Bamboo Forest Manager

After finishing the meal and even having coffee in café,

Kim Woojin had gone off to the PC room, while Seo Yerin and Choi Yiseo were still in the café, continuing their conversation.

They weren't particularly close, but neither of them lacked social skills.

Especially Seo Yerin's lively and friendly manner of speaking appealed to Choi Yiseo, who was very decisive with her personal interactions.

"Woojin is really something else."

Woojin.

Seeing Seo Yerin address him casually, Choi Yiseo gave a slight smile and a nod.

"Really, to pass up the chance to have coffee with you and rush off to a PC room."

"Uh? Ah? N-no that isn't what I meant…."

Despite saying that, Seo Yerin was well aware of her good looks and the effect she had on people.

And yet, she was a modest person.

'He's a nice guy.'

Watching Seo Yerin fumble awkwardly with her mug at her lips, Choi Yiseo responded jokingly.

"It's not something I just said either."

"Yes…."

Even her slightly annoyed look was cute. Choi Yiseo had her own brand of confidence but it was of a different vibe from Seo Yerin.

She found herself envious of the warm atmosphere.

"Oh wow! Yiseo, can you tell me a bit more about physical training? What should I expect if I go?"

"You're interested in it? Are you planning to take a Body profile?"

"I don't know about Body… profile, but I do want to try it out. I've been feeling a little insecure about my body recently."

Hm?

"Insecure?"

What did she mean by that?

A body which anyone would think of as being well-managed, with everything in the right place. Actually, it was even surprising that she could maintain her body like this without properly working out.

"Somebody said that I don't look that good…."

"What! Who said that? Wasn't it just something they said without much thought? Does that even make any sense?"

Choi Yiseo, who was getting angry as if it was her own business. Not only did she dislike that someone had casually uttered denigrating comments about another person's body, but among those, the fact that they insulted Seo Yerin felt like it was just someone looking for an excuse to bad-mouth her.

"Haha. It was just something they said without thinking. That person did say it wasn't true later. I might be worrying unnecessarily."

"Haa, seriously, there are so many weird people going about these days."

Sighing, Choi Yiseo shook her head.

While it was surprising that someone said such words to Seo Yerin, it also made her realize that even this girl couldn't avoid being bad-mouthed by someone.

"Just ignore what they say. It's obvious that they're just jealous. But if you really want to have a proper PT (physical training) session, I can talk to the trainer for you. They teach in a very systematic manner…."

These two were becoming friends naturally.

"Ahh, did I make the schedule with my feet or something…"

It felt like someone had drilled through my chest after finally being done with the Tuesday schedule which had lectures for five straight hours.

The 9 a.m. class ended at 12 noon, and I had no more classes until 5 p.m..

Even accounting for my compromised state when I was enrolling for classes due to the breakup with my ex-girlfriend, Oh Yoon-ji, I still wanted to go back in time and give my past self a good punch to the face.

I spent time playing games in the PC room or managing the Bamboo Forest community but I hated being stuck at the University for five hours.

'I should've gone back to my studio apartment to get some sleep.'

Thinking that would have been a better option, I began to think about what to have for dinner by watching the sunset.

On the way home.

There was a stream and the walking path there was well-maintained, so I saw a lot of people jogging.

'Maybe I should try working out too.'

Come to think of it, it's been a while since I last exercised. Blaming it on managing the Bamboo Forest community feels like an excuse when working out only takes an hour or two a day.

'Shh, since I thought of it, why not just try it?'

I took my phone out to see if I could buy some decent running shoes first. Everything starts with the right equipment, right?

And yet, my finger, out of habit, went for the Bamboo Forest app instead. I checked it so often that I opened it unconsciously.

Most of the posts on Bamboo Forest were more or less the same.

-Anonymous70: Did anyone leave their wallet in the Nursing Room 110 today? I left it at the student council office so you can go pick it up there.

-Anonymous46: Anyone up for hanging out just for today? If we hit it off, a one-night stand can happen too.

-Anonymous66: Me! Me! Me!

-Anonymous34: How about going to karaoke and then having a drink? It is on me tonight.

-Anonymous69: Is sex an option?

-Anonymous46: I am a guy.

-Anonymous66: Fuck.

-Anonymous34: Fuck

-Anonymous69: Fuck don't post that stuff bastard.

-Anonymous46: Then why don't we all grab a drink then, bros?

-Anonymous12: I am hungry, any dinner suggestions?

-Anonymous69: I just want to have sex so bad!

Although various posts were made, since there weren't many people at this time, not many responses came.

Of course, there was a bit of commotion generated by posts from attention seekers, with guys flocking to it as if in solidarity.

But more than that, there was one name which caught my eye.

"She's back again."

Anonymous69.

I figured they'd post again once the ban was lifted.

But isn't it ridiculous to see her pretending to be a guy, subtly fitting in with the men. Doesn't she have friends to eat dinner with or prepare to go out for drinks?

If it was Seo Yerin, the men would probably be texting her asking her out for drinks every day.

'Well, it doesn't seem like any special management is needed.'

It's a fundamentally laissez-faire bulletin board.

Those kinds of posts just get passed by with a 'so what' attitude.

Now, returning to the search on buying new running shoes. In that brief moment, the screen lit up, and I glanced to see this familiar face run towards me.

Not the purple hoodie she had on today, but Choi Yiseo was in a blue jersey which clung tight to her body.

This certainly matched with her navy color bob, but I couldn't help but wonder why she was always in workout attire every time we met.

It seemed like she was jogging with her earphones in.

'How bothersome.'

I just pretended not to see her and lowered my gaze back to the screen and Choi Yiseo didn't bother stopping to speak either, she just jogged by.

"Hey."

Was what I thought.

Surely she had passed me, but a few seconds later, she called out to me. I turned my head to see her with hands on her hips and a subtle look on her face.

"Why didn't you bother saying hi?"

"You didn't say hi either."

Choi Yiseo took her earphones out and retorted.

"I thought you would do it."

"And I thought you would do it."

Our conversation ran in parallels.

Whatever the case, it was true that neither greeted each other. Finally, she gave up and said,

"Hello."

"Right, hello."

"Is the lecture over now? You must have taken quite a lot today?"

"Just two."

"You were with me at the 9 a.m. lecture."

"And I have another at 5 p.m..'

"…Huh."

Though she seemed to be holding back, I could see the corners of her lip turn up slightly.

"Wow, must be nice. With such a long break, you can just relax before you go."

"Why are you rubbing salt in my wounds?"

Why would anyone call this a consolation?

"Good luck with your workout."

I sigh, waving my hand. It seemed like she noticed the running shoes I was looking at on my phone screen.

"Are you buying running shoes?"

Choi Yiseo casually asked.

I frowned and said,

"Don't you need to exercise?"

"That was the finish line."

"…I'm considering buying them."

She said she intended to run only till here. So what more can I say? I just vaguely answered her and she immediately checked the watch on her wrist.

"Have you eaten?"

This was unexpected.

"No…."

"Then let's have dinner together. I'll recommend a good place for running shoes. Did you do sports back in the day?"

"No…"

"Well, there's a brand that's good for beginners."

Honestly.

Now it's getting to a point where I was turning suspicious. The Choi Yiseo I saw from one step behind gets along with people but was rather selective with them.

'Did something happen with Yoon-ji last semester?'

'…She said Yoon-ji is her friend from high school.'

The covnersations we had during the lecture today came to mind, I got this odd feeling but then the thought that her friendliness is simply because she thought well of me as a person came up.

'it is making me curious for some reason.'

I'm not the type of person who can contain my curiosity, and I especially want to know what kind of relationship exists between Oh Yoon-ji and Choi Yiseo.

I extended my fist to her.

"Uh?"

She looked taken aback, so I responded nonchalantly.

"We're having dinner right? Rock-paper-scissors."

As realization dawned that this is how we're going to decide the menu,

"Phew."

Choi Yiseo's expression turned serious.

"The cheese pork cutlet here is really tasty."

"Shut up."

Choi Yiseo, who was looking at the pork cutlet restaurant's menu across from me, glared at me in annoyance.

"Ahh, all the exercise I did today will be going to waste."

"With just today's effort, it's not like you'll achieve what you want."

"This is annoying. I really thought you would throw a rock this time."

"I don't think about all that when I throw something."

Sighing at my response, Cho Yiseo began to rummage through the menu and it seemed like she was surprised with the variety it presented.

"There's chicken drizzled in oil. Maybe I'll have that instead."

It's a fried chicken but it's served with veggies like lettuce and onions, all mixed in soy sauce seasoning.

Honestly, I think of it as a more luxurious salad.

"I'll have to go for the cheese pork cutlet set."

Lunch was spicy stir-fried pork, and dinner was pork cutlet.

It really is a day of feasting.

Confident that I could eat like this tomorrow too, I placed the order with the server and went to get some water.

Like most houses near college areas, it was often self-service for water and side dishes. It's a trade-off for reduced prices and some level of service.

When I brought water, Choi Yiseo pressed her phone to my face.

It was an online shopping mall displaying a range of shoes.

"Choose from these. Since you said you don't care about the brand, let me know what design you prefer."

"You're a lot more serious than I thought."

Could it be that she's trying to make me her exercise partner or something?

I heard that people who worked out usually prefer doing it with someone else.

With an unsure attitude, I lazily scrolled through the screen when,

"Yiseo?"

A puzzled voice was directed at our table.

I had a feeling that this happened before. It was at the café last time and I was also with her then.

"Ahn Hyeon-ho?"

Before I knew it, Ahn Hyeon-ho from the English Language and Literature Department was standing in front of our table.

He was frowning, looking back and forth between me and her.

"What are you guys doing here?"

"Uh? Well…."

Choi Yiseo started to respond to the man's sharp tone, but I interrupted, resting my chin on my hand.

"Eating."

What else would we be doing here if not eating?

Ahn Hyeon-ho glared at me, clearly dissatisfied with my indifferent tone.

*****

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