episode_0175

Finally arriving at the pension.

Yoo Arin, who had been shivering on my back, burst into admiration at the sight.

“I’m finally back!”

The way back was darker, making Yoo Arin so scared that her legs went weak.

Thanks to that, I had to carry her, and unintentionally ended up exercising in the middle of the night, causing sweat to form on my forehead.

“Hurry up and get off, I feel like killing you.”

Breathing heavily, Yoo Arin put her hand on my neck and shouted.

“Let’s just go to the pension. I want to show the kids.”

“Get off before I drop you!”

“Oh, come on! If a woman shows a weak side, you should comfort her! I’m losing to you right now!”

I don’t think losing at night means this.

“My legs are shaking!”

Even after letting go of her hand, she wrapped her legs around my waist and didn’t fall.

“Damn it! I’m going to show the kids! I’m going to show off!”

“What are you showing off? Be ashamed of yourself, liking a guy who’s into fishing at your age!”

“You’re making a big deal out of me carrying you, and I’m just shaking because of that!”

“….”

Why does she have to say things like that?

“No, right? Even if I beg you not to do that, you just climb on top of me-!”

“Okay, I got it! Let’s go! How far should we go?”

“Full speed ahead!”

In front of the tent where the kids were eating.

We decided to just go up to Ahn Hyunho, who was grilling meat, and ran over.

Ahn Hyunho’s expression twisted sharply when he saw us, but Yoo Arin flashed a satisfied smile.

“Haha, that was fun. Is this why you ride on people?”

“I really want to scold you.”

“Hey! You brats are here!”

Ignoring my grumbling, Yoo Arin went into the tent.

Unpacking the items she bought as a penalty, she started playing with the kids again.

“Come to think of it, I didn’t eat.”

Amidst the chaotic situation, I only grilled meat and didn’t eat separately.

Realizing my hunger belatedly, I went inside because my stomach was growling.

Since the corner table was empty, I sat down and brought food and meat.

“Oh, Ahn Hyunho is good at grilling meat. It’s well done.”

Eating quietly by myself, my gaze naturally turned to the surroundings.

“I thought he would only drink soju.”

Surprisingly, only a few bottles of fruit soju were taken out, and there was no feeling of a drinking party.

The kids who had finished eating had also vacated their seats, so there weren’t many people.

They probably have a separate event after dinner, and then they’ll start the drinking party in earnest.

Then.

“Why are you eating alone here?”

Choi Yiseo came over with grilled sausages and smiled as she put one on my rice.

It’s a bit awkward right now.

“Hey, there’s a seat open at our table.”

Similarly, Yoo Arin, who had just entered, sat opposite me.

In a flash, my sides were filled.

Both of them were awkward, so I just kept my mouth shut and ate, but Yoo Arin propped her chin and asked.

“Did you tell her to stop too?”

“Kek! Cough!”

I almost spat out my food.

Yoo Arin was staring at me in confusion, but Choi Yiseo’s answer came from behind.

“Yes, I told her to stop.”

“But why are you smiling?”

“I told her to stop, didn’t I?”

“What are you talking about.”

I don’t know either.

So don’t ask me.

“Did you tell her to stop too?”

When Choi Yiseo asked subtly, Yoo Arin nodded.

“I told her to f*** off.”

“Sorry, but can you all leave me alone? I can’t digest.”

My head isn’t clear yet, and it’s uncomfortable to be approached like this.

I clearly said let’s break up, so I don’t understand why this situation is happening.

“Judging by the size, you’ll probably tell Yerin too.”

Quick on the uptake.

Feeling embarrassed and a pang in my heart, I tightly clenched the spoon in my mouth.

“Chew slowly. Don’t choke.”

“I feel like I might because of you guys.”

“You’re full. Want me to pat your back to help with digestion?”

“Don’t do it if it hurts.”

Talking softly from both sides, it was starting to get dizzy.

“And keep your arms close. It’s hard to eat.”

“Want me to feed you?”

Choi Yiseo asked seriously as she held the spoon. Was she always like this?

“Is it too much today?”

On the other side, Yuarin, looking slightly puzzled, squinted her eyes and asked, while Choi Yiseo hesitated for a moment.

“There are days like that.”

She coolly replied, “It can’t be helped.”

“Is it one of those days when the kid looks cute? Today seems like one of those days. More like since Wujin said to stop.”

“Does he have an NTR fetish or something? He said to stop, why does he like it?”

“Huh? What are you talking about?”

Choi Yiseo was clueless about this part.

Yuarin explained briefly, which annoyed Choi Yiseo.

“That’s impossible.”

“Kkabi, if that’s your preference, I can fulfill the role of stealing.”

Saying that, Yuarin sneakily slipped her hand inside my thigh.

I didn’t say anything.

I just decided to eat.

“Oh, what is it?”

“…I was thinking the same thing.”

Because Choi Yiseo’s hand and Yuarin’s hand met in the middle.

“They get along well.”

Muttering, I just listened to their conversation. I was too overwhelmed to intervene and say anything.

“Hey, Is it Isuh?”

Approaching Choi Yiseo, who was talking to Yuarin, a second-year female student.

She came to Choi Yiseo as soon as she entered, but her expression was dark.

Glancing at us, she whispered cautiously.

“I fought with the first and third-year students and Yerin.”

Who fought with whom?

Choi Yiseo seemed flustered and briefly puzzled.

“They fought? Why?”

I asked for more details to understand the situation.

“I don’t know. Actually, Yerin just got mad unilaterally… So the atmosphere in the room isn’t good.”

“I should go check it out.”

Choi Yiseo stood up.

Even as she stood up, her small gestures of leaning on my shoulder as if relying on me caught my eye.

That was Choi Yiseo who went out.

Yuarin, who overheard the conversation, showed a vague reaction.

“Yerin isn’t the type to fight with anyone.”

That’s true.

No, she wasn’t the type to scold anyone or fight in the first place.

Yuarin’s gaze was fixed on me.

“Are you going?”

“…”

“Are you going to take care of Yerin here? After hearing my confession?”

“…”

“It’s nighttime now. It’s your turn to win, but you’re just going to leave me and go?”

“Sigh, I have to go. She’s not the type to just get mad.”

She was talking to her juniors.

As I got up from my chair, Yuarin, who had been staring at me with her chin in her hand, chuckled and nodded.

“Ha, you brat. You’re annoying, but sexy.”

“What are you saying?”

“Just go quickly, you brat.”

She patted my butt and gestured for me to hurry.

After cleaning up the meal, I went outside. I could see a few people walking around, but there wasn’t a noisy atmosphere.

Thankfully, it didn’t seem like a big scene was made in front of many people.

I started looking around the pension area, thinking of finding Seo Yerin, and coincidentally, I saw Choi Yiseo standing in front of the room where the first-year girls stayed, sighing.

“What’s going on?”

She seemed more annoyed than anything else, as if she was caught up in something troublesome.

Judging by the atmosphere, it didn’t seem like a big deal that required flattery.

“So…?”

Choi Yiseo, who was about to explain, closed her mouth again and glanced at the next room.

It was the second-year girls’ room.

“Ah, a few first-year and third-year girls were talking behind your back, and it got back to Yerin.”

“My back? Is that a big deal?”

My image has been tarnished in the eyes of the third-year girls for a long time.

It’s natural that the third-year girls could talk about me while hanging out with the first-year girls.

Isn’t talking behind someone’s back the easiest way to get close to them?

Despite my indifferent response, Choi Yiseo’s expression twisted in discomfort.

“If someone you like gets talked about, you’d be angry. I’m a bit upset right now.”

With her arms crossed, Choi Yiseo pondered on what to do about the situation.

“Hey, don’t make a big deal out of it. If it escalates into a fight, it’ll be a real problem.”

“Will you just stay quiet if I get talked about?”

“….”

She probably won’t say a word.

Choi Yiseo wouldn’t do anything to provoke getting talked about.

“At least the argument didn’t leak outside the girls’ room.”

“Uh-huh.”

“I’ll go talk to the first and third-year girls, so you go to Yerin.”

With determination, Choi Yiseo went back into the first-year girls’ room.

“Hey, don’t make a big deal out of it. Try to stay neutral… you know what I mean?”

“I don’t know.”

It’s scarier when a usually quiet person gets angry.

Choi Yiseo had sharpened her words like a weapon and was ready to use them.

I didn’t know who would be hurt.

“Sigh.”

Following Choi Yiseo’s instructions, I entered the second-year girls’ room.

Seo Yerin, who was looking at her phone alone in the living room, suddenly stood up when she saw me enter.

“Woojin! Where were you? Have you eaten?”

Look at how casually she’s acting.

“I heard everything.”

Cutting to the chase, Seo Yerin let out a short exclamation and smiled brightly.

“You heard? I didn’t want you to find out. It’s cooler that way, right?”

“You’re not the type to get mad at others normally.”

“But you’re the one getting talked about. They spread rumors without knowing anything, calling you a weirdo.”

“It’s not a big deal. There’s no need to deal with those things.”

As I sighed and replied, Seo Yerin looked at me intently and countered.

“You did.”

“What?”

“You helped me when I was in trouble. But why can’t I help you?”

I was at a loss for words.

Recently, Seo Yerin had been handling things well on her own, so there was no need for me to intervene.

But in the past, when Seo Yerin was more cautious about her surroundings, she often helped me.

“You’re selfish. You can do it, but I can’t?”

“No, it’s just…”

I had nothing to say.

To that, Seo Yerin smiled brightly.

“Don’t worry, Woojin. Even if bad rumors spread about me, it won’t be a problem.”

“Why?” The question was on the tip of my tongue, but before I could ask, she answered.

“Because I’m pretty!”

“…What?”

“Even if it’s the same action, when a pretty girl does it, it’s not rude, it’s called classy in this world.”

“Well, that’s true, but…”

Was she always like this?

She knew she was pretty, but she didn’t usually use it to her advantage like this.

Standing tall and looking at me, Seo Yerin spoke in a slightly lower voice, seriously.

“I’m at this level now, Woojin.”

I remembered how she could protect herself even at Gold One.

She took it a step further.

“And now, I can protect you too.”

She said she would protect me.

“Even if it’s unfortunate, it doesn’t matter. I’ll use everything I have. Just like you did.”

Just like I did.

My past words and actions were holding me back.

“Seo Yerin.”

I felt a dryness in my throat in the stifling atmosphere.

It was comforting to hear her say she would protect me, but in reality, I had to say goodbye to her.

‘I feel like something similar is going to happen.’

But I am also a person who learns.

Having failed through Choi Eseo and Yoo Arin, I needed to approach this differently this time.

“Yerin, do you know why you’re so obsessed with me?”

“Because I like you?”

At the blunt response, I hesitated for a moment, but continued.

“Well… It’s not normal for a first experience partner-.”

“Oh, that again. First experience partner blah blah. Intense experience this and that. I feel like smacking you, Kim Woojin.”

She’s audacious.

“This kind of relationship isn’t normal. I told Eseo and Arin too. Let’s stop now.”

“Oh? Did you finally change from public property Kim Woojin to exclusive Kim Woojin?”

“I’m telling you the same thing, you brat.”

Annoyed by the harsh words, Seo Yerin chuckled.

“Do you know you sound subtly sexy when you curse?”

“Are you crazy with lust, seriously.”

I didn’t intend to go that far with my words.

“How sad your mother would be if she saw you going crazy over sex and throwing yourself at men.”

“That’s rude!”

“I didn’t insult your mother, I insulted you.”

Seo Yerin, who had been defiant, sighed and shook her head.

“No matter how much you say you like me, you always push me away. You seem to find my feelings too funny.”

“…”

“What did the other kids say? They probably told you to go away or said they didn’t like you.”

That’s the right answer.

My lips dried up as I gritted my teeth. The flow of conversation was being taken away.

“How on earth do I make you realize my determination? How far do I have to go when I’m accepting a situation where I’m competing with several others?”

Not a confrontational question, but a question seeking the answer like a scholar.

Seo Yerin’s black pupils stared at me intently.

A firm determination without retreat was evident.

“I found my own way. A way to clearly convey the size of my emotions and determination to you.”

Honestly, I had expected it.

I had prepared to take a step back and push her away, thinking she would come running and shouting about sex.

“You don’t have to have sex.”

On the contrary.

Seo Yerin made the opposite declaration.

“Yeah, you don’t need that. It’s okay not to. I can give up the bamboo forest, the sex chair, everything.”

Despite her bright smile, Seo Yerin didn’t come any closer to me.

And that was it.

“I love you that much, Woojin.”

It was the biggest expression of love that only she could give.