Chapter 243

Chapter 243

Bamboo Forest Manager.

Episode 243: A Prohibition Order

“Jinho hyung, you haven’t given up on Arin yet, have you?”

On the way to Yu Arin’s house.

Pyo Jinho momentarily closed his mouth at the juniors’ question directed at him.

“…What?”

What did they just say?

Pyo Jinho frowned and turned his body. His massive build often intimidated others.

But the people here knew Pyo Jinho well, and they were open with each other in many ways, so it didn’t really have an effect.

“Well, isn’t it true? You’re going to the army soon, and you’re suddenly doing this?”

One junior said, and another added right next to him.

“That’s true. Honestly, when it’s time for me to go to the army, I’d probably just do whatever I want instead of this.”

“Are you trying to win Arin over again? If so, we’re here to help.”

“Now that you’re a college student, wouldn’t it be different?”

The juniors’ chatter was like the fluttering of pigeons heard in the park.

It was neither nutritious nor meaningful, and he didn’t want to care.

“To her, I…”

Pyo Jinho’s lips twitched as if he wanted to explain what had happened to him.

But in the end, he couldn’t say anything and just let out a long, deep sigh.

No matter how strong-hearted a person is, if they’re rejected to that extent by someone they like, their mental state is bound to waver.

It also became a personal opportunity to reflect on his life.

That’s probably why the juniors, who used to be cautious, now followed him more comfortably.

They arrived at Yu Arin’s house before they knew it.

“But where are the other hyungs?”

“They all went to the army.”

The kids were having a casual conversation as if nothing was wrong, but Pyo Jinho felt strangely tense after hearing such a story.

Ding dong!

He pressed the doorbell and took a deep breath.

Even though he was just there to help as requested, he felt tense for no reason.

Clunk.

The person who opened the door was an unexpected face, but someone Pyo Jinho knew.

“Kim, Woojin?”

“What, it’s Jinho hyung.”

Kim Woojin was unusually hostile.

He frowned slightly as he looked at Pyo Jinho and even the men behind him.

“Why are you all crowding into someone else’s house like this?”

“Um? Well, it’s just…”

“Hey! I told you I invited them!”

Yu Arin’s sharp voice cut off Pyo Jinho’s attempt to explain.

Then she pulled Kim Woojin inside and came out herself.

Carrying a load of mock weapons.

“I told you the kids were coming to pick these up because we’re practicing tonight.”

“Right…”

Kim Woojin’s voice was dejected.

Pyo Jinho was rather taken aback, wondering if he was being hostile even though he knew they were coming.

“Here, take all of this and go ahead. I’ll be there soon.”

Pyo Jinho and the other juniors took all the weapons. It seemed they knew Yu Arin, as they exchanged simple greetings.

Kim Woojin, apparently displeased, glared at the men from behind Yu Arin.

With a partial cast on his leg, he exuded a strange sense of intimidation, making the men feel slightly tense.

“Should I give you a ride, Arin?”

“No, it’s fine. It’s not even dark yet.”

“Then I’ll come pick you up. It’ll be dark by the time practice ends, right? Or should I just come watch you practice?”

“Are you kidding? No, just stay home.”

From their bickering, one could tell the nature of their relationship.

Some of the guys who knew about the dynamics between Yu Arin, Jeong Chan-woo, and Pyo Jinho couldn’t resist their curiosity and asked Kim Woojin, who appeared out of nowhere.

“By any chance… Are you Arin’s boyfriend?”

“Arin’s?!”

For some reason, this irked Kim Woojin, and he was about to rush in, but Yu Arin pushed him back with her back.

“Oh, come on, take it easy!”

“No, you just acted so naturally familiar! Call her Yu Arin!”

“Yes…”

Hearing the response, Kim Woojin nodded in satisfaction and hugged Yu Arin from behind.

“I’m Arin’s boyfriend, Kim Woojin. Please take care of us from now on.”

“Hey, hey! The kids are watching!”

“And actually, I have a ton of money. So let’s not have any reason to blush. If I hold a grudge, I’ll take it all the way.”

“Hey! Take this guy away! Oh, I wondered why he was standing at the entrance!”

“Woojin! Let’s go inside!”

Seo Yerin, who had come outside, finally dragged Kim Woojin away, bringing the situation to a close.

The guys, momentarily mesmerized by Seo Yerin’s beauty, snapped out of it when Yu Arin closed the door.

“Phew, sorry. He’s not usually like that. Sometimes he gets weirdly obsessive.”

Despite her words, the slight upward curve of her lips showed that Yu Arin herself was somewhat enjoying the situation.

“So, Arin, do you think it’ll take a while to get there? Should I prepare in advance?”

When Pyo Jinho awkwardly tried to steer the conversation back to work, Yu Arin shook her head.

“No, I’ll catch up soon. Actually, I could go right now, but-”

With a smile that seemed to show how pleased she was, Yu Arin turned her body and opened the door, continuing,

“My boyfriend is just so possessive. You guys go ahead.”

Thud.

Yu Arin went back inside.

The people who had been watching her absentmindedly gathered their things and got back on the elevator.

“…I want a girlfriend.”

At one person’s muttering, several others nodded in agreement.

“Aaaah! Arin isss!”

Even after being dragged by Seo Yerin, I couldn’t calm down.

No, maybe I should say I got even more agitated without those guys around.

“Watching her sweat and hang out with those guys makes me lose my mind!”

As I flailed around lying on the living room floor, Seo Yerin, who had dragged me in, let out a deep sigh.

“But you can’t just stop Arin from doing anything.”

“I can! I can take responsibility even if she does nothing!”

As I shouted, Choi Yiseo, who was eating the chicken we ordered earlier at the dining table, chimed in.

“And yet, you hang out with other girls.”

“……”

In the midst of my tantrum, I slowly let the strength drain from my body and sprawled out.

How should I put it?

It felt like those words just snapped me back to reality.

Then Yu Arin came back inside.

“What, you were just going wild a moment ago, and now you’re calm again.”

“Yeah, as soon as Yiseo said something, I was done for.”

“Hmm.”

With a strangely disappointed hum, Yu Arin went straight into her room.

She’s probably getting ready to leave soon.

As I stared blankly at the ceiling, Seo Yerin quietly lay down next to me.

Adjusting my arm position, she lay her head on it, and even such a trivial action felt adorable.

“What should we do now?”

Seo Yerin asked.

We just had chicken, and Yu Arin would leave for practice in the evening.

It was just me, Seo Yerin, and Choi Yiseo left.

“Hmm, should we watch a movie? Yiseo doesn’t play games.”

Since the three of us were together, I thought watching a movie might be nice.

“What kind of movie?”

Seo Yerin continued to ask questions.

Her tone didn’t really demand an answer; it seemed she just wanted to keep the conversation going.

“I don’t know. Action?”

“How about a sexy movie?”

“Hmm.”

I turned my head slightly to look at Choi Yiseo. Seo Yerin did the same.

“No.”

Choi Yiseo, who was eating the chicken drumsticks we left, replied without any hesitation.

“Yeah, she said no.”

“Too bad.”

As I stared blankly at the ceiling, Choi Yiseo, having filled her stomach, passed us and sat on the sofa.

“Hey, we need to be careful. This is Yu Arin’s house. We can’t do anything weird.”

“I hate it when she speaks the truth and I have nothing to say.”

I pouted, and Seo Yerin laughed and pulled me closer.

Seo Yerin hugged me tightly as I changed my position to curl up like a shrimp.

“It’s okay, it’s okay. Woojin, you can just stay buried in my chest.”

What’s this?

I really felt like everything was okay.

The fragrant scent of Seo Yerin and the soft touch that relaxed my facial muscles.

Is this maternal instinct?

No, but it’s a bit too much…

“Yerin.”

I called her cautiously while still in her embrace.

“Yes?”

“Are you not wearing underwear by any chance?”

I asked, half in disbelief, and Seo Yerin smiled brightly and whispered in my ear.

“Isn’t it a hassle to take it off every time?”

Thud!

As soon as I tensed my lower body, someone kicked my butt.

“Ouch!”

“Ahh!?”

It hurt so much that I lifted my head, which caused me to accidentally hit Seo Yerin’s chin with the back of my head.

“Woojin hit meee!”

Seo Yerin immediately started rolling on the floor, clutching her chin.

I turned my head to find the culprit who kicked me, and there stood Yu Arin, arms crossed, ready for action.

“What a mess! Just a moment ago, you were all about having a girlfriend, and now you’re happy being buried in her chest?”

“…I’m a patient, Arin.”

I tried to make a lame excuse, but of course, it didn’t work at all.

“This is my house, so I make the rules. For the next week while you’re staying here, Kim Woojin is banned from getting aroused.”

“Does that even make sense?!”

She really doesn’t understand men at all.

“Shut up! Just do as you’re told! Have you thought about how awkward it would be if my parents came home and there was a weird smell?!”

“Oh, that’s horrifying.”

Choi Yiseo, who was sitting on the sofa looking at her phone, chimed in.

Indeed.

If my mom came into my room and said there was a strange smell with a smile, I’d die of embarrassment.

“Anyway. You can’t do it. Got it? Besides, you hurt your leg, so you shouldn’t overdo it.”

I guess I shouldn’t make any intense movements.

But I had something to say about that.

“Hey, look at this!”

I lay flat and waved my hands up and down at my lower body.

“You guys could just get on top and move- ow!”

I couldn’t finish my sentence because Yu Arin kicked me in the waist.

“What kind of dictatorship controls arousal?!”

“Here it does. I’m the law.”

“I never said I wanted to come in the first place, did I?”

“Did kids under a dictatorship rule choose to be born there?”

Is she attending some debate academy or something?

“Ow, ow! My chin, my chin hurts so much! Lick it here!”

Don’t people usually ask for a blow on it?

After calming Seo Yerin, who was still rolling around saying her chin hurt, Yu Arin headed towards the entrance and I said,

“Call me before it ends. I’ll come pick you up.”

“What’s with the leg pain talk?”

“I need to walk a bit. I’ll come get you.”

Besides, others might try to hit on her after work.

“…Tch.”

Yu Arin, who was mumbling, didn’t seem to mind too much and hummed as she went outside.