Bamboo Forest Manager

Event

“Ugh.”

Choi Jin-ah, who had finished practice with her affiliated band, stretched and turned her body this way and that.

Since there had been no outings except for practice lately, meeting other people felt refreshing after such a long time.

Carefully placing her violin into its case, she decided not to attend the band dinner, even though she had heard about it.

‘Well, if I drink, I might make a mistake again.’

She was quite shocked by Kim Woo-jin’s comment about playing the violin with raw pork belly.

She resolved to refrain from alcohol for a while.

“I’ll be going now.”

Bowing her head in greeting, the band members waved her off, wishing her to be careful.

They had been busy lately with requests from a film production company for various sound effects and BGM for an apocalypse setting, but today that was finally all done.

‘It was a project that Yerin was in.’

Thinking that she hoped it would go well, Choi Jin-ah got into the Porsche parked in the lot.

‘I never imagined I would get to drive this.’

The Porsche that Kim Woo-jin had won as a prize at a reunion. He had no license, so he just left it parked, but when he learned that Choi Jin-ah was taking taxis everywhere, he lent it to her.

I wondered where in the world someone would lend out a Porsche so easily.

But Kim Woo-jin didn’t mind at all.

‘It’s strange.’

He had been so happy when he got the Porsche. But now that he had it, he seemed indifferent, and his maintenance of it was lackluster.

From noble mtl dot com

Was it because he couldn’t drive it himself?

Anyway, thanks to that, Choi Jin-ah was benefiting by only having to pay for gas while driving around.

Gripping the handle, I press the accelerator.

The place she headed to was Kim Woo-jin’s family home, a location she could never have imagined just a few weeks ago.

Now, greetings with the security guards feel natural, and she even has a designated parking spot.

If she were to tell her past self, she would never believe it, but Choi Jin-ah was still residing at Kim Woo-jin’s family home.

‘Things have changed a lot.’

This was the most common remark she heard when she went out recently.

Today, the same band members told Choi Jin-ah that something about her seemed different.

In the past, she had felt like a noble lady or a princess, but now she seemed a bit more relaxed.

She wasn’t quite sure what that meant, nor could she explain what changes had come over her.

Still, it didn’t feel too bad, so Choi Jin-ah accepted it as a compliment.

She gets out of the car and enters the house.

She greets the staff, says hello to her younger sister-in-law, and greets her mother.

Watching everyone treat her warmly, she feels once again that the atmosphere here is quite different from her own family home.

‘Of course, my father is a bit scarier.’

However, there’s hardly any conversation, and he doesn’t pay her any mind in the first place.

Every time her father passes by, she feels like a baby dolphin quietly waiting for a massive blue whale to swim by.

“Dear parasite, come on in.”

Her relationship with Kim Woo-jin had also changed somewhat. He was eating a popsicle, seemingly indifferent, while playing a game.

And he was doing it right in front of the large TV in the living room.

Recalling what her younger sister-in-law used to do secretly at night, she could see just how reckless Kim Woo-jin was being.

“If I’m a parasite, then what are you, Woo-jin? A rice weevil? A pill bug? You never leave the house.”

“I hurt my leg, how can I go out?”

“Can’t you just crawl out? You’re a bug after all.”

“Ugh, what was that chairman’s number again?”

“Oh come on! We agreed not to talk about that!”

The mansion is spacious, and there are many people, but in any case, a man and a woman are living together.

The two of the same age were naturally becoming closer.

“…….”

“What’s wrong?”

Kim Woo-jin, half-reclined on the sofa, presses the game controller. The popsicle he’s holding looks surprisingly tempting.

“Is there one left?”

“What kind of parasite would eat a popsicle?”

“It’s hot out there, you know.”

“You’ll find it in the kitchen. Ah, why isn’t this dying already?”

With a huff, Choi Jin-ah heads to the kitchen, leaving Kim Woo-jin engrossed in his game.

The staff, having already prepared it, hand her a popsicle.

When she returns, Choi Jin-ah settles down near Kim Woo-jin and watches TV.

Honestly, she doesn’t really want to watch someone else play a game.

But with nothing else to do, she reluctantly bites into the popsicle and immerses herself in the game.

“Isn’t this the game you were playing yesterday?”

“My little brother bought it for me. He said the story is good or something.”

“……The story? What’s it about?”

“Don’t talk to me while I’m concentrating.”

What the—

Kim Woo-jin’s dismissive attitude makes her pout as she eats the popsicle, when one of the staff ladies approaches her quietly.

“That man lives in a place that looks like a trash heap. Suddenly, a girl just drops in.”

“Hmm.”

“So the man takes the girl back to his home. It seems like he’s seeing visions of an old lover.”

“Ah, thank you.”

“…….”

Kim Woo-jin glances at the lady. He had no idea everyone was watching him play.

Anyway.

With not much else to do, Choi Jin-ah probably watched Kim Woo-jin play for about 30 minutes.

“Ah, this is so frustrating! Can’t you just roll sideways there?! Why can’t you do this?!”

“You can say that so easily because you’re not the one playing! Just try it! Go on, give it a shot!”

“Let me try! This is just about memorizing the patterns, you know?!”

Irritated with Kim Woo-jin, who has been stuck on the same boss battle for 30 minutes, Choi Jin-ah grabs the gamepad.

She confidently takes on the challenge but ends up dying without accomplishing anything.

“Uh, la….”

“See! See! People who’ve never even tried it act all high and mighty!”

“Cough.”

Feeling awkward, Choi Jin-ah clears her throat and gently sets down the controller.

“Stupid game.”

“Stupid game, my foot! Ugh, you frustrating woman. Get out of the way! I’ll handle it!”

Kim Woo-jin was about to resume the game, but—

Bzzz!

At that moment, his phone buzzed. He stared at it blankly, sighed, and handed the controller to Choi Jin-ah.

“I’m going to take a call, so if you’re going to play, go ahead. If not, just save and turn it off.”

“…A call?”

“Yeah.”

“Your girlfriends?”

The plural “girlfriends” sounded odd, but it wasn’t entirely wrong.

“They’re guy friends, you know?”

“…You had friends?”

Kim Woo-jin pretended not to hear and walked away.

Choi Jin-ah, determined to challenge the boss again, was soon joined by other players.

“Looks like Miss Jin-ah is picking up on the pattern.”

“The young master just wants to fight too much.”

“Whatever it is, I’m on Jin-ah’s side.”

Encouraged by the support of her teammates, Choi Jin-ah pressed the buttons on the controller with renewed determination to defeat the boss.

* * *

Recently, I had been living in a state of anxiety.

No one was pushing me or urging me on, yet the tightening feeling in my chest was hard to shake off.

The reason was simple.

Senior Joo-hee.

The fact that, while drunk, I had committed an unforgivable act against her.

My self-loathing surged endlessly, and I felt incredibly sorry for the others.

Even though I hadn’t been able to meet them lately, only keeping in touch since I was back at my family home.

They might not know, but I wanted to apologize to them and do better.

Even if it was nothing more than a sinner’s self-satisfaction, I wanted to do it anyway.

‘Ha, if I drink again, I really won’t be human.’

I don’t know whether to hide this for the rest of my life or to just be honest about it.

But if I say this, it could all be over.

At least the three of us are somewhat accepting, but if others find out I was flirting with someone here…

The terrifying consequences are not hard to imagine.

Letting out a deep sigh, I started a chat with the guys I asked for help.

– Kim Woo-jin: Idiots assemble.

– Kim Woo-jin: Is there something a girl would like if I do it for her?

This was the message I sent earlier, and now replies are slowly coming in.

– Kang Han-gang: She’d probably like it if you break up with her.

– Ahn Hyun-ho: Should I ask my girlfriend? What does she like?

– Pyo Jin-ho: Ahn Hyun-ho, you idiot.

– Jeong Chan-woo: She seems to like anything you do for her.

Damn these guys.

Anyway, they’re no help.

While they’re so open about it, they don’t even know what to do to make a girl happy.

– Ahn Hyun-ho: Good job on the chat. I’m planning an event this time, so everyone help me out a bit.

– Kang Han-gang: Ugh.

– Ahn Hyun-ho: Senior, please help me out. I’ve helped you a lot too.

– Kang Han-gang: You?

– Ahn Hyun-ho: There’s a first-year who wants to go on a blind date, so I showed her your picture.

– Kang Han-gang: What should I do for you, Hyun-ho? But send me that girl’s picture too. If it’s on Instagram, I’ll take care of it—

– Pyo Jin-ho: Hyun-ho, what about me?

– Ahn Hyun-ho: I’ve set you up separately too. I’m different from Kim Woo-jin and Jeong Chan-woo.

– Jeong Chan-woo: Why am I included?

It seems Ahn Hyun-ho has really decided to date Kim Kyu-a.

– Kim Woo-jin: Are you really dating Kim Kyu-a?

– Ahn Hyun-ho: Yeah, we decided to. She’s got her mind set. She says she won’t even look at other guys. And it’s not Kim Kyu-a, it’s Lee Kyu-a.

– Kim Woo-jin: What are you talking about? It’s definitely Kim Kyu-a. This guy can’t even remember his girlfriend’s last name.

– Kang Han-gang: That kind of guy calls his girlfriend “honey” or “babe” and still gets their name mixed up.

—

– Jeong Chan-woo: Ah, I’ve had that happen too. I accidentally called someone by my ex’s name before. It was similar.

Let’s just change this idiot’s name to “Fool.”

– Fool: So I explained, but he kept comparing himself to my ex, and it got exhausting.

– Pyo Jin-ho: Damn, even that guy has a girlfriend.

– Kim Woo-jin: It’s because he’s that kind of guy that he has a girlfriend.

Even if he’s a fool, isn’t his face top-notch?

I wouldn’t mind if Ye-rin wanted to get it on every day.

No, is that a good thing…?

– Kim Woo-jin: It’s an event. Not bad. What kind of event are you going to do?

Anyway, I think it’d be nice to do something like an event for the kids too.

– Kang Han-gang: What event? Just take them to the department store and buy them what they want, and that’s it.

– Fool: Wow, that’s pretty effective. But it costs a lot of money.

– Kang Han-gang: Just get your allowance from your parents. They give a lot before you go to the army.

Ugh, that guy is such a fool2.

– Fool2: But why isn’t he replying?

– Kim Woo-jin: What’s Ahn Hyun-ho doing? Playing a game?

A moment later, a reply came back immediately.

– Ahn Hyun-ho: Damn it, Kim Woo-jin, you b*stard. It’s Lee Gyu-ah, isn’t it? Do you want to die?

– Kim Woo-jin: And you went to check with your girlfriend, huh? It’s your fault for mixing up her last name.

– Fool3: That’s bullshit; you made me confused. More than that, I’m asking for help because I’m going to do an event.

– Pyo Jin-ho: But you have to do the event well. Back in middle school, I did an event for my girlfriend and then we broke up.

Did Pyo Jin-ho even have a girlfriend in middle school?

– Fool2: What did you do for her?

– Pyo Jin-ho: I gathered all the kids and made them lie down in the playground, then created a bridge of bodies.

– Fool4: Like a scene from the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl, stepping on them to come to me.

– Fool: …I got stepped on in that.

– Fool2: Are you a yakuza? That’s why you’re single. Ugh, even if I enlisted with that guy, I feel like I’d get discharged first. That guy is a total loser.

– Fool3: Wow, that story was about Jin-ho hyung, huh? I’m not doing that; I’m just planning a candle event.

– Fool2: Damn, are these guys still using their phones with haptic feedback or lollipops? Woo-jin, you should stop these guys. I’m worried they’re still on Cyworld.

‘Ah, who’s talking?’

—

This is a strong river, Jeong Chan-woo.

I don’t know what it is.

But when I had my event, the first thing that came to mind was a candle.

Isn’t it classic?

“Hm.”

I subtly move to a different chat room.

Seo Ye-rin is surprisingly perceptive, so I’m scared to ask her about this.

Choi Yi-seo is probably busy with her part-time job right now.

At least Yu Ah-rin likes to playfully ask, so I quickly send a message.

– Kim Woo-jin: How about a candle event?

The reply came back quickly.

– Yu Ah-rin: Sounds good.

“Hmm?”

What? The reaction is better than I expected?

Do women really like this kind of thing?

– Yu Ah-rin: You just can’t do it to me. Who are you planning to do it for? Ye-rin? Yi-seo? Jeong will just drop dead.

– Kim Woo-jin: …….

– Yu Ah-rin: If you ever do it to me, it won’t be an event venue, but a demon summoning place for sacrificial offerings.

– Yu Ah-rin: By the way, the sacrificial offering is you, and the demon is me.

I guess I have to fold.

I go back to the group chat with the idiots and tell them.

– Kim Woo-jin: I think a candle event would be good? Hyun-ho, I support you.

– Idiot 2: Are you serious?

– Idiot 3: Right? It looks okay.

– Idiot: Hmm, I find it a bit strange.

– Idiot 4: No, isn’t it important for the event to be sincere?

“Ah, who the hell is who.”

I’m so confused.

Annoyed, I just put my phone away.

I let out a deep sigh, wondering if there’s anyone I can ask for advice.

“…….”

Choi Jin-ah, who was focused on the game, caught my eye.

Wait a minute.

Someone who knows a woman’s heart well and can pull off events like this so brilliantly?!

“Ah, why did I miss this?”

I called Bong-geun.