Chapter 383: Anxiety
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 383: Anxiety
“It’s called ‘Hupijip.’”
Lunchtime, in the classroom.
Seo Ye-rin spoke while munching on a triangle gimbap.
“What?”
When Yoo Ah-rin, sitting opposite her, asked what on earth she was talking about, Seo Ye-rin gave a simple explanation.
“Regret, Angst, and Obsession. That’s the situation we’re about to face. Right now, we’re passing through the ‘Regret’ phase.”
“What kind of bullshit is that? Am I the only one who doesn’t get it?”
“I’m not sure I follow either.”
As Choi I-seo gave a hesitant response, Seo Ye-rin clicked her tongue and began explaining like a teacher.
“It’s a kind of trend. Regretting, being angst-ridden, and then becoming obsessed. That’s exactly the state we’re in. We’re regretting it because we made a mistake, right? After this comes the angst.”
“…….”
“…….”
What is this bitch even talking about?
The thought occurred to both of them simultaneously, but there was a strange magic to her words that kept them listening.
“For example, Woo-jini gets disappointed in us because of this and says we should break up.”
Their hearts seemed to drop with a thud.
What if he really was disappointed in them because of this prank and suggested breaking up, just as Seo Ye-rin said?
The mere imagination of it was such a dizzying shock that Choi I-seo and Yoo Ah-rin couldn't say much and just listened.
“Then what happens? We become angst-ridden. We’ll imagine the times we spent with Woo-jini, cry for no reason, and regret it all over again, saying how good those times were.”
Munch, munch.
‘She’s really saying all that while eating a triangle gimbap.’
‘I feel like I’m going to get indigestion….’
She certainly had a stomach of steel.
“Finally, daily life becomes impossible. Even when you’re just sitting still, you only think of Woo-jini, and it feels like you can see him. You cross over into the stage of obsession.”
Seo Ye-rin nodded with a satisfied “Mhm, mhm.”
She felt proud of herself, thinking she had explained it quite well.
They had listened as if possessed, but once it was over, it didn't feel particularly persuasive.
“Hey, even so, would Kim Woo-jin really go that far?”
“It’s true that playing the prank was wrong… but our original intention wasn’t to test him.”
“No, but I feel like it’s okay to test him a little. Isn’t it more abnormal for us to just trust him blindly without feeling anxious when he’s asking three girls to date him at once?!”
At Yoo Ah-rin’s words, Seo Ye-rin and Choi I-seo couldn't flatly deny it.
Hadn't there been the recent incidents with Oh Yun-ji and Min Ju-hee?
“Let’s be cold-blooded about this. Is there anyone here who wasn't anxious?”
No matter how much they loved him, it was ultimately Kim Woo-jin who had created a situation where they couldn't help but feel anxious.
“In the end, isn't it a responsibility Kim Woo-jin has to shoulder until the end?”
Yoo Ah-rin’s indignant appearance looked like her own way of making excuses for the cruel drama that was to come.
It wasn't entirely without merit, but that wouldn't neutralize the shock Kim Woo-jin would receive.
It was a meaningless struggle.
“Ha, fuck… how am I supposed to tell this guy? He looked so damn happy.”
Ultimately, Yoo Ah-rin squeezed her eyes shut and clutched her head.
Seeing that, Seo Ye-rin patted her on the back.
“It’s okay, Ah-rin. Let’s just be honest with Woo-jini.”
“Why are you acting like you weren't involved, you piece of shit? You were the one who brought the pregnancy test with the two lines in the first place.”
“Eh? Cho kawaii watashi?”
At that point, it was pure escapism.
When Yoo Ah-rin glared at her, Seo Ye-rin shut her mouth tight, then snatched Yoo Ah-rin’s Chocomong and took a long sip.
“Still, Woo-jin won't lose his affection for us just because of this.”
Choi I-seo tried to turn the conversation in a more positive direction.
Their relationship had reached a level of codependency before they knew it.
It was hard for the three of them to imagine a life without Kim Woo-jin, but wouldn't it be just as difficult for Kim Woo-jin to accept a life without the three of them?
“That’s true! Woo-jini can’t live without me!”
“Sigh, is that so? I guess so, right? I feel like I’m going to die from anxiety.”
Seo Ye-rin forced a bright expression while Yoo Ah-rin shook her leg nervously.
“Ah, what is it, Choi I-seo? You said let’s eat together, so why did you call me here? It’s going to be a pain to get the smell of ramen out.”
Just then, Oh Yun-ji entered the classroom.
Grumbling, she joined them with a cup of ramen and a hot bar.
Choi I-seo introduced her as if explaining.
“I called her. I thought maybe we could get some advice.”
“Did something happen? Kim Woo-jin’s been walking around since this morning looking like he’s in a great mood.”
Oh Yun-ji checked her ramen as she snapped her wooden chopsticks apart.
Looking at her, Yoo Ah-rin’s expression began to change subtly, until finally—
“Regret, Angst, Obsession?”
She uttered the concept she had just heard from Seo Ye-rin.
Regret, angst, and obsession.
Two people who once felt they could never live without each other.
Oh Yun-ji regretted breaking up with Kim Woo-jin.
Since then, she had lived an angst-ridden life in many ways.
And now, wasn't the woman who was obsessed with him sitting right in front of them, casually eating ramen?
“Um?”
Oh Yun-ji was bewildered by the three people whose expressions darkened rapidly while looking at her.
But more than that.
“What is it? Why did my mood suddenly turn to shit?”
Oh Yun-ji felt like giving each of them a good smack.
* * *
“……You weren't around at lunch because you were preparing this?”
Choi I-seo marveled blankly as she looked at the luxurious pool villa.
“Yeah! Today is a special day. I wanted us to stay somewhere nice together.”
Kim Woo-jin’s tension, which was almost burdensomely bright, remained the same.
Since they hadn't known such a pool villa existed in the city, the other two also looked around in awe.
Starting from the swimming pool to the spacious yard and the two-story building with a sensible design that felt like the near future.
They thought he had done well to find a place that looked like a photoshoot set and rent it for the day.
On the wide yard, steam rose from an expensive-looking barbecue grill.
“Originally, we were going to have dinner, right? I was going to pick food that’s good for pregnant women, but I heard from my second sister-in-law that I shouldn't bother with that just yet.”
Kim Woo-jin opened the iceboxes one by one to show them.
Starting from various types of meat to seafood, salads, fruits, drinks, and more.
Not only that, but on the other side, desserts were laid out like a luxurious buffet.
“She said to eat as much as you want now in the early stages because it’ll be hard to eat later anyway. So, I prepared all this.”
“…….”
“…….”
“…….”
The three of them were speechless.
Had he been preparing this while he was missing during lunch?
The greater the touch of his kindness, the heavier the hearts of the three who had to tell him the truth.
Kim Woo-jin even put on gloves, picked up the tongs, and started grilling the meat.
“Just wait, I’ll grill it for you. Dad should be the one to cook what our kids are going to eat.”
Look at him humming while grilling the steak.
How could he be so devoted?
“W-Woo-jin. Didn't this cost a lot of money to prepare?”
When Seo Ye-rin hesitantly went over and asked, Kim Woo-jin smiled brightly and gave a thumbs up.
“I told Father I wanted to feed the kids something delicious, and he gave me the money.”
Why was it?
It was clearly a moment where they should be moved and happy, but the three of them felt a stinging pain in their chests.
“Just have a seat. I’ll set everything up and bring it over. Oh, and there are blankets over there, so wrap yourselves up. It’ll be quite chilly at night.”
“O-okay.”
“I brought a heater, too. Turn it on if it’s too cold. Or do you want to just stay inside? I’ll grill it and bring it in!”
“No, no! I want to be with you!”
“Yeah, we should be together.”
“Our baby says they want to be with Woo-jini, too!”
“Ye-rin….”
In contrast to Kim Woo-jin, who looked at Seo Ye-rin with emotion.
The other two glared at Seo Ye-rin fiercely and clenched their fists.
Leaving Kim Woo-jin, who was focused on cooking, behind, the two immediately surrounded Seo Ye-rin and whispered.
“Are you kidding me? Why are you pouring oil on the fire right now?!”
“Why would you say that and make the kid expect even more?!”
“Or are you actually pregnant? Please, tell me it’s true. At least one of us should have been pregnant.”
“Is that it, Ye-rin? Is it really true?”
“……No.”
Seo Ye-rin’s voice trailed off as she lowered her head in embarrassment.
“He looked so happy, I just wanted to make him even happier.”
“We need to let him down, so why are you making him climb even higher?!”
“Ah, I don’t know. I really don’t know anymore.”
The two scolded Seo Ye-rin from both sides like they were disciplining a troublemaking youngest sibling.
Ultimately, a shrunken Seo Ye-rin pouted her lips.
“Alright, I’ve grilled some meat—wait, Ye-rin. Why the long face?”
Kim Woo-jin, who had brought the meat over, asked worriedly, but she brushed it off as nothing.
“This is really high-quality Hanwoo. To be honest, I don’t really know what’s good, but since it’s from the place my father eats at, it must be amazing.”
Steak that the Chairman of Uju Group eats?
It was hard to even guess how much it cost, and indeed, the meat seemed to melt in their mouths.
“I’ll make sure you can enjoy yourselves as much as possible before I go to the military. Well, since you’re pregnant, we obviously won't be able to have sex.”
Even that Kim Woo-jin wasn't showing the slightest bit of regret about not being able to have sex.
The meat was delicious, the person they loved was happy, and the atmosphere was great.
It seemed as if only a rosy future lay ahead.
The burden on the three of them only grew heavier as time passed.
“Phew, how was it? Did you enjoy the meal?”
By the time they finished eating, the sky had turned dark.
The villa’s lights illuminated the surroundings with a moody glow.
Added to that was the sound of elegant classical music.
At some point, Kim Woo-jin had brought out a speaker about the size of a small box and started playing classical music.
“I heard from my second sister-in-law that listening to classical music is surprisingly good for peace of mind.”
“…….”
“And girls, I have something to say.”
Kim Woo-jin brought over a chair and sat in front of the three of them.
In the air, where the night breeze and the heat of the charcoal fire were harmoniously blended, a faint smile played on his lips.
“I heard that if you’re married and have children, there are various policies regarding the military.”
For example, he had heard many times that if you have three or more children, you’re exempt.
“But that’s only if you’re legally married and have children on the family register.”
Then a problem arose.
Who would be put on the register as his wife?
In a situation where they were all gauging each other’s reactions, Kim Woo-jin shook his head.
“No, I don’t think that’s right. It feels like I’m choosing one of you, and I don’t like that.”
“…….”
“I’ll go and come back safely. To be honest, I was a bit anxious. I was worried that your feelings for me might cool down while I was in the military.”
The scariest thing about the military.
It wasn't the absurdities that would happen there, the hardships of training, or the freedom that was forcibly taken away.
What Kim Woo-jin feared most about the military.
Was the relationships he might lose while he was gone.
“But since you’ve all become pregnant with my children like this… I feel like we have a solid bond now.”
Confessing his ugly true feelings felt like committing a sin against them.
Hoping that the white breath escaping into the cold air would hide his selfishness, Kim Woo-jin slowly stood up and approached them.
“Thank you, girls. I’ll really do my best.”
He pulled a ring case from his pocket.
“It might be funny to give them all at once, but I didn't want to give one to someone first.”
Kneeling on one knee, Kim Woo-jin confessed to them, unable to hide his overflowing emotions.
“Please stay with me for the rest of my life.”
* * *
Bang, bang, bang!
“Woo-jinaaaa! I said I’m sorryyyy!”
“Go awayyyy! Fuckkkk! Waaaaah! My babiesssss! How am I supposed to survive the military nowwwwww!”
Still at the pool villa.
Seo Ye-rin shouted while pounding on the door Kim Woo-jin had entered, but he showed no intention of coming out.
The fact that he had even locked the door firmly showed just how heartbroken he was.
“Ughhh! To play with my heart like this! You wicked women! How could you do this! I even spent so much time thinking about our kids’ names!”
“I-I’m sorry. Really… but it wasn't like we were trying to deceive you or test you from the beginning.”
Choi I-seo apologized, leaning her forehead against the door. Though unintentional, she hadn't expected to cause such a deep wound.
“I know! I know I’m a bad guy! There was a weird vibe with Yun-ji! I had late-night snacks with Jin-ah every night! And I even kissed Senior Ju-hee!”
“……Wait. Suddenly, don't we look a bit justified?”
When Yoo Ah-rin, who had been listening, scratched the back of her head awkwardly, the two next to her told her to “Shh!” and be quiet.
“But still, this isn't right! I was really looking forward to it! Thinking I could live happily with you guys forever!”
“Tsk, sorry. I misspoke.”
Yoo Ah-rin also scratched the back of her head and apologized.
“I was even going to take the building my father was going to retire and recuperate in to live with you guys!”
“……That’s unfilial, Woo-jin.”
“That’s how serious I was! Now, what if you guys suddenly disappear when I go to the military! What if you leave me for someone else!”
The three of them were surprisingly empathizing with Kim Woo-jin’s desperation.
There were parts where they had been suspicious and anxious about Kim Woo-jin’s love.
Kim Woo-jin had been feeling that as well.
In fact, this was an emotion that any human being was bound to have.
Because they loved that much.
They were that anxious.
That’s why they wanted to confirm, and wanted to be confirmed.
“Waaaaah! Woo-jinaaaa!”
“We’re sorry. Just come out for a bit.”
While Seo Ye-rin and Yoo Ah-rin were apologizing to the door.
Choi I-seo took a small step back.
Looking at Kim Woo-jin, who had been just as anxious as she was.
Before she knew it, she uttered words she would never have said if she were her usual self.
“Is today not okay?”
In an instant, all sound died down into silence.
There was no one who didn't understand the meaning of those words.
A moment later.
A rustling sound came from inside the room, and then the door swung open violently.
A naked Kim Woo-jin stepped out.
His massive lower half, standing stiffly, was so angry it almost felt violent.
Panting, Kim Woo-jin glared at the three people in front of the door and commanded.
“Suck it.”
Actually, before he even said those words.
Seo Ye-rin had already knelt down and started on her own.
“……You’re forgiving us, right?”
When Kim Woo-jin nodded to Yoo Ah-rin, who asked awkwardly, she slunk over and took a spot next to Seo Ye-rin.
“Move over a bit.”
“Ah-rin, watch and learn from how Unni uses her tongue.”
“I get it, but if your tongue touches mine while you’re doing it, I’ll kill you.”
“Woo-jinaaa! She’s threatening me!”
“Yoo Ah-rin?”
“No, I just don’t want to kiss Seo Ye-rin! Fuck, even now, it feels like we’re sharing an ice cream, and it’s gross.”
“Ah-rin?”
When Kim Woo-jin stared at her intently, Yoo Ah-rin pouted her lips and grumbled.
“No, I… fine, I get it. I’ll endure it.”
In the end, she had no choice but to give in.
“Ah-rin, you take the bottom. I’ll take the top.”
“I’m begging you, let’s not make eye contact.”
“I don’t want to either, Ah-rin.”
The two of them were about to start, each getting a word in at the other.
Finally, when Kim Woo-jin looked at Choi I-seo, she walked over gracefully and took off her clothes as if she had already made up her mind.
“Honestly, I think I knew it would turn out like this someday.”
Choi I-seo was surprised at herself for feeling less resistance than she had expected.