Chapter 62: Date
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 62: Date
“The hottest stall at the Gahyeon University festival right now! It’s the English Department pub! I heard the stir-fried pork here is to die for!”
Popo was shouting toward a phone attached to a selfie stick. It looked like she was broadcasting; it was my first time seeing a streamer actually working in person.
It was a bit of a novelty, but I wasn't the only one who thought so. The massive crowd she drew was honestly just annoying.
“I’m going to go in and crush it!”
Crush what, exactly?
Popo drifted toward me with a smile and asked, “Hello! Do I order here?”
Maybe it was because she was a professional broadcaster, but she was definitely a beauty. I’d heard she was a mukbang streamer, and though she looked a bit too petite for that, her presence was undeniable.
“You can head inside the pub to order,” I replied, pulling my head back to make sure I didn't end up on camera. Popo flashed another smile and headed inside.
As expected of a Gahyeon University celebrity, her entrance caused a stir. A group of male students from the Department of Architectural Engineering followed right behind her.
Chan-woo was among them.
“Huh? What are you doing here?”
I called out to Chan-woo, who was being dragged along at the very back. He let out a sigh and scratched his cheek.
“The seniors forced me to come. They want me to appear on Popo’s stream.”
“…….”
“Sigh, why me?”
I knew his department was busy with their own Ham Festival, but the fact that they’d dragged Jeong Chan-woo all the way here showed how serious they were. Having him as a guest would obviously make the female viewership explode.
“Good luck with that.”
“Yeah, you too.”
Chan-woo gave a small wave and followed them inside. I went back to grilling the pork when Hyun-ah, who was standing next to me, gaped and nudged my side.
“Do—do you know him?”
“Him?”
“Chan-woo?”
“He’s the God of the Engineering Department! Wow, I heard he visited our booth earlier, but it was actually true! This is insane! He’s so damn handsome!”
Well, he was handsome.
“Can you introduce me?!”
“I can, but you’ll have a lot of rivals. Think you can win?”
“…….”
At my words, Hyun-ah pouted and stared blankly at the meat I was grilling. At least she was quick at math.
Just then.
“Woo—Woo-jin! An order for twenty servings of stir-fried pork just came in!”
Seo Ye-rin rushed over, sounding frantic. I froze for a second, but then I remembered that the woman named Popo was a mukbang streamer.
“Hold the fort for a second.”
I handed the tongs to Hyun-ah and started heading toward the main tent, but Seo Ye-rin blocked my path.
“Wh—where are you going?!”
She stood there with her arms spread wide, refusing to let me pass. I let out a heavy sigh.
“I’m going to tell her to change it to two servings if she doesn't want a face-to-face confrontation.”
“Nooo! We’re on a live broadcast! And I think you’d lose anyway!”
This girl…!
“Are you planning to do this for the rest of your life? It’s over after tomorrow. Who cares if we get a bad reputation?”
“Oh, come on!”
Seo Ye-rin kept pushing against my chest with both hands, trying to hold me back. We were locked in a stalemate when—
“Woo-jin, she changed the twenty servings to five just now.”
Choi I-seo approached us and spoke softly.
“Don’t push yourself too hard.”
With a refreshing smile, Choi I-seo walked away. It seemed she had managed to divert the rest of the order to other menu items.
“Choi I-seo is the best.”
“…….”
I gave Seo Ye-rin a look, prompting her to agree, but she just sighed and headed back to the tables.
* * *
The endless flood of customers eventually stabilized.
A pub is essentially a place for drinking, and once people sit down to drink, they tend to stay for a while. With the tables full, there weren't many new orders for appetizers; we just had to keep the alcohol flowing.
“Go on, go have some fun.”
I wiped the dripping sweat with a towel and looked at Senior Min-woo.
“Pardon?”
“Go play. If an order for pork comes in, I’ll handle it. You’ve worked too hard.”
“…….”
“Everyone else took an hour or two to rest or look around, but you’ve been here the whole time. Go enjoy the festival.”
“Thank you!”
I accepted the offer immediately before she could change her mind. Senior Min-woo chuckled and patted my back.
“Good work. Thanks to you, I think we’re going to hit record profits this year.”
“I’m glad to hear that.”
Not that any of that profit was going into my pocket. It would all probably go toward operating expenses or something.
Since other students were also going on break, only a few remained at the pub, and the atmosphere lightened up. As I took off my apron to escape the dreaded grill, Hyun-ah approached me.
“What are you going to do? If you don’t have plans, want to hang out with us?”
“Huh.”
I didn't expect an invitation like that. As I stared at her in surprise, Hyun-ah gave a playful grin.
“I’m curious to see what the Sex Master is up to.”
“I told you, that’s not me.”
“Pfft! It’s not like you have a date anyway. There are guys in our group too, so just come along.”
Ah, so it wasn't just her. It seemed like the kids on break were moving as a group.
“I have plans.”
“Really? I find that hard to believe. Well, have fun then.”
“……Why is it hard to believe?”
“I was worried I’d find you huddled on some stairs playing games. You know, shouting ‘Sakura-chan, kimochi!’ or something.”
“Don’t even say hi to me if you see me later.”
Hyun-ah walked away giggling. I changed my clothes and sent a text once I was a good distance away from our booth.
A few minutes later.
Choi I-seo came running out, clutching her jacket. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, making me wonder if she’d had a drink.
“What the… I thought you’d just left without me.”
As soon as she arrived, she gave me a playful nudge. There was no force behind it; it was an affectionate gesture.
“You’re the one who asked to meet up.”
“I thought you’d just skip it because you were busy.”
“It might get annoying if guys like Ahn Hyun-ho catch us, though….”
I wondered if his creepy jealousy would flare up again.
“But thinking about it, it’s ridiculous to walk on eggshells because of a guy like that.”
At my words, Choi I-seo let out a little laugh and drifted closer. For a moment, it looked like she was going to link arms with me, but she hesitated and kept a bit of distance, reaching out awkwardly instead.
“L—look! There’s a place selling tanghulu over there. Let’s go.”
“I’ve never had that before.”
“Me neither.”
It was a bit of a random start, but regardless, our subtle date began.
The atmosphere wasn't bad.
We ate tanghulu, shot air guns, and even did a basic health checkup. Normally, I would have gone to look for Anonymous 90, but because I’d gone there with Yoo Ah-rin before, Choi I-seo wouldn't even glance toward the Physical Therapy Department.
The mood was decent, but…
The total lack of physical contact was a bit disappointing.
It felt like Choi I-seo was intentionally avoiding it. There was a definite sense of distance between us.
“Huu, I think it’s almost time to head back.”
Choi I-seo looked at the time on her phone with a look of regret. She seemed to have something on her mind, hesitating as if she wanted to say something.
“Let’s sit on a bench and rest for a bit.”
I pointed to an empty bench, and Choi I-seo nodded quickly, heading toward it.
We stared blankly at the festival.
An invited singer was performing, so most of the crowd was drawn in that direction, making this area relatively quiet. Most of the people from our department were probably over there too.
“I… have something to say.”
“Yeah, go ahead.”
I replied casually, having waited for this, and Choi I-seo’s expression relaxed slightly.
“You see, I….”
Just as she took a deep breath to speak.
“Excuse me!”
Someone suddenly broke the tension. I recognized the female voice and whipped my head around.
It was Popo, the streamer from earlier.
However, she looked a bit different now. Her pink hair was hidden under a hat and a hood, and she was wearing a plain gray hoodie—a very nondescript outfit.
Popo caught her breath and asked me urgently, “I—I’m sorry, but could you help me for a second?”
Was she being chased by fans?
I looked up at her and replied, “No. Please leave.”
“…….”
“We’re in the middle of a serious conversation, so just go.”
“……Right. Sorry.”
With that, Popo hurried away. I wondered what that was about, but I ignored it since it was a hassle. Choi I-seo looked at me, tilting her head.
“Usually, you’re the type to help out in situations like that.”
“Me? Help her? Why would I help the person who ordered twenty servings of pork?”
Besides, this was the moment Choi I-seo had finally gathered the courage to speak seriously.
I felt a bit bad, but Choi I-seo was more important than some streamer like Popo.
Realizing this, Choi I-seo looked apologetic toward Popo but also seemed grateful to me.
“You know, I felt a bit bad.”
“Bad?”
I wanted to ask why, but I kept quiet. I didn't want to break her flow again.
“At the festival this time… I got a lot more, um, attention than I expected.”
She was putting it politely, but she probably meant she’d been hit on a lot. Someone like Choi I-seo was bound to attract that. Even if the pub had signs telling people not to do that, drunk people don't care about signs.
“Honestly, it was annoying. It was a hassle, too. It might sound strange, but I could feel these… lewd gazes on me.”
“It’s not strange.”
I could see why she’d feel that way.
At my response, Choi I-seo fidgeted with her hands and let out a sigh.
“B—but then, it suddenly occurred to me. That I… might be doing the exact same thing to you….”
“Huh?”
I couldn't immediately grasp the context of what she was saying. I needed a moment to process it.
“So, you were worried that you were hitting on me?”
“Y—yeah.”
So that’s why she’d been intentionally avoiding physical contact today. I understood now.
Choi I-seo watched me tentatively, waiting for my answer. She seemed to be taking it way too seriously, so I took a breath and spoke earnestly.
“I can’t speak for every guy, but….”
“Yeah?”
“Unless it’s someone I really dislike, I welcome any girl hitting on me.”
“You welcome it…?”
Did I phrase that wrong?
Choi I-seo looked at me with a slightly disgusted expression.
“No, I mean… what I’m saying is, it’s not like I’m super popular or anything, so I’m grateful whenever someone shows me interest… though dating is a separate issue.”
“……Trash.”
As Choi I-seo muttered that at me, I shrugged.
“I’m not hiding anything. I have no intention of dating anyone right now. That won’t change.”
Choi I-seo didn't bother asking why. There was no way she didn't know it was because of Oh Yun-ji, our high school classmate.
“Do you still have feelings for her?”
“As if.”
I chuckled as I answered, and Choi I-seo looked at me with a complicated expression, as if trying to read my inner thoughts.
Regardless, I’d made my position clear. I’d kept my promise to go on a date because she asked, but I had no intention of starting a relationship.
Choi I-seo seemed to have sorted things out as well. She took a long breath and stole a glance at me.
“Then, what if… someone just asked you to go to a hotel?”
“Huh?”
It was a sudden question, but Choi I-seo looked quite serious.
“There are people like Yoo Ah-rin who let you touch their chest and stuff.”
That was…
“Whoa, that’s a different matter.”
“…….”
“I mean, if the opportunity arises, I’d want to.”
“…….”
“I’m just being honest.”
Choi I-seo glared at me with genuine loathing, so I tried to make an awkward excuse.
“N—no! I don’t mean I’d do it with just anyone! Obviously, if some random woman I don’t know came up and asked, I’d say no!”
“What if she’s pretty?”
“…….”
She really knew how to hit the nail on the head.
She wasn't a top student for nothing.
As I remained silent, Choi I-seo’s fist clenched. I scrambled for an excuse.
“How pretty are we talking?”
“You son of a—!”
Choi I-seo immediately balled her fists and lunged at me. We bickered for a bit, but the heavy atmosphere from before had completely vanished.
To me, that was enough.
“Anyway, you’re saying you wouldn't do it with just anyone.”
“What if Yoo Ah-rin asked?”
“……I’d do it.”
If I hadn't seen her in that black skirt and black panties, I might have resisted. What a shame.
I could see a vein throbbing on Choi I-seo’s forehead.
“What about Ye-rin?”
“Man, I’d be honored.”
“Whew.”
Choi I-seo fanned her face with her hand to cool down.
Then, she peeked at me and asked, “Th—then, what about me?”
“Want to go to a hotel?”
I asked with a sly grin, and Choi I-seo’s expression turned dead serious.
“Book it.”
“…….”
“I said book it. Open the app.”
Choi I-seo’s bold response made me flinch involuntarily. I glanced down at my phone and asked again.
“A—are you serious?”
“Yeah, let’s go.”
“……Think about this carefully. It’s not good to be so impulsive.”
“…….”
“Think calmly. I told you, I’m a guy who can sleep with anyone. It’s not a good idea for you to have your first experience like th—!”
“Heh.”
Choi I-seo’s lips curled into a smirk at my words. Only then did I realize I’d been played.
“All talk, no action.”
Choi I-seo sat back and crossed her legs, radiating confidence. Only after I realized she was just testing to see if I really would sleep with anyone as I’d claimed—
“Let’s go! I’m going to make you cry today!”
I jumped up and shouted like an excited tribesman, but Choi I-seo replied with a scoff.
“Too late.”
“What do you mean too late?! A person’s heart can’t change that much in a few seconds!”
I’m really going this time!
I’m not going to stop!
I shouted, but Choi I-seo slowly stood up, linked her arm with mine, and started dragging me back toward the English Department booth.
“No. At least for today, I’m annoyed with you, so no.”
For today?
My heart fluttered slightly, but my mind eventually calmed down. It felt like the conversation we were having had fizzled out, though.
As I was being dragged along by Choi I-seo, I tried to organize my chaotic thoughts.
“Since we’re not dating… I won’t be as overbearing as I’ve been lately. It’s not my place to interfere with who you’re friends with or who you spend time with.”
I wondered if she’d ever actually been overbearing, but if she said so, I guess she had been.
“But still.”
Choi I-seo poked my side and whispered softly.
“At least let me be a little jealous.”