Chapter 327: Normalization
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 327: Normalization
To deliberate is to harbor doubt about oneself.
Through doubt, a person reflects upon themselves and grows.
While this doesn't apply to every situation, I felt that the current me was growing in exactly that way.
— What are you talking about?
“….”
On the other end of the phone, Choi Jin-ah’s voice carried a nuance that asked why on earth she had to listen to this crap.
— Ahem, let me rephrase that.
— What kind of bullshit is that?
“Why did you feel the need to rephrase it?”
— Oh, the unnies told me I need to be more proactive and speak firmly.
The unnies?
Is she talking about those women I saw at the reunion last time?
“You guys seem to be getting pretty close.”
— It’s not quite like that. We just meet up occasionally. I think they find it fun to teach me things I don’t know whenever we meet.
— Oh, by the way, I had intestine soup this time. I didn't realize it, but I actually like organ meats quite a bit.
That really doesn't suit her.
A world-class violinist whose favorite things are soju and animal entrails.
— Do you want to go eat some with me when you come back to the main house? There’s a really good place nearby.
“Well, if I end up going, sure. But I don’t think I’ll have much reason to go there.”
— True, you’re incredibly busy lately, aren't you? Things have been crazy.
“It’ll die down soon.”
Wait, why am I talking about this?
I was clearly sharing the realization I’d just had, but before I knew it, the conversation was flowing at Choi Jin-ah’s pace.
— Oh, I’ll head over to your place this time. I need to pick up my carrier.
“I was wondering why you hadn't come for it. Why so late?”
Quite a bit of time had already passed.
— I’m sorry. I’ve been a bit busy lately. You know the movie Ye-rin is filming? I decided to participate in the sound production for it.
“Again?”
— Yes, again.
“At this point, don't you just like Ye-rin?”
— It’s not that. It’s just that Ye-rin has a good eye for projects. Our team gets requests for various works, and we chose the one that looked the best—and Ye-rin happened to be in it.
YS Entertainment probably picks good projects for her, but ultimately, the choice belongs to the actress.
It seems Seo Ye-rin has a decent eye for that sort of thing.
— Her last project seemed pretty good too. It hasn't been released yet, right?
“They said it’s coming out soon. I think the trailer is already out.”
— Ye-rin is probably going to get incredibly busy. I saw her acting briefly back then, and she was really good.
— That’s why I was so shocked when I saw her in Hawaii. I wondered if she was even the same person.
I could relate to that deeply, having experienced it myself recently.
The sense of cognitive dissonance that comes when Seo Ye-rin hides her true self feels like it’s shattering common sense itself.
“Right. Anyway, come pick up your carrier.”
— ……Oh, by the way, did you know? Eun-byeol Unni’s belly has gotten really big. She says she can even feel Sturdy kicking now.
“Oh, really?”
— Yes. I heard the due date is in December. I’m secretly composing a song for Sturdy without telling Eun-byeol Unni.
“Right, I got it.”
— ….
— Ah! Did you know? This time—.
“Jin-ah.”
— Yes?
“Are you bored?”
— ….
I could feel her reluctance to hang up.
Even though we were just on the phone, I strangely felt like she was tugging on my sleeve.
— Ahem.
“I asked if you were bored.”
— A… a little?
There really wasn't much to do at my house. When I was there, we at least played games on the PlayStation together, but since I wasn't around, she probably found it hard to even turn the console on herself.
My second sister-in-law likes games too, but since she’s pregnant, she seems to be avoiding anything too stimulating.
In the end, just standing around idly in my now-quiet house was the only thing Choi Jin-ah could do.
— I-If I go outside, the people your father sent are watching me. They surprisingly keep following me everywhere.
— Last time, the unnies tried to take me to a club, but those people blocked us.
I did feel a bit sorry for her.
She couldn't even have proper fun outside.
Though I didn't have a great feeling about those "unnies" to begin with, hearing this made it sound like they were really pushing the boundaries.
“There’s a computer in my room, so use that. There are a few games installed.”
— In your room, Woo-jin?
“Yeah. Even if it’s not games, there must be something you can do on a computer.”
— ……There isn't anything weird on it, is there?
“There isn't. I wouldn't leave stuff like that on the computer at the main house, no matter what.”
I’d deleted everything before I left, so there was nothing to worry about.
— Okay. Thank you.
“Yeah.”
Click.
After hanging up, I felt a brief moment of doubt. I had clearly called to get some advice.
Somehow, I felt like I’d just been used to kill time.
Just then, the classroom door in front of me opened, and the professor walked out.
I bowed my head to greet him and then scanned the students trickling out behind him.
Choi I-seo, who came out near the end, looked at me with an incredulous expression.
“You were actually waiting.”
“I told you I would.”
“Did you buy that coffee for me to drink?”
“Yeah. You said you were going to the library to study today. I bought it for you to drink while you're there. I even tucked a cookie into the cup holder, so eat it if your blood sugar drops or you get hungry.”
As I handed her the coffee, Choi I-seo gave me a faint smile.
“You’ve got good sense.”
“Right?”
I wondered if my sense had tripled because I was dating three women.
If a game company gave out experience point events like this, they’d get cursed out.
“Phew, I feel alive.”
Taking a sip of the coffee, Choi I-seo nodded with satisfaction and looked at me.
“So. What is it? You said you suddenly had a concern.”
“Yeah, actually, I was thinking about it while listening to the lecture earlier.”
I told Choi I-seo the exact same thing I’d told Oh Yun-ji.
“……What?”
Just like the previous two, Choi I-seo dropped the coffee in her hand.
However, thanks to me being on standby and catching it, it didn't spill on the floor this time.
“So, I’m asking if our relationship isn't a bit ethically skewed right now.”
When I calmly explained again, Choi I-seo retorted with a look of utter disbelief.
“You’re the one who made it this way.”
“….”
“I definitely thought it was impossible. But at some point, it became strangely natural for me to hang out with Ye-rin and Ah-rin.”
“….”
“You’re the one who made all of that happen!”
Unable to hold back, Choi I-seo delivered a low kick.
My thigh took the hit directly, but I endured it for now and continued.
“No, I mean. I feel like I’ve become a really bad guy.”
“Wh-What is wrong with this guy?”
Choi I-seo went from confusion to anger, and then from anger to worry.
She placed her hand on my forehead to check if I had a fever.
But of course, I didn't.
“You don’t have a fever… but just in case, should we go to the hospital?”
“Do I look that sick?”
Choi I-seo started pulling me, saying we should go to the hospital immediately. I thought she was going to the library, but it seemed she’d given up on studying for today.
“Hey, Choi I-seo. What are you doing? Why aren't you coming?”
From the end of the hallway, Yoo Ah-rin, wearing her department jacket, waved as she approached.
“What, Kim Woo-jin is here too. This bastard really has a nose for these things; he came to butt in immediately.”
“What are you talking about? Were you two supposed to meet today?”
“There was a class we both had that I pulled a 'skipping class' on. I was going to ask her to summarize the lecture for me.”
Surprisingly, Yoo Ah-rin studies quite hard. I don't think she was like that last year.
“I don’t want to hear people saying my grades dropped because of Neutube.”
“And yet you skipped class?”
“……I overslept.”
“That’s not what’s important.”
Choi I-seo cut in with a serious expression and summarized exactly what I had just said to Yoo Ah-rin.
Thwack!
“Ack!”
Yoo Ah-rin immediately smacked the back of my head.
“Why did you hit me?!”
“Did you hurt your head? Did something go wrong because you got beaten up by that illegal filming jerk last time?”
“If you suspect I hurt my head, why would you hit me in the head?!”
“I guess that’s true.”
“……But you know.”
Just then, Choi I-seo, who had been deep in thought, spoke up softly.
“Wasn't everything up until now what was actually strange?”
“….”
“….”
“Maybe he returned to normal because he got hit in the head?”
“That makes sense. Actually, why didn't we take him to the hospital until now?”
These girls are seriously too much.
“Ah, whatever. It was a mistake to talk to you guys. I’m confused today, so don't talk to me.”
I shouldn't have said anything.
As I grumbled and turned around to handle it myself, Yoo Ah-rin called me back.
“Hey, wait. Seo Ye-rin is coming this way. Let’s talk, the four of us.”
Her voice was quite serious.
“Yeah, things have been strange until now. Let’s talk it out and end this properly while Kim Woo-jin has his senses back.”
When Choi I-seo agreed, I stopped in my tracks.
Finally, the last one, Seo Ye-rin, arrived.
After hearing our entire conversation, Seo Ye-rin smiled and made a suggestion.
“Then let’s each give him a hug and decide.”
“Why is she so composed?”
“Is it because her chest is big?”
Choi I-seo and Yoo Ah-rin were slightly taken aback by how calm Seo Ye-rin was, as they had expected her to make a fuss.
Anyway.
In the end, we decided to go into an empty classroom nearby and hug one by one.
The first turn was Choi I-seo.
For the record, the order was decided by rock-paper-scissors.
“What a mess this is.”
With a sigh mixed with lamentation over how the situation had turned out, Choi I-seo fell into my arms.
My heart throbbed, and Choi I-seo’s refreshing scent tickled the tip of my nose.
My hand instinctively squeezed her butt; although she stepped on my foot, I managed to feel her firm backside.
“Why do I have to volunteer to be sexually harassed?!”
The second was Yoo Ah-rin.
She felt wronged after seeing Choi I-seo return biting her lip because her butt had been touched.
Regardless, Yoo Ah-rin also fell straight into my arms. At her usual characteristic fruity scent, I instinctively looked down at her.
Mwah.
Then, a sweet aroma spread through my mouth.
She must have just drunk a Chocomong, because I could taste chocolate on her tongue when we kissed.
“Isn't that cheating?”
“Wow, how bold.”
“Sh-Shut up! I have to win first!”
After the kiss, Yoo Ah-rin shouted at the two grumbling behind her.
Yoo Ah-rin looked up at me with a flushed face.
Seeing her expression, which seemed to be waiting for some kind of response, I told her honestly.
“As I thought, Hershey is better than Chocomong.”
Thwack!
I let go of Yoo Ah-rin, who had headbutted my chest, and moved on to the next person.
“I… I think my ribs are shattered.”
As I clutched my chest, Seo Ye-rin slid right into my arms.
Unlike Yoo Ah-rin just now, her voluminous chest seemed to mend my broken ribs.
“Hehe, Woo-jina. Should I sleep in your room tonight?”
“If it’s going to be like this, shouldn't I get another turn too?”
“Look at her wagging her tail.”
Seo Ye-rin asked while wrapping her arms around my neck and meeting my eyes.
I thought for a moment before answering.
“A hotel would probably be better?”
Since I’d confirmed last time that the dormitory isn't very soundproof.
Anyway.
The hugging time ended like that.
The three women standing before me came into full view.
They certainly each possessed their own distinct charms.
Looking at them, a fundamental question began to arise.
“But why do I have to choose?”
“….”
“….”
“Pfft.”
“No, I mean, we were all getting along fine. Why did a moment where I suddenly have to choose come up?”
Seo Ye-rin was holding back laughter, while the other two stared at me in silence.
“Come to think of it, I wasn't exactly an ethical person to begin with. Why did I suddenly care about ethics today?”
After touching their butts, kissing them, and rubbing against their chests, I felt like I’d realized a truth I’d forgotten.
But it seemed the other two didn't feel the same.
“Hey, I’m right on the verge of beating the crap out of you, okay? Choose properly.”
Yoo Ah-rin warned with her fists clenched.
“….”
Choi I-seo similarly glared at me with her mouth shut tight.
“Pfft, no, I totally saw this coming.”
Seo Ye-rin couldn't stop laughing, finding something incredibly amusing.
“….”
Anyway, I was definitely in the wrong today.
I wonder why I acted up, pretending to be normal all of a sudden.
However, since it felt like I’d get beaten up severely if I didn't answer here.
“It’s hard to decide with just a hug.”
I tried a clever move of my own.
“Let’s try inserting into each of you at a hotel first—!”