Bamboo Forest Manager

51 – “Choco Dream”

“So, you’re saying you just went to play and made Wujin touch your chest to tease him?”

“Uh-huh.”

“But you didn’t actually have a relationship?”

“That’s right.”

“Huh.”

After hearing the whole situation from Yuarin, Choei-seo sighed heavily and looked at me with a perplexed expression.

“What the hell is this nonsense?”

I wanted to say something harsher, but held back. Even if I heard it myself, Yuarin’s words were unbelievable, but it was unfortunate that it was the truth.

“Surprisingly, it’s all true.”

As I answered like a magician, Choei-seo’s eyes twinkled.

It seemed like I had stimulated her properly, but I felt like I would be hit if I resisted any further, so I cleared my throat and replied.

“I didn’t believe you would, so I tried to hide it. But really, nothing else happened besides that.”

If you wanted to be precise, it was the relationship between the manager and the caretaker of the Bamboo Forest, but I couldn’t tell that to Seo Yerin.

Especially since I, created as an anonymous user with the student number Choi Iseo, had been permanently banned, even if Choi Iseo no longer had much interest in the Bamboo Forest, I couldn’t reveal that I was the manager to Seo Yerin, who was actively participating as the anonymous user, Anonymous 69.

Especially since I often had personal conversations with her under the pretext of inquiries.

Just yesterday, Anonymous 69 had asked me to recommend a porn video.

“…You’re really crazy.”

Unconsciously, I murmured, looking at Seo Yerin who blushed her face and watched her surroundings because of the incident of Yuarin touching my chest.

From Noble mtl dot com

I wondered how a person could be so different in the front and back.

Personally, the back is more enjoyable and entertaining than the front.

Anyway.

Responding to Choi Iseo, who is irritatingly persistent towards herself, Yoo Arin retorts, “Why do I have to speak about it as if I’m concerned? Are you dating her?”

Yoo Arin asks Choi Iseo directly. I prick up my ears and focus on the conversation.

“We’re not dating.”

In response to Choi Iseo’s hesitant reply, Yoo Arin smirks cunningly, as if he has caught his opponent off guard, and continues to engage in the conversation.

“Right? But why do I have to hear about this from you? You and Kim Woojin are just friends. What does it matter if he touches my heart or sleeps?.”

What Yoo Arin says is a bit unfortunate but true. Even if Yoo Arin and I were biting and clinging to each other, there would be no reason for Choi Iseo to intervene.

“I…”

I wondered if this time Yoo Arin’s audacity and actions that set her body on fire would be victorious.

“Once this term is over, I might date Woojin!”

An almost headline-worthy statement pops out of Choi Iseo’s mouth.

My face turns red, not because I’m drunk, but simply because I feel embarrassed.

“What?”

Not only Yoo Arin, but even I, the person in question, and Seo Yerin, who is watching, took some time to understand what she just said.

However, in response to our reactions, Choi Iseo boldly crosses her arms and shouts.

“We still have the festival and events to come this semester, and we have midterms too, so I won’t date anyone… You don’t know about next year.”

“Uh…”

Now Yoo Arin, who is now the stung bee, is unable to respond.

“The person I am closest to and interested in right now is Woojin, so I’m just preparing in advance!”

Choi Iseo screams while turning her face bright red.

This answer was unexpected, and Yoo Arin, who is bewildered, continues to be pushed. “So you’re trying to keep weird people away from Woojin. Are you interested in Woojin?!”

Whether this is a situation where someone gives the flesh and takes the bone.

Or maybe they give the bone and take the flesh. Honestly, from what I saw, it seemed like Choi Iseo gave the bone.

Well, anyway, thanks to the bombshell statement, I have definitely taken control of the conversation and filled it with sufficient justification.

“To her?”

Yoo Arin glares at me, responding to Choi Iseo’s question.

And then, with a frown on her face, she yells.

“Are you crazy? What’s so great about that kid?”

“What’s it to you?”

Why am I suddenly being attacked?

“Not only is he rude, but he also has a terrible personality! What do you see in a timid guy who can’t even cross the line after touching your chest?!”

“Why are you hitting me out of the blue?”

I’m suddenly being slapped, what is this situation?

In response to Yuarin’s words, Choi Iseo immediately retorts.

“Well, Jin Woo does have some odd traits…… But!”

“Some? A lot?”

Choi Iseo asks back while looking at me, but she’s not even looking in my direction.

“He also makes risky jokes. Sometimes he says strange things!”

“…… Can I go home now?”

I’m in so much pain.

“Anyway, he’s a great guy!”

After showing full confidence, she finally sticks a band-aid on me, saying that he’s a good guy.

I feel like tears are about to fall, I’m so grateful.

“Am I really that strange?”

I glance at Seo Yerin next to me and scratch my cheek while subtly nodding.

On the subject of our bamboo forest bet.

I sigh, trying to suppress the impulse to ask what she did with the AV number I recommended yesterday.

* * *

“Haah.”

There were various incidents, and on the way back home. Choi Iseo’s face was still flushed, the heat not subsiding.

“She’s gone crazy……”

Choi Iseo wanted to pick up the words she said earlier.

“I might… be able to date Jin Woo after this term ends!”

The words that came to mind again.

She had said them in order to avoid confessing to Yuarin, but now she couldn’t help but think that it was a foolish act.

“Ah-oh-oh! Choi Iseo, you’ve gone crazy! Crazy! What were you thinking when you said such things!”

She had arrived in front of her house, but due to embarrassment, Choi Iseo squatted down, unable to take another step.

I had a feeling of wanting to run away somewhere.

It was embarrassing enough to confess, but the process and the outcome were also the worst.

“Where the hell is the crazy girl who fights and confesses!”

At that time, the thought of stopping it because it felt like Yu Arin was getting closer to Kim Woojin was the strongest.

In fact, she was approaching Yu Arin in such a way that she even touched his chest.

“She says she’s not interested, but… “

What woman in the world would let a man she’s not interested in touch her chest?

“Kim Woojin has a strangely stubborn side, so there’s a chance that I might be drawn to him and end up dating him.”

Now that I think about it, there really is a possibility, and it frightened me.

“Haah.”

Honestly speaking.

Until just before she spoke, Choi Iseo hadn’t clearly defined her feelings for Kim Woojin.

It’s comfortable and we’re close, but it gets awkward if I mention being with other girls.

Through her conversation with Yu Arin, she realized that it was jealousy and couldn’t bear it.

It was a relief for Choi Iseo to have confidence in her own feelings because of the threat of Yu Arin.

“But when did it start?”

It started with the Minji incident, and then she went out with Kim Woojin multiple times and spent time together.

She developed feelings for him more than she thought.

There were no dramatic dialogues or situations like in dramas or movies.

On the other hand, it wasn’t a specific event or words that allowed her to open up her heart, but rather just liking the person himself, and it didn’t feel bad.

“Hmm.”

How should I see him from now on?

Luckily, she didn’t have any overlapping classes on Monday, so she could just let it go, but on Tuesday, she had the same class early in the morning.

It made her a little anxious and worried.

The image of Kim Woojin, who had passed by as if nothing had happened earlier, flashed in her mind, and she clenched her fist in annoyance for no reason.

If they were to meet on Tuesday.

If he walks up to her without showing any concern…?

“That time, I really thought I was going to die, Kim Woojin.”

* * *

“Yeah, listen well.”

“Be careful going in, Arin.”

After bringing So Ye-rin, who had a complicated expression, home, Yoo Arin stretched.

“Things have become strange.”

Things related to Kim Woo-jin have become a bit complicated. It is to the extent that Yoo Arin herself needs to sort things out.

“It’s because of Ye-rin approaching Kim Woo-jin.”

Not only has So Ye-rin never shown any interest in boys since high school, but she has also actually avoided them. It was the first time So Ye-rin showed interest in a guy.

It couldn’t be denied that he approached her with malicious intent to make So Ye-rin feel even a little bit of jealousy, just like others had felt toward her.

Although the beginning was negative, he had no intention of continuing that way until the end.

He had no intention of dating or anything like that with Kim Woo-jin. Anyway, if he found out that So Ye-rin was interested in him, he would choose her.

The main purpose was to make So Ye-rin jealous.

It was a small amusement and a timid revenge towards his bored university life and his friends.

“Why does this weird guy get affected by it?”

It was not So Ye-rin but Choi I-seo who got affected by Yoo Arin’s actions and ended up yelling at him.

He never expected her to confess like that, but thinking it the opposite way, he must have created some sense of urgency.

“Oh, now what should I do?”

Even if Yoo Arin didn’t step forward, Choi I-seo would approach Kim Woo-jin, and a more threatening rival has appeared, so he was curious about how So Ye-rin would respond.

“What’s so great about a person like that?”

Yoo Arin clicked his tongue while thinking about Kim Woo-jin.

Both So Ye-rin and Choi I-seo.

They are popular people in the department, so he wondered why he developed an interest in such people.

Although it wasn’t love yet, it was clear that they had some fondness for each other for the time being.

“They don’t match my style in appearance or personality. They’re not bad but don’t have any compatible friends either.”

Come to think of it, that’s true.

Why didn’t he notice that bouncy girl in the first semester?

She may be a bit eccentric, but I think she has a charm of her own…

“Hey! I’m calling you!”

At that moment.

A hand slapped Yoo Arin’s forehead. When a surprised Yoo Arin turned around, there was Kim Woo-jin, who was clearly annoyed.

“Kim Woo-jin?”

“Ugh! What the hell are you thinking, ignoring someone calling you?”

“Just….”

“What were you contemplating this time? Probably something bad.”

How did you know?

“Why are you here?”

Surely, you didn’t just leave in a huff like you did before, as if you were hurt.

“I came because I have something to say to you.”

“Something to say?”

Suddenly, out of nowhere, Kim Woo-jin starts pouring out words without any sense of tact.

“On Sundays, I usually post flood posts in the religious club. If you touch that for no reason, you’ll end up getting stung by hornets.”

“Oh, I see.”

I wondered what he was talking about, but it turns out it was about a bamboo forest.

“Timing is everything.”

Yoo Arin sighed while looking at Kim Woo-jin, who seemed oblivious to social cues.

Honestly, when her head was already in a mess like this, she didn’t want to hear about anything else.

“And if anyone insults you, just block them right away. Don’t worry about complaints because they’ll come to me anyway.”

“Uh.”

“As a moderator, you should maintain your dignity. If my subordinate like you gets manipulated, I’ll lose my authority for no reason.”

“Okay.”

“I’ll only give a one-day block, if possible. But for those who keep receiving blocks after receiving one, I’ll give them about three days.”

“Got it.”

“And don’t try to make me the victim by pretending to be innocent like you did before.”

“Got it….”

Yoo Arin turned her head in disbelief, unsure if she heard correctly. When their gazes met, Kim Woo-jin took out a Choco Mont from his jumper pocket.

“You worked hard today. Drink this.”

“….”

And from the other pocket, he took out his own Hershie’s chocolate milk.

It seems like he remembered that she used to drink Choco Mont before.

Kim Woo-jin sighed as he handed the Choco Mont to Yoo Arin.

“Don’t fight with others for no reason. They’re good kids.”

“What about me?”

Why did he ask about this?

Even though she didn’t know the reason, Yoo Arin just wanted to ask once.

“You’re a bad kid. You keep provoking others with something ambiguous.”

The answer was too obvious. The atmosphere grew even colder. Yoo Arin was tempted to throw away the Chocomong she had just received, but she resisted.

“But it seems like there’s a reason.”

She wondered what the additional remark meant.

“Seo Yerim, Jeong Chanwoo, and you. Something must have happened between the three of you in high school. And because of that, you’ve become a bit twisted.”

It was the correct answer.

However, Kim Woojin only knew that much and didn’t know the details.

“What difference does it make if there’s a reason?”

After all, she was a bad girl.

Finishing her statement, Yoo Arin asked bluntly, and Kim Woojin chuckled and responded.

“I became a bad guy because there was a reason. Then, are you saying I was originally a good guy?”

Simple.

Too simple, even. To the point where one might question if the world can be seen in such a binary manner.

“A simpleton.”

When Yoo Arin shot those words, Kim Woojin playfully laughed and drank a sip of his chocolate milk through a straw.

“You’re the complicated one.”

Watching Kim Woojin respond like that, Yoo Arin felt a bit relieved, as if her previously complicated thoughts had become slightly clearer.

Nothing had really changed, but still, it felt refreshing to have a conversation with Kim Woojin.

“Earlier, when I said I would go to your room with the kids.”

“Hmm?”

“You deliberately said let’s go. To ruin the weird atmosphere. To point the arrow at you.”

“I don’t know. I don’t remember.”

As if refusing to continue the conversation, he sucked the rest of the beverage with a slurping noise.

Although she felt a strange feeling in response to his reaction, she suddenly realized that he had been walking beside her, supporting her, even though their paths home didn’t intersect.

From Noble mtl dot com

“Hmm?”

Their routes didn’t coincide.

Yet, he was still walking beside her.

The moment she realized it, Yuarin noticed that he was seeing her off.

In that moment, she realized that a certain consideration was being given to her without a word.

“……”

Yuarin walked, sticking a straw into the chocolate mong he gave her.

There was no need to adjust her stride.

Because he had already adjusted it for her.

Chomp.

The chocolate mong was sweeter than usual.

“Oh! It’s too sweet!”

In order to prevent herself from feeling strange, Yuarin had no choice but to kick Kim Woojin’s buttocks.