Chapter 197: Dinner Appointment
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 197: Dinner Appointment
The long, long midterm season had finally come to an end.
To be honest, I hadn't studied that hard during my freshman year, so I didn't have much of an opinion on it back then. But once I actually started putting in the effort, the exam period felt strangely long yet short at the same time.
When I mentioned that to Choi I-seo, she gave a little smirk and patted my head, saying, "You must have worked really hard."
It didn't actually feel that bad, which made me think I should try just as hard for the next round of exams.
Today was the day we’d agreed to go out for drinks once the exams were over. However, since I’d already drunk so much at the snack party, I wasn't sure if I really wanted to go out again. Plus, hearing that a bunch of familiar faces from the second-year class were gathering made me want to go even less.
Ah, what a drag.
But since everyone else said they were going, I felt like I shouldn't be the only one to flake out. It wasn't that I actually wanted to socialize, of course. It was more that the thought of other guys hitting on the girls made me feel like crap.
Should I go, or should I stay?
Since it was the weekend anyway, I had plenty of time to agonize over it until evening. As I was tossing and turning on my bed, deep in thought...
Knock, knock.
A knock came from the door.
Recently, the three of them had developed a tendency to just swing the door open without knocking. Even Choi I-seo. So, the fact that someone knocked meant it wasn't one of them.
"Who is it?" I asked, a hint of disappointment in my voice.
The voice that answered from outside was Senior Ju-hee’s.
"It's me, Woo-jin."
"Yes! Coming!"
I scrambled out of bed and opened the door. Senior Ju-hee was all dressed up, looking like she was headed somewhere. Instead of her usual Dragon Padded Jacket, she was wearing a crisp white blouse and even a brown skirt.
"...I almost didn't recognize you."
I was being serious, but she seemed to think I was joking. She just let out a little chuckle.
"I was wondering what you were up to on the weekend, so I stopped by."
"But is it okay for a girl to visit the men's dormitory so easily?"
"Are you really the one to say that? People are starting to talk about how girls are constantly drifting in and out of your room, so I came to tell you to be careful."
"Aha."
But was it really okay for Ju-hee, a girl herself, to be the one saying that?
"Well, that's not the only reason. Woo-jin, you said you were looking for a part-time job, right?"
"Yeah, that's right."
Now that midterms were over, I was planning to start looking for work.
"How about the cafe where I work? The manager seemed to like you after seeing you work that one time."
"The cafe? Hooo."
It wasn't a bad idea. Even though it got busy, they seemed to take good care of the staff, and the manager was considerate and mature. Plus, with Senior Ju-hee there, it would definitely be more comfortable.
The important thing, though...
"..."
Was whether Senior Ju-hee would be okay with it.
Back at the MT, even though it was just for a game, I could tell when I held her. I was certain once again—Senior Ju-hee still liked me.
I felt bad, but since I couldn't reciprocate those feelings, it was right to keep my distance.
Will she be alright?
Then again, she was a senior; surely she could manage her feelings professionally.
"Sou—"
I was about to agree, but the words got stuck in my throat when I remembered the time she had collapsed from a nosebleed due to overwork. I wasn't entirely sure she was actually okay.
Even this senior, whom I’d thought was invincible, was just a person—a woman. Realizing that made me hesitate.
"Umm, let me think about it for a bit."
I’d try looking for a job on my own first, and if I really couldn't find anything, I’d go there as a last resort.
"Really? That's a shame. I thought it’d be fun to work together."
Senior Ju-hee nodded and then headed off to work. I lay back down on the bed, passing the time in a lethargic, aimless haze.
I'm bored. Maybe I should go work out.
The thought crossed my mind, but my body refused to move. I was in that state where I didn't want to do anything at all. That was exactly how I felt right now.
College students are surprisingly idle once exams are over.
Should I play a game?
But I didn't even feel like doing that.
"Sigh."
I guess I’m just going to be like this all day.
"I'm so bored."
Should I call someone? Usually, the person who's the most fun when I'm bored is Yoo Ah-rin, so I dialed her number. After a few rings...
— What?
"What are you doing?"
— What?
"What's with the attitude? Why so blunt?"
— Ugh, what is it? Hurry up and tell me. I'm busy right now.
"Busy doing what?"
— Bom broke up with her boyfriend, so we're all hanging out with her to cheer her up.
"Is Seo Ye-rin there too?"
— Yeah. That's why I feel awkward talking to you in front of Bom.
"Hmm, I guess that makes sense."
— You're coming to the post-exam party tonight, right?
"I'm not sure yet."
— ...What? I thought you were going! Ah, seriously, Kim Woo-jin. If you're not going, tell me now. I won't go either.
"Got it."
Click.
She hung up. This time, I called Choi I-seo. Seo Ye-rin would be too busy comforting her friend anyway.
— Hello?
But the person who answered wasn't Choi I-seo.
"Jung Min-ji?"
It was Min-ji, who had finally come to her senses and reformed. Since the two of them were living together, it wasn't that strange.
— Kim Woo-jin? I-seo is in the shower right now.
"Already? The plans aren't until tonight."
— We're going out for lunch.
"Oh, really? Then I—"
— We're having Malatang. Want to come?
"I think I'll just stay home."
Malatang? No thanks.
"Wait, isn't I-seo on a diet? Are you really going to keep feeding her stuff like that?"
— When did I-seo's diet even end? You really don't pay enough attention to her.
"Did she finish her Body Profile shoot?"
— She did it ages ago. She said she was going to send the photos to you. Did she not?
"No."
What? Show me too.
— But are you really not going to eat with us? Yun-ji is coming too.
"...You guys sure are getting along well."
— We were high school classmates, after all.
Well, that was true.
"Whatever. Tell Choi I-seo—"
— Oh? I-seo. Yeah, it's Kim Woo-jin.
I heard voices on the other end of the line.
— Hello?
Soon, Choi I-seo's voice came through.
"What, you're done already?"
— I'm about to dry my hair. Why did you call?
"Just... I was bored."
— Sigh, don't just stay cooped up at home. Go outside and take a walk. Your head will start hurting if you stay inside too long.
Maybe I shouldn't have called. She's getting a bit naggy.
— And don't think of this as nagging.
"Do you have mind-reading powers or something?"
— It's obvious what you're thinking.
"Then what am I thinking right now?"
I asked with a grin. Choi I-seo let out a sigh and grumbled.
— You're probably thinking, "I wish I-seo would video call me."
"Oh, holy shit?!"
How did she know?
— It's obvious. You're probably imagining me drying my hair while wearing only underwear or wrapped in a towel.
"...I'm hanging up. You're creeping me out."
— You're coming out tonight, right?
"I don't know. We'll see."
— Just come. Only the second-years are coming. Even if things are awkward with the first and third-years, you're still on good terms with your own classmates.
She really looks out for everything.
"Fine. I'll try to make it."
— You better. It's boring without you.
When she puts it like that, I can't really say no.
"Alright. I've got another call coming in."
— Okay, see you later.
I hung up and glanced at my phone. I had five missed calls from Seo Ye-rin.
Vrrr! Vrrr! Vrrr!
Another call was coming in right now.
"Hello?"
— Why didn't you call me?
Her voice was already pouting.
"I heard Han Bom broke up with her boyfriend and you're comforting her. How would she feel if you were on the phone with me?"
— You could have at least called once. Why do you only look after Ah-rin? Why? Why?
"Hey, don't talk like that. It's scary."
— Hee-hee! Woo-jin, do you know how cute you are when you get flustered?
She definitely used that tone on purpose to intimidate me.
— Are you coming tonight? Ah-rin said you were still debating.
"I'm going. Tell Yoo Ah-rin too."
— Okay~. If it's boring, let's sneak out together.
"..."
— I meant that in a naughty way.
"I know."
Now I really want to leave early. I can already feel the blood rushing south.
— Oh, and by the way, my mom said we should set a date to meet soon.
And just like that, the blood rushed right back out.
"Ahem, r-right. I have her number, so I'll contact her separately."
— See you later!
I hung up and let out a deep sigh.
What am I supposed to say when I meet Seo Ye-rin's mother?
There are some problems that just don't have an answer no matter how much you think about them. This was one of them, so I decided to just put it out of my mind.
I still have some time.
I decided to head to a PC Bang to play some games before going to the meeting spot. As I stood up...
Vrrr! Vrrr! Vrrr!
Another call. It was a number I didn't recognize.
"Who is this? Hello?"
— Senior.
Ah, it was Gyu-a. We’d exchanged numbers last time, but I’d been too lazy to save it. I probably wouldn't save it after this call either.
"Ahem, oh, Gyu-a."
— Do you happen to have time today?
"Don't fall for me."
— Ah, for f—
"Gyu-a, I'm your senior."
I was just joking, but her reaction was a bit much, wasn't it?
— Sorry. I just suddenly felt really annoyed.
"Why did you call? I'm busy."
— Aren't you in the dorms right now?
"I told you, I'm busy. I'm gonna go beat it."
— Sigh.
I was trying to pressure her into hanging up, but Gyu-a didn't budge.
— Senior, you haven't forgotten what we talked about last time, right? About setting me up with Senior Hyun-ho.
"Did we?"
— We did.
"But I think Hyun-ho would hate you. Who likes someone who leads people on?"
— ...
"What, you got something to say?"
— I seriously don't understand how the other seniors like you.
"And I don't understand how Hyun-ho could ever like you."
— ...
"Sigh. Look, the second-years are having drinks tonight because midterms are over."
— Oh?
"Since it's only for second-years, it'd be weird for you to join. Just find Hyun-ho in the middle of it, see him for a bit, and then leave. This is all I can do for you."
After all, Gyu-a had helped me get some alone time with Yoo Ah-rin at the MT.
— Thanks, Senior!
The call ended. I let out a long sigh, washed up, and headed toward the PC Bang. On the way, my phone buzzed with messages.
"What is this?"
It wasn't exactly "Avengers Assemble," but suddenly, everyone was converging on the same place.