episode_0148

It was sudden, but having Choi Eiseo come over felt reassuring.

It meant an extra hand right away, and Choi Eiseo had good stamina too.

But above all, I was most grateful that Choi Eiseo came to see me in person.

I felt somewhat dark for keeping my distance briefly because of Oh Yoonji.

Choi Eiseo helped me move my belongings with a refreshing smile.

“Still, it must be nice to have the room to yourself.”

Choi Eiseo entered the room carrying a box of clothes.

“Is this the last of it?”

“Yeah, this is it.”

As I was organizing inside, I took the belongings Choi Eiseo brought last.

“Thanks a lot. It finished much quicker thanks to you.”

While other rooms were still in the midst of moving, I was already done.

“There wasn’t much to move, especially clothes. You might need to buy some?”

I shrugged as I hung the clothes from the box on hangers.

“I don’t even have money to buy clothes. I’m broke as it is.”

“…Seems like you’re not even feeling a hint of crisis.”

Knowing about my family, Choi Eiseo seemed to perceive my complaints as mere grumbling.

“What do you want for dinner? Since you helped today, I’ll treat you.”

Organizing the closet was quickly done.

Perhaps it was because of what Choi Eiseo said just now, but I also thought the organization went fast because there weren’t many clothes.

Now, I started unpacking my things.

“Alright, can I choose the menu then?”

“We should decide with rock-paper-scissors.”

“Doesn’t that change nothing?”

I recalled the times we used to play rock-paper-scissors to decide on the menu when eating together in the past.

Back then, I could never have imagined having this kind of relationship with Choi Eiseo.

“I guess I won’t be able to visit you often now. Outsiders are prohibited from entering the dorm.”

“Why not? You can just come over. I heard from Hyung that they turn a blind eye to that kind of thing.”

“You’ve already learned some strange things since coming to the dorm.”

Although saying that, she seemed to have enough intention to visit later, judging by her slight smile.

“Taking long with the organization? Want some help?”

As I was sorting through my things, Choi Eiseo approached quietly, but I gestured to decline.

“Take a break. I’ll finish this up quickly anyway.”

“Really? Then…”

Choi Eiseo lay down on the bed I would use. The mattress may have been discarded, but the sheets and pillow seemed familiar.

“Don’t fall asleep.”

“Mm.”

“Don’t bury your face in the pillow and say you won’t sleep.”

“I know, I won’t.”

Choi Eiseo lay there showing her back. While leaving her be, I continued organizing the room.

“But, Woojin.”

Choi Eiseo, who had been so quiet that I worried if she had fallen asleep, softly called my name.

“Why? Need me to take care of something?”

Though I made such a remark earlier, now, as Choi Eiseo voluntarily came over and helped, I was contemplating treating her to something expensive and delicious.

“Where did the condoms I bought last time go?”

“…”

As I was opening the next box, my body froze in place.

Glancing back slightly due to a prickling sensation at the back of my head, I found Choi Eiseo staring at me intently, her face turned slightly.

Though I couldn’t discern the emotions in her lowered eyes, it felt like a protest against any possible excuses.

Gulp.

Swallowing hard, the lump in my throat seemed to express my emotions.

‘Surely.’

I remembered discarding them temporarily due to a concern that arose when Oh Yoonji came over.

Since Choi Eiseo came right after she left.

Whether Choi Eiseo saw Oh Yoonji or not, she probably wouldn’t appreciate any talk related to her.

It could lead to misunderstandings.

“That? Seems like I lost it somewhere.”

Shrugging, I responded casually, just like always, and resumed organizing the items.

‘It was damn smooth.’

It was such excellent acting that if Seo Yerin clapped and said, “You have talent in acting,” it wouldn’t be an exaggeration.

“Where are they?”

Why though?

How did Choi Seo see through my lie?

Getting up from the bed, she walks over and now glaring at me with her arms crossed.

“Kim Woojin lost his condom? I thought something like a condom would have been pretty high on the priority list while moving.”

“….”

That’s not wrong.

“Huh? There have been so many sudden incidents lately. So he must have definitely brought it with him, right?”

That’s also not wrong.

For example, if Choi Seo suddenly said she wanted to do it with me here, I had a condom ready to go.

Yes, I was prepared.

But the important thing is that the condom she brought was from a different brand.

Choi Seo isn’t stupid; if she pulls out a different brand, it’s obvious there would be suspicion.

‘Stay calm.’

Choi Seo is staring intently at me.

As I slowly got up from organizing my things, her gaze followed me upwards.

It was time to utilize the techniques I learned from my ex-girlfriend here.

“Seo, what should we have for dinner?”

“Do you want to die?”

“….”

Not working.

“Who did you use it with? Ye Rin? Or Arin?”

Casually asking, but one thing was certain. It would be a big deal once someone’s name was mentioned here.

‘That’s a bait.’

I’ve experienced this several times with Oh Yoonji.

It’s a trap; I tell her it’s fine to talk about it, but once I do, I’m in trouble.

‘It’s not that I don’t want to talk about Oh Yoonji.’

The atmosphere was good, and I didn’t want to bring up Oh Yoonji and ruin it again.

Afraid that Choi Seo might try to keep her distance by subtly reading my reactions, I thought of a more convincing statement, placing my hand on her shoulder and answered seriously.

“Seo, I’m not seeing anyone else yet.”

“…Really?”

Suddenly becoming serious, Choi Seo looked at me with a puzzled expression.

The flow was in my favor now.

Since Choi Seo is a very rational and logical person, I just needed to win her over with logic here.

“It’s not right to have sex with someone who’s not your girlfriend.”

“What the hell did you do?”

Grabbing my collar immediately, Choi Seo tripped me with her leg.

She executed that move very cleanly, wherever she learned it from.

“I used logical and sensible arguments, didn’t I?!”

Feeling unjust, I sighed as Choi Seo shook her head in disbelief.

“A contradictory being making logical statements, that’s why.”

“Ugh, if it were Seo Ye Rin, you’d fall for it.”

“You’re underestimating me too much.”

Choi Seo, who let go of my collar, climbed on top of me. Then, with a piercing gaze, she looked down at me, giving off a stern vibe.

“Tell me quickly. Who did you use it with?”

Do I have to confess in the end?

“I didn’t use it with anyone. I just threw it out the window.”

“You threw it out?”

“So, that means-.”

At that moment, three voices could be heard from outside.

“Senior! Are you in?”

“Senior! I’m Cheolsu, whom you met at the drinking party last time!”

“Oh, damn.”

It was Yeongmun, Cheolsu, and Yeonghee seniors whom I had seen at the dorm gathering.

For some reason, Yeonghee senior opened the door nervously and came in.

“….”

“….”

A situation of mutual embarrassment unfolded.

Seeing Choi Seo on top of me, Cheolsu and Yeonghee froze with blank expressions.

“Sorry, sorry!”

“We really apologize!”

Embarrassed, they ran outside, and Yeonghee senior, with her mouth agape, blushed before retreating and closing the door.

“What’s going on?”

A sudden turn of events.

Looking up at Choi Seo, she seemed stunned, frozen without any reaction.

“Well, that turned out well, didn’t it?!”

I’m not sure what turned out well, but things got awkward.

* * *

“Weren’t you dating Senior Ye Rin?”

“Well… Wow, isn’t that person a second-year student council member?”

Cheolsu and Yeonghee conversing in the lounge on the first floor of the dormitory building.

From elementary school to now, having attended the same school for 15 years and dating for 5 years, the two people who could now be called a harmonious couple were whispering to each other about the shocking scene they had just witnessed.

“Rumors about Senior Woojin are really bad.”

“Isn’t it because of his complicated relationships with women that his reputation is tarnished? Is that why he fought with the seniors?”

“…”

Ignoring the noisy kids beside her, Minjuhee sat on the couch blankly staring at the floor.

“I had a feeling this would happen.”

She knew that Choeiseo had arrived.

Originally, she had tried to help Kim Woojin, but seeing Choeiseo helping him, she took a step back.

But seeing them not coming out of the room made Minjuhee strangely anxious, so she deliberately instructed Cheolsu and Yeonghee to greet Kim Woojin.

“This can’t be happening!”

And this was the result.

Not only was it something enjoyed with Seo Yerin and Yu Arin, but even the atmosphere with Choeiseo was like that.

Moreover, since the dormitory walls were not soundproof, the word “condom” was clearly heard from outside.

Feeling uneasy, Minjuhee unknowingly opened the door and went inside.

“Sigh.”

Minjuhee let out a long sigh, wetting her lips.

“This isn’t like me.”

Yes, she had been acting unlike herself recently.

Who was Minjuhee?

Having survived high school with her fists and wit, wasn’t she the woman who dedicated herself to studying in college for scholarships?

“I’ve been acting strange.”

Taking a deep breath, Minjuhee calmly closed her eyes.

Her face, which had just turned beet red with embarrassment, calmed down, and sharp eyes turned towards the chatty kids nearby.

“Don’t spread strange rumors.”

A blunt warning directed at Cheolsu and Yeonghee, who were already starting to gossip.

“Yes, okay!”

“Of course, Senior!”

Feeling intimidated, the two quickly answered and hurriedly left their seats.

Since other dormitory students had also seen Choeiseo moving his things, rumors were bound to spread, but that was none of her concern.

Phew, enough.

Let’s not worry about Kim Woojin anymore.

He was a good junior, still is.

Although a bit of a troublemaker, it seemed like even the girls knew that.

“Let’s not worry.”

Deciding to forget about that night, Minjuhee put her hand deep into the pocket of her jumper.

As a distraction, maybe she should go watch a movie tomorrow.

—

The next day.

At the movie theater in town, Minjuhee, with a troubled expression, glanced at two people waiting for the same movie.

Since they hadn’t noticed her yet, she pressed her hat down a little more.

“Hey, why is your kid so clueless? We should get caramel popcorn.”

Kim Woojin grumbled.

“Nonsense. Salted popcorn is the best.”

Her gaze kept shifting to Yu Arin, who was feeding him popcorn irritably.

“No, what’s salted popcorn? If that’s the case, why isn’t there pepper flavor?”

“It tastes good, don’t eat it all at once.”

“It must be delicious. Oh, don’t force-feed me—hmm? Umami!”

“Haha, this taste is insane!”

“Oh, it’s so tasty?”

“Don’t smash your face into the popcorn! Just open your mouth and eat it!”

Listening to the conversation of her juniors, Minjuhee’s head was pounding.