Chapter 70: Fair Competition
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 70: Fair Competition
“Hey, gorgeous, pour me a drink.”
Thanks to Senior Ju-hee’s arrival, I felt the atmosphere finally starting to clear.
She was like the exhaust fan of a barbecue restaurant.
I quickly poured her a drink and asked, “Where have you been? You’re late.”
“Hm? You giving me attitude for being late?”
Ju-hee laughed boisterously as she downed the shot. She didn't even wait for a toast; the way she just drank alone was the definition of cool.
“I was out playing some billiards with friends.”
“You play billiards too?”
To be honest, I was a bit surprised, but it wasn't hard to imagine her leaning over a table with a cigarette in her mouth among a crowd of old men.
Of course, she couldn't smoke at the table these days since there are separate smoking rooms.
“I dabble. You any good, Woo-jin?”
She looked ready to drag me to a pool hall right then and there. I smiled and replied, “I’ve only ever played pocket ball.”
“Tsk. Hand in your man card.”
Isn't it a bit weird for a woman to say that?
“That’s sexual harassment, you know.”
“Pfft!”
Seo Ye-rin, sitting next to me, burst out laughing, but I ignored her. She was currently in a state where she’d laugh at anything remotely sexual—basically, she had the sensibilities of a middle schooler going through puberty.
“No, but seriously, why pocket ball? Usually, when guys go to a billiard hall, they play 4-ball.”
“...I played with my ex-girlfriend.”
A sudden silence fell over the table.
The three of them simultaneously looked away from me, seemingly thinking they’d touched upon a sensitive subject.
Well, it was a little awkward.
“So, how did you get into it, Senior? Girls don't usually go to billiard halls together.”
“Me?”
Ju-hee looked down at her glass for a moment, held it out for a refill, and then tossed it back.
It was like she was refueling an engine.
“Mmm, well, since you shared your story...”
I wondered if there was some special reason.
“Back in high school, I used to beat kids up with a pool cue. I liked the way it felt in my hand, so I started going to the halls.”
I shouldn't have asked.
“I guess I should never go to a billiard hall with you.”
“Keke, is it just the billiard hall you should avoid?”
Ju-hee spoke playfully, but the implication that she had similar stories for other places was slightly terrifying.
If we went to a PC Bang, would she hit me with a keyboard? At karaoke, would it be the microphone?
She sipped her drink again and glanced at the two women sitting next to me, shrugging her shoulders.
“But man, Woo-jin, you’ve got some skills. You’ve got the two prettiest girls in our department flanking you.”
At her words, I reflexively glanced at both of them. Now that I thought about it, she was right.
This spot between Seo Ye-rin and Choi I-seo was prime real estate—so much so that the guys around us were shooting me looks of pure envy.
“Damn, I’m pretty awesome.”
The moment I voiced my honest thought, I felt a sharp pinch on both thighs. Both of them were giving me a warning under the table.
Because they both pinched me at the same time, I doubled over, my hands reaching down to rub the sore spots.
“Ah, to be young. Must be nice. Dammit, when am I ever going to date?”
Ju-hee called our interaction cute as she started filling a beer mug with soju.
If I wasn't careful, I’d get caught up in some weird drunken rambling.
“I’m sure there are at least one or two people interested in you, Senior.”
Ju-hee shook her head at Choi I-seo, who was speaking like a seasoned office manager.
“Ugh, the guys back in high school were such cowards. They’d run away the moment we made eye contact. There was never any time to actually talk.”
“But it’s different now.”
Choi I-seo held out her glass for a toast. The four of us clinked our glasses and downed our drinks.
“Kwah! Hey, so what if it’s different? I don’t have time to date because I’m too busy studying. I need to get that full scholarship.”
“I can... definitely relate to that.”
Choi I-seo agreed, shooting a sideways glance at me. Her words about 'seeing me next semester' flashed through my mind.
“But don't you think it’s better to date now?”
“Oh?”
Then, somewhat unexpectedly.
Seo Ye-rin, who was the last to swallow her drink, chimed in, piquing Ju-hee’s interest.
“You better watch what you say. If you say you’re interested in dating here, there are more than a few wolves who’ll pounce on you in a heartbeat.”
As Ju-hee said that, I felt the restaurant grow slightly quieter. It was as if everyone was hanging on Seo Ye-rin’s every word.
Despite that, Seo Ye-rin didn't hesitate and spoke quite boldly.
“There are things you can only experience during this time. I think I’d feel cheated if I entered society without ever having dated.”
“Kiyah! That’s also true. Looks like Ye-rin’s going to snag a guy soon.”
Ju-hee made a fuss, saying that a girl like Seo Ye-rin could get a boyfriend just by speaking to someone.
With that, the conversation naturally shifted to the festival stage.
Ju-hee, seemingly interested in Seo Ye-rin, began prying for details.
“Seriously? You really got a business card?”
“Ah, yes... but I turned them down.”
“Is it true that Lee Joon-min, who performed at the festival, asked for your number?”
“...Th-that, uh, yes.”
Seo Ye-rin answered with her head down, stealing glances at me. I wondered why she looked so worried.
Then, my phone buzzed with a notification as she tapped away at hers.
“Don't worry about what?”
When I answered her out loud while looking right at her, Seo Ye-rin panicked and started slapping my arm.
“Hwaa!? Wh-what are you talking about all of a sudden!?”
It felt like we were having a secret affair, and I couldn't just sit still.
“....”
Meanwhile.
I felt a slight tug on my clothes. I looked to my side and saw Choi I-seo holding onto the hem of my shirt, pulling it ever so slightly.
‘Sigh, I don't even know anymore.’
I pretended not to notice and kept drinking, but then Ju-hee turned her target toward me.
“By the way, Woo-jin, we’re going to start filming for the assignment soon, so keep that in mind.”
“Are you really talking about work at a drinking party?”
“Yeah, I am. And since Ye-rin is here, it’s perfect.”
It was the scenario created in collaboration with Yoo Ah-rin. Thanks to that, the 'scenario privilege' had vanished, and no one could escape participating in the assignment.
“What happened to the seniors who said they wouldn't do it?”
Didn't Ju-hee throw a fit at the karaoke bar and tell them to get lost?
The answer was already written on Ju-hee’s face as she aggressively chewed on a piece of meat.
“What do you think? Those bitches look down whenever I walk past them. I’m leaving them out.”
“Is that really okay? Didn't the scenario need more girls?”
I understood the story revolved around female students doing a courage test.
In our group, Ju-hee and Seo Ye-rin were the only girls.
“I need to find someone to just act the parts...”
Ju-hee’s eyes drifted toward Choi I-seo.
So that’s why she brought up the group project now.
I followed her gaze to Choi I-seo. I-seo, who had been busy grilling meat with the tongs again, looked flustered.
“Huh? M-me?”
“I-seo is pretty, has a great personality, and as the department rep, she’s got a strong sense of responsibility, right?”
Ju-hee asked me.
I poured more alcohol into Choi I-seo’s glass and played along.
“You think that’s all? Choi I-seo works out, so she’s got great stamina. She’s surprisingly considerate, and she’s got a lot of depth to her.”
“Wow, really?”
“Oh, absolutely. Where else are you going to find a woman like this?”
“Hah! If that’s the case, I’m sure someone like I-seo would help us out if she knew how much trouble our group was in, right?”
As Ju-hee grinned broadly and made her intentions blatant, Choi I-seo let out a sigh.
“I’m pretty busy, and I’ve never acted before...”
Despite her words, her expression was light. She shot me a quick look, shook her head, and continued.
“It was a bit blatant, but the compliments were nice to hear, so I’ll do it.”
“Oye! Actor secured. Ye-rin, since you’re in the group, you’ll take the lead. I-seo, I’ll give you a part with as little screen time as possible.”
“Please do.”
With that, Ju-hee and Choi I-seo began discussing the assignment.
That was when I noticed Seo Ye-rin staring at me intently. She was munching on some pork belly, but she clearly wanted something.
“You want me to compliment you too?”
When I took a guess, Seo Ye-rin nodded vigorously.
“Hmm... You have two eyes.”
“....”
“And two ears. Good job.”
“....”
“I like the way your nostrils flare. Compliment.”
“....”
“I admire how much meat you’re shoving in your face. You’re gonna turn into a pig. Compliment.”
“Three.”
“You’re good at counting. Compliment.”
“Two.”
“You’re counting backward, but compliment.”
“One.”
“I admire how you’re clenching your fist to get angry even though it’s not scary at all. Compliment.”
“You jerk!”
She immediately started pummeling me with her fists.
“Osoi (Too slow).”
I smirked as I blocked her punches, which only made her swing faster.
It was getting hard to keep up, so I stood up abruptly and made an excuse to go to the restroom. The restroom wasn't inside the restaurant; I had to go out to the shared one in the stairwell.
When I stepped out of the restroom, someone was standing there.
Unexpectedly, it was Senior Han-gang.
“Woo-jin.”
He looked quite serious.
His posture was firm, exuding a sense of confidence and even a bit of intimidation.
“I heard everything earlier. About Ye-rin.”
“...About Seo Ye-rin being interested in dating?”
He nodded.
“You’ve got sharp ears.”
“Don't joke around.”
I took a step back, wondering if I was about to get hit. If we fought, I’d definitely lose.
“I told you before. I truly like Ye-rin, and I’m going after her.”
“You did.”
“I’m not going to hold back anymore. I’m going to tell her I’m seriously interested, take the time to build a relationship, and then confess.”
“....”
“I’m not asking you to step aside. I’m saying let’s compete. A fair competition.”
My conscience gave me a sharp poke.
How on earth could I tell this guy that I’d already spent a night with her in the heat of the moment?
My heart felt heavy; I felt like a total scumbag.
“Uh, um... Senior.”
“Yeah, Woo-jin?”
I started to speak, but I didn't know what to say. After agonizing over it, I finally managed:
“L-let’s both do our best!”
I held out my hand for a handshake. Senior Han-gang let out a long breath and gripped my hand firmly.
“Yeah. Let’s do our best.”
I’m sorry.
I’m so, so sorry.
“I-I’m going to get some fresh air. You go on ahead.”
As I headed downstairs, he added one last thing.
“I think I might have misunderstood you. Regardless of who ends up with her, or if we both fail... let’s grab a drink together sometime, just the two of us.”
“O-of course!”
I blurted out and hurried outside.
A strange sense of guilt washed over me.
I couldn't shake the feeling that I’d become the kind of trashy protagonist you only see in manga.
“There you are!”
Yoo Ah-rin came bounding down the stairs. She was huffing, her fists clenched.
“You seriously brought Jeong Chan-woo? And sat him at our table? And then you just sit there surrounded by three girls, loving every second of it?”
“Perfect timing. Can you hit me a few times?”
“You’re dead—! Wait, what?”
“I said, hit me.”
I felt like I couldn't forgive myself unless I felt some pain.
“Are you serious?”
“Don't ask, just hit me. I’m starting to hate myself.”
I slowly closed my eyes.
Yes, I need to feel at least this much pain to—
Thwack!
“Gah! Holy—! Wait! That hurts like hell!”
Stop hitting me!
* * *
The day after the after-party.
On Mondays, I didn't have any classes where I’d meet the others, so I usually just hung out at school quietly by myself.
I was eating a lunch of cup ramen and convenience store kimbap while playing the mobile game Black Academy when I got a text from an unexpected person.
“Hm?”
I popped a piece of kimbap into my mouth, wondering what he meant.
Immediately after, another text arrived from someone else.
“Uoom?”
I was about to ask what was going on, but another text came from Senior Han-gang.
And almost simultaneously, the next text arrived.
“...Eh?”
Are these two doing a comedy routine?