Chapter 172: Arrangement
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 172: Arrangement
“Wow, you rented out this entire pension? That’s insane.”
It was a white, two-story pension nestled in Gangwon-do.
There was a stream nearby, a separate barbecue area, and they even kept a dog on the property. The place radiated a peaceful, secluded countryside atmosphere that made one feel at ease just by looking at it…
“Who are you talking to?”
Ahn Hyun-ho approached me with a sly grin.
I wanted to snap at him for being so chipper, but knowing it would only sour my mood further, I kept my mouth shut. I knew exactly why he was in such a good mood.
“Just talking to myself.”
“Man, Kim Woo-jin, you really had it coming. Ah, this is so satisfying. It’s like pure sesame oil—so rich and savory.”
“That was incredibly unfunny, so could you please get lost?”
“You don’t have much to do as the 2nd-year Vice Department Representative, right? The 3rd-year Rep is handling the professors, and the 1st-years are doing all the grunt work, yeah?”
What a bizarrely convenient position to be in.
“So what? You have plenty of friends. Go hang out with them.”
“I do have a lot of friends, unlike you. But today, I feel like hanging out with you. There’s something I want to ask.”
“What?”
Hyun-ho’s expression turned uncharacteristically serious. He glanced around to check our surroundings before whispering quietly.
“Hey, remember that time we all grabbed drinks together?”
“You’re going to have to be more specific than that. Give me details.”
“When Senior Han-gang and Jin-ho showed up. I was supposed to meet Gyu-a, but you guys all tagged along, so we ended up drinking together.”
“Ah, when I drank with those idiots?”
“Idiots…”
I remembered it clearly because I had bailed within thirty minutes. I could still recall the hateful glares the 1st-year girls were shooting at me.
“After you left, Gyu-a left with you and never came back… What did you guys do?”
Ah.
Right.
I had completely forgotten that Hyun-ho was trying to date Gyu-a, the 1st-year Rep. They seemed to have a bit of a thing going on.
“You’ve given up on Choi I-seo, right?”
When I asked with a warning tone just in case, Ahn Hyun-ho’s face crumpled.
“I asked I-seo to grab a meal with me behind your back once, and now I’m even blocked on Tok.”
“…”
“I was already blocked on her phone… but now, if I want to talk to her about anything related to the English Literature department, I have to go through other people.”
“I shouldn’t have asked. Now my heart just hurts for you.”
I felt a pang of pity for his heartbreak, but Hyun-ho shook his head.
“Forget it. What’s one rejection? I’ve found a new love.”
And that’s Gyu-a?
Talk about going from one extreme to the other. From being devoted to Choi I-seo to chasing Gyu-a, who’s known for seeing multiple guys at once.
“Nothing happened between us. Gyu-a hates me, and I hate her.”
“Are you sure? It’s hard to trust you, seeing as you even managed to charm Senior Ju-hee.”
“Watch your mouth. If the Senior hears you, you’re dead.”
“…”
Hyun-ho clamped his mouth shut and scanned the area. Fortunately, Senior Ju-hee was busy chatting with the professors. Despite the bombshell she had dropped during the Mafia Game earlier, she looked quite composed now, acting as if nothing had happened.
“Hyun-ho, I don’t particularly like you, but this time is different.”
“What’s different?”
“I hate Gyu-a more than I dislike you. So I’m telling you this for your own good: don’t try anything with her. Just find another girl.”
“…”
“I’m serious, Hyun-ho. If you feel even a shred of friendship toward me, you’ll listen to—”
“Gyu-a! Isn’t that heavy? Let me help you!”
The moment he saw Gyu-a moving a crate of alcohol, Ahn Hyun-ho bolted toward her like a loyal guard dog.
“Oh, Oppa! I’m fine.”
“Your arms are so thin, they might snap if you carry stuff like that.”
“Ehey, I’m stronger than I look. Check this out.”
Gyu-a made a show of flexing her bicep. While doing so, she naturally handed the crate over to Hyun-ho. She was a total pro.
Sure, you idiot.
Even if he called me later, crying and asking to grab a drink, I was absolutely not going.
Thump.
Just then, someone bumped into my shoulder as they walked past. It was Yoo Ah-rin.
“…”
As I stared blankly at her after the shoulder check, she glanced back and snapped at me.
“What are you looking at?”
“No, nothing.”
“Hmph.”
She huffed and walked away. I shouldn't mess with her right now. After all, what Senior Ju-hee had said was that I had rejected her confession. Since she had suggested we act as if it never happened, nothing had technically changed between us.
Ah-rin, as well as the other two, probably understood that logically.
But emotionally, it’s a different story.
The head might understand, but the heart doesn't. To the girls, hearing that the guy who’s already wavering between the three of them received a confession from yet another woman must feel terrible. Even if they knew I rejected her, the sting remained.
It seemed best to let them sort out their thoughts for now.
As for Choi I-seo…
She was stuck between the 3rd-year Rep and the professors, engaged in conversation. On the surface, she didn't seem any different from usual.
Which is actually scarier.
Next was Seo Ye-rin. She was mingling with the 1st and 2nd-years, helping move luggage. She wasn't showing the side she reserved for me; instead, she wore her public-facing, innocent smile, treating everyone with kindness.
I should probably go unpack my stuff too.
I headed toward the 2nd and 3rd-year boys' room to drop off my bags.
Sigh.
In the end, how am I any different from Gyu-a?
A sense of self-loathing began to creep in at that thought.
*
“What kind of schedule is this?”
Lying on a bed in the room, I checked the MT timetable on my phone. There was a small ball game tournament scheduled before dinner—clearly something added just because the professors liked it. People were already gathering at the foot volleyball court in front of the pension.
Whatever.
I decided to pull the blanket over my head and pretend to sleep. If I went out now, I’d just have to endure people’s stares and whispers. Senior Ju-hee’s bombshell during the Mafia Game had likely spread to everyone by now.
“Woo-jin, aren’t you coming?”
Shin Ho-chang, the 3rd-year Rep, called out to me before heading out.
“No, I’m not feeling well.”
I gave a vague excuse. Ho-chang, perhaps sensing the situation, was considerate enough to leave me alone and head out.
Ha, if it was going to be like this, I shouldn't have come to the MT.
If I was just going to huddle on a bed and look at my phone, I could have done that back at the dormitory. Even Seo Ye-rin, who had asked to play together, had given me a chilling glare earlier.
I was truly alone.
Creeak.
I heard the front door open. I quickly put away my phone, closed my eyes, and pretended to be asleep. It might be someone coming to drag me out.
With my eyes shut, I silently wished for them to just go away.
Ssink.
The bed dipped, and I felt a sudden weight on my stomach.
Is it Seo Ye-rin?
There was no way a guy would have climbed on top of me. If someone had the audacity to enter the men’s quarters and climb onto a bed immediately, it had to be Seo Ye-rin. I opened my eyes.
“What are you doing?”
It wasn't Ye-rin. Instead, a woman I found more unpleasant than surprising was sitting on top of me.
“Why are you pretending to sleep?”
It was Kim Gyu-a, the 1st-year Rep, her thighs tightly gripping my waist. If Ahn Hyun-ho saw this, he’d fly into another rage. And this time, our friendship wouldn't survive it. With Choi I-seo, we were rivals, but now we were supposed to be friends.
“Get off before I smash your head against the bedframe.”
When I gave her a serious warning, Kim Gyu-a let out a smirk.
“You know the atmosphere is heated right now because of you, right, Senior? The 1st-years love having a two-timing Senior to gossip about, and the 2nd-years are walking on eggshells around the older students.”
“I said, get off.”
“The MT is actually pretty fun thanks to you. I can’t even imagine what kind of chaos will break out once people start drinking.”
Annoyed, I tensed my body and shoved her off. Kim Gyu-a tumbled off the bed. However, as if she had expected it, she landed gracefully.
“I learned how to do breakfalls on Neutube because of you, Senior.”
“…At least you learned something useful.”
I was impressed she could pull off a breakfall so cleanly just from watching a video. The kid had some moves. I almost wanted to ask her to teach me, but she kept talking.
“So, I came because I was curious. In a way, we’re the same breed, aren’t we?”
I wanted to deny it, but the words got stuck in my throat. The fact that I couldn't deny it made me let out a deep sigh.
“How do you manage to share like that? Looking at Senior Ye-rin and Senior I-seo, they clearly know they’re competing, yet the atmosphere seems fine.”
“Is that really what you came here to ask me?”
I seriously wanted to punch her.
“Why not? I’m curious. I always had to keep my three-timing a complete secret.”
“Don’t be curious about useless things. And I don’t know either, you brat.”
Irritated, I threw a pillow at her, knocking her backward.
“Ow, seriously! I just did my makeup!”
Her whining still had the traces of a high schooler.
What does Hyun-ho even see in a girl like this…
I wondered if the day would ever come when Ahn Hyun-ho had a normal relationship.
“I was hoping to learn a thing or two from you, Senior. Like how to manage a fishery.”
“If you weren’t a girl, I would have really beaten you up by now.”
“I feel like you’d hit a girl too, Senior.”
“How did you know? You’re walking a thin line right now, so be careful. You might actually get hit—”
Thump, thump, thump, thump!
Heavy footsteps approached. Gyu-a must have left the door open because we didn't even notice someone entering.
Bang!
“Se-Senior?”
The person who burst into the room was Senior Ju-hee. She scanned the room, then marched straight toward Gyu-a, who was standing next to me.
Grab!
She snatched Gyu-a by the jaw with one hand and slammed her against the wall.
“Your attitude is pretty shitty, don’t you think, junior?”
“Ah, ugh, ack!”
Senior Ju-hee glared at Gyu-a with cold, piercing eyes. Gyu-a was either terrified or the grip on her jaw was so strong she couldn't speak. She couldn't even muster a protest or an excuse; she just trembled and squirmed.
“Se-Senior! You’re going to kill her!”
Gyu-a looked like she was about to burst into tears, so I hurriedly intervened. Only then did Senior Ju-hee take a breath and slowly release her hand.
“Ugh! That… that hurt so much!”
Gyu-a clutched her jaw, her face a mask of sorrow. But the moment her eyes met Senior Ju-hee’s, she stopped crying and dropped to her knees.
“I-I’m sorry! I was being way too cocky!”
I see. Some things are more effective than the law.
“Yeah, you were being way too cocky. If you ever bother Woo-jin like that again, you’re dead.”
Hearing that from the woman who had once beaten up a group of gangsters made it genuinely terrifying. I stepped between the trembling Gyu-a and Senior Ju-hee, blocking Gyu-a from her sight.
“Se-Senior, what are you doing here?”
I awkwardly changed the subject, and Senior Ju-hee, seemingly uninterested in wasting more time on Gyu-a, scratched her cheek and sighed.
“I came to help.”
“Pardon?”
“Things got weird because of me. So I wanted to help lighten the mood for the kids.”
Then, she added.
“And you said it yourself. That you were going to settle your complicated relationships.”
“…”
I fell silent for a moment. Senior Ju-hee’s clear eyes demanded an answer.
After a brief pause, I nodded firmly.
“Yes, that’s right.”
I continued, my voice resolute.
“I think it’s best to settle things once and for all during this MT.”
Gyu-a had told me—everyone at the MT was whispering about this. That meant not just my name, but the names of the other three girls were being dragged through the mud. It was undoubtedly nothing good.
“I need to speak clearly.”
If I didn't, I would only end up hurting the three of them even more.
“Good.”
Senior Ju-hee gave a wide smile and a nod.
“I-I’ll help too!”
Gyu-a chimed in, offering her assistance as an apology for what had just happened.