Bamboo Forest Manager

The Gap of Reality

“……”

Entering the supermarket began to somewhat conceal the subtle silence that had been between us three.

No, not three people.

More precisely, it was about the silence between those two and me.

They were still clinging close to each other, whispering about me.

‘What on earth is with them?’

Since this morning, there’s been something strange and eerie about Choi Yi-seo and Yoo A-rin’s atmosphere.

At first, I thought they were angry.

I assumed they had found out what Seo Ye-rin had done for me.

But as time passed, I realized that wasn’t it at all.

Instead, the emotions they seemed to be directing at me felt more like pity or sadness.

‘Why would they pity me?’

Because of my injured leg?

But if that was it, shouldn’t they have shown concern from the start? Now seems too late.

‘I really can’t figure out what’s going on.’

Since we’re at the supermarket anyway, I should buy some food for a few days.

Seo Ye-rin also asked for pudding; I mustn’t forget that.

I tried to pull a cart myself but Yoo A-rin intervened and stopped me.

“I’ll pull it since you’re hurt…”

It does hurt though.

Is she talking about my leg?

“Hmm.”

Accepting her awkward kindness reluctantly made me step back as Choi Yi-seo casually linked arms with me.

“Yi-seo?”

It’s rare for Choi Yi-seo to initiate physical contact first; even rarer in such crowded places.

And besides Yoo A-rin was pulling along a cart next to us.

“Why…?”

While I felt embarrassed myself, I couldn’t help but hold on, and I wore a blank expression.

Even Yoo Arin didn’t show any particular reaction to Choi Yi Seo’s behavior.

‘Sigh, I really don’t get it.’

I wondered why they were suddenly acting like this.

It was clear something was wrong, so I intended to seriously tell them not to hide it anymore. But…

“……”

Feeling Choi Yi Seo’s chest press against my arm as if wrapping around it, I decided to think differently.

‘Let’s enjoy what there is to enjoy.’

First off, enjoy everything that can be enjoyed.

It wouldn’t hurt to ask questions later.

The shopping at the supermarket proceeded normally.

“Let’s also buy some ramen.”

“We have some at home?”

“We can’t just eat everything at your place.”

There was a strange atmosphere, but the conversation wasn’t awkward.

“Oh? How about buying something like this? It’d be fun to play games together when we’re bored at home.”

“A board game? Those are only fun right after you buy them and then you never use them again.”

“Who’s going to pay for it and where will we keep it? Not at my place.”

Sometimes it feels like they aren’t as nice as you thought they were.

If Yerin were here, she would have quickly agreed with a smile and bought it immediately.

So in the end, we bought one board game because I said I’d pay for it and take it home.

Personally, I’ve always wanted us all together trying out something like this once.

“Let’s buy ham too; just grilling that would be perfect.”

“Um, that sounds good too.”

Choi Yi Seo mumbled his words while Yoo Arin sneakily moved the cart from canned goods towards seafood where she pointed out a plump eel.

“Hey let’s eat this; we need to think about our health.”

“Ah! Earlier today on YouTube I saw an eel recipe video! Let me cook that for you.”

Eels?

Yoo Arin and Choi Yi Seo began awkwardly placing eels into their cart with an unnatural tone in their voices.

Not only that, but from then on, I inadvertently felt a chill as I watched them take care of health-boosting foods.

“Are they trying to seduce me?”

Are these people trying to appeal s*xually to me?

No, isn’t it a bit much to go that far just because they’re buying nutritious food?

I thought about asking on the Bamboo Forest forum, but Yu Arin and Seo Yerin were there too.

After all, the Bamboo Forest was now a half-dead community and not particularly useful.

The grocery shopping ended leaving only questions behind.

After having a quick lunch at the food court in the mart and returning home, it was 2 PM.

An ambiguous yet ample amount of remaining time.

Sitting on the sofa and stretching out my right leg, I asked,

“Does anyone have separate plans for today?”

Choi Yi Seo, who was tidying up the groceries we bought briefly glanced at me before answering,

“I start my part-time job tomorrow so nothing special today.”

“Oh right.”

Choi Yi Seo had mentioned helping Yun Ji. Not as a fitness trainer but more like just a partner.

Po Po would be helping too; I considered visiting once but then remembered Yun Ji would be there – making things awkward.

‘Isn’t she bothered by it?’

I wonder if she’s completely moved on or how she could ask Choi Yi Seo—who is practically dating me—to help her out.

She has always been assertive; maybe that trait is showing here too.

“I’ve also planned to go practice at the dojo this evening.”

Yu Arin said she’d practice at the dojo but since it’s in the evening there wasn’t any rush.

“So everyone’s pretty free until then?”

I was about to suggest playing one of board games we bought earlier when

Yu Arin brought over chunks of banana and placed them in front of me,

“Let’s eat bananas.”

“…What?”

What did she just say?

“Let’s eat bananas,”

Usually aren’t bananas just eaten casually as snacks? She’s talking about it like it’s an actual schedule item.

“Why suddenly? I just had lunch so I’m quite full.”

Not long after having lunch at the mart, I grumbled about eating bananas again so soon.

Yu Arin peeled a banana herself and brought it to my mouth.

“Open up.”

“…”

It was an uncommon occurrence, so I went ahead and accepted it.

“Hey, why are you really doing this?”

Eventually, I couldn’t help but ask.

“Huh?”

Yu Arin looked visibly flustered.

Although she was usually good at lying, my sudden question caught her off guard.

“You and Lee Seo have been acting weird since earlier. Are you trying to be considerate of me? Or are you mad at something?”

“…”

Yu Arin pressed her lips tightly together and glanced briefly towards Choi Yi Seo.

But Choi Yi Seo had already buried her face in the refrigerator under the pretense of tidying up.

After glaring sharply at Choi Yi Seo who had cleanly cut ties, Yu Arin took a deep breath then looked at me and smiled saying,

“It’s nothing.”

The consideration in her smile made things more complicated for me in many ways.

Yet in that distant look of hers that seemed for my sake or pleading not to ask further,

“…”

I no longer felt like pressing the matter further.

I just kept my mouth shut tightly too.

* * *

“Are you cutting ties there?”

“…I don’t even know what to say myself.”

While Kim Woojin was sitting on the sofa using his phone,

Yu Arin and Choi Yi Seo went into the master bedroom to continue their conversation.

“You handled whatever it was pretty well.”

Looking at Choi Yi Seo who proudly thumbed up, Yu Arin wondered if she had always been this shameless.

It must have been quite urgent then.

“Sigh, you shouldn’t even bring up such things in conversation.”

Regarding Kim Woojin’s current condition.

Yu Arin and Choi Iseo were collaborating with each other.

They didn’t think it was erectile dysfunction per se, but it was clear that there had been a decline.

They felt a certain responsibility for his change.

That’s why they were trying various things quietly behind the scenes.

“Being unable to perform can really hurt a man’s pride. That’s why we shouldn’t casually talk about such matters.”

Choi Iseo nodded at Yu Arin’s words.

Especially at Kim Woojin’s age, mentioning impotence could be even more stressful than what he was currently experiencing.

“Bananas are said to be good for virility, so let’s just start by feeding him those indiscriminately.”

At that suggestion, Choi Iseo crossed her arms and replied,

“I’m planning on making eel and oyster pancakes for dinner. Apparently oysters are quite beneficial too.”

Sigh.

Both of them exhaled deeply at the same time.

“The truth is, s*xual desire is a natural thing. Maybe we’ve been too harsh on him.”

Choi Iseo agreed with Yu Arin’s self-reflective comment,

“Exactly. A friend told me that outright refusing intimacy could actually be seen as deceiving your partner.”

Whatever the case may be, because they love him, Kim Woojin accepts them as they are.

If they say they don’t want intimacy, he would never force it.

This resolve had led to their current situation.

Both felt responsible once again.

Yet still cautious of each other’s feelings.

Honestly speaking,

they could simply go to Kim Woojin now and find out his condition immediately by asking,

‘Since Arin is here…’

‘But a threesome might be…’

Because each had the other present, such an overt method of verification wasn’t pursued.

Meanwhile feeling responsible,

‘Sluurp.’

Kim Woojin sat on the living room sofa looking at erotic images and muttered under his breath.

“Maybe I should go to the bathroom and jerk off.”

Today, the two of them had been strangely proactive, and he felt a need to release what he had been holding back.

* * *

Dinner time.

After Yu Arin left for her taekwondo class, Choi Iseo was busily preparing dinner.

The sound of Seo Yerin washing up could be heard just after she entered the house.

“I don’t have anything to do.”

He thought it was understandable since he was sick, but sitting still didn’t make him feel any better.

“Iseo, is there anything I can help with?”

As he approached the kitchen and asked, Choi Iseo swiftly handed him a jeon (Korean pancake).

“Try this and see how it tastes.”

“You made jeon? Isn’t that a lot of work?”

“It’s not too much if you’re just making one.”

I see.

I quickly ate one of the jeon and gave her a thumbs up.

“It’s really delicious.”

“Eat a lot.”

What is this?

It feels more like mother and son than lovers.

Feeling somewhat displeased by that thought, he moved towards Choi Iseo intending some physical affection but then…

From noble mtl dot come

“…No. Let’s hold back.”

He pulled his hand back again suppressing his desires forcefully.

He needed to show Choi Iseo that he had changed.

Especially considering how angry she got last time over something involving Yu Arin.

Showing an unrestrained lower half seemed like not such a good idea here at Yu Arin’s home anyway.

In her rational mind here doing such things would absolutely be impossible.

As he turned back towards the living room feeling Choi Iseo’s gaze on him, when he looked back she continued cooking silently without saying anything.

“Isn’t there something useful I can do?”

Despite pondering over it no answer came forth; just then his phone rang so he simply sat down on the sofa to answer it.

“Hello?”

– Hearing your voice, you seem to be doing well.

I was taken aback by my older brother’s abrupt remark, but honestly, I was doing fine.

“Why did you call? To check if I’m okay?”

– That too. I called partly to check on that.

“Check? What for?”

– The reunion.

“Ah…”

It was about attending the reunion with Choi Jin-ah and the elementary school classmates.

“I don’t want to go. Plus, I have a good excuse since my leg is injured.”

Just then, Seo Ye-rin emerged from the bathroom. With wet hair and only a towel wrapped around her body, she smiled brightly as she entered the master bedroom where her belongings were.

– Sigh, I know. But just think about it at least.

“What’s there to think abou—”

I started to say but then something occurred to me.

“…Brother, if I go could you do me a favor?”

– A favor?

Maybe it’s only right that I repay these people who are going out of their way for me.

“Just some financial support for a trip maybe?”

– You’re injured and you want to travel alone?

“No, I’ll take some friends with me. It’s just a half-cast; it’ll come off soon.”

Hearing this, my older brother sighed deeply before replying,

– But they requested because of your mistake; why should I fulfill your request too?

“If you don’t want to help then forget it. Even if it kills me, I’m not going.”

– ……

“Hurry up and answer. Just changed my destination from Jeju Island to Japan.”

– You always act so confident when you shouldn’t be.

“From Japan to Guam.”

– Do you realize how different those two are?

“No clue. Just rattling off places that came into mind.”

Sending you on a trip isn’t the hard part. The condition is that you don’t go and cause trouble.

“Anyone would think I always mess up whenever I go.”

…

“What the hell.”

A curse slipped out after a brief silence.

“Of course, it’s not like I’m definitely going. I’ll discuss it with the kids first. That okay?”

– Sigh, just do whatever you want.

Click.

My older brother hung up, fed up with the conversation.

When Yoo Arin arrived later, I thought about discussing it when we were all together.

“Woojin, I’m going to run to the nearby market for a bit. We’re out of oil.”

Choi Yiseo hurriedly untied her apron and stepped outside.

As I headed to the kitchen to grab some more oyster pancakes we were making,

Clunk.

Seo Yerin came out of her room wearing only a towel still wrapped around her body.

“Why aren’t you dressed?”

“I was drying my hair.”

“…Come and eat some oyster pancakes. They’re really good.”

“Did Yiseo leave?”

“Huh? She went to buy oil—”

Whoosh.

Yerin quickly dropped her towel and shook out her hair,

Her naked form striding towards me felt like watching a model walk down a runway,

“Ever since this morning when you said you wanted me, Woojin, my excitement hasn’t stopped.”

Then she pressed herself against me tightly. My lower half that had been forcibly restrained all day began to swell instantly.

“Hey, Yiseo will be back soon.”

Even if she took long, she’d be back in 10-15 minutes at most.

I tried saying now wasn’t really the time even though I wanted it too,

“Oh well then,”

Yerin whispered as she slid her hand into my pants.

“Do we need to go a bit extreme?”

“Sigh.”

You’re done for.