Bamboo Forest Manager

Comfortable

“This is tuna that I personally brought in and aged—”

The chef in front was saying something, but honestly, not a word was getting through to me.

Even though delicious sushi was served, I couldn’t fully enjoy it because I was so tense.

In fact, it was making me want to pay even less.

And that was the same for the others too.

They eat sushi with great effort, each watching the other’s reactions.

The emotions reflected in their eyes are anxiety, anger, and confusion.

Someone is pondering whether they should just stop eating and run away.

Another is wondering if they should just be completely honest about it.

Yet another is simply thinking to eat what’s in front of them without any thought.

“Woojin.”

At that moment, Bonggeun, sitting next to me, quietly called my name.

“Networking, right?”

“Ah.”

That’s right.

He still thought this gathering was a business meeting.

“It’s networking. You have to know how to take a break from your brain once in a while while living.”

“Seriously? I thought this was a meeting for young CEOs or something?”

“Those guys? They’re just two ordinary college students and two who are about to go to the military.”

“…….”

“Hey, don’t think of everything as business. If you do, you’ll end up not thinking at all.”

You need to know when to take a break.

With that, Bonggeun looked at me with a subtle expression and asked back.

“Then, isn’t it okay not to hang out with them? They look kind of strange at a glance.”

“They are strange, that’s true. But do you think the ones who aren’t strange can act like ordinary friends with you?”

“…….”

“Surprisingly, there aren’t many people who can act all casual in front of you while knowing exactly who you are.”

As I said this, I glanced over at the oddballs. They are indeed strange.

But that’s precisely why they can exist as equals.

Look at how they think omakase is the best they can do just because they’re the youngest son of the Wooju Group.

I can’t tell if that’s naive, foolish, or just cute.

“Do you have any friends from the reunion that you contact privately?”

“……Golf club?”

“Tsk.”

That must be a gathering with its own reasons too.

—

Among the people I met at the reunion, who could I call a friend but Bong-geun?

‘Just look at how he came right away when I called.’

He pretended otherwise, but it was clear he was lonely.

Well, that’s not the important issue right now.

“Woo-jin, what’s that over there? Isn’t it a wallet?”

Jung Chan-woo was subtly trying to place his hand on my thigh. He seemed convinced that the bulge was indeed a wallet.

I swatted his hand away and replied immediately.

“I’ll report you for s*xual harassment.”

“That’s a wallet.”

“No, it’s a d*ck, you gay.”

“I’m not gay.”

“Then why are you so interested in my d*ck?”

“…You want me to be friends with guys like this?”

Ignoring Bong-geun, who muttered in disbelief, I continued to eat the next dish that was served.

“Up top, we have lobster with cheese, herbs, and truffle—”

The chef was explaining something, but that wasn’t what mattered right now.

There’s one thing I need to be suspicious about.

‘Is it really possible that none of these guys brought a wallet?’

Surely, no one said they brought a wallet for me, but can I trust that?

‘No way, that’s a hundred percent a lie. At least two of them must have a wallet.’

Because I have a wallet too.

As the food kept coming and time passed, we would all start to suspect each other.

“Ahem, I think I need to go to the bathroom for a moment.”

As the course was nearing its end, Pyo Jin-ho quietly stood up from his seat.

“Oh, the bathroom is not outside, but inside.”

The chef kindly guided Pyo Jin-ho, who was naturally walking toward the entrance.

“Ahaha! I see? I must have been mistaken!”

Pyo Jin-ho awkwardly laughed as he entered the bathroom inside.

‘That guy’s really trying to think things through.’

He probably intended to make a run for it.

—

“Hey, how about asking to cut the course and going outside instead?”

As expected, Kang Hyun-gang.

This guy is just a genius at mischief.

“Sounds good?”

“Let’s go right away.”

“Hurry up and get out.”

Just as we were about to quietly get up from our seats, the chef shot us a sharp glance.

“There’s still some course left.”

“Excuse me? We’re done now—”

“Then shall I start with the bill?”

Everyone froze in their movements.

The chef’s intuition is extraordinary.

After seeing us talk about our wallets earlier, he must be thinking of getting the payment in advance.

“Phew, we have to finish the course, right?”

“Uh, because we’re paying.”

“We can’t leave food behind at such an expensive place.”

Resuming our seats, we calmly eat the next dishes that come out.

Byun Jin-ho rushed over with a worried expression, and upon seeing us still seated, relief washed over him.

He must have realized he made a mistake.

“Ah, hello?”

This time, Ahn Hyun-ho stood up.

“Yeah, Gyu-a. Oppa? I’m eating something delicious with the kids right now.”

As he spoke on the phone, he naturally tried to head outside.

Bzz! Bzz! Bzz!

Ahn Hyun-ho’s phone buzzed incessantly.

“How can you take another call while you’re on the line?”

Jeong Chan-woo laughed and subtly pointed to his own phone. The screen showed he was calling Ahn Hyun-ho.

“Uh, Gyu-a. No, no. Are you having a good vacation? Yeah, I’m with your boyfriend right now.”

And then I called Gyu-a, who Ahn Hyun-ho said was on the line.

“……”

Thoroughly defeated, Ahn Hyun-ho quietly sits back down.

How careless.

In the end.

With the last dessert served, the course came to a close.

As everyone flinched and glanced around, Bong-geun, who seemed lost in thought, pointed at my bag.

“But why did you bring your bag?”

In that moment, all eyes turned to my bag.

“Hey! Search the bag!”

“There’s something in there!”

Watching them now openly turn into raiders, I let out a deep sigh.

After snatching the bag and hugging it close, I stepped back.

Before I knew it, I was surrounded by them, along with Chef and Bong-geun, who were surprisingly intrigued by the scene.

“Yeah, there’s a wallet inside.”

Why is it that whenever I try to do something good, it always twists in a bad direction?

It could be said that there are many karmic debts to consider.

Anyway.

I took out the neatly wrapped boxes that had been sleeping inside my bag.

“Er…x?”

“Whoa, there’s a Bel…x too? And even Louis…x and Go…d?”

They gaped at the luxury logos engraved on the boxes.

“My dad told me to buy something from the department store yesterday.”

Yesterday.

While looking at the displayed luxury items, I suddenly thought of these.

So, I had decided to gather some designer wallets that guys like and bought them in bulk.

“So I bought one wallet for each of you as a gift.”

“……”

“……”

“……”

“……”

The four of them looked at me simultaneously.

The corners of his mouth were uneven, as if he couldn’t quite figure out how they should behave right now.

“I’ll give you three seconds.”

The moment the decision was made between A and B.

Our fools, wisely enough, had no pride or excuses whatsoever.

From noble mtl dot com

Thud!

Those who immediately knelt down frantically pulled out their wallets from their front and back pockets.

“I’ll pay today!”

“I’ll cover everything from what Hyung-nim Woo-jin had to the second and third rounds, including Hyung-nim Woo-jin’s share!”

“Actually, I can pay with my phone! Hyung-nim!”

“A designer wallet?! No problem! Just being friends with the esteemed Woo-jin is enough for me!”

Isn’t it nice if someone claps, as long as they do?

‘In the end, everyone had a wallet.’

It felt like we were playing a Mafia game where everyone was a mafia member.

It was a bit unsettling, though.

I nodded at the fools sprawled out, as if I were a saint forgiving their sins.

* * *

– How much did you drink yesterday?

“Ugh, I don’t knooow.”

The next day.

I thought I would wake up in the dorm, but I was in a hotel.

– Where are you?

“Ugh, what hotel is this?”

I glanced around at Choi Yi-seo’s question.

‘Oh, I fell asleep in the bathroom.’

The moment I realized I had dozed off crammed in the bathtub, my body started to ache everywhere.

It seemed I hadn’t been in a good position while sleeping.

– Sigh, you should drink in moderation.

“Come on, they keep buying, how can I refuse? They’re happy to keep treating me because I have a wallet.”

– Did you eat at an omakase, and then go to a bar for the second round?

I nodded slightly as I recalled the stinging memories.

“Ah, right. That’s it. It was a bar. The third place was a karaoke room.”

– You went all the way to the third place?

“I barely managed to talk them out of going to a club or a hostess bar for the fourth.”

– Those are just…

A reaction that makes me want to scold them someday.

– So, you just went to the karaoke and then went to a hotel to sleep?

“That’s true. But—”

What is it?

Why is the latter part of my memory so hazy?

There are two memories of the karaoke.

– But?

“No, it’s nothing. I feel like we did something after that.”

– …You didn’t sing with a girl or anything, did you?

“Hey, I wouldn’t—!”

Huh?

Why is there a woman in my memory?

A figure of a woman, both familiar and unfamiliar, lingers vaguely.

“……”

– Woo-jin?

I hurriedly responded to Choi Yi-seo, who called me in a sharp voice.

“Uh, Yi-seo, hold on a second. Let me gather my thoughts and call you back.”

– Where—!

I hung up the phone and sat down on the toilet. I needed to retrace what had happened.

‘No, I said absolutely not when they suggested calling a girl, didn’t I?’

I distinctly remember Han Gang and Pyo Jin-ho shouting and insisting on calling the hostesses, and I barely managed to stop them.

I’m sure I did.

‘But why is there a woman in my memory?’

It wasn’t much, but I’m certain there was a woman with long hair—!

Clunk.

“Ugh, my stomach hurts.”

At that moment, a blonde woman came in.

She was big, had a deep voice, and her Adam’s apple was prominent.

It was Bong-geun.

More precisely, it was Bong-geun dressed as a woman.

“Ah, damn it. I remember!”

The moment I saw that ridiculous sight, I slapped my forehead and exclaimed.

“What the fuck?! Why am I like this?”

Leaving Bong-geun, who was shocked at his reflection in the mirror, I stepped out of the bathroom.

In the hotel room, there were three men and one woman sprawled out.

No, to be exact, three men and one man in women’s clothing.

Maybe it was because he was good-looking, but Jeong Chan-woo really looked like a woman when he dressed up.

“I told you not to call her a woman; the loser from our bet had to dress up.”

I really have no idea whose crazy idea this was.

Anyway, I was about to relax and make another call when—

– Yoo Ah-rin –

I received a call from Ah-rin.

“Uh, Ah-rin.”

– Where are you?

“……”

Is that tone still ongoing?

Honestly, it’s quite off-putting.

“Are you going to keep that tone?”

– Yes, I’m going to be more demure from now on.

It really doesn’t suit her at all.

Maybe it was the alcohol, but I replied a bit irritably.

“Hotel.”

– ……Ho, tel?

Her response was slightly delayed, and her tone almost cracked.

‘Hmm.’

I wondered if I could use this for something related to women, but…

—

If I did that, it would be as terrifying as waxing a sleeping lion’s nose hairs, so I held back.

To put the situation simply, only then did Yoo Ah-rin’s voice sound more at ease.

– Ah, I see? Should I come out to meet you?

“Why?”

– Aren’t you having a hard time keeping your balance?

Yeah, let’s see how far this concept goes.

“Uh, come pick me up. I’ll wait.”

– …….

“Why? You said you’d come pick me up.”

– Are you really asking me to come?

“Yeah, come.”

– Are you really serious?

“Just come.”

Look at her, all flustered.

She probably didn’t think I’d actually ask her to come.

“Can’t you even do me this small favor? I’m feeling dizzy from the alcohol.”

– Ha, haha… Yes, I’ll even buy some conditioner?

“Uh, and find a good place for gukbap nearby. I want to eat on the way.”

– …….

“Why? Don’t you want to?”

– No, I’ll do it.

“Good, find a nice place. One with delicious kkakdugi. The kkakdugi has to be good.”

At that moment, the fools who were finally trying to get up. Since Ah-rin said she’d come, I had to start getting ready too.

‘Oh right, I need to contact Lee Seo-han.’

I thought I should reach out, just in case there was some weird misunderstanding.

The call still hadn’t been disconnected.

– Ah, damn it. Do I really have to keep up this act?

– Kim Woo-jin is being such a jerk. I can’t even hit him for real.

– Should I just go and smash his head with a gukbap pot as soon as I get there?

– How does Choi Yi-seo handle this!

—

—

– Damn it! Ugh! It’s so frustrating that I can’t act according to my personality!

“Cough, Ah-rin? I can hear everything.”

– …?!

There was a brief commotion on the other end of the phone, and Yoo Ah-rin cautiously picked it up again.

– Did you, um, hear everything?

“Yes, should I wear a helmet? I don’t want my head to get smashed.”

– Well, uh, hmm.

Yoo Ah-rin, who seemed to want to say something, let out a long sigh.

– If you’ve been drinking, just crawl your way home!

She abruptly hung up the phone.

“Phew.”

It feels comfortable.