Chapter 215: Incident
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 215: Incident
“……That hurts.”
Still at the PC Bang.
It was a relief the part-timer stepped in and told us we were being too loud; otherwise, I might have been carried out of here on a stretcher after getting pummeled.
“It really hurts, I-seo.”
“Shut up.”
“Yes, ma'am.”
I shut my mouth instantly at I-seo’s word. She must be in a foul mood, considering she’d been doing nothing but scrolling up and down the main page of a portal site for a while now.
‘Better not poke the bear.’
If I pushed her any further, she might actually explode. It was probably best to give her some space.
I glanced over at Yoo Ah-rin. She had a movie playing and was busy watching it.
At some point, she’d ordered grilled squid and was chewing on it rhythmically.
Sensing my gaze, she spared me a sidelong glance, then, without even looking my way, tore off a squid leg and held it out to me.
“Nom.”
I popped it straight into my mouth.
Ah-rin had always been quite the movie buff. Since there wasn't much else to do at the PC Bang, it seemed she’d settled on watching a film.
With food delivered right to your seat the moment you ordered, this place was, in some ways, a much better environment for watching movies than an actual theater.
Next, I stood up slightly to check behind me.
Seo Ye-rin, who had somehow managed to wrap herself in a blanket, was huddled in her chair watching a webtoon.
She’d even ordered a drink for herself. She was enjoying her time with the grace of a true professional.
‘It’s not an adult webtoon, is it?’
I worried for a second, but that wasn't the case.
‘It’s a male-oriented harem webtoon….’
I had no idea why a girl was watching a male-oriented webtoon, but she was focused, so I decided not to disturb her.
Returning to my seat, I habitually opened the Bamboo Forest.
I didn't particularly feel like gaming, and nothing killed time better than the Bamboo Forest.
‘They’re talking about Chan-woo.’
As far as I knew, Jeong Chan-woo used the Bamboo Forest too.
What was his number again?
I remembered he was in the 300s since he was in the Department of Architectural Engineering.
“Heh.”
Popo actually showed up.
I’d realized this during the last incident, but streamers surprisingly have a lot of free time. They’re free from the usual commute, and the fact that they can set their own broadcast hours really highlights that.
If you can make it big, it’s probably the best job for enjoying a leisure-filled life.
“Hahaha! This guy is hilarious.”
I wondered how someone like this could even exist.
I thought he could have just given the Her-X-es bag to his girlfriend then.
But apparently, he’d already refunded it.
As I was laughing, Choi I-seo, who had been doing nothing, peeked over to look at my screen.
Since she already knew I was the Administrator, I didn't bother hiding it.
“What are you doing?”
“I-seo, look at this.”
I immediately showed her the incomprehensible antics of Anonymous 152.
I expected her to be appalled, but...
“He seems like a nice person.”
Surprisingly, Choi I-seo gave a generous response.
“A nice person? When he’s this clueless?”
From where I was sitting, if the friend he bought the Her-X-es bag for had accepted it and the mood was right, he would have jumped ship immediately.
Isn't it obvious?
“At least he’s not openly trying to three-time like someone I know.”
“……Ahem, shall we look at another post?”
When she put it that way, Anonymous 152 didn't seem like such a bad person anymore.
“No, but I actually have the means!”
I tried to move on to another post but ended up retorting to Choi I-seo.
“If you guys want, I can buy you as many Her-X-es bags as you want! With my dad’s money!”
“Didn't you say you were going to be independent?”
“If you guys want, I’ll lick my dad’s shoes and crawl between his legs.”
“Sigh, should I call this devoted or just plain stupid?”
“He’s a dumbass.”
Yoo Ah-rin chimed in from the side while watching her movie.
“Hmm?”
She tilted her head after reading Anonymous 152’s post. Then, she reached out and tapped Seo Ye-rin’s chair.
“Hey, hey. Isn't that you?”
“Huh? What is?”
Now even Seo Ye-rin joined in.
Eventually, they were all looking at my screen together.
“Ah, right. That’s me.”
Seo Ye-rin said, pointing at Anonymous 152’s post on the screen.
“That, who was it... Dong-gyu from our department. He tried to give me a Her-X-es bag, but I told him I didn't need it. I was a bit taken aback because he gave it to me so suddenly.”
Seo Ye-rin nodded as she recalled the memory.
Until a moment ago, Anonymous 152 just seemed like a fool, but now I was starting to get a little angry.
“Hah, that bastard tried to hit on you when he already had a girlfriend? If something like that happens again, you tell me immediately.”
As I grumbled my warning, Choi I-seo and Yoo Ah-rin stared at me from both sides.
“Is that something a guy who asked three girls to date him at once should be saying?”
“The height of hypocrisy. This guy is just a walking double standard.”
“…….”
I had no defense for that.
“I like Woo-jini even when he’s like that. If you guys don't like it, back off. I’ll take him!”
Seo Ye-rin immediately affirmed me with a smile.
Thanks to her, I felt a lot better.
However, an attack was immediately launched at Seo Ye-rin.
“It’s because you act like that that he thinks he can just date all three of us!”
“Ye-rin, get a grip! How long are you going to live in that dream world? Does that even make sense, realistically?”
Don't let Choi I-seo and Yoo Ah-rin’s attacks shake you!
I opened my mouth to help her, but...
“But aren't we all on a date together right now anyway?”
Seo Ye-rin asked, looking genuinely confused.
For a moment, the other two glanced around. Just as Seo Ye-rin said, come to think of it, weren't we all hanging out together right now?
“……I-I’m going home.”
“Ugh, what is this? I feel like I’ve been bewitched or something.”
Choi I-seo hurriedly stood up, realizing she’d been roped in without knowing, and Yoo Ah-rin slapped my cheek instead of her own, wearing an expression as if she’d just snapped out of it.
“Kim Woo-jin, you’re quite the player, aren't you?”
“Why does he only use his brain for things like this?”
“This is so unfair. Weren't you the ones who said you wanted to learn how to play games?”
They were the ones who suggested hanging out at the PC Bang, so why were they blaming me?
Anyway, the PC Bang gathering seemed to be winding down, so I was about to get up too, when...
Vrrr! Vrrr! Vrrr!
My phone started vibrating.
Instantly, all three of them turned their eyes toward my phone.
It felt a bit awkward, so even though I had nothing to hide, I grabbed my phone quickly.
Under their interrogative glares, I checked the caller ID and spoke casually.
“It’s my mom.”
Only then did the atmosphere lighten up a bit.
‘Man, it’s actually kind of scary when they’re like this.’
I thought about how chilling things might get if I actually started dating all three of them as I answered the phone.
“Hello? What’s up?”
— Woo-jin, where are you?
“Me? I’m at a PC Bang near the university.”
I was slightly worried she might have shown up unannounced again, but...
— Ah, so you have nothing to do? Then don't stay there like a loner and come home.
“……Mom, do you even know what 'loner' means?”
— Hmm? Un-i said people like you are called loners. I have to stay trendy too, you know.
My second brother, seriously….
“Stop using words that don't fit your age. Why are you calling all of a sudden?”
— Un-i’s wife is pregnant. We’re having a family gathering because of that, so you come too.
“Ah.”
— If you’ve started dating a girlfriend, bring her along. Or you can bring all three; that’s fine too.
“Forget it. Why would I bring all three?”
The three girls, who had been staring at me while I was on the phone, suddenly pulled out hand mirrors from their bags.
I didn't know where they’d come from, but seeing them fix their appearance was a bit funny.
— Anyway. Head over now. Should I send a car?
A car would be convenient, but...
“No, I’ll just take the bus.”
If I accepted help for small things like this, people might talk when I needed help with something big later.
I hung up and looked at the three of them.
“I’m going to my parents' house. Alone.”
I emphasized the last word on purpose.
Perhaps the others also thought following me to my house was a bit much, as no one spoke up.
Since I’d ridden my bike to the PC Bang, I planned to drop it off first and then catch the bus.
“What the—where’s my bike?!”
My bicycle, which I’d spent a fortune on, had vanished, leaving only a single wheel behind.