episode_0113

“We’re going to stop by the convenience store.”

“Arin, do you need to buy anything?”

“No, I don’t.”

Arriving at the accommodation by bus.

Since there was a convenience store in the basement of Building C, Yiseo and Han Bom headed straight there.

“….”

Quietly walking towards the elevator, Yoo Arin followed closely behind me.

Unable to think clearly since the confession earlier, I hurried back to the accommodation as if escaping.

I’m in Room 801, while Yoo Arin is in Room 403.

Pressing the 8th and 4th floors together, I waited for Yoo Arin to get off, tilting my head for no reason when the elevator stopped on the 4th floor.

“Why aren’t you getting off?”

Yoo Arin leaned against the wall in the elevator that stopped on the 4th floor, not getting off, just staring at me.

Confidently, he answered my question.

“I need to be there so you won’t ignore Choi Yiseo’s call, right?”

“I see.”

He knew it.

He must be receiving calls from Choi Yiseo continuously.

As we talked, the elevator doors closed, and we headed to the 8th floor.

“You shouldn’t come if there are only guys at the accommodation.”

“Why? They might welcome us. Chanwoo is there too.”

“That’s not… like that…”

They might welcome us? No.

These guys will definitely welcome us.

The duo from Seshin University, Jegal Jaemin, and Min Donggeon, are always up to some strange antics, and if someone like Daesang hyung says he’ll hang out for a bit, they’ll easily accept it.

We arrived at the 8th-floor elevator.

As I hesitated, Yoo Arin, without getting off the elevator, just sighed heavily.

“Don’t follow me, you brat. Talk to Choi Yiseo.”

“Why?”

For some reason, just because of those words, contacting Choi Yiseo felt like a terrible thing to do.

“Did you really follow me just to prevent me from talking briefly?”

As I asked unnecessarily, Yoo Arin sighed and brushed his bangs aside, looking irritated.

Then, as if frustrated, he glared at me.

“I just wanted to stay with you a little longer, idiot.”

“….”

Thud.

The elevator doors closed, and we descended to the 4th floor.

For a moment, my heart raced, but thankfully, the elevator doors closed before it was noticed.

Ring! Ring!

I could finally answer Choi Yiseo’s continuous calls.

“Ahem, hello.”

– Do you want to die?

“No.”

* * *

“Phew.”

Even though we returned to the accommodation, Yoo Arin’s heated face still didn’t subside.

Not only had he given an answer to his own feelings and boldly declared his position, making him feel light and relieved, even his mood felt refreshed.

“Oh? You’re back? Good job.”

Drying his hair as if he had just showered, Yoo Arin clenched his fist while greeting Seo Yerin.

Dealing with someone like Choi Yiseo, whom he met in college and recently became close to, wasn’t much of a problem.

Seo Yerin was a bit different.

Still, they were long-time friends, and he didn’t want their relationship to sour for no reason.

But…

“You mentioned it last time.”

Yoo Arin marched confidently towards the fridge.

“Suggesting cooperation.”

Seeing that there were still Chocomongs he gave to Min Juhee, he felt relieved and immediately took one out, inserting a straw.

“….”

Understanding what he meant, Seo Yerin’s expression stiffened.

A strange tension hung between them. As Yoo Arin sipped on the Chocomong after a long time, he felt a surge of courage.

“It’s sweet.”

Sweet.

Yes, this sweetness…

“I don’t want to.”

“Hmm?”

With Seo Yerin tilting her head at Yoo Arin’s response, he exhaled and replied, “I have no intention of cooperating. I’ll handle it alone.”

“You said you didn’t like it, right?”

“Lies.”

“….”

“Both Choi Yiseo and you. Don’t approach her for no reason. She’s mine.”

“Mm.”

A smile crept onto Seo Yerin’s lips, subtly sinister and evoking a sense of sharpness.

The sight of the gun disappearing slowly from view made Yoo Arin flinch momentarily, as it seemed like she was being swallowed up.

“Do you know about that, Arin?”

Smiling as if to say ‘when did this happen,’ Seo Yerin clasped her hands together and replied, “Sunbae Juhee is in the restroom.”

“Huh, what?”

Turning her head towards the tightly closed restroom door, she let out an exclamation unknowingly.

Creak.

As the door opened slowly, Juhee sunbae, who had just finished washing up, looked awkwardly at the two of them.

“C-Cough… Even if I say I didn’t hear anything, you won’t believe me anyway, right?”

“Ah, no. Sunbae… It’s not like that.”

A love triangle.

No, it was practically a square relationship, but Yoo Arin’s face flushed as the situation was openly revealed.

However, Seo Yerin smiled and asked Min Juhee, “Sunbae, please keep it a secret.”

“Ah, um… Sure. If sharing a room is uncomfortable, let me know.”

“No, it’s okay. Right, Arin?”

“Yeah, it’s fine.”

What’s going on?

Although it seemed like she had taken a strong stance, the atmosphere and control had unexpectedly shifted to Seo Yerin.

In the stuffy atmosphere, Yoo Arin simply drank her chocolate milk to ease her nerves.

* * *

It’s awkward.

It wasn’t awkward because of work.

Room service work was quite enjoyable, and since starting night shifts, there were many interesting stories to share.

“Wow, the 10th floor is like a moaning paradise, isn’t it? At first, I thought someone was playing adult videos.”

When I mentioned this to the assistant manager who was also working the night shift with me, he chuckled and said that such cases were common.

With few people needed during the night, there was one assistant manager taking calls and bringing carts to the rooms, and one female staff member setting up food downstairs.

“Is it that bad?”

Yes, it’s Yoo Arin.

Yoo Arin, who was sitting oddly close to me. The assistant manager didn’t seem to find it strange since he was oblivious.

Thighs and shoulders pressed together, and the peculiar fruity scent tickling my nose felt strangely pleasant.

Knowing she was intentionally getting close, I pretended not to notice and continued talking.

“It’s pretty loud. Are you okay though?”

“You can hear it in the hallway, but not in other rooms, so don’t worry. Our hotel has excellent soundproofing in the adjacent rooms.”

Seeing him speak so confidently, it seemed there hadn’t been any complaints related to this issue.

At that moment, urgent footsteps could be heard from outside. It was odd for someone to come at this hour.

“Manager?”

Manager Lee Chansong rushed in without even properly tying his tie, looking flustered.

Glancing at us and the assistant inside, he bit his lip and spoke, “Don’t let the kids play around! They should be working! Because of this mess, unnecessary issues might arise from the management team!”

“…What does the management team have to do with us?”

Scratching the back of my head and muttering, Manager Lee Chansong glared at me.

While others didn’t seem to mind, he always had a strange dislike towards me.

“I’m telling you to do your job properly! I came in at this hour because you guys are slacking off!”

“….”

“I’ll be away for a while. Do it properly! Especially go upstairs now and collect all the carts left outside!”

“Yes!”

Due to the unpleasant mood caused by the manager, the assistant stood up straight and promptly responded. As Manager Lee Chansong left, the composed assistant scratched his head and let out a sigh.

“Let’s go upstairs and collect all the carts. It would be good for Arin to come along.”

Hearing this, Yoo Arin, who was watching the situation, smiled widely.

“Can I come too?”

“We’re not entering the rooms, just collecting the carts in the hallway, so it shouldn’t be a problem.”

Delighted by this response, Yoo Arin pulled me along. Leaving a message that we would be back soon, we took the elevator up to the guest rooms.

“Wow, my heart is racing.”

“When you actually get up there, it’s nothing special. Just go and collect the visible carts, move them to the elevator, and that’s it.”

After descending from the top floor, checking for carts in the hallway one floor at a time is all you need to do.

“Have you contacted Yi Seo?”

As we descended the stairs, Yuarin brought up a sensitive issue out of boredom. I glanced at him slightly before sighing and replied,

“I don’t know.”

“Why don’t you know? Huh? Why don’t you know?”

“Back off a bit!”

Yuarin, who was sticking too close, made me blurt out involuntarily, but he seemed to notice that it was out of embarrassment and playfully laughed.

“Are you nervous? Huh? Fluttering with excitement? Want to book a hotel room?”

“Oh, really! Since I’ll be alone, why don’t you just leave me alone?”

“Okay! Got it! Won’t tease you! Won’t touch!”

Despite saying that, he continued to chuckle, making the atmosphere oddly uncomfortable.

His behavior, as if he knows exactly how I feel, is irritating.

As we were about to check the next floor corridor, we opened the emergency exit door.

“Aah!”

“…”

“…”

Yuarin and I looked at each other at the sound of a woman’s muffled moan.

“Oh, it’s the 10th floor.”

Yuarin checked the floor number, nodded in understanding, knowing that many people were currently enjoying themselves on the 10th floor.

Moans and sounds akin to explicit language intensified, making us both clench our jaws.

‘Ugh.’

Although I didn’t see it earlier, there were quite a few carts on the 10th floor. It seemed like people were having snacks and planning to continue their activities.

“Let’s move quickly.”

I casually dragged the cart towards the elevator while Yuarin followed.

A sudden opening of a room door.

Surprisingly, a familiar face emerged, the blonde lady who had been wearing only a gown last time.

Dragging the cart in her underwear, she noticed me but just gave a light smile and went back inside.

“Wow…”

An involuntary exclamation escaped me.

It was surprising to see someone so carefree in such a manner, not something you see every day.

Following behind, Yuarin grabbed my shoulder and turned me towards him.

Then he looked at me, his hand moving towards my lower body.

“Eek?!”

“Are you standing?”

With sharp eyes, she asked while fidgeting her hand. Not because of what just happened, but now, under Yuarin’s touch, I involuntarily tensed up.

Innocent before, guilty now.

“This guy is staring at me right now…!”

Before the embarrassed Yuarin could take my belongings, I urgently shouted,

“You crazy bastard! You touched it, that’s why!”

“Oh.”

Awkwardly, Yuarin withdrew his hand. Seeing him look at his own hand and then cautiously bring it to his nose, I quickly grabbed his wrist.

“I don’t know what you’re trying to do, but please don’t.”

“Oh, no, I was just curious. Sorry.”

“I really want to kill Yuarin.”

“Sorry.”