episode_0133

The street darkened on a late night.

Choi Eseo and I were walking together along the nighttime road.

Though we had taken a bus, we needed to walk a bit to reach our lodging at C Hotel.

“….”

The chilly air was as sharp as the awkward tension that pricked at our cheeks.

It wasn’t the first time this had happened with Choi Eseo. After intense emotional conversations, this uncomfortable silence always followed.

Only the sound of our footsteps crunching through the snow that hadn’t yet melted on the street could be heard faintly.

We continued moving forward, maintaining a distance that was neither too far nor too close.

Thanks to that, I couldn’t help but keep replaying the recent situation in my mind.

“What a crazy bastard.”

At that moment, I hoped Choi Eseo wouldn’t feel unnecessary guilt as I tried to rationalize things in my own way.

Now, looking back, it seems like I just acted tough, shouting about being a bad person.

“Just a lunatic, nothing more or less, right?”

No matter how much I tried to package myself positively, the only response I got was that I was trash.

I even started worrying that Choi Eseo might start losing interest in me.

“Do you regret it?”

Choi Eseo glanced at me, seeing my distress.

I could tell by the furrow on her brow that she noticed something was off.

“No, well… It was a crazy statement, honestly.”

As I chuckled in disbelief at my own thoughts, Choi Eseo finally smiled softly.

This helped lighten the mood.

“I’m glad you know.”

“It was sincere at the time, but… it was a bit over the top.”

Although I wanted to dismiss it as a slip of the tongue, it seemed to put Choi Eseo at ease instead.

“The statement was a bit trashy. But feeling precious enough to become trash myself, I sensed that.”

“It’s strange. How could words turn out like that?”

Even now, it seemed odd.

I wondered how someone like me, who hangs out with many other women, could end up protecting Choi Eseo.

But somehow, it worked out.

“Are you staying tonight and heading back tomorrow?”

“Yeah, just taking a break this week before I have to work again.”

With Yoonji and Little Brother, I was quite curious about what they did for a living, but hesitated to ask.

“They’re setting up a company with individual broadcasters. Well, I’m just doing odd jobs for them.”

“Oh, I get the idea.”

Little Brother had been interested in internet broadcasting for a long time, so he probably had thoughts about getting involved in that area.

I knew his girlfriend was also a former internet broadcaster.

“I should call later to ask more.”

We arrived at the hotel entrance without realizing it.

I was about to say goodbye, but Choi Eseo, with a mischievous grin, said as she dug her hands deep into her pockets.

“Give me a ride.”

“Childish, aren’t you?”

“Cute.”

Even acting cute?

“Well, I can’t resist that.”

As I gestured to go straight, Choi Eseo, smiling, led the way.

Since it would only take a few minutes anyway, I followed without much thought.

It was late, so there weren’t many people in the hallway. I planned to just greet them lightly and leave, but as soon as the door opened, two people rushed out with a bang.

Seo Yerin and Yu Arin.

Dressed in pajamas, they immediately threw remarks at me upon seeing me.

“I distinctly told you to send our Isu by 8!”

“You’re really damn late!”

I wanted to explain that I had my reasons, but revealing everything that happened today felt a bit much.

“I just ended up being late.”

Scratching the back of my head, I tried to make excuses, but they were even more furious.

“Hey! Kim Woojin! Hey! No sincerity in your excuses!”

“Can I just smack you for being late?”

These guys, anyway.

Late at night, just as she was about to tell everyone to keep quiet, Choi Eiseo spoke a bit faster.

“Woojin says he’s going to be a bad guy from now on.”

“…Huh?”

Are you saying that here?

When Seo Yerin and Yu Arin asked what that meant, Choi Eiseo began to explain in some detail.

“He says that because he’s a bad guy, it’s inevitable for girls to like him. Fighting over a guy among friends is also their own fault.”

“Wow, Kim Woojin flexing.”

“Damn, makes me want to puke.”

“….”

What’s going on?

Why are they suddenly starting to hit me?

“So, don’t fight with your friends either. It’s all Woojin’s fault.”

With a grin, she advised Seo Yerin and Yu Arin, who were in similar situations.

But seeing them glaring at me fiercely,

It seems that despite the good intention behind that statement earlier, it actually made them upset.

“Well, I just said that in the heat of the moment…”

I tried to hastily justify myself, knowing that I had no intention of causing harm.

“Woojin is fine, but sometimes he can be really terrible.”

“I’m the opposite. I dislike everything, but sometimes he’s okay.”

“Hmm, personally, I hate it when people make weird jokes. Thinking they’re funny is the most annoying thing.”

“Why are you hitting me all of a sudden?”

A sudden situation where the three of them started verbally attacking me.

I couldn’t stop or avoid the chatter between the three of them.

“Being with a girl only makes you a bad guy if you reach Jung Chanwoo’s level. Isn’t Kim Woojin just a bad guy wannabe?”

Yu Arin, mentioning Jung Chanwoo unnecessarily, hits me in a painful spot.

“A wannabe. That’s it. Exactly. Woojin isn’t a bad guy; he’s more of a jerk.”

Hitting the spot where Yu Arin had already struck painfully, Choi Eiseo made me numb.

“Did I get a fever from running around outside too much? Come inside and rest a bit before you go?”

Dismissing it as nonsense and placing her hand on my forehead to check for a fever, Seo Yerin even joined in.

“….”

Why did I say those things with these people?

What?

Is it okay because I’m a bad guy?

“Sigh, I should just die when I get home today.”

Deciding to leave this place immediately, as I clenched my fist, Seo Yerin, who was checking my temperature, and the others whispered so I couldn’t hear.

“I’m okay with cheating.”

“….”

“Just use a different cucumber instead.”

What kind of fresh nonsense is this?

“Any guy would have one.”

Seo Yerin nodded with a matter-of-fact response, smiling slyly.

“That’s right.”

“Have you lost your mind?”

It’s quite clever to use the anti-cheating argument.

“Hey, bad guy. Want to sleep here tonight?”

“Kim Woojin, the bed guy.”

“You brats.”

Due to Yu Arin and Choi Eiseo teasing me together, my head was spinning.

Feeling so embarrassed that I wanted to call 911 and ride an ambulance, my face turned red with anger.

“What do we do! The bed guy seems to have a fever!”

Seo Yerin looked worried with a serious expression. It was obvious she wasn’t serious but just playing around.

“I’m out.”

Already feeling torn apart physically and mentally, I wanted to escape, but the three wouldn’t let me go.

“Where are you going? Trying to seduce someone again, bed guy?”

“English and Batman!”

“Omnia vincit amor, Woojin Kim!”

“Stop it!”

I feel like I’m going to die of embarrassment!

As I writhed in agony and shouted, the three laughed heartily.

It seems teasing me is so much fun for them.

If they provoke me like this, I can’t just stay quiet.

Something.

Is there no way to shut their mouths?

The guys followed me all the way to the elevator.

Pressing the close button as I got into the elevator, I muttered softly.

“At night, they’re just losers.”

Although I said it in a somewhat refined manner,

It seemed to be quite a provocative taunt as immediate reactions came from the other side.

“….!”

Startled, Choi Eiseo froze, his face turning as red as a beetroot.

It seemed like the image that I had begged for that night was suddenly popping up in my head.

“Damn it!”

Likewise, Yurin, trying to catch the elevator with a face flushed with embarrassment, was a step too late, and the doors closed as they were.

“I’m not clumsy.”

Though Seoyerin’s voice expressing injustice was heard just before the doors closed.

Anyway, I rode the elevator up to the 8th floor as it was. Perhaps I had succeeded in my revenge.

With a somewhat appeased feeling, I casually entered my room.

Passing by my roommates who were still gathered watching a drama without having slept yet, I went into the bathroom to wash up.

Just then, a message arrived.

I thought it might be someone else, but it was Seoyerin.

– Seoyerin: I’m not clumsy.

She’s gone crazy.

– Kim Woojin: You’re clumsy too. Obsessive.

– Seoyerin: ? Come back and try me.

She’s really something.

Yeah, honestly, compared to the others, Seoyerin is much more proactive.

– Kim Woojin: You won. Not clumsy.

– Seoyerin: Good job.

– Seoyerin: (Photo)

– Seoyerin: A gift.

I thought she would send another photo of herself undressed, but this time it was a special one.

A photo that brings a smile as soon as you see it.

The background is a ski resort.

It was a picture of Yurin laughing brightly while riding a sled among children.

“In the end, she rode the sled.”

Laughing at the absurdity, I immediately sent the photo to Yurin.

– Yurin: (Photo)

This time, she sent a photo from her side.

The angle was similar, and the background was the same, but the person had changed.

It was a picture of Seoyerin enjoying herself while riding a sled.

After all the talk about being a tough girl, she ended up riding the sled herself.

– Kim Woojin: They’re besties.

This time, when I sent Seoyerin the photo I received from Yurin, another photo came back.

– Seoyerin: (Photo)

– Seoyerin: Taken by Senior Juhee.

Seeing them both smiling and riding the sled together, I burst into laughter.