Chapter 204: Sports festival
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 204: Sports festival
“…….”
“…….”
The silence that fell as we stared at each other was incredibly heavy.
I only realized belatedly that I had been holding my breath without even knowing it.
“Haaah!”
“W-Wait a minute!”
As I finally inhaled, her mother hurriedly approached me.
“I think there’s been a misunderstanding. I… I just walked in here by mistake.”
“…….”
Should I just go along with that?
I hadn’t been working here long, but the customers usually fell into certain categories.
First-time visitors, without fail, would either have their eyes bug out at the items on display or find themselves unable to handle it and bolt for the door.
However, her mother had walked in quite naturally and was browsing the products—.
“Ahem, of course. I’m sure that’s the case.”
I made an effort to look away while agreeing with her.
In life, there are things you must pretend not to see even if you have, and things you must pretend not to know even if you do.
I had discovered the origin of Seo Ye-rin’s eccentricities.
I had found the source, but I decided to feign ignorance and let it slide.
“Oh, honestly—.”
Even though I had agreed with her, her mother clutched her head and looked down sharply.
We could have just parted ways as if we were acting in a play, but given her personality, that seemed difficult for her.
“Ma’am, you don’t have to worry. I won’t mention this to Ye-rin or anyone else.”
“……You’d better not.”
“We’re adults, after all. It’s perfectly normal to enter a shop like this.”
“Sigh, I suppose… that’s true.”
If she was the type of person who couldn't just ignore it and move on, I had to instill in her the idea that this wasn't shameful at all and was perfectly natural.
“My friends and I meet here often. They’re flustered at first, but later they’re practically begging me for recommendations! Haha!”
“…….”
Did my attempt at consideration work?
The shadow on her mother’s face brightened slightly.
“You don’t have to feel ashamed, Ma’am. A healthy intimate life between a couple is actually a great way to lead a more vibrant life.”
“You’re being a bit too considerate.”
“……I’m sorry.”
“It was a compliment.”
Ah, I see.
As I scratched my cheek awkwardly, her mother stared at me intently and asked, “Woo-jin, were you serious yesterday?”
“If you mean—.”
“About having two other people you care for besides our Ye-rin.”
“Yes, I was serious.”
My confident answer seemed to fluster her mother instead.
“Sigh, how can you say that in front of a parent? No, wait—Ye-rin actually accepted that?”
“She hasn't completely accepted it, but—.”
Still, out of the three, Seo Ye-rin’s walls had crumbled the most.
We’d even done it as a trio…….
“Does that even make sense? This is Korea. We have monogamy here.”
“I’m aware. But I still want all three of them.”
“Haaah, don’t you think you’re being too stubborn just because you’re a young master?!”
Thud! Her mother slammed her hand on the counter as she argued.
“I know. I know I’m being stubborn.”
“Then—!”
“Ma’am, I sincerely want all three of them to be happy.”
There was no lie in my words. I truly wanted the three of them to be happy.
“I won’t force them to stay. If they ever want to leave me, I’ll let them go at any time, and I won’t hold any grudges afterward.”
“…….”
“But as long as they are with me, I’m confident I can make them happier than anyone else could.”
As I made my bold declaration, her mother’s mouth hung open blankly.
Then, she gritted her teeth and retorted, “What kind of woman could possibly be happy when there are two other women by her man’s side?! Huh?! They’d be much happier meeting more upright men instead of you, Woo-jin!”
“I’ve thought about that too.”
In fact, for a while, I wondered if they would be happier dating other men.
“But men who can make them happier than I can… are surprisingly rare.”
A smile played on my lips. It was a smile born of pure confidence.
I truly believed I wouldn't lose them to anyone else. I was confident I could make them happier than they would be with any other man.
“Sigh…….”
Her mother, who had been staring at me blankly, finally let out a long breath as if she had run out of words.
In any case, the current reality lent weight to my words.
“Are all young people like this these days?”
“……Not really. We’re just a bit special.”
“Not ‘we,’ you are special—no, you’re just weird!”
“I won’t deny that.”
“Haaah, let’s talk about this again later. This doesn't seem like the place for this conversation.”
That was true.
Having a conversation like this with your daughter’s boyfriend in an adult store was a bit much.
“I’ll be going now.”
Her mother turned to leave.
“Oh, aren’t you going to buy anything?”
I said it out of a sense of consideration, but I realized only after the words left my mouth that it actually sounded quite inconsiderate.
“…….”
“…….”
Silence descended between us again.
Seeing her hesitant footsteps, it seemed her mother was contemplating.
Then, she quietly slunk back toward the display shelves, browsed for a few minutes, and then—
“……Ring this up for me.”
She set an item down and asked for the checkout.
It was a type of female masturbation toy.
“Don’t get the wrong idea. It’s… it’s for when I’m with him.”
“Of course. Using tools is the trend these days.”
As I was about to scan the barcode to ring her up—
“……But Ma’am.”
“W-W-What?!”
“Rather than this one… I think the one over there would suit your tastes better…….”
“Excuse me?”
“Ah, no. I just had a feeling.”
I turned my head away awkwardly as I spoke, and though her mother looked at me with an incredulous expression—
She gritted her teeth at my recommendation and went to grab that one as well.
“Fine, let’s see just how good you are at your job.”
It seemed she intended to find fault with me after using it.
I immediately rang up both items and gave her a polite bow.
“Take care, Ma’am!”
If you asked what my criteria for the recommendation were—
I had no answer other than the fact that she was Seo Ye-rin’s mother.
Like mother, like daughter… after all.
* * *
The Sports Festival.
For someone like me who only participated in tug-of-war and group jump rope, there was no event that felt like a bigger waste of time.
And yet, it was an event where attendance was mandatory for some absurd reason.
‘But seriously, what attendance are they even talking about?’
Everyone’s lectures were different, anyway.
Regardless.
Even though it was the Sports Festival, I was just lounging on a mat under the English Department tent, dragging my slippers and killing time.
“Agh, we almost had them.”
“Waaaaah! We lost!”
Yoo Ah-rin, who looked like she’d fought hard, and Seo Ye-rin, who was approaching with a tearful face, appeared.
I heard they were going to the women’s chicken fight earlier, but it looked like they’d been defeated.
“What, Yoo Ah-rin lost?”
“The English Department lost. I had to take on five people by myself.”
It seemed the other English Department girls had all been knocked out, leaving her to struggle alone before finally losing.
“Choi I-seo should have been there. Look at her skipping out because she’s ‘busy.’ What’s the point of working out if you’re not going to use it?!”
Fuming, Yoo Ah-rin sat down next to me and started venting about Choi I-seo.
“Exactly! Choi I-seo needs to be taught a lesson! Seriously! That girl!”
As I immediately chimed in, Yoo Ah-rin and Seo Ye-rin’s gazes fixed on me simultaneously.
“That’s a first. You, badmouthing Choi I-seo?”
“Right? You’re always on I-seo’s side. Honestly, it makes me a little jealous.”
“No, today Choi I-seo is my enemy. My arch-nemesis. She’s being so incredibly stubborn!”
Thud!
As I slammed the ground in frustration, the two of them looked puzzled, wondering what was going on.
Just then, Choi I-seo approached us.
“Woo-jin, help me move this water.”
“No.”
“Are you really going to be like that? Just move it, quickly.”
“You’re just trying to drain my energy! I know your game!”
“……There’s no one else to help me but you.”
Seeing her hesitate for a moment, it seemed she wasn't lying.
But I couldn't just ignore her either.
In the end, even though I knew this was all part of Choi I-seo’s scheme, I had no choice but to move the water.
Today was the day.
Today was the day I had promised Choi I-seo before midterms.
Sex Day.
The day we agreed to do nothing but have sex all day long.
The problem was that Choi I-seo had scheduled Sex Day on the day of the Sports Festival.
In other words, the morning and afternoon were completely skipped.
And by evening, we’d be exhausted from the day’s events.
“A-Ahem. Can you move these chairs over there after you’re done with the water?”
Furthermore, knowing I wasn't participating in many events, she was intentionally piling on chores to sap my stamina.
“You… can you handle the consequences of this?”
I let out a breath filled with resentment and glared at her like a predator, but she just turned her head away and replied.
“W-What! I’m just asking for some help with work!”
“Fine, let’s see how this goes, Choi I-seo. Today won’t end so easily for you.”
Choi I-seo flinched and hugged herself. Well, a promise is a promise.
Gritting my teeth, I finished moving the water and then moved the chairs.
When I returned, Yoo Ah-rin was nowhere to be seen, and only Seo Ye-rin was crouching there, chatting with some other students.
“Ah, Woo-jin! You’re back?”
“Yeah, uh-huh.”
It felt a bit awkward that she immediately stood up and came to my side the moment I arrived, even though she was talking to others.
The other students looked a bit taken aback, but they seemed used to it by now and just let it go.
“Ah-rin went to the obstacle race! Let’s go cheer for her.”
“I want to conserve as much energy as possible today.”
“I-seo went too. I heard she’s subbing in because Hee-jung didn't show up.”
“Now I want to go even less.”
While I was trying to persuade Seo Ye-rin to just stay put and save our energy—
“Haaah, seriously.”
“Oh, you poor thing. I told you to be careful.”
Among the English Department students returning to the tent, Choi I-seo stood out, completely drenched, with Yoo Ah-rin clicking her tongue beside her.
When I asked what happened, Yoo Ah-rin shrugged and explained.
“She got blasted by water balloons during the obstacle race. Do you have a change of clothes?”
“I don’t. I didn't expect to run the obstacle race.”
“Go wash up first. Hey, Kim Woo-jin. We’re using your room. I’m going to borrow some of your clothes too.”
She was using my room quite naturally.
Honestly, I was so annoyed with Choi I-seo today that I wanted to say no, but—
“Fine, wear whatever.”
I couldn't just leave her like that when she was soaking wet; she might catch a cold.
“I’ll lend you some underwear!”
Seo Ye-rin followed them, looking happy to have something to help with.
“Underwear? Do you have spare clothes too, then?”
“No! I only brought underwear.”
“……Why?”
Watching the three of them walk away chatting, I felt a strange sense of satisfaction.
It made me feel good to see the three of them getting along.
Since I was suddenly left in charge of their bags, I just sat there playing a mobile game.
“Hmm?”
Suddenly, what Seo Ye-rin had said as she left crossed my mind.
‘Why did she only bring underwear?’
The question began to snowball, and before I knew it, I was rummaging through Seo Ye-rin’s bag.
The students around me gave me strange looks and whispered, but I was used to that by now.
“Found it.”
As I felt ‘it’ in my hand and imagined the future to come, a satisfied smile spread across my face.
Ah, when will they be back?
I hope they hurry.
My heart began to pound.
The bad mood I’d been in until a moment ago vanished completely, replaced by the certainty that today was going to be the best day ever.
“They’re here!”
I saw them coming from a distance.
They were whispering among themselves, and Choi I-seo was wearing a black jersey of mine.
Since it was a bit big on her, it hung down to her thighs, which looked a bit erotic, but it was fine.
But while I could understand Choi I-seo, why were the other two wearing my clothes?
Yoo Ah-rin, wearing a white jersey, started laughing.
“Hey, Kim Woo-jin. You wear some expensive stuff.”
“My big brother bought it for me. He said I was getting flak behind my back for not acting like I have money. He told me to show it off and sent a few outfits in a package.”
“Kuhhh! As expected of the Vice Chairman!”
“The clothes smell like Woo-jin! That’s why I changed too!”
Yoo Ah-rin was in the white jersey, and Seo Ye-rin was in a beige one.
“But why are there only jerseys?”
At Choi I-seo’s question, I gave her a bright, sincere smile.
“He sent them because he heard I’ve been working out lately. I guess he knew I’d only wear comfortable things.”
“……What’s with you? Why are you suddenly in such a good mood?”
“Just because. You changed your underwear and everything, right?”
“I’m not wearing yours.”
Well, obviously. Why would you wear my underwear?
“The ones Ye-rin lent you?”
“Why are you being so nosy?!”
Choi I-seo snapped at me and gave me a kick. Then, she turned to go cheer for the others.
Click.
The moment I pressed the switch on the remote in my hand—
“Hng?!”
Choi I-seo’s body lurched forward, and her hips lifted slightly.
Startled by the erotic moan that escaped her, Choi I-seo’s eyes widened as she whipped around to look at me.
“So she did give you those, didn't she?”
The ones Seo Ye-rin had been wearing when she went to see her mother last time.
The vibrating panties she had bought from my shop.
When Seo Ye-rin said she only had underwear with her, I had a hunch.
And I was right.
I smiled brightly and ran toward Choi I-seo.
“Ah, today is going to be so damn fun.”