Chapter 231: Jjimjilbang
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 231: Jjimjilbang
“Phew, that feels good.”
A bath always feels great.
Maybe it’s because I’ve been using the bathhouse back at my parents' place since I was a kid, but whenever I step into one, all my stress just melts away.
After finishing my bath and changing into the jjimjilbang uniform, I picked a spot near the TV and settled down.
Suddenly, a memory of coming here with Choi I-seo flashed through my mind. Back then, I never would have dreamed we’d end up in this kind of relationship.
I couldn't help but chuckle, remembering how she used to sleep right next to me in a perfectly straight, rigid posture.
“I should probably buy the eggs and sikhye in advance.”
Since they were girls, they’d likely take a long time to wash up. Thinking it would be better to have everything set up, I hopped to my feet.
I bought four cups of sikhye from the snack bar and laid out the eggs.
Imagining how happy the girls would be when they arrived, I pulled out my phone to browse the Bamboo Forest for a bit.
The Bamboo Forest is peaceful today as well.
A few things caught my eye: the University President, who had started active duty as Bamboo Forest Moderator No. 3, and the news about the bicycle thief in the Security Department.
The President seemed to have quite taken a liking to the anonymous community despite his age; it was almost cute seeing him try to give the kids tips.
As for the Security Department, it looked like they were dealing with some "downward discipline" issues.
Maybe it was because Senior Ju-hee said her dream had changed to becoming a bodyguard, but my eyes kept drifting toward those posts.
Well, it’s not like Senior Ju-hee can change her major right now anyway.
Slurp.
I took a sip of sikhye and peeled an egg. Since I was mostly done managing the Bamboo Forest, I decided to just watch TV.
By the time the ice in the sikhye had almost completely melted...
“...Why aren't they here yet?”
A chill started to run down my spine as confusion set in.
Did they just finish their bath and go home?
Or did something happen to them in there?
No matter how long they took, they should have been out by now.
Holding the lukewarm, watered-down sikhye in both hands, I cautiously approached a group of women chatting near the entrance of the women’s bath.
“Excuse me, do you have a moment?”
“Ugh, what?”
“Is someone really trying to pick up girls in a jjimjilbang—?”
The women, who were about to snap at me, paused and exchanged glances after seeing my face.
It wasn't like they were head-over-heels, but they seemed to think I wasn't half bad.
Hmph, Kim Woo-jin, your hard work in life is paying off.
“Ahem, what is it?”
One of the women asked while tucking her hair behind her ear. I held out the sikhye and said, “I came with some friends, but they haven't come out of the women’s bath yet. I’ll give you these sikhye drinks if you could go in and find them for me.”
“Oh...”
The disappointment in the air was palpable.
I had even managed to get rid of the melted, free sikhye while I was at it.
“Woo-jina!”
Just then, a familiar voice rang out.
A beaming Seo Ye-rin approached and immediately linked her arm with mine.
“Whatcha doin’? You wanna die?”
“Haha, my friend is out. Sorry about that. Just keep the sikhye.”
“Are you hitting on random people just because we weren't here?”
“Are you crazy? I value my life.”
Feeling awkward, I gave a quick bow and turned around. Seo Ye-rin was now practically hanging off my back, and the shockingly soft sensation against me almost made my little guy stand right up.
“Hey, are you not wearing a bra?”
“Yeah, it gets all sweaty and gross. I have to wear it when we leave anyway.”
“No, but still...”
I wondered where she’d left her common sense. The jjimjilbang uniform was oversized, so it might not be obvious, but this still felt wrong.
When we returned to the spot I’d saved, Seo Ye-rin finally let go and asked, “Is Woo-jini wearing panties?”
“I’m a guy, of course I am.”
Poke.
Seo Ye-rin casually reached out and touched my lower half. Then, she gave me a bright smile.
“You really are!”
“Sigh, I don't even know anymore. Just stay behind me if you can. Tell me if anyone looks at you weird.”
“Yes, sir! I love it when Woo-jini gets possessive!”
She then peeled an egg and started eating. Right on cue, Choi I-seo and Yoo Ah-rin followed behind.
I’m glad Seo Ye-rin came out first.
If Choi I-seo or Yoo Ah-rin had seen that scene just now, I might have been beaten to a pulp.
“What? You only bought eggs?”
“I bought sikhye too, but you guys took so long it all melted.”
“Did we really take that long?”
Choi I-seo looked embarrassed, seemingly aware that they were late.
“...”
For some reason, Yoo Ah-rin looked grumpy. She sat down and immediately started devouring eggs.
At first, I wondered why she was acting like that.
But I soon realized the reason and called out to her as kindly as possible.
“Ah-rin.”
“What.”
“It’s okay.”
“...What is?”
Yoo Ah-rin flinched, her eyebrows twitching. I gave her a big thumbs-up.
“I like all breasts, no matter the size.”
“Ugh, Ye-rin. Want to go buy some more sikhye?”
“Let’s. It’s getting suffocating in here.”
The moment they heard me, Choi I-seo and Seo Ye-rin immediately got up and cleared out.
Crack.
The eggshell in Yoo Ah-rin’s hand shattered.
“W-What are you talking about?”
“Do you know what kind of face you’re making right now?”
“...What face?”
“The same face I made when I first saw a Black guy in a porn video back in elementary school.”
Yoo Ah-rin lunged at me instantly.
“You son of a—! You bastard!”
We scrambled and tangled together until she eventually got behind me and locked me in a chokehold.
“Ack! C-Can’t... breathe!”
“I’m not the problem! Seo Ye-rin is just freakishly big! No, it’s all because of youuu!”
“Why—why are you taking your chest’s defeat out on me?!”
“She said they got bigger because you kept massaging them! I remember, they weren't that big before! And I didn't lose!”
“Then I’ll massage yours too, so let go!”
“Aaaargh! Why are you humiliating me like this?!”
After a long bout of bickering, I was finally released only after Seo Ye-rin and Choi I-seo returned.
“Seriously, a woman’s value isn't determined by her chest size.”
I settled back into my spot and complained while sipping my sikhye, but Yoo Ah-rin continued to glare at me with narrowed eyes.
She took a sip of sikhye and muttered, “Kim Woo-jin’s dick is so tiny it’s actually hard to pretend I’m enjoying it.”
“You bitch! Come here! I’m gonna keep going until you beg me to stop!”
I really couldn't let that slide.
As I jumped up and shouted, Yoo Ah-rin flipped me off and retorted.
“See, you bastard! You get triggered the moment I say your dick is small!”
“Is that even the same thing? I’m telling you, I don't care if your chest is petite like it is now! Even if you were flat as a board like a little kid, it wouldn't be a prob—!”
Yoo Ah-rin lunged at me again, and this time I had no choice but to flee into the men’s restroom.
In the end, Yoo Ah-rin’s anger was somewhat appeased after I bought her some dried squid from the snack bar.
Of course, she wasn't completely over it, but it was enough to calm her down.
After that, things were normal.
We sat in the saunas, went into the ice room, and ate more snacks. We spent the time chatting about this and that.
Just as things were starting to get boring, Seo Ye-rin stared blankly at the ceiling and muttered.
“Ah, I need to memorize my script.”
She then started mumbling to herself while looking at her phone.
I wasn't that interested at first, but hearing it was a movie script piqued my curiosity.
“What did you say it was last time? A female warrior surviving alone in the apocalypse?”
“Yeah. Her lover is already dead. She’s a wolf-like character who acts as the protagonist’s main supporter.”
“Ho-oh.”
I didn't really think Seo Ye-rin fit that image.
Well, I’m sure the professionals knew what they were doing when they cast her.
“Want to help me?”
That question from Seo Ye-rin was the start.
Before we knew it, we had assigned roles and decided to do a roleplay.
Seo Ye-rin kept her original role.
I was the bad guy.
Yoo Ah-rin was the girl taken hostage by the bad guy.
And Choi I-seo was assigned to play the corpse.
“...Do you really need a corpse?”
Choi I-seo sighed, finding it absurd, but being the diligent girl she is, she lay face down on the floor and pretended to be dead.
The rest of us didn't bother standing up and just proceeded while sitting.
Reminiscing about the atmosphere of filming a movie last year, Seo Ye-rin shouted, “Action!”
“Bang! Bang bang!”
She immediately shot and killed me.
“Are you kidding me?”
If she was just going to shoot me the moment we started, what was the point of doing this?
“...But I’m a man of few words and a master of guns?”
“Sigh, do it again. Let’s do a situation without guns.”
When I said that, Yoo Ah-rin, who was being held hostage by me, grumbled.
“That’s fine and all, but stop groping me. Every time you do, I want to beat the shit out of you.”
“Yes, ma'am.”
Anyway, the kidnapping drama began again.
“Start.”
As soon as Choi I-seo, the corpse, gave the signal, I immediately pulled Yoo Ah-rin into a tight embrace.
“Kyaa!”
“Finally, a woman! It’s been so long! I’m going to make you squeal all night long!”
“You son of a...! Sigh, help me.”
Yoo Ah-rin’s half-hearted plea for help.
Seo Ye-rin wiggled her butt across the floor to get in front of us and spoke.
“Let go of that very small, petite, underdeveloped but super-kawaii girl!”
“Is this bitch for real?”
“Take me instead! I’ll be your partner for tonight! Let’s even have a baby and live happily ever after!”
The script was long gone.
The story was just spiraling out of control.
Whatever, I’ll just go with it.
“Sorry, but I’m a lolicon, so I don't get hard unless the girl is petite! Women with two lumps of fat like you don't satisfy me!”
“I really want to kill this guy.”
“Whaaat?! No, Woo-jina! How can you say that after massaging my breasts so much?!”
So much for acting practice.
“Yeah, I’m done. You asked for help, but there’s no point. Take the hostage. Actually, I’m into corpses.”
I pushed Yoo Ah-rin, who was sitting in my lap, away and crawled toward the prone Choi I-seo.
“Get lost.”
“Guess she wasn't a corpse.”
Choi I-seo slowly sat up, looking at me with a face full of disgust.
I wondered why my reputation was the only thing getting dragged through the mud when we were supposed to be practicing acting.
“What did you say, Seo Ye-rin? Petite and what?”
“M-My cheeks! You’re stretching theeeem!”
“Sigh, what a waste of time.”
While the girls were grumbling about how unproductive the session was...
Vrrr! Vrrr! Vrrr!
A phone suddenly vibrated, and the caller was even more unexpected.
— Choi Jin-ah -