Chapter 238

Chapter 238

Bamboo Forest Manager.

Episode 238: One Problem After Another

Since finals start next week, naturally, the atmosphere in the lecture hall was different from usual.

Even those who usually played games on their phones, the couples who used to chat away, and those who focused on the clock waiting for the class to end.

Everyone was united in focusing on the professor’s words and gestures.

Perhaps the professor liked seeing us like that.

The professor continued the lecture even more passionately, subtly giving hints about the upcoming exam questions.

However, amidst all that.

Seo Yerin was not focusing on the lecture at all.

I heard she’s only minimally focusing on her studies because she’ll be filming during the break.

Even so, not paying any attention at all seemed a bit much.

But then again, memorizing scripts, studying acting, and filming must be exhausting, so maybe she should take it easy here.

The fact that she’s attending lectures frequently like this is impressive in itself.

‘If you think about it, it’s just that the direction of her efforts is different.’

So, let’s just let her rest for now.

’Sigh.’

My right hand, holding the pen, felt stiff, so I massaged it a bit with my left hand.

Seo Yerin, who was watching absentmindedly, extended her hand towards me.

“I’ll massage it for you.”

“There’s no need for that.”

I thought handing it to Seo Yerin, who might still be upset, might hurt me further.

But Seo Yerin seemed more upset that I didn’t give her my hand.

“Here.”

When I handed over my right hand, Seo Yerin diligently kneaded my palm.

Seeing her do it so earnestly made me feel sorry for hesitating earlier.

Moreover, Seo Yerin’s expression became quite cheerful.

“Ah, thank you.”

Since the professor seemed to be noting something important, I hurriedly tried to jot it down while pulling my hand away.

As I did so, Seo Yerin’s expression darkened again.

“……”

Slightly pouting lips.

Along with a sulky gaze and even a faint snort.

It seemed she didn’t like that I had pulled my hand away.

‘Is she angry or what?’

I thought that usually when couples fight or are upset, they try not to touch each other.

I subtly extended my left hand under my writing right arm towards Seo Yerin.

I wondered if this was the right move, but Seo Yerin glanced at me and quickly grabbed my left hand with a smirk.

“Heh, heh-heung.”

Seeing her trying to hide her smile with her chin propped up, it seemed she was in a better mood.

Should I say this is easy or difficult?

There wasn’t any particularly intense physical contact.

We were just like a couple secretly dating in a youth drama.

Just holding hands under the desk where no one could see.

That was it.

And I thought this was part of Seo Yerin’s charm.

Seo Yerin described her true self as Anonymous69, and while she was genuinely curious and interested in sexual matters,

it didn’t mean that the persona she usually showed was entirely fake.

‘She seemed to think that the attention from people was so overwhelming that she naturally considered that persona fake.’

Every time I saw this side of her,

it was undeniable that Seo Yerin had an innocent charm as people perceived.

“What?”

Seo Yerin asked casually, noticing me smirking without taking notes.

“Just because.”

I wonder if she knows.

That I just discovered another one of her charms.

“It seems like I like you even more for no reason.”

As I playfully delivered this slightly cheesy line, Seo Yerin’s face broke into a wide smile, and she quickly turned her head.

Just like before, she covered her mouth with her hand resting on her chin, trying to hide her laughter.

Our hands, still clasped together, remained unchanged.

Neither moving forward nor retreating.

We were enjoying just that amount of time together.

“Let’s go!”

After the lecture ended, Seo Yerin linked her arm with mine, completely ignoring the eyes of those around us.

Even though she usually restrained herself a bit when people were watching, she clung to me passionately as if she had broken free.

“Where do you want to go?”

I noticed the students leaving the classroom whispering softly, but I had already given up.

Because we held hands until the lecture ended, my left hand was damp, and my shoulder was stiff.

“To Woojin’s room!”

Her way of calling me had returned, indicating her anger had subsided quite a bit.

“My room? Why? Just to take a break?”

I wondered if there was anything to do in my room.

Seo Yerin, with a mischievous smile, tiptoed and whispered in my ear.

“To have sex, right?”

“……”

The tender moments we shared through innocent skinship suddenly felt like a bubble that burst.

The gentle emotions felt merely like a prelude to warming up before having sex.

“What? Weren’t you the one who said you weren’t just a girl who’d do anything for sex?”

“I did.”

Seo Yerin took a step back and nodded.

Her voice grew slightly louder, perhaps because the lecture hall was now empty.

“But! Just holding hands felt so good! Imagine how great it would be to have sex!”

“Why does holding hands suddenly escalate to sex?”

Her words that she was perfectly content with just holding hands reassure me that the emotion I felt wasn’t a lie.

“I don’t know. Woojin is just too tempting for me. It’s unfair. I did nothing wrong.”

What is she saying?

“The way you focus on lectures is subtly sexy, and I can’t resist!”

“You know there’s another lecture after this, right?”

Moreover, that’s a lecture I take with Choi Yiseo.

It’s like one challenge after another.

“We have a two-hour lunch break. That should be enough, right?”

“……”

Honestly, it’s really tough.

Yesterday, the cat cosplay stirred my emotions intensely, leading to a rather passionate time with Yu Arin.

‘Ha, how am I supposed to handle this?’

While contemplating for a moment over my still tingling lower half.

Squeeze!

Seo Yerin grabs my lower half, pressing our chests together.

“No way.”

Within breath’s reach.

Seo Yerin looks up at me subtly, giving a gentle warning.

“You’re not going to say you can’t because you did too much yesterday, right?”

Suddenly, the term ‘mandatory defense’ comes to mind.

I hold back tears as I grab Seo Yerin’s shoulders and say.

“Let’s, let’s go!”

“Ye-Yerin, I’m heading to the lecture now?”

“Haa! Haaa!”

Leaving behind Seo Yerin sprawled naked on my bed, I step outside.

Despite the excruciating pain as if something has been pulled out of my body, I somehow move my feet toward the next lecture.

Although Seo Yerin looks completely exhausted, in truth, it’s more accurate to say I was half-devoured.

I was afraid she’d bite if I couldn’t get it up, so I pushed myself to the limit, and now I’m numb.

‘I really need to find a way to moderate her.’

Even if finals aren’t particularly important to others, they are to me.

During the exam period, it’s necessary to be as restrained as possible, but how can they be so eager?

That doesn’t mean I dislike it, though.

‘Do I smell like Seo Yerin?’

Just in case, I sprayed the deodorant I had packed in advance at the dorm entrance.

Senior Ju-hee entered the dorm looking haggard.

“Hello, Senior.”

She seemed particularly sensitive during the exam period, so I just intended to greet her.

The senior nodded slightly as if to pass by, then suddenly stopped and stared at me intently.

“…Why, why are you looking at me like that?”

Seeing the senior with dark circles was a fresh experience.

Under the white hat, Senior Ju-hee’s gaze was fixed on me.

“Never mind.”

The senior didn’t seem to want to say anything and just left.

‘What was that about?’

Feeling uneasy, I headed straight to the lecture hall on my bicycle as I was running late.

‘Sss, it’ll be fine, right?’

Even as I rode, anxiety loomed over me. I had somehow managed to appease Seo Yerin.

But how should I handle Choi Yiseo?

Despite the fear, I couldn’t deny that this was the path I chose.

I thought it would be best to go and talk.

Arriving at the lecture hall.

The professor hadn’t arrived yet, so I wasn’t technically late.

But the place was already packed with people.

As I felt in the last lecture, attendance is much better during exam periods.

I spotted Choi Yiseo right at the front.

Who else but a model student would take a seat at the front? And yet, placing their bag next to them to save a seat is a relief.

At least it meant we could talk.

“Hi, Yiseo.”

After saying hello, I wondered if it was right to greet her as usual.

Choi Yiseo silently moved her bag aside and glanced at me.

Just as I was about to say the prepared excuse, seeing her expression that seemed to say she was ready to listen.

“…The previous lecture, it was with Yerin, right?”

“What?”

Choi Yiseo’s eyes twitched slightly, and she glared at me.

I already felt like I was in trouble, but I tried to play it off.

“Uh, yeah? I attended the lecture with Seo Yerin.”

“Phew.”

Choi Yiseo took a deep breath and looked down at her textbook. Then she seemed to be debating whether to say something.

After much deliberation, Choi Yiseo’s conclusion was a smile.

“Last night was Arin, and at lunchtime, it was Yerin?”

How did she know?

I could understand her figuring out Yu Arin, but I thought I hid Seo Yerin well enough.

“How much deodorant did you spray, Woojin? It’s overwhelming my nose.”

“Well, I ate pork belly at lunch, so the smell was intense.”

“Oh, is that why?”

A lie that didn’t stand a chance.

I knew I’d be caught, but I had to try saying something.

Of course, the result was disastrous.

“Woojin, you sure are busy.”

I swallowed hard.

I wondered if I had ever waited for a professor so eagerly in my life.

Seeing me like that, Choi Yiseo let out a chuckle and pointed at her own neck.

“You’ve got a mark, Woojin.”

“…!”

Unconsciously, I raised my hand to cover the back of my neck.

When did Seo Yerin leave a mark like this?

I was already screwed.

In that case, I just had to plead.

“Yiseo, it’s not that… I mean, it is, but I didn’t start it.”

“Oh, really?”

“I was just about to have lunch, but Seo Yerin dragged me away. It really felt like I was forced into it…!”

Then Choi Yiseo handed me a small mirror from her bag.

The back of my neck, which I glanced at, was perfectly clean without any marks.

Damn it.

I was tricked.

“You really did it, huh.”

Nodding as she put the mirror back in her bag, Choi Yiseo acknowledged it.

With my fists clenched, I threw my last negotiation card at Choi Yiseo.

“I’ll, I’ll try two more times.”

“……”

“Th-three times?”

Holding up three fingers awkwardly, I smiled, and Choi Yiseo smiled back in response.

While nervously sweating and gauging the situation.

Another female student timidly walked over to me and said.

“Uh, excuse me. This is my seat.”

“…What?”

I was about to ask what she meant, but Choi Yiseo pushed my shoulder and coldly declared.

“Get lost, Woojin. This seat here is taken.”

“Y-Yiseo!”

I tried to explain, but the professor entered the lecture hall.

In the end, I had no choice but to sit far away from Choi Yiseo.