Chapter 89: Di*k Party
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 89: Di*k Party
Tuesday, 9:00 AM lecture.
As usual, Seo Ye-rin, Choi I-seo, and I were listening to the lecture in a daze.
Well, to be precise, only Choi I-seo was actually listening intently; Seo Ye-rin and I were a different story.
“I’m telling you, to beat this boss, you have to level this one up.”
“I don’t have any resources.”
Seo Ye-rin let out a sigh as she looked down at the game character on my phone.
“They gave out a ton during the event. Did you spend them on someone else?”
“Her.”
She pointed to a female character whose chest was so ample it was larger than her head. She was supposedly a student, but her design was so suggestive it made you wonder how that was even possible.
“……You leveled up a trash-tier character.”
“She’s totally my type, though.”
Sorry, but unlike Seo Ye-rin, I’m not a meta slave. I pull for the pretty ones.
Apparently dissatisfied with my answer, Seo Ye-rin tapped the phone screen as if throwing a petty tantrum.
— Ahhh! Teacher! Where are you touching?!
A bizarre moan leaked from the phone.
Startled, I frantically scrambled to turn the volume down, but I could already feel the eyes of everyone around us boring into me.
“What are you two doing?”
Choi I-seo glared at us with judging eyes. I tried to make an excuse that it wasn't me, but Seo Ye-rin was already busy scribbling something in her notebook.
Her speed at cutting ties was truly remarkable.
Once the attention of those around us returned to the chalkboard, Seo Ye-rin leaned back toward me and started backseat driving again.
“Don’t level her. Focus on the others.”
“……Don’t you have anything to say to me?”
“Huh?”
‘Huh?’ my ass.
“Thanks to you, I just became the psycho who watches teacher-themed porn during a lecture.”
Wow, saying it out loud makes me sound like a real lunatic.
The fact that it happened during a lecture made the 'disgust factor' jump by several magnitudes.
“It’s not porn.”
“That’s not how people are going to see it.”
“Are you ashamed of our girls?”
“If you weren't ashamed, why did you pretend not to know me?”
“……Let’s just study.”
I really wanted to give Seo Ye-rin a good noogie.
Watching her pretend to be diligent again, I decided to put my phone away and actually focus.
It felt like midterms had just ended, but finals were already right around the corner.
I’d heard that college was all about playing and eating, but for some reason, it felt like I was constantly in a state of 'just finished an exam' or 'about to take one.'
Slide.
A notebook nudged my arm.
Seo Ye-rin held out her notes to me. Looking closer, she hadn't been studying at all; she’d just been writing messages like we were passing notes in middle school.
— Is that character really your favorite?
“Yeah.”
When I gave a half-hearted verbal reply, Choi I-seo glanced over. She probably wondered what I was suddenly talking about.
Ignoring her, Seo Ye-rin snatched the notebook back and scribbled something else.
— Want me to cosplay her for you?
Seriously, where does this girl’s boundary for sexual activity even end? I wrote back an answer to the 'Sex Master,' a woman who seemingly embraced every genre without prejudice.
— Middle finger emoji.
— Whyyy?
— You can’t pull it off.
I thought saying exactly why she couldn't do it might hurt her feelings, but seeing her punch my thigh, it seemed she already knew the reason without me saying it.
The character’s breasts were literally bigger than her head. How could she possibly replicate that without padding?
She’d probably need surgery or a complete change in ethnicity.
“Aren't you guys going to study?”
Choi I-seo, unable to watch our antics any longer, finally spoke up.
It wasn't a big deal for me since my attendance was good; as long as I did okay on the exam, I wouldn't get an F.
“If things get really desperate, won't you help us?”
“Department Rep I-seo wouldn't abandon her fellow classmates.”
“Sorry, but it’s graded on a curve, so I’m not helping.”
Despite her grumbling, I knew she’d help anyway, so a sly smirk crept onto my face. Seo Ye-rin was wearing the exact same expression.
“Good grief.”
Choi I-seo shook her head and focused back on the lecture.
For her sake, Seo Ye-rin and I decided to deliberate on the lunch menu.
“Sundaegukbap.”
“We need to get on I-seo’s good side, so how about somewhere with lots of veggies, like Shabu-shabu?”
“Seomorigukbap.”
“There was that place that sells chicken breast steak. That was pretty good.”
“Dwaejigukbap.”
“Or maybe just kimbap? I heard there’s a place that sells Keto kimbap for dieting.”
“Kongnamulgukbap.”
“……I seriously want to smash your head with a gukbap bowl.”
I suggested four different menus in my own way; wasn't that reaction a bit much?
“Anyway, I-seo isn't dieting anymore. She’s eating whatever these days.”
Though she had a body that didn't need dieting in the first place, it was true that Choi I-seo had stopped.
However, she glared at me as if she had something to say in her defense.
“That’s only because I ended up eating whatever you wanted to eat.”
“But you always eat well once the food is there.”
“……During winter break, I’m seriously going to work out and take a Body Profile.”
I don’t know why she’s so obsessed with a Body Profile, but I guess if she wants to do it, she’ll do it.
“Then let’s have kimbap for lunch! And gukbap for dinner! How’s that?”
Seo Ye-rin proposed a compromise as a neutral party, but I shook my head.
“I have plans for dinner tonight.”
At my words, both of their gazes immediately locked onto me. Perhaps because of my visit to the girls' dorm yesterday, their eyes were much sharper than usual.
“Where? With who?”
“You have a 5:00 PM lecture, and you still made dinner plans?”
“I’m skipping class for it.”
A five-hour gap between classes is just insane. Today was a day that required preparation, so I decided not to go.
“Where? With who? I want to go too.”
Seo Ye-rin clung to me persistently. I let out a sigh and answered.
“Senior Han-gang is coming, though?”
“Have a nice time.”
That fended off Seo Ye-rin instantly.
I’d mentioned grabbing drinks with Senior Han-gang before, but I didn't think the plan would actually materialize.
With Seo Ye-rin defeated, Choi I-seo, who was sitting next to me, subtly chimed in.
“Where are you eating? If it’s okay, I could also……”
“Ahn Hyun-ho is coming too.”
“……Don’t you have editing to do?”
She immediately changed the subject, signaling she wasn't coming.
And thus, Choi I-seo was also defeated.
“I did a lot yesterday, so it’s fine. Progress is faster than I expected.”
Since I’d already planned the shots while filming, the editing process itself was much quicker.
To be honest, adding subtitles is the most tedious part.
“So it’s a guys' night out.”
To add to that...
You could also call it a gathering of losers.
* * *
Surprisingly, the person who organized this gathering wasn't me, but Chan-woo.
He called me, saying he didn't have work today and asked if I wanted to grab drinks. I figured something must have happened with Yoo Ah-rin yesterday.
But then, out of the blue, Chan-woo said he was inviting Pyo Jin-ho.
I felt like he was up to something, so I summoned Han-gang and Ahn Hyun-ho as well, just in case I needed to break up a fight.
The two of them had been asking to grab drinks for a while, so I also had the selfish thought of just dealing with everyone at once.
And so, suddenly...
A crazy lineup of men was assembled.
Vibrate!
While heading to the pork belly restaurant Chan-woo had mentioned, my phone rang.
I’d just finished a round of Bamboo Forest management, so I was going to be annoyed if it was related to that, but it wasn't.
— Yoo Ah-rin —
I hesitated for a moment but picked up.
“Yes, Slave.”
— ……Where are you, Master?
She’s actually playing along?
“I didn't think you’d actually go with it.”
— Where are you? I’m bored. Let’s go to a PC Bang and do some editing together.
“Hmm.”
— Or I can just go to your place.
“I’m out. I have plans.”
— ……With I-seo and Ye-rin?
I don’t know why their names came up first, but I denied it.
“No, I’m drinking with Chan-woo.”
Just as I had fended off Seo Ye-rin and Choi I-seo, I mentioned Chan-woo’s name, but Yoo Ah-rin’s reaction was lukewarm.
— Where? I’m coming too.
‘What?’
I was sure Chan-woo would have something to say about Yoo Ah-rin. Did they start dating yesterday or something?
However, I had one more hurdle for Yoo Ah-rin.
“Pyo Jin-ho is coming too.”
— ……You’re joking, right?
“I wish I were. Chan-woo invited him. I even gathered more people just in case Chan-woo tries to smash his head with a soju bottle.”
— Sigh.
A sigh filled with complex emotions. I waited to see what her response would be.
Click.
She just hung up.
“This girl?”
A few minutes later, a long text arrived. It was filled with a barrage of insults she wanted me to relay to Pyo Jin-ho, so I just tucked my phone away and pretended I hadn't seen it.
‘Am I a bit late?’
I felt like I was running late because of Yoo Ah-rin, but I didn't walk faster or run.
It was too much effort, and it wasn't exactly an urgent meeting.
However, the moment I arrived at the pork belly restaurant, I realized my assumption was a bit off.
Everyone except me was already there.
Looking at the group of men sitting around a circular table—some silently grilling meat, some with their arms crossed, and others just staring at their phones—I couldn't help but comment.
“Ugh, the tension is suffocating.”
It wasn't exactly the Avengers.
‘Should I just go home?’
Chan-woo, seeing me seriously considering turning around and leaving, immediately waved his hand and called out.
“Woo-jin! Over here!”
“……Caught me.”
In the end, I was caught by Chan-woo and took my seat.
Han-gang and Ahn Hyun-ho glared at me as if asking why I’d called them.
And then there was Pyo Jin-ho, who had been beaten like a dog by Yoo Ah-rin last time.
Amidst the mutual discomfort, I awkwardly asked Han-gang a question.
“When are you going to the military?”
“I pushed it back to next year.”
“Eh? I thought you said they told you to go right away.”
That’s why he’d already taken a leave of absence. I wondered why he’d bothered to flee from the group project if that was the case.
“I pushed it back without telling my parents.”
“…….”
“So, uh, do you think you could let me crash at your place for a few days?”
“Your life is truly legendary.”
He was practically living like a YOLO-ist at this point.
“Are you okay not editing?”
Ahn Hyun-ho, who had been staring at his phone next to Han-gang, asked quietly.
“I did a lot yesterday. This is the third time I’ve said this today.”
I’m not some editing machine; I’m getting tired of it.
Since Ahn Hyun-ho and Han-gang were close, they started exchanging some conversation, so I spoke to the person who was most out of place.
“Hello, Senior. I’m Kim Woo-jin. We met briefly last time.”
When I greeted Pyo Jin-ho, he nodded awkwardly.
He was built like a mountain, but the fact that his wounds from that day hadn't fully healed yet gave him a surprisingly delicate vibe.
Having started the conversation, I found myself with nothing else to say.
“……Yoo Ah-rin sent a text for me to relay to you. Want to see it? It’s a bit hard for me to say out loud.”
“No……”
I just said the first thing that came to mind, and he immediately declined. I felt like I’d just hurt him more, which left a bitter taste in my mouth.
Finally, Chan-woo.
Chan-woo, who had already ordered alcohol, passed the glasses around and said to me.
“Woo-jin, can you swap seats with me?”
“……Why?”
At my question, Chan-woo replied with a smile.
“Because if there’s an empty bottle nearby, I feel like I might smash Senior Jin-ho’s head with it.”
Then why did you sit next to him?
Chan-woo’s face was already flushed, as if he’d had a few drinks before coming.
I immediately swapped seats with him and held out my glass to break the awkward atmosphere.
“Let’s just have a toast…… Life doesn't end just because you get rejected by a girl.”
“You son of a bitch.”
I don’t know who said it, but the insult came flying in instantly, so I just lowered my glass.
However, backing down here felt like a blow to my pride. I held out my glass again and tried a slogan.
“We are not losers!”
“You bastard.”
Another curse from somewhere.
I scanned the group like I was looking for the Mafia, but everyone kept their mouths shut and pretended it wasn't them.
“Fuck it, then do it right, you crazy girl-crazy bastards. Cheers!”
Triggered by the insults, my sudden outburst kicked things off.
And so, an agonizingly awkward drinking session among men began.