Bamboo Forest Manager

The long and arduous midterms have ended.

Honestly, I didn’t study that hard in my first year, so I didn’t have much thought about it.

But once I started studying, there was this strange feeling of the exam period seeming both short and long.

When I told Choi Yiseo about it, she chuckled and patted my head saying, “You studied hard.”

Surprisingly, it didn’t feel bad, so I thought I’d try hard for the next exam too.

Today was the day we planned to have a drink after the exams.

But because I drank too much at the snack party, I wondered if I really needed to go drink again.

I heard it’s a gathering of familiar faces from the second year, which made me even less inclined to go.

‘Ah, it’s a hassle.’

But since everyone else is going, I feel like I shouldn’t skip out.

I have no desire to hang out with people.

Just imagining other guys hitting on the girls makes me feel terrible.

Should I go or not.

Anyway, since it’s the weekend, I have plenty of time to think until the evening.

While tossing and turning in bed, continuing to ponder.

Knock, knock.

A knock heard from outside.

Recently, the three had a tendency to just open the door without knocking.

Even Choi Yiseo.

Anyway, it means it’s not the three.

“Who is it.”

I asked with a bit of regret, and from outside came senior Ju-hee’s voice.

“It’s me, Woojin.”

“Yes! I’m coming right away!”

Quickly getting up from bed and opening the door, senior Ju-hee was dressed up as if she was going out somewhere.

Instead of the usual dragon-patterned jumper, she was wearing a white dress shirt and even a brown skirt.

“…I wondered who it was.”

I was sincere, but it seems senior Ju-hee thought I was joking, as she chuckled and moved on.

“I was wondering what you were doing on the weekend, so I came.”

“But is it okay for a girl to come to the boys’ dormitory so easily?”

“Are you the one to say that? I’ve been hearing that girls have been coming in and out of your room lately, so I came to warn you to be careful.”

“Aha.”

But is it okay for senior Ju-hee, a girl, to say that?

“Well, that’s not the only reason. Woojin, you said you were looking for a part-time job, right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Now that midterms are over, I was thinking of slowly looking for a part-time job.

“How about the café where I work? The manager seemed to like the way you worked last time.”

“The café? Hmm.”

Not bad.

There are a lot of customers, but it seems like they take good care of the staff, and the manager is considerate and mature.

Plus, senior Ju-hee is there, too.

It would be much more comfortable.

The important thing is.

“……”

I was worried about whether senior Ju-hee was okay.

Even though it was because of the game during the last MT, when I hugged senior Ju-hee.

I could be sure again.

That senior Ju-hee still liked me.

I’m sorry, but since I can’t accept that, it’s right to keep my distance.

‘Is she okay?’

Wouldn’t senior Ju-hee, being the senior she is, have managed her feelings well?

“Good…”

I tried to answer because of that.

But I was speechless when I remembered senior Ju-hee, who was exhausted from overwork and collapsed with a nosebleed.

I wasn’t sure that Senior was really okay.

Even the senior I thought was invincible was still a person and a woman.

Thinking that made me hesitate.

“Hmm, I’ll think about it.”

As for the part-time job, I’ll look into it myself and if there’s really nothing, I’ll go there as a last resort.

“Really? That’s a shame. I thought it would be fun to work together.”

After senior Ju-hee said she understood, she went straight to work.

Lying back on the bed, spending a languid and idle time.

“Should I exercise since I’m bored?”

Though I thought about it, my body didn’t actually move.

In a state of not wanting to do anything.

That’s exactly how it was now.

Surprisingly, a college student after exams is quite free.

“Should I play a game?”

But games don’t really interest me either.

“Sigh.”

I guess I’ll end up like this all day.

“So bored.”

Should I contact someone?

Usually, when I’m bored, the most fun is Yu Arin, so I try calling her.

After a few dial tones.

- What.

“What are you doing?”

- What now.

“What, why are you so curt?”

- Ah, what. Just say it quickly. I’m busy right now.

“What are you busy with?”

- Bomi broke up with her boyfriend, so everyone is hanging out with her now.

“Seo Yerin too?”

- Yeah, so it feels awkward talking to you while Bomi is around.

“Hmm, I see.”

- Are you coming to the after-exam party tonight?

“I’m not sure yet.”

- …What? Weren’t you coming? Ah, seriously Kim Woojin. If you’re not coming, let me know in advance. I won’t go either.

“Got it.”

Click.

I hung up and called Choi Yiseo this time.

Seo Yerin must be too busy comforting her friend anyway.

- Hello?

But it wasn’t Choi Yiseo who answered the phone.

“Jung Minji?”

It was Minji, who had now turned over a new leaf, that answered.

Since they live together, it wasn’t too strange.

- Kim Woojin? Yiseo is in the shower right now.

“Already? The plan is in the evening.”

- We’re going out for lunch.

“Oh, really? Then I’ll-”

- We’re having spicy soup, want to come?

“I think I’ll stay home.”

What kind of spicy soup is it.

“But isn’t Yiseo on a diet? Are you going to keep feeding her stuff like that?”

- Yiseo finished her diet ages ago. You really don’t pay attention to her.

“Did she do the photo shoot?”

- She did a while ago. She said she’d send it to you, didn’t she? Didn’t she send it?

“No.”

What, show me too.

- But are you really not going to eat with us? Yoon-ji is coming too.

“…You guys are getting along well?”

- We’re high school friends after all.

Well, that’s true.

“Alright, to Choi Yiseo-”

- Oh? Yiseo. Yes, it’s Kim Woojin.

Then I heard a conversation from the phone.

- Hello?

Soon after, Choi Yiseo’s voice came through.

“What, are you done showering?”

- Drying my hair. Why did you call?

“Just…I’m bored.”

- Sigh, don’t just stay at home, go out and walk. If you stay inside too much, you’ll get a headache.

I wonder if I shouldn’t have called her at all.

This girl nags a bit too much.

- Don’t think of it as nagging.

“Do you have some kind of mind-reading ability?”

- It’s obvious what you’re thinking.

“Then what am I thinking right now?”

Asking with a smile, Choi Yiseo sighs and grumbles.

- It would be nice if Yiseo could do a video call.

“Oh my gosh, damn?!”

How did she know?

- It’s obvious. You probably thought I was drying my hair in just underwear or covered with a towel.

“…Let’s hang up. I’m creeped out by you.”

- You’re coming out tonight, right?

“I don’t know. I’ll see.”

- Come out. Only the second-year students are coming. Even if you’re not on good terms with the first and third-years, you’re still not bad with your peers.

Takes care of everything.

“Alright. I’ll try to make it.”

- You must come. It’s boring without you.

If you say it like that, I can’t not go.

“Alright. I’m getting calls non-stop.”

- Okay, see you later.

After hanging up, I glanced at my phone.

There were five missed calls from Seo Yerin.

Bzz! Bzz! Bzz!

Another call was coming in now.

“Hello?”

- Why don’t you call me?

The voice already sounded sulky.

“I heard you’re comforting Han Bomi after she broke up with her boyfriend. But if you’re on the phone with me, how would she feel?”

- Still, you could at least give me a call. Why only care about Arin? Why? Why?

“Hey, don’t say it like that, it’s scary.”

- Heehee! Woojin, do you know you’re super cute when you get scared sometimes?

She said it like that on purpose to be intimidating.

- Are you coming tonight? Arin’s wondering about you.

“I’m planning to. Tell Yu Arin too.”

- Got it. If it’s boring, let’s sneak out together.

“……”

- I meant it in a naughty way.

“I know.”

I just want to get out of here quickly.

I feel like there’s tension building up in my lower body already.

- Oh, by the way, my mom wants to set up a meeting soon.

I feel all the strength drain from my lower body already.

“Ahem, ah, okay. I got her number, so I’ll contact her separately.”

- See you later.

I hang up and sigh.

‘What should I say when I meet Seo Yerin’s mother?’

There are problems that don’t have answers no matter how much you think about them.

This was one of those problems, so I decided not to worry about it.

‘I still have some time.’

I thought I’d just go to the PC café and play some games until it was time to head to the meeting place, so I stood up.

Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!

Another call came in.

It was a number I didn’t recognize.

“What is it, hello?”

- Senior.

Ah, it was Gyu-ah.

I didn’t save the number after exchanging it last time because I was lazy. I probably won’t save it after this call either.

“Ahem, oh Gyu-ah.”

- Do you have time today?

“Don’t fall for me.”

- Ah, damn-

“Gyu-ah, it’s your senior.”

I was joking, but isn’t that response a bit too much?

- Sorry. I just got upset without realizing it.

“Why did you call? I’m busy.”

- Aren’t you in the dorm right now?

“I told you I’m busy. I’m gonna…you know.”

- Sigh.

I was pressuring her to hang up quickly, but Gyu-ah doesn’t hang up.

- Senior, you didn’t forget what we talked about last time, right? About getting me with Hyeon-ho.

“Did I?”

- You did.

“But I think Hyeon-ho wouldn’t like you. Who likes someone who strings people along?”

- ……

“What the hell.”

- I honestly don’t understand how other seniors like you.

“I wonder how Hyeon-ho could possibly like you.”

- ……

“Sigh, the other guys are planning to drink tonight to celebrate the end of midterms.”

- Oh?

“Since it’s only for the second-years, it might be awkward for you to join. Just try to find Hyeon-ho in the middle and see him for a bit. That’s all I can do for you.”

Anyway, Gyu-ah had helped me talk to Yu Arin separately during the MT.

- Thank you, Senior!

After the call ended, I let out a deep sigh, washed up, and headed to the PC café.

- Jeong Chan-woo: Woojin, you said there’s a gathering today? I’m joining too. Actually, my girlfriend is a second-year in the English department.

- Choi Yiseo: …Yoon-ji is coming, are you okay with that?

- Seo Yerin: I heard a lot of others are coming too, so Bomi decided to join as well. Looks like we can’t go to the hotel tonight ㅠㅠ

“What’s this?”

It’s not like some Avengers Assemble or anything.

Suddenly, a message came saying everyone was gathering.