Chapter 233

Chapter 233

Bamboo Forest Manager.

Episode 233: Moving Forward

The final exams were over.

Well, it might sound strange, but anyway, they were over.

“Ah, you did well.”

Drenched in fatigue, I patted myself on the back, telling myself I did well.

“Where to go.”

Since I had planned a bike trip for the vacation, I needed to map out the route now.

“Ah, should I start in Seoul? Just cleanly from Seoul Station?”

Overwhelming freedom.

Just this alone was enough to get me excited.

Being able to decide everything from start to finish wasn’t just about the joy of traveling, it gave me a peculiar sense of elation.

I turn on the map for the bike trip starting from Seoul Station. Meanwhile, an udon advertisement pops up on a banner ad next to it.

“Hmm, udon.”

Naturally, I start by searching for famous udon places near Seoul Station.

‘Something feels exciting about this.’

Starting with eating udon at a famous place. I’ll order tempura as a side dish to eat together.

What should I do next?

Since I had udon for breakfast, let’s ride on and have lunch around 2 or 3 PM.

‘Should I make it a day of Japanese cuisine?’

Next was a Japanese-style pork cutlet place. Somehow, the route started to shape up with what to eat in this way.

‘Ah, should I try cycling around Jeju Island?’

I don’t remember if it was on YouTube or a TV program, but I think there was a bike trip around Jeju Island.

‘Or how about the whole country?’

Anything would be fine.

Having a goal was a good thing, and if it was something I wanted to do, it made me even more motivated.

While pondering.

Buzzz! Buzzz! Buzzz!

– Ahn Hyeon-ho –

Upon checking the ringing phone, an unwelcome name appeared.

Still, since they called, ignoring it would be a bit much.

“Hello.”

– Hey, why aren’t you coming?

“I was planning a trip.”

– You’re planning that already? Finals just started?

Damn it.

“I was just daydreaming that finals were over.”

– …That’s really pointless.

So what should I do?

I already gave my all during the midterms.

I never thought finals would come this soon.

– I told you they were coming.

“What are you talking about? I didn’t get any messages.”

Where would I even go during finals anyway?

– Oh, wasn’t it you? Sorry. I was planning to hang out with some girls from another university today, but I invited Chan-woo instead of you.

What is this guy?

“Did you call just to tease me?”

– That’s right.

“…Where are you?”

– Trying to send the bald guy, right? You’re too predictable.

Damn it.

He figured it out immediately.

If the boss goes, it’s over.

“The boss likes you guys.”

– Shut up.

“Why are you taking Chan-woo to a place like that? He probably has a girlfriend.”

I don’t know how many times he’s changed since I last saw him, but anyway, it’s hard to imagine Chan-woo without a girlfriend now.

– He broke up.

“Again?”

– You know, Woojin, I always thought it would be nice if he were a girl.

“…What are you talking about?”

– Think about it. If a crazy beautiful girl just got confessed to, she’d date anyone. Then I’d have a chance-!

“Ah, damn it. I’m blocking you, you crazy bastard.”

– …Just kidding.

“Ugh, disgusting bastard. Is your head filled with nothing but girls?”

I click my tongue, resolving to tell Chan-woo about this statement.

– Hey, it’s not like I want to do this, okay? Senior Han-kang set this up.

“Those guys again?”

– Yeah, it’s those guys again. They’re making a fuss about getting girlfriends before Han-kang and Jinho go to the army.

“Can’t they just date after they come back from the army…?”

Even though their personalities are trash, their looks aren’t too bad.

Han-kang has the vibe of a handsome church oppa.

Pyo Jinho is like a reliable bear.

They each have different charms, so if they seriously tried to date, it wouldn’t be bad.

But the problem was their standards were too high.

And women with high standards don’t bother dating guys who are about to enlist.

– But I guess that’s not the case for them. Anyway, we’re going to meet some girls. I heard they’re from the dance department.

“Oh, I’m not jealous at all.”

Honestly, I’m not even slightly envious. Despite my words, Ahn Hyeon-ho smirked.

– Woojin, guys don’t like pretty or attractive girls.

“Is that why you confessed to Yiseo?”

– …You bastard.

He cleared his throat and continued speaking.

– Guys like new girls.

Snap.

I just cut him off.

Even though I was living a trashy life, that was pretty trashy too.

‘Is that why we became friends…?’

Anyway, the fact that those fools were going out without me didn’t really bother me.

It just felt a bit dirty, like I was being left out.

‘Something feels off.’

I wouldn’t have gone even if they called, but the fact that they didn’t even pretend to call was vague.

‘Sigh, whatever. Thanks to that, I got a grip.’

Reflecting on myself who was daydreaming about a trip until just now.

Thanks to Ahn Hyeon-ho’s call, my determination to do well on the exam, unlike those guys, started to burn.

I open my book, determined to focus on studying.

And a few minutes later, I closed it again.

Surprisingly, motivation wasn’t something that could be instilled by others.

“Ugh, this is so frustrating.”

I know I need to study, but I just don’t want to, which makes me oddly gloomy.

While I was trying to snap out of it by cursing at myself several times.

Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!

The phone rang once more.

I wondered if those idiots were calling again, but it wasn’t them.

– Yu Arin –

Yu Arin, who somehow sensed my frustration, called. I quickly answered, but there was a brief silence.

“Hello?”

Wondering why there was no response, I asked again, and Yu Arin let out a low sigh before replying.

– Are you busy right now?

Why is she asking about my schedule for a change?

Usually, she just demands my time.

“I’m not busy.”

Thinking it must be something unusual, I replied, but Yu Arin still took a moment before continuing.

It must be something difficult for her to say.

– Do you remember when you pulled your pants down last time?

“Oh, during the exam?”

I remember it was during the midterms. Now, the finals are already around the corner.

Time really flies.

– You promised to grant me a wish then, because I won the bet.

She still remembers that.

I thought it had naturally faded from memory.

“Yeah, I remember. Why? What do you want?”

I don’t have anything to do right now anyway. I push aside the book that’s calling me to study and stand up.

– Come with me somewhere.

A hotel?

A hotel would be nice.

Come to think of it, Yu Arin once bought a cat costume from our shop.

It would be great if she wore that.

“Anywhere.”

Smiling brightly, I immediately started getting ready to go out.

“Is it here?”

I never thought there would still be places like this in Korea.

I stare blankly at the large building. It doesn’t have floors going up, but it stretches out widely.

The sign reads ‘Dae Han Cheer Up Taekwondo’, a somewhat old-fashioned name that shows its age.

“Why does it have ‘cheer up’ in the name all of a sudden?”

As I look up at the sign blankly, Yu Arin, dressed casually beside me, gives me a light tap on the back.

“They opened during the IMF. It’s to cheer Korea on.”

“For a Taekwondo studio, it’s been around a long time.”

I tried to count how many years it’s been, but Yu Arin urged us to go in quickly, so I was practically pushed inside.

Maybe because it was evening, there were many middle and high school students and adults, but they didn’t look ordinary.

Should I say they all looked professional?

“They have the spirit.”

I muttered this, and Yu Arin chuckled. She felt oddly proud of the compliment toward the Taekwondo studio.

“…Is that Arin?”

At that moment, a middle-aged man who was watching the students’ kicks recognized Yu Arin.

His black belt at the waist was very worn, his hair was dyed excessively black, and he had wrinkles, but his physique looked better than mine.

“Master, it’s been a while.”

He indeed had the vibe of a master, and it was true.

“Oh! How’s college? Are you doing well? I heard Jinho saw you once.”

“…Well, he did see me.”

She doesn’t add that she verbally tore him apart.

Don’t worry.

Jinho is probably busy hanging out with the dance department girls now.

“The man beside you is…”

“He’s my boyfriend.”

“Haha! Hahaha! Arin’s boyfriend! I’m Kim Woojin!”

As I laughed brightly and enjoyed the moment, the master seemed even more flustered.

But seeing me so happy, Yu Arin just smiled without saying much.

“Um, Director. I actually came here to talk to you about something.”

Then Yu Arin quietly took my hand.

I was a bit flustered, and the director standing across from us noticed it too.

“Do you remember what you said back then? You told me I should definitely become an athlete.”

“Yes, I did. But you refused.”

The director crossed their arms casually.

Then, in a distinctly different tone from before, they drew a line.

“It’s too late now.”

Yu Arin, now a sophomore at Gahyeon University.

It was naturally too late to switch back to being an athlete at this point.

However.

Holding her hand, I could tell.

Yu Arin had already anticipated this.

“I’m not going to be an athlete.”

Yu Arin said confidently.

“I’m here to propose a kind of business…idea.”

This was Yu Arin’s true intention.

Perhaps that’s why I unconsciously held her hand tightly.

Hoping she’d gain courage.

“Remember when you used to take the kids to perform? With Taekwondo.”

“…Yes, I did.”

“Let’s do that again.”

The director’s mouth slowly opened.

It seemed they were surprised by the unexpected statement, and I was a bit taken aback too.

A performance?

I know there are people who perform with Taekwondo. There are videos on YouTube labeled as Korean dance that garner good reactions from foreigners.

“We can use the kids from the Taekwondo studio who are good at moving. If they’re hesitant, we can start by hiring them part-time or make simple shorts videos to upload on YouTube.”

YouTube and shorts?

It felt like something was connecting.

There was a time when Yu Arin became quite famous for a short video where she accidentally hit me while doing a windmill move.

“People say a performance troupe needs a venue and an audience, but that’s not the era we live in anymore. You can perform in videos, and the audience is virtually limitless.”

“……”

“Not just showing the final product, but even the practice sessions can become a process that draws the audience into the performance.”

It felt like Yu Arin wasn’t just saying this off the top of her head.

An expert in this field.

Since Yu Arin has some connection with my ex-girlfriend, she might have gotten help from her.

But certainly.

The beginning must have been her idea.

“I was just explaining the big picture for now. I’ll explain the details once we’re inside.”

With those words, Yu Arin calmly lets go of my hand.

As if to say it’s okay now.

The instructor/director glanced at me as he headed to the office.

With a gentle smile, as if he realized something, he said one thing.

“I’ll give you a moment, so take as much time as you need.”

“Ugh.”

Yu Arin made an awkward face as if she was caught. Then she stopped going to the office and came back to me.

Hug.

Even with others around, Yu Arin didn’t hesitate and hugged me.

I hugged her back in kind.

“What are you doing?”

When I asked quietly while hugging her, Yu Arin buried her face deeper into my chest, whispering shyly.

“Recharging courage.”

“Heh.”

I asked, hugging her tightly out of affection.

“How did you come up with this? I never would have guessed you had it in you.”

I had heard her say she would go to the Taekwondo gym during the break, but I didn’t expect it to be like this.

“Studying and exercising. We know you’re doing all this for us.”

“……”

“So I wanted to do the same. I wanted to show some progress.”

With that, Yu Arin stepped away from me. She entered the office without showing her flushed face.

A sudden urge to study welled up inside me.

‘I want to go back and study right away.’

I want to do well on the finals.

I wanted to show a better version of Kim Woojin to the others.

And I made another resolution.

‘I should ask her to wear the uniform later.’