Chapter 175: What Only She Can Do
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 175: What Only She Can Do
We finally reached the pension.
Yoo Ah-rin, who had been trembling while clinging to my back, let out an exclamation of pure relief.
"We're finally back!"
The path back had been even darker, and Ah-rin was so terrified that her legs had turned to jelly.
Because of that, I’d had no choice but to carry her. I could feel beads of sweat forming on my forehead from the unintended midnight workout.
"Get off already. I’m starting to feel murderous," I panted, my voice laced with irritation.
Ah-rin tightened her arms around my neck and shouted, "Just take me to the pension! I want to show the others!"
"Get down before I dump you right here!"
"Oh, come on! When a woman shows her fragile side, you're supposed to protect her! I'm letting you win right now, aren't I?"
I’m pretty sure "letting me win" at night wasn't supposed to mean this.
"My legs are shaking!"
Even though I let go of her, she wrapped her legs around my waist and refused to budge.
"Nooo! I’m going to show the girls! I’m going to brag!"
"Brag about what?! Have some shame! You're way too old to be enjoying a piggyback ride!"
"You're one to talk! You've climbed on top of me plenty of times, but you're acting all prickly just because I'm on your back once!"
"……."
Why did she have to put it like that?
"Am I wrong? Huh? Even when I begged you not to, you just went right on top—!"
"Fine, I get it! Let's just go! How far do you want to go?"
"Full speed ahead!"
We reached the front of the tent where the others were eating.
I decided to go exactly as far as Ahn Hyun-ho, who was grilling meat, and sprinted toward him.
Hyun-ho’s face twisted into a look of intense disgust the moment he saw us, but Yoo Ah-rin just wore a satisfied smirk.
"Hehe, that was fun. Is this why you like being on top?"
"……I really want to scold you right now."
"Hey! I bought the stuff, you punks!"
Ignoring my grumbling, Yoo Ah-rin hopped down and headed into the tent. She started unpacking the items she’d bought as a penalty and immediately began playing with the others again.
Now that I think about it, I haven't eaten yet.
Due to all the chaotic situations, I’d spent the whole time grilling meat without actually eating any. Now that the adrenaline was fading, hunger hit me all at once. I headed inside.
Finding an empty table in the corner, I sat down and piled some rice and meat onto a plate.
Man, is Ahn Hyun-ho a part-timer at a BBQ joint or something? He grilled this perfectly.
As I ate in silence, my gaze naturally drifted to my surroundings.
I thought they’d be binge-drinking.
Surprisingly, there were only a few bottles of fruit soju out; it didn't feel like a heavy drinking party. Since most of the students had finished eating, the tent was relatively empty. They probably had some scheduled event after dinner, and the real drinking would start once that was over.
Just then.
"Why are you eating all by yourself?"
Choi I-seo approached, holding a grilled sausage. She smiled as she placed the sausage on my plate.
This was a bit awkward.
"Hey, there’s a seat open over by us."
Yoo Ah-rin, who had just gone inside, came back out and sat on my other side.
In an instant, I was flanked.
Since being around both of them felt uncomfortable, I kept my mouth shut and focused on my food. Yoo Ah-rin rested her chin on her hand and asked casually, "Did you tell her to stop, too?"
"Ack! Cough, hack!"
I nearly choked on my rice.
As I stared at Yoo Ah-rin in shock, Choi I-seo’s voice came from behind me.
"Yeah, he told me to stop."
"Then why are you smiling?"
"Because he told me to stop?"
"What does that even mean?"
I didn't know either.
So don't ask me.
"Did he tell you to stop, too?" Choi I-seo asked softly.
Ah-rin nodded. "I told him to fuck off."
"I’m sorry, but could you both just leave? I’m getting indigestion."
My head was still a mess, and having them approach me like this was uncomfortable. I had clearly told them I wanted to end things, so I didn't understand why this situation was unfolding.
"Based on the pattern, he’s probably going to tell Ye-rin, too."
She was quick.
Feeling a pang of guilt, I bit down on my spoon and stayed silent.
"Chew slowly. You'll get a stomachache."
"I'm getting a stomachache because of you two."
"Listen to this guy. Want me to pat your back so you digest better?"
"It hurts when you do it, so don't."
They kept talking to me from both sides, and I was starting to feel dizzy.
"And stop clinging to my arm. It’s hard to eat."
"Want me to feed you?"
Choi I-seo picked up a spoon and asked with total sincerity. Was she always this type of person?
"Aren't you being a bit much today?"
When Yoo Ah-rin narrowed her eyes and questioned her from the other side, Choi I-seo hesitated for a moment.
"You know how it is sometimes," she said with a bright, effortless smile. "Some days, someone just looks strangely adorable? I think today is one of those days. Specifically, ever since Woo-jin said we should stop."
"Is she into NTR or something? Why is she happy that he told her to stop?"
"N... what? What does that mean?"
Choi I-seo was clueless about such terms.
When I gave her a brief explanation, she immediately looked annoyed.
"There's no way that's it."
"Too bad. If you were into that, I could have fulfilled the role of the one stealing him away."
As she said that, Yoo Ah-rin secretly slid her hand up my thigh.
I didn't say anything.
I just decided to keep eating.
"Ah, what the..."
"……We had the same idea."
Because in the middle, Choi I-seo’s hand and Yoo Ah-rin’s hand had met.
"You two sure get along."
I just listened to them bicker as I ate. My mind was too frazzled to jump into the conversation.
"Um, I-seo?"
A 2nd-year female student approached Choi I-seo, who had actually been talking more to Yoo Ah-rin than to me. She had just come in from outside, and her expression was grim.
She glanced at us warily before whispering cautiously.
"Ye-rin got into a fight outside with some first and third-years."
Who with whom?
Choi I-seo looked stunned for a moment.
"A fight? Why?" she asked, trying to grasp the situation.
"I don't know. It wasn't really a fight; it was more like Ye-rin was just one-sidedly angry... but the atmosphere in the room is really bad now."
"I should go."
Choi I-seo stood up. Even as she rose, she leaned her hand on my shoulder for support—a small, lingering gesture that didn't go unnoticed.
With that, Choi I-seo headed out.
Yoo Ah-rin, who had overheard, had a conflicted reaction.
"Ye-rin isn't the type to go around picking fights."
She was right. It wasn't just about fighting; she wasn't the type to scold anyone in the first place.
Ah-rin’s gaze fixed intently on me.
"Are you going to go?"
"……."
"You're going to go check on Ye-rin? Right after hearing my confession?"
"……."
"It's nighttime, you know. It's your turn to win, and you're just going to leave me and go?"
"Sigh... I have to. She’s not the type to get angry for no reason."
Especially not at her juniors.
As I stood up from my chair, Yoo Ah-rin, who had been looking up at me with her chin in her hand, let out a smirk and nodded.
"Ha, you jerk. It’s annoying, but it’s kind of sexy."
"……What are you even talking about?"
"It means hurry up and go, you idiot."
Ah-rin gave my butt a playful smack and gestured with her chin for me to leave.
After clearing my spot, I stepped outside. I saw a few students taking walks, but the atmosphere didn't seem particularly loud or chaotic.
I suppose it was a relief. It seemed she hadn't lost her temper in front of a large crowd.
I was about to look around the pension for Seo Ye-rin when I saw Choi I-seo standing in front of the first-year girls' room, letting out a long sigh.
"What happened?"
She didn't look upset so much as she looked like she’d been caught up in something tedious. Judging by the vibe, it wasn't a major catastrophe.
"Well..."
Choi I-seo started to explain, then closed her mouth and glanced at the room next door.
It was the second-year girls' room.
"Sigh. Apparently, a few first and third-year girls were talking trash about you, and Ye-rin caught them."
"Talking trash about me? That’s nothing new."
My reputation among the third-years had been trashed a long time ago. It was natural for the third-year girls to talk about me while hanging out with the freshmen. Badmouthing someone is the easiest way to bond, after all.
At my indifferent reaction, Choi I-seo’s expression soured.
"Anyone would get angry if the person they like is being insulted. I'm actually pretty pissed off myself right now."
I-seo crossed her arms, clearly contemplating how to deal with them.
"Hey, don't make a big deal out of it. It’ll be a mess if the Department Representative starts a fight."
"Would you just stay quiet if people were badmouthing me?"
"……."
I’d probably have something to say. It wasn't like Choi I-seo ever did anything to deserve being insulted.
"At least they were in the girls' room, so the word didn't spread outside."
"Hmm."
"I’ll go talk to the first and third-years, so you go see Ye-rin."
Choi I-seo huffed and headed back into the first-years' room.
"Hey, uh... don't make it too big. Try to stay neutral... you know what I mean, right?"
"I don't."
They say it’s scarier when the quiet ones get angry. Choi I-seo had already sharpened her words into lethal weapons and was fully prepared to stab. I just hoped she didn't make someone cry.
"Phew."
Following I-seo’s advice, I entered the second-year girls' room.
Seo Ye-rin, who was sitting in the living room alone looking at her phone, jumped up the moment she saw me enter.
"Woo-jin! Where were you? Did you eat?"
Look at her acting like nothing happened.
"I heard everything."
When I got straight to the point, Ye-rin let out a short gasp and then gave a bashful smile.
"I got caught? I didn't want you to find out. It would've been cooler that way!"
"You're not the type to get angry at others."
"But they were insulting you. They were spreading nonsense and rumors from the Bamboo Forest, calling you a weirdo."
"That happens all the time. There’s no need to waste your energy on people like that."
As I sighed and replied, Seo Ye-rin stared at me and countered.
"But you did."
"Huh?"
"When I was being insulted, when I was in trouble... you helped me. So why can't I help you?"
I was momentarily speechless.
Lately, Ye-rin had been handling things well on her own, so there hadn't been a need, but back when she used to walk on eggshells around everyone, I had helped her often.
"That’s selfish. It’s okay for you, but not for me?"
"No, it’s just..."
I had no comeback.
At my silence, Seo Ye-rin smiled brightly.
"Don't worry, Woo-jin. Like you said, even if bad rumors spread about me, it won't be a problem."
The word Why? was on the tip of my tongue, but she answered before I could ask.
"Because I'm pretty!"
"……What?"
"We live in a world where if a pretty girl does the same thing, people don't call her a bitch—they call it 'delivering justice.'"
"I mean, that’s... true, but..."
Was she always like this? I knew she was aware of her beauty, but she’d never used it so shrewdly before.
Ye-rin stood tall, looking at me with confidence.
"This is who I am now, Woo-jin."
Her voice dropped slightly, becoming serious.
"I don't just sit and listen anymore. I can protect myself."
I remembered how she had protected herself at Gold One, even without my help.
And now, she had gone a step further.
"And now, I can protect you, too."
She told me she would protect me.
"I don't care if people think I'm unpleasant for it. I’ll use everything I have. Just like you did."
Just like I did.
My past words and actions were coming back to haunt me.
"Seo Ye-rin."
My throat felt dry and tight.
I was grateful that she wanted to protect me, but I was the one who had to tell her we were over.
I feel like a similar situation is about to unfold.
But I’m a fast learner. Having failed with Choi I-seo and Yoo Ah-rin, I realized I needed to approach this differently.
"Ye-rin, do you know why you're so obsessed with me?"
"Because I love you?"
Her directness made me hesitate for a second, but I pushed on.
"Well... usually, with your first partner—"
"Ah, that again. First partner blah blah, intense experience yadda yadda. I’m starting to want to smack you, Kim Woo-jin."
She was getting bold.
"This kind of relationship isn't normal. I told I-seo and Ah-rin, too. That we should stop this."
"Oh? Are you finally switching from 'Public Property Kim Woo-jin' to 'Exclusive Kim Woo-jin'?"
"I'm saying the same thing to you, you idiot."
Irritated, my words came out harsh, but Seo Ye-rin just giggled.
"Do you know you're actually kind of sexy when you curse?"
"Are you seriously just driven by lust?"
I hadn't wanted to go this far.
"How sad would your mother be if she saw you like this? Throwing yourself at a guy because you're obsessed with sex."
"That’s a low blow!"
"I wasn't insulting your mother; I was insulting you."
Ye-rin huffed, then let out a sigh and shook her head.
"No matter how much I say I love you, you just keep pushing me away, don't you? I think you take my feelings too lightly."
"……."
"What did the others say? I bet they told you to get lost or said no."
She was spot on.
I bit my lip, feeling the flow of the conversation slipping away from me.
"Exactly how do I have to say it for you to realize my resolve? I’ve even accepted the fact that I’m competing with other girls, so just how much more do I have to do?"
She wasn't asking accusingly; it was a question of genuine inquiry, like a scholar seeking an answer.
Ye-rin’s dark eyes gazed steadily into mine. I could see a massive, unwavering determination within them.
"I found it in my own way. A way to clearly convey the scale of my feelings and my resolve to you."
Honestly, I could guess what was coming. I braced myself to push her away, expecting her to shout "Sex!" and lung at me.
But instead...
"I don't care if we don't have sex."
She made the exact opposite declaration.
"Yeah, I don't need that. It’s fine if we don't. I can give up the Bamboo Forest, the Sex Master title—I can give it all up."
Even as she smiled brightly, Seo Ye-rin didn't move a single step closer to me.
And that...
"That’s how much I love you, Woo-jin."
...was the greatest expression of love that only she could give.