Chapter 411: How to Treat Pure love
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 411: How to Treat Pure love
I’m taking the afternoon lecture alone.
So, while waiting for the class to start, I was just sitting there blankly, scrolling through my phone.
"It's a madhouse."
'What, why isn't he replying?'
Since Anonymous 11 wasn't responding, I was getting even more curious. I wondered what he’d say, but then a new post went up instead of a comment.
"Ah, f*ck."
The moment I clicked, a literal picture of shit appeared. I cursed under my breath and immediately banned him.
"Sigh."
"This is bad."
The more negative talk piles up in the Bamboo Forest, the harder it becomes to find my successor.
As I subtly pushed the post down, people started swearing at me, saying I was suppressing public opinion.
Just then.
"Um, you're Woo-jin Senior, right?"
"Huh?"
I glanced sideways to see a group of female students who looked familiar.
Lee Gyu-a was at the very back. The moment I saw her, I realized they were 1st-year English Literature students.
Lee Gyu-a had a look on her face like she’d just chewed on a piece of crap. It seemed she wasn't too thrilled about her friends talking to me.
"Oh, Senior. It’s nothing else, but... we’re actually huge fans of Seo Ye-rin Senior."
"Ye-rin?"
"Yes! I’ve never seen anyone that pretty in my entire life! I thought she was a goddess!"
"Well, she is pretty."
I’d read somewhere that women get jealous of pretty women.
Probably on the Bamboo Forest.
But they also say that women end up admiring women who are truly beautiful.
The "truly" part is important.
There has to be a gap so wide that comparison is impossible, and Seo Ye-rin maintained that kind of distance from most women.
Even people like Choi I-seo or Yoo Ah-rin are considered beauties, but they still take a backseat to Seo Ye-rin.
'No, it’s because it’s those two that they can even be compared to Ye-rin.'
Face Genius.
A beauty so great she should bow to her parents three times a day in gratitude.
"But we heard from the other seniors that you’re really close with Ye-rin Senior."
"That’s right! They said she doesn't come to school often, but when she does, she has lunch with you, Senior!"
"Uh, yeah, I guess?"
As I gave an awkward reply, the girls naturally sat down in the seats next to me.
Lee Gyu-a, who sat the furthest away, let out a sigh and sat down hesitantly.
"Ye-rin Senior came today too. Did you happen to have lunch together?"
"We did."
Because of all the eyes on us, we’d snuck into an empty classroom to eat.
We ordered in, but I was in a bad mood because we ate tteokbokki—and it was the flour kind, too.
Lunch should be a hearty meal with rice.
"Senior, I know this is really, really rude, but... could you possibly get an autograph from Ye-rin Senior for me?"
"Me, me too! Me too! Oh! I’ll give you my phone number! Could you please call me just once when you meet her?"
"Do you like chicken? Or meat? Alcohol is fine too! I’ll definitely treat you as a thank you!"
It didn't feel bad having female juniors crowding around me. I just didn't realize Seo Ye-rin had such enthusiastic fans.
'It doesn't look too bad.'
In fact, I kind of liked it.
After all, they liked my girlfriend this much.
"Sure, alright. I’ll try talking to her later."
While we were exchanging phone numbers.
A sweet scent tickled the tip of my nose.
It was impossible not to recognize the owner of this fragrance. It wasn't just a scent I’d smelled a few times; I’d practically lived in it.
"Hi, Woo-jin."
A shadow fell over me.
Seo Ye-rin stood before me with her arms crossed, a bright smile on her face.
"Uh...?"
Unlike me, whose reaction was slowed by surprise, the girls next to me immediately started making a fuss and screaming.
"Ye-rin Unni!"
"I-I’m your fan!"
"Seriously, wow! Her visuals are insane!"
'Oh boy.'
Since the person they liked so much had descended in the flesh, of course they’d be happy.
The problem was, this was a classroom, and it was quite full.
The commotion started drawing everyone's attention toward us.
'I need to settle this.'
Just as I was about to calm them down.
"Girls."
Her voice was like a needle.
Each syllable pricked the skin, carrying the heavy weight of a senior's authority.
"You have to be quiet. You’re bothering the people around you."
"Ah."
"S-sorry."
"We just got too excited..."
Was that really Seo Ye-rin?
The way she quietly suppressed the other person looked like the dignity of a veteran actress.
"So you’re my fans. Why don't you each tell me what you want?"
"An, an autograph."
"I want to take a picture."
"Can I post it on SNS?"
"Sure, let’s go outside. It’s too conspicuous in here."
The girls got up, looking as bright and excited as kindergarteners.
Before following the girls out of the classroom, Seo Ye-rin leaned slightly toward me and let a smile slip.
"Want to die?"
"No, wait... this is a bit unfair—"
Thwack!
After flicking my forehead, Seo Ye-rin followed the girls out. Even so, she plopped her bag down in the seat next to me to reserve it.
Even though she wasn't even taking this lecture.
All the 1st-years had left.
Except for one person who remained in her seat.
"I think you’re really amazing, Senior."
Lee Gyu-a spoke as if she were fed up.
"What is?"
"I mean, it’s amazing how you openly two-time like that. And yet you live your life without getting caught."
"……."
I didn't have a comeback for that right now.
"It’s like the other seniors are the ones making sure you keep two-timing."
"What do you know—ah, right. You’d know. Since you’re the original three-timer."
"……."
Since things had turned out like this, I figured I’d ask her something I was curious about.
"Hey, what are you going to do when Hyun-ho goes to the military?"
Was it a sensitive question?
Lee Gyu-a didn't answer immediately and seemed to be deep in thought.
I was about to say, "Are your old habits coming back?" but I thought that might be too rude.
"It’s roughly 18 months. Waiting through that is pretty tough."
Since I could pretty much see what she was thinking, I asked tentatively. Lee Gyu-a clenched her fists and nodded, her head dropping.
"Y-yeah."
"I know it’s hard. Think of how many opportunities come your way at this age. I’m telling you now, don't go cheating on him while he's away; it’ll be easier on both of you if you just break up beforehand."
At my words, Lee Gyu-a’s eyes welled up with tears as she shouted.
"It’s because I don't want to break up that I’m like this!"
"……."
"I want to wait for him too, but I’m afraid the waiting will be too hard. I’m worried if my current feelings can last until then!"
"That’s unexpected."
I couldn't say anything other than that it was unexpected.
To think a piece of trash who three-timed would have such a worry.
"Well, alright."
If she was worrying that much, it didn't seem like I needed to give her any advice.
She’d probably struggle and worry on her own before eventually finding her own answer.
"What about you, Senior?"
Lee Gyu-a turned the question back on me as I tried to move on.
"You’re dating three seniors."
"Ahem."
"They’re all incredibly pretty, so what are you going to do if they meet other guys while you’re in the military? I’m sure people won't leave them alone."
"Just hearing that makes my heart tear apart."
"But it’s a realistic problem. Or, on the contrary, you might find it burdensome."
"Who? The girls?"
"No, you, Senior."
When I gave her a look asking what she meant, Lee Gyu-a explained step by step.
"I’ve looked up a lot of stories because of this, and apparently, there are people who want to break up with the girlfriend who waited for them, but they can't because they feel too burdened by it."
"Ah."
"Like, 'I never imagined she’d actually wait for me.' Something like that."
It is a complicated issue in many ways.
Human emotions can't stay the same forever.
"But I don't think I’ll be like that."
However, that’s a story for ordinary people.
Just then, Seo Ye-rin walked back into the classroom.
I pointed at her and said.
"Do you think you could ever get tired of that face?"
"……."
"It’s not just her; it’s the same for I-seo and Ah-rin. Not just their looks, but they all have so much individual charm that I can't let them go."
I should be worried about them leaving me.
Me getting tired of them isn't even a concern.
When I added that, Lee Gyu-a looked like she understood to some extent.
Seo Ye-rin, who sat down next to me, immediately pinched my thigh under the desk.
"Gah?!"
"Our Woo-jin is at it again, huh?"
"No! It’s really not like that! This is unfair!"
Seo Ye-rin threatened in a low voice.
Before the other 1st-year friends arrived, Lee Gyu-a hurriedly explained.
"It’s really not!"
She then explained the conversation we’d just had, and Seo Ye-rin looked at me with touched eyes.
"Don't do it. We’re in a classroom right now."
"Thut’s why I’m huldung buck."
(That’s why I’m holding back.)
Biting her lip and clenching her fists, Seo Ye-rin trembled. If we weren't in a classroom, she would have lunged into my arms immediately.
But why is she staying here?
She’s not even taking this lecture.
Seeing the other 1st-years returning to their seats, Lee Gyu-a naturally came back to the seat next to me.
It seemed she wanted to talk more about the military stuff.
Anyway, the other 1st-years had already seen Seo Ye-rin and fulfilled their wish, so they didn't have much interest in me.
"Then aren't you anxious, Senior? Even if you don't get tired of them, your girlfriends could leave you."
Lee Gyu-a whispered softly, in case Seo Ye-rin heard.
I tried to lean toward her to answer, but Seo Ye-rin slapped my thigh again.
"Where do you think you're going?"
I can't even talk.
She usually lets it slide with Choi I-seo or Yoo Ah-rin, but the moment another woman is involved, she reacts sensitively.
Sitting back up straight, I lowered my voice and asked back.
"Why? Why are you curious about that?"
"I figured you would have thought of something extraordinary, Senior. To keep your girlfriends."
"I suppose I have."
"That’s why I... I wish Hyun-ho Oppa would do something like that for me too. So that I won't give in to other temptations."
"That’s pure love."
I was slightly moved, so I told her the method I’d thought of to firmly secure the girls before going to the military.
"Just get them pregnant."
"F*ck, did you get shot in the head?!"
"……Gyu-a, he’s your senior."