Bamboo Forest Manager

“Yiseo and… Woojin?”

As Seo Yerin entered the gym and we ran into each other head-on, I raised my hand slightly and greeted her, and she did the same with a smile, but.

For some reason, her expression looked dark.

“Y-you went to uni? It was PT day.”

Choi Yiseo was trying to have a conversation from this side, and Seo Yerin accepted it.

“Yes, I didn’t specifically free any periods.”

“As expected, the seniors also said that it’s good to handle the grades in the freshman year.”

They continued to talk about things but they didn’t contain any specific topic. The forced continuation of the conversation made me feel a thirst, as if my throat was burning.

“Yah, when are we going to the café? I really feel like I’m l going to die.”

If I stayed there, I might end up drinking water from the showerhead while showering. The gym is good, but there are no paper cups placed by the water dispenser.

There was a note stating that disposable products were bad for the environment, so they couldn’t put out many.

Choi Yiseo glared at me, biting her lip as if I’d said something I shouldn’t have.

It felt like she wanted me to shut up, but Seo Yerin had an awkward laugh on her side, disrupting the flow.

“I guess you’re done with your workout, sorry for holding you up for no reason.”

“No, it’s nothing to be sorry about.”

Seo Yerin then headed for the changing room.

“Ugh! Sometimes you’re so perceptive, but at other times you’re entirely clueless too!”

Choi Yiseo slapped my shoulder and followed Seo Yerin into the changing room.

Feeling bad for being accused like that, I headed to the changing room too, but then,

“Excuse me.”

Jeong Chan-woo, who was lifting weights diligently until a moment ago, came over while wiping his sweat.

Seeing him sweat, even I could feel that it was sexy, which made it clear that he was popular.

The fact that I could feel the girls in the gym sneaking glances at him, all hinted to his popularity.

“Yes?”

It seemed like he had been keeping an eye on me, considering he approached me right after they left.

“You seem to be close with Yerin?”

“Ah, since you’re friends with Arin, you must know everything.”

Yu Arin was Seo Yerin’s high school friend, and Jeong Chan-woo was Yu Arin’s childhood friend…

It made sense for Seo Yerin and Jeong Chan-woo to be close.

“We’re in the same department.”

As I responded bluntly, he showed a subtle expression. It seemed like he wanted to ask more, but considered it rude.

‘What could it be?’

This feeling.

“Did you just find out that Seo Yerin also goes to the same gym?”

Jeong Chan-woo shook his head as I awkwardly continued to ask, noticing this as my back started to itch.

“No, it’s not that. I’ve seen her working out a few times and even greeted her.”

But I didn’t expect him to know her.

‘Ah, I don’t like his personality.’

Feeling slightly frustrated by Jeong Chan-woo, who was being cautious about the itchy part instead of scratching it, I asked him.

“Is there something you’re curious about?”

“……”

Jeong Chan-woo, not expecting me to be this open, was flustered and his gaze faltered.

Showing my dislike for beating around the bush, Jeong Chan-woo sighed and said,

“That, Arin and Yerin. Seeing you close to both of them… reminded me of the past?”

“I’m not close with Yu Arin.”

Reminded him of the past?

“I used to be quite close with the two of them. Now it’s turned awkward.”

“It doesn’t seem that way with Yu Arin though?”

Weren’t they rather friendly with each other at the PC café? Offering ramen services and even paying for her.

However, at my question, Jeong Chan-woo had a bitter smile.

“It’s because Arin is kind.”

“She is?”

I couldn’t understand how a person with a bad personality could be kind.

“Ah, anyway. I hope you treat both of them well. They’re both good ones.”

Saying this, Jeong Chan-woo turned to leave, but with irritation within, I asked,

“You like Yu Arin, don’t you?”

“……”

At my words, Jeong Chan-woo abruptly stopped moving and turned his head.

Seeing his expression, clearly flustered, I could tell I hit the mark.

But…

“I do like her but… I shouldn’t be liking her.”

I frowned at his words, which seemed to come straight out of a drama.

After only encountering sly and assertive people like Han-kang or Ahn Hyeon-ho recently, meeting someone like him felt somewhat refreshing, albeit strange.

‘Ah, this is so frustrating.’

Sorry, but I’d rather deal with Han-kang or Ahn Hyeon-ho.

“Since we’re the same age, let’s speak informally and talk. You’re so concerned and worried about Yu Arin, but what’s wrong with liking her?”

“Ah, that….”

I get that my sudden confrontation had flustered him. Sorry, but I don’t want any more stuttering on this side.

“With your looks, you could charm anyone. But you can’t? It’s because you’re passive. Do you expect Yu Arin to just come up and kiss you if you don’t say anything?”

“Wh-what?!”

“Just say it. I’ll help you. Honestly, I’ve had a crush on you since the time you gave me the ramen in the PC café. Should I help you get on with Yu Arin?”

It was just me being nosy, but it was frustrating to see such a handsome guy hesitate.

Besides, if I make a good impression here, maybe I could get some service at the PC café too.

“That, well.”

Seeing his hesitation, I held out my phone.

“If you want my help, give me your number. If not, just leave.”

Staring blankly at the phone, he hesitantly typed his phone number and handed it back to me.

“…Please help me. I want to make things work with Arin.”

At Jeong Chan-woo’s honest confession, I smiled and nodded.

---

“So I decided to help. Do you know Yu Arin well?”

After washing up, I asked Choi Yiseo while drinking coffee at a café, feeling refreshed.

I might have shown off in front of Jeong Chan-woo, but honestly, what do I know about Yu Arin?

At most, I know she enjoys movies and writing scripts.

I thought about inviting Jeong Chan-woo to join us in scriptwriting to hang out, but apart from that, I couldn’t think of much else.

Chirp.

Choi Yiseo didn’t respond either.

No, she was actually glaring at me disdainfully while sipping her coffee.

“But it’s intriguing, really. Honestly, for someone like Jeong Chan-woo, wouldn’t everyone just fall for him if he confessed?”

Slurp.

“He’s attracting all the female customers at the PC café by himself, and at the gym, everyone’s eyes are on him.”

Slurp.

“And it seems like even good-looking people have their own problems.”

Slurp.

“You might end up sucking ice through the straw. What’s with you?”

As I glanced at Choi Yiseo, who was staring at me with her straw in her mouth, I couldn’t resist and finally asked.

“What? Because of Seo Yerin? Do you think she feels left out after seeing us together?”

“……”

“Hey, even if we underestimate it, Seo Yerin probably has at least ten times more friends than us.”

Considering I have at most one or two friends.

“Do you think someone like that would feel left out? She probably can’t even focus on her workout with her phone buzzing.”

“……”

“Besides, she’s close to Jeong Chan-woo.”

Although I’m not sure if they’re still close.

“Ahh.”

In any case, she broke her silence and sighed, as if she had been contemplating something seriously but decided it wasn’t right to remain quiet.

“You know about her.”

“Uh.”

In response to Choi Yiseo’s words, I nodded, since she hadn’t said much since we left the gym.

“Are you dating Yerin?”

And the question she asked came completely out of the blue.

“What?”

It felt like I had been asked frequently if I was dating someone.

For now.

“No.”

Naturally I denied it, but she was quite insistent.

“Don’t speak like that. Look me in the eye and answer. Are you two not dating?”

“I said NO! I’ve gotten closer to her recently, but we aren’t dating.”

“……”

“Have you forgotten what happened after the CC’d in the first semester?”

I dated Oh Yoon-ji in the first semester, and broke up before the second semester, so why would I want to date another girl then?

I answered with a shocked expression, but Choi Yiseo, on the contrary, furrowed her brows and sighed.

“Ahh! No, surely… ahhhhh!”

Why is she acting like this?

Seeing Choi Yiseo like this, it seemed like this wasn’t just any other issue.

“Ah, seriously!”

Thud!

Eventually, unable to contain her frustration, Choi Yiseo kicked me in the shin under the table.

“Ouch! Why are you taking it out on me!”

As I cried out in injustice, Choi Yiseo glared at me with cold eyes.

Puah!

“It’s because of you that I am taking it out on you.”

No, why is she being like this?

Just what happened in the locker room?

---

One hour ago.

Seo Yerin hurriedly entered the gym locker room upon seeing Choi Yiseo and Kim Woojin, changing her clothes while hiding her strangely complicated feelings.

Why?

Just like when she saw the two of them at the pork cutlet restaurant last time, her heart felt constricted, and it was an odd feeling.

Was she feeling left out then?

Right, one could say it was a feeling of being left out. But then again, it wasn’t like she only hung out with those two either.

She had just been playing with other friends, so she couldn’t complain about being left out of their trip to the gym.

‘Why am I behaving like this?’

Seo Yerin felt frustrated as she retrieved her clothes, and then Choi Yiseo followed right behind.

“Ha, haha.”

An awkwardness lingered between them.

Especially since they’re women, unless they’re really close, they don’t tend to show bare skin to each other, so the awkwardness intensified further.

In an extremely awkward situation, they quickly changed their clothes.

“That, Yerin.”

Choi Yiseo managed to gather some courage, but the timing was not great; it was right when Seo Yerin was taking off her pants.

“Ah, sorry….”

“No, it’s fine. We’re all girls here.”

Trying to play it cool, Seo Yerin replied with a smile.

“……”

Why?

Choi Yiseo’s gaze was fixed on Seo Yerin.

More precisely, on Seo Yerin’s lower half.

“Uh-Yiseo?”

Despite Seo Yerin calling out in a flustered manner due to being stared at so intently,

Choi Yiseo kept staring as if enchanted, and eventually, Seo Yerin hurriedly changed her clothes.

“Ah… s-sorry.”

Finally coming to her senses, Choi Yiseo stood there.

Seo Yerin went out with an awkward smile, but she was a little displeased at what just happened.

However, Choi Yiseo stood there, speechless.

‘What?’

Because of…

‘Why?’

She had seen Seo Yerin’s body before.

‘Just how?’

And it was from a completely unexpected phone screen.

A mole on the thigh.

Two beautiful legs without any traces of flab.

And the same panty.

‘Why is there a picture of Yerin on Woojin’s phone?’

The picture of the woman with her panties showing, glimpsed on Kim Woojin’s phone at the pork cutlet restaurant –

was Seo Yerin.