episode_0124

“Kim Woojin, why isn’t he coming out!”

Outside the men’s changing room.

Han Bom, unknowingly calling my name loudly.

We agreed to meet outside after changing clothes, but since I didn’t show up, it seemed like they came looking for me.

“Woojin, are you there?”

“….”

This time, Yi Seoa called me with a worried tone. She seemed to sense that something was wrong since I hadn’t shown up.

‘Should I just lie and say I went back to the dorm without saying anything.’

I wanted to say I went back to the dorm first because I wasn’t feeling well.

But then it would sound like I left work 30 minutes early without permission.

Reluctant to go outside, I hesitated awkwardly. Suddenly, a threatening voice pierced through me like a warning.

“Come out.”

Short and concise.

Yoo Arin’s voice carried such an eerie intensity that my body tensed involuntarily.

“If you delay, you’ll only get more tired.”

“I said I wouldn’t hit you.”

As I weakly resisted with a trembling voice, my breaths came out long.

“I won’t hit you.”

You have to believe that.

However, with the curious gazes of other employees in the changing room, I had no choice but to go outside in the end.

Two people who were aware of the tense atmosphere between Yoo Arin and me were cautiously watching and assessing the situation.

Awkwardly smiling and greeting them, Yoo Arin casually linked arms with me and started pulling me along.

“Let’s go.”

“Uh, okay.”

“What’s going on?”

Han Bom and Yi Seoa looked puzzled, but we were simply being dragged away under their gaze.

“Aren’t you really mad?”

Carefully asking Yoo Arin, who had his arm linked with mine, he glanced at me and tightened his grip.

“I am.”

As expected.

“So, do well today if you don’t want to fall behind.”

“Is this how you let things slide?”

“Based on what you’re doing?”

Well, I better work hard then.

If I provoke Yoo Arin, who has a reason to hit me, I’ll definitely end up getting beaten badly.

‘I should have been better at fighting.’

It’s embarrassing to admit getting beaten up by a girl, but it’s different when it’s Yoo Arin, a former taekwondo athlete.

Isn’t it humiliating?

Anyway, we decided to briefly explore the hotel interior for the remaining time.

It might sound strange to wander around a hotel, but Gold One was filled with various shops ranging from restaurants to clothing stores.

Although there were plenty of restaurants to consider dining in until dinner time, looking at the menu prices made eating at the staff cafeteria seem wiser.

“Should we go to Daehandang?”

Seoa suggested heading to Daehandang where Seo Yerin works.

While everyone agreed and started moving, Yoo Arin, who had naturally unlinked our arms earlier, stuck close to me again.

Since Seoa and Han Bom were walking ahead, we didn’t attract any particular attention.

“…You’re too obvious.”

Knowing that Yoo Arin deliberately linked arms with me to tease Seo Yerin at Daehandang, I couldn’t help but comment.

“Eugh.”

Not realizing I would catch on so easily, Yoo Arin hesitated for a moment before pinching my waist.

“Just keep your arm off once we enter Daehandang.”

“….”

“You really won’t stay still?”

With a menacing warning, I found myself unconsciously exerting force in the arm that was linked with his. Surprisingly satisfied with my reaction, I leaned in slightly with a faint smile on my lips.

“Hmm.”

‘He’s kind of cute when he does this…’

In any case, as we entered Daehandang, Seo Yerin naturally greeted us first, wearing a bread-shaped hat and an apron, looking slightly tired from attending to numerous customers who had come after seeing her on social media.

“Hey, aren’t…”

Before she could greet us, she stared intently at me and Yoo Arin, who were still linked arms.

“Is there still any buttercream cheese bread left from last time? I really want to try it!”

“Yerin, let’s take just one picture together in those outfits.”

Despite being momentarily distracted by Han Bom and Yi Seo-a running over, Seo Yerin, who was trying to keep an eye on them, seemed oddly anxious.

“Haha, the effect is immediate.”

Yoo Arin stifled a laugh with her hand covering her mouth. Her satisfied expression was mischievous.

At that moment,

“Woojin! Are you here to buy bread? Let me recommend something for you!”

After entrusting their two friends to other part-timers, Seo Yerin stuck to Woojin’s arm on the opposite side.

The surrounding customers and other part-timers were surprised to see Seo Yerin being unusually touchy-feely, exchanging glances.

‘Wow, what’s going on here.’

Honestly, as a man, I felt like my pride was soaring through the roof, and without realizing it, my lips curled into a relaxed smile.

“Ouch!”

My waist was pinched so forcefully that I involuntarily let out a gasp.

Turning to glare at Yoo Arin, who met my eyes with a sulky look and tightly sealed lips,

“Cough, cough. Yerin, people are watching. You’re getting too clingy.”

I forcibly removed Seo Yerin’s arm while siding with Yoo Arin.

“….”

Seo Yerin, who realized a bit late that I had avoided her, looked blankly at her own arm.

“Geez.”

She pouted her lips and lightly tapped her shoulder with her fist.

It would have been nice if it ended there, but on the other side, Yoo Arin extended a V sign towards Seo Yerin as if she had won.

“Geez!”

Seo Yerin’s punches began to rain down on my shoulder.

Compared to Yoo Arin, they were more like playful taps and honestly didn’t hurt much.

“People are watching.”

As the scene attracted too much attention from onlookers, we eventually had to leave the bakery.

While Yi Seo-a and Han Bom were still choosing pastries inside, only Yoo Arin and I came outside.

“What was that, exhilarating?”

Yoo Arin nodded vigorously, feeling satisfied.

“Okay, forgiven.”

“Are you friends with her?”

Finally releasing her hold on my arm,

I turned with a twinge of discomfort and asked Yoo Arin, who responded irritably.

“We fight and compete with friends, right?”

That’s true, but…

“It’s the first time I’ve won against Yerin.”

“There was a competition?”

Yoo Arin, not giving any specific answer to my question, started fiddling with her phone.

I intended to wait outside until Yi Seo-a and Han Bom came out, but my phone vibrated.

– Seo Yerin: Meet me behind the bakery.

“…”

It felt like being dragged to face seniors and receiving a scolding. After saying I needed to use the restroom, I left Yoo Arin behind and arrived at the back of the bakery.

“Woojin?”

Seo Yerin, looking very uncomfortable with her arms crossed, stared at me.

“Cough, I have a situation.”

“Have you handled the situation?”

Is this person crazy?

“No, I mean, there’s a situation.”

“Oh, that situation…”

Realizing her mistake, Seo Yerin became awkward. Thanks to her, the atmosphere lightened a bit.

“Arin can hug you, but I can’t?”

“You said there’s a situation?”

“Why do you keep talking about a ‘situation’? Is it piling up? Should I do it now?”

She’s not someone I need to pamper. I stopped Seo Yerin from immediately getting physical.

“You’re doing this on purpose.”

Feeling like the conversation was deliberately turning towards a sexual direction, I prodded once.

“No…”

What else could it be?

The guy turned his head quickly, feigning ignorance.

“Keep it appropriate. We’re outside.”

“Why are you letting go of my arm?”

The conversation circled back to the beginning.

I couldn’t find the words to explain. How could I say I was avoiding being hit after teasing Yoo Arin about her panties?

“I have bigger breasts.”

Supporting her chest from below, Seo Yerin made an appeal. The innocence in her eyes strangely made my heart flutter.

“Touch them.”

“You already… cough, touched them.”

Last time, I touched, bit, and sucked, what more do you want me to do?

But Seo Yerin grabbed my hand and placed it on her chest.

“Oh, oh…”

What is this?

A chest that feels plump in the palm of my hand.

No, the feeling of Seo Yerin burying my hand in her chest made me sigh unknowingly.

Before I knew it, I found myself fidgeting with both hands. It was evident that something mischievous had been done, judging by her unwavering gaze.

“Uh, huh, Jina…”

Did you feel it?

Just as I was about to move my hands a bit more roughly, Seo Yerin softly asked,

“Is Arin the administrator?”

“…Yes?”

My head cooled off instantly.

“Don’t let go.”

While holding onto both of my wrists, Seo Yerin signaled for me to continue.

“Arin is Number 1, right?”

Seo Yerin already convinced of it.

Along with the fullness of her chest, her voice was tempting me to reveal the truth quickly.

“Right? It’s confirmed if you look at what’s written in the bamboo forest.”

“Oh.”

Come to think of it, that’s true.

I wrote in the bamboo forest that the administrator, me, was fooling around with Number 1 during the vacation period.

If Seo Yerin, who knows about my identity and our relationship, could easily guess that Yu Arin is Number 1.

“Get me Number 2 too.”

And Seo Yerin’s suggestion was too obvious.

“….”

“Huh? If you still want to touch, then I’m Number 2… Haha!?”

“….”

“Hey, release your hand for a moment.”

“Oh, sorry.”

I had been absentmindedly touching, so I inadvertently focused.

“Huh? Let go when I tell you to?”

Leaning against the back door, Seo Yerin began to feel it distinctly.

As her sticky breath touched my hand, I felt unjustly accused.

“It seems like there’s a bug.”

My hand won’t let go.

It feels like some sort of bug…

“I’ve come to fix the bug.”

Kim Woojin’s body moved like a spring.

Indeed, my body leaned to the side as if those words were just right, rolling on the floor as it was.

“You bastard.”

As Yu Arin looked down at me defiantly, our eyes met, and he started rushing towards me again.

“Ouch! Wait a minute!”

“Shut up!”

Yu Arin started pounding me and hitting me directly with his fists. It was far more intense than what happened with Seo Yerin earlier.

I had experienced being hit like this before by Choi Eseo, and from what I saw, it was at least on par with Choi Eseo or even worse.

“It really hurts! Crazy! It really hurts!”

“You! You! Die! Just die!”

“Ouch!”

Despite trying to block with both hands clutching my head, I couldn’t resist and ended up collapsing.

“Damn it!”

Fortunately, the attacks stopped once the guard was down.

Perhaps because he practiced Taekwondo, he still had some sense of sportsmanship left.

“Hey, Seo Yerin!”

Then, I got up, approached Seo Yerin, and stumbled towards her.

* * *

“Hey, Seo Yerin!”

Approaching Seo Yerin, Yu Arin was so confused that he was dizzy.

Feeling as if he had drunk alcohol, his rising jealousy and anger were directed towards Seo Yerin and Kim Woojin.

He couldn’t simply feel relieved by just lightly hitting Kim Woojin.

Therefore,

“That guy took my panties today.”

Yu Arin decided to go on the offensive.

If Seo Yerin was so relaxed.

If she seemed to exude confidence and engage in lukewarm competition-like behavior.

He wanted to let her know that she would be in big trouble if she continued to be so carefree.

Seo Yerin’s gaze turned to the collapsed Kim Woojin. He seemed to be staring blankly at the sky.

“And today, I’m going to have sex with that bastard.”

“….?!”

Seo Yerin’s gaze, which had been on Kim Woojin, now turned to Yu Arin.

Yu Arin, too, met her gaze confidently. In fact, he hadn’t planned to go this far.

He thought they would just play around as usual and be satisfied, but it seemed things were taking a different turn.

Seo Yerin’s heart raced as she watched Kim Woojin, feeling her head grow hot, blurting out whatever came to mind.

Competitiveness and a desire to win surged within her.

Even if she could lose once.

Yoo Arin couldn’t afford to lose twice.

“Tell our roommates that I’m staying out overnight. Then let’s go.”

Yoo Arin twisted her body, ready to take Kim Woojin with her.

Seo Yerin, how far can you go before speaking freely?

It was a challenging sentiment.

Thud!

Seo Yerin grabbed her wrist.

Startled by the sudden grip, Yoo Arin glanced at Seo Yerin, slightly taken aback by her unexpected expression.

“T-That, A-Arin?”

A completely different-looking Seo Yerin stood there.

“A-Are you really going to do it?”

The confident Seo Yerin, who had been eager to compete and give her best effort until now.

“W-Well… you see. Woojin isn’t feeling well today…”

Her face flushed as if on fire, unsure of what to do.

“D-Do I really have to? N-No… It’s not that I want to do it. We also need to consider Woojin’s feelings!”

“…”

“And I have to work tomorrow.”

“…”

“They say men need to build up experience… B-But it hasn’t been long, so it’ll be tough now! Yeah! It’ll be tough!”

“…”

“I-I’ll tell you later! After checking with Woojin…!”

“Yerin.”

“Y-Yes?! I-I’m not just saying this because he’s mine! W-We agreed to compete fairly! I’m not jealous or anything!”

Though embarrassed.

“…You’re cute.”

Yes, Yoo Arin had to admit it.

Seeing Seo Yerin on the verge of tears because of sleeping with Kim Woojin was cute.

‘She’s just like me.’

Seeing herself, without composure, consumed by jealousy made her feel oddly relieved.