Chapter 77: Lucky Ahn Hyun-ho
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 77: Lucky Ahn Hyun-ho
“Ugh, I’m exhausted.”
By the time my 5 PM lecture ended, it was already 7 PM. I couldn't understand why the professor insisted on teaching until this hour, especially since even he looked miserable.
Do professors have their own versions of "golden hours" for lectures?
It was the kind of class that left you pondering all sorts of useless questions.
Anyway, normally I would have been the first one out the door the second class ended. Unfortunately, today I had an assignment to deal with.
Man, this is such a drag.
I didn't know if Ahn Hyun-ho had actually improved, but honestly, I just wanted to run away. Not only that, but seeing Seo Ye-rin suddenly start acting like a loose cannon was getting a little scary.
...Should I just pretend I forgot and bolt?
My brain told me I shouldn't, especially considering Senior Ju-hee, but my body was screaming to go home and collapse onto my mattress. In the first place, I was in charge of editing; did I really need to be at the filming site?
Okay, let’s think about this.
Running away might be a bit much, but I planned to go to the senior and argue that my presence at the shoot wasn't strictly necessary. I felt like I could be pretty persuasive if I tried, so I sat there, deep in thought.
“There he is!”
“He’s trying to escape! Arrest him! Arrest him!”
Boisterous voices erupted from the classroom door.
Seo Ye-rin and Yoo Ah-rin came charging toward me, making a huge scene, while Choi I-seo stood by the door like a sentry. It seemed they had come to catch me, anticipating my escape.
Amidst the "fugitive" atmosphere, Yoo Ah-rin rushed over, grabbed the back of my neck, and pushed me down.
“You punk! Caught you! Stay still! You have no right to an attorney; you’re going straight to the site to work like a slave!”
“Cut the crap.”
When I annoyed-ly swatted her hand away, she let out a deflated sigh.
“Kim Woo-jin, you have zero sense of atmosphere. This is why you don't have friends.”
“I have friends, though?”
“You son of a—!”
I hadn't even said who I was talking about, but she seemed to catch on instantly, slapping my shoulder in a fuss. Seo Ye-rin, arriving a beat later than Ah-rin, smiled and picked up my bag from the seat next to me.
“Woo-jin, let’s go. Senior Ju-hee and the others are waiting.”
Was she intentionally mentioning Senior Ju-hee to make sure I couldn't run?
“Why are you guys here instead of filming?”
“We told her we thought you’d run away and that we’d go catch you. She told us to go ahead.”
“…….”
Am I really that easy to read?
I don't know how they pegged me so accurately, but between Seo Ye-rin clutching my bag and Yoo Ah-rin hauling me up, I had no choice but to be dragged along. When we reached the door, Choi I-seo gave me a smirk and offered a bit of consolation.
“Let’s go. Senior said we’re getting dinner.”
“Has Ahn Hyun-ho gotten any better?”
“Somewhat. Senior Ju-hee is a good teacher.”
Well, it’s hard not to memorize a few English lines when there’s a fist hovering in front of your face. These girls could say that so easily because they hadn't seen Ju-hee beating the crap out of Han-gang.
“For dinner, there’s this all-you-can-eat lamb place. She said we’re going there.”
“...What the hell is all-you-can-eat lamb?”
“I don't know. Apparently, it’s a Japanese-style pub. Senior Han-gang said he’s treating us today because he feels bad.”
It wasn't that he felt bad; it was more like his balls would have burst if he didn't do at least that much for Senior Ju-hee. The image of him getting ganged up on was still vivid in my mind.
“But if we drink, won't that ruin the shoot?”
“They’ll probably just skip it or only have a little.”
We chatted idly as we headed toward where the seniors were. Choi I-seo was still wearing the hat I gave her, seemingly unaware that Seo Ye-rin had already noticed.
“Have you ever had lamb? I’ve never tried it,” Yoo Ah-rin chimed in from the side.
Come to think of it, neither had I.
“I haven't. Don't they usually sell it at skewer places?”
“Do they put spices on it here too? I think they sprinkle stuff on it at the skewer shops.”
“Is the place we’re going a skewer shop?”
“I don't think so. I checked the menu before coming, and I saw a photo where the meat was still on the bone, like a drumstick.”
“Isn't leg meat usually poor quality?”
“Huh? Is that how it works?”
“Because it’s a lamb leg—a two-timer.”
“Agh! You piece of shit! That’s not even funny! Your mouth doesn't know the meaning of humility, does it? You just blurt out whatever pops into your head!”
I got smacked by Yoo Ah-rin immediately after dropping that lame pun. Choi I-seo, who had been quietly watching our heated debate over the mysterious meat, chimed in.
“Isn't it something like Jingisukan? They sell a specific lamb dish called Jingisukan in Hokkaido, Japan.”
“What, have you been there?”
“I’m jealous!”
“No... I just saw it on Neutube.”
“Oh? I think I’ve seen that too. A travel Neutuber was...”
The conversation shifted from lamb to Jingisukan, and then to traveling in Japan. The three of them started talking about where they’d want to go and what they’d want to do if they went to Japan together.
Then, suddenly.
“...?!”
I felt a sensation on my butt.
I thought it was just an accidental brush at first.
Squeeze!
A small hand firmly gripped one side of my butt and started kneading it.
“Oh! I want to try the Sapporo train too!”
“That was on a variety show a long time ago. Ever since then...”
While Yoo Ah-rin and Choi I-seo were having an uncharacteristically friendly conversation, I stole a glance to the side.
“Hehe.”
There was Seo Ye-rin, looking up at me with a mischievous grin. When our eyes met, she applied more pressure and continued to fondle my backside.
Stop it.
I mouthed the words at her, but Seo Ye-rin just stuck her tongue out and didn't let go. I finally managed to pry her hand away by reaching back and pushing her off.
This girl is seriously losing it.
Now that the leash was off, she was acting like a wild filly. It was honestly bewildering.
“Ah, the seniors said they’re going ahead to grab a table.”
Choi I-seo stopped in her tracks after checking her Tok. It seemed we had to head off-campus.
“They said to take a taxi... Senior Han-gang is paying for everything.”
Han-gang is really going all out.
I was about to call a taxi through an app, but luckily there was one idling at the school entrance, so we hopped in and headed to the lamb restaurant.
“Ye-rin, are you okay with eating with Senior Han-gang?”
Yoo Ah-rin asked out of concern for Seo Ye-rin midway through the ride.
“Huh? I don't mind at all.”
Seo Ye-rin gave a refreshing answer, acting as if it truly didn't matter. She seemed so unfazed that it was actually Ah-rin who looked taken aback.
We eventually arrived at the restaurant.
The place definitely had a Japanese vibe. There was a miniature cherry blossom tree out front, and the interior was decorated with Japanese dolls, anime figurines, and lanterns, creating a nice atmosphere. It felt like a pub you’d see in a Japanese drama.
“You’re here?”
Senior Han-gang waved at us. He was smiling, but the shadow on his face suggested this was costing him a pretty penny. But considering the massive "trolling" he’d done, this was a fair price to pay. I hoped he’d consider this a trade-off for the money he usually spent trying to pick up girls. Besides, he wouldn't have much to spend money on once he joined the military anyway...
For some reason, there were already beer glasses on the table. Senior Ju-hee, in particular, seemed to have had a fair share already; her 500cc mug was already half empty. Furthermore, she was clutching Ahn Hyun-ho next to her like a middle-aged man talking politics.
“Do it again.”
“A-Am so sorry...”
“You want to die?”
“…….”
“Hey, you punk. Should I pull your tongue out and grill it on the brazier? What kind of pronunciation is that?”
“I-I’m sorry.”
Apparently, she was still tutoring Ahn Hyun-ho. However, I could tell he was much better than before I went to my lecture. Senior Ju-hee was probably satisfied with his progress, but the alcohol seemed to have made her a bit more aggressive.
“Again.”
“Am so sorry but...”
“Give me that tongue. I’ll eat it as ox tongue. Woo-jin, you want some?”
The senior asked me the moment I sat down. My eyes met Ahn Hyun-ho’s, and I immediately grimaced.
“If I eat that, it’s like I’m kissing him.”
“Ugh, my bad.”
The senior, who had been holding tongs as if to shove them into Hyun-ho’s mouth, immediately put them down. I was going to grill the meat myself, but a staff member did it for us, so I just sat there quietly.
“Senior, are we not filming anymore today?” Choi I-seo eventually asked cautiously.
We were supposed to do the assignment after eating, but if everyone was drinking, wouldn't the shoot be canceled?
Senior Ju-hee let out a deep sigh and glared at Ahn Hyun-ho again.
“You guys did so well that we actually shot more than today’s quota. Because there’s one guy here who couldn't get a single scene right.”
“Ah...”
“He said he’d memorize everything and practice by tomorrow afternoon, so we’ll start properly then.”
Since they couldn't film the scenes involving Ahn Hyun-ho, it seemed they had focused on the other characters' parts instead. Tomorrow would likely be Ahn Hyun-ho’s solo stage.
“And since you guys are helping out, buying you just spicy stir-fried pork felt a bit wrong.”
I barely bit back a retort about what was wrong with stir-fried pork.
“Well, I looked at the schedule and we have plenty of time, so don't worry about taking a break. After today, I don't think the filming will take that long.”
For us, filming just meant pressing a button on a phone. Since we didn't have to worry about details like lighting or audio, the filming time could be drastically reduced as long as the actors performed well.
“So you guys drink too. You worked hard today. It’s just the beginning, but please hang in there a bit longer.”
With Senior Ju-hee’s permission, we started ordering beers and drinking as if we’d been waiting for the word. Just as the heat from the brazier began to spread, the atmosphere at our table grew livelier.
Since we had classes tomorrow, I was pacing myself, but the mood was generally good. Seeing my chance, I slipped into the seat next to Senior Ju-hee.
“Senior, I have something to tell you.”
“Hmm?”
The senior, who was about to stand up for a smoke, sat back down awkwardly at my call.
“I’m doing the editing, right?”
“Right.”
“And I was the one who suggested the script, too. It’s thanks to me that we got Yoo Ah-rin’s help.”
“That’s true too. You’re such a sweetheart.”
She ruffled my hair. Since the mood was good, I pressed on with a smile.
“Actually, I’ve been learning some editing techniques lately. So, I’ve been a bit short on time.”
“You don't have to go that far, though.”
“Hey, it’s good to get a good grade. And I might do some part-time Neutube editing later.”
I had no intention of doing that, but it was a good excuse.
“So, the thing is... I’m really short on time lately. Between lectures, studying, and editing... it’s a bit hard for me to follow the filming crew around.”
“Hmm.”
I didn't have a role anyway. I did listen to things like camera angles or precautions for editing, but honestly, I could just get those via Tok.
“Could you let me sit out the shoots?”
When I got straight to the point, Senior Ju-hee nodded and replied.
“You’re right. I was asking too much of you. I’m sorry.”
“No, no! It’s not like that.”
Yes!
I forced myself to suppress a wide grin as I replied to her.
“If there’s anything I can help with, just call me anytime.”
“I’ll do that if I need to. But I’ll try not to call you if possible...”
“If Kim Woo-jin drops out, I’m out too.”
That’s when Yoo Ah-rin, who had been listening from the other side, chimed in with a smirk. I stared at her, wondering if I’d heard correctly.
“Good luck,” Yoo Ah-rin declared, delivering my sentence.
She knew exactly how to ruin my mood.
“You’re the only one trying to bail?”
“Didn't you hear me say I’m practicing editing?”
When I sighed and spoke, Yoo Ah-rin replied with a devious smile.
“Talk to me after you actually install an editing program on your laptop.”
This girl...?!
“...Woo-jin, you’re not saying that without even having the program installed, are you?”
Senior Ju-hee gripped my thigh tightly.
Of course. Of course I hadn't installed it, dammit. I was just trying to look like I was working hard; I had no intention of actually being diligent. Editing is just sticking clips together and adding subtitles anyway, isn't it?
Wait, why do I feel like a 'Lucky Ahn Hyun-ho' right now?
Thinking about it, I realized I wasn't much different from that guy who hadn't memorized his script, and I started to feel a bit nervous.
“You have your laptop in your bag, right? Take it out and show us. If you’re scared, get out!”
Yoo Ah-rin shouted with a laugh, sensing her victory.
“Me too.”
Choi I-seo, who had drunk quite a bit of beer because the snacks were good, also joined in.
“I think Woo-jin needs to be there.”
She began to ride the wave Yoo Ah-rin had created.