Chapter 575: Girlfriend
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 575: Girlfriend
"Yeah, Gi-min?"
The moment an unexpected name came out of an unexpected person's mouth, my expression went blank for a second.
"Customer, was that a Venti Vanilla Cream Cold Brew with an extra shot, syrup, and whipped cream?"
The cafe employee was confirming the order.
Honestly, I didn't even know what I’d ordered. I just asked for the most expensive coffee I don't even drink because Han-gang said he was buying, but the question snapped me back to reality.
"Ah, yes. That’s right."
"Okay, please wait just a moment."
I looked back at Han-gang. He was still on the phone even as he handed over his card.
"No, I’m telling you. Kids these days have no respect. Exactly, exactly."
Watching one of the most disrespectful people on the planet complain about others having no respect was more hilarious than pathetic.
Anyway, listening to the conversation, it didn't seem like he and Han-gang were incredibly close. The reason I could tell instantly was that this guy wasn't acting like a complete lunatic, unlike how he behaved with us.
"Ah, I’m saying. Right, let's grab a drink sometime. Got it, got it."
"..."
"Are you still seeing your girlfriend? Me? Man, I’m lonely lately. You said you’d set me up."
This guy really has his foot in every door.
At this point, Kang Han-gang’s social reach was almost impressive. Before returning his card, I pushed it back toward the counter.
"You have chocolate cake, right? That and... do you have croque monsieur too?"
"Yes, we do."
"Ah, then give me those as well."
If he’s going to use my name for clout, he should at least pay this much. Han-gang was so preoccupied with his call he didn't even hear me.
"Really?! No way, for real? She wants to meet me? Did you show the girls my photo?"
...At this point, I’m starting to feel like Han Gi-min deserved all that hate he got on the Bamboo Forest.
If it were anyone else, I wouldn't care. But the moment he started having that kind of conversation with Han-gang, Han Gi-min’s image plummeted in my mind. I suppose this is the 'Han-gang Effect.'
"Yeah, yeah. Right. Sure, sure. My treat."
Click.
As soon as he hung up, I pressed the card into his hand. He looked at the cake and bread in my other hand and furrowed his brows.
"I said I’d buy you coffee. Why is there all this extra stuff? Go refund it."
"Who’s Han Gi-min?"
"Refund it."
"Who’s Han Gi-min?"
"Refund."
"Han Gi-min."
"Re—"
"Han."
After a meaningless battle of wills, Kang Han-gang was the one to finally wave the white flag.
"What about Gi-min? He’s a return student in the Security Department. We got close since we both returned to school this semester. We’re even going to the reserve forces training together."
"How is he? Is he... I don't know, weird or anything?"
"Weird? Not really."
"What about his social life?"
"He just came back, so he probably doesn't have many close friends. But he does have a girlfriend."
"..."
As I fell into thought for a moment, Han-gang crossed his arms and asked, "Why? You want me to set up a meeting?"
I was genuinely impressed by how confident he sounded.
"...This is a first."
"What is?"
"Seeing you actually be useful, Senior."
"Screw off, you brat."
The senior grumbled and flipped me the bird before walking away.
To be honest, I didn't really want to go as far as having a meal with the guy just to find out more. It would be much more beneficial to go home and spend even a little more time with the girls.
I hummed to myself as I walked out with the bread and coffee. But looking at the food, I remembered something I’d forgotten.
Ah, now that I think about it, I’m on a diet.
Suddenly, the items in my hands felt like nothing but dead weight. It felt even more so because I’d bought them with Kang Han-gang’s card.
As I was debating what to do, a couple happened to pass through the hallway in front of the English Literature department office.
Ahn Hyun-ho and Lee Gyu-a.
The moment they saw me, they both scowled and opened their mouths.
"Why do you even come to school? If you're a chaebol, can't you just drop out?"
"My luck for the day turns sour whenever I see you, Senior."
"Why are you guys acting like this to someone who came to bring good news?"
At my words, they both stared blankly and asked back.
"Did you join a cult?"
"Oppa, are you doing that kind of stuff now?"
"...Never mind. Not you two."
I take it back. Even if I get fat eating it all myself, I’m definitely not giving it to these two.
"Piss off."
"What is it?"
"Aw, come on, what is it?"
They grumbled at me as I turned to leave mid-sentence. I just flipped them the bird, exactly like Han-gang had done, and kept walking.
I ended up heading to the classroom for my next lecture. They usually say no eating in the classrooms, but seeing some girls already eating macarons when I arrived, I decided to just eat too.
Vrrr!
My phone vibrated. I was just about to take a bite of the croque monsieur, so I looked at the screen with a hint of regret.
"Ah, right."
The man saved as 'Baldy2' in my phone was Myung Je-il. He was the bald guy who spoke weird English and had taken our family photos last time.
The way he uses emoticons is strangely irritating.
Anyway, since we can finally take wedding photos, I want to get the girls their own custom wedding dresses. Usually, people rent them, but I want to buy them.
Well, the moment I say I’m buying them, they’ll tell me to stop throwing money around and stop me.
I smacked my lips, disappointed by the predictable outcome. It was frustrating that even when I wanted to buy them something, they wouldn't accept it.
"...Tsk."
I put the croque monsieur back down and tucked it away. Thinking about the wedding dresses made me realize I’d be wearing a tuxedo too. When that time came, I wanted to look good in it.
I guess this is how the universe forces me to diet.
I let out a hollow chuckle. As I was wondering how to dispose of the food I’d ordered, Ahn Hyun-ho and Gyu-a, who I’d parted with earlier, walked into the classroom.
I wondered why they were lingering around; turns out we had the same lecture.
But why have I never seen them here before?
They spotted me and were about to pass by, but seeing the bread in front of me, they slunk into the seats next to me.
"Why are you eating delicious stuff all by yourself?"
"Wow, Senior. I didn't know you took this class."
"Eat it. I was having trouble figuring out how to get rid of it anyway. I was going to give it to you earlier, but I didn't because you were being annoying."
"So petty."
"Thank you!"
The two laughed and started eating. I even gave them the coffee I hadn't touched, and they were making a scene sharing the same straw.
I wish they’d just go away.
Or I wish I was with the girls.
I glanced at my phone. Were they busy? Usually, they’d send me tons of messages telling me not to be a loner at school, but it was quiet today.
Since there was no reply to my texts, I grumbled and struck up a conversation with Ahn Hyun-ho.
"Hey, did you know? Senior Han-gang is getting set up with another girl."
At my words, Ahn Hyun-ho chuckled while feeding a piece of chocolate cake to Lee Gyu-a.
"You don't know? The setups for him have dried up lately. According to Gyu-a, there are rumors going around about him and Chan-woo."
"Gay rumors? On the Bamboo Forest?"
"What, do you actually browse the Bamboo Forest? What a loser."
What is wrong with this guy?
I glared at him in annoyance, and he immediately clung to Gyu-a, acting like a victim.
"Gyu-a, he’s glaring at me."
"Senior Woo-jin, stop picking on my boyfriend."
"Ah, damn it. I miss Ye-rin, I-seo, and Ah-rin."
The two of them looked at me with pure disgust.
"Wow, he just named three people in one breath."
"Truly the enemy of women. You're the worst."
It was rich coming from Lee Gyu-a, who used to three-time people and was now acting all innocent.
"Ah, right. Woo-jin, Jin-ho Hyung said we should pick a day to go to a valley soon."
"What valley? Tell him to stop wasting time on useless things. How old is that guy, and he’s still talking about going to a valley?"
Isn't he a senior now? At a time when he should be worried about finding a job, wanting to go play at a valley made me wonder if his head was full of flowers.
"Well, he probably won't be able to go anyway," Ahn Hyun-ho muttered, munching on the cake Gyu-a offered.
"He can't go? Is he broke?"
He should be making some money since he’s working hard on the Taekwondo Neutube channel, 'Cheer Up Team.'
When I looked at him curiously, Ahn Hyun-ho smirked and said, "He said he wants to go on a couple's trip. He’s saying he’ll go once he gets a girlfriend."
"A couple's... trip?"
Pyo Jin-ho? A couple? He wants to go on a trip once he gets a girlfriend?
"You and I have girlfriends anyway. Chan-woo can get one whenever he wants if he just tries. And Senior Han-gang... well, he could manage if he puts in the effort."
"Ha."
"So he said he wants to go to a valley or something. Said it was his dream."
"We’ve gone plenty of places together."
"He said a couple's trip with friends was his dream. Man, he sure has a lot of dreams for his age, doesn't he?"
"Seriously. He should just go to sleep. He’s not a kid, yet he wants so much."
"Why dream of stuff like that? He should be worrying about how to make a living after graduation next year."
"I agree."
As we were cackling and talking, Gyu-a asked curiously, "But what if he actually gets one? Will you really go?"
Go where?
"If he gets one? Hell yeah, we have to go. Our resident idiot finally got a girlfriend, after all."
Ahn Hyun-ho nodded in agreement.
"I’ll buy the booze. Woo-jin, you buy the meat."
"Easy."
We continued to laugh and tease Pyo Jin-ho amongst ourselves.
* * *
The next day.
"..."
I was in the middle of breakfast, and I rubbed my eyes several times, wondering if I was misreading the text on my phone.