Chapter 103: Same Situation, Different Reactions
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 103: Same Situation, Different Reactions
Once I realized Chan-woo was making himself scarce on purpose, I wanted to talk to him, but we never had a moment alone.
With the three of us squeezed into this tiny studio apartment, where was the opportunity for a private chat?
So, I’d more or less given up and was just letting things flow.
I wore a complicated expression as I ate the cheese dakgalbi with extra noodles.
"It’s good, right?"
It was just as Yoo Ah-rin said.
I was actually a bit surprised by how much better it tasted than I expected.
"Psh! What’s so good about this? My dad doesn't like stuff like this!"
I hated the look of pure triumph on Yoo Ah-rin’s face, so I forced myself to pretend otherwise.
"Ugh, no fun."
"This place is actually pretty good."
Yoo Ah-rin and Jeong Chan-woo just ignored me, focusing on stuffing their own faces.
"I’m gonna go grab a smoke."
Once the atmosphere had mellowed out over a few beers, Chan-woo announced he was heading out for a cigarette.
"I'll show you where the smoking area is."
Thinking this was my chance, I tried to hop up, but Chan-woo quickly shot me down and pushed me back into my seat.
"Nah, I know where it is."
"..."
"I’ll be back in a flash, so you two just keep drinking."
I bet he won't be back in a flash.
The words hovered at the tip of my tongue, but with Yoo Ah-rin staring right at us while sipping her canned beer, I had no choice but to let him go.
Thud.
The door closed.
"That bastard is thinking something weird right now, isn't he?"
Ah-rin spoke with a look of utter indifference.
Her tone was rough enough that I thought she might be drunk, but looking at her face, that wasn't the case.
To put it simply, she was in a foul mood.
"First the bathroom, and now this. It feels like he’s leaving on purpose."
She grumbled about it being suspicious while chewing on some udon noodles. Seeing her like that actually made me feel more at ease, and I nodded.
"I think you're right. I don't think he actually took a shit earlier, either."
"Ugh, gross. I'm eating!"
She snapped at me, twisting her body to give me a light kick. It didn't hurt, but it felt strangely insulting.
"Sigh, that Chan-woo... It pisses me off that he’s getting weird ideas."
As Ah-rin grumbled and drained another can of beer, I took a sip of mine and agreed.
"Tch, tell me about it. I hate how he’s trying to set us up for no reason."
"I'm way out of your league, anyway."
Huh?
"What kind of bullshit is that? I'm the one out of your league."
I turned to argue, and Ah-rin looked at me at the same time.
"No matter how you look at it, I'm the catch here, right? Look, I've got a slim, fit body. I'm toned from working out, I'm flexible, and I can even do a windmill."
I felt a bit behind because of the windmill thing, but thinking about it calmly, that wasn't enough.
"You're not 'slim,' you're just 'nothing.' Look at me. I'm well-mannered, a gentleman, and very considerate."
"Look at you, saying the same thing three different ways because you've got nothing else to say."
Busted.
Just as she said, I had basically just cycled through three synonyms for the same thing.
"Besides, you're not even considerate. Where exactly is the 'consideration' in you? You just live however the hell you want."
That was sharper than expected, but if I backed down here, I’d be less of a man than Yoo Ah-rin.
"The fact that you're here drinking right now is my consideration. And I'm the one who got you the job as a Bamboo Forest Moderator because you were always posting about being bored."
"Wow, look at the nerve on this guy. You're just Kim Shameless."
"You're really no fun at all."
As we bickered back and forth, we polished off another can of beer.
Before we knew it, our conversation had devolved into a desperate attempt to tear each other down.
"Your strengths? You just live by your instincts and do whatever you want without caring what people think. Isn't that literally the only thing?"
"Me? I live by my instincts? Holy shit... where else are you going to find someone who lives with as much restraint as I do?"
Just looking at the Bamboo Forest inquiries, I had so many requests from Anonymous 69 to book a room, yet she was calling me a slave to my instincts?
If Yoo Ah-rin had seen the self-control I displayed when Choi I-seo came over and I held back because there were no condoms, she would have given me a standing ovation and called me a saint.
"You touched my chest."
"..."
That bitch.
She always knew exactly how to shut me up.
"I didn't know it was a chest."
Maybe it was because the alcohol was making me tipsy, but I blurted out something reckless. However, we were at a point where this level of talk wasn't a big deal between us.
In fact, Ah-rin just snorted and chugged her beer.
"Bullshit. I remember you huffing and puffing like you were super turned on."
"...Hey, wait a minute. You're the one who made me touch it. Besides, I didn't go any further than that."
Now that I thought about it, it was true.
Didn't I ultimately overcome the urge and stop?
At my words, Ah-rin immediately put the beer can back to her lips, even though she’d just taken a drink.
I guess she had nothing to say to that.
"That's where it ended, Yoo Ah-rin. You've got nothing to say, do you? Kim Woo-jin is practically a Bodhisattva. My self-restraint is so high people might wonder if I'm a eunuch."
As I smirked and kept pestering her, Ah-rin finally snapped. She reached out and grabbed both of my cheeks hard.
"This guy..."
She gritted her teeth and huffed, looking like her competitive streak had been ignited.
I couldn't tell if her face was red from the alcohol or just from embarrassment.
"Bring it on! Come at me!"
Then, she suddenly snatched my hand and shoved it right onto her chest.
It was the exact same situation as last time.
Before I knew it, my hand was resting on Ah-rin’s protruding chest.
Since it was winter, she was wearing thick clothes plus a bra, so most of what I felt was artificial.
However.
The soft sensation felt through the gaps made my heart thud-thud-thud, just like before.
But.
There was one thing different from that time.
"...Hic."
It was Yoo Ah-rin’s expression.
It wasn't that look of total disinterest she’d shown before. Back then, I’d pulled my hand away because it felt like a physical contact devoid of any emotional connection.
But now.
"Hi... eek."
Her cheeks were flushed deep red.
Her eyes were slightly watery.
In that moment, I felt a flicker of emotion—she was afraid of what might happen next... but also a little bit expectant.
Twitch.
Before I knew it, both of my hands were gripping both of her breasts.
"Hng... ahh."
As I applied a bit of pressure to the breasts that fit perfectly in my hands, Ah-rin let out a faint, alcohol-laced moan and twisted her body slightly.
Embarrassed that she’d made such a sound unconsciously, she quickly raised a hand to cover her mouth, but my hands refused to let go of her chest as she leaned into them.
It was seductive.
More than that, it was addictive.
It felt like it could go on forever, and that if I went any further, I’d cross a line I couldn't come back from.
Knock, knock, knock.
"Woo-jin, the door's locked."
Chan-woo’s voice drifted in from outside.
"Waaah! Holy shit!"
Ah-rin screamed and kicked me square in the chest as she scrambled up, sending me rolling backward.
She immediately bolted for the bathroom.
"..."
I wanted to stay face-down on the floor forever. I wanted to fall asleep right now and forget what I’d just done.
"Woo-jin? Ah-rin?"
If it weren't for Chan-woo’s voice outside, I might have.
I slowly stood up and hunched over slightly. I didn't want to show him the tension in my lower body.
"Come in."
When I opened the door, Chan-woo walked in with a bright smile and took off his puffer jacket.
"Where's Ah-rin?"
"...Bathroom."
"Guess I didn't need to ask."
As we sat back down and I picked at the leftover dakgalbi, Ah-rin emerged from the bathroom.
With her face still flushed, she leaned an arm against the bathroom doorframe and looked at me.
"K-Kim Woo-jin... what a loser."
She forced out a mocking laugh.
"That girl..."
* * *
Whether it was a relief or just bizarre, the drinking session continued as Ah-rin returned to her usual self.
As it got late, I obviously couldn't let Ah-rin sleep over, so I put her in a taxi and sent her home.
Chan-woo decided to crash at my place. Since tomorrow was Friday and we didn't have work, we tried to finish the rest of the alcohol.
But maybe because we were out of snacks, the mood wasn't quite there.
Or maybe it was because the atmosphere had dipped a bit after Ah-rin left.
"Woo-jin."
While we were sipping our beers, Chan-woo called my name softly.
I’d been waiting for a moment alone, but now that it was here, I felt a sudden surge of anxiety.
"Yeah?"
When I looked up to answer, Chan-woo was staring intently at me. It was annoying how handsome he looked even with that dreamy, drunken gaze.
But I could tell he was a good guy.
Because.
"Take care of Ah-rin."
He was smiling.
"From what I can see, I think Ah-rin has feelings for you."
"What are you talking about?"
I tried to deny it and took a gulp of beer, but Chan-woo just let out a small chuckle.
"If not, then whatever."
"Sigh... Chan-woo. Why did you really come over today?"
Setting Ah-rin aside, I wanted to know why Chan-woo had come along. I’d heard it was his idea to come.
"I just... wanted to see."
Chan-woo took a sip, nodded slightly, and reached his own conclusion.
"Yeah, I think I wanted to see."
"See what?"
"Who Ah-rin is looking at now."
"..."
"It’s fine now. I think I can finally make a clean break. I think... I think I can meet someone else now, too."
He said he felt relieved and thanked me, which made me feel a bit guilty. But apologizing would only make him feel more pathetic.
"So you pulled that stunt today to try and set me up with Yoo Ah-rin? We both noticed, you know."
When I scolded him playfully, Chan-woo honestly admitted it was a meddlesome move.
"Whether you like Ah-rin or not... that’s between you and her. It really had nothing to do with me. Sorry, I overstepped."
"If you say it like that, it makes me look weird for saying I’d help you out."
"That was because I asked for help."
The smile on Chan-woo’s face as he sipped his drink felt like it was comforting me.
"I don't know what will happen in the future, but don't give her too hard of a time. Ah-rin is my friend."
Friend.
The word carried a lot of weight. It was the conclusion of an emotion and the final destination of a relationship.
"You're my friend, too, though."
Smiling, Chan-woo held out his beer can.
"To the friendship of us three."
Looking at the offered can, I let out a hollow laugh and gave a counter-toast.
"To the women Chan-woo is going to make cry from now on."
"Hey."
I guess he didn't like that.
"Fine. To Chan-woo’s dick, which won't have a single day of rest from now on."
"...To that."
That son of a bitch.
He didn't even deny it.