Bamboo Forest Manager

Chapter 34

34 – 34. Crazy Talk

If I had to choose the most difficult period while attending college, it would undoubtedly be the exam period.

Just by walking around the university while moving to the lecture hall, one would be able to see students whispering and talking about various things regarding the exams.

It is also a period when the bamboo forest becomes active.

*Sigh*

I, too, didn’t have any time to spare as I prepared for the midterms.

But there was an uncomfortable aspect.

“At times like this, it would’ve been nice to have some friends.”

It was a bit disappointing that I didn’t have anyone to get lecture materials or anything like that from.

I remember during the first semester, my ex-girlfriend, Oh Yoonji, managed to get them somewhere and we studied hard for the exams.

But this time, since I didn’t have that, I have to do well on my own.

“Oh, what was the range for this?”

The important thing was that I didn’t properly check the exam scope. However, I couldn’t only see it as my own problem.

It was because I missed the lecture due to Choi Iseo and Seo Yerin on Tuesday morning at 9 o’clock.

If it were as usual, I would have contacted Choi Iseo, who is easy to talk to, but recently, the relationship between Choi Iseo and me has been ambiguous.

I feel like he is consciously avoiding me.

“What exactly happened at the gym?”

Anyway, something definitely happened.

Since it was the exam period, I thought about calling him again, using that as an excuse.

Whatever it was, I wanted to avoid any strange misunderstandings by just staying still.

For now, he might be attending the lecture, so I decided to contact him later.

While passing through the office of the Department of English Language and Literature, where my next lecture was, I was in the middle of eating the gimbap I bought from the convenience store.

In front of it, there were stacked boxes and Choi Iseo, who was sighing awkwardly, was tapping his phone.

“What are you doing?”

“Huh!”

Startled, he shrinks his shoulders when he realizes I’m approaching. His reaction is amusing, but he looks up at the luggage with his head tilted.

“What’s this?”

“The professor brought some things that could be used for the festival this time.”

“The professor brought something that can be used for the festival?”

“Well, you know, like souvenirs that you bring back from a trip? They told me to display them if we set up a stall.”

“Wow, he’s really generous.”

Thanks to him, it seems like we’ll have a stall with a unique atmosphere. It’s not like there are any Indian dolls or bizarre masks or anything, right?

“So, we have to put this in the department storage. That’s why we were gathering people.”

“Oh, I see.”

I nod my head and casually take a step back.

Until a moment ago, I thought I should talk to Choi Iseo, but now things have changed.

“It wouldn’t be bad to keep some distance.”

If I get too close to him, we might end up doing unnecessary things. I wave my hand, thinking that.

“I see. Take care.”

I naturally walk towards the vending machine to buy some juice or something.

Twaap.

Choi Iseo’s hand lands on my shoulder, and he mutters softly.

“Just got one.”

“…Let go.”

“It’s Kim Woojin, Class of ’23, Department of English Language and Literature.”

“I haven’t even eaten yet.”

“It’s a coincidence, I haven’t either.”

While looking at Choi Iseo, who is expressing his determination not to let go, I let out a sigh and pull out the balance between us.

“You didn’t even talk to me before.”

“Eugh.”

“Do you only call me when you need me?”

Choi Iseo lowers his hand and mumbles. It seems like he is aware of what he has been doing all this time.

“I didn’t do it on purpose. I just needed time to sort out my thoughts.”

Time to organize your thoughts?

It was a statement that there was really something.

“Um, should we start with this and talk? If it’s okay, let’s have lunch while we talk….”

“Sigh, go inside and bring the list of English majors.”

“Huh?”

“Quickly.”

Waiting for people to gather for this is a waste of time. But there’s too much for just the two of us, me and Choi Yiseo, to move everything.

Choi Yiseo will bring the list from the office, and I place a pen on top of it.

“This is what the professor asked for in the group chat, they said to move them to the warehouse one by one as we pass by. The person who moves them should sign the list.”

“But will the students do it?”

It was an unpleasant reaction, but…

“The professor added that they will check the list later.”

Of course, those sensitive to grades will do it, and even those who are not good at grades will want to leave some mark.

Especially during the exam period like now.

“…They won’t actually check.”

“What does that matter?”

If it’s uncomfortable, let me send it, Choi Yiseo said, raising her hand and leaving a message in the office group chat.

“Let’s leave this in the office so that the assistant can see it. There might be strange people who just sign and leave.”

That should solve the problem.

Choi Yiseo and I sign and I pick up the lightest looking box.

“Let’s go.”

“Okay.”

Choi Yiseo makes a slightly puzzled expression, probably because it was resolved more easily than expected.

After moving the luggage and stopping by the convenience store in the middle, we headed back to the lecture hall, only to find that half of the luggage had already been moved.

Choi Yiseo, who came with me to the empty lecture hall even though we are not taking the same course, was considering what to say while looking at the chicken breast salad she bought at the convenience store.

Honestly, I only thought that she was really crazy about exercise from the moment she bought the chicken breast salad.

“If that’s the case, you’re addicted to exercise.”

“Huh?”

Choi Yiseo was surprised that I spoke first.

“After eating chicken breast salad, I won’t eat something similar for dinner. It’s not like I’m fat, do I really have to go to such lengths?”

When I asked if this was an obsession, Choi Iseo looked at me blankly and raised the corners of her mouth.

“You should exercise too. Haven’t you been running recently because I didn’t call you?”

“It’s not as easy as it seems to go out and run alone.”

Having this kind of conversation after a long time felt quite meaningful.

Continuing the conversation comfortably as if there had been no gap between us, it felt as if nothing had changed.

While we were continuing the conversation.

“Hoo.”

At the moment when the conversation paused, Choi Iseo took a deep breath and tried to ask me something.

“If…if.”

But when I saw her face, she seemed hesitant to speak and slightly turned away.

“If?”

“What if a woman…asks you to go to a hotel together?”

“What?”

What did I just hear?

I blinked and looked at Choi Iseo, but she was already hiding her face and bowing deeply, her face turning red.

But even so, since she had already started speaking, she continued without stopping.

“A, a female friend. If she suddenly asks you to go to a hotel, would you go?”

“Hold on. Going to a hotel, does it mean what I’m thinking? Not going there to eat at a buffet or something…”

As I trailed off, Choi Iseo also tilted her head slightly.

“Huh.”

So it means having s*x.

“Go to a hotel together?”

Feeling a bit uncertain, I asked, and Choi Iseo exclaimed in surprise.

“Oh, no! I’m not asking you to go! What if! What if someone asks you like that?”

“….What, I thought you were tempting me.”

“Ar, are you crazy!?”

Choi Iseo vehemently denied it while banging on the desk. Looking at her fanning herself with her hand as if her face was hot, I hesitated slightly.

“Let’s just clarify one thing. This question right now is important, right? It’s the reason why you’ve been acting strange towards me?”

“Y, yes.”

I don’t know what exactly led to these concerns, but it seemed like a difficult question.

Anyway, if Choi Iseo spent several days worrying about this, it’s only right for me to give a serious answer in my own way.

“Hmm.”

I chin up, receiving Choi Iseo’s intense gaze.

There is not enough information.

“Is that female friend pretty?”

“….”

Choi Iseo momentarily furrows his brow and gives me a disgusted look.

“She’s pretty.”

Anyway, I answer.

“She’s really pretty.”

“An incredibly pretty girl suddenly asks me to go to a hotel with her? Could it be some kind of scam or cult?”

“It’s not….right?”

That’s what I say.

From Noble mtl dot com

I give a serious expression and tilt my head.

“Where is she?”

“Huh?”

“We should go right away. Wow, I’m excited.”

“….”

“I’ll cover the hotel expenses. She’s so pretty. It’s been a while since I didn’t have a girlfriend….”

Whack!

Choi Iseo’s fist swings at me.

But this time, I was expecting it, so I manage to block it with my palm.

“hahahaha! So predictable.”

“Damn!”

After a few more exchanges, a tired Choi Iseo asks with determination.

“Are you really going? She’s not even your girlfriend?!”

“Then is it just a one-night stand? Or maybe it’s a secret affair?”

“Well, yeah!”

It seems like I hit the jackpot as Choi Iseo is both startled and affirmative.

I don’t know what kind of answer I’m expecting.

“I should go. I should skip the lecture too.”

“……”

“Although not every man is like this, most of them probably wouldn’t refuse, right? It’s a really attractive girl tempting me. Anyway, I’m definitely going.”

“……”

“If I had a girlfriend, of course I would refuse, but I don’t have one.”

Maybe it’s because I answered their question seriously. Initially, Choi Iseo, who had looked at me with disgust, started to have a more serious expression.

“Yeah, I see.”

Now Choi Iseo seemed to be somewhat confident, but also appeared a little saddened.

“Thanks for answering honestly.”

It was a pitiful sight, him clenching his fist, so I wondered why he was doing that.

“Now explain to me. Why did you ask this question?”

“Sigh.”

I shrugged my shoulders while looking at Choi Iseo struggling to answer.

“You’re not really suggesting we go to a hotel, right? Is this a prank?”

“No, I’m not!”

“Tsk, you’re such a troublemaker.”

“What the hell…..!”

Choi Iseo, unable to overcome his embarrassment, stood up with his fist raised.