episode_0171

Mid-March.

Although a bit earlier than other universities, the students who had already become close were all familiar with each other, and it was a time to make an effort to get along with those who were not yet close.

It was supposed to be a one-night, two-day trip, but my steps just wouldn’t move.

“I feel a bit uncomfortable than I thought.”

Going out to have fun isn’t a bad thing.

But it feels strangely uncomfortable to be in a place where first-year students hang out.

It feels even more uncomfortable because the reasons why second-year seniors participate in MT, as seen on the internet, are somewhat explicit.

“What are you doing?”

Seo Yerin, who seemed to find my silence strange, tilts her head next to me.

“Why are you just standing there?”

Seo Yerin suggests we quickly get on the bus.

Does she know that her every little action attracts attention from those around her?

Many people have said that we are friends, and there were also a few guys who seemed disappointed that they couldn’t get close to Seo Yerin.

The feeling that why someone like Seo Yerin is hanging out with me is strong among the girls.

“Is it right for us to join the first-year students’ hangout spot?”

Thanks to Seo Yerin’s participation, quite a few second-year students also ended up attending.

The first-year students were surprised, and the professors seemed to like it.

I wondered if we had stolen the spotlight from the first-year students’ event.

“What does that matter? Is there a rule that only first-year students can go to MT?”

“No, that’s not it.”

“Right? And anyway, since we’re going to have fun among ourselves, there’s no need to care about the surrounding gazes.”

“….”

“Why?”

“Well, it’s a bit embarrassing to be persuaded by you.”

“What!”

She pinches my side and laughs brightly, then drags me onto the bus.

As we make eye contact with Choi Yiseo, who is checking the number of people in front of the bus, she glances at us and lets out a sigh.

“Unlink your arms and get on.”

“Why?”

Seo Yerin jokes.

‘Unexpectedly.’

I had given up on thinking about it since we hadn’t all met recently.

Even when the two of us are together, there doesn’t seem to be a tense atmosphere.

I was worried that a petty fight like in love and war would break out. The fact that they were close also played a part.

Poke.

If I tell Seo Yerin, she won’t listen, so Choi Yiseo pinches my cheek and gestures for me to unlink my arms.

Not wanting to cause a disturbance, I let go of Seo Yerin. One side smiles comfortably, while the other pouts in dissatisfaction.

“Sit right behind the front seat. That’s my spot next to it,” Choi Yiseo whispers discreetly.

Seo Yerin, who was probably listening to the conversation from the side, would be the variable.

“I’m sitting here!”

She inserts herself in and sticks out her tongue sharply.

I thought she was just teasing, but she seemed to have her own reasons.

“I don’t want to see Woojin flirting with girls on both sides.”

“…Agreed.”

Choi Yiseo gestures for her to quickly get in as well, not being able to stand that sight.

Feeling somewhat insulted, I enter the bus.

In the end, we decided to sit at the back.

“Do you want to sit by the window?”

I asked because I usually like sitting by the window, but Seo Yerin shakes her head.

“No, you go inside. I want to talk only with you, not with the others.”

“What’s the theme for today?”

“Obsessive girlfriend?”

Being pushed, I ended up sitting by the window.

“Don’t worry, I’ll only hang out with you.”

She smiles broadly and quickly pulls out her phone.

“Let’s play a game! Did you pick up this time?”

“The one with the scar on his face? No, I didn’t pick anyone specifically.”

“I purposely didn’t pick anyone so that I could pick with you! Let’s pick together.”

The conversation smoothly transitions into a game discussion.

“Okay, let’s go, two, three, go.”

Seo Yerin leans on my shoulder, places the phone between us, and presses the pick button.

It used to be that she would whisper quietly and not lean on my shoulder like this.

I can feel that she has changed in many ways, and a smile forms on my face.

“Is this a game?!”

“….”

“I just lost 500,000 won in 2 minutes! Ugh! My money!”

Seeing the money disappear in an instant due to a failed draw, my smile grows even wider.

“Jo, a little more! Just a little more!”

Without realizing it, Seo Yerin, who has already spent all her money, desperately tries to recharge, so I grab her wrist.

“Hey, hey. How can a girl who doesn’t even work spend money like this?”

“I was saving up my allowance to ask my mom for more!”

That’s probably gone now.

As I try to stop Seo Yerin from trying to spend more money by pushing my hand away, Yoo Arin passes by.

“Tsk.”

She clicks her tongue and tries to sit on the opposite side, but then stands up again.

“No, I feel like you’ll be uncomfortable if you’re in plain sight.”

“Do you guys have a script?”

How can she say the same things that Choi Eseo and Seo Yerin said earlier?

In the end, Yoo Arin sat behind me.

She said she would take advantage of her geographical position to beat me up if I tried to do something weird to Seo Yerin.

Senior Juhee also passed by, but I avoided eye contact.

I let go of Seo Yerin’s hand because I didn’t want the senior to see us acting like this.

The senior didn’t pay attention to us and acted as usual.

She put her hand deep in her pocket, extinguished the cigarette smoke, and even sprayed air freshener.

I was a bit worried when we first said we were going on an MT, but now it seemed like there wouldn’t be any big problems.

“Alright, we’re about to depart, so fasten your seatbelts.”

Following Choi Eseo’s instructions, we fastened our seatbelts, but soon everyone had unfastened them and started playing and chatting among themselves.

Seo Yerin and I played mobile games and chatted while sitting together.

We were close, but since we were on the bus, there was no one else to watch us.

“Yerin, let’s play a game together?”

Assistant Manager Ahn Hyunho came over to us.

“What game?”

Even though Seo Yerin knew he was looking at us, she didn’t seem to care and asked back.

Without much change in his expression, Ahn Hyunho smiled and replied to us.

“Mafia game. We’re all going to play it together with an app on our phones.”

“Oh, that sounds fun. Let’s play, Woojin.”

“Yeah, Woojin, let’s play together.”

Seo Yerin’s suggestion led to an offer for me to join in.

“…Who are you?”

That brat wouldn’t greet me like that.

Anyway, we ended up playing the Mafia game together. There were quite a few people participating, and all the familiar names were there.

“If the Mafia is caught, we’ll kill Kim Woojin first.”

Yoo Arin’s murder threat from behind signaled the start of the game.

– You are a civilian! –

“Yeah, being a civilian is safe.”

When playing this kind of game, I didn’t want to attract attention.

I’m usually quiet, so I wouldn’t want to be embarrassed if I suddenly became noisy while out with friends.

“Woojin, what’s wrong with you?”

“Isn’t it something you shouldn’t reveal?”

Seo Yerin grumbles beside me.

Whether she says it or not, the debate was already in full swing on the screen.

– Ahn Hyunho: Suspecting Kim Woojin.

– Yoo Arin: Okay, let’s kill him.

– Baek Seowoo: Directly accuse Woojin.

– Lee Hyuna: Suddenly Kim Woojin? But I do have some suspicions.

“That jerk probably planned this from the start.”

I can already see Ahn Hyunho’s sinister smile.

He probably wanted to make a fool out of me and suggested playing the Mafia game together.

– Seo Yerin: It’s not Woojin!

– Ahn Hyunho: Tell Woojin to reveal himself.

– Kim Iju: But who is he?

– 서예린: Next to me!

– Kim Iju: Oh.

– Shin Ho-chang: Woojin, make a move.

– Yu Arin: Shin Ho-chang? Who is he? Was there a guy like that in our department?

– Shin Ho-chang: He’s a senior in the 3rd grade… He even bought coffee for you last time, Arin.

– Yu Arin: Kim Woojin, make a move.

“Idiot.”

“Oh, I didn’t know.”

Muttering as he kicks the chair, the guy behind me sneers at Yu Arin.

– Kim Woojin: I’m a civilian.

– Ahn Hyunho: I knew it. Mafia. Just die.

– Yu Arin: I’m suspicious. Die.

– Kim Iju: Let’s just kill him for now.

In an instant, the votes turned against me and I died.

Of course, I was a civilian.

For your information, the mafia were Ahn Hyunho and Yu Arin.

“What the hell is this?”

If this is how it’s going to be, just make me an outcast.

I grumbled, but the next game proceeded anyway.

– You are dead! –

And on the first night, I was killed by the mafia.

The mafia were Shin Ho-chang and Min Ju-hee.

“Ju-hee senior…?”

I felt a bit uneasy, but we moved on to the next game right away.

– Min Ju-hee: Kim Woojin is the mafia.

– Kim Woojin: ….

– Yu Arin: Kim Woojin is so bad at this game lol

“I can’t even make it past the second day? Is this how the game is supposed to be?”

“You should try harder, Woojin.”

“It’s because you’re bad at it.”

Both of them made a comment from either side, and I just wanted to hit them.

Am I losing because I’m bad at the game?

We played a few more rounds after that.

I was caught by the police, but the mafia, Seo Yerin, secretly looked at my screen and killed me.

Or I was voted to die due to Ahn Hyunho’s manipulation.

Either way, I never had a good time in the game.

“This sucks.”

– You are the mafia! –

This time, I looked at my phone with the determination to catch them.

And the same mafia was Min Ju-hee.

– Kim Woojin: Is there anyone you want to kill?

I cautiously asked in the chat, and the senior replied nonchalantly.

– Min Ju-hee: You?

“Ugh, this is sickening.”

My stomach felt queasy, I wonder when we’ll reach the rest area.

– Min Ju-hee: Just kidding. Kill anyone. Do you want to kill someone?

– Kim Woojin: Yu Arin. She’s been kicking my chair since earlier.

– Min Ju-hee: Okay, let’s go with Arin.

After that, there was no more chat.

It seems like the police and the doctor are having a hard time deciding, considering how long the night is.

– Min Ju-hee: Woojin.

Senior Ju-hee started a conversation again.

– Kim Woojin: Yes.

– Min Ju-hee: …It’s boring.

– Kim Woojin: What?

Out of the blue, what is she talking about?

– Kim Woojin: We’re in the middle of a game.

– Min Ju-hee: We are, but it’s not very fun.

– Kim Woojin: So if you become the police, you’ll only investigate me, and if you become the mafia, you’ll only kill me?

– Min Ju-hee: Even if you were the doctor, I would have saved you. You died by vote, that’s all.

– Kim Woojin: Giving me poison and medicine.

It seemed like a comfortable conversation, but it didn’t feel as seamless as before.

It felt like we were cautiously talking to each other, like playing dodgeball.

It was awkward for no reason.

– Min Ju-hee: Frustrating.

It seemed like I wasn’t the only one thinking that.

– Min Ju-hee: Don’t be so sensitive. Nothing happened.

– Kim Woojin: Senior…

– Min Ju-hee: I’m also 23 now. I don’t want to lose a good younger brother over something like this.

A good younger brother.

I was touched by her words.

– Min Ju-hee: Your relationships with girls seem a bit complicated, you might need to sort that out.

– Kim Woojin: …I think about that every day. I’ll sort it out soon.

– Min Ju-hee: Yeah, don’t unnecessarily hurt the kids. Do well.

Min Ju-hee: Don’t worry about it. Just call me Captain as usual or call me hyung.

At that moment, the night came to an end.

Min Ju-hee: Let’s just forget about my confession.

“……”

The finger holding the phone stiffens.

“Huh?”

“Ju, Juhee sunbae?”

Amidst the sighs echoing from all around the bus.

– Kim Iju: ?

– Yu Arin: ?

– Shin Ho-chang: ?

– Lee Hyun-ah: ?

– Seo Yerin: ?

– Ahn Hyun-ho: ?

– Baek Seo-woo: ?

Question marks popping up one after another.

Cold sweat trickles down.

I was curious about what expression Sunbae Ju-hee was making right now, but the third-year class president moves on without catching the hint.

– Shin Ho-chang: This… looks like Ju-hee is the mafia.

Chatting hard at night implies being a mafia.

So naturally.

It becomes a fact that I was chatting with fellow mafia members.

‘Damn, what should I do.’

Even if I win, in the end, it will be revealed that I am the mafia.

I rack my brain, wondering if there is a way to just ruin this game.

– Choi Iseo: Kick.

– Choi Iseo: Kim Woojin is the mafia.

Choi Iseo’s report filled with anger comes up.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Yu Arin starts kicking the chair from behind, and…

“……Woojin?”

It was Seo Yerin calling me in a cold tone.