Chapter 11: Karaoke
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 11: Karaoke
“Haah! Haah!”
Seo Ye-rin exhaled deeply, struggling to catch her breath. It had been a while since she’d broken a sweat like this. It was grueling, but now that it was over, a wave of refreshment and pride washed over her.
“Great work today. I was honestly surprised—your form is incredible for a beginner.”
“R-really?”
Ye-rin was used to compliments, but being praised for her physical movement was a different story. Since this was the first time she’d ever been commended for exercise, a proud smile spread across her face.
“Yes, you’re a natural. I think I-seo will be really shocked when she sees you.”
“Hehe, I had a lot of fun today too.”
Ye-rin had started PT after being introduced by the department representative, Choi I-seo. Thanks to her, she’d met this female trainer who had a great personality and gave very detailed instructions.
Ye-rin especially liked how the trainer explained the physical structure and muscle groups behind every movement and machine, making her understand exactly why she was doing what she was doing.
As she washed up in the shower, Ye-rin stole a glance at her body in the mirror. She had only just started working out, but she already felt like something had changed.
‘Hehe.’
She’d always thought she had a decent body. Even if she didn't exercise, she watched her diet and did light stretching every day. Even the trainer had praised her, saying her body was beautiful for someone who didn't work out.
‘Right? I look good, don’t I?’
And yet, what did that guy say to someone like her?
Zero sex appeal?
Hmph.
Ye-rin grumbled to herself as she recalled the message the Administrator had sent her. He was a total stranger, but that was exactly why she could show him a side of herself she could never show anyone else. She could reveal the true nature of the daughter her parents didn't even know existed.
It was comfortable.
The simple fact that she could expose herself to someone who had no idea who she was felt incredibly liberating and free.
The Administrator—someone she’d barely exchanged a few words with. He was probably a guy, since he didn't bother denying it when she mentioned things like jerking off. She didn't know what year he was in or what his major was, but that actually made it better.
“Hehehe.”
Come to think of it, she hadn't been able to log into the Bamboo Forest for a few days because she’d been buried in assignments. Her fingers were itching to write something. After a quick shower and drying her hair, she pulled up the Bamboo Forest app.
The feed was the same as usual.
As she scrolled down, she saw a few people missing the "Sex Master" or celebrating that she had finally disappeared.
In the Bamboo Forest, it wasn't impossible to form "friendships" or become a known figure, but since everyone was from the same university, not many people tried to get too close. Plus, with nicknames being anonymous and followed by random numbers, becoming a "named" user was difficult.
‘Am I a celebrity now?’
The thought that she had become a "named" user known as the "Sex Master" made her shoulders bounce with a bit of vanity. She wondered what the Administrator thought when he saw this. She could almost imagine him sighing, just like in his messages.
“Heh.”
Thinking about that made her feel even better—like an elementary schooler who wanted to play a prank on a boy she liked.
“Well, time to announce my return.”
Hear ye, hear ye!
Open the gates!
The Sex Master has returned!
Standing in the gym locker room in nothing but her underwear, she was busily tapping away at her keyboard when—
“…….”
The excitement she’d felt instantly cooled. The sensation of being pulled back into reality soured her mood. Come to think of it, she’d brushed him off earlier by saying she was heading to the gym. She was making it blatantly obvious that she wasn't interested, so why did he keep doing this?
Ye-rin let out a sigh, but the words she typed didn't match her frustration.
Karaoke?
She did like karaoke. In her heart, she wanted to go and belt out the anime songs she’d watched yesterday, but that would only kill the atmosphere. And the fact that it was Han-gang inviting her was a major downside.
But then...
Seeing the flood of texts that had arrived while she was exercising, Ye-rin sighed again. There were seniors she had politely rejected after they confessed, but since she hadn't been harsh enough, some of them still hadn't given up.
‘I need to be more firm...’
But she couldn't. She wanted to tell them to stop contacting her altogether, but she was worried about what that would do to her image in the department.
Han-gang’s group seemed like the best option. At least the student council would be there.
‘I was planning on thanking I-seo for the PT recommendation anyway, so this works out.’
If the student council was there, it meant Choi I-seo and her other close friends would be there too.
In the end, Ye-rin hid her true feelings and typed with a blank expression.
“Phew.”
She brushed back her damp hair and went back into the Bamboo Forest to scream into the void.
The roar of the Sex Master announcing her return was truly magnificent.
“Oh, I’m getting a lot of replies.”
Usually, people ignored her because her posts looked like obvious spam, but today she was hitting a high average.
She hadn't been too specific, so she probably wouldn't get banned. The Administrator knew that banning her would only make his life more difficult.
“Ah…”
Anonymous 69, the persona who didn't have to care about other people’s feelings or read the room.
“This is fun.”
Anonymous 69 was definitely Seo Ye-rin herself. But for some reason, she found herself wanting to be Anonymous 69.
*
What is this?
Why am I here?
The questions swirled in my head, but I had to face reality. Right now, I was at a karaoke bar with the English Department student council and some seniors.
“I won’t forgeeeeeet! Youuuuuu!”
The accountant’s rendition of the song was impressively loud. He looked like a quiet, studious type with his glasses, but the moment he grabbed the mic, he became a different person. I felt a bit bad that I still hadn't memorized his name even though it was already the second semester.
“Sorry.”
Choi I-seo, sitting next to me, leaned in and whispered.
She should be sorry. She definitely should be, but...
“Don’t turn your head toward me. That guy is glaring.”
Across from us, Ahn Hyun-ho, who was hanging out with the seniors, was watching us with hawk-like eyes. He was probably terrified that we were up to something.
“……Sorry about that, too.”
I-seo clearly knew that Ahn Hyun-ho had feelings for her. However, because of their positions as the department rep and vice-rep, she couldn't exactly give him a harsh rejection.
Well, to explain how I ended up in this situation: after eating at the salad place I-seo treated me to, we ran into this group on our way home. To deny their prying questions about whether we were on a date, we had no choice but to join them. If we’d refused, it would have looked like we were annoyed that our "private time" was being interrupted.
‘I’ll just stay for a bit and leave.’
I could just slip out halfway through, like I did at the bar last time.
“I-seo! We really didn't mean to leave you out! You know that, right? It just happened that the people who gathered were all student council members!”
“I get it, I get it.”
“Really? You’re not pouting? I’ll be so sad if you are. Fine, we have to go out together later!”
“Stop it. I saw your texts. I just missed them while I was eating.”
I-seo was being swamped by the other girls in the student council. I figured it was the perfect time to make my exit, but then—
“Hello.”
The karaoke door opened, and Seo Ye-rin walked in. She must have just showered, because her entrance brought a faint, cozy scent that cut through the stuffy air of the room.
“Ye-rin, come sit over here.”
Senior Han-gang, the host of this gathering, immediately sat her down in the seat he’d kept empty next to him. Ye-rin’s expression was already sour from being dragged in so abruptly.
Since there were plenty of non-student council people there, her joining wasn't strange, but the college guys—already buzzed from the alcohol—swarmed her like hyenas the moment they saw a pretty girl.
“Ye-rin, are you a good singer?”
“Wow, I’m curious. Can you sing just one song?”
“Did you eat dinner?”
The fact that she’d clearly just showered seemed to trigger something in the guys, making them even more aggressive than usual.
“Ahem.”
However, a great river stood in their way.
Senior Han-gang cleared his throat and, with a "nice guy" smile, began fending off the competitors buzzing around the flower that was Seo Ye-rin.
“Ye-rin, you said you just finished working out. Aren't you tired?”
By mentioning her workout, he was blatantly showing off that they were in private contact. It was a warning to the others that, unlike them, he actually talked to her outside of school.
‘He’s really persistent.’
Is this the battle of the males? It was fierce.
In the midst of it all, it was hilarious to see Ahn Hyun-ho stealing glances at Ye-rin too. I poked Choi I-seo, who was still being harassed by the girls, and pointed at Ahn Hyun-ho with my chin. I gave her a look that said, Look at the guy who likes you getting distracted by another girl.
“Don’t tease me.”
Hyun-ho only looked for a second, then glared at me for teasing him and bit his lip. I thought that was the end of it, but then he actually punched me in the arm.
“Is it because he works out?”
That actually hurt. I should probably just stay quiet and not mess with him.
I was looking for another chance to leave when the fuss around Ye-rin started up again.
“Whoa! Ye-rin’s gonna sing!”
“Han Ho-jun, cut the song! Dammit, that guy ruined the mood with that ballad!”
“What are you gonna sing?”
The karaoke remote was thrust into Ye-rin’s hands. She looked down at it with a troubled expression. She clearly didn't want to sing, but the pressure from the crowd was making it hard to refuse. Choi I-seo tried to step in since she could see Ye-rin was uncomfortable, but it didn't really work.
Just as Ye-rin was about to press a button—
Vrrr!
The phone Ye-rin had placed beside her vibrated. The important thing was that she flinched and grabbed it immediately. After a quick check, a faint smile spread across her lips.
“Oh, I just got an important message. I’ll be right back.”
She stood up and quickly wove through the crowd to exit the room.
“Ah, what?”
“Man, talk about timing.”
“What kind of message makes her look that happy?”
“Did her package arrive?”
“Is it a boyfriend?”
“No way, surely not.”
The guys were all lamenting the fact that they wouldn't get to hear her sing.
As for what that message was... I was the only one in the room who knew. Because I was the one who sent it.
I had sent her a 1:1 inquiry message regarding the post she’d made earlier, where she used me for her lewd jokes. I was originally going to ignore it, but...
‘Sigh.’
She looked so pitiful, cowering under the pressure of all those guys. No one would ever know, and Ye-rin herself wouldn't realize she’d been helped, but I felt a sense of pride in helping someone out of a jam.
Then, my phone—which was on silent—immediately buzzed with her reply.
“Dammit.”
Maybe I shouldn't have helped.