Chapter 399: Next
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 399: Next
I know there was a time when camping was a massive trend.
Watching Neutube videos from back then always made me want to go, but I never imagined I’d end up on a trip so suddenly.
"Wow."
Since it was a glamping site, I expected maybe a simple tent set up somewhere. But what Choi I-seo pointed to as our lodging for the night was a caravan—a massive camping trailer.
"They call it a caravan suite. I thought sleeping in a tent might be a bit much since the weather’s gotten so cold."
I-seo stole a glance at me as she parked her bicycle. She seemed worried about whether this matched the image of camping I had in mind.
"It’s great. Honestly, I didn't necessarily want to sleep in a tent just because it's 'camping.' I just wanted to soak up the outdoor atmosphere."
After all, camping is all about the vibes. This place seemed to understand its customers' needs perfectly, as it was packed with aesthetic touches.
"Besides, they say once you go to the military, you’ll be forced to sleep in tents whether you want to or not."
Relieved by my answer, I-seo began unpacking the gear she’d brought on the back of her bike. There wasn't much, actually. Most of it was food ingredients; it looked like she planned to cook from scratch rather than using meal kits.
"Oh, hold on a second."
I-seo stepped away to take a phone call.
She even brought a knife and a cutting board.
I was rummaging through the bags, wondering if she’d bought them, when I heard her voice from behind me.
"Yeah, Min-ji. Huh? Where are the cutting board and knife?"
Wait, what?
"Oh, about that... uh, I borrowed them for a bit. What are you supposed to eat? Just... just order something for delivery."
So she’d brought them from home.
"Okay, sorry. Yeah, see you tomorrow."
She hung up. Watching her walk back toward me, fidgeting awkwardly, I couldn't help but smirk.
"What are you laughing at?"
"Nothing, just because."
Since it was past lunchtime, I-seo started preparing a meal, saying she’d cook for me.
"What are you making? Want some help?"
"Can you start the fire? Since we're camping, I want to try cooking over there."
While you could cook inside the caravan, there was a setup outside for a campfire. I went out and followed the instructions provided, and the fire caught in no time.
"Oh."
"Woo-jin, take these."
"Coming."
I trotted inside excitedly, only to find a mountain of ingredients already prepped. The moment I saw them, I knew exactly what our late lunch was going to be.
"Army base stew!"
From Spam and sausages to baked beans, kimchi, cheddar cheese, and various vegetables—she’d even prepared ramyeon noodles. I was genuinely impressed.
"This is going to be freaking delicious, seriously."
"I know you like this kind of stuff."
"I do. I love it."
We swapped regular rice for instant rice. This was shaping up to be an incredibly luxurious lunch. Under I-seo’s lead, the cooking went smoothly. The fire was a bit hard to control, and we almost burnt it, but in the end, it was cooked to perfection.
"Taste this."
I-seo held out a spoonful of broth. As soon as I took a sip, the hot liquid and that signature spicy kick hit my tongue.
"It’s perfect. Just perfect. This is a total rice-thief."
As I spoke excitedly, I-seo smiled and handed me a warmed-up bowl of instant rice. It was December, so the air was quite chilly, but sitting huddled close together eating army base stew made the cold feel refreshing rather than biting.
As we ate heartily, I-seo stared blankly at the campfire and let out a soft chuckle.
"Remember back then? During the festival, when you were grilling stir-fried pork over charcoal."
"Ah, right. I was struggling so much back then."
That was when Seo Ye-rin had been called out, but rumors had spread that I was actually Anonymous 69. I remember having a pretty rough time. It was also, in a way, the starting point of our current relationship.
"Thinking back to then, things are completely different now. You were such an iron wall back then."
At I-seo’s words, I kept my mouth shut, still holding my spoon. Back then, the wounds from Yun-ji hadn't healed yet, so I hadn't even considered dating another woman.
"Actually, now that I think about it..."
Reflecting on it now.
"You were making moves on me from the very beginning, weren't you?"
I-seo flinched at my words and whipped her head away. She’d acted like she wasn't interested, but looking back, she was the first one to show me affection—even before Seo Ye-rin or Yoo Ah-rin.
"I never imagined we’d end up like this."
As I marveled at the memories, I-seo nudged me with her elbow and let out a sigh.
"Me neither. If the me from a year ago saw me now..."
I-seo paused for a moment, deep in thought. Then she corrected herself.
"No, no. If the me from two years ago saw me now, she’d never believe it."
"A year ago... you were at Gold One."
I guess she thought she could have accepted it back then. Our conversation naturally flowed toward her time at Gold One as we finished our meal.
Cleaning up and brushing our teeth together made the time fly by surprisingly fast. Since I-seo did the cooking, I did the dishes. When I returned, I-seo was on her tablet, looking for a movie for us to watch.
"Hmm, there’s nothing that looks good."
The streaming services were packed with movies we’d never seen, but nothing was really grabbing her. I guess everyone feels that way sometimes. That’s why I pulled out something else.
It was none other than a major textbook.
"Let's study, I-seo."
"Huh?"
I-seo, who had been scrolling through her tablet with her chin resting on her hand, looked up at me. Her gaze seemed to ask if she’d heard me correctly, so I said it again with confidence.
"Let's study."
"...All the way out here?"
"Even if we're out here, we have to study. It's exam period."
I-seo thought for a moment before asking cautiously.
"You said you talked to the Vice Chairman earlier. Did he say something to you about your grades?"
"My brother could hit me with a parental insult and I wouldn't care."
"...That would just be spitting on his own face, though."
"Anyway, let's study. Don't you think it'll go better here?"
"No, I don't."
I-seo patted the chair next to her, gesturing for me to sit.
"Woo-jin, are you doing this because you're worried about me?"
"..."
"Are you worried because I'm spending time on your bucket list during finals week?"
The problem was that she knew me far too well. When I nodded awkwardly, I-seo’s lips curled into a slight smile.
"It’s not a bad feeling. But you don't have to worry. I chose to come during finals week on purpose."
"On purpose?"
"Yeah, on purpose. To show you."
To show me? I wondered what she meant, and she gave me a bright smile.
"I want to show you that even if I go on trips during finals, I’m still going to be the department topper. I’m still going to get a full scholarship."
"..."
"I’m saying that you aren't a bad influence on me or anything like that."
"That's—"
How should I put it? I could sense that she wasn't just talking about this one exam period.
"So, let's enjoy our time together as much as possible. And then, you can go."
She leaned in and snuggled against me. Her cozy warmth enveloped me, and I felt my anxieties melting away.
"Just come back safely. And then we can go back to having fun and being happy, just like now."
"I-seo..."
"I'll be fine while you're gone. So don't worry about me; just worry about yourself."
I felt a lump in my throat; I was genuinely moved. As always, I-seo sensed my uneasy heart beforehand and either worried with me or comforted me. Pulling away slowly, she smiled and spoke.
"I’m going to spend every second with you today. Especially planning what we’ll do after you’re discharged. Let's make lots of plans."
Just like how you wrote your bucket list.
At her addition, I replied sheepishly.
"Already? I haven't even enlisted yet."
I thought it might be a bit much to talk about the end before I’d even started, but I-seo’s expression crumpled slightly before she answered with an awkward smile.
"I have to do it this way. I think it's the only way I'll be okay."
"..."
"I have to think about the time you come back. That’s the only way my heart will be at peace."
*
"This is awesome."
"Right?"
We marveled as a movie played on one wall via the beam projector. It wasn't just "good"; it was the perfect place for healing.
Crunch.
Just eating popcorn and watching a movie felt amazing. Having my arm around Choi I-seo probably made it feel even better.
"Where are you touching?"
"...It’s like an instinct."
"Do it at night. At night."
Was she saying we should do it tonight? Fine, I’ll wait then.
"...I told you not to touch."
"No, my fingers just keep gripping on their own. Is this a bug?"
"Bug, my ass."
In the end, I-seo swatted away my hand, which had stealthily migrated to her breast. Disappointing, but what can you do?
"As punishment, go take out the trash. I think that bag is starting to smell a bit."
"But the movie’s just getting good."
Disappointing, but what can you do? I grabbed the trash and went out to the recycling area to drop it off.
"Oh, right."
Since I was tidying up the trash, there was one more thing I needed to tidy up.
"I almost forgot."
I immediately pulled up the Bamboo Forest on my phone, posted a short message, and headed back to I-seo.
"Wash your hands."
"Yeah."
I-seo had paused the movie. Look at her, waiting on the bed in her comfy clothes to watch the rest of the movie with me. As I approached, shaking the water off my hands, a thought suddenly occurred to me.
"Don't we feel like a married couple?"
"..."
Had she been thinking the same thing? I-seo’s face flushed red, and she just gave a small nod without saying a word. That kind of response was better than any words. I took my spot next to her again, and we resumed the movie.
*
The Gahyeon University Bamboo Forest is, naturally, crowded during exam periods.
Amidst the typical flood of exam-period posts...
Ding!
A post from the Administrator appeared on the Bamboo Forest.
It instantly brought a hush to the board.