Chapter 113: Cart Collection
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 113: Cart Collection
“We’re going to stop by the convenience store before heading up.”
“Ah-rin, do you need anything?”
“No, I’m good.”
We arrived at the accommodations by bus. Since Building C had a convenience store in the basement, Lee Seo-ah and Han Bom headed straight there.
“…….”
Yoo Ah-rin followed closely behind me as I slunk toward the elevator. My mind hadn't quite processed her earlier confession, so I was practically fleeing back to my room.
I was in Room 801, and Yoo Ah-rin was in 403.
I pressed the buttons for both the 8th and 4th floors, keeping my head down while waiting for her to get off. But...
“Why aren't you getting out?”
The elevator had stopped at the 4th floor, but Yoo Ah-rin remained leaning against the wall, staring at me. She answered my question with total confidence.
“I’m going to the 8th floor with you.”
“……Why?”
“Because if I’m there, you won't pick up Choi I-seo’s calls.”
“…….”
So she knew. She knew Choi I-seo had been trying to reach me this whole time.
While we were talking, the elevator doors closed, and we began ascending to the 8th floor.
“You shouldn't come up. It’s only guys in our suite.”
“Why? Who knows, they might welcome me. You said Chan-woo is there, too.”
“Well, that’s true, but……”
It wasn't a matter of might welcome her. Those bastards definitely would.
The Seshin Kang University duo, Jegal Jae-min and Min Dong-geon, spent every waking hour doing weird shit because they were bored, and Dae-sang Hyung was so nice that he’d easily agree if she said she wanted to hang out for a bit.
The elevator reached the 8th floor.
When I hesitated, Yoo Ah-rin didn't step out. She just let out a long sigh.
“I’m not following you in, you idiot. Go have a nice talk with Choi I-seo.”
“…….”
Why was it that her saying that made me feel like talking to Choi I-seo was some kind of betrayal?
“Did you really follow me up just to stop me from talking to her for a second?”
When I pressed her, Yoo Ah-rin sighed again and swept her bangs back. Then, looking like she was about to die of frustration, she glared at me.
“I only followed you because I wanted to spend more time with you, you idiot.”
“…….”
Thud.
The elevator doors closed as it headed back down to the 4th floor. Thanks to those closing doors, she didn't see my heart skip a beat.
Vrrr! Vrrr!
Choi I-seo’s phone calls were still coming through. Now, I could finally answer.
“Ahem, hello?”
— Do you want to die?
“……No, ma'am.”
* * *
“Whew.”
Even after returning to her room, Yoo Ah-rin’s face was still flushed bright red.
Not only had she finally given an answer regarding her feelings, but she had also declared war. Her body felt light, and her mood was incredibly refreshed. However...
“Huh? You’re back? Good job today.”
Seeing Seo Ye-rin, who had just showered and was drying her hair, Yoo Ah-rin gulped and clenched her fists.
Choi I-seo was someone she’d met at university and only recently become close with, so that wasn't a huge issue. But Seo Ye-rin was different. They were old friends, and she didn't want to ruin their relationship.
But still.
“You said it before, didn't you?”
Yoo Ah-rin strode toward the refrigerator.
“That we should cooperate.”
Relieved to see there was still a Chocomong left—the one she’d given to Min Ju-hee—she grabbed it and poked a straw inside.
“…….”
Seo Ye-rin’s expression stiffened, as if she immediately knew what Ah-rin was talking about.
A strange atmosphere settled between them. Amidst the taut tension, Yoo Ah-rin took a sip of the Chocomong. The sweetness seemed to give her courage.
It’s sweet.
It was delicious. And this sweetness...
“I don't want to.”
...was something she couldn't give up.
“Hmm?”
Seo Ye-rin tilted her head at the response. When she asked what she meant, Yoo Ah-rin exhaled and replied.
“I have no intention of cooperating. I’m going to have him all to myself.”
“Didn't you say you didn't like him?”
“I lied.”
“…….”
“Whether it’s Choi I-seo or you... don't go near him. He’s mine.”
“Heh.”
A smile played on Seo Ye-rin’s lips. It was subtly chilling, even eerie.
The light seemed to slowly drain from her eyes, giving off the illusion that one might be devoured. Yoo Ah-rin flinched for a moment, but then...
“Do you know something, Ah-rin?”
As if nothing had happened, Seo Ye-rin smiled brightly, clasped her hands together, and spoke.
“Senior Ju-hee is in the bathroom.”
“Wh-huh?”
Ah-rin let out an involuntary gasp and whipped her head toward the firmly shut bathroom door.
Creeeeak.
The door opened slowly, and Senior Ju-hee, fresh from her shower, stepped out, looking awkwardly between the two of them.
“A-Ahem…… I’d say I didn't hear anything, but you wouldn't believe me anyway, right?”
“N-No, Senior…… it’s not like that.”
A love triangle. No, having essentially revealed a love square to the public made Yoo Ah-rin’s face burn.
However, Seo Ye-rin just smiled brightly and made a request to Min Ju-hee.
“Senior, please keep it a secret.”
“Ah, um…… sure. If sharing a room is uncomfortable, just let me know.”
“No, it’s fine. Right, Ah-rin?”
“Y-Yeah, it’s fine.”
What was this?
Ah-rin felt like she was the one who had taken the aggressive stance, but somehow, the atmosphere and the initiative had already shifted back to Seo Ye-rin.
In the heavy silence, Yoo Ah-rin could only soothe her nerves by finishing the rest of her Chocomong.
* * *
This was troublesome.
It wasn't that the work was hard. The room service job was actually quite fun, and since I’d started working the night shift, I had plenty of stories to tell.
“Wow, the 10th floor is just a symphony of moans. At first, I thought someone had left an adult video playing.”
When I mentioned this to the Assistant Manager I was working the night shift with, he laughed and said that happened a lot.
Since we didn't need many people at night, it was just the Assistant Manager taking calls, me delivering carts to the rooms, and one female employee downstairs prepping the food.
“Is it really that bad?”
And then, there was Yoo Ah-rin.
She was sitting strangely close to me. The Assistant Manager wasn't very observant, so he didn't think much of it, but our thighs and shoulders were touching. The faint fruity scent of her perfume was strangely provocative.
I knew she was doing it on purpose, but I tried to act like I didn't notice and kept talking.
“It was pretty intense. Is that really okay?”
“You can hear it in the hallway, but not from the other rooms, so don't worry. Our hotel has excellent soundproofing between rooms.”
Given how confidently he said it, there must not have been many complaints about it.
Just then.
The sound of hurried footsteps echoed from outside. I wondered who it could be at this hour, and it turned out to be someone completely unexpected.
“Department Head?”
Department Head Lee Chan-song had rushed in, his tie not even properly straightened.
He looked at the Assistant Manager and me, then gritted his teeth.
“Don't just let these kids play around! Give them work! It’s because you’re so lax that the Audit Team is starting to talk!”
“……What does the Audit Team have to do with us?”
I muttered while scratching the back of my head, and Department Head Lee Chan-song glared at me with fire in his eyes.
He didn't seem to mind anyone else, but for some reason, he specifically disliked me.
“I’m telling you to do your job right! It’s because you people are like this that I have to come in at this hour!”
“…….”
“I have to step out for a bit. Get things sorted! Specifically, go upstairs right now and collect all the carts left out in the hallways!”
“Yes, sir!”
The Assistant Manager, snapped into military-like discipline by the angry Department Head, answered immediately. Once Lee Chan-song left, the embarrassed Assistant Manager scratched his head and sighed.
“Let’s head up and collect the carts first. Ah-rin, you should probably go up and help him.”
At those words, Yoo Ah-rin, who had been gauging the situation, beamed.
“Can I go too?”
“You’re not going into the rooms, just collecting carts from the hallway, so it should be fine.”
Ah-rin immediately looked delighted and started pulling me along. Leaving only a quick "we'll be back" to the Assistant Manager, we got on the elevator to the guest floors.
“Wow, I’m nervous.”
“It’s nothing special once you’re up there. We just find the carts, move them to the elevator, and that’s it.”
The plan was to start from the top floor and work our way down the stairs, checking each hallway for carts.
“Are you talking to I-seo?”
Ah-rin brought up the sensitive topic, likely bored as we walked down the stairs. I gave her a slight glare, sighed, and answered.
“I don't know.”
“Why don't you know? Hmm? Why not?”
“Get off me!”
I reflexively shouted as she clung to my arm, but she just grinned playfully, as if she knew my anger was just a cover for embarrassment.
“Is your heart fluttering? Hmm? Are you all excited? Do you want to book a hotel room?”
“Seriously! I’ll do this by myself, so why don't you just go back?”
“Aing! Okay, okay! I’ll stop teasing! I will!”
Even as she said that, she kept giggling, which made me feel strangely annoyed. It was irritating how she acted like she knew exactly what I was feeling.
The moment I opened the emergency exit door to check the next hallway...
Ahhh!
“…….”
“…….”
A woman’s high-pitched moan made Ah-rin and me look at each other.
“Ah, it’s the 10th floor.”
Ah-rin checked the floor number and nodded as if it made sense. As I’d mentioned earlier, the 10th floor was currently full of people enjoying themselves.
Ahhh! Ahhh!
Ugh! Mmmph!
The passionate voices of men and women echoing through the hall made us shut our mouths tight.
Damn it.
I hadn't noticed earlier, but there were quite a few carts on the 10th floor. It seemed people had eaten their late-night snacks and were going for another round.
“Let’s move them quickly.”
I tried to act nonchalant as I pulled a cart toward the elevator.
More, please, more!
Ugh!
The moans became even more explicit. The level of dialogue was bordering on straight-up dirty talk. I stole a glance at Yoo Ah-rin.
“…….”
Her face was beet red, and she was pretending she couldn't hear a thing. She’d been acting so aggressive until a moment ago, but now that she was faced with the real thing, she seemed completely flustered.
“Take the cart and go down in the elevator.”
I was trying to be considerate, thinking she’d find it hard to stay here any longer, but Yoo Ah-rin clenched her fists and snorted.
“There are still more carts. I’m staying.”
“Your face is bright red right now.”
“…….”
“Fine, whatever. You said you’d help.”
I wasn't going to back down either. As we went to grab the next cart...
Click!
A guest room door suddenly swung open.
To my surprise, a familiar face emerged—it was the Blonde Lady who had been wearing nothing but a robe last time.
She stepped out to push her cart into the hall, wearing only her underwear. Even though she spotted me, she just gave a light wink and went back inside.
“Wow……”
The exclamation escaped my lips involuntarily. I wondered if this was America or something; I didn't know people could be so nonchalant.
Grab!
Ah-rin, who had been following behind me, snatched my shoulder and spun me around to face her. Then, she glared at me and reached for my lower half.
“Heek?!”
“Are you hard?”
She asked with piercing eyes, her hand fumbling. It wasn't because of the lady just now, but Ah-rin’s touch was making things stiffen up in spite of myself.
I was innocent a second ago, but now I was guilty.
“You bastard, right in front of me……!”
Before she could rip my equipment off in her rage, I hurriedly shouted.
“You crazy woman! It’s because you’re touching me!”
“Ah.”
Ah-rin awkwardly pulled her hand away. She looked at her hand sheepishly, and when she started to bring it toward her nose to sniff it, I quickly grabbed her wrist.
“I don't know what you’re trying to do, but please, don't.”
“N-No, I just got curious without thinking. Sorry.”
“I seriously want to kill you, Yoo Ah-rin.”
“……Sorry.”