Chapter 229

Chapter 229

Bamboo Forest Manager.

Episode 229: Teamwork

“Why does it feel like exam season comes around so quickly?”

It seems like the midterms just ended not too long ago.

For some reason, the finals are already looming right in front of us.

“Where did all my time go?”

Feeling sad under the covers, Seo Yerin, who is sitting by the bed, hums while looking at her phone.

“Woojin, look at this.”

Seo Yerin holds out her phone.

There was a social media post, with comments about Seo Yerin from the casino movie trailer we shot last time.

“Everyone’s asking who I am. Some even say they want to date me.”

“…Why are you here?”

It’s the weekend and I just woke up, so why is she in my room?

But Seo Yerin continues to speak, seemingly not hearing my question.

“Woojin, you’re lucky. People are jealous because your girlfriend is someone everyone admires.”

“Well, it’s nice, but… Why are you here?”

“Oh, come on, the company is going crazy with offers already? They say it’s the first time this has happened before debut.”

“Right, no intention of answering.”

Might as well wash up since I’m up.

I throw the blanket over the chattering Seo Yerin and head to the bathroom.

The bicycle standing at the entrance of the room felt awkward at first, but now it’s familiar.

Squeak.

As I open the bathroom door, Yu Arin is in the middle of changing.

“Oh, geez! Knock before you come in!”

I got kicked out immediately.

‘What the heck.’

I definitely slept alone in the dorm yesterday, so why are they here?

I turned my head slightly to ask Seo Yerin again, but seeing her wrapped in my blanket and rolling around on the bed, I decided to just give up.

Clunk.

Yu Arin came out of the bathroom wearing pajama pants.

It seemed she had just arrived and changed into comfortable clothes.

“Did you just wake up?”

“Why are you here… Ah, never mind.”

I just gave up.

As I was showering inside, it became noisy outside.

I wondered what was going on, and then the bathroom door suddenly opened, and Seo Yerin poked her head in.

“Woojin! Yiseo brought hamburgers. Come out and eat.”

“I’m showering!”

“We’ve seen everything already.”

As she glanced at my lower body and left, I thought she was something else.

After a quick shower, I came out to see three people sitting on the floor eating hamburgers.

“Ah, damn.”

“Oh yeah! I won!”

As I dried my hair with a towel and went out, Yu Arin grumbled and handed a nugget to Seo Yerin.

When I sat down and asked what they won, Choi Yiseo, who was next to me, explained.

“They bet on whether you’d come out dressed or undressed.”

“I thought you’d obviously come out undressed. But you came out wearing this?”

As Yu Arin expressed her frustration by hitting the floor, Seo Yerin quickly ate the nugget and explained.

“Woojin has a surprisingly girlish side, so he sometimes cares about the mood. He likes starting by undressing or being undressed, not just randomly stripping.”

“……”

It’s not wrong.

It’s a bit creepy how well she understands me.

I thought it was a bit much to have hamburgers first thing in the morning, but since they got something called McMorning, it went down easier.

“Ah, damn.”

As I grumbled while taking a bite, Choi Yiseo glanced over.

“Why? Is it not good?”

“I shouldn’t have done it yesterday.”

Smack!

I got hit on the back of the head and decided to just eat my burger quietly.

“Hey, but it doesn’t smell.”

“Did you spray deodorizer?”

“Yeah, last time Yiseo came in and complained about the smell, so she bought it for me.”

The look of disgust on Choi Yiseo’s face when she said I smelled like a man still haunts me traumatically.

“…I really hate that I’m getting used to conversations like this.”

Yiseo sighed deeply as she grumbled. Anyway, I thought there must be a reason the three of them came to me.

“This time, the four of us decided to do the group project together.”

“Why do it on the weekend?”

I protested as if it was unfair, but it seemed the conversation was already settled among the three.

With finals approaching, my mind was already restless, so why study even on the weekend?

“If we just use one weekend day, we can finish it all together.”

At least it’s familiar faces, so it’ll be comfortable.

The only class the four of us were taking together was one.

It was a major course called ‘Understanding Eastern and Western Classics’.

“We choose one Eastern and one Western classic from the list the professor posted, analyze the differences and similarities, and present them in English.”

Choi Yiseo explained simply.

Listening to that, I remembered the explanation from the lecture.

“Most of the classics the professor used in the lectures are on the list. You don’t have to read a book you’ve never seen before.”

“I might choke on my fries. Let’s finish eating first.”

As I interjected, Yiseo, perhaps embarrassed, briefly apologized and started eating again.

Now that I see it, I think they’d be the type to talk about work even while eating.

After quickly eating a hamburger, we start preparing under Choi Yiseo’s guidance.

“If we’re fast, by early morning. If slow, by tomorrow evening. Since we all know each other, let’s not divide roles separately, and do everything together.”

Researching together.

Working on the PPT together.

“…What about the presentation?”

“If no one wants to do it, I’ll do it.”

Both Yu Arin and I nodded at Choi Yiseo’s words. Who would want to present-

“I will! I’ll do it!”

I thought, but someone actually wanted to.

Seo Yerin raised her hand, seemingly having thought it through.

“I’m quite the hot topic right now. It’s good to present and make an impression while I can.”

“Yeah, that sounds good.”

Choi Yiseo seemed pleased with Seo Yerin’s declaration and accepted it warmly.

And so, our group project of four began.

“Oh, I don’t want to do this.”

As I muttered a word, the sharp gazes of the three who were focused turned to me.

“…I’ll shut up and do it. Alright.”

Clearly, we started at 11 after waking up at 10, washing up, and eating a hamburger.

And now it’s already 6 in the evening.

About a third of the group project was done.

The once lively three were now slumped, literally becoming college students.

Empty plastic coffee cups were scattered around us.

“It seems like we’ve slowed down a bit.”

Choi Yiseo stretched, feeling a bit sluggish.

At her words, the other two either sprawled out tiredly or pressed on their eyes with their hands.

“Should we take a break? If we find our pace, we might finish by early morning.”

Everyone agreed with Choi Yiseo’s words and just lay down. It’s nice because it’s not like a café here, so it’s comfortable.

I never thought I would take on the challenge of finishing a group project in just one day.

As the four of us talked about everything and nothing while working, it progressed surprisingly quickly.

“Woojin, sorry about earlier.”

Lying down, Seo Yerin apologized, seemingly bothered by the brief argument over research.

“No, I’m sorry.”

I don’t even remember what we fought about anymore. Seo Yerin probably doesn’t either.

Neither of us handled it well.

Hearing our apologies, Yu Arin chuckled, recalling the earlier situation.

“That was hilarious. What did Kim Woojin say earlier? Something about settling it with sex or something?”

Ah, I remember now.

While discussing whose research was correct, someone suggested settling it with sex.

“I was really surprised when you two actually headed to the bathroom.”

Choi Yiseo, covering her eyes with her hand, let out a dry laugh. At that moment, it wasn’t so much about wanting sex, but more about wanting to prove that I was right.

“If you fight, just have sex. Then it’s all resolved.”

Seo Yerin said with a sly smile, causing the others to burst into laughter.

The sunset is still visible outside.

Maybe because it’s summer, the slow-setting sun evokes a strange sense of sentimentality.

Luckily, there’s a central air conditioner in the dormitory.

Otherwise, we would have been sweating profusely.

“What are you all planning to do this summer vacation?”

Choi Yiseo asked, perhaps trying to change the mood a little.

Just chatting here, then eating, and starting again, I guess.

“I’m going into filming! Although it’s a supporting role with limited screen time, it’s impactful! The company is considerate and selects roles that suit me.”

To accommodate Seo Yerin, a student, the role doesn’t require much time but definitely makes her face recognizable.

“A survivor living alone in an apocalypse? Something like that. Since the concept is that her lover died, there aren’t many lines.”

Why do I feel a chill when I hear about a lover dying?

Anyway, Seo Yerin will be busy during summer break.

Next was Yu Arin.

“I…don’t have any particular plans. Maybe just a part-time job and Taekwondo? I thought I’d try going back after a while.”

Taekwondo?

I thought she’d quit, but maybe she still has some lingering attachment?

I found myself a bit intrigued.

“I think I’ll be helping Yoon-ji again this time. She asked if Minji and I could come along.”

So Choi Yiseo is working with Oh Yoon-ji. Last winter break, we all went to Gold One and helped Yoon-ji.

‘Come to think of it, I haven’t seen her lately.’

I heard she’s re-enrolling from the second semester. It’s the first time she’s been so out of touch.

Has she moved on completely?

If so, that’s a relief.

She’s someone who usually does things in a flashy way, so her quietness is a bit concerning.

Though I couldn’t see it lying down, I could feel the three people’s gazes on me.

“I’m going on a bicycle trip.”

I did just buy a bicycle, didn’t I?

“I just want to wander aimlessly. I planned to go camping last time but couldn’t.”

“That’s more wholesome than I expected.”

“Indeed…”

Even I think it’s wholesome.

“And a primary school reunion? I got an invitation, but if you guys say not to go, I won’t.”

Didn’t I have a hard time last time because of the violinist Choi Jin-ah?

Thinking it was only right to report, I mentioned it, and the three were already sitting and staring at me intently.

“Is there a reunion for college students?”

“Yeah, that’s a bit unusual.”

“Was your elementary school one of those places where rich kids gather?”

“Well, sort of.”

There were quite a few kids from wealthy families. Actually, the reunion wasn’t just about catching up and drinking.

It’s about rekindling old memories and expanding networks by reacquainting with each other.

“You know, there are a lot of cases where people have affairs after meeting at reunions.”

Yu Arin said with a laugh, and Choi Yiseo showed an ambiguous reaction.

“That’s a minority. Those people stand out because they’re shocking. Most just strengthen friendships normally.”

“Hey, how do you know? They might sneakily hold hands behind the scenes. Suggest going for a smoke and end up kissing.”

“It could happen, but it doesn’t mean it will.”

As the two continued to bicker, Seo Yerin intervened from the side.

“Have sex!”

Crazy girl.

“Just have sex instead of fighting!”

“Need help?”

As soon as she pretended to take off her pants, both sighed simultaneously.

“I was wrong.”

“Me too, I think I was wrong.”

If both say they’re wrong, I don’t know what they want.

“What should we eat for dinner?”

Is the reunion talk just going to fizzle out like this?

‘It’d be simpler not to go.’

Deciding not to go, I started discussing with the others what to eat for dinner.