh, that sounds good? I’ve hurt my leg and need to put on a waterproof cover, so it might be inconvenient to shower alone.”

“Right? I should help out, shouldn’t I?”

As Seo Ye-rin nodded vigorously making her case, Choi Yi-seo responded with a subtle expression.

“Just make sure no strange noises come from the shower while you’re staying here.”

“…You should know how to shower by yourself too, Woo-jina.”

Seo Ye-rin quickly stepped back.

“Honestly, even two hours wouldn’t be enough if we went in together.”

As I said this laughing, Seo Ye-rin covered her mouth and blushed deeply.

Apparently disliking the sight of it, Choi Yi-seo crossed her arms and gestured towards the bathroom with her chin.

“Woo-jin goes first. Then Yerin can go after. I’ll go last.”

With that resolution in mind as they backed off; I went inside to take my shower.

I put the waterproof cover over my right leg and turned on the shower only to find…

“What’s this?”

The water pressure was poor and it was cold. Although there were times in summer when one might take a cold shower; now wasn’t really one of those times…

Just then,

“Hey! You’re supposed to be washing!”

A scream akin to desperation came from outside the door.

Thump thump thump!

Then something approached the bathroom; opening what was intentionally left unlocked.

Yu Arin stood there wrapped in a towel glaring at me fiercely,

“What on earth?!”

Startled without realizing it myself covered my chest,

“Why are you covering your chest?”

Choi Yi-seo muttered incredulously from behind but that wasn’t really the issue here.

“Hey! You’re supposed to wash! Wash after me! The water isn’t coming out!”

“Oh… Is that what it is?”

“Apartment life is just like that! Ugh, I was shocked when suddenly the water turned cold while I was showering.”

Anyway, Yoo Arin, who complained as if she didn’t know the ways of the world like some rich young master, just left.

* * *

There wasn’t much discussion about where and how everyone would sleep.

Yoo Arin in her own room.

Choi Yi Seo and Seo Ye Rin in the master bedroom.

Me in the living room.

The two seemed uncomfortable about sleeping in the master bedroom, but Yoo Arin coolly offered it to them saying it was fine by her.

She mentioned that since the bed there was big, it would be perfect for both of them to sleep together.

On the other hand, I had to either lay a blanket down in the living room or sleep on the couch.

“Is this how you treat a patient?”

I remember being invited over under pretense of needing care because of my injured leg.

If they were going to make me sleep on the floor anyway, I might as well have gone back to my dormitory.

“We can’t exactly sleep together.”

Yoo Arin replied without even entering her room yet; she was still watching TV in the living room.

The others were also watching a drama; Choi Yi Seo watched intently as Seo Ye Rin briefly explained what had happened earlier since he hadn’t seen it before. His expression showed he found it quite interesting.

“We could just sleep together. It’s not like we haven’t done that before.”

As I muttered this while staring at ceiling under my blanket, Yoo Arin made a disgusted face.

“I know you wouldn’t want to anyway.”

“……”

True enough.

I probably wouldn’t be able to sleep well with anyone lying next to me regardless of who it was.

“So you’re telling me that woman is actually that man’s daughter?”

“Yes, so now she’s deceiving him for revenge.”

“That’s crazy…”

Listening to Seo Ye Rin’s explanation and glancing over at Choi Yi Seo engrossed in drama made me sigh deeply.

Yeah, being here all together isn’t so bad after all.

From noble mtl dot come

I thought things might turn awkward but even if they don’t—it’s alright.

I turn over and curl up into my blanket closing my eyes.

Although the kids were watching a drama, I was already tired and soon fell asleep.

* * *

Chew, slurp.

Summer vacation had just begun, and I had planned to enjoy sleeping in late. But a strange pleasure gently woke me up.

My lower half felt damp.

I remembered something similar from the past—first semester of first grade.

Yoonji had taken drastic measures to wake me up when I was asleep.

Could that be why?

Once experienced, a person might panic, but by the second time, one must adapt—it’s in our nature after all.

I deliberately spread my legs to make it easier for the person working below me.

A moment later,

Seo Yerin emerged from under the blanket with an odd yet satisfied smile on her face as she giggled softly.

“You’re doing well, Yerin…”

Since we started living together with Seo Yerin, I thought such things might happen eventually.

But I never imagined she would do this right from the first day.

“I’m starting to get the hang of it.”

Glancing at the time—it was still 6 AM.

Much earlier than when I usually woke up for school. Yet Seo Yerin was already prepared to go out.

She tidied her tousled hair using a full-length mirror in a corner of the living room.

Still lying down, I looked at Seo Yerin and asked,

“Are you leaving already?”

“Yeah. They said they’re filming all morning today. So I need to leave early. My manager is already waiting outside.”

The manager is a woman—that’s reassuring.

“Then maybe we should have bought some bread yesterday so you could have breakfast before leaving.”

“No need; I’m full.”

“…”

“Woojin gave me too much last night.”

Smiling slightly while rubbing her stomach,

As she stood there contentedly touching her belly—I sighed deeply feeling somewhat distressed.

“If you weren’t leaving now.”

“Huh?”

“I wouldn’t have held back otherwise.”

As she grumbled with disappointment, Seo Yerin responded with a bright smile, seemingly delighted.

“Maybe you should be a bit more explicit.”

“I really want to sleep with Seo Yerin.”

“Hehehe.”

I didn’t expect her to be so pleased.

Having finished fixing her hair, Seo Yerin headed straight for the entrance.

“Going to the store today, need me to buy anything?”

“Um, pudding? I feel like having some pudding.”

“Got it, I’ll pick up some pudding.”

“Yeah! I’ll be back soon!”

With those cheerful words, Seo Yerin stepped outside.

Staring blankly at the door afterward, I muttered to myself that it felt strangely like we were newlyweds.

Perhaps Seo Yerin felt the same way; maybe that’s why she said what she did.

“Oh wow, it’s clean.”

Pulling up my pants to check inside.

Worried there might be some residue or splashes but seeing everything was clean laid my head back on the pillow.

“Need to sleep… a bit more.”

It’s still only 6 AM.

Reflecting on how stimulating the start of the day had been,

I decided to sleep just a little longer.

* * *

About 30 minutes after Kim Woojin fell asleep again,

Yoo Arin came out of her room in a drowsy state and looked around with an odd expression on her face.

Her mind was foggy for a moment but then she quickly remembered that starting today Kim Woojin and other kids would be staying over at their house and briskly walked towards the bathroom.

Until yesterday she hadn’t thought much about it but waking up this morning brought slight worries about Kim Woojin.

What if he sees me when I’m not fully put together?

Although he had seen her bare-faced several times while they were living in dorms and he never seemed to mind much.

From the start, none of the three were particularly keen on makeup.

“Ah, this is unexpectedly a bit troubling.”

Staying at home seemed to require maintaining a certain alertness, which could surprisingly turn into stress.

When I entered the living room, Choi Eseo was drinking water.

Perhaps she had been thinking along similar lines.

Despite having just woken up, her tidy appearance made it clear she had taken care of herself right away.

“Good morning.”

After drinking her water, Choi Eseo poured another cup and offered it.

“Good morning. Did you wake up early?”

Yu Arin took the cup and sipped the water as they casually continued their conversation about how they slept and whether Seo Yerin had gone to work among other things.

The conversation was more relaxed and familiar than awkward; in fact, familiarity felt more strange for them both since they were treating each other with unexpected ease.

“What shall we have for breakfast?”

“Probably rice over bread. You know he likes rice.”

It seemed best to head towards a nearby diner or soup restaurant.

“Oh, I’m hungry. Let’s just wake him up now.”

Having decided where to eat, Yu Arin didn’t hesitate and started towards Kim Woojin’s room.

“Just a moment,” hesitated Choi Eseo.

Yu Arin glanced back at her curiously when Choi Eseo avoided eye contact and said,

“Well, it’s better not to disturb Woojin in the morning.”

“Why?”

“I heard that men always… well… stand in the morning… Not that I wanted to know.”

Before Yu Arin could ask what she meant by that comment she realized,

“Oh! Because you shouldn’t raise…?”

Choi Eseo nodded affirmatively with a nod,

“Yeah! Morning wood is something I know about too. It’s supposed to be healthy.”

Since he tends to get erections all the time anyway; naturally he would have one in the morning too.

Despite feeling odd from early in the day Yu Arin went ahead and pulled back his blanket.

“Hey, wake up!”

“Ugh.”

While Kim Woojin was rubbing his eyes, groaning in the midst of waking from sleep.

Choi Iseo and Yoo Arin.

Their gazes were incredulously fixed on the lower half of Kim Woojin’s body.

“Ah, what time is it?”

“…”

“…”

The pants were thin enough to reveal everything when standing.

Even though it was morning, Kim Woojin’s lower half remained embarrassingly limp.

Unable to hastily conclude the bizarre situation, both ignored Kim Woojin’s question about the time and just stared at each other.