Chapter 61: Festival Day 2
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 61: Festival Day 2
Day two of the festival.
Due to the incident yesterday, the English Department pub had closed early. We opened again today after finishing the cleanup.
Since the spicy stir-fried pork—the jeyuk—had sold so well yesterday, I came out early to start the prep work.
"What is this?"
In front of the kitchen tent, right where people walked by, sat a large barbecue grill. I couldn't help but look at it with an incredulous expression.
As I stood there staring blankly at the grill, Senior Ju-hee arrived, carrying a torch, charcoal, and briquettes.
"The professor provided it. Our jeyuk-bokkeum was so popular yesterday, after all."
"You want me to cook jeyuk over charcoal?"
"Well, yeah. It’s the professor’s personal property, so be careful with it."
It did look like a high-end model. I thought to myself that he certainly used expensive gear, but looking at it only made me sigh.
"It’ll be easier since I can cook more at once than I could with a frying pan, but..."
I wasn't thrilled about grilling meat right in front of passing crowds like some street food vendor.
"Won't this actually bring in more people? Besides, I heard we’re all over social media as a 'must-visit' spot," Ju-hee said with a laugh, patting me on the back. "It’s all thanks to you."
"Haa..."
To be honest, those weren't exactly words that made me happy. I had just wanted to make some decent stir-fried pork; I never expected it to go this far.
I suppose the fact that the menus at the other stalls were so pathetic played a part in our success.
"Have you ever lit a charcoal fire before?"
"Yes, I've been camping before."
"Oh, then I'll leave it to you."
With that, Ju-hee slipped back into the kitchen tent. As the de facto head chef, she had plenty to do. Plus, after the minor mishaps in the kitchen yesterday, she’d likely come up with ways to improve things.
She was the type to take everything seriously.
I laid the briquettes at the bottom and lit them with the torch. Once they caught, I moved the flame to the charcoal. After a bit of waiting, the fire took hold.
'Honey, the fire's finally going.'
'Good job, hubby! I'll handle the grilling!'
The fact that my ex-girlfriend, Oh Yun-ji, had dragged me all over the place did come in handy sometimes. The first time I tried this, I’d struggled just to get the fire started.
Staring down at the rising flames, memories of the past naturally bubbled up. It was a truly singular experience to realize that happy memories could end up hurting so much.
It seemed I still needed more time to chew on and digest my memories of Oh Yun-ji.
'Honey? Hubby?'
Just die already, Kim Woo-jin.
Since I already had the fire going, I figured I’d grill something for myself. It was only around 4:00 PM, so there was still time before the pub officially opened.
I swiped a mushroom from the kitchen and grilled it along with some pork.
It was my first time trying jeyuk over charcoal, but the smoky aroma hit my nose with an incredible depth of flavor.
"Kiyah."
It was the kind of taste that made you crave a beer.
Just as I felt certain that it tasted even better than yesterday—
"Ex-excuse me."
Two pretty female students approached me. They looked hesitant, trying to hide their shyness.
"Yes?"
At first, I wondered what was up, but the moment I saw them blushing and acting bashful, something clicked in my chest.
Could it be?
It was a festival, after all. And what is a festival without the chance for a new romantic encounter?
Was I finally joining the ranks of men who get hit on?
Han-gang, Ahn Hyun-ho, Jeong Chan-woo—watch your backs.
Kim Woo-jin is coming for your titles.
"When do you start selling this?"
...
"The pub opens at six, so you can get some then."
"Can we only get it at the pub? You don't sell it separately?"
"No, we only sell it as a side dish for drinks."
"Ah, I see. Okay then."
Without a hint of lingering interest or any other business, the two girls walked away.
Dammit.
As I sat there eating the remaining pork, thinking 'of course that's how it went,' I heard a snicker from behind me.
"Upvote if you're Kim Woo-jin and your heart fluttered because you thought you were being picked up."
It was Yoo Ah-rin, who was currently enjoying peak popularity within the department, grinning ear to ear.
"Upvote."
And Seo Ye-rin, who had been getting hit on by countless guys ever since she appeared on stage yesterday.
"Sigh."
Finally, there was Choi I-seo, looking at me with her arms crossed and a look of pure judgment.
The three of them were either mocking me or looking at me like I was pathetic. Honestly, it felt a bit unfair.
"Hey, can't a guy get his hopes up? I've never had anyone ask for my number before."
I tried to defend myself, but the three of them—who looked very accustomed to having people ask for their numbers—remained unimpressed.
"Are you eating that all by yourself? Give me some."
Yoo Ah-rin immediately approached with wooden chopsticks. Normally, I would have refused because her mocking annoyed me, but...
"I'll allow it for 'Black Skirt Black Panties' Yoo Ah-rin."
"Huh? What are you talking about?"
"Nothing, don't worry about it."
Since she’d treated me to a good view yesterday, I held out some pork as a reward. She took a bite, her eyes widening as she tapped my shoulder.
"Whoa, what is this?! It's delicious!"
"Yeah, that's the power of your 'oppa' right here."
As I responded smugly, Seo Ye-rin and Choi I-seo also came over, took a bite, and praised the taste.
"There's a reason everyone was raving about Woo-jin's jeyuk."
"Geez, you're so obsessed with stir-fried pork, are you going to open a jeyuk restaurant later?"
"Not quite that far."
The three of them offered genuine compliments. Naturally, the conversation shifted to what happened yesterday.
"Gasp."
Yoo Ah-rin, who had been whining for me to grill more, suddenly sucked in a breath. She clamped her chopsticks in her mouth and bolted into the tent like a flash of lightning.
Seo Ye-rin, following Ah-rin's gaze, also began to back away subtly before disappearing inside.
"Ah."
There was Jeong Chan-woo from Architectural Engineering, walking toward us while holding a promotional sign.
Chan-woo walked along, drawing the gaze of every female student in the vicinity. Even Ahn Hyun-ho and Han-gang, who were considered the top visuals in our department, had to take a backseat to him. It made me feel strangely proud to be his friend.
Since Chan-woo had also gone on stage yesterday, I knew the Architectural Engineering stall’s popularity had exploded. I’d even heard that girls were getting into fights over him.
"Hey."
Chan-woo raised a hand in greeting. His looks gave off a cold impression, but Choi I-seo and I already knew his personality wasn't like that, so we responded casually.
"You're working hard."
"I bet the Arch-Eng stall is busy."
I’d heard their stall was a 'Ham Festival' booth, selling massive quantities of meat like sausages, bacon, and pork belly along with beer.
"Come visit. I'll give you plenty of good stuff," Chan-woo said with a slight smile.
We exchanged some idle chatter about visiting each other's stalls, but I think I knew why Yoo Ah-rin and Seo Ye-rin had fled inside.
Tsk, those wicked girls.
Why avoid a nice guy like Chan-woo?
I didn't know about Seo Ye-rin, but I’d heard that Yoo Ah-rin used to hang out with Chan-woo quite a bit before she met me. Lately, she seemed to be avoiding him excessively.
"Um, well..."
Chan-woo glanced toward the inside of the tent, looking like he had something to say.
I smiled and pointed inside immediately.
"Go on in. Yoo Ah-rin is inside."
"Is it okay if I go in?"
"Why not? You're her friend."
When I shrugged, Jeong Chan-woo headed inside. The atmosphere in the tent seemed to heat up again at the appearance of a top-tier handsome man.
He’d appeared as Seo Ye-rin's 'date' at the gopchang place last time, but now he was appearing as Yoo Ah-rin's friend. It might look strange to others, but...
What does it matter?
They should just be grateful a handsome guy showed up.
I was grinning, thinking about how priceless Yoo Ah-rin's annoyed face must be, when I noticed Choi I-seo looking toward the tent Chan-woo had entered.
And she didn't look happy.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
Choi I-seo met my eyes. Her expression grew even more complicated. It was obvious she had something on the tip of her tongue, but in the end, she didn't say it. Instead, she poked my shoulder and pointed to a sign posted in front of the tent.
[NO HUNTING ALLOWED]
"It's forbidden."
I shrugged, finding it absurd.
"When would I have time to hit on anyone? I'll probably be grilling pork all day."
According to Ju-hee, we were all over social media, so today would likely be even busier than yesterday—even if the large grill allowed me to cook large batches quickly.
"That's not what I meant."
Realizing I’d missed the point, Choi I-seo pouted and whispered so those around us couldn't hear.
"I mean you're not allowed to be hunted, either."
"..."
"Got it?"
Watching her warn me with such anxiousness was cute, but I had to clarify one thing.
"Is it okay if I just give out my number?"
"..."
"No, I mean, you guys are used to men hitting on you, so it's no big deal! But for me, if a girl asks for my number, that's a story I can brag about over drinks for the rest of my life—!"
Thwack!
Choi I-seo's fist flew straight into my shoulder. It didn't have much weight behind it, so it didn't hurt, but...
Thwack, thwack, thwack.
"Okay, okay! Stop hitting me!"
She kept drumming on my shoulder without a word until I finally gave in.
"Seriously, drop dead," Choi I-seo grumbled as she walked away.
I remembered her having a bit of a chic vibe at first... I guess you really don't know a person until you get close to them.
Just then—
WHAM!
A pain on a completely different level from I-seo's punches exploded on my backside.
"Agh!"
Startled, I clutched my butt and whipped around. There stood Yoo Ah-rin, her face flushed red and huffing with rage.
"Are you crazy? What was that for?! That actually really hurt!"
I thought it was because I’d let Jeong Chan-woo inside, but Chan-woo was already back outside, promoting the stall in the distance.
"It's not because of him!"
Yoo Ah-rin shrieked, glaring at me and grinding her teeth.
"I finally figured out what 'Black Skirt Black Panties' meant, you bastard!"
Ah.
Geom-chi-geom-paen.
She’d figured out the meaning.
I couldn't back down now. I puffed out my chest even more defiantly.
"Can we call it even with that one kick?"
"I'm going to kick you again before I punch you in the face! Turn around!"
* * *
I argued that kicking me twice for seeing her panties was unfair since I’d already touched her chest, but that only earned me five more hits.
Fortunately, Yoo Ah-rin had learned her Taekwondo well; she didn't hit me hard enough to keep me from working.
Evening returned.
The night air was chilly, but standing in front of the grill, I felt warm and comfortable. Or maybe I was just working so hard grilling meat that I didn't have the energy to feel the cold.
"Three servings here."
Hyun-ah was by my side again today, having an easy time of it. Whenever I placed the grilled meat on a plate, she would take it, portion it out, and add the sliced tofu. We’d become comfortable enough to chat without hesitation.
"It's definitely easier now that the meat comes out so fast."
After handing the plates to the servers, she pulled a piece of pocket cheese from her apron, skewered it on a wooden chopstick, and started grilling it.
"Here, take this."
"Is this for me?"
"I have another one."
I was a bit surprised she gave it to me, but I ate the cheese while waiting for the next order.
"Whoa, what is that?"
Even from a distance, a head of pale pink hair stood out vividly. I wondered if it was a celebrity, and Hyun-ah beside me started making a fuss.
"It—it's Popo! Whoa! It's my first time seeing her in person!"
"Popo?"
It was a name so ridiculous it sounded like something an old man would name his dog.
The celebrity of the Architectural Engineering department.
The streamer, Popo.
"Ah."
But to me, she was someone much more familiar: Anonymous 111.
"So that's what she looks like."
I had no idea.