Bamboo Forest Manager

‘Did I do something unnecessary?’

The disconnect I felt between the Seo Yerin in front of me and Anonymous69 was so wide, it felt like a fuse had been lit, and my suspicions were solidifying.

-Admin: Anonymous69, stop sending weird photos.

-Admin: If you send such photos one more time, you will be permanently banned.

-Admin: And you will not be able to use the bulletin board.

I replied right away but there was no way to confirm whether it had been read or not.

Anxiously hoping it had been read, I was turning jittery when Choi Yiseo, seated next to me was staring deeply at me,

“…What is it?”

I wondered why she was suddenly acting like this.

I hadn’t the chance to ask her earlier, but why did she have to come sit next to me in class, when I was asleep?

Especially since the 9 a.m. class meant that there would be many empty seats due to people self-declaring it as their own free period.

Choi Yiseo started the lecture with a furtive glance at the professor, then took a slight inhale.

“Can I ask you something?”

She seemed adamant about asking regardless of whether I was okay with it or not. Wondering if she had any specific question for me, I nodded.

“Go ahead.”

Having set down her pen, Choi Yiseo asked,

“Did something happen with Yoon-ji last semester?”

“……”

Yoon-ji.

That’s an unforgettable name.

I was lost in thought for a moment, and I frowned as I asked her,

“Why are you so curious all of a sudden? Oh Yoon-ji just finished the first semester and applied for a leave of absence right after.”

I was actually more curious as to why Oh Yoon-ji was brought up here, who had gone on a leave of absence right after the second semester of freshman year.

“Ahh…”

Perhaps as it was a sensitive topic for me as well, my voice came out sharper than I intended.

Choi Yiseo hesitated for a moment and looked a little awkward and embarrassed.

“No, sorry. I shouldn’t have brought it up.”

“Was this what you wanted to ask me at the café yesterday?”

Remembering how her question had been cut off by the intrusion of the senior, Ahn Hyeon-ho, she asked with a curt nod.

“I’m sorry if it made you uncomfortable.”

“Yes, it was uncomfortable. But I’m curious as to why you took a sudden interest in Oh Yoon-ji.”

“…Yoon-ji was my friend from high school.”

“A friend from high school?”

This was surprising.

Since Oh Yoon-ji never mentioned anything about knowing Choi Yiseo.

“That’s why I was curious. Yoon-ji has always been a good leader, and she was often the center of attention among her friends since high school, but then she suddenly took a leave of absence.”

“……”

“I often saw her hang out with you during the first semester, and I was curious about it.”

Choi Yiseo seemed to think she had crossed a line and was sincerely feeling sorry, seeing her like that made me wonder if I responded too harshly.

“We dated briefly.”

I responded, sighing.

“We broke up due to personality differences. It must have been awkward for her to attend university with me around. Maybe she won’t return until I enlist in the military.”

“Ahh….”

Realizing that the conversation had delved into a personal matter, Choi Yiseo scratched her head to think of a right way to respond.

“Sorry.”

“It’s fine, it’s normal to be curious.”

I replied with a light shrug.

Feeling a bit down, I checked my phone out of habit, and I could see many notifications.

‘Ah, right.’

I was surprised by the sudden talk about the first semester, but then remembered that Seo Yerin was right there.

Messages from Anonymous69 were lined up.

-Anonymous69: Are you really telling me not to send photos?

-Anonymous69: If I send them, will you really ban me permanently?

-Anonymous69: Mr./Ms. Admin.

-Anonymous69: Answer me

-Anonymous69: Answer.

-Anonymous69: Answer, answer, answerrrrr.

It seemed like the messages were similar to last night’s. My sullen mood is now turning into confusion.

-Admin: Yes, I will permanently ban you.

The answer came back instantly.

-Anonymous69: ….

-Admin: You have around four hours left, so wait till then.

After all, wouldn’t it be over by the time we finished attending the lecture and ate lunch? I often check the Bamboo Forest community too, but this person is way addicted to it.

-Anonymous69: Then at least be honest about this.

-Admin: Yes?

-Anonymous69: Did that photo really not turn you on?

“Huh, seriously.”

Was it necessary for her to be harping on that? What kind of thoughts did she have about such sexual preferences?

But.

‘It wouldn’t be good to continue provoking her for no reason.’

She really could send me a few more revealing shots now. And the thought of her in the bathroom doing all that made me dizzy.

-Admin: Ahh, I was so turned on. Right, I was. I even did it once yesterday with that photo, happy now?

It seemed like she needed a response of this level to satisfy her, and indeed it took some time before I received an answer from Seo Yerin.

Choi Yiseo glanced over at Seo Yerin seat worriedly.

‘Maybe she’s acting like this because she doesn’t know how to respond when confronted so directly?’

With that, I jumped in.

-Admin: But you know? Why is it so important whether I am turned on by a photo or not?

And the response came almost instantly.

-Anonymous69: Are you insane!? That’s because it’s my favorite! I’m angry because my favorite part got ignored! I’ll do it another twenty times.

‘There’s no way that can happen.’

Just move on.

-Admin: Yes, I get it, you’ve been making such a fuss, so I decided to show some spirit too. The photo looks great. I will use it well. Are you done now? Please stop sending more in the inquiries.

Saying that, I closed the app.

There was no reason for me to expect any more messages, and Seo Yerin came back quickly.

With a face as red as a beet.

“Yerin, are you feeling unwell somewhere?”

Choi Yiseo looked worried at Seo Yerin, who didn’t seem to be feeling well, but Seo Yerin just shook her head.

“No, no, there was something slightly uncomfortable, but it’s all okay now. If it’s okay with you, can you show me what you wrote down? I’ll buy you a coffee.”

“If you’re offering free coffee, I’ll show you everything.”

Choi Yiseo knows how to joke too, eh?

When I sneaked a glance at them, Choi Yiseo shielded her notes with her body.

I also had a few things I couldn’t write down as I was texting Seo Yerin.

“Are you buying me coffee too?”

The way she forced a change in the air seemed awkward, but to me it somehow looked nice.

Without realizing, I let out a chuckle and replied,

“Two cups of coffee seems a bit much, so how about a slice of cake?”

“Ah, didn’t they say that they sold cakes here that are high in protein and low in fat? How about you buy me one of those?”

What on earth is a protein cake?

Like a native newly discovering fire, I could only nod at the mention of this novel invention completely new to me.

“Three servings of pork.”

Looking at the stir-fried spicy pork served in front of me, I picked my spoon up. The spicy scent paired with the sweet and savory seasoning. On top of that, this place even adds a sunny-side-up egg.

It was conveniently located in the front of the University, so the prices are student-friendly.

By now, the restaurant was filled with male students and so all the gazes were drawn to us.

“Have a good meal.”

At my words, Seo Yerin and Choi Yiseo sitting across from me, picked up their spoons with reluctance.

“Does it have to be spicy pork?”

Ultimately it was Choi Yiseo who broke the silence.

At her question, I pointed to the menu.

“The spicy pork here is just 7,000 won.”

Nowadays, one would be praised for being savvy if they could get a meal for 7,000 won. Plus there are many side dishes which come with it.

“No, it’s not about the money.”

“Ahahha.”

Seo Yerin laughed awkwardly as she agreed with Choi Yiseo.

It seemed like both of them didn’t like the choice of food I ordered….

I made a scissors gesture with my hand and presented it to them.

“Then win, you losers.”

“…I really thought you were going to pick rock.”

“Don’t decide such things out of prejudice.”

I won the rock-paper-scissors for the selection of menu, and we managed to come here.

In the first semester, because of my ex-girlfriend Oh Yoon-ji, I couldn’t even look at the stir-fried spicy pork, but since the second semester I had the freedom to choose what I wanted and I would come here.

“This place is a hidden gem. Try it.”

“I don’t hate stir-fried pork that much.”

Seo Yerin smiled pleasantly as she carefully took a bite of the pork, spearing it from the sauce, in her mouth.

And she chewed on it a few times as she went ‘Hmm!’.

“It really is a nice place! It’s delicious.”

“Don’t come here too often though. It’s so crowded it’s hard to get a seat.”

“…Hmm, I guess so.”

It tasted good but they gave me the impression that they won’t come back again.

Choi Yiseo sighed and picked out the onions and spring onions from her dish with her chopsticks.

Seeing that, both I and Seo Yerin watched her at the same time, causing her to respond in embarrassment.

“Ah, no, I have been working out because I wanted to shoot a vlog. That is why stir-fried pork is a bit…”

“Then you should have said something earlier.”

“I couldn’t since I lost.”

That made sense too.

“Shooting a vlog, Yiseo? Really? But it feels like you could already shoot one right now!?”

Seo Yerin began to compliment her and Choi Yiseo scratched her head, feeling embarrassed for no reason.

Although people say that half of women’s compliments are pretentious, it was clear that Seo Yerin meant every word she said.

“Woah, show it to me later! Do you go to the gym? Do you have a personal trainer? If you know a good place, let me know.”

“Yes, I do. I also asked the trainer about good places to shoot a vlog, so let me know if you need anything.”

‘Seo Yerin doesn’t seem to need to go there either.’

Looking at the pictures she sent to me, she didn’t need to work out…

But, oh well.

Seeing her eat the stir-fried pork with a happy smile, I too, feel pleased.

“If you’re not going to eat your pork, give it to me.”

Pointing to the leftover food for Choi Yiseo, her expression turned mildly irritated and she said,

“I’ll eat it.”

It seems that the flood of compliments from Seo Yerin had an effect. Watching Choi Yiseo start eating carefully, I comment nonchalantly,

“Eating carefully will not keep you from gaining weight.”

“Yah!”

It’s not like what I said is wrong.

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