Chapter 195: Snack Party
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 195: Snack Party
“If you were going to do that, why didn't you just block it from the start?”
My dorm room.
Yoo Ah-rin, who now looked perfectly at home here, questioned me as if she were interrogating a suspect.
She had been busy balancing her studies with her duties as a manager, especially since the Bamboo Forest had descended into chaos right in time for midterms.
She wasn't wrong.
“I know. If I’d known it would turn out like this, I would’ve just blocked it.”
To be honest, quite a few people get help through the Bamboo Forest during exam periods, so I’d felt a bit reluctant to shut it down.
But seeing a single incident that started in real life spread through the Bamboo Forest and then manifest back in reality gave me a lot to think about.
“I just made you suffer for nothing.”
When I apologized to Yoo Ah-rin, she let out a huff, but she didn't seem to hold a serious grudge.
“But why the sudden block? Did something happen?”
“Oh, actually...”
I gave her a brief rundown of the conflict between Choi I-seo and the freshmen.
Thwack!
Yoo Ah-rin immediately landed a low kick right on my butt.
“Ow?!”
The atmosphere had been fine just a second ago, so I stared at her, wondering why she’d suddenly attacked. She looked ready to go for a second round as she shouted.
“You didn't care at all when I was struggling, but the moment Choi I-seo has a hard time, you shut down the Bamboo Forest immediately? Do you really want to die?”
“No... that’s not the reason. I would’ve closed it immediately if you’d told me you were struggling, too!”
“The more I look at you, the more it seems like you’re playing favorites with Choi I-seo.”
This was unfair.
If I were playing favorites, I would’ve asked her out already.
“What are you guys talking about?”
Just then, Seo Ye-rin entered the room, carrying bags full of snacks in both hands.
Some people still had midterms left, but since we were already finished, we had gathered for a modest little snack party.
For the record, Choi I-seo was absent because she still had exams to take.
“We were just talking about how Kim Woo-jin finally chose Choi I-seo out of the three of us.”
“Now, that is an issue I can’t just let slide.”
“Wait, hold on! Don’t say weird things! Look at her eyes, she’s losing it!”
Look at her—she immediately dropped the snack bags and her hands were twitching, looking for something to grab.
Stab or be stabbed.
Seo Ye-rin’s previous warning felt like a cold blade against my neck.
Perhaps sensing that Seo Ye-rin’s aura was becoming ominous, Yoo Ah-rin hurriedly corrected herself.
“It’s a joke, a joke! I’m just saying that because he said the reason he blocked the Bamboo Forest this time was because of Choi I-seo.”
“It was because of Choi I-seo. But that wasn’t the only reason.”
I blocked it because the controversies from the Bamboo Forest were leaking out and starting to affect real life.
Of course, if it had been a positive influence, I would’ve left it alone. Like a 'Let's all pick up trash together' campaign or something.
“If rumors keep spreading because of the Bamboo Forest, I might get caught in the crossfire too.”
If I had to break down the ratio, it was probably 8 parts wanting to look cool for Choi I-seo and 2 parts other miscellaneous reasons.
“It is a bit boring now that the Bamboo Forest is blocked, though.”
Seo Ye-rin, who had been emitting a dark aura just moments ago, sat down on the floor with a bright smile again.
Was that also an act?
Sometimes, she really scares me.
“That’s why I found a replacement.”
Seo Ye-rin smiled as she tore open a bag of snacks.
“A replacement?”
Yoo Ah-rin joined in, tearing open a bag as she asked.
“Yeah. Since I can’t use the Bamboo Forest, I’ve been spamming Woo-jin’s private messages every day instead.”
“...”
Yoo Ah-rin shot a glance my way.
I gave a silent nod, confirming it was true. As much as she couldn't post on the Bamboo Forest, she was dumping it all on me.
Actually, I had something to say about that today, so this was perfect.
“Honestly, don’t you think you can stop doing that now? I know you do it to relieve stress, but you don’t really need to anymore.”
“The Bamboo Forest Sex Master is the first title I ever earned with my own two hands!”
She’s been obsessed with that 'Sex Master' name for a while now.
Is that even something to be proud of?
“But why send that stuff to me? I can understand posting it on the Bamboo Forest, but why text me?”
When I pressed her on the absurdity of it, Seo Ye-rin’s cheeks flushed, and she hung her head low.
“Oh, you’re making me blush.”
Was there anything to be embarrassed about just now?
Wait, was sending those texts actually a signal to have sex?
“But don't people say Anonymous 69 isn't the Sex Master anymore? Isn't it Anonymous 90 now?”
Yoo Ah-rin chimed in nonchalantly.
Anonymous 90 was Lee Eun-woo from the Physical Therapy Department.
In the beginning, he was a follower of the Sex Master, but at some point, he found his own path and ascended to become the new Sex Master.
He must be busy living his life as a grad student and teaching assistant in the PT department, but it seems he still hasn't let go of the Bamboo Forest.
And he was also Seo Ye-rin’s sore spot.
“Exactly! I’m the original! How can some weird fake show up and steal my spot?!”
“...I think you’re better off having that spot stolen.”
“No! It’s mine!”
While Seo Ye-rin was busy punching the air from her seated position, Yoo Ah-rin tilted her head and looked at me.
“Hey, you know who Anonymous 90 is, don't you?”
“...”
At those words, Seo Ye-rin’s gaze snapped toward me.
“You know?”
“You know, back at last year’s festival. When Anonymous 90 was acting out, saying he’d reveal your identity. Kim Woo-jin even tracked down that he was from the PT department. What happened after that?”
“...There’s beer in the fridge, want some?”
I had the ones Choi I-seo bought for me last time.
I dashed toward the fridge, but Seo Ye-rin lunged and grabbed my ankle.
“Gah!”
She pulled so hard that I tumbled to the floor, but thanks to my recent workouts, I managed to land safely.
“Hey, you’re gonna get hurt—!”
I was about to scold her, but Seo Ye-rin climbed on top of me like a predator.
She pinned my back down with both hands and gritted her teeth.
“Who is it? I’m going to go and end them. How dare they steal my honor?!”
God, these internet ghosts.
Seeing them obsess over such strange things, I try to understand why it’s so important to them, but I just can’t.
“I’ll ask the person first before I tell you. It’s not right to just give out someone’s personal information like that.”
Lee Eun-woo isn't a dorm student anymore, so I’ll have to contact him separately.
“You better tell me! For sure! Got it?!”
“I said I would!”
I told her to get off now, but Seo Ye-rin did the opposite and clung tightly to my back.
“For suuure.”
“...”
“For suuuuuure.”
I felt like a teddy bear.
The soft, warm sensation against my back wasn't exactly bad.
“What are you doing?”
Yoo Ah-rin, who had been watching our antics from the start, threatened to split us in half if we didn't separate immediately, so she finally let go.
Once I brought the beer, the snack party truly began.
“Cheers!”
We sat around the snacks, clinking our beer cans together.
Originally, we talked about going out for meat instead of a snack party, but we decided to do that later with Choi I-seo and the others. Today, we were settling for snacks.
“Wait, what is this? Mint chocolate chips? Why did you buy these, Ye-rin?”
“Huh? You don't like mint chocolate? Try some.”
“Blegh. You eat them all.”
“I don't like mint chocolate either.”
“...Then why did you buy them?”
“I thought someone might like them.”
For the record, I hate mint chocolate too.
In the end, we decided that eating the mint chocolate chips would be a penalty later.
“Anyway, so Chan-woo broke up with his girlfriend again. I told him he should’ve just bought an Iced Americano and gone to see her.”
“Hmm? I saw Chan-woo walking with some girl I didn't recognize today, and they were linked arm-in-arm.”
Damn, is this some kind of Gahyeon University ghost story?
“Oh, right. There are mosquitoes now. Look at this. I got bitten.”
When I showed them the red mark on my neck, Seo Ye-rin smiled brightly.
“I’m the one who left that mark. You were dozing off while studying in front of the convenience store the other day, so I did it.”
“...No wonder it didn't itch.”
Mystery solved.
“Hey, but how did you end up becoming the Bamboo Forest Manager anyway?”
“Ooh! I’m curious too!”
“Hmm? Manager? It’s nothing special. There was this senior I knew back in freshman year—”
“Wait. Is it a woman?”
I chuckled at Yoo Ah-rin’s sharp, suspicious gaze and answered.
“It’s a guy, a guy.”
“Okay, proceed.”
I gave them a brief story of how I became the manager of the Bamboo Forest.
As the conversation flowed, we soon finished all the beer.
“I’ll go buy more.”
It wasn't great for the non-dorm students to be going in and out frequently, so I stood up.
“...You’re not going to buy condoms, are you? We’re not doing a threesome.”
Just in case, Yoo Ah-rin issued a warning, but I just snorted.
“Hey, there are two boxes of condoms in this room already.”
The idiots had left them here last time, telling me to use them to jerk off.
If I were going to do it, I would’ve done it long ago.
I went to the convenience store on campus and bought three six-packs of beer.
I wasn't planning on drinking them all; I just wanted to stock up.
But when I walked back in, the girls had their hands in the air, squealing as they drank something.
“Ah!”
It was the wine Choi I-seo had bought last time, saying we should drink it together later.
“We opened it because we didn't like the look of it.”
“Boo! Kim Woo-jin, boo! What were you planning to do with I-seo after drinking this?!”
Sigh, I’ll have to buy the same bottle later.
“I bought beer, so drink the beer.”
“Woo-jini, have a glaaaass too!”
The drinking session continued.
Before long, the snack bags were empty, and the wine bottle was rolling around on the floor.
There were so many beer cans that I’d have to make a conscious effort to count them.
Ah, did I drink too much wine?
It was tastier than I expected, so I kept gulping it down. Now my head was spinning, and I felt drowsy.
But the party didn't stop.
“Chomp chomp chomp chomp!”
As a penalty for losing the last game, Seo Ye-rin was devouring the mint chocolate chips she had bought herself.
Why was she making those sounds?
I just figured it was a sound effect to trick herself into thinking it tasted good and let it slide.
“Let’s play another game.”
After finishing them, Seo Ye-rin huffed as she tossed the empty bag into the trash.
She turned on a game on her phone where you just had to run forward.
We bet on who could run the longest. Everyone was tipsy, so no one lasted very long, but Yoo Ah-rin, who wasn't familiar with the game, ended up losing.
“Ah, damn it. You guys planned this. You purposely picked a game you’re good at!”
“Nope.”
“Nope.”
As Seo Ye-rin and I put our arms around each other’s shoulders and cackled, Yoo Ah-rin huffed with a flushed face, but a loss was a loss.
As a penalty, Yoo Ah-rin had to lie on the bed and act like a cat.
She lay there showing her belly, curling her hands like paws.
“Hey... meow.”
Seo Ye-rin immediately started taking pictures, and I sat beside her and rubbed her belly.
“Hee?!”
Click, click.
I got a photo of myself rubbing Yoo Ah-rin’s belly.
I’ll have to ask Seo Ye-rin to send that to me later.
“Another game. Another game.”
The games continued in our drunken state.
In reality, they were just games for the sake of penalties.
Seo Ye-rin lost the next game and had to stick a pencil case in her cleavage, using it as a microphone to sing the first verse of the national anthem.
In the game after that, Yoo Ah-rin lost and had a tally mark drawn on her thigh.
The never-ending cycle of games.
Strangely enough, I was on a winning streak. I smirked as I looked at the two of them, who were now a complete mess.
Eventually, unable to contain their rage, the two of them proposed one last game.
“Arm wrestle us 2-on-1! The loser has to stay still until the winners say they can move!”
2-on-1 arm wrestling?
So they were going to team up to beat me.
“Heh, you really have to stay still.”
Confident, I rolled up my sleeves and took my position.
I could already see the two of them lying on the bed, trembling at my every touch.
Yoo Ah-rin grabbed my hand, and Seo Ye-rin placed her hand over hers.
I might lose to Yoo Ah-rin in a fight, but I could definitely win in a test of strength.
Besides, I was a healthy male who did both home training and went to the gym.
Wait, I haven't done any strength training, though.
Still, I judged Seo Ye-rin to be a non-factor.
The arm wrestling match began.
Thud!
“...”
I lost in exactly two seconds.
“Oh yeah! We won!”
“Kim Woo-jin is such a scrub!”
They were stronger than I thought...
I had genuinely intended to win, so I didn't expect to lose so quickly.
The two of them approached me with mischievous grins.
*
Only one exam left.
Choi I-seo, who no longer needed to clean up after the freshmen, was studying peacefully in the library.
Just a little more.
Since there was only one left, she just needed to focus on this, but her stamina was already hitting rock bottom.
She stretched, trying to shake off even a bit of the fatigue.
Vibrate!
A KakaoTalk message arrived.
It was from Kim Woo-jin.
I wonder if he’s having fun with the girls.
She was a bit worried, but since they were in the dorms, she figured they couldn't do anything too reckless.
With that thought, Choi I-seo checked the message.
The message was a single photo.
Kim Woo-jin was in the center, shirtless.
Yoo Ah-rin and Seo Ye-rin were clinging tightly to him on either side.
Seo Ye-rin was the one taking the selfie, and one of her hands was tucked inside Kim Woo-jin’s pants.
Yoo Ah-rin was covering Kim Woo-jin’s eyes with one hand while making a V-sign and smiling with the other.
There were even several dark lipstick marks visible on Kim Woo-jin’s body.
“...”
Choi I-seo stared blankly at the photo, and before she could even respond—
The message was presumably sent by Seo Ye-rin.
She asked, just in case.
Phew.
Thank god—.
No, thinking that it might actually be more dangerous now, Choi I-seo hurriedly stood up from her seat.