episode_0158

“Hey, Bronze.”

Seo Yerin calling out to me.

I stare at Seo Yerin, who is casually swaggering around, wondering what she wants.

“Why, Bronze.”

Just a few hours ago, I was a Silver.

The gap between me and Seo Yerin was like night and day.

But now, the message that appeared in front of me was that I had been demoted to Bronze.

My angelic wings were torn, and suddenly I felt like a human standing on the ground with two feet.

“Never underestimate Bronze again, Bronze.”

I clenched my teeth.

Even though I wanted to blame Seo Yerin, there were times when I couldn’t do it, so I couldn’t just blame her.

“I guess I should order some ramen to eat.”

I decided to eat ramen to soothe my inner turmoil.

Just a few hours ago, I was extremely uncomfortable with the stares of those around me who kept looking at me while playing games with Seo Yerin.

Now, even those stares had become familiar and didn’t bother me at all.

Especially when Hangang couldn’t focus on the game and kept looking in my direction.

“Do you want some ramen?”

Seo Yerin showed interest.

“Oh, do you want some too?”

I thought she might have to go home soon, but Seo Yerin declined, scratching her cheek.

“No, I have plans for dinner tonight. I think I should eat there.”

“Is that so?”

Well.

There wouldn’t have been such an opportunity at Gold One.

In fact, Seo Yerin was a woman who many people wanted to make plans with and meet because she was in high demand.

There were probably plenty of people who had messaged her to meet up even now.

I felt a bit uncomfortable thinking about it, but I knew it was my own obsession and possessiveness.

“Well, then I’ll eat alone.”

Trying to act cool, I started choosing the ramen.

Jajang ramen? Spicy ramen? Or maybe just bibim noodles?

As I started to ponder over the menu that appeared on the screen, Seo Yerin, who had been watching me curiously, leaned forward and pointed to the screen.

“How about this? Udon. It’s really delicious!”

“Udon? Hmm.”

It didn’t look bad.

Since I didn’t particularly want anything, I just ordered the udon she recommended.

“Aren’t you ordering any other sides?”

“I’m thinking about it.”

I ordered the Pikachu pork cutlet and waited while watching a webtoon.

It wasn’t an adult webtoon, just a regular one, since I had gotten into trouble with Chanwoo before.

“Hmm, what webtoon is this?”

Seo Yerin kept showing interest and asking questions, even though it wasn’t an adult webtoon.

It was a bit annoying, but I briefly summarized the plot for her.

A few minutes later, even though the udon and Pikachu pork cutlet had arrived, Seo Yerin still clung to me and stared at me.

“Even if I ask for a bite, you won’t give me one.”

“I didn’t ask for one!”

Then why are you here?

You’re not even playing games now, just staring blankly.

“Aren’t you supposed to go to your appointment?”

I heard she had a dinner appointment, so why was she acting like this?

“Well, I just wanted to look at your face.”

“Why, did you want something?”

“No, I didn’t want anything.”

I secretly hoped she would compliment my good looks.

“Let’s go eat dinner soon, we might be late for the appointment.”

“Yeah, it seems like we might be really late.”

Seo Yerin, who had been mumbling absentmindedly, smiled and slowly got up.

I thought she was leaving, but she whispered in my ear.

“Don’t worry, I’ll leave like this.”

“Huh?”

Her current appearance?

It was just a casual outfit.

It felt a bit underdressed, but since it was Seo Yerin, it was just another charm.

“You’re a person who can meet without dressing up.”

She winked and left like that.

Watching her back, I felt a sense of comfort that I didn’t even realize.

“Oh, damn.”

Seo Yerin realized that she said those words because she had read me like a book.

I sighed, wrapping my head with my hands.

Feeling embarrassed and still undecided on anything, I thought it was foolish to give myself this much leeway.

Sighing at my own foolishness and indecisiveness, I slurped my udon noodles while feeling the gaze from the side.

Glancing over, I saw four idiots staring at me intently.

“What are you looking at?”

I tried to say something nice, but they just wouldn’t have it.

“Who the hell is Kim Woojin dating?”

Starting with Ahn Hyunho’s annoyed tone, complaints and grievances erupted from all around.

Why?

Before I knew it, the conversation had turned to going for drinks.

* * *

“I thought I wasn’t human if I drank with you guys again.”

Joo Jinho muttered with his hand in his pocket.

When he was scolded by Yoo Arin, I thought he might drop dead on the spot.

But now, Yoo Arin seemed to have cleanly forgotten about it.

“Is it because of the military?”

Or maybe it was because he was going to the military in a week and didn’t have the time to think about it.

“Jinho, let’s just drink and die today.”

“Yeah, let’s just die!”

Due to their joint enlistment, Han Kang and Joo Jinho had become close friends.

Leaving the two of them behind, I walked with Chanwoo and asked, “Is it okay for a girlfriend to go drinking?”

“Yeah? Why wouldn’t it be okay?”

“….Huh?”

Why wouldn’t it be okay?

What kind of nonsense is this?

We weren’t going out for drinks with just the five of us.

Ahn Hyunho had a drinking appointment with a junior he was interested in later that evening.

“Why are we all going together?”

Thanks to that, Ahn Hyunho’s expression was twisted in anger, sending messages to the freshman class president.

They were probably calling more friends to join them.

It would be weird for just the five of us to go drinking with a female class president.

Naturally, more girls would join in.

“Did you tell your girlfriend?”

This guy might have the possibility of drinking with a girl, but did he not tell his girlfriend?

I gave serious advice as a friend.

“Hey, don’t make a big deal out of it. She might not like it if you contact her too often.”

“I, I told her?”

“Yeah, it’s okay. She’s my girlfriend, so I know best.”

His flippant response felt like a breadcrumb.

“But are you okay with it?”

Chanwoo asked me in return.

Given my complicated situation, I naturally didn’t feel like going to a drinking party.

“I’ll just say I need to go to the bathroom if the atmosphere feels weird and head back to the dorm.”

“Ah, I see.”

“But you should still act like you’re getting along with Han Kang and Jinho hyung, since they’re going to the military.”

Even though they were putting on a show, I didn’t think it was just an act.

I would be going to the military too, after all, that was my future.

Exemption?

Our club president, our hyung, had served in the Marine Corps as active duty.

Our youngest brother couldn’t go because he had gained too much weight, but I didn’t have that problem.

The meeting place was a pub.

As we entered the pub, we could see that the guys had already started.

There were probably a few guys mixed in, but they were all girls.

And strangely, the place was filled with familiar faces.

“Are these the dormitory kids?”

Passing by the dormitory, I saw a few familiar faces.

Was Kyu-a, who was a sophomore last year, also a dormitory student?

“Hello, guys.”

When Ahn Hyun-ho greeted them with a smile, the freshmen also welcomed him.

The sophomores seemed to have their faces stamped with the title of being second-year students.

I thought they would feel uncomfortable when we entered, but…

“Hello, I’m also your senior, but I took a leave of absence this year so I couldn’t see you guys.”

Han Kang, who looked warm and friendly like a church brother, greeted us, changing the atmosphere a bit.

“…I’m Kang’s friend.”

When Jin-ho, with his bear-like physique and fierce look, awkwardly hesitated, laughter erupted, lightening the mood.

“I’m Geon-gong and Jung Chan-woo.”

As Chan-woo appeared, he welcomed us with open arms.

“Ahem.”

Lastly, as I entered, the atmosphere immediately became awkward, to say the least.

‘The reactions are quite…’

Although Choi Yiseo told me that my reputation was overly negative, I didn’t expect it to be this bad.

Isn’t it a bit too much to have no reaction at all, especially since we are in the same dormitory?

‘I should just leave.’

There’s no need to have a few drinks.

After having a beer and cheering on the two who were going to the military, I promised to go back.

‘Huh?’

But amidst everyone avoiding my gaze, there was one person who was staring at me intently.

The sophomore who had made a promise with Ahn Hyun-ho was looking at me with a strange smile in his eyes.

***

“Phew.”

I stepped outside less than 30 minutes later, as if escaping from the alcohol-induced excitement.

The cool night air quickly cooled my head, and the tension in my body dissipated.

The four people left behind didn’t seem to have a bad atmosphere.

Well, they might seem somewhat attractive at first glance.

‘I should go back soon.’

As I laughed and said I would go back to the dormitory after enjoying the free drinks and snacks, someone called out to me from behind.

“Senior!”

Turning around, I saw the sophomore who had just been joking around with Ahn Hyun-ho, calling out to me.

“Are you going to the dormitory? Let’s go together!”

“Why?”

I didn’t understand why he wanted to go together. I didn’t want to get involved with the sophomore who had a good atmosphere with Ahn Hyun-ho.

“I think I’m a bit drunk too. I sneaked out without anyone noticing.”

“You’re drunk?”

“Yes!”

He seems too energetic.

I was a bit puzzled by the situation, but I decided to play along.

“If you’re not going to the dormitory, where are you going? Let’s go together, senior!”

“I’m going to a room salon.”

“….”

A moment of hesitation crossed his face.

I thought I could easily brush him off, but the sophomore approached me again.

“But don’t go there, let’s go to the dormitory together. Okay? Let’s have a few more drinks in my room.”

“What are you up to?”

I asked, and Kyu-a smirked mischievously.

It seemed like the perfect word to describe this kid.

His eyes crinkled upwards like a fox.

“Kyu-a!”

A urgent voice came from afar.

“What are you doing there? Who is that guy?”

A sharp-looking man ran over with an anxious expression and started questioning him.

“Oppa?! I clearly said let’s take a break for a while!”

Were they in a relationship?

‘Hyun-ho, you idiot.’

Of all people, why did he choose someone like this?

I’ll have to tell Hyun-ho to get his act together later.

“I said let’s take a break, not break up. Why are you like this again?”

“I’m going to date Senior Woojin now. Stop bothering me, Oppa!”

Kyu-a immediately grabbed my arm.

Huh, what’s going on?

It feels like something similar happened before.

Back then, Yuarin did something like this to get close to Pyojinho.

And naturally, Yuarin came to mind.

What would Yuarin or the others think if they saw me like this now?

Imagining it, I could picture myself collapsing on the floor in about 2 seconds.

“Ah! Get lost!”

That was my survival instinct.

I pushed away Gyu-a hanging on my arm and tripped him with my leg.

It was the Wasabari move that Yuarin taught me when I was bored at Gold One.

Thud.

Gyu-a fell flat on the ground.

Thanks to me holding his hand, he fell softly, but his body turned and his face hit the ground.

A situation where he fell like he was bowing down.

“….”

“….”

Gyu-a’s boyfriend also looked confused, staring at me blankly, and Gyu-a couldn’t get up, looking embarrassed.

“Kim Gyu-a, you misjudged the person. I thought you were a well-behaved guy, but how could you think of tripping someone like that?!”

It wasn’t my place to say, but first strike wins.

If they start a fight with provocation and manipulation, I’ll respond with provocation and manipulation.

“Uh, this is Gyu-a.”

The boyfriend cautiously corrected me.

“Gyu-a? The one who says ‘iguana’ when they mean ‘iguana’?”

“No, it’s Gyu-a.”

Oh, I see.

I thought his name was Iguana.

“Gyu-a! Behave properly and go apologize to my beloved and closest friend, Boo Dae-an Hyunho!”

“It’s not Iguana, it’s Gyu-a.”

“But doesn’t Iguana stick to your lips?”

When I seriously asked Gyu-a’s boyfriend, he confirmed with a strange expression.

“But you’re not involved with Gyu-a at all.”

“Yes, I prefer dogs and cats over reptiles.”

“….”

It was a joke of repentance.

But it didn’t land.

“But isn’t Gyu-a unconscious?”

Shouldering his boyfriend’s question, I shrugged and replied.

“Socially, I’m almost in a state of unconsciousness. I can’t get up because I’m embarrassed.”

In response to my words.

Very quietly.

“Damn bastards.”

Gyu-a’s curse could be heard.