Bamboo Forest Manager

4 – 4. Let’s Eat

After finishing the meal and having coffee at a café.

Kim Woo-jin went to a PC room, while So Ye-rin and Choi Yi-seo were still at the café, continuing their conversation.

Although they weren’t particularly close friends, both of them were not lacking in social skills.

Especially, So Ye-rin’s lively and friendly way of speaking was pleasing to the reserved Choi Yi-seo.

“Woo-jin seems really interesting.”

Woo-jin.

Seeing So Ye-rin comfortably calling her that already, Choi Yi-seo chuckles and nudges her.

“Yeah, to miss a chance to have coffee with you and go to a PC room instead.”

“Oh? Oh? No, it’s not like that…”

(Note: Bap refers to Korean food, specifically cooked rice)

Yerin knows well about her popularity and appearance, even when she says it like that.

Yet, she remains humble.

“It’s okay, Yerin.”

Choi Iseo responded, seeing Yerin unsure of what to do, with her lips on the mug, jokingly saying it was a joke.

“Just trying it out.”

“Yes….”

Her pouting expression is cute. Choi Iseo also had confidence in herself, but it was a different feeling compared to Yerin.

She herself envied this cozy atmosphere.

“Oh! Iseo, can you tell me more about PT? How should I wear a mask?”

“You’re really interested? Taking a photo for Buff?”

“I…don’t know about Buff, but I want to try it. Lately, I haven’t been confident with my body.”

Huh?

“You’re not confident?”

What is she talking about?

She has a body that looks well-maintained. It’s surprising that she’s not even exercising properly and maintaining such a body.

“Someone said that. It’s nothing, really….”

“No, who said that? Wasn’t it something they blurted out? Does it make sense?”

Choi Iseo expressing her resentment as if it were her own affairs. It’s not pleasant to disrespect others’ bodies, but within that, she just wanted to insult Yerin and made some excuse.

“hahahaha, just. I said it in passing. That person later said it was nothing. I was unnecessarily concerned, that’s all.”

“Sigh, there are so many strange people lately.”

Choi Iseo sighs, shaking her head.

It was surprising to hear that there was someone who said such things to Yerin, but also that this child would eventually receive insults from someone.

“Just ignore those people. It’s clearly jealousy. But if you really want to get PT, I can talk to my trainer teacher. They teach systematically and really well….”

The two of them were becoming close naturally.

* * *

“Ugh, did I screw up the schedule….”

The Tuesday schedule, with five-hour lectures from someone punching a hole in her chest, has finally come to an end.

Although the morning lecture ended at 12 o’clock, there was another lecture scheduled for 5 pm.

She was in a delicate state since she broke up with her ex-girlfriend, Oh Yoonji, at the time of registration, and even wanted to quickly go back to the past me to hit her hard.

I didn’t like being confined to school for five hours, even though I spent time playing games or managing the bamboo forest at the PC bang.

“I should have just gone to my own place and taken a nap.”

Thinking that it would have been better, I looked at the sunset scenery and wondered what to eat for dinner tonight.

On the way home.

Since there was a river, there were many joggers because the walking path was well laid out.

“I should try exercising too.”

Now that I think about it, it’s been a while since I’ve exercised. It’s not like I have to invest a lot of time in exercise, maybe just one or two hours a day, considering that I have to manage the bamboo forest.

“Ah, since it came to mind, why not give it a try?”

I took out my phone and thought about buying some decent running shoes. After all, doesn’t everything start with the equipment?

But my finger instinctively pressed the bamboo forest app. I accidentally pressed it without even realizing it because I check it so often.

Most of the posts on the bamboo forest were the same as usual.

– Anonymous79: Did someone leave their wallet in the nursing room 110 today? I left it with the student council. Please come and get it.

– Anonymous46: Is there anyone who wants to spend just one lonely day together? If we get along, one night stands are possible too.

↳ Anonymous66: Me! Me! Me!

↳ Anonymous34: Let’s go to a karaoke and have a drink. I’ll pay for today.

↳ Anonymous69: Is s*x possible?

↳ Anonymous46 (author): I’m a guy.

↳ Anonymous66: f*ck.

↳ Anonymous34: f*ck.

↳ Anonymous69: f*ck, don’t post these kind of comments.

↳ Anonymous46 (author): Let’s drink together, guys.

– Anonymous12: I’m hungry. Any dinner recommendations?

– Anonymous69: I want to have s*x!

Although there were various posts, since there were few people using the community at this time, there were not many separate responses.

Of course, there was a situation where Nam Jung-ne’s flock together like flies to provoke, but that’s not the point.

But there is one person that catches my eye.

“You’re back again.”

Anonymous69.

Since the block was released, I thought that they would have posted something, but it’s ridiculous that they are pretending to be a guy and secretly lurking there. Isn’t it time to have dinner with friends or prepare to go out for a drink?

It seems like if it’s Seo Yerin, the guys would send a text to drink together every day.

“Well, there seems to be no need to manage separately.”

Fundamentally, it is a laissez-faire bulletin board.

Those kinds of posts are just overlooked.

Now, I turn on the search bar to purchase running shoes again. As the screen lights up for a moment, a familiar face jumps out.

It’s Choi Iseo, wearing a tight-fitting blue jersey instead of the purple hoodie I saw today.

It suits his navy short hair, but I wondered why he always wore sportswear whenever we met.

He seems to be jogging with earphones on.

“Annoying.”

I just pretend not to see and return my gaze to the screen, and Choi Iseo passes by without bothering to talk to me.

“Hey.”

I thought to myself.

Certainly, she passed by, but a few seconds later, she called me. When I turned my head slightly, she had her hand on her waist and made a subtle expression.

“Why didn’t you say hello.”

“You didn’t either.”

Choi Iseo takes off his earphones and pouts.

“I thought you would.”

“I thought you would too.”

We have a parallel conversation.

It’s true that we didn’t greet each other no matter what. Eventually, Choi Iseo raised his hand and awkwardly said, “Hello.”

“Yeah, hello.”

“Is the lecture over now? It seems like you had a lot of lectures today.”

From Noble mtl dot com

“I had two.”

“You took the 9 o’clock lecture with me, right?”

“Yeah, after that, I had another lecture at 5 o’clock.”

“…Huh.”

Although he seems to be trying to hold back, I saw Choi Iseo’s mouth slightly curling up.

“Oh, I see. It’ll be nice. Since you have a lot of free time, you can just relax and take it easy.”

“Why are you rubbing salt on my wound?”

Is this what they call comforting.

“Take care of yourself.”

He sighed and waved his hand. But it seemed that the running shoes that were in his hand caught his attention.

“Are you going to buy running shoes?”

Choi Iseo asked curiously.

I furrowed my brow and answered.

“You don’t exercise?”

“This is the finish line.”

“….I’m considering quitting.”

What can I say when he ran all the way here. Let’s just give a vague answer and immediately check the smartwatch on my wrist.

“Have you eaten?”

Out of nowhere.

“No….”

“Then let’s have dinner together. I’ll recommend a good place for running shoes. Have you ever worked out before?”

“No….”

“Then there’s a brand that’s good for beginners.”

Honestly.

Now it’s starting to get suspicious. Choi Iseo, who I observed from a step behind, gets along well with close friends but is quite selective with people.

And there was also a sense of coldness, but it was strange for her, who I hadn’t even had a few conversations with, to talk like this and suggest having dinner.

“What happened with Yoonji last semester?”

“She’s a friend from Yoonji High School.”

The words I said during today’s lecture come to mind. It feels strange, but I think the kindness I’m seeing now is simply because she sees me as a good person.

“Now I’m curious.”

Curiosity is something I can’t control, and I was curious about the relationship between Choi Iseo and Oh Yoonji.

I reached out to her with a clenched fist.

“Huh?”

I responded to the puzzled expression on Choi Iseo’s face with a solemn tone.

“I said let’s have dinner. Rock-paper-scissors.”

The moment I realized that rock-paper-scissors was the way to decide the menu.

“Hmm.”

Choi Iseo’s expression changed with utmost seriousness.

* * *

“This place has delicious cheese tonkatsu.”

“Shut up.”

Choi Iseo, sitting across from me, glared at me with irritation as she looked at the tonkatsu restaurant menu.

“Ugh, all the exercise today is going to waste.”

“You probably didn’t do enough today.”

“I’m annoyed. I thought you were really going to throw a punch this time.”

“I don’t think about those things when I’m paying.”

Choi Iseo, sighing at my response, scans through the menu. She seems surprised by the variety of choices.

“There’s also yurin-gi. Should we go for that?”

“I’d prefer that over anything else.”

It’s fried chicken, but it comes with lettuce, onions, and soy sauce seasoning.

Honestly, I consider it more like a luxurious salad.

“I think I’ll have the cheese tonkatsu set.”

Pork for lunch, tonkatsu for dinner.

Today is a day for indulging in food.

After proudly asserting that I can eat like this tomorrow as well, I place an order with the waiter and pour water.

Most places near the university are like this, where customers usually have to get their own water and side dishes.

It’s a compromise of lowering prices while giving up on some services.

As I pour water, Choi Iseo brings her phone to my face.

It was an online shopping mall with a lineup of running shoes.

“Choose from these. Since you said brand doesn’t matter, let’s figure out your preferred design.”

‘She’s more serious than I thought.’

Could she possibly be considering me as her workout partner?

I’ve heard that people who exercise generally like having someone to work out with.

With a skeptical mind, I flip through the screen half-heartedly.

“Yiseo?”

A bewildered voice directed towards our table.

It feels like the same situation happened before. Back then, it was at a cafe, and Choi Iseo was with me then as well.

“An Hyun-ho?”

Seemingly out of nowhere, An Hyun-ho from the Department of English Literature stood in front of our table.

He furrowed his brows, glancing back and forth between me and Choi Yi-seo.

“What are you guys doing?”

“Uh? Well….”

Choi Yi-seo, taken aback by An Hyun-ho’s sudden voice, tried to say something, but I interjected.

“Eating.”

If it’s not eating, why would we come here.

An Hyun-ho, glaring at me for my sharp retort, responded with a sour tone.