Chapter 9: This is Sex
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 9: This is Sex
“Hey, what do you think you’re doing to my boyfriend, you punks?”
Her words were rough, but her tone was light. It was the kind of greeting the first-year English Literature students could laugh off.
“Oh, Ju-hee Sunbae?”
“Senior, are you actually dating him?!”
“Hehe, I wish.”
She said it like that, but it was painfully obvious she was joking rather than being serious.
It was exactly the kind of vibe you get when older men make playful, dirty jokes.
It wasn't exactly pleasant, but since it was Captain Ju, I let it slide.
“The group project…”
“Senior, come grab a drink with us!”
“Yeah! We want to get to know you better, Senior!”
Min Ju-hee was especially popular with the girls. Since she was so easygoing, I figured it was a 'girl crush' kind of thing.
After all, cool women are usually liked more by other women.
“Hmm?”
However, Min Ju-hee glanced subtly in my direction. She seemed hesitant, worried she might be dragging me into a drinking session I didn't want to attend.
To be honest, I didn't want to go.
But then again, it wasn't like I particularly wanted to go grab food and drinks alone with Min Ju-hee either.
Earlier, we had the excuse of the assignment to talk about, but that wasn't the case anymore.
“It’s fine.”
When I nodded to show it was okay, the corners of Min Ju-hee’s mouth curled up, and she gave me a firm slap on the back.
“What? I thought you’d hate this kind of thing.”
I do hate it.
But it would be a bit much to ruin the vibe here, wouldn't it?
Besides, it wouldn't be a big deal if I naturally disappeared halfway through the drinks.
In fact, that was exactly what I was aiming for, so I accepted the invitation without much thought.
The pub wasn't the place we originally planned to go, but the one the other students wanted. They insisted we had to go because they’d already made a reservation over the phone, claiming there would be proper meals there too. However...
“We aren't serving meals at this hour.”
As soon as we sat down, the server informed us with a smile.
“Should we leave?”
Senior Ju-hee spoke seriously, saying she couldn't let me go hungry, but I shook my head.
“It’s okay. I’ll get full soon enough with snacks and beer.”
Since the others had already eaten and came specifically to drink, they ordered beer and a few light snacks like dried appetizers and salad.
Who eats salad at a bar?
The thought crossed my mind, but it was a Caprese salad—tomatoes, cheese, and lettuce arranged prettily with some kind of sauce.
It wasn't my style at all.
Soon, a large group of students stepped out to smoke, use the restroom, or touch up their makeup.
Before heading out for a smoke, Senior Ju-hee handed me the menu and told me to order whatever I wanted to eat.
Two pages were filled with various types of alcohol. I flipped to the food section.
‘Ah…’
Dried snacks, french fries, so-tteok so-tteok, pizza, salad, gambas, assorted sausages, and so on.
It was a lineup of typical bar food.
I wasn't a picky eater, but I couldn't believe how every single item was something I didn't want to eat.
“Not feeling it?”
Choi I-seo, who had been sitting next to the Vice Class Rep Ahn Hyun-ho, slipped into the seat beside me.
Ahn Hyun-ho was currently out smoking with the others.
“Sigh. I guess I can't add a side of rice to the assorted sausages? And maybe some kimchi?”
“...Do you think that’s possible?”
Choi I-seo looked at me as if I were absurd.
“I honestly want to go buy a bowl of instant rice.”
As I scrolled through the menu with regret, Choi I-seo pointed at the pizza.
“Do you hate pizza?”
It would probably just be a thin crust with a bit of cheese and a few slices of pepperoni anyway.
“I don't hate it. It’s just... not really a meal replacement.”
Call me picky if you want, but I can't help it.
I’m a Korean who runs on the power of rice.
“Well, I should have known from the way you pick menus.”
Choi I-seo, who had witnessed my symphony of Stir-fried Pork and Pork Cutlet, shook her head as if dizzy.
I was considering just filling up on beer and dried snacks when...
“Are you really dating Senior Ju-hee?”
Choi I-seo asked subtly, resting her chin on her hand. She kept her voice low so the remaining students wouldn't hear.
“No, we were just together for a bit because of a group project.”
Just like last time, I felt like Choi I-seo had some ulterior motive for approaching me, so the question didn't really move me.
“Really?”
Her relieved expression didn't seem to stem from seeing me as a romantic interest.
‘Hmm.’
It felt more like she was glad because she had some other intention.
Ever since I mentioned my ex-girlfriend, Oh Yun-ji, Choi I-seo’s attitude had been very unsettling.
“And,” she whispered, leaning in closer. “Watch out for Hyun-ho. He was a famous school bully in high school... and he doesn't look at you very kindly.”
“...”
“I’m telling you this as the Class Rep. I don't want the atmosphere to get weird because students in the same department are fighting.”
Well, I already knew that.
After all, he was Anonymous 287, the one constantly posting hate about me on the Bamboo Forest.
I gave a dull nod and said I understood, prompting Choi I-seo to let out a sigh.
I wondered if she had more to ask, but her next question was quite unexpected.
“Do you know about the Bamboo Forest?”
“The Gahyeon University anonymous community?”
When I answered immediately, the corners of Choi I-seo’s mouth lifted slightly. She seemed pleased that I knew about it.
“Do you use it often?”
“Occasionally. There are some funny comics and posts on there.”
What was this?
Why did she suddenly bring up the Bamboo Forest?
“I see.”
“...That’s a strange question.”
I tried to probe further, but...
“What are you two doing?”
Ahn Hyun-ho and his crew had finished smoking and returned to the table. Choi I-seo hurriedly pulled back and returned to her original seat.
“What were you talking about? You two looked like you were having fun.”
Ahn Hyun-ho asked with a smile as he sat down. It was a smile in name only; his lips were twitching, clearly suspecting I was up to something.
“Just talking.”
“About what, exactly?”
If it had just been me and Ahn Hyun-ho, the atmosphere might have turned sour. However...
“What? Is Ahn Hyun-ho jealous?!”
“Are you aiming for I-seo? You can't have our I-seo!”
“Whoa, look at his face! The Vice Class Rep is totally abusing his power!”
“Ah, what are you talking about? I was just curious and wanted to join the conversation.”
The other students laughed it off, oblivious to the tension. With the arrival of the ordered beers, our conversation fizzled out.
“Woo-jin, what did you order?”
Senior Ju-hee, back from her smoke, tapped my shoulder. Judging by the scent of perfume, she had made an effort to mask the smell of cigarettes as a courtesy.
“I’m fine just filling up on beer.”
“Now I feel really bad.”
“It’s okay.”
Time passed after that.
Senior Ju-hee, who had been drinking heavily, kept offering me beer to fill my stomach while apologizing.
Ahn Hyun-ho was also busy trying to subtly make Choi I-seo drink through drinking games or 'Black Rose' penalties.
I gave brief answers to Senior Ju-hee while making room so the other girls in the department could talk to her more freely.
The girls thanked me and eagerly took my spot.
‘It’s about time.’
It was the perfect moment to slip away naturally.
I sent a quick text to Senior Ju-hee and quietly stepped outside.
‘Has it been about an hour?’
I’d had a few drinks, but I wasn't stumbling or unable to control myself.
‘Man, I’m hungry.’
Despite having some beer and snacks, I wasn't full; if anything, I was hungrier.
Just as I was about to head to a nearby convenience store...
“Where are you going?”
Choi I-seo’s voice came from behind me.
I glanced back to see her looking at me with an expressionless face.
She had definitely had more to drink than I had, but seeing no change in her expression, she seemed to have a high tolerance.
“What are you doing here?”
“I got annoyed with Ahn Hyun-ho constantly trying to make me drink, so I just left.”
“So you ruined the vibe and walked out.”
“...It wasn't that bad.”
But since it wasn't entirely false, Choi I-seo shoved her hands deep into her coat pockets and turned her head away.
“I just want to be the kind of person who says no when I don't like something.”
The way she phrased it made it sound like she wasn't quite there yet.
“More importantly, where are you going? You slipped out alone—are you just going home?”
“Yeah. I sent a text to Senior Ju-hee.”
“What about your stomach? Did you get enough to eat?”
She must have remembered me saying I wanted a proper meal.
“No. That’s why I’m going to the convenience store.”
I pointed to the convenience store ahead of us and gave a wave with that same hand.
“Well, see ya.”
I went inside and was browsing for something to eat when Choi I-seo followed me in.
“What are you going to eat?”
“Ramyeon and triangle kimbap.”
“...That sounds good.”
I wondered if that was a cruel menu for someone like Choi I-seo, who was working out hard for a body profile.
I was about to ask why she wasn't going home, but then I remembered the question about the Bamboo Forest I hadn't finished.
“Eat with me. Pick something, I’ll buy.”
When I made the offer, intending to indulge in a small convenience store luxury, Choi I-seo smirked.
“I always end up eating junk when I’m with you.”
“So, are you eating or not? It’s not often I offer to buy.”
It was true.
I rarely bought things for others.
Choi I-seo shook her head at my remark, then grabbed a cup of 'Nuclear Spicy Stir-fried Noodles.'
“Kimbap too?”
“You’ll get fat.”
As if to spite me for saying that, Choi I-seo snatched up a tuna triangle kimbap.
After paying, we sat across from each other at a folding table outside, waiting for the noodles to cook.
“My PT trainer is going to be so mad,” Choi I-seo said with a bitter laugh.
I thought the atmosphere might get awkward, but neither she nor I were the type to force conversation.
We just sat there, glancing at our phones.
[Inquiry: 46]
‘Wow.’
Come to think of it, I hadn't checked the Bamboo Forest for a few hours. When I logged in, I was greeted by a long list of inquiries.
The important thing was that they were all from the same person.
As expected, it was Anonymous 69.
She was basically using the inquiry box as her personal notepad now. She knew exactly how to annoy me.
Part of me wanted to unblock her, but that would be unfair to others.
I didn't reply and just ignored it. When I looked up...
Choi I-seo’s expression as she looked at her phone was incredibly dark.
‘Is something wrong?’
Her hands were trembling as if she wanted to hurl the phone right then and there. It felt strange.
“The noodles are ready.”
I spoke as I snapped my chopsticks apart a bit early. Thanks to my words, Choi I-seo put down her phone and started eating.
“They’re undercooked.”
“I guess so.”
They were indeed a bit crunchy, but Choi I-seo’s expression had returned to normal.
After a few bites, I got to the point.
“Why did you bring up the Bamboo Forest earlier?”
“You remembered?”
Choi I-seo had asked me tentatively back at the bar. Since it was such a random question, I asked her why. She looked down at her noodles, avoiding my gaze, and confessed.
“Yun-ji’s high school friends.”
Oh Yun-ji.
The name of the girlfriend I dated and broke up with in the first semester was coming up a lot lately.
“It looks like they’re preparing something to post about you on the Bamboo Forest anonymous board.”
“Even if it’s an anonymous board, only Gahyeon University students can post there.”
“...”
Choi I-seo didn't answer.
But that was enough.
A Gahyeon University student who was also Oh Yun-ji’s high school classmate was currently eating ramyeon right in front of me.
“Anyway, just be careful. If you see a post about yourself on the board, tell the administrator immediately and ask them to delete it. Got it?”
I didn't know what kind of relationship she had with those high school friends, but it didn't seem very healthy.
Regardless, was she worried about me?
Choi I-seo started eating her noodles again with a somewhat relieved expression.
‘Man, I really hope they prepare it thoroughly.’
I didn't know what kind of bullshit they’d spew, but I hoped they stayed up all night, grinding their teeth with hatred as they pounded on their keyboards.
My fingers were itching because I wanted to show them just how futile 'sniping' someone could be.
That long, carefully crafted call-out post they worked so hard on...
The sheer ecstasy of waking up in the morning, yawning, and deleting it in three seconds.
Anonymous 69, this is sex.