Bamboo Forest Manager

“Wow, you rented out the entire pension? That’s amazing.”

A two-story white pension in Gangwon-do region.

There’s a stream nearby, a separate barbecue area, and they even have a dog.

The pension exudes a peaceful and serene countryside atmosphere, just seeing it makes you feel at ease….

“Who are you talking to?”

Ahn Hyeon-ho approaches me and smirks slyly.

I wanted to make a snide remark about what it is that’s making him so happy, but knowing it would just worsen my mood, I keep my mouth shut.

Because I know why he’s in a good mood.

“Just talking to myself.”

“Kim Woojin got what he deserved. Ah, it’s so satisfying. Just like having sesame oil itself.”

“You’re really not funny, so could you just leave?”

“Being a sophomore in the department means nothing to do, right? The professors have the junior class president handle things, and the freshmen take care of the chores, right?”

What a peculiar position this is.

“So what. You have lots of friends. Go to them.”

“Unlike you, I do have many friends. But today, I want to be with you? I have something to ask.”

“What.”

Ahn Hyeon-ho feigns a serious expression.

He looks around cautiously and whispers.

“Hey, do you remember when we all drank together last time?”

“How am I supposed to know if you say it like that. Tell me in detail.”

“When Han-kang and Jinho came. We were supposed to meet Gyu-ah, but you all came, so we ended up drinking together.”

“Oh, when we drank with the idiots?”

“Idiots…”

I remember clearly because I escaped in less than 30 minutes.

I still remember the hateful looks the freshmen gave me.

“After you left, Gyu-ah left with you and didn’t come back… What did you do?”

Ah.

Right.

I forgot that Hyeon-ho was trying to date Gyu-ah, who is now the first-year class president.

It seemed like they were subtly flirting.

“Have you given up on Choi Yiseo now?”

Just in case, I asked threateningly, and Ahn Hyeon-ho frowned deeply.

“I secretly asked Yiseo to have a meal with me, and now I’ve even been blocked on chat.”

“……”

“I was originally only blocked by phone number… Now, to talk about anything related to the English literature department with Yiseo, I have to hear it from others.”

“I shouldn’t have asked. It just makes my heart ache.”

Though it was regrettable that my heart ached painfully, Ahn Hyeon-ho shook his head.

“It’s fine, being rejected once is no big deal. I’ve found a new love now.”

Is that Gyu-ah?

It’s all or nothing for him.

Keeping Choi Yiseo in mind and now it’s Gyu-ah, who’s dating multiple guys.

“There was nothing in particular. Gyu-ah doesn’t like me, and I don’t like Gyu-ah.”

“Really? Seeing that you even wooed senior Ju-hee, it’s hard to believe.”

“Watch your mouth. If the senior hears it, you’re dead.”

“……”

Ahn Hyeon-ho checked his surroundings with his lips tightly shut.

Fortunately, senior Ju-hee was mingling with the professors, chatting about this and that.

Compared to the bomb she dropped during the Mafia game earlier, she seemed rather calm.

She was acting as if nothing had happened.

“Hyeon-ho, I don’t particularly like you, but this time it’s a bit different.”

“What’s different?”

“I dislike Gyu-ah more than you. So I’m telling you, don’t bother with her. Just look for another girl.”

“……”

“I’m serious, Hyeon-ho. If you feel any friendship towards me, you should definitely-”

“Gyu-ah! Isn’t that heavy? I’ll help you!”

Ahn Hyeon-ho, seeing Gyu-ah moving the alcohol to the crate, rushes over like a guard dog.

“Ah, oppa! It’s okay.”

“Your arms are thin, you might break them carrying this.”

“Oh, I’m strong. Look at this.”

Gyu-ah tries to show off her muscles with a puff.

Naturally passing the alcohol to Hyeon-ho, she is quite the expert.

‘Yeah, you rascal.’

Even if you cry and ask me to come and drink later, I will never move.

Thud.

Someone bumps into my shoulder as they pass by.

It was Yu Arin.

“……”

Staring blankly at Yu Arin, who shoulder-bumped me, she glances back and snaps.

“What are you looking at.”

“No, nothing.”

“Phew.”

She huffs and walks away just like that.

Right now, it’s best not to mess with her.

Anyway, what senior Ju-hee mentioned was that I had rejected her confession.

Since it was agreed to pretend it never happened, nothing specific had occurred between us.

Not only Yu Arin, but the other two people must understand that as well.

‘However, accepting it emotionally might take some time.’

The mind understands, but the heart does not.

If a man, already wavering between three people, receives a confession from another woman, it can’t help but feel unsettling.

Even without an explanation, they know I’ve rejected it.

For now, it seemed right to let everyone sort out their thoughts.

‘Choi Yiseo is…’

She was mingling with the professors alongside a senior class representative, discussing various topics.

From the outside, nothing seemed particularly different from usual.

‘That’s what’s scarier.’

Next was Seo Yerin.

Seo Yerin was mixed in with the first and second-year students, moving luggage.

Instead of showing it to me, she treats other people kindly with an outwardly innocent smile.

‘I guess I should unpack first.’

So, I head to the second and third-year boys’ room to unpack.

‘Sigh.’

In the end, how am I any different from Gyu-ah?

Such thoughts slowly started to fill me with self-doubt.

---

“What kind of schedule is this?”

Lying on the bed in the room, I check the MT timetable on my phone.

There’s a simple ball game before dinner, which was obviously added because the professors liked it.

People were already gathering at the foot volleyball court in front of the pension.

‘Ah, whatever.’

I decided to just pull the covers over and pretend to sleep.

Even if I go now, I’ll only end up getting glances and hearing whispers from people.

Because senior Ju-hee’s bombshell statement in the Mafia game must have spread everywhere by now.

“Woojin, aren’t you going?”

Shin Ho-chang, the third-year class rep, called out to me before leaving.

“Yeah, I’m not feeling well.”

I just gloss it over casually. Shin Ho-chang, perhaps not entirely oblivious, left me alone, being considerate.

‘Ha, I shouldn’t have come to the MT if it was going to be like this.’

If MT means crouching on a bed and looking at my phone, I could do that in the dormitory too.

Even Seo Yerin, who wanted to hang out, gave me a chilling glare earlier.

In the end, I was left alone.

Creak.

The sound of the front door opening was heard.

I quickly shut my phone and pretended to be asleep with my eyes shut.

Just in case someone else came to get me.

Thinking to myself to leave quickly with my eyes closed.

Swoosh.

The bed rocked, and suddenly I felt a weight on top of me.

‘Is it Seo Yerin?’

No way a guy would have climbed on top of me.

Considering the boldness needed to sneak into a male dorm and climb onto a bed, I thought it must be Seo Yerin and opened my eyes.

“What are you?”

Instead of Seo Yerin, there was an unexpected and unpleasant woman sitting on me.

“Why are you pretending to sleep?”

Tightening her grip on my waist with her thighs was Kim Gyu-ah, a first-year class representative.

If Ahn Hyeon-ho sees this, he’ll be furious again.

And we won’t be able to maintain our current relationship.

Unlike with Choi Yiseo, who was a competitor, this time we’re friends.

“Get off before I bash your head against the bed corner.”

When I seriously warned her, Kim Gyu-ah just smirked.

“Thanks to you, Senior, the atmosphere is really heated right now. Freshmen are happy because they have gossip about the crazy two-timing senior, and sophomores are watching other seniors’ reactions.”

“Get off.”

“Thanks to you, the MT is very enjoyable. I can’t even predict what kind of trouble will happen when we drink.”

Annoyed, I pushed with force.

Kim Gyu-ah fell off the bed.

However, this time, as if she expected it, she landed gracefully.

“I learned how to fall properly from YouTube because of you, Senior.”

“…You learned something useful.”

To think she could execute a fall so cleanly just from watching that.

She’s got some skills.

I wanted to learn too, but the topic continues.

“So I came because I was curious. In a way, we’re the same kind, aren’t we?”

I want to deny it, but I can’t find the words.

Unable to deny it, I just let out a deep sigh.

“How can you share like that? I saw how the atmosphere is good between Yerin and Yiseo even though they know they’re competing.”

“Did you come to ask me about that?”

I really want to punch her.

“Why not? I’m curious. I always kept it a secret when I was juggling three relationships.”

“Don’t be curious about useless things. And I don’t know either, you idiot.”

When I threw a pillow in annoyance, she wobbled and fell backward.

“Oh, come on. I did my makeup!”

Her whining still had a high schooler’s vibe.

‘What’s so appealing about this girl…’

I wondered if there would ever be a day when Ahn Hyeon-ho would have a normal relationship.

“I was trying to learn from you, how to manage multiple relationships.”

“If you weren’t a girl, I really would have hit you.”

“You seem like the type who would hit girls too.”

“How did you know? You better be careful since you’re on thin ice right now. You might actually get hit-”

Thump, thump, thump, thump!

Heavy footsteps coming inside at that moment.

Did Gyu-ah not close the door when she came in? We didn’t even know someone was entering.

Bang!

“Se, Senior?”

It was senior Ju-hee who entered the room.

She scanned the room and then strode over to Gyu-ah next to me.

Whack!

She grabbed her by the chin with one hand and slammed her against the wall.

“Your words are a bit disrespectful, Junior?”

“Ah, uh, ugh!”

Senior Ju-hee glared at Gyu-ah with a cold stare.

Gyu-ah seemed either too scared or the grip was too strong to speak.

She couldn’t make any proper resistance or excuse, just trembling slightly.

“Se-Senior! You might really hurt her!”

Gyu-ah seemed like she was about to cry, so I urgently tried to stop it, and only then did senior Ju-hee take a deep breath and slowly release her grip.

“Ouch! You, it really hurts!”

Gyu-ah held her chin, looking like she was about to cry.

But the moment she met senior Ju-hee’s eyes, she immediately stopped crying and knelt down.

“I’m, I’m sorry! I went too far!”

As expected.

There are things closer than the law.

“Yeah, you went too far. If you do that to Woojin again, you’re really dead.”

It’s truly scary when the big sister who even beat up thugs says something like that.

I stepped in between the trembling Gyu-ah and senior Ju-hee.

Turning my back to Gyu-ah and blocking her from senior Ju-hee’s view, I spoke.

“Se, Senior. But what brings you here?”

I awkwardly changed the subject, but it seemed Senior didn’t want to spend more time on Gyu-ah either.

She scratched her cheek and sighed.

“To help.”

“Pardon?”

“Because of me, it became awkward. So I wanted to help lighten the mood.”

The senior added, as if it was nothing.

“You said you’d sort out your complicated relationships.”

“……”

I remained silent for a moment.

Senior Ju-hee’s clear eyes demanded an answer from me.

After a short pause.

“Yes, that’s right.”

I nodded firmly and replied.

“I think it’s best to clear things up during this MT.”

Gyu-ah just told me.

Everyone attending the MT was whispering about this matter.

Which meant not only my name, but the names of three others were being mentioned.

Obviously, it was not in a good context.

“I should make things clear.”

Otherwise.

It seemed like it would only hurt the three more.

“Alright.”

Senior Ju-hee nodded with a smile.

“I-I’ll help too!”

It was Gyu-ah, interjecting as an apology for the earlier incident.