Bamboo Forest Manager

Who?

“Wow, that was a close call.”

Of course, it’s not easy to hide any incident in the bustling streets of South Korea.

The hotel had CCTV and was noisy; other guests on the same floor came out, and the situation was resolved in no time.

As time passed into late night,

we were all tilting glasses at a street food stall.

“I thought I was going to die. Look at this. Goosebumps on my forearm. How could something like this happen to me?”

While Chanwoo sighed dramatically, we all cursed together.

“Bullshit. You were barely inside for 10 minutes. Just 10 minutes held up and what.”

“You’re too healthy for your own good. Did you hear what the doctor said earlier? He saw you screaming and told you to check your cavities first.”

“Should a guy really be subdued by his girlfriend? Oh please, don’t embarrass men.”

It was Ahn Hyun-ho first, then Kang Han-gang followed by me speaking in turn.

At my last remark, the other two flinched as well.

Seeing that reaction made me laugh as I corrected myself,

“Oh come on! A man can be subdued by a woman too.”

Slamming down on the makeshift table with force as I continued talking longer,

“Well Hyun-ho used to be like some tough high school gangster? Pfft—stuff happens.”

“……”

“And Han-gang here would have been fine if he just stayed put but nope—he has to go ahead offering himself up for hits.”

“……”

“Oh is that why senior dates just about any girl? Always giving away—”

“Don’t cross the line asshole.”

“It really was a masterpiece though. How did both of them end up so neatly piled there?”

Fortunately, it was for self-defense, so there were no significant aftereffects and the time knocked out was brief.

That’s why I’m here drinking like this now.

“How can you win when you’re holding a stun gun in your hand?”

“Right. No matter how well you fight barehanded, it’s no use if the other person has a weapon.”

In dramas, they just win easily.

I wanted to say more, my lips twitched as if to speak, but everyone pushed their glasses forward as if to say not to.

Cheers!

We drink with a clear clinking sound.

The doctor told me to avoid drinking while I have this half-cast on, but how can I not drink on a day like today?

“Ugh, this drink is bitter. Hey, where is Jinho? He said he’d come; why is he late?”

“That guy is always missing when you need him most.”

“Even if Jinho was here, he would’ve just piled on top of those two.”

While listening to them talk, I eat some fish cakes and then look at my phone.

I’ve already contacted the kids so there shouldn’t be any big issues; maybe it’s because I kept drinking a secret that my eyes keep darting back to my phone strangely.

“Hey Woojin. Give him some advice.”

Then An Hyunho taps me on the shoulder pointing at Jeong Chanwoo.

“He has no eye for women. How could he date someone like that?”

“Sigh, she seemed really sweet and cute normally.”

He still hasn’t snapped out of it yet.

I sigh deeply as I put my phone away again.

“Hey! Is what people show us all there is? You must have aspects you don’t show your girlfriend too.”

“Like feeling gay.”

At these words added by Senior Han Kang beside me nodding vigorously Jeong Chanwoo clenches his fist shouting,

“No! I really do like girls! The more girls I meet the more I like them!”

What an awful thing to say!

But maybe because of his face or something—he doesn’t feel completely bad—kind of like a villain from a drama series

“In my opinion,”

Senior Han Kang sighs deeply then pours me another drink saying,

“This b*stard’s the problem. This b*stard should have made things work between Yu Arin and Jeong Chanwoo.”

“Starting trouble?”

“That’s nonsense. Why bring up Arin in this?”

I was so annoyed that I wanted to splash the drink I’d followed up with right into Han Kang’s face.

“Hey! If it wasn’t for that, do you think he would’ve ended up meeting just any girl?”

“It’s experience, experience! And why is it Arin’s and my fault that he goes around like that? It’s his choice!”

While Han Kang and I were arguing back and forth about who was right.

“Ah, really. What does it matter! You said you’d teach me how to pick girls. That’s why I’m tired and came out to drink!”

Jeong Chan-woo complained about being teased.

Ahn Hyun-ho responded immediately.

“Look at the personality first! Judge by personality. That’s the most important.”

‘That guy seems to be dating Gyoo.’

I saw a photo with Gyoo on his chat profile last time.

I thought it rich coming from someone who dated a girl who considered cheating normal.

“The face.”

Next to me, Han Kang pointed at his own face and whispered as if proclaiming an immutable truth.

“A woman must be judged first by her face, then her body. Sounds trashy? But being confined by a beautiful woman is rather a reward, isn’t it?”

At those words suddenly,

I wondered what would happen if the other kids at home treated me like they were confining me.

‘Hmm, might not be too bad.’

After all, there would be reasons for those three to confine someone; there was also an absolute belief they wouldn’t harm me.

“Oh man, really…”

“You should experience it yourself then. See how scary it is.”

Ahn Hyun-ho and Jeong Chan-woo clearly did not agree with Han Kang’s words.

“Yeah, yeah right. No matter what you say confinement isn’t okay.”

I also tactfully beat around the bush indicating that shouldn’t happen either while continuing my speech,

“It’s because Chan-woo is too passive in relationships. Women like men who are proactive and assertive!”

Clutching my fist tightly as I continued my impassioned speech,

“That means being swept away or dragged along won’t do. If I act proactively in trying something in a relationship then I’ll firmly hold onto control!”

“Wow,” came murmurs from the mouths of fools.

It feels rewarding just to have imparted some wisdom about life to them.

As we clink our glasses again and drink.

“Man, I’m tired.”

The last of our fools to enter the tent bar, Pyo Jin-ho.

Jin-ho, who had just been practicing at the taekwondo studio, strides over to our table upon seeing us.

And without a greeting,

“Woo-jin, Arin says if you don’t come home soon, you’re in trouble?”

“……”

“What’s a patient doing drinking like this? She said you should come home quickly.”

“……Did I say I was drinking?”

As I ask cautiously with a trembling voice, Pyo Jin-ho glances at my leg and awkwardly nods his head.

“Yeah, I just blurted it out without thinking about your injured leg.”

“Ah shit! Why are you so clueless?!”

I abruptly stand up and leave the tent bar.

“I’m going!”

As I shout this, responses come from behind me.

“Take care. You idiot talking about taking control in love or whatever.”

“Why does that guy tell us to do things he can’t even manage himself?”

“He’s tightly controlled yet tells us not to get swept away or dragged around.”

Ah shit.

This is so embarrassing.

To hide my embarrassment, I quickly step out of the tent bar and hail a taxi right away.

It takes barely 10 minutes to reach Yoo Arin’s apartment complex.

Thanks to Yoo Arin coolly sharing her house code with me earlier on phone call ,I carefully press the numbers and enter inside.

Then Seo Ye-rin who was sitting on the sofa stands up suddenly and exclaims,

“Ladies! This guy has arrived!”

That woman…

Immediately after that Choi Yi-seo and Yoo Arin burst out from their rooms confronting me angrily,

“Are you insane?! What were you thinking letting an injured person drink!”

“What if you fall while drunk? You could seriously hurt yourself! Do you even have any sense?”

“Right, right!”

Choi Yi-seo scolding immediately and Yu Arin complaining about what’s wrong with their heads.

And behind them, Seo Ye-rin, though angry herself, cheers them on, leaving it to the experts here.

‘…….’

As someone aiming to date these three women.

Seeing them join forces for the first time was indeed moving.

‘But that means three times the nagging.’

The thought of possibly living together in the future and facing such moments every day was somewhat dizzying.

* * *

Yesterday I apologized profusely and made excuses that I had no choice but to drink because of Jung Chan-woo’s stories; thankfully, it passed somewhat peacefully.

It’s a relief I didn’t get hit since my leg is injured.

Slurp.

The living room where I had fallen asleep.

Covered with a blanket, I calmly close my eyes as sunlight streams in through the balcony window.

Slurp.

You’re here today too.

‘Always so busy.’

The kid must be tired from waking up early for movie shoots every morning.

It’s been three days now; seeing this kind of dedication every morning is really something else.

I suddenly worry about what will happen if we really end up living together or when Seo Ye-rin isn’t busy with projects anymore.

‘What to do? Just have to work hard.’

Haven’t I been exercising diligently all this while for that reason?

Slurp.

My legs are crossed and slightly uncomfortable; nonchalantly, I spread them apart to make some space.

“But Ye-rin, doesn’t doing that every morning tire you out?”

Honestly speaking, Yun-ji complained about her jaw hurting from it all before stopping abruptly in her movements.

Wondering if she would say something back at me while peering down under the blanket.

“It feels a bit awkward than usual—”

Suddenly a fruity scent fills my nose from inside the blanket.

“Argh!”

Yu Arin, gripping her lower half tightly, asked me through clenched teeth.

“Who?”

Ah.