Bamboo Forest Manager chapter 32

32 – 32. Foreshadowing

It was Choi Iseo who was trying to continue speaking urgently from the side, and Seo Yerin accepted it.

“Yeah, I didn’t make any separate breaks.”

“Well, even the seniors said it’s good to take care of your grades in your first year.”

Although something seemed to be bothering her, the conversation didn’t have any substance. It made me impatient, as if I were experiencing a thirst that burned in my throat.

“Hey, when are we going to the cafe? I feel like I’m going to die.”

If I stay like this, I might drink the shower water when I take a shower. The gym here is fine, but there were no paper cups placed next to the water dispenser.

There was a sign saying that disposable items couldn’t be placed due to environmental reasons.

Choi Iseo gnawed his lips and looked at me sharply, as if I had said something that I shouldn’t have.

It felt like he was telling me to shut up, but Seo Yerin on the opposite side awkwardly interrupts with a smile.

“You’re done with your workout. Sorry for detaining you for no reason.”

“Nah, no need to apologize.”

Seo Yerin goes straight to the changing room.

“Phew! Sometimes you’re so perceptive, but sometimes you’re completely clueless!”

Choi Iseo claps my shoulder and follows Seo Yerin straight to the changing room.

I felt unjust because I wondered if I had done something wrong, but I also went to the changing room for now.

“Excuse me.”

Jeong Chanwoo, who had been working hard with weights just a moment ago, wiped his sweat and approached me again.

Seeing him sweating, there was even a sense of s*xiness, so he definitely seemed popular.

I could feel the women in the gym stealing glances at Jeong Chanwoo.

“Yes?”

But Jeong Chanwoo seemed to be paying attention to me since he approached right after Choi Iseo and Seo Yerin disappeared.

“Are you close with Yerin too?”

“Ah, yeah, since we’re friends with Uarin, everyone knows.”

Yerin and Jeong Chanwoo could also be friends since Uarin was Yerin’s high school friend, and Jeong Chanwoo was friends with Uarin since they were young.

I thought Yerin and Jeong Chanwoo could be friends.

“Just in the same department.”

When I answered vaguely, Jeong Chanwoo had a subtle expression. It seemed like he wanted to ask something more, but he hesitated because it could be impolite.

“What’s going on?”

It felt ambiguous.

“Did you know that Seo Yerin also goes to the same gym?”

Because his back felt ticklish in a strange way, Jeong Chan-woo shook his head without continuing the conversation.

“No, that’s not it. I’ve seen her exercise a few times, so I greeted her.”

But I didn’t know that I even knew Seo Ye-rin.

‘Ah, she doesn’t really fit my personality.’

If there is a ticklish spot, you just scratch it, but Jeong Chan-woo, who was aware of it, felt slightly frustrated, so I asked directly.

“Do you have something you’re curious about?”

“……”

I didn’t know if Jeong Chan-woo would be taken aback by my blatant question, but his eyes shook in astonishment.

When I showed that I didn’t like conversations where we read between the lines, Jeong Chan-woo sighed and answered.

“Well, Yuri and Yerin. I saw that you’re close to both of them… Does it remind you of the old days?”

“I’m not really close to Yoo Ah-rin.”

But thinking about the past is more important?

“I used to be very close to both of them in the past. We’ve grown a bit distant now though.”

“I didn’t really see you being close to Yoo Ah-rin though?”

Didn’t you get along quite well at the PC bang? They even gave you free ramen and covered your PC room expenses.

But in response to my question, Jeong Chan-woo forced a bitter smile and answered.

“It’s because Ah-rin is kind.”

“Him?”

I can’t understand how someone with such an unpleasant personality could be kind.

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

While saying that, I watch Jeong Chan-woo’s back as he tries to leave again, and in my frustration, I ask irritably.

“You like Yoo Ah-rin, don’t you?”

“……”

Jeong Chan-woo, who had abruptly stopped moving in response to my words, turned his head slightly.

His expression showed quite a significant amount of surprise, indicating that I hit the jackpot.

However.

“Well, well, but… You shouldn’t like her.”

Watching Jeong Chan-woo say a line that would fit perfectly in a drama out of the blue, I furrow my eyebrows.

I’ve been seeing people like Ha Kang or Ahn Hyun-ho lately, who are ominous yet proactive, so it was refreshing to see someone like him.

“It’s so frustrating.”

I’m sorry, but I prefer Han Kang or Ahn Hyun-ho instead.

“Since we’re the same age, let’s talk without holding back. You shouldn’t have feelings for Yoo Arin, since you constantly worry about her and care for her.”

“Uh, well….”

I can understand being caught off guard by his sudden confession. I’m sorry, but I don’t want to hear him rambling on beside me for no reason.

“Anyone would be attracted to your face. But do you know why they can’t get close to you? It’s because you’re so passive. Will Yoo Arin put your tongue back in your mouth if you keep it open?”

“Wh-what?!”

“Just say it. Will you help? Since the time you gave me ramen at the PC bang, I’ve honestly had a good impression of you. How can I help you get closer to Yoo Arin and that fox-like guy?”

Though it’s impudent, it was frustrating to see a good-looking guy like him hesitate and fumble for words.

Besides, if he looks good here, he might get some service at the PC bang.

“Um, well….”

Seeing him hesitate again, I held out my phone.

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

Staring blankly at my phone, Jung Chan-woo finally entered his own phone number and handed it back to me.

“…Help me. I want to get along with Arin.”

In response to Jung Chan-woo’s honest confession, I grinned and nodded.

* * *

“So, I agreed to help, but do you know Yoo Arin well?”

After washing up and feeling refreshed, I sat in a cafe and asked Choi I-seo while drinking coffee.

I bragged to Jung Chan-woo as much as I could, but honestly, what do I know about Yoo Arin?

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

I thought about spending time with Jung Chan-woo while writing scripts together, but other than that, I couldn’t think of anything else to do for him.

Hmm.

Choi I-seo didn’t give any response.

No, rather, she looked at me with some dissatisfaction while sipping her coffee.

“But it’s strange. Honestly, isn’t it enough for Jung Chan-woo to just confess and have any girl fall for him?”

Hmm.

“He takes responsibility for the female customers at the PC bang by himself. And all the girls at the gym only have eyes for Jung Chan-woo.”

Hmm.

“Even handsome people have their own struggles, I guess.”

Hmm.

“Then she starts sucking on ice through a straw. Why would she do that?”

Unable to resist any longer, I asked as I watched Choi Iseo staring at me with a straw in her mouth.

“Why? Because of Seo Yerin earlier? Do you think she’ll feel some sort of alienation when she sees the two of us together?”

“……”

“Hey, even if Seo Yerin had fewer friends, she’d still have ten times more than me, right?”

Because there’s a difference between one person and two.

“Do you think someone like her would feel alienated? She probably wouldn’t even be able to concentrate on exercising because her phone would keep ringing with messages.”

“……”

“And besides, she’s close with Jung Chanwoo too.”

I don’t know how things are now though.

“Sigh.”

Anyway, in the end, Choi Iseo gave up her silence with a sigh. She seemed to be thinking hard about something, but it seemed like she couldn’t stay silent.

“I’m talking about you.”

“Yeah.”

I nodded in response to Choi Iseo’s words. She hadn’t said a word since we left the gym, after all.

“Are you dating Yerin?”

And the question that came out of nowhere was completely unexpected.

“Huh?”

I’ve been hearing that question a lot recently about who I’m dating.

But for now…

“No?”

It was obviously a denial, but Choi Iseo persistently prodded and pestered.

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“Don’t just say it lightly. Look me in the eye and give me a straight answer. Are you really not dating her?”

“I’m telling you no, right? I did get closer to Seo Yerin recently, but we’re not dating or anything.”

“……”

“Did you forget what happened when I dated CC in the first semester?”

I dated Oh Yoonji in the first semester and broke up before the second semester. Why would I want to date another girl?

I responded with a perplexed expression, but instead of understanding, Choi Iseo sighed deeply as if she was even more conflicted.

“Sigh! No, definitely… Sigh!”

Why is she like this, really?

Choi Yiseo’s reaction seems to indicate that this is not an ordinary occurrence.

“Ah! Seriously!”

Thud!

Unable to contain her frustration, Choi Yiseo kicked her throat under the table.

“Ow! Why are you taking it out on me?”

Venting her frustration, Choi Yiseo glared at him with cold eyes.

Thud!

“It’s not because of you that I’m venting.”

No, why is she acting like this?

What happened in the changing room?

* * *

One hour ago.

After seeing Choi Yiseo and Kim Woojin, Seo Yerin hurriedly went into the gym’s changing room, hiding her complicated emotions and changing her clothes.

Why?

Just like when she saw them at the donkatsu restaurant before, her chest felt suffocated in a strange way.

Resentment?

Yes, it could be called resentment, but she wasn’t the only one hanging out with them.

She had just come from hanging out with other friends, so she couldn’t say anything to them about why she came to the gym without them.

“Why am I like this?”

Seo Yerin felt frustrated as she took off her clothes, and at that moment, Choi Yiseo followed behind.

“Ha, hahahaha.”

An awkwardness hung between the two of them.

Especially for women, unless they are very close, they tend to avoid showing their vulnerability, so the awkwardness was even worse.

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

“Yerin.”

Choi Yiseo mustered up the courage, but the timing was not good. Seo Yerin was in the process of taking off her pants.

“Oh, sorry…….”

“No, it’s just us girls anyway.”

Seo Yerin replied with a forced coolness, laughing.

“……”

Why is that?

Choi I-seo’s gaze was fixed on Seo Ye-rin.

More specifically, it was fixed on the lower part of Seo Ye-rin.

“Um, I-seo?”

Although Seo Ye-rin was slightly taken aback by his intense gaze and called out, feeling uneasy.

Choi I-seo continued to stare as if possessed by something, and eventually Seo Ye-rin hurriedly changed her clothes.

“Ah… I’m, I’m sorry.”

Only then did Choi I-seo regain his senses.

Seo Ye-rin was awkwardly smiling, but it was a bit uncomfortable, so she quickly left the room.

However, Choi I-seo couldn’t help but stand there quietly without saying a word.

‘What’s going on?’

Because.

‘Why?’

He had seen Seo Ye-rin’s body before.

‘Why?’

And it was on a very unexpected cell phone screen.

The mole on her thigh.

Two beautiful legs without any fat.

And the same underwear.

‘Why did Woo-jin have Ye-rin’s photo on his phone?’

The photo of the woman showing her panties that he saw on Kim Woo-jin’s phone in the tonkatsu restaurant.

It was Seo Ye-rin.