Bamboo Forest Manager

School Bus

“Hey, look at this.”

“What is it? What’s going on?”

Still at the PC room.

I was getting a bit tired of gaming and was watching webtoons when Senior Han Gang called over Byung-ho, who was sitting next to him, to show him something.

“Wow, what is this?”

“It’s insane. Look at that perfect body.”

“Are you out of your mind?”

I could tell he was looking at something strange again.

It was obvious he was watching something inappropriate, but I remained as stoic as a rock.

From now on, I decided not to pay any attention to such conversations.

I could let Han Gang and Pyo Jin-ho slide. They didn’t have girlfriends, after all.

But Jeong Chan-woo and Ahn Hyun-ho? They both had girlfriends and were quick to get up and head over to Pyo Jin-ho’s spot.

‘Chan-woo didn’t seem like that kind of guy.’

His first impression was that of a cool, quiet handsome guy, so how did he end up hanging out with those fools?

‘Now that I think about it, the others are the same.’

Han Gang had been flirting with Seo Ye-rin from the start, and after a few fights, our relationship soured.

Pyo Jin-ho had already become unlikable to Yoo Ah-rin even before I met him.

And Ahn Hyun-ho?

Back in our first year, he couldn’t shake off his high school habits and would pick fights with me while I was hanging out with Choi Yi-seo.

There was even a time I mistakenly thought Anonymous287 was Ahn Hyun-ho.

‘Thinking about it this way…’

Everyone has their own story.

I can’t even remember how I became friends with these guys. I distinctly recall that none of them made a good first impression.

“Wow, this is no joke.”

“Look at that smoothness.”

“Her back view is amazing. What even—”

But wait, who are they looking at?

I couldn’t help but want to see what was making their butts wiggle.

Brring! Brring! Brring!

Just then, my phone rang at the perfect moment.

– Choi Yi-seo –

“Hello?”

– What are you up to right now?

“I? I’m at the PC bang.”

– Alone? Out of the blue?

“Not alone, but with the kids.”

– ……An Hyun-ho’s kids? You seem to get along with them pretty well.

“If you say it like that, it makes me feel weirdly bad.”

Well, even if I say that, I’m getting along fine, so I have no excuse.

“Wow, what is this?”

“Turn it over. You have to see the side profile.”

“Can a back like that really look that good?”

– ……Are you having fun?

Ah, these b*stards.

“No, I’m not watching. They’re the ones watching.”

– Hah, well. It’s not like it’s the first time you’re watching that kind of stuff. I’ve just gotten used to it now.

That’s a bit of a strange feeling, though.

Especially for me, who is just trying to become a stone Buddha, Woo-jin.

“Why did you call? Did you see the message I sent?”

– Going to the department store tonight? I saw it. But it’s okay if we don’t go.

“It’s right to go when you say you’ll send me. Opportunities like this don’t come often.”

It would be foolish not to spend money when the chance is given.

Choi I-seo lets out a sigh and hesitates.

– Uh, did your dad say anything to you separately?

Dad?

“Suddenly? Why? He hasn’t said anything separately. Did you get a message from him?”

– No, if not, then forget it. See you tonight.

Click.

The call ended abruptly.

Choi I-seo’s reaction was strange, but for now, I needed to sort out these idiots first.

“Hey! Don’t you know you shouldn’t be watching weird stuff at the PC bang?”

Even Jeong Chan-woo, a former PC bang part-timer, seemed completely absorbed, so it must be something huge.

Still, as the one holding the position of the sensible person among the five, I needed to intervene coldly in situations like this.

“Bullshit, you perverted b*stard.”

“Your head must be filled with nonsense if that’s all you can think about.”

“Ugh, what a pain.”

“……What is it?”

I’m actually taken aback by their confidence. I look over, curious about what’s going on.

“What, were you looking at cars?”

They were chattering away about the new model, comparing its rear and side views.

“Then are you going to watch adult films here?”

“With all that money, I bet he’s explored adult films in every possible way.”

“This is why having too much money can be a problem.”

Why am I getting insulted by these guys? I was about to say something in disbelief, but then—

The moment I saw the picture of a passing Porsche on the screen, all that vanished.

“Hey, I’m going to share the story of how I won a Porsche as a prize.”

And just like that, it turned into a bragging session.

* * *

Inside the car heading to the department store.

The driver who picked me up was quietly taking me to my next destination, Seo Ye-rin’s house.

“Ugh, I’m tired.”

After a long time, I played games with the kids at the PC bang, and my body feels stiff.

But it was fun.

I got to have conversations and play games that I can’t do with girls.

Especially the story about winning the Porsche was very satisfying. We even promised to all drive the Porsche to a place like Donghae to have some sashimi and soju together.

‘Of course, I don’t have a license.’

Maybe Han River or Byeojin-ho will drive?

Insurance for a Porsche must be expensive, but whoever wants to drive will figure it out.

We soon arrived in front of Seo Ye-rin’s house.

‘……What’s that?’

Seo Ye-rin was waiting, wearing a bucket hat, sunglasses, and even a mask, dressed in faded, oversized sweats and a backpack.

“Is that her, I wonder?”

The driver seemed a bit taken aback too, checking with me.

“Yes, that’s her. But why is she dressed like that…?”

Screech.

The car stopped in front of Seo Ye-rin.

She glanced around furtively, like a spy, before quickly getting into the vehicle.

“Whoa! Hello! Hi, Woo-jin!”

Seo Ye-rin greeted the driver and me, pulling off her stuffy mask.

“Why did you come like that?”

When I asked, flustered, Seo Ye-rin replied with a blank expression.

“Aren’t we not supposed to get caught?”

“So you came like that?”

“Yeah! It’s our dress code today!”

Dress code?

Could it be that everyone else is coming like this too?

Seo Ye-rin lowered her sunglasses slightly and playfully shrugged her shoulders.

“Isn’t this what you call support?”

“……”

“Wow, but this car is huge. Isn’t this the kind of thing celebrities ride in?”

“You’re a celebrity too.”

“Ah-ha.”

But I never expected to be picked up like this. Just look at how tinted the windows are, making it completely invisible from the outside.

The seats are arranged like a bus, separated from each other, and Seo Ye-rin glanced at the driver before whispering softly.

“Can we trust him?”

“……”

“What if he threatens you about our relationship?”

“They’re all trustworthy people sent by my older brother.”

“Is that so? If a situation arises where you have to sacrifice yourself for me, just refuse. Got it? I’m fine with it.”

“Isn’t that usually something I would say?”

“Hey, you never know. It could happen like this.”

Even as the car started moving, Seo Ye-rin casually sat on my thigh.

Then, cheekily, she slipped her hand inside my clothes, caressing my stomach and chest.

“You could totally be s*xually harassed by me. Just deal with it.”

“Besides you, no one would do that, ugh?! Hey! Don’t pinch me!”

“Huh, our U-zi. You really need to be cautious. You’re being too bold.”

“What’s that? Nobody else even thinks that!”

“Heh. Listen to Ma’am.”

There’s definitely an intention not to look our way intentionally due to the spacious car, and whispering might not be enough to be heard.

“Yikes.”

“Why are you picking on ‘Gi’?”

Having addressed Se-ryeol, who had been tugging on her necklace all along, with a seductive murmur, I tried to reply.

Se-ryeol, instead of stopping, leaned closer, almost enveloping my hips playfully, and let out a faint giggle that slipped down her throat to my cheek.

“Tsk.”

After planting a kiss on my cheek, she then moved to my ear, gently pinching it as she whispered.

“Huh? How would you react if someone suddenly surprises you like that?”

“Nobody does that except you!”

The teasing gesture of her hand, still lingering inside my shirt, continued, as she flirted with me.

“Ah.”

With a muffled sigh and a soft breath against my ear, she whispered, “I want to devour U-zi.”

Whirr!

“…What’s happening?”

The sudden opening of the window let in a chilly breeze, refreshing our heated atmosphere inside the car. Similar to Se-ryeol, a child donning a pair of sunglasses at night and a baseball cap was staring at us, mesmerized.

‘Ah, we’ve arrived.’

Yoo Ah-rin, who was alternating her gaze between Seo Ye-rin and me, crossed her arms and nodded her head.

“If you don’t want to die, get off.”

But Seo Ye-rin remained immovable.

“Ah-rin, hurry up and get on. Someone might see us outside.”

“Don’t do anything that shouldn’t be seen outside.”

As she tried to separate us, Seo Ye-rin wrapped her arms around my neck and wouldn’t let go.

“I don’t want to! I’m going to stay with you! No one can have Woo-jin!”

“Why is she like this?”

Yoo Ah-rin looked at me with a bewildered expression. I felt like I wanted to ask her the same thing.

Sure, we couldn’t meet while at the family home, but yesterday she wasn’t this proactive.

Yoo Ah-rin, sitting next to me, hesitated for a moment as the car started, then clapped her hands and exclaimed.

“Is it because of Oh Yoon-ji?!”

“…….”

Seeing her tightly shut mouth while clinging to me, could it be the answer?

The way she gripped my neck tightly seemed to indicate that it was indeed real.

“Why Yoon-ji? What did you guys talk about yesterday?”

“No, it’s just that Oh Yoon-ji suddenly…”

Yoo Ah-rin, who was about to say something, abruptly stopped. Then she glanced at me with an expression that clearly showed her discontent.

Within that gaze, there was a strange jealousy.

* * *

Choi I-seo opened the door of the large van that had come to pick her up.

Seo Ye-rin and Yoo Ah-rin had told her to wear a hat and sunglasses, but she had come dressed as usual without any of that.

‘Even so, wearing sunglasses at night is a bit much.’

Wouldn’t that make her look even more suspicious?

As she thought that and got into the car, what she saw was even more incomprehensible than wearing sunglasses at night.

“……What are you three doing?”

Seo Ye-rin and Yoo Ah-rin were both sitting on Kim Woo-jin’s lap.

“I-I’m going to get crushed—there’s no blood flow to my thighs.”

Kim Woo-jin, buried under a dying voice, tried to speak.

Seo Ye-rin and Yoo Ah-rin had their arms wrapped around his neck as if they would not let go.

Seo Ye-rin had her face pressed tightly against Kim Woo-jin’s, so all that could be seen was the back of her head.

“…….”

Yoo Ah-rin’s face was clearly flushed, as if she was aware of the embarrassment of her actions.

“If you’re that embarrassed, just come down.”

Choi Yi-seo said in disbelief, but the two remained stubbornly attached.

“……Hmm.”

Choi Yi-seo quietly sat down above Yoo Ah-rin and Seo Ye-rin.

“Ahhh! Choi Yi-seo!”

A dying scream echoed from the bottom, but they decided to ignore it.