Chapter 68: After-Party

Woong!

Woong!

Wooong!

The normal vibration wakes me up gently. And the familiar ceiling, and the familiar room.

The terror I felt when I woke up in Seo Yerin’s room just before is still stuck vividly in my spine, so while feeling relieved, I reach out for the ringing phone.

Choi Yiseo -

“……”

The moment I see the name displayed, my heart drops as if I’ve done something I shouldn’t have and got caught by the police.

First, I gulp down the feelings that rise and carefully move my finger to answer the call.

What’s up, why did you pick up only after so many rings?

Hearing Choi Yiseo’s usual voice and tone, a sense of peace settled in the corner of my heart.

“What time is it now?”

Were you sleeping? Even if this is the weekend it’s too much right.

“Why sprinkle salt on a peaceful weekend?”

Sigh, I was going to suggest we work out, but you won’t do it, right?

“…I worked out really hard yesterday.”

You’re lying. You just went straight home after being at the tent yesterday.

That is true.

It’s been a while since I worked out, and that is why I am tired.

But since I can’t say this to her, I casually brush it off without a proper response.

Have you had dinner?

“Is it already time for dinner?”

It’s 6 o’clock.

Is it already 6 o’clock in the evening?

I took the phone from my ear to check, and it was true, it was already evening.

Realizing I was more tired than I thought, I yawned while answered.

“Yaaawn! I want to sleep more.”

What are you even saying?

“I said I want to sleep more.”

Then do that. You’re coming tomorrow, right?

Tomorrow?

“What’s happening tomorrow?”

We decided to have a gathering to celebrate the end of the fest tomorrow. It’s been announced in the class group chat too.

Hearing this, I tilted my head, unsure.

“We drank at our tent on the last day of fest. Isn’t that enough for all?”

That was because we drank with professors and seniors included. This time, we’ve only invited those who worked at the tent, so even the third-year seniors won’t join us.

So, she’s telling me not to worry about the people I feel uncomfortable around.

“I’ve been drinking all day.”

I let out a sigh of disbelief and muttered, and surprisingly, Choi Yiseo agreed to it.

…Honestly, I don’t want to go either.

After all, Choi Yiseo didn’t seem to enjoy drinking gatherings that much either.

You still have to come. Many people have started to think highly of you this time, so it won’t be bad for you to join us.

“Really troublesome, you know.”

Staying in my room, cracking open a beer and watching Netflix alone seemed better.

It’s a chance to naturally get closer to the others. Thanks to this event, the rumors about you are going down too, so at least come and show your face.

“Are you my mom or something?”

I’m just being supportive.

“……”

……

A moment of silence suddenly descended.

Without realizing it, I found myself at a loss for words, and it was the same on the other side.

“If you’re going to be embarrassed after saying it, just don’t say it.”

When I spoke casually, throwing it out there, Choi Yiseo’s voice also rose slightly in tone.

I-it was a joke!

I could tell just by looking that she must be panicking, her eyes spinning too.

“Why do you call and suddenly talk about committing and supporting.”

Enough! Hang up now! You wait and see what happens if you don’t come! I’ll raid your house for the second round!

Click.

Choi Yiseo hung up just like that.

Her last words were genuinely frightening, so I felt like I should at least show my face.

‘Am I going to meet Seo Yerin again?’

It felt awkward.

Seo Yerin acted as if it was nothing during our call earlier, but I wondered if she might end up unable to speak properly out of embarrassment as time passed.

‘Considering she can’t even say ‘sex’ in real life.’

I probably thought she’d just avoid me if our eyes met, my face turning red.

Wondering how many days this would go on for, I hoped I could handle it well so it wouldn’t seem weird to others.

‘I’m tired.’

Maybe because I used my body too much for the first time in a while, but fatigue hit me hard.

So I closed my eyes and fell asleep again.

The next day, Sunday.

It feels heart-wrenching as Saturday had vanished but if asked what I actually have to do, I’d have nothing to say.

‘Looking back, it sucks.’

I was annoyed because I went to school due to the fest, even though it was supposed to be my free day.

There are few things as infuriating for a uni student as having to go to university on an off day.

But I was on my way to the PC cafe. I wasn’t with anyone, but I had a reason to be there.

“Hi.”

“You’re here?”

To meet Jeong Chan-woo, who spends all day working part-time on weekends.

This morning, out of the blue, he contacted me asking if I could come to the PC café, so I did.

I was bored, and since I had to go to the after-party anyway, coming here didn’t feel too objectionable.

“What do you want to eat?”

Our Chan-woo, generously offering even ramen on the house. I can’t bring myself to dislike him, even if I wanted to.

“Fried Udon.”

“I’ll boil it for you as soon as you take a seat.”

I took a seat in a corner and started browsing webtoons, and Chan-woo soon brought the food in.

Fried Udon, a hot dog, and even dumplings.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

“What’s this, I didn’t order this much though?”

“It’s on the house.”

“Ha.”

From now on, Jeong Chan-woo’s enemies are my enemies. Chan-woo and I are one, so beware, Yu Arin!

While eating the ramen he brought, I sneak a glance at Chan-woo. Sitting next to me, Chan-woo seemed to have something he wanted to say, but was pondering on how to say it.

“Didn’t you go in with Yu Arin the day before yesterday? Did it go well?”

“……”

Seeing him struggle to speak, I spoke for him, and Chan-woo let out an awkward chuckle.

As I slurp my udon and look at Chan-woo, he finally starts talking, scratching his cheek.

“I confessed to Arin.”

“Woah…”

It was a bolder statement than I expected. Isn’t that how things are rumored on the internet?

Usually, a confession isn’t about challenging but rather confirming the emotions.

But that’s only applicable to ordinary people.

For an ordinary person like Kim Woojin, the hurdle to even get to a confession is quite high. It’s hard to be confident that the other person likes you.

But look at Chan-woo’s face.

Grabbing anyone passing by and asking for their number, nine out of ten people would give it to him, wouldn’t they?

For Chan-woo, confessing was neither a challenge nor a confirmation, but rather a declaration.

Saying outright, ‘Let’s date’.

But then.

“I got rejected.”

‘Why her of all people!’

Why confess to one of the ten? It was frustrating, but knowing that the heart doesn’t always follow one’s mind, I calmed myself.

“You’ve had it tough.”

After placing the cup down, I pat Chan-woo on the shoulder. However, his eyes still harbored a longing for her.

“I won’t give up.”

“……”

“I want things to work out with Arin. I’m serious.”

Could this be considered obsession? Yu Arin is practically living in a romance novel for him, isn’t she? If someone like him is obsessed.

“Woojin, help me out. I heard you had a girlfriend in the first semester.”

What’s the big deal about it?

Even as I sighed, there was something I wanted to confirm.

“Let me ask just one thing.”

“Hmm?”

“Yu Arin said she confessed to you in high school.”

At my words, Chanwoo flinched and shivered.

It was something Yu Arin had told me, but he didn’t seem to expect that I knew.

“Was it that you didn’t like her, but after she confessed, you suddenly saw her as a woman or something?”

If not, there would be no reason for Chan-woo to reject Yu Arin’s confession.

“No.”

“Huh?”

But an unexpected answer came back.

“I’ve liked Arin since we were kids.”

“Shhh, am I hearing this correctly?”

As I dug at my ear and asked him to repeat it, Jeong Chan-woo also brushed his bangs back and hunched his body.

“You might not believe it, but it’s true. I’ve only ever liked Arin. Even when I rejected her confession, it wasn’t my true intention.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about now, I am lost.”

“It’s just, just that I made a mistake.”

“……”

Jeong Chan-woo seemed unwilling to say more. The term ‘dark history’ would be an understatement here.

‘Guilt then?’

Seeing Jeong Chan-woo looking like he was harboring such feelings made me feel somewhat sorry for him.

But I wondered if it was really okay for me to recklessly offer to help Jeong Chan-woo here.

‘I want to hear Yu Arin’s side of the story too.’

Even though I’ve become close enough to share secrets with Yu Arin, the idea of using some scheme to get closer to Jeong Chan-woo started to feel a bit wrong.

“Sorry, Chan…”

Just as I was about to refuse,

woong!

My phone rang.

Checking it quickly, how could the timing be so perfect? It was a message from Yu Arin.

It’s content was so unusual that I couldn’t help but frown.

Yu Arin: Hey! They’re saying they’ll reveal the admin’s identity in the Bamboo Forest, and your photo is up!

“What?”

Although it was a bit awkward in front of Chan-woo, I hurriedly opened the Bamboo Forest app with goosebumps.

‘Who? Who could it be?’

The only ones who know my identity are Seo Yerin, Anonymous69, and Lee Eun-woo, the assistant from the Department of Physical Therapy, Anonymous90.

And Yu Arin.

The senior who handed over the position of the Bamboo Forest’s administrator has already graduated, so that’s out of the question.

Anyway, let’s check the Bamboo Forest.

Anonymous59(Admin1): Revealing the admin’s identity (photo)

The post about revealing the identity was written by Yu Arin, and there was a photo of an orangutan uploaded.

“This son of a…!”

↳ Anonymous11: No wonder the management of Bamboo Forest was a mess. Thought it was on the level of an intelligent monkey.

↳ Anonymous75: Lololol, isn’t this person gonna get blocked again?

↳ Anonymous198: Let’s go straight to disciplining, Admin. Tie their hands and smack their butt!

↳ Admin: From now on, anyone sympathizing here gets banned.

↳ Anonymous54: Everyone, shut up!

↳ Anonymous276: Run away!

↳ Anonymous69: Wanna have sex.

↳ Anonymous90: Sex!

“Sigh.”

“What’s wrong, Woojin?”

Chan-woo was puzzled as I suddenly let out a deep breath. I asked him to wait a moment and then immediately sent a message to Yu Arin.

Kim Woojin: You’re so dead.

Yu Arin: Lolololol, if it’s the trembling scared admin, then it’s super funny lololol

Yu Arin: You thought it was really leaked after seeing the picture attached, right? It’s similar to when you look in the mirror lololol

Kim Woojin: Are you coming to the after-party today?

Yu Arin: Yeah, I’m going to beat you up there.

It seems like she’s acting this way because she ended up going to the festival’s last day with Jeong Chan-woo alone.

Kim Woojin: I’m taking Chan-woo to the after-party.

Yu Arin: ?

Yu Arin: Sir?

Yu Arin: Admin, Sir?

Yu Arin: Why is he coming?

Yu Arin: Don’t do it

Yu Arin: Really, don’t do it, alright!

Yu Arin: I’m not coming.

Yu Arin: I said I’m not going there!

Yu Arin: Ah, really, please!

Yu Arin: You jerk!

Yu Arin: dirty bastohfnkfnffmnfkfnwfnkwf’fflfm