Chapter 206

Chapter 206

Bamboo Forest Manager.

Episode 206: Not Today

“Ugh, argh!”

Yu Arin, clutching her ankle and letting out a faint groan, lay on the basketball court.

The moment I saw her grimacing, I pushed through the surrounding players and rushed over.

“Arin! Arin!”

I checked her ankle.

Worried that it might be broken, I was about to call 119.

“I’m, I’m okay. Don’t make a fuss, you fool.”

Yu Arin replied to me with a forced smile.

Seeing her pretending to be strong made my heart ache even more.

I wanted to say something to the player who fouled her so harshly, and also confront the student from the English department who stepped on her foot.

“First, let’s go to the health center.”

Prioritizing Yu Arin’s treatment over expressing my emotions.

I immediately carried Yu Arin on my back and ran towards the tent designated as the infirmary.

In the middle, I briefly made eye contact with Choi Yiseo who was looking this way.

But my legs were already running recklessly towards the infirmary.

“Ah, it’s the finals.”

“What’s so important about that! It doesn’t matter if you lose that stupid final!”

“Heh, damn. I tried so hard though.”

Yu Arin sighed with a bitter smile. Her voice had a slight tremor, probably because her leg still hurt, and realizing this made me run even faster.

We arrived at the infirmary in no time.

I urgently explained the situation and showed the teacher her condition.

“Fortunately, it’s not broken. It’s a sprain. For now, use some pain relief spray and apply an ice pack. If the pain persists, it might be best to visit a hospital.”

The teacher, looking at me instead of Yu Arin, says not to worry too much.

“Your boyfriend must have been really worried. He is drenched in sweat.”

“…Ah.”

Only then did I realize how frantically I had rushed here. My body was so soaked, it was as if I had been the one playing basketball, not Yu Arin.

“That’s why I told you not to make a fuss.”

Yu Arin, pressing an ice pack to her ankle. Seeing a slight smile on her lips somehow annoyed me.

The teacher leaves to attend to someone else, and we are left alone in the tent.

Yu Arin, perched on the edge of a cot.

“Give it here.”

Displeased with Yu Arin’s smile, I snatch her ice pack and kneel on one knee in front of her.

Then, I carefully hold her heel and apply the ice pack to her ankle.

Yu Arin, who was perched on the camp bed, still held a smile, seemingly finding my appearance not too bad.

“Don’t smile. What’s so good that you’re laughing when you’re hurt?”

I remarked with a pout, but the playful atmosphere remained.

“Ah, losing the basketball game is a bit disappointing. But this isn’t too bad.”

“……”

“It’s nice, this feeling that you’re really caring for me.”

“Sigh.”

What on earth is she talking about now?

“Worried I might get hurt sometimes.”

“Stop talking nonsense!”

It was probably meant as a joke to lighten the mood, but in this situation, it didn’t come off as one.

The small, delicate soles of Yu Arin’s feet.

Thinking about how another student stepped on them made me feel upset again.

“Don’t get mad at the others for no reason. One often gets hurt playing sports. It was just an accident.”

“Even if stepping on your foot was an accident, it’s true that the opponent blocked too excessively.”

Isn’t it clearly a foul to push a shooting player with your body?

Even someone like me, who doesn’t know much about basketball, can tell that that’s not right.

“Then a penalty would have been applied according to the basketball rules for the foul. Since it’s just a sprain and not serious, there’s no problem.”

“Whew.”

Still not quite satisfied, I let out a breath filled with complicated emotions, and Yu Arin places her hand on my head.

“Oh dear, what should I do if you like me this much?”

Yu Arin gently strokes my head.

I glance up at her slightly and nod.

“Yeah, I like you a lot. So don’t get hurt.”

“…!”

Was she not expecting me to say it so openly? She quickly withdraws her stroking hand to cover her face.

“Y-you’re being overly kind.”

I didn’t know why she was nervous, but her legs were tense.

“Relax.”

“Oh, okay.”

As I gently iced Yu Arin’s leg, I carefully kissed her ankle.

“Wh-what are you doing?! Why all of a sudden?!”

“Just, so you don’t get hurt.”

“Is this some kind of Harry Potter thing? Why kiss an ankle!”

Is she talking about medieval fantasy?

I respect Yu Arin’s level of knowledge.

But it seems kissing her ankle wasn’t so bad for Yu Arin after all.

Ankle as an erogenous zone after all.

Well, not really.

It’s just the act of me expressing affection that makes her happy.

‘Seeing her happy makes me feel good too.’

Isn’t it a simple act, really?

Yet, seeing her shoulders shake with embarrassment isn’t so bad.

Smooch.

This time, I kissed a little higher on her ankle.

Once more, up to the knee.

“Hey, hey! It tickles.”

Though she says that, her voice trails off, suggesting she doesn’t really dislike it.

Getting up slightly, once on the thigh.

Pushing her shoulders to lay her on the bed, once on the stomach.

When reaching the chest, Yu Arin held her breath with an expression of anticipation.

“……”

Intentionally bypassing the chest, a kiss on the collarbone and a gentle nibble on the nape.

“Hmm.”

Yu Arin lets out a faint breath.

Her scent is sweet.

The mix of her usual fruity scent and sweat felt like a forbidden fruit unable to not be desired.

Perhaps because of the sweat we shared.

As our bodies pressed together, it felt even more sticky and clingy.

The distance where our chests almost touched.

The pounding sound is confusing whether it’s mine or Yu Arin’s.

“You sweated.”

Was that the best rebellious comeback she could muster?

Feeling that she seemed rather cute, I gently embraced her and whispered in her ear.

“I was sweating too.”

“You, you’re fine.”

“Why? I smell, don’t I?”

“…That’s fine too.”

Yu Arin, her tongue loosened as if intoxicated by the atmosphere. Seizing the moment, I gently turned Yu Arin’s head towards me and kissed her.

A slightly forceful kiss.

Yet, even with her relaxed tongue, Yu Arin continued the kiss.

It was a sticky moment.

The atmosphere, our bodies, and even our feelings for each other.

Phew.

Even the breaths we exchanged in the brief pause.

Amidst the ongoing sticky kiss.

“Ahem, students?”

At the sound of the nurse’s voice from behind, I quickly stood up.

“Yes!?”

“…I understand you’re fond of each other, but this isn’t the place for that.”

“I’m sorry!”

“It’s because of, because of Kim Woojin!”

Just as Yu Arin was about to get up and flee, blaming me immediately.

“Aagh!?”

She sat back down on the bed due to the pain in her ankle.

Of course, we had no choice but to leave the sports event midway.

Yu Arin’s pain was more severe than we thought, so we went straight to the hospital, and she ended up with a partial cast.

By the time we left the hospital, it was already evening.

Yu Arin was picked up by her family, who had been contacted, and I, who had stayed by her side all day, let out a long sigh.

“I haven’t even washed up.”

Having stayed by Yu Arin’s side, my body, drenched in sweat, felt sticky.

I wanted to go to a nearby bathhouse, but I didn’t have a change of clothes.

And impulsively buying something wasn’t an option since my finances weren’t exactly abundant.

‘It’s a relief I don’t have to work today.’

It was really fortunate that I told the boss about today’s sports day and got my shift off.

Otherwise, I might have had to leave Yu Arin in the middle to go to work.

“Better get home quickly.”

A musty smell stings my nose.

Yu Arin laughed and said I smelled like a man while burying her face in my chest until her parents arrived.

Honestly speaking, I was just dirty right now.

Buzz!

The phone rang then.

A person I forgot about due to being preoccupied with Yu Arin.

– Choi Yiseo: Is Arin okay?

It was Choi Yiseo.

I had spoken to Seo Yerin after the sports day ended. But Choi Yiseo, being the class representative, seemed busy wrapping things up.

– Kim Woojin: Yeah, she’s okay. She has a half-cast, but it’s not a big deal. Her parents just came to pick her up.

– Choi Yiseo: That’s a relief.

‘…I feel kind of sorry.’

I was planning to stick with Choi Yiseo today, but unexpectedly ended up spending time with Yu Arin.

Well, considering Choi Yiseo had a hard time because of me today, she might actually be relieved.

– Kim Woojin: Too bad, today was supposed to be Choi Yiseo’s day to fall apart, haha.

I intended it as a joke, sending a message with the nuance that it was fortunate for her that I wasn’t around.

Choi Yiseo takes a long time to reply.

“What’s this?”

I wondered if I said something wrong and started to worry a bit.

– Choi Yiseo: Can you come to my place?

Surprised by the sudden message, I glance around.

Coincidentally, Choi Yiseo’s place, where she lives with Jung Minji, was nearby.

– Kim Woojin: It’s about 10 minutes away. I’ll be there soon.

I didn’t ask for any specific reason.

I was just going because she asked me to go.

When I arrived and knocked on the door, Choi Yiseo, dressed comfortably, shyly opened it for me.

It doesn’t seem like it was because she was late due to the sports day.

“Why? Is something wrong?”

“No, just… I was wondering if you had dinner.”

“I had cup noodles with Arin earlier.”

Since I ate at the nearby convenience store while waiting for her parents, I’m not really hungry.

“Oh, I see…”

Choi Yiseo, who had been staring at me intently, took a small step closer.

I wondered what we were doing at the doorstep.

Sniff sniff.

When she pretended to smell me, I involuntarily stepped back.

“Hey, hey! I haven’t showered yet, so I must smell terrible. Don’t come any closer.”

Even though I said that, Choi Yiseo bit her lip and boldly came closer to smell me again.

In the end, with my back pressed against the wall, I had no choice but to endure Choi Yiseo’s actions.

“…Rin, sme-”

“Huh?”

“I can smell Arin on you.”

Out of nowhere?

“Well, it can’t be helped, right? You were together all day.”

As I scratched the back of my head and answered, Choi Yiseo immediately grabbed my hand and pulled me inside.

Then she dragged me to the bathroom and tossed a towel at me.

“Wash up.”

“Huh?”

“I said hurry up and wash.”

Hearing Choi Yiseo’s seemingly angry voice, I nodded without realizing and started washing right away.

‘I guess it’s fine to use anything.’

Shampoo, conditioner, body wash, etc.

A moment of comfort as I looked at the quite luxuriously lined-up items.

Clatter.

I heard the sound of the door opening.

I couldn’t see properly because of the shampoo suds.

“What the? Are you going to use the bathroom?!”

Startled, I turned my head, rinsing off with water.

As if hiding, Choi Yiseo stood behind me, squeezing body wash onto a shower towel and lathering it up.

“Sw, swimsuit?”

Unexpectedly, Choi Yiseo entered wearing a rash guard.

I was at a loss for words, wondering what this situation was.

It wasn’t Seo Yerin, but Choi Yiseo acting so proactively with me.

Sigh.

Choi Yiseo, who started scrubbing my back with a shower towel, mumbled as if driven by something.

“Scrub. Scrub it clean… Get rid of all the smell.”

Only then.

Did I notice.

‘She’s jealous.’

Choi Yiseo was, unusually, jealous right now.

There was no helping being with the injured Yu Arin, so she couldn’t really complain.

But the fact that I was with another woman during the time I should have been with her.

Moreover, the fact that I came back with that other woman’s scent all over me.

With her lips clamped tightly shut, Choi Yiseo, erasing Yu Arin’s scent from my body, felt inexplicably adorable.

“Being naked by myself feels somewhat embarrassing.”

Choi Yiseo silently continued wiping my body. I quietly watched through the mirror and suddenly wondered.

“…But where’s Minji?”

Come to think of it, isn’t Minji here?

They live together, so where could she be?

“The, b-b-bathhouse.”

Choi Yiseo replied in a small, almost crawling voice.

I barely heard it since she was right behind me.

“Bathhouse? Why all of a sudden?”

“I…asked her this morning. To sleep at the bathhouse.”

“Hm? But why—”

I was about to ask but suddenly stopped.

In the mirror, Choi Yiseo’s flushed face looked at me, as if wondering how much she needed to explain.

The hands wiping my back became slightly rougher.

“Ah…”

I’d forgotten.

That today was the day we set for sex.

And it was Choi Yiseo who arranged it.

‘I wasn’t the only one looking forward to it.’