Bamboo Forest Manager

I’ve heard that scars are like medals for men.

If a scar forms from this, it would be more of a disgrace than a medal.

So it was a relief that there were no scars, but after leaving the hospital, I wondered if it would be better to have a cast or something.

‘I feel like I’ll get hit if I run into them.’

The three people who probably haven’t cooled down yet.

I’m scared of getting hit, but at this moment, my heart races at the thought of meeting the three of them.

Is it possible for a person to change this much by being honest with oneself?

In many ways, growth.

Or perhaps, it’s evolution.

‘Ah, where is this place?’

Once outside, I was met with a completely unfamiliar landscape.

I initially thought the hospital seemed unfamiliar, and it seemed they had taken me to a hospital near the pension.

‘Did they just abandon me like this?’

In a panic, I quickly check my phone.

None of the three had left a message, but Yoon-ji had left a text.

• Oh Yoon-ji: Woojin, contact me when you wake up.

‘Ah.’

Come to think of it, Yoon-ji said she would pick me up after the MT.

We broke up yesterday, so asking her for a ride today feels wrong both as a man and as a person.

• Kim Woojin: Where am I? I’m scared.

But my fingers are already sending an SOS to Yoon-ji.

Hmm.

I guess I am lacking as a person.

Saying ‘I love you’ to three people at once is, in hindsight, an impossibly trashy confession.

‘In manga or novels, harem protagonists manage such situations well.’

Reality is truly difficult, so I decide to turn on a webtoon.

Even in modern-themed webtoons, there seem to be ones with harem elements.

‘I’ve made up my mind.’

Then, I should approach it seriously.

‘But applying webtoons to reality is a bit off.’

Moreover, adult webtoons often involve bizarrely subduing others with physicality, which is awkward.

Using hypnosis or superpowers is obviously out of the question.

Before I knew it, I was just watching webtoons for fun.

Honk honk!

“Woojin.”

Yoon-ji, sitting in a red sports car, was calling me.

Seeing her face like this made me a bit embarrassed, but I got in the passenger seat, and Yoon-ji stepped on the accelerator.

“I’m just dropping you off at the dorm, right?”

“…Yeah, thanks.”

I answer while cautiously gauging her reaction.

Yoon-ji held the steering wheel with one hand, resting her chin on the other hand by the window, focusing on driving.

There wasn’t much conversation.

Does she know why I was hospitalized?

Nervous, I open my mouth carefully.

“Well, aren’t you busy? I thought you would be.”

“I am busy. But since I’m returning to school in the second semester, I can hire employees and make some time.”

Right.

Back in the first semester of freshman year, we were on the same level.

It’s amazing to think that Yoon-ji is now the president of a company, even having employees.

“How’s Popo doing?”

“Yeah, doing well. Let’s have a meal together sometime. She’s really grateful to you.”

“Sure, call me when you have time.”

I breathe a sigh of relief, thinking they haven’t talked about me separately.

Though I’ve softened a bit after facing the world’s hardships, I used to have a real bulldozer tendency.

If that personality came out, I might not get out of the car safely.

“They say when you’re young, you grow up quickly even if you don’t see each other for a short time.”

“Suddenly?”

“So that’s why. It’s only been half a year, but I wonder how someone can become so bold.”

Prelude to a conversation.

The flow was peculiar.

As soon as the car stopped at the red light, Yoon-ji glanced at me and asked.

“How do you plan to confess to three girls?”

Ah, she’s mentioned it.

“The day after telling me you wanted to break up? Is this some kind of rebound relationship?”

Look at her tone rising.

Old habits resurface.

It meant she was gradually getting excited.

“Strictly speaking, it’s been a while since we broke up. Rebound relationship is-”

Thud!

Yoon-ji slammed the steering wheel with her fist.

Her blazing eyes warned me that it’s best not to speak recklessly.

“Ah, yes. I’m sorry.”

Just a while ago, I was sure I had resolved to carry myself with the dignity of a giant.

“Whew, you’re so foolish. Do you have any idea how hard it was for me to accept when you wanted to break up? Idiot.”

The light turned green again.

Yoon-ji, feeling overwhelmed with emotions, eventually pulled over to the side and banged her forehead on the steering wheel.

Then, suddenly, her face flushed red, and she looked at me sharply.

“If it were in the past, I’d have taken you to my place right away.”

Even without further explanation, I knew exactly what she meant.

Back then, Seo Yerin was nothing compared to the bond we shared.

It wasn’t just about liking sex; it was about sharing love with each other.

The memory of enjoying emotional exchanges is still vivid.

“Isn’t it funny when you think about it?”

“What is?”

“Whether we did something wrong, did something right, found something cute, or got annoyed, we’d always go to my place.”

“……”

“It seems like it always ended up the same way.”

Of course, depending on the mood of the day, there was someone who took the lead, but I remember the results were similar anyway.

“Right.”

Oh Yoon-ji agreed, letting out a faint laugh in disbelief.

“What was it back then? The time when you said something because I came in late, you know.”

“How many times did that happen?”

“When I couldn’t take your call because my phone was dead.”

“Oh.”

As if recalling, Oh Yoon-ji turned her head abruptly.

“In fact, I came back on time, but you deliberately set the clock in the dorm an hour ahead to make me think I was late.”

Memories of enduring various humiliating plays as an apology for that come back vividly.

It was dizzying back then, but now it’s just a memory I can laugh off.

“…Back then, I just needed an excuse, I guess.”

Yoon-ji, with a slight curl of her lips, murmured softly.

“Just. I just needed a reason to be with you.”

I felt the same way.

We spent time together by creating forced reasons.

Seeing that I could laugh recalling the past.

The time with Yoon-ji was a good memory.

Perhaps she thought the same as me, as she slowly grabbed the steering wheel again, and we returned to the dormitory, reminiscing about old times.

In front of the dormitory where we arrived before we knew it.

“Woojin.”

It was a little past lunchtime, but Yoon-ji had to leave because she was busy.

She called me while still sitting in the driver’s seat.

“It was nice. Reminds me of the old days.”

Yoon-ji, with a satisfied smile.

After hesitating for a moment, I gave a slight nod and entered the dormitory.

After parting with Yoon-ji, I entered the dormitory.

My room was piled with the luggage I took to the MT, probably brought back by the first-year students living in the dormitory.

I thought about contacting one of the three people first.

I decided to call Seo Yerin first.

There was only one reason for choosing Seo Yerin.

‘She’s the least painful to handle.’

Seo Yerin’s hits were less painful compared to the other two.

When I rang, Seo Yerin picked up quickly.

- Hello.

A low voice.

It was an awkward performance that was clearly meant to be intimidating.

“Ahem, hello? What are you doing right now?”

For now, I pretended to be fooled.

I wondered if it was okay for someone who claims to be an actor to act so poorly.

- You?

“I’m at the dormitory. Are you home? Can we meet for a bit?”

- ……

“Why aren’t you answering?”

I asked, puzzled, tilting my head.

The real voice of Seo Yerin came through the phone.

- Oh, Mom! Why are you answering other people’s calls without permission!

Mom?

Seo Yerin’s mother?

‘Ah, I’m screwed now.’

I had talked to her after the festival and said I would end things with Seo Yerin.

So now it might look strange that I’m calling.

“Can we meet for a bit? The kids from the MT want to have an after-party.”

I pretend not to hear Seo Yerin’s voice and smoothly shift to a natural topic.

- You stay quiet. From the voice, it’s Woojin, right?

Only now do I understand the awkward acting tone in the low voice.

“Yes, Yerin’s mother? Hello.”

I should be confident.

Actually, I shouldn’t be confident in this situation, but I need to be.

- Yes, Woojin. Do they have after-parties after MTs these days?

“Ah, yes. The kids just love gathering. Seo Yerin is quite popular too.”

- …Mr. Woojin, if you have time later, could we meet separately?

“Sorry? All of a sudden?”

I wondered what she meant out of the blue, but she was insistent.

- Yes, please. When you have time later, I’ll send you a message separately.

“Under, stood.”

It wasn’t intentional, but somehow I ended up at an MT afterparty.

I’m outside just to create an alibi for Seo Yerin, without calling anyone specifically.

‘What could it be about all of a sudden.’

There’s still some time as we haven’t set a definite meeting yet.

Still, I want to know in advance why she wants to see me.

Seo Yerin, who will probably arrive soon, must know well.

It was awkward to drink or eat meat, so the compromise was a PC café.

I could have grabbed a spot at the PC café first, but just in case, I was waiting outside, continuing to read the webtoon I was looking at earlier.

‘This is intense.’

I was told it was a realistic harem story, but it’s chilling.

This isn’t romance, it’s just an affair and a melodrama.

Ending with the woman stabbing the man with a knife.

Normally, I would have thought, ‘Serves him right’, but now I’m strangely empathetic, and it sends chills down my spine.

- Yu Arin: Not contacting?

A message came through at that moment.

I smiled slightly and replied immediately.

- Kim Woojin: Out of it. Just arrived at the dorm not long ago.

- Yu Arin: Get lost. Don’t talk to me.

- Kim Woojin: …You texted first.

- Yu Arin: I was checking if you’re alive. I don’t want to end up at the police station for nothing.

- Kim Woojin: At least you beat me until I passed out.

After all, I did faint.

- Yu Arin: You should be grateful to me. Without me, you would’ve been a eunuch.

Hmm?

- Kim Woojin: A eunuch?

- Yu Arin: Don’t even ask. Back then, Yerin was so furious. She was about to cut yours off with scissors.

- Kim Woojin: …Seo Yerin?

- Yu Arin: Yeah, don’t meet Yerin for a while. You might get killed.

I’ve often heard that life can be stranger than fiction.

“Woojin!”

The moment I saw Seo Yerin approaching, waving at me,

I immediately turned and started to run away.

The one I thought was the most gentle turned out to be the biggest landmine, a very common cliché.

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