Chapter 225: Peace of Mind
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 225: Peace of Mind
As I stepped into the lecture hall, several pairs of eyes swiveled toward me.
To a man, they either quickly averted their gaze or awkwardly resumed the conversations they’d been having.
Between the sweat pouring off me, my ragged breathing, and an expression that looked ready to explode at any second, I must have been a sight.
It was obvious to anyone that I was in a foul mood, but unfortunately, I didn't feel like hiding it in the slightest.
I spotted Choi I-seo, who had saved a seat for me.
She flinched when she saw me, then immediately began rummaging through her bag.
The moment I sat down beside her, she pulled out a wet wipe as if she’d been waiting for that exact second.
"Wipe off some of that sweat."
I didn't know she carried wet wipes in her bag.
"Thanks."
As I wiped myself down, I checked the classroom clock. It was a good thing I’d run at full tilt; any slower and I would have been late.
"Did you run here? What about your bike?"
My heart felt like it was being wrenched out of my chest at her question. After I’d bragged so much about that bike, here I was, running on foot.
"Someone stole it."
As I clenched my fists, burning with pure hatred, Choi I-seo let out an exasperated sigh.
"Again? Honestly, at this point, 'ridiculous' doesn't even begin to cover it."
"Right? These damn bicycle thieves. I swear, I’m going to catch them no matter what."
I said it, but I knew it wouldn't be easy.
When those middle schoolers stole it at the PC Bang, there were CCTV cameras everywhere, making it an easy catch.
But the dormitory bike rack was tucked away in a corner, and it didn't seem to have any dedicated cameras.
It wasn't like I could just go around demanding to see the entire university's CCTV footage on a whim, either.
The Bamboo Forest was as lively as ever.
When I posted that I’d lost my bike, the place was flooded with people just cackling and mocking me.
However, even amidst the trolls, there were those who sympathized.
Anonymous 124, in particular, had been grumbling about their lost bike since last time.
They seemed genuinely determined to find it and had apparently already tried every method under the sun.
"I am seriously going to catch this bastard."
Did they think this was just some ordinary bike?
Do they have any idea how much money I poured into that thing?
"Report it to the police first."
"I should."
Just then, the professor entered the lecture hall. To be honest, I didn't think I’d be able to focus on the lecture at all.
Maybe I should just leave.
My mind was already out the door; how was I supposed to concentrate?
I felt bad for Choi I-seo, but I was thinking about heading out in a bit when—
"Even if you can't focus, just stay and listen. This professor remembers students who walk out and strikes their names from the attendance sheet later."
As if reading my mind, Choi I-seo quickly grabbed me and began her persuasion.
"Okay? Woo-jin. It’s fine if you don't listen to the lecture; I can show you my notes later. But you have to be here for attendance."
"Do... Do you know how much money I just lost...?"
"You'll find it. So, please? Woo-jin. Let's just sit through the lecture. Actually, don't even listen—just play a mobile game next to me or something."
"..."
"And stop looking at the Bamboo Forest. Looking at that will just keep the bike on your mind."
I bit my lip hard.
My body was trembling with rage over the stolen bike.
But at Choi I-seo’s firm yet genuinely worried tone, I forced myself to pull my emotions together.
"Yeah, you're right."
Nodding, I pulled out my textbook.
Knowing I wouldn't be able to focus on studying, I propped my phone on top of it and launched a game.
"...I-seo, you're going to be a great mom someday."
"Shut up before I punch you."
— Sensei!
The girls in the game welcomed me, calling me "Sensei."
It was a collection-based RPG called Black Academy that I used to play with Seo Ye-rin.
The lecture began, but I focused on the game. A part of my heart was still uneasy, but seeing the cute characters acting all sweet made me feel a bit better.
Is this why people play waifu games?
Just as I was starting to find some semblance of peace...
Thump.
A kick landed on my shin under the desk.
It stung, so I looked over to see what was going on, but Choi I-seo was staring straight ahead, pretending to listen to the lecture.
"...What?"
"What what?"
My question was met only with a blunt retort.
I went back to the game, which occasionally featured some suggestive scenes.
Thump.
Thump.
Every time one appeared, Choi I-seo would land another hit.
At this point, isn't she basically playing the game with me?
I wondered if she was even listening to the lecture, but her notes were perfectly organized.
Hmm.
Now I was getting curious.
The game had a gallery feature.
It was a function that let you re-watch CGs you’d unlocked, so I pulled up the most suggestive scene I had.
A character whose skirt was fluttering, almost revealing what was underneath.
I pointedly tilted my phone screen toward her, making a show of trying to peek under the skirt—
Wham.
* * *
"...Huh?"
My head throbbed with a mix of the impact and lingering fatigue.
Before I knew it, the lecture was over, and students were getting up to leave.
I lifted my head and looked around. Choi I-seo was sitting there with her chin in her hand, boredly scrolling through my mobile game.
Tap.
— Ahn!
Tap.
— Ahn! Sensei!
Tap.
— Dame! Sensei!
"Seo Ye-rin recommended I play this."
In times like this, Seo Ye-rin was the best person to throw under the bus.
I blurted it out immediately, and Choi I-seo let out a deep sigh as she handed the phone back.
"Play these kinds of games in moderation. It’s because you do stuff like this that people keep asking if the three of us are dating."
Why the sudden reality check?
"It's lunchtime. Let's go eat."
"Yes, ma'am... But why did I just pass out?"
"...You must have been tired."
I followed behind Choi I-seo, who was pointedly avoiding my gaze.
Lunch today was gourmet burgers.
Since Choi I-seo wasn't prepping for a body profile anymore, she didn't have any dietary restrictions, and it wasn't a menu that was too burdensome for me to buy even after losing my bike.
I offered to pay, but Choi I-seo declined and ended up buying mine as well.
"Did you report the bike?"
"I did."
I’d filed the report on my way here.
"They said several reports of bike thefts at Gahyeon University have already been filed at the station. They're investigating properly now, so they told me not to worry."
"Well, that's a relief."
"Ugh, if I ever catch that bastard, he's dead meat."
As I was huffing and puffing while waiting for our burgers, a shadow fell over us.
We were sitting by the window, and since one wall was entirely glass, we had a clear view of the outside.
There, with her face pressed flat against the glass, was Seo Ye-rin, staring intently at us.
"G-gah! You scared me!"
Unlike the startled Choi I-seo, I just stared at Seo Ye-rin and shook my head.
"This is the first time I've ever seen her look ugly."
Did she hear me?
Seo Ye-rin shouted something and immediately marched inside.
She rolled up her sleeves and balled her hands into fists.
"What did you just say, Kim Woo-jin?"
"I said I was so shooocked because you're so beautiful!"
"I don't think that was it."
"I said my dick was so shooocked because you're so damn gorgeous!"
Seo Ye-rin glanced down at my lap and nodded.
"Pass."
I didn't know what I’d passed, but I was just glad to move on.
"He said it was the first time he's seen you look ugly."
Thanks to Choi I-seo immediately snitching, I ended up in a headlock and couldn't breathe for a moment.
Still, since Seo Ye-rin has a large chest, being in her headlock didn't feel all that bad.
I guess you could call it a win-win.
"Are you two done with classes? I'm meeting up with the girls. Want to hang out?"
Seo Ye-rin might act bizarrely most of the time, but to the rest of the world, she was a pure and fragile beauty.
I often forgot that she rarely had a day without plans.
"I have another lecture."
Choi-Hermione had another class. At this point, I was starting to think she was in love with the university.
"I don't have any more classes, but... I don't think your friends would be too happy about me tagging along."
And it wasn't like I particularly wanted to join, either.
"Ah-rin is there, though. And Bom and Seo-ah. They're all familiar faces."
"They are familiar faces..."
It was the same party I’d worked with at Gold One.
"Should I ask them? If it's okay for you to come?"
Seo Ye-rin immediately pulled out her phone.
I was about to tell her not to bother because I didn't want to go, but Choi I-seo, sitting across from me, cut in.
"Go ahead."
"Huh?"
"Oh?"
Neither of us expected Choi I-seo to push me to go hang out with the other girls, so we both stared at her at the same time.
"Go clear your head."
"Ah..."
She was telling me to go have fun so I wouldn't keep thinking about the bike.
Feeling her consideration again, I awkwardly scratched my cheek.
But she wasn't wrong.
If I were left alone, I’d probably be kicking my blankets in frustration over that bike all night.
"Fine. Ask them if I can join."
I nodded and decided to join Seo Ye-rin’s group.
* * *
"Hey, you're going to finish that before the movie even starts."
When I made a comment to Yoo Ah-rin, who was devouring a giant bucket of popcorn, she popped a piece into my mouth.
"I thought you'd be moping over your bike, but you actually came to see a movie?"
"Ah, don't talk about that. I came here to forget."
"Heh."
She gave a mischievous grin, clearly teasing me.
"Do you even know what movie we're watching?"
"You said it was Crime Town. I've seen all the previous ones."
It was a movie about hitting, breaking, and fighting. It was the perfect kind of movie to watch without having to think.
"It's exactly my kind of movie."
Just look at Yoo Ah-rin, humming and munching on popcorn in anticipation.
"It's exactly the kind of movie you'd like."
I nodded, thinking it was a very Yoo Ah-rin-esque choice.
The other girls had gone to the arcade or to take photos at a Life Six Cuts booth while waiting.
Then, Seo Ye-rin approached us, holding a single drink.
"Sweet, sweet, sweet Woo-jini, Kimu-jin~"
She was humming some bizarre song.
"What is she saying?"
"How should I know? Hey, I thought you were going to buy snacks for the movie."
At Yoo Ah-rin’s question, Seo Ye-rin glanced at me and smirked.
"The snack I wanted to eat was sweet, sweet Woo-jini, Kimu-jiiin~"
Yoo Ah-rin looked back and forth between Seo Ye-rin and me before giving a clear warning.
"If you two do anything weird during the movie, consider yourselves kicked out immediately."
Does she really see me as someone like Seo Ye-rin?
"I'm not going to, okay? Am I crazy?"
This was a popular movie; the theater would be packed. How could I do anything?
Seo Ye-rin also laughed and replied.
"I won't either. I was just joking."
I immediately backed her up.
"Exactly. No matter how you look at it, doing that kind of stuff in a theater is just wrong."
"Well... I guess so."
Yoo Ah-rin seemed relieved and was about to let it go, but then she looked at me with cold, dead eyes and issued one final warning.
"Zip up your fly before I kill you."
"..."
Zzzzip.
I pulled my zipper back up.