Chapter 3: Ex-girlfriend
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 3: Ex-girlfriend
‘Did I overdo it?’
The disconnect between the Seo Ye-rin standing before me and "Anonymous 69" was so jarring that my desire to confirm the truth felt like I’d just lit a fuse.
I tried replying with a sense of urgency, but there was no way to tell if she’d read them yet.
As I sat there anxiously hoping she’d see the messages, Choi I-seo, who was sitting next to me, began staring at me intently.
“...What?”
I wondered what was up with her all of a sudden.
I’d let it slide earlier because I was distracted, but I couldn’t help but wonder why she’d chosen to sit right next to me while I was sleeping. Since it was a 9 AM lecture, there were plenty of empty seats left by those who had decided to skip class.
Choi I-seo glanced toward the professor, who had just started the lecture, and took a small breath.
“Can I ask you something?”
She looked like she was going to ask regardless of my answer. Curious if she had something specific to ask me, I nodded.
“Go ahead.”
Choi I-seo set down her pen and asked cautiously.
“Did something happen between you and Yun-ji last semester?”
“...”
Yun-ji.
Oh Yun-ji.
It was a name I couldn't forget.
After a brief moment of reflection, I frowned and shot back a question.
“Why are you suddenly curious about that? Oh Yun-ji took a leave of absence right after the first semester ended.”
I was the one who was curious now—why bring up Oh Yun-ji, who had been gone since the start of the second semester?
“Ah...”
Perhaps my voice was a bit too sharp because it was a sensitive topic for me. Choi I-seo hesitated for a moment, looking embarrassed.
“Never mind, sorry. I shouldn't have asked.”
“Is this what you were trying to ask at the cafe yesterday?”
When I asked, recalling how the Department Senior Ahn Hyun-ho had interrupted her, she gave a small nod.
“I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable.”
“Yeah, it is uncomfortable. But I’m also curious why you’re suddenly interested in Oh Yun-ji.”
I knew Oh Yun-ji had a lot of friends. But that was all over and done with in the first semester.
“...She’s a friend from high school.”
“A high school friend?”
That was a bit of a shock. Oh Yun-ji had never mentioned Choi I-seo to me.
“That’s why I was curious. Yun-ji was always a leader back in high school, the center of our friend group. But then she suddenly took a leave of absence.”
“...”
“I used to see her hanging out with you all the time during the first semester, so I wondered.”
Seeing Choi I-seo apologize sincerely, as if she realized she’d overstepped, made me feel like I was being too sensitive.
“We dated for a bit,” I answered with a sigh. “Then we broke up because of personality differences. It was probably awkward for her to be on campus with me around. She’ll probably come back once I enlist in the military.”
“Oh...”
Realizing she had stepped into very personal territory, Choi I-seo scratched her cheek.
“Sorry.”
“It’s fine. It’s a valid thing to be curious about.”
I shrugged it off. Feeling a bit gloomy, I habitually checked my phone and saw several notifications.
‘Oh, right.’
I’d been so caught off guard by the talk of last semester that I’d forgotten about Seo Ye-rin. A string of messages from Anonymous 69 was lined up.
I felt like I’d seen similar messages yesterday. On top of my gloomy mood, I was starting to feel dizzy.
The reply came instantly.
It wasn't like it was a long time; the ban would be up after lectures and lunch. I used the Bamboo Forest community often myself, but this girl seemed like a serious addict.
“Unbelievable.”
Did she really need to be this obsessive? What kind of mindset leads someone to have a sexual fetish like this?
However...
‘It’s better not to keep provoking her here.’
She might actually send something even more extreme. The thought of Seo Ye-rin standing by in the restroom ready to snap a photo made my head spin.
I figured I had to give her an answer like that to satisfy her. It actually took a while for Seo Ye-rin to reply. It took so long that Choi I-seo even glanced at Ye-rin’s empty seat and worried about her being late.
‘Is she acting like this because she doesn't know how to respond now that I’ve been blunt?’
Thinking that might be the case, I threw out another topic.
Naturally, the reply was instant.
‘I don’t think that’s physically possible.’
I just let it slide.
With that, I closed my phone.
I didn't expect another message, and indeed, Seo Ye-rin returned shortly after.
Her face was as red as a beet.
“Ye-rin, are you okay? Are you sick?”
Choi I-seo asked worriedly, as Seo Ye-rin clearly looked unwell, but Ye-rin just shook her head.
“No, no. I was just feeling a bit uncomfortable, but I’m okay now. If it’s alright, could I see your notes later? I’ll buy you coffee.”
“If you’re offering free coffee, I’ll show you everything.”
I didn't know Choi I-seo could make jokes.
When I glanced toward them, Choi I-seo shielded her notebook with her body. I’d actually missed some notes myself while dealing with Seo Ye-rin’s inquiries.
“Are you going to buy me coffee too?”
Seeing her try to forcedly change the mood from earlier actually felt quite nice. Without realizing it, a small smirk escaped my lips as I replied casually.
“Two coffees is a bit much. How about a slice of cake?”
“Oh, they said they sell high-protein, low-fat protein cake in front of the school. You going to buy us that?”
What the hell was protein cake?
Like a tribesman discovering fire, I just nodded at this strange new invention I’d never heard of.
* * *
“Three orders of Jeyuk, please.”
I picked up my spoon as the spicy stir-fried pork was served. It had a spicy aroma and a sweet sauce. This place even topped it with a sunny-side-up egg.
Being in front of a university, the prices were student-friendly. The restaurant was already packed with male students, and their eyes were fixed on our table.
“Eat up.”
At my words, Seo Ye-rin and Choi I-seo, sitting across from me, picked up their spoons with hesitant expressions.
“Did it have to be Jeyuk?”
Choi I-seo was the one to finally open fire. In response to her question, I pointed at the menu on the wall.
“The Jeyuk here is only 7,000 won.”
These days, 7,000 won was considered a total steal. Plus, they had a lot of side dishes that paired well with it.
“No, I wasn't talking about the price...”
“Ahaha.”
Seo Ye-rin laughed awkwardly, sympathizing with Choi I-seo. It seemed both of them were unhappy with the menu choice.
I made a scissor sign with my fingers and thrust it toward them.
“Then you should have won, you losers.”
“...I was sure you’d throw rock.”
“Don’t be so prejudiced.”
I was able to come here because I’d won the rock-paper-scissors match to choose the menu. During the first semester, I couldn't even look at Jeyuk because of my ex, Oh Yun-ji, but now that I was free in the second semester, I could finally come here.
“This place is famous. Try it.”
“I don’t dislike Jeyuk that much.”
Seo Ye-rin gave a kind smile and carefully put a piece in her mouth, making sure not to get sauce on herself. After chewing a few times, she let out an exclamation. “Mmm!”
“It really is good! It’s delicious.”
“Don’t come too often, though. It’s hard to get a seat.”
“...Yeah, I can see why.”
She seemed to mean it was good, but she probably wouldn't come back.
Choi I-seo sighed and used her chopsticks to pick out only the onions and green onions from the pork. As Seo Ye-rin and I both stared at her, Choi I-seo replied flusteredly.
“W-What? I’m exercising for a BP shoot. That’s why Jeyuk is a bit much...”
“You should have said so earlier.”
“I’m a loser, so I couldn't say anything.”
That was a fair point.
“I-seo, you’re doing a body profile shoot? Really? I feel like you could take it right now and it would look amazing!”
As Seo Ye-rin immediately showered her with praise, Choi I-seo scratched her head in embarrassment. Usually, half of the compliments between women are just for show, but Seo Ye-rin’s words felt genuinely sincere.
“Wow, show me later! Do you go to a gym? PT? If there’s a good place, introduce me.”
“Yeah, okay. I even found a place that’s good at shooting BPs from my trainer, so let me know if you need it.”
‘I don’t think Seo Ye-rin really needs to go to a gym.’
Based on the photos she’d sent, it didn't look like she needed much exercise...
Well, whatever.
Seeing them laughing and eating Jeyuk together made me feel good too.
“If you’re not going to eat your pork, give it to me.”
When I pointed at Choi I-seo’s lonely pile of meat, a look of annoyance crossed her face as she snapped back.
“I’m going to eat it.”
It seemed Seo Ye-rin’s barrage of compliments had worked. Watching Choi I-seo start to eat cautiously, I threw out a blunt comment.
“Eating it carefully doesn't mean it won't make you gain weight.”
“Hey!”
Hey, it wasn't like I was wrong.