Chapter 194: It's Nothing
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 194: It's Nothing
Lately, haggard-looking people were a common sight around campus.
There was no need to ask why or for what reason.
It was obviously because of midterms.
The exam period was nearing its end. Once midterms were over, events like sports festivals and school festivals would come bursting forth.
However, not many people were talking about that yet.
I guess it wasn't time to pop the champagne just yet.
The Bamboo Forest was the same as ever.
Now, people were starting to treat anyone with a number above 350 as a freshman. The only saving grace was that the regular users were just living their lives as they always did.
“It’ll... get quiet once exams are over, right?”
I was slightly worried.
Regardless, thanks to the community known as the Bamboo Forest, I could gauge the general atmosphere of Gahyeon University.
In fact, as I walked through the campus, I often overheard conversations of people badmouthing freshmen or venting their frustrations about seniors.
It wasn't like I was particularly devoted to university life anyway.
Nor was I on such good terms with my seniors or juniors that I socialized actively.
There was no reason for me to get caught up in this friction.
Or so I thought.
“Are you like that too, Senior?!”
In the first-floor lounge of the dormitory.
There, English Literature freshmen Kim Cheol-su and Choi Young-hee were aggressively confronting Choi I-seo.
“There’s so much talk lately about how the seniors are discriminating against us.”
“Senior I-seo, I really believed you were different.”
“Sigh.”
What’s going on?
I knew Choi I-seo could handle her own business, but seeing the juniors talk to her like that made my own emotions flare up.
Do they have any idea how much she’s been looking after them because of that Mentor-Mentee Program or whatever?
Because of them and the overlapping exams, she hasn't even been able to hang out with me much lately.
“There are even rumors among the kids that the only reason you’re helping us is so you can have an excuse to come into the dorms.”
“You haven't been answering our messages well lately. We barely see you. You’re our mentor. Please take some responsibility!”
Choi I-seo pressed a hand to her forehead.
She wasn't just standing there like an idiot taking it; she was doing the prep work to stab them with the blade of her words.
She was basically contemplating which knife to use.
This is going to be a fun show.
I crossed my arms and watched, ready to step in if necessary.
“...What are you doing?”
I got caught by Choi I-seo.
“Ahem.”
She stared at me with a look of utter patheticness. Kim Cheol-su and Choi Young-hee also looked my way and flinched.
The rumors about me weren't exactly great, and there were even whispers that Choi I-seo and I were a couple.
It was only natural for them to be intimidated.
“What’s the matter?”
“Just having a little chat.”
Choi I-seo then crossed her arms and looked at the two in front of her.
“Listen, I’m your mentor, not a nanny here to change your diapers and feed you.”
Choi I-seo’s cold words pierced right through them.
Even I, listening from the side, felt a shiver.
If I had popcorn, I would have been dancing while eating it.
“I can understand you running to me with every little thing you don't know instead of trying to look it up yourselves. Sure, that happens.”
“...”
“But I won’t tolerate you coming to me and accusing me of discriminating against juniors based on a few words from an anonymous community.”
Hmm, so these two use the Bamboo Forest too.
“Think straight. Don’t judge based on what a few faceless people are blabbering about. Judge me based on the person you’ve actually seen.”
The two faltered at Choi I-seo’s bold words.
“Don’t act like the few sentences you read on the internet are the entire world.”
Placing a hand on her chest, Choi I-seo asked them confidently.
“Was the version of me you saw really someone who discriminates against freshmen? Am I someone who avoids you on purpose?”
“...”
“I told you in advance that it would be hard to stay in touch during the exam period. I even went out of my way to get past papers for your classes if I could. I even gave you the notebooks I used when I took those classes.”
“...”
“I might have missed some calls because I was studying, but I remember calling you back afterward to listen to what you had to say.”
Mm.
“These guys are total pieces of trash.”
As soon as I added my two cents, Choi I-seo glared at me sharply and made a "shush" sound.
She was probably telling me not to create a threatening atmosphere for the kids.
“Fine. I only did the Mentor-Mentee Program because the professors wanted me to. Let’s end it here. Do things on your own now. Even if it was a short time, I’ve taught you plenty.”
“S-Senior!”
“Senior I-seo! That’s not what we meant!”
The two realized they had messed up and tried desperately to grab onto her.
“No.”
Choi I-seo drew a cold line.
“I don’t want to help you anymore.”
Clean and simple.
“Good luck on your exams. That’s the last piece of advice I’ll give you.”
With that, Choi I-seo took me by the hand and led me out of the lounge.
“Ugh, you idiots.”
I couldn't help but throw one last comment over my shoulder as I was dragged away. They flinched and stared at the floor.
They live in this dorm; how awkward is it going to be for them every time they see me now?
“I told you not to curse.”
Once we were outside, Choi I-seo sighed again. She still seemed troubled.
“Come rest in my room for a bit.”
At my words, Choi I-seo looked at me with wary eyes.
“I have to study.”
“You can rest for about thirty minutes before you go.”
“Only if you promise not to try and make things 'weird.' Got it?”
“I got it.”
I’m human too.
Wait, am I?
No, anyway.
I’m human too.
I had no intention of forcing a dejected Choi I-seo onto the bed.
Entering the room, Choi I-seo looked around. Since she hadn't been able to visit during the exam period, it seemed she found it nostalgic.
“At least you’re keeping the place clean.”
Choi I-seo sat on the edge of the bed with a smile.
“Of course. You never know who might drop by.”
Since the guys sometimes barged in, I always tried to keep it clean.
The mood doesn't exactly strike in a dirty place.
“...That’s a very annoying thing to say. Why did you buy scented candles?”
“Ahem, for a similar context.”
Atmosphere is important, isn't it?
I’ve never lit them once, but wouldn't it be nice to turn off the lights and light those later?
I brought over some snacks I had bought separately.
When you’re stressed, sweets are the best.
As I moved behind Choi I-seo to settle in for a back hug, she immediately stood up.
“Hey.”
“No, I’m just hugging you. You seemed stressed.”
“...”
When I patted my lap, Choi I-seo hesitated for a moment before sitting right down on my thighs.
It was a natural position for me to embrace her from behind.
I held a snack up to her mouth.
“Eat this and feel better. When you rest, you need to rest properly.”
“Hmph.”
She took the bite.
As she finished chewing and mumbling, I opened my hand to give her another one.
As I started feeding her snacks, she seemed to relax, and she began to pour out her honest feelings.
“I guess the emotional warfare between seniors and juniors in the Bamboo Forest is really bad.”
“Yeah, it is.”
“I didn't know because I have the Bamboo Forest blocked. I didn't realize the kids were that affected by it.”
“It’s not something you need to worry about. Just because other people hate freshmen doesn't mean we have a reason to hate them too.”
“...Should I have been more considerate?”
“More than that? What more could you do? You’ll just spoil them.”
Listening to me, Choi I-seo chuckled and leaned her back against my chest.
“You’re different than usual. I’m actually being comforted by you.”
“I guess so. Usually, you’re the one comforting me.”
As she leaned back, our faces were close enough for our cheeks to touch.
“Why is what people say in an anonymous community so important? In the end, you should look at the person right in front of you.”
“It started with that Film Major backstabbing incident, but the Bamboo Forest definitely blew things out of proportion.”
“Sigh, do I have to worry about online communities now just to live my university life?”
To the bitterly smiling Choi I-seo, I pulled out my phone and held it in front of her.
We looked at my phone screen together.
I went straight to the Bamboo Forest and wrote a post.
Then, I shut down the community entirely so no more posts could be made.
The top post was now Anonymous 90’s "I wanna have sex," similar to before.
Above that, no more posts would appear.
“Uh...?”
Choi I-seo was bewildered.
Since she was the only one of the three who didn't know I was the Manager, she couldn't help but be shocked.
I tossed my phone aside and pulled her into a tight hug.
“You said it was loud. So I closed it.”
“Is... is that allowed? No, more importantly, you...”
“Yeah, it’s fine.”
Of course it was fine.
“If anything else bothers you, tell me. Surprisingly, most things are no big deal to me.”
“...Ha, haha.”
Letting out a hollow laugh, Choi I-seo slightly turned her head.
Peck.
A short kiss.
After pulling our lips apart for a moment, we locked eyes.
We kissed briefly again.
Without knowing who started it, our lips met.
After several soft kisses.
Just as the mood was heating up and I was about to deepen the kiss with my tongue.
“Wa-wait a second.”
Choi I-seo hurriedly shook her head.
“If... if we do it, my back will hurt too much to sit and study.”
“...”
Ignoring her words, I immediately laid her down.
“I won’t be able to study!”
When I grabbed both her hands and tried to lift her shirt, Choi I-seo finally shouted in desperation.
“After! After exams! Let’s pick a day and do it then!”
“...Really?”
When I glanced at her, Choi I-seo bit her lip and nodded.
“N-not the whole day. Maybe an hour—”
I immediately started taking her clothes off again.
“A-alright! As much as you want! I’ll do it as much as you want! I really can’t fail my exams, so stop!”
“You said it. As much as I want. Clear your schedule for a Sex Day.”
“That name is so tacky!”
Anyway.
I made a promise to spend the entire day with Choi I-seo after exams were over.