Chapter 413: Play
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 413: Play
“I’ve been having a lot of thoughts about the people around us.”
“Other people?”
“I mean...”
Choi I-seo hesitated for a moment before carefully baring her inner thoughts.
“About Yun-ji.”
“...”
At those words, Yoo Ah-rin flinched. She didn't know exactly what was coming next, but she knew it would be heavy.
She needed a moment to brace herself.
“Yun-ji said something to me. She said that because of my obsession—because I can’t let go of Kim Woo-jin—I’m trying to drag her into this mess too.”
“...What is she even talking about?”
Ah-rin couldn't understand it no matter how hard she tried, so she had to ask.
As Yoo Ah-rin scratched her head, Choi I-seo gave a bitter smile.
“She meant that because I want him to stay with me, I’m willing to embrace his love for Oh Yun-ji as well. Just like the two of us are doing right now.”
“...”
Even with the explanation, Yoo Ah-rin wasn't quite convinced.
In a way, it meant the two of them were perceiving their current situation differently, but they continued the conversation without realizing the disconnect.
“Yun-ji was angry. She asked if I thought she’d be happy if I just tossed her a scrap like I was feeding an animal. She said she’d achieve what she wants on her own terms.”
“...”
“So she told me not to worry about her. She said she’d win her own way, so I should just focus on holding onto what’s mine.”
I-seo was fully immersed in the story now.
She turned her head slightly to look at Yoo Ah-rin.
Then, with eyes full of complex emotions, she confessed her true feelings.
“But I’m only human. How can I just ignore it? Woo-jin is the person I love, and Yun-ji is a long-time friend.”
“Right, uh-huh. Yeah, I get it.”
“Today, for the first time in a while, I thought back to our freshman year. Back when Yun-ji and Woo-jin first started dating. Thinking about the two of them back then... it makes my heart feel complicated again.”
The desire to never let go of Woo-jin clashed with the guilt of having stolen the bright smile Oh Yun-ji used to wear.
The overlap of those feelings made her insides feel like they were rotting away, yet she couldn't actually do anything.
Because Oh Yun-ji had already made it clear.
She told I-seo not to even think about helping her, because she would handle things herself.
“Sigh, I don’t know what to do.”
It was a secret struggle for Choi I-seo.
If she were even a little bit more selfish, she wouldn't be worrying about this at all. Meanwhile, Yoo Ah-rin—
What is she talking about?
She didn't understand.
Why is she acting like she’s the one making a concession?
As someone who was already acting selfishly, Ah-rin couldn't wrap her head around it.
Because, much like the relationship between Choi I-seo and Oh Yun-ji, Yoo Ah-rin had been having her own conversations with Min Ju-hee.
Yoo Ah-rin needed time to think, so she brushed it off awkwardly.
“L-look, this is a pretty heavy topic, so why don't we talk about it after this? We can't really have a proper conversation here anyway.”
They were still in a classroom, after all.
There were other students around.
“Yeah, you’re right.”
Choi I-seo nodded and put her earbuds back in.
Even so, she glanced at Yoo Ah-rin and gave a small smile.
“Thanks, Ah-rin. I feel a bit better after venting to you.”
“Yeah...”
“I’m starting to think this kind of relationship between us is actually pretty okay.”
With that, Choi I-seo focused back on her studies.
Watching her, Yoo Ah-rin quietly pulled out her phone.
She found herself opening her chat room with Min Ju-hee.
The full conversation was right there.
“...”
The content was the polar opposite of the dilemma Choi I-seo just shared.
While Choi I-seo was conflicted, caught between guilt and possessiveness, Yoo Ah-rin was accepting the reality and preparing to take the upper hand.
This was the fundamental difference in how the two of them perceived the current situation.
Choi I-seo accepted Kim Woo-jin’s three-timing because she loved him so much she couldn't let go.
Yoo Ah-rin also loved Kim Woo-jin, but she also felt that the other women were "decent enough bitches" for her to acknowledge.
It was a difference in how they processed the situation.
This was exactly why Kim Woo-jin called Yoo Ah-rin the "Threesome Demon."
That was why Yoo Ah-rin was already doing the groundwork.
Keep to the lines.
Even if the three of them were on equal footing for now, they had to draw a clear line against any other women.
That was the plan, but...
But the ex-girlfriend is definitely a no-go!
Senior Ju-hee was fine.
Her position as a bodyguard would definitely be helpful to Kim Woo-jin, and Ah-rin could just build a deep relationship with her starting now.
But Oh Yun-ji?
She was strong-willed and had a history of dating Kim Woo-jin.
She’s absolutely out.
She couldn't just leave a woman like that alone—there was no telling when she might go on a rampage.
Perhaps that was why.
“Hey, but.”
“Yeah?”
Yoo Ah-rin called out to Choi I-seo again.
“Don’t you feel that way about Senior Ju-hee? I mean, she’s also kind of... in a pitiful spot.”
“The Senior?”
She wondered what the reaction to Min Ju-hee would be.
Yoo Ah-rin asked nonchalantly, hiding her pounding heart.
“Of course.”
The answer was chilling.
“That’s out of the question.”
“...”
“No matter what, that’s a bridge too far. I think I’d be really disappointed if he suddenly started seeing Senior Ju-hee.”
“I-is that so?”
“Of course. Yun-ji has a past with him, but Senior Ju-hee doesn't.”
“I see...”
Yoo Ah-rin turned her head back.
Choi I-seo, trying to get back to studying, was slightly surprised by her own statement.
Does that mean I think Yun-ji is okay?
It was ambiguous, but for now, everything had to wait until after exams.
Choi I-seo decided to sort it out then and focused on her books again.
* * *
“...”
“...”
Choi I-seo and Yoo Ah-rin hesitated for a moment as they looked at the two people wearing party hats, fake beards, red noses, and dizzy-patterned glasses.
They had come because the two said they’d be waiting at the karaoke room.
But instead of singing, they were busy dressing each other up in ridiculous costumes.
“You guys sure are having a hell of a time.”
With a hollow laugh, Yoo Ah-rin pulled out her phone.
Click, click.
“Don’t take pictures!”
“Oh my! Please stop!”
Both of them tried to hide their already disguised faces with their hands.
“Why aren't you guys singing? What are you even doing?”
Choi I-seo sat down next to Kim Woo-jin and picked up the karaoke remote.
“Look at that, look at her scurrying right to the seat next to him.”
“...Stop it.”
Yoo Ah-rin teased I-seo while firmly grabbing Seo Ye-rin’s wrist and pulling.
“Ack!?”
Seo Ye-rin tumbled onto the seat next to her, and Yoo Ah-rin took her spot, crossing her legs.
“What was that for!?”
“If you’ve had your fun, you should move aside for the next person, shouldn't you?”
“Hmph.”
Seo Ye-rin took off her disguise. While fixing her messy hair, she frowned and put a hand in her mouth.
“Blegh! Woo-jin, there’s a hair in my mouth!”
“Sorry.”
It sounded like a natural, passing comment, but about three seconds later...
Choi I-seo and Yoo Ah-rin realized something was very wrong.
“A hair?”
“You bastards, don't tell me—”
“Ah.”
Realizing she’d made a slip of the tongue, Seo Ye-rin jumped up and immediately bolted for the restroom.
“Ye-rin!”
Kim Woo-jin tried to get up and chase after her for abandoning him, but he was grabbed from both sides and forced back down.
“You did it here? Are you out of your mind?”
“Woo-jin, act like a person with common sense. This is a karaoke room. It’s incredibly disrespectful to the owner.”
“N-no... we didn't do it.”
To be precise, they stopped halfway.
“It’s just, we’ve been in here so long that our throats were starting to hurt...”
“...So you decided to poke her throat instead?”
“Uh-huh.”
They were looking for something else to do, and eventually, Seo Ye-rin had found her way between his legs.
“But I thought we shouldn't go any further, so I stopped! I didn't even finish! That’s why we put on these ridiculous disguises!”
“Look at this beast, pretending he has self-control.”
“Why the disguises?”
“Because we get turned on just looking at each other. We covered our faces like this to kill the mood and calm down.”
“...”
“...”
Both girls had the same thought.
“At least they have the basic patience of a human being.”
“I guess they do know the meaning of moderation.”
“Ye-rin has arrived!”
Sensing that the conversation inside was wrapping up, Seo Ye-rin, who had been listening outside, stepped back in.
She avoided their glaring eyes and sat down awkwardly.
When the three of them continued to stare her down, Seo Ye-rin puffed out her chest and shouted back.
“Wh-what are you looking at! You little shits!”
“Ugh, look at this girl.”
“Ye-rin...”
“You abandoned me and ran?!”
At Kim Woo-jin’s words, Seo Ye-rin shrieked.
“Then you should’ve groomed yourself! If you force it in that deep, of course I’m going to get a hair in my mouth!”
“Hey, hey!”
This time, both girls' gazes snapped toward Kim Woo-jin.
A contradiction had been found in his previous testimony.
“Is that different from what you said earlier, you prick?”
“Didn't you say Ye-rin started it first?”
“Huh? Woo-jin was the one who said we should do it!”
“...”
Kim Woo-jin, still wearing his clown makeup, sat stiffly under their gaze. Then, as if he’d thought of something, he laughed and pressed his nose.
Honk!
At the strange sound the red nose made, Kim Woo-jin said excitedly,
“Isn't this cool? The sound is funny, right?”
Honk!
“Yeah, real hilarious.”
Honk!
Smack!
Kim Woo-jin, who got slapped right on the nose, slowly took it off and muttered.
“It’s not funny...”
Seeing Kim Woo-jin looking dejected, Choi I-seo crossed her arms and shook her head.
“You deserve that.”
What were they doing in a public place?
“I mean, I did start it, but look at this!”
Kim Woo-jin suddenly lifted his shirt to reveal his chest.
Written there in permanent marker was: [BEAST ♥].
“I wasn't the only one enjoying it!”
“You guys were playing like this?”
“W-we were bored.”
“And! And look at this!”
Kim Woo-jin stood up abruptly.
For a second, the two girls were startled, thinking he was going to drop his pants.
But seeing [Ye-rin’s Property ↓] written just below his navel, they could only sigh.
“You two, seriously...”
“You sure worked hard at playing dirty.”