Chapter 40: Misfit
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 40: Misfit
“…….”
The atmosphere in the gopchang restaurant, where the English Literature students had gathered to celebrate the end of midterms, was stifling.
It wasn't just the freshmen; even the sophomores and juniors were present, yet everyone was walking on eggshells, stealing glances at one woman.
Seo Ye-rin.
Everyone knew that the post uploaded to the Bamboo Forest just moments ago was a direct hit aimed at her.
Fortunately, the Bamboo Forest Manager had deleted it, but the damage was done—it had already spread far and wide. The response had been a bit too late.
If it had been any other student, the mood might not have soured this badly.
But because it was Seo Ye-rin—someone so many people wanted to be close to—a strange, uncomfortable tension hung in the air.
It was too awkward for anyone to ask if the rumors were true, and just as awkward for Ye-rin herself to try and explain they weren't.
“…….”
With her lips pressed firmly together, Seo Ye-rin sat with her head bowed, hands resting on her thighs.
Because of her striking looks, she had dealt with misunderstandings since she was a child, but she had never felt such blatant, raw malice before.
She now knew that several people were openly targeting her, and worse, she knew they were from her own department.
‘Could they…?’
Could they be here right now?
The thought made her tremble. It was chilling to think that someone who had been slandering her behind the safety of anonymity might be sitting right in front of her, pretending to offer comfort and sympathy.
She shouldn't have let her mind go there.
Now, she felt like she couldn't trust anyone around her.
“Choi I-seo!”
Suddenly, the voice of Kang Chang-sik, a third-year senior, barked out I-seo’s name.
“Yes, Senior.”
As soon as Choi I-seo answered, he slammed his hand onto the table, erupting in a sudden, irrational fit of rage.
“Are you kidding me? Why is there so much gossip about the kids lately! Are you trying to trash the English Department’s image? Is this the best you can do as Class Representative?”
“I’m sorry.”
“These little shits! What are you going to do if the professors hear about this? Huh?! Since when did the Bamboo Forest become a place for everyone to just blab whatever they want?”
“I’m sorry.”
“If you’re the Class Rep, you should be managing the students! Why can’t you handle internal matters internally?!”
“I’m sorry.”
Choi I-seo kept her head bowed, apologizing repeatedly. The other third-years nearby stepped in to restrain him, trying to settle the mood.
“Hey, listen up. No more of this weird sniping. Everyone just get along. Got it?!”
Everyone mumbled their agreement to the senior’s command, and for a moment, it seemed the situation was settled.
But then, Kang Chang-sik—the same man who had just been screaming at Choi I-seo—approached Seo Ye-rin with a gentle, oily smile and sat beside her.
A former member of his high school wrestling team, his massive frame looked even more imposing next to Ye-rin’s average build.
“Ye-rin, don’t worry. Oppa’s here for you.”
“Ah….”
Did he even know?
Did he know how many men had tried to approach her exactly like this?
Ye-rin knew his outburst at Choi I-seo had been intentional, a performance. She felt a crushing weight of guilt, knowing I-seo had been publicly berated because of her.
‘It’s because of me….’
Ye-rin stole a glance at Choi I-seo.
As the Class Representative, I-seo was acting as if nothing had happened, telling the others she was fine.
Perhaps it was because Ye-rin didn't give him the reaction he wanted, or perhaps he just wanted to brag to his friends.
“Oppa’s going to go grab a smoke, okay? Wait for me.”
Kang Chang-sik gave Ye-rin’s shoulder a lingering pat before heading outside with his friends.
Watching the group of seniors leave, Ye-rin prepared to go straight to Choi I-seo. She wanted to apologize for the trouble she’d caused.
But then.
“Ugh, for fuck’s sake.”
A sharp, shrill voice drifted over from the next table—the female seniors.
“She should’ve watched her behavior. Why’s she killing the vibe right when midterms are over?”
“I know, right? It’s ridiculous.”
“Honestly, I don’t think the post was lying. We saw it ourselves. We saw her hanging out with that loser instead of us.”
“Maybe she’s getting paid?”
“Crazy. That actually sounds more plausible than her just leading him on.”
The female seniors were speaking just loud enough for Ye-rin at the adjacent table to hear.
They were openly mocking her without a shred of hesitation. Looking at them as they cackled, Ye-rin’s eyes widened.
‘Ah….’
They were from her group.
The seniors she was working with on the short film project.
‘So that’s why.’
Back then, even though Senior Han-gang had called her over, she had felt uncomfortable and sat next to Kim Woo-jin instead.
Only now did she realize they had been harboring a grudge over that, and she finally understood who had started the rumors.
“It was you guys.”
When Ye-rin muttered those words, their expressions hardened into glares.
“Lower your eyes.”
“Fuck, what are you babbling about?”
Seeing the perpetrators acting like the victims and swearing at her, Ye-rin wanted to say something, but…
“…….”
Her lips remained pressed tight.
She clenched her fists on her thighs, but like a fire with nowhere to go, her anger only made her curl inward.
Just like on the Bamboo Forest.
She wished she were the kind of person who could say exactly what was on her mind without hesitation.
She wished she could be like Anonymous 69—someone who didn't care what others thought and lived with confidence.
Just as she was beginning to loathe herself for being unable to run away or do anything but sit there, the restaurant door swung open.
A man walked in and reached out his hand toward Seo Ye-rin.
* * *
“Chingu Gopchang.”
Seeing the seniors smoking outside the shop Yoo Ah-rin had pointed out on her phone, I knew I was in the right place.
“Chang-sik, that was cool as hell just now.”
“This guy’s been dying to get a girlfriend, and he finally made his move, huh?”
“Did I look sexy?”
Kang Chang-sik and his third-year friends were laughing loudly. Some freshmen and sophomores were out there smoking with them, but they looked a bit uncomfortable.
I noticed Senior Han-gang and Ahn Hyun-ho were there too.
‘What happened?’
A few students noticed me and reacted, but the third-years, who apparently didn't know my face, kept talking.
“But hey, was it okay to go that hard on I-seo?”
“Hey, man. That’s the strategy. I stay by Seo Ye-rin’s side, and you go over to Choi I-seo, talk a little shit about me, and use that to hit on her.”
“Damn. Chang-sik, you’re playing the long game?”
They were busy spinning delusions about Seo Ye-rin and Choi I-seo.
I walked straight up to the seniors and greeted them.
“Hello. I’m Kim Woo-jin, Class of ’23. Sorry I’m late.”
“Huh? Kim Woo-jin?”
“We had a kid like this?”
“Kim Woo-jin… Kim Woo-jin? Ah! He’s the one! The social misfit who got called out!”
“Pfft! This is him? The guy who got sniped for dating Ye-rin?”
The third-years’ laughter was grating, but one particularly large senior glared at me.
“Hey, Woo-jin. I’m Kang Chang-sik, a third-year. I’m Class of ’18, but that’s just because of the military, so don’t mind that. Have you served yet?”
“No.”
“Right? A kid like you shouldn't be worrying about dating. Just focus on your studies.”
It was a blatant warning to stay away from Seo Ye-rin.
“There’s a rumor you’re dating Ye-rin, but that’s not true, right? I mean, there’s no way she’d date someone like you.”
“We’re not dating.”
“See?!”
“Yeah. Seo Ye-rin is seeing someone else, not me.”
“…What?”
The senior’s face went blank. I smiled and stepped aside, gesturing toward the entrance.
There stood Jeong Chan-woo, leading Seo Ye-rin out of the restaurant.
“Ye-Ye-rin?”
“He’s damn handsome, isn't he?”
With the two of them walking together—both looking like they’d stepped off a movie set—it looked like a scene straight out of a drama.
“They aren't officially dating yet. Apparently, they were classmates in high school. Don’t they look great together?”
I was glad Chan-woo had agreed to my favor. Since the rumors involved me, I couldn't be the one to take her out.
And as long as it wasn't Yoo Ah-rin, Jeong Chan-woo didn't care if other people misunderstood.
I’d told him I’d explain everything to Ah-rin later, so he’d readily agreed.
“Ah, no… that’s….”
He probably thought he had a chance if his rival was someone like me.
That’s why he’d been making those petty comments about the military.
But the game changes when the opponent is Jeong Chan-woo.
No matter how much confidence a man has, it tends to evaporate the moment he sees Chan-woo’s face.
The perfect couple.
They felt like a sacred, untouchable territory that no one should dare defile.
The English Literature students came pouring out of the restaurant. The dramatic appearance of the handsome guy and the beautiful girl was a spectacle no one could ignore.
In the midst of the crowd, Yoo Ah-rin caught my eye and winked.
At the same time, she pointed her finger toward the female seniors. As expected, they were the ones from the short film group.
‘Whew.’
My heart was pounding.
Seo Ye-rin had made her exit.
Since the rumors said she was dating me, but she just left with a guy like Jeong Chan-woo, people would naturally realize the rumors were bullshit.
That was enough.
…….
………….
……………….
That was enough?
“Heh.”
Like hell it was.
“Ugh, the smell.”
I snatched the cigarette out of Kang Chang-sik’s mouth and threw it on the ground.
Because of the string of unexpected events, he didn't even seem to realize what had just happened to him.
“Seo Ye-rin probably hates guys who smoke. If you’re going to hit on her, you should at least get the basics right.”
“What?”
“And aren't you embarrassed? Third-year seniors who’ve already been to the military, acting like pieces of shit just to hit on a distressed freshman girl and the Class Rep?”
I looked at the other seniors with a smile. The eyes of the English Literature students gathered outside naturally turned toward us.
“Getting angry on purpose just so you can ‘comfort’ them later. Is that the only play you’ve got? You think that’s going to work on someone like the Class Rep? She’s probably going home to curse your names.”
The seniors were too stunned by the sudden verbal assault to react.
I turned my body and looked toward the female seniors Yoo Ah-rin had pointed out.
“What are you staring at? Is there a show going on?”
“…What?”
“Sigh.”
Since they didn't seem to understand words, I grabbed the large, pot-shaped ashtray in front of the shop and flung its contents at them.
Cigarette butts and ash scattered like falling snow, followed by the wet coffee grounds that had been sitting at the bottom.
The female seniors were completely covered in the filth. They shrieked at me.
“You crazy bastard!”
“Agh! My clothes! My clothes, fuck!”
“Pah! Ptu! It got in my mouth!”
Only then did the third-year male seniors I’d just insulted snap out of it and rush to grab me.
I thought they might start swinging, but they seemed to have just enough sense left to hold back.
“Kim Woo-jin, have you lost your mind?”
“You think we’re a joke?”
The seniors pinning my arms took turns insulting me, but I just gave them a wide, genuine grin.
“I’m sorry, Seniors.”
I meant it.
“I just don’t really understand this shitty senior-junior culture where people talk behind others' backs, hide behind anonymity to snipe people, and try to use a younger girl’s suffering as a way to drag her to a motel.”
You guys.
“Because.”
You already know.
“I’m a social misfit! You sons of bitches!”
Smiling brightly, I raised both my middle fingers while they still held my arms.