Bamboo Forest Manager

"Yerin, the pork cutlet is getting cold!"

Seo Yerin, who just came out of the bathroom, hurriedly rushed to her table.

Her face flushed red, she sat down but didn't eat more than a few pieces of the pork cutlet, and just stared at her phone.

'Why isn't there a response?'

She thought she would at least get a reply, but why is the admin not even responding?

'C-could it be… did he remove it?'

Thinking of this made Seo Yerin's body tingle. Somehow, she felt a strange sense of achievement from the idea that she had stimulated a man's sexual desire.

Forcing her gaze to the pork cutlet and eating, she then heard her friends talking.

"But, Woojin and Yiseo left quickly, didn't they? It seemed like they ordered something similar to us."

"She must have eaten quickly because she didn't want to stay long."

"Yah, do you know Yiseo? Still, she is one who keeps up manners with the department people."

"Because she's the representative?"

While listening to the ramblings, Seo Yerin also poked her head out. And they two indeed had vanished from there.

'...'

Once the two had vanished, she felt somewhat relieved and comfortable. At the same time, she coldly began to ponder why she felt anxious moments ago.

She had unwittingly relieved her stress to the admin, stress that had surged from within.

But then, talking to the Admin ended up stressing her out again, making her annoyed and then leading her to take those risque pictures at a restaurant.

Though there was no direct response from the Admin.

"Yerin, you have a class with Woojin and Yiseo right? It must be tough."

"Right. Tomorrow…"

Yes, tomorrow.

After 9 a.m. class last week, where they ate pork belly together.

'Ah, was that why?'

Wouldn't she, being stuck in the middle as a friend, feel awkward if Kim Woojin had confessed to Choi Yiseo?

Especially since Kim Woojin is her only PC café friend, she'd feel sorry for Choi Yiseo who would feel uncomfortable with her hanging out with Kim Woojin.

'Pity….'

Choi Yiseo didn't play games, but still, the time they spent together in the PC café was enjoyable.

It was too bad that she couldn't experience that joy again.

'Woojin you fool!'

Why did he have to confess?

From what she saw, Choi Yiseo didn't have such feelings towards him. And wouldn't she have consulted against it, if he asked?

"Ahh."

Well, Seo Yerin was just grumbling while poking at her pork cutlet.

It was Monday with late classes and it was by evening when I left the university.

Choi Yiseo had finished her classes three hours earlier and said she would spend some alone time in the café.

But, because of the last time Minji had sent some seniors she knew, I was worried and then gave her my apartment key.

'I wonder if she's reached home by now.'

Since I gave her the address, she must be waiting inside. After all, there is nothing dirty in my place.

There is also nothing to steal and it was fine for her to go in. In a way, it could be said that I trusted her more.

'I should head straight there too.'

I was hungry because of the classes and even though I wanted to have dinner, it might be difficult considering the mess that had happened at lunch.

Entering the house with two cups of iced Americano from the café in front of the house.

"Yah, I'm back."

I was about to joke about how this feels like we're a couple living together but then remembered that I lived here with Oh Yoon-ji during the first semester and my expression went blank.

"Uh-Ah! You're back!"

Choi Yiseo was looking tense.

Seeing her with her school jacket all zipped up to the neck, I let out a sigh.

"Ugh, just have the coffee."

"Uh!? Okay!"

I hand the coffee to her, as she was unnecessarily tense and yet, she wasn't making eye contact with me as she sipped her coffee.

"I'm not excited about you so…"

"You're really going to die."

"…I'll sue you first."

The hit from earlier still hurts.

"Sigh."

Seemingly relaxed with that, Choi Yiseo slowly got up.

"Let's go."

Judging by those words, it seemed like she managed to sort out a couple of things.

And I silently followed her.

"It's a lot closer than I thought?"

"I'm surprised too."

The villa where Choi Yiseo lived with Minji wasn't too far away. This made me think that this is why we ended up running the same directions and distances during our workout.

"Phew."

I gave a slight smile to her, as she took a deep breath from nervousness.

"If it doesn't go well, we can always beat them up."

"I-I wouldn't do that?!"

"You hit me."

"Because you said weird stuff!"

After saying something like that, Choi Yiseo seemed more relaxed and opened the door to head in.

I just followed her.

The house, where only women lived, was quite refreshing to the nose. It seems like they are using a good quality diffuser.

But compared to the fragrance, the interior was an entire mess.

The laptop was split in half and shattered, clothes were torn to shreds and scattered all over as if they were put for execution.

So much hair had been pulled out that tangled strands could be stepped on the floor with blood.

"…Blood?"

Without realizing, I pushed Choi Yiseo and rushed in.

"Woo-Woojin?!"

Choi Yiseo was startled, not yet having seen the blood but I moved in to check.

Bathroom.

There was a girl holding a razor, with water filled in the sink.

"Uh?"

The girl, shocked at my presence, froze, but I reacted swiftly.

I snatched the razor she was holding and threw it onto the floor.

"What're you trying to do with that? Fuck, if you wanted to die with that, you should have scratched it before!"

"Uh?"

"Are you insane? You're in your 20s and want to give up already! If you've done something wrong, just be punished, repent, and live like a new person! Who said you wouldn't be forgiven?!"

"Th-that…"

"You have friends, don't you! Even if you go to the police station, the crime isn't severe, the damage is minor so you will only get a slap on the wrist! Just think of it as a semester for mental training!"

"Ah, ah…."

"Why remain the culprit till the very end?"

"..."

"Th-this isn't the way."

I held her trembling shoulders firmly and she seemed so fragile that she would break at any moment and even the most steadfast heart felt like it would crumble.

"When you think about it later… all this will feel like nothing."

"Don't give up."

I pleaded, whispering to her as I clenched her hand.

Minji stared at me blankly for a moment before carefully pointing to the spray gel next to the sink.

"I-I was going to shave my leg hair…"

"..."

"I-it might have looked odd. I filled the sink with water and used it from there worried about the water bill…."

"Is it that time of the month?"

"Y-yes."

"Ahh, yes,"

I smiled broadly and nodded my head.

"Can you all leave now? I want to be alone."

"This is my house, why would I leave?"

Choi Yiseo, who felt a bit relieved, scolded her with a smile and I pushed Yiseo to the door and chased her out, closing it.

"Yah! Kim Woojin what are you doing!"

"Shut it! I might die! I cannot live with this embarrassment!"

"Why are you suddenly staging a skit in in our bathroom! What are you doing!"

"I am going to die! I will die with this razor!"

"You should have slashed yourself already!"

"Shut it!"

"Why do you want to be the culprit till the end!"

"Shut uppp!"

"Ah, geez. What's with the hotpot."

Kim Woo-jin immediately grumbled at the moment of ordering the hotpot.

He had eaten it several times before because Oh Yoon-ji liked it, feeling as if he had become a person from Sichuan district over and over again.

"You didn't come out from the bathroom. You should have stepped out when we were choosing the menu."

"I needed some time, even for me."

Kim Woojin thought he had a strong mentality, but even so, he needed some alone time, especially after a situation like that.

He wondered if he'll toss and turn in agony several times before falling asleep tonight.

"Ahh, it seemed like the atmosphere was serious."

Thanks to Kim Woojin's sudden actions, the mood was calmed down and Minji, who hadn't eaten since the day before, ordered spicy stew.

"But is spicy stew really the right choice on an empty stomach?"

"Minji wants to eat it."

Sitting with her legs crossed and hugging them to the chest, Minji looked at Kim Woojin.

"No, shouldn't the victim be the one to choose what they want to eat? Why is the perpetrator ordering whatever they want?"

Watching Kim Woojin grumble, Choi Yiseo smirked instead.

"After all that effort to try and save me earlier."

"Kuak!"

Kim Woojin grabbed his head with both hands. To him, Minji sincerely said,

"Uh, that… thank you."

"Don't thank me yet! You better prepare to go to the police station right after having this!"

*Ding-dong*

Just then, the bell rang, signaling the arrival of the food and Kim Woojin seized the opportunity to leave the place and rush to the entrance, leaving Choi Yiseo and Minji alone.

There was much to say but first.

"I'm sorry…"

Minji sincerely apologized, acknowledging her wrongdoing. It seemed she had finally realized the terrible things she had done to her friend.

"I wanted to pass off what happened to me as… something which happened to others. I thought it would be a lot more bearable if I pretended it was all for Yoon-ji and not me, who suffered at the hands of her ex-boyfriends."

"I see."

"But seeing that person made me realize I did something awful. He seems like a good person."

Honestly.

When she was holding the razor earlier. Minji couldn't say that she didn't think of it.

It was just that she lacked the courage and was concerned.

"I received a call from Yoon-ji and I met Kim Woojin in person. I finally feel like I'm waking up to reality."

"..."

"Let's finish this meal. I will apologize to Kim Woojin and then go to the police station. I will confess everything I did and pay for what I did too."

"Minji."

With tears welling up, Choi Yiseo hugged Minji tightly. As they talked over how things turned out, they felt relieved that this was all ending.

"Paying for your crimes is the right thing to do."

Suddenly, Kim Woojin brought in the food and asked the two girls in an annoyed tone.

"What's this? A flavor that splits the tongue? Do you both really want your heads split open or something?"

"..."

"And who decided to pay cash on delivery? Thanks to that my card was charged for this monstrous order."

Minji slowly raised her hand.

"Fine, you'll have your head split open by me before facing the judgment of the country."

It was Kim Woojin, all ready with his sleeves rolled up.

*****

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