Chapter 158: 1st Year Department Representative
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 158: 1st Year Department Representative
“Hey, Bronze.”
Seo Ye-rin was calling me.
Gritting my teeth, I glared at her as she sat there, looking unnecessarily smug.
“What, Bronze?”
Just a few hours ago, I was Silver.
The gap between Seo Ye-rin and me could have been described as the distance between heaven and earth.
But now, the message floating before my eyes informed me that I had been demoted to Bronze.
It felt as if my wings as an angel had been torn off, and I had suddenly become a mere human standing on two feet.
“Don’t ever look down on Bronze again, Bronze.”
“……”
I kept my mouth shut.
I wanted to say it was all Seo Ye-rin’s fault, but there were times when I had played poorly too, so I couldn’t just blindly blame her.
“I should just order some ramyeon.”
I decided to eat some ramyeon to soothe my aching heart.
Only a few hours ago, the stares from people watching me play games with Seo Ye-rin had been incredibly uncomfortable. Now, I had grown so used to them that I didn’t care at all—even though Han-gang kept glaring over here, unable to focus on his own game.
“You’re eating ramyeon?”
Seo Ye-rin showed interest.
“Yeah. You want some?”
I figured it was about time for her to head home, but she scratched her cheek and declined.
“No, I have dinner plans today. I should probably eat there.”
“Oh, really?”
Well, of course.
It was just that she hadn't had the chance back at Gold One. In reality, Seo Ye-rin was a woman so many people wanted to make plans with and meet that she didn't have enough hours in the day. If I looked at her phone right now, there would probably be a mountain of messages asking to meet up.
“……”
Thinking about that made me feel a bit uneasy, but I knew this was just my characteristic obsession and possessiveness acting up.
‘I guess I’m eating alone, then.’
Pretending to be cool, I started picking out my ramyeon.
Jajang ramyeon? Spicy ramyeon? Or maybe just cold noodles?
As I agonized over the menu on the screen, Seo Ye-rin, who had been watching blankly from the side, leaned forward and pointed at the screen.
“This. How about the udon? This one is seriously delicious!”
“Udon? Hmm.”
It didn’t look bad.
Since I didn’t have anything specific in mind, I just ordered the udon she recommended.
“Aren’t you getting any sides?”
“I’m thinking about it.”
There was a Pikachu Pork Cutlet, so I ordered one of those too, then started reading a webtoon while I waited. Since Chan-woo had scolded me before, it wasn't an adult webtoon—just a regular one.
“Hmm, what webtoon is this?”
Even though it wasn't an adult webtoon, Seo Ye-rin kept showing interest and talking to me. It was a bit annoying, but I gave her a brief summary of the plot.
A few minutes later, even after the udon and Pikachu Pork Cutlet arrived, Seo Ye-rin was still stuck to my side, watching me.
“I’m not giving you a bite even if you ask.”
“I’m not asking!”
Then why are you still here?
She wasn't even playing games anymore; she was just staring blankly.
“Aren’t you going to your appointment?”
I wondered why she was lingering when she clearly said she had dinner plans.
“Mmm, just because. I was just looking at your face.”
“Why? Is there something on it?”
“No, nothing’s on it.”
“……”
I was secretly hoping she’d say something like ‘handsomeness’ was on it.
“Hurry up and go eat dinner. You’re going to be late.”
“You’re right. I think I really am going to be late.”
Muttering blankly, Seo Ye-rin stood up slowly with a smile.
I thought she was finally leaving, but then she leaned in and whispered in my ear.
“Don’t worry. I’m going just like this.”
“……Huh?”
Just like this?
She was in very casual clothes. It felt like she hadn't put much effort into her look at all, but since it was Seo Ye-rin, even that just became another part of her charm.
“It means it’s someone I don’t need to dress up for.”
She gave me a wink and walked away.
Watching her back, I felt a sense of peace wash over me.
‘Ah, dammit.’
The moment I realized she had said that because she had read my mind, I clutched my head and let out a sigh.
I was embarrassed, and I felt foolish for giving her an opening like that when I hadn't decided on anything yet.
As I sighed at my own stupidity and indecisiveness while eating my udon, I felt eyes on me from the side.
Glancing over, I saw the four idiots staring at me intently.
“What are you looking at?”
I wanted to say something nice, but it never worked out with these guys.
“Who the hell is Kim Woo-jin actually dating?”
Starting with Ahn Hyun-ho’s annoyed grumbling, complaints began to burst out from all sides.
And for some reason, the conversation eventually concluded with everyone going out for drinks.
* * *
“I thought I wasn't human if I ever drank with you guys again.”
Pyo Jin-ho muttered with his hands shoved in his pockets.
When he had been harshly rejected by Yoo Ah-rin, I thought he might actually die on the spot. But now, it seemed he had completely forgotten her, as he didn't even mention her name.
‘Is it because of the military?’
Or maybe the reality of having to enlist in a week was so hard that he didn't have the mental energy to think about anything else.
“Jin-ho, let’s just drink until we drop today.”
“Yeah, let’s just die!”
Perhaps because they were enlisting together, Han-gang and Pyo Jin-ho had become incredibly close.
Leaving the two of them be, I walked alongside Chan-woo and asked, “But is your girlfriend okay with you going out to drink?”
“Huh? It should be fine, right?”
“……Hmm?”
It should be fine?
What was that supposed to mean?
Right now, the five of us weren't just going out to drink by ourselves. We were tagging along with Ahn Hyun-ho, who had a drinking appointment with a junior he was flirting with.
“Ha, seriously. Why are we all going?”
Because of us, Ahn Hyun-ho’s expression was severely distorted as he frantically sent messages to the 1st-year Class Rep.
She was probably calling her friends to increase their numbers too. It would be weird for five guys to drink with just one female Class Rep.
That meant the number of women would naturally increase.
“Did you not tell your girlfriend?”
Was this guy really going to drink with other women without telling his girlfriend?
At my question, Chan-woo tilted his head with an innocent expression and asked back.
“Do I have to?”
“……”
God had definitely given Chan-woo good looks but taken away several other things. Or maybe that Bald Man had placed some kind of curse on him?
“Call her, Chan-woo. You’re going to end up in a fight for no reason.”
I gave him serious advice as a friend, but...
“Eh, it’s fine. She might actually hate it if I contact her too often.”
“I-I warned you, okay?”
“Yeah, it’s fine. She’s my girlfriend, so I know her best.”
It was pitiful to see him shrug it off like he was setting up some kind of future disaster.
“But on the flip side, are you okay?”
Chan-woo asked me in return.
Since my situation was complicated in many ways, I naturally wasn't keen on this kind of gathering.
“If the atmosphere gets weird, I’m just going to say I’m going to the restroom and head back to the dorm.”
“Aha.”
“Still, Senior Han-gang and Jin-ho are going to the military, so I should at least pretend to hang out.”
The two of them were making a fuss, but I didn't think it was pathetic. I would have to go to the military eventually too, so that was my future as well.
Exemption?
Even my oldest brother, the Vice Chairman, served on active duty in the Marines. My second brother couldn't go because he gained too much weight, but I wasn't in that situation.
The meeting place was a pub. It was a place where Ahn Hyun-ho’s intentions were transparent, as it was only a ten-minute walk from a cluster of motels.
When we entered the pub, it looked like the others had already started. I expected a few guys to be mixed in, but they were all women.
Furthermore, they were all strangely familiar faces.
‘They’re the ones who live in the dorms.’
I had seen them a few times while passing by in the dormitory. Was Gyu-a, the 1st-year Class Rep, also a dorm resident?
“Hey, girls.”
When Ahn Hyun-ho greeted them with a smile, the 1st-years welcomed him. It seemed he had made a good impression as the 2nd-year Vice Rep.
I expected them to be uncomfortable with the rest of us following him in, but...
“Hi, I’m actually your senior too, but you probably haven't seen me because I took a leave of absence.”
The atmosphere shifted slightly when Han-gang, who looked like a warm "church oppa" type, introduced himself.
“……I’m Han-gang’s friend.”
When Pyo Jin-ho, who had a large build and a rough impression like a bear, acted overtly awkward, it broke the ice and everyone laughed.
“I’m Jeong Chan-woo from the Department of Architectural Engineering.”
When Chan-woo appeared, they welcomed him with open arms, telling him to come sit down.
“Ahem.”
But when I finally walked in, the atmosphere immediately plummeted.
‘Look at these reactions.’
Choi I-seo had told me my reputation was excessively bad, but I didn't realize it was this bad. To have absolutely no reaction was a bit much—especially since I was a senior living in the same dormitory.
‘I should just leave.’
There was no need to even have a few drinks. I resolved to just have one beer, cheer on the two going to the military, and then head back.
‘Hmm?’
However, while everyone else was avoiding my gaze, there was one person staring straight at me.
The 1st-year Class Rep, who had made the initial plans with Ahn Hyun-ho, met my eyes with a mysterious smile on her face.
* * *
“Whew.”
Less than thirty minutes later, I stepped outside to get some fresh air, trying to shake off the rising buzz from the alcohol.
The night air was still chilly, so my head cooled down quickly, and the tension left my body.
The atmosphere among the remaining four was actually quite good. Well, those guys could seem quite charming upon first impression.
‘I should get back.’
Just as I was about to head to the dorm with a smile, satisfied with the free drinks and snacks, a voice called out to me.
“Senior!”
It was a voice laced with a certain stickiness.
Turning my head, I saw the 1st-year Class Rep, who until a moment ago had been engaging in borderline skinship with Ahn Hyun-ho, claiming it was just a joke.
“Are you going to the dorm? Let’s go together!”
“……Why?”
I seriously didn't know why she wanted to go together. She had been getting along so well with Ahn Hyun-ho.
“I think I’m a bit drunk too. I snuck out.”
“You’re drunk?”
“Yes!”
She looked perfectly fine to me.
I wondered for a moment what was going on, but...
“I’m not going to the dorm, though?”
I decided to play dumb for now. I had already had a conflict with Ahn Hyun-ho regarding Choi I-seo, and I didn't want to get tangled up with the 1st-year Class Rep too.
“Then where are you going? Let’s go together, Senior! Please? Let’s have a few more beers in my room.”
“What are you doing?”
At my question, Gyu-a gave a sly smile. The word "foxy" seemed to be made for her. With the corners of her eyes turned upward, she was a beauty with a fox-like face, but...
“Gyu-a!”
Just then, a man’s urgent voice echoed from a distance.
“What are you doing there! Who is that guy!”
A tall, handsome man ran over with an anxious expression and began to demand answers.
“Oppa?! I clearly said we should take some time apart!”
Were they a couple?
‘Ahn Hyun-ho, you idiot.’
Of all people, why did he pick someone like this? I’d have to give him a piece of my mind later to snap him out of it.
“You said take some time, not break up. How can you do this again?”
“I—I’m going to date Senior Woo-jin now. Oppa, stop being so obsessed with me!”
Gyu-a immediately linked her arm with mine.
Uh, what?
I felt like something similar had happened before. Back then, Yoo Ah-rin had done something like this to get away from Pyo Jin-ho.
Naturally, Yoo Ah-rin came to mind. If Yoo Ah-rin or the others saw me like this right now, what would they think?
It took about two seconds of imagining before I saw myself collapsed on the ground.
“Aaaargh! Get lost!”
It was a survival instinct.
At the same time as I pushed Gyu-a off my arm, I performed a leg sweep. It was the move Yoo Ah-rin had taught me back at Gold One because she was bored.
Thud.
Gyu-a fell straight onto the pavement. Because I had been holding her hand, she fell relatively gently, but her body twisted, and her face headed toward the ground. She ended up sprawled face-down.
“……”
“……”
Gyu-a’s boyfriend looked at me blankly, seemingly stunned, and Gyu-a didn't get up, likely out of sheer embarrassment.
“Kim Gyu-a, you picked the wrong person. I thought you were a quiet girl, but how could you even think about three-timing?!”
I wasn't exactly one to talk.
But for now, the best defense was a good offense. If they were going to attack me with agitation and fabrication, I would respond with the same.
“It’s... it’s Lee Gyu-a,” the boyfriend corrected me cautiously.
“Iguana? Like the lizard?”
“No, Lee Gyu-a.”
Ah, I see. I thought her name was actually Iguana.
“Iguana! Watch your behavior! Go apologize to my dearest, closest, and most beloved Vice Rep Ahn Hyun-ho right now!”
“It’s not Iguana, it’s Lee Gyu-a.”
“But doesn't Iguana just roll off the tongue?”
When I asked the boyfriend seriously, he looked at me with a bizarre expression and became certain of one thing.
“……You really aren't in any kind of relationship with Gyu-a, are you?”
“Yeah. I prefer dogs or cats over reptiles.”
“……”
That was my best joke, but it didn't land.
“But... isn't Gyu-a unconscious?”
At the boyfriend’s question, I shrugged and replied.
“Socially, she’s pretty much unconscious. She’s just not getting up because she’s too embarrassed.”
As if responding to my words, a very faint voice drifted up.
“You motherfuckers.”
It was Gyu-a, swearing under her breath.