Bamboo Forest Manager

Chapter 262

I Don’t Know

‘What should I do?’

I had set off with Choi Jin-ah, but I was vague about what we should actually do.

To be honest.

I didn’t enjoy rebellion; it just happened to turn into one most of the time.

Even though I disliked my father, I never acted out of a desire to deliberately cause him trouble.

‘Ah, damn. I brought her along to seem like I had a plan, but…’

As I passed through the crowd, heading deeper inside.

“Don’t tell me you have no plan?”

“You said that so confidently?!”

“Hey, it could happen!”

“That’s funny in its own way!”

Voices of two women echoed from behind me.

I stopped in my tracks and glared at them, as if to catch them out.

“Why are you following me?”

“Because we’re bored.”

“We’re curious about what you’re going to do!”

“I’m curious about how this is going to turn into chaos.”

“To be honest, we’re not really into this either!”

As soon as one spoke, a barrage of comments followed like rapid-fire.

I thought earlier, truly, what a talkative pair.

Listening to the two of them converse quietly gave me the illusion of being pushed away by a wall of words.

“By the way.”

Now was the moment to speak, as Choi Jin-ah opened her mouth.

“It feels a bit strange for me to say this… but is this okay?”

“You said you wanted to break away, didn’t you?”

“That’s true, but I didn’t want to cause trouble for others.”

“……”

“I just thought it would be better to do it alone, like smoking…”

Her voice grew smaller.

Did Choi Jin-ah look pitiful, like a small, helpless animal? The two behind her only seemed to lend strength to that notion.

“Exactly! You shouldn’t harm others!”

“Especially now, when people are so sensitive about these things.”

“Acting on personal desires without regard for others is childish!”

“Isn’t it a crime to harm others in the first place?!”

I wish someone would clean those up.

“Just a moment ago, you were clinging to me, helping another guy hit on my girlfriend? Isn’t that causing trouble? Isn’t that crossing the line?”

“……”

After silencing the two, I declared to Choi Jin-ah.

“That’s the problem.”

“Pardon?”

“By holding everything in by yourself and just trying to endure silently, that’s the issue.”

“Such a harsh thing to say.”

“Wow, you sound like a professor.”

Are those girls really not going anywhere?

Sighing deeply, I slapped my forehead in frustration.

The two behind me were indeed annoying.

But Choi Jin-ah’s passive attitude was stirring up increasingly intense emotions within me.

“Is it all over if you just indulge in being twisted alone? Ah, today was fulfilling. I’ve indulged in a worthwhile escape, so starting tomorrow, I should live as a good child who listens to Dad again. Is that how it ends?”

In the round eyes of Choi Jin-ah, it seems she is flustered by my irritable behavior.

This is who I am.

How many times have I fought even in college?

Seniors, classmates, juniors.

I’ve fought without distinction.

Since I’ve defeated them all, I can now enjoy a peaceful college life.

“I need to let him know. It should serve as a clear opportunity to show that I’m not someone who just goes along with what you say. I need to make sure my father knows.”

“Y-Yes?! I can’t do that! I-I never even thought about rebelling against my father?!”

“What? You called me without even having that much resolve?”

As I ask in disbelief, Choi Jin-ah’s gaze shakes left and right.

It seems she was planning to feel liberated all by herself in some sort of self-satisfaction.

“What’s the difference from self-pleasure?”

“Y-Yes?!”

I unintentionally let a somewhat crude remark slip out, but the response from behind is quite lively.

“Ha ha ha! Self-pleasure! Self-pleasure!”

“Oh, that’s hilarious, that oppa!”

I must look younger than I am.

“This is your chance. You want to break free from your father, right?”

“Ah…”

Choi Jin-ah, who had been staring at me with a blank expression, slowly lowers her head.

“I-I don’t know. Can I really live without my father?”

“Ha, what a funny person. Aren’t you a violinist recognized even in this world? With that, you should be able to live on your own.”

Even I, who am working part-time at an adult goods store, am managing to survive on my own somehow.

“Come on.”

A destination has been decided.

The three people hastily follow behind me as I stride forward.

The place we arrive at is the passenger ship observatory.

It’s a spot where the bustling deck party is clearly in view.

I see that people here are also moving busily, seemingly preparing for the finale fireworks.

We stand at the railing, taking in the sight of the deck.

“Look over there. What do you think when you see those people?”

“Uh, they seem busy?”

“I think the game has started.”

“Oh! I should have gone to do that instead!”

Are they really not going anywhere?

They said they were playing a game with the bracelets given out when we boarded the ferry, and it seemed like they had started that.

– First hint for the first prize! It is located in a place that is very rare globally!

Bong-geun, standing on stage with a microphone, was saying something, and the prizes seemed quite luxurious, as everyone was moving around enthusiastically.

I guess they are doing something like a treasure hunt.

“Look at that. Just look at those people sprawled out. Do you see anyone among them actually contributing?”

“Huh? What do you mean…?”

“Since their parents are behind them, they’re just fooling around. They don’t have to do anything, so they’re just getting by like that.”

“…….”

“So, they think they’re something special, right? Unlike those kinds of people, they can get by well even without their parents’ status! Those kinds of people!”

At my words, Choi Jin-a nodded blankly.

“Ah, yes.”

The other two from behind immediately chimed in.

“What are you saying?”

“That’s nonsense.”

Damn those girls.

Are they really not going anywhere?

“Hey! Are you guys not going anywhere?! Do you not understand why I said that? It’s to let you know you can be independent!”

“You need to make some sense for us to respond! That Hain-ho who fought with your brother earlier studies every day in management classes and works so hard.”

“As far as I know, he’s also preparing for his own business.”

“Really?”

What’s with these guys, why are they so diligent?

As I struggled to hide my embarrassment, Choi Jin-a cautiously raised her hand to speak.

“Uh, I’ve been financially independent for a long time too.”

So it’s not that she’s afraid to be independent because of financial issues?

‘Damn, I was thinking something strange for no reason.’

I thought it would obviously be about money, but surprisingly, it wasn’t.

Why not?

A drama where the wealthy unexpectedly go bankrupt and experience the lives of ordinary people.

I thought it would be a dilemma of that sort…

“Embarrassing.”

“If it were me, I would have dived straight into the river.”

I admit it.

My face flushed with shame.

I gripped the railing so tightly that my hand trembled, unable to calm down.

I felt like I had become some incredibly remarkable protagonist.

Not at all.

*Sigh.*

Then, let’s just.

“Shall we go drink?”

Wanting to get so drunk I’d forget everything, I casually suggested it, and in response, the two behind me cheered on behalf of Choi Jin-ah.

* * *

The deck was bustling with treasure hunting.

They were rummaging around, probably thinking they’d find something amazing, but since they weren’t touching the food areas or tables, it seemed those were the safe zones.

In other words, it was set up for those not participating to enjoy.

“They say they’re giving away an incredibly expensive foreign car as a prize?! Should we participate!”

“Ugh, no. Apparently, it’s only for alumni. The colors are determined by the glow bracelets.”

I glanced at the bracelets of the two following closely behind me.

‘Those who came as partners have yellow ones.’

Both of their bracelets and Seo Ye-rin’s were yellow.

I had green, and Choi Jin-ah had red.

‘Senior Joo-hee, who was a bodyguard, had blue, right?’

My thoughts about the glow bracelets lingered longer than expected.

We arrived at a table where we could eat and poured ourselves some drinks.

Fortunately, there was soju available.

I was glad it wasn’t just whiskey or champagne.

“Ugh! This is the taste!”

“Ah! It’s good! I need to wash this greasy stomach with something like this.”

“Alcohol is really disinfecting my body!”

“It’s getting clean!”

Ignoring the two who were loudly toasting with the soju bottle like it was a trumpet.

I grabbed a bottle for myself and poured it into my glass.

From noble mtl dot com

‘Ah! Kim Woo-jin, you fool!’

All I could think about was wanting to disinfect all the words and delusions I had just spoken.

“……”

Next to me, Choi Jin-ah was blankly staring down at the soju bottle.

Is this her first time with soju?

They probably wouldn’t let her smoke, so I doubt they’d let her drink soju either.

Maybe she’s only had some high-end, non-stimulating whiskey.

“Is this your first time with soju?”

I asked, my voice tinged with a sharp buzz, and Choi Jin-ah awkwardly nodded.

“Yes, my father said drinking this is no different from drinking industrial ethanol.”

He must have been very passionate about education.

Well, there’s no place untouched by his breath.

“That’s ignorant talk. It’s been ages since the fake news about making soju from industrial ethanol spread.”

“I know. He probably just exaggerated.”

“Ha.”

I went to the bartender and got a clear glass.

“If you’re not going to drink, at least have some water. It’s really annoying seeing you just standing there blankly.”

“……”

At my words, Choi Jin-ah pouted her lips and accepted the cup of water.

And the moment she took a sip, her eyes widened, and she pulled her mouth away from the cup.

“T-This is—!”

“It’s soju.”

As I smiled and gave a thumbs up, her expression turned to one of horror.

The fear of having done something her father told her not to.

It seems to start with the soju that slips down my throat, tightening my body intensely.

“Look at this.”

I take another sip, using the ridiculous sight of Choi Jin-ah as my snack, and laugh heartily.

“Ah, it’s nothing special. Just drink it and it’s over, right?!”

“It’s not like that…!”

“Deviation? Do you think someone wanted to deviate from the start?!”

Honestly, it feels a bit unfair.

“No, you’re treating me like some kind of major problem child, asking for help! Do you know how ridiculous that is?”

“…Are you drunk?”

What nonsense, who gets drunk after this?

“It just turned out to be a deviation! Huh?! Those suckers buy five hundred won cards for ten thousand won, how can I possibly stand that!”

“…”

“That’s just how adults see it, you know? I, I just gave those little kids a huge happiness with only ten thousand won!”

“W-well, that’s legally….”

“School meals suck! Ah, I’m screwed! Today’s stir-fried chicken! I want to eat something delicious, but let’s just have ramen! I only climbed over the wall with that thought!”

“The rules say during lunch….”

“I did what I wanted because it sucked! But in the end, I just broke the rules! If I had known, I wouldn’t have done it!”

Hmm, maybe I am a bit drunk.

As I ask myself that, it’s hard to deny it.

The reason I’m this tipsy from soju might be because Choi Jin-ah is so frustrating.

She asks for help but doesn’t plan to do anything herself; what does she want me to do?

“Just go for it! And close your eyes and say it! Damn, you didn’t know? Ah, I’m sorry!”

“That’s a crime!”

“Hahaha! That guy is drunk!”

“Who said to commit a crime? It’s a metaphor, a metaphor! I’m saying to go tell her dad that! If you’re a parent, you should be able to handle that much!”

Those guys are so annoying, chattering away next to me.

“Come over and raise your glasses, you brats!”

“Such a lack of energy!”

“Oppa! Oppa! Do you have a car?!”

What a mess.

“If you’re not going to drink, at least hold some water!”

I pour the alcohol from Choi Jin-ah’s cup with a splash.

“Just say you didn’t know! If it’s your parents, they’ll probably forgive you for that much!”

It’s clear she’s lived without any teenage angst.

What would she know about giving her parents a headache?

Choi Jin-ah still looks like she doesn’t quite get it.

Honestly, I’ve already given up.