Episode 49

At a table in front of the gym’s changing room, Seo Yerin sat with her legs crossed, engrossed in her phone, waiting for her companions in the designated area.

Right behind her, someone was peeking at the phone screen while massaging Seo Yerin’s shoulders.

That someone was me.

“Which place would be nice…”

Speaking with elongated enunciation and tapping on her phone, Seo Yerin resembled a sage from a drama.

Since I ended up being the one to foot the bill for dinner, she was currently deciding on the venue.

“How about President Kim? Is there anything you’d like to eat?”

Seo Yerin turned her head and gazed up at me. Despite the obvious trap, I responded with a smile.

“Oh my. If our President Seo wants to eat something, I am fine with it.”

“Oh my, is that so?”

After all, I’ll be the one paying.

Making Seo Yerin uncomfortable might just break the bank.

“How about steak?”

“Wouldn’t that be too heavy?”

“Pizza?”

“Instead of foreign food, we should have our traditional pancakes.”

“…Pasta.”

“How about noodle soup?”

“Sushi!”

“How about some warm mackerel stew…!”

“It’s hopeless.”

My responses unwittingly leaned towards my personal preferences, which she didn’t seem to appreciate.

“Yiseo, what do you want?”

Choi Yiseo, who had been observing our conversation with crossed legs, sighed and spoke.

“Since we worked out, eating something greasy wouldn’t be good.”

Choi Yiseo would likely suggest something green. Despite the recent increase in the price of greens, it would be a better choice than meat dishes like steak.

“Let’s go for steak for a protein boost.”

“It’s here! Let’s eat there.”

In? Not out?

“Well…”

“No wait! Just because I lost a race doesn’t mean I have to buy steak! Who supplements protein with steak!”

As I exclaimed, Seo Yerin shot me a glare.

“Then you shouldn’t have cheated. If we had competed fairly and you won, I would have had something cheap.”

“It’s because of a cheater like you trying to win that you’re getting punished.”

Choi Yiseo added, shrugging. Having nothing to respond with, I got dragged to the steakhouse like a cow to the slaughterhouse.

“I’ll pay for the salad bar.”

Showing a bit of conscience, Seo Yerin stepped up to pay for the salad bar.

“Don’t worry about mine. I’ll handle it myself.”

Choi Yiseo patted me on the back, telling me not to worry.

“Forget it, you people.”

Once I have drawn the card I need to step up like a man, right? I boldly stepped ahead and refused.

“I can afford this much. I’m not living some life of destitute.”

“Woah.”

“Hmm.”

The two quietly applauded looking at me. We were about to sit at the chosen table and order when,

“Ah…”

A familiar face greeted us.

It was senior Han-kang, who came to take our order, dressed in a part-timer’s uniform.

“Ah, hello.”

Seo Yerin awkwardly greeted him.

“You work here?”

Choi Yiseo spoke normally to Han-kang.

“……”

Of course, I just remained silent because even though we drank together, the awkwardness didn’t vanish.

“Ah, yes. Midterms ended so I began recently.”

“Ah, right. I will order.”

Choi Yiseo, feeling uncomfortable because of me and Seo Yerin, took the initiative and finished ordering, sending the senior off cleanly.

She was quick-witted as expected.

“Do you feel too uncomfortable?”

Seeing her ask me and Seo Yerin, it seemed like she was concerned.

“I don’t mind. I’m not the type to care about others anyway.”

I was just a bit startled, but I had no intention of eating while being conscious of him.

But Seo Yerin was different.

“Uh, yes, it’s uncomfortable.”

“Did something happen when we drank together last time?”

Seo Yerin appears even more uneasy now. Her somber expression suggests that the conversation from earlier is the cause.

“I went to the bathroom, and the senior followed me and confessed his feelings.”

“Wow.”

I couldn’t help but express my admiration. Naturally, I fell silent as Choi Yiseo shot me a glare.

But why the glare? Shouldn’t one be congratulated upon receiving a confession?

“I clearly rejected him, saying I was sorry! But still, he asked me to think about it…”

“Think?”

“He said he would wait, so if my feelings change, I should tell him.”

“Ah.”

So, even though she turned him down, the other party wants to keep her in a somewhat pitiful situation.

Indeed, someone like Seo Yerin has people like senior Han-kang waiting in line.

While not on the level of Jeong Chan-woo, who naturally sparks discussions about his incredible looks among those around him, senior Han-kang is also considered a male god in the department, adored by girls.

With that thought, I realized I was spending quite an impressive amount of time.

Not just with Seo Yerin, but also with Choi Yiseo.

Whether at the PC café, gym, or here, it was all the same.

Glances were coming from all around at the two women, and at me, there was envy, jealousy, and comparisons happening.

I even caught someone looking at me and grumbling.

“You’re having a tough time.”

Choi Yiseo patted my shoulder from beside me, showing concern, and Seo Yerin seemed to feel somewhat relieved.

“But don’t reject too much.”

So I spoke up.

Both of them, not expecting those words, were taken aback.

But it was my way of looking out for Seo Yerin.

“Objectively speaking, I think someone like senior Han-kang isn’t a bad choice.”

He’s known to be polite, and he doesn’t shy away from socializing.

There are rumors about him being wealthy, and on top of that, he’s handsome.

Honestly, it’s rare for a person with such qualifications to be around.

“The only downside might be that he’s a bit of a ladies’ man… but that shouldn’t be a problem for you.”

Would he even look at another woman if he is dating Seo Yerin? Probably he would avoid getting on her bad side.

“You’ve never been in a relationship, so it might feel like experimenting with someone’s feelings, but trying it out once isn’t so bad.”

Why do you think the elders tell us to experience things at the right age?

This was precisely the point on the boundary between pleasure and responsibility. Not necessarily leading to marriage if dating and maintaining the freshness of student times.

There is bound to be a kind of romance that can only be experienced around this time.

“……”

But my words darkened Seo Yerin’s expression even more. She looked at me with a resentful expression, and I wondered if I had said something wrong.

Having heard the entire thing, Choi Yiseo was quite surprised by my opinion.

“Did you look at this objectively?”

“Yes?”

It must be surprising for me to say all that, given that I’ve got friction with senior Han-kang and even got sniped because of it.

Choi Yiseo asked with a slight smile.

“So, what if you were to speak from a subjective perspective filled with personal feelings?”

“Then…”

Both women turned to me.

Especially Seo Yerin, who looked anxious, felt somewhat odd.

Nevertheless, I answer honestly.

“I’d tell him to buzz off.”

“Pfft.”

Seo Yerin finally laughed.

“Stop acting so cool and just go to the army.”

“Ah, Woojin needs to enroll in the army.”

“Right. When are you going?”

“…Why are you hitting me?”

Wasn’t this a gossip session about senior Han Kang?

Why am I suddenly being hurt?

“I’ll write you a letter when you go, Woojin.”

“Can you use cell phones now? Then I will send a message.”

“Why does my stomach hurt when I haven’t eaten anything yet?”

Uh, strange.

Why did the talks suddenly turn out this way?

“Well! I want to try wearing a beret! Lend it to me when you’re on leave later!”

“Can we send things like parcels there? Let me know if you need anything.”

“I’m still a civilian now, you people.”

Why are they treating me like I am leaving for the military?

The two laughed it off as a joke, chattering away, and in the midst, our food arrived.

We were supposed to go to the salad bar, but we were so engrossed in our talks that we didn’t get any.

Senior Han-kang kindly came to serve, and we were in the midst of military talk.

“But will there be unification next year?”

“Yes, even so. You have to go.”

“Loyalty! Private Kim Woojin!”

“…Your steak is done.”

In the middle, the senior intervened, but we were engrossed in our own talks.

There was this feeling of showing off to the senior.

“Woojin, I’ll visit with friends. Among my friends, there are many pretty ones.”

“If Yu Arin is among them, then I’ll pass.”

“But Arin is pretty too.”

Her voice is a bit bouncy with a fruity scent.

“The tomahawk steak is…”

“Yes, mine.”

As we accept the steak, we continue talking. Since senior Han-kang is here, we were just speaking about anything.

‘Senior is too strong.’

How much are his feelings for Seo Yerin, that he is serving so slowly?

Moreover, he was looking at Seo Yerin, and I wondered if this is what is called a handsome man’s approach.

How highly must one think of themselves to act like this?

If it were me, I would have been scolded for doing that.

“A-Arin! Did you know she used to be a Taekwondo athlete?”

And Seo Yerin, who was getting the attention, kept spouting words.

“Taekwondo athlete?”

This was my first time hearing it.

“Yes, she was considered a promising talent, and there was so much talk about her! She even won awards at competitions!”

“Oh, is that so?”

No wonder her legs were so beautifully stretched out.

“She’s so flexible! She could easily do movements I couldn’t!”

“She surely looks flexible.”

I could tell that about Yu Arin just by looking at her. It was evident from her movements and actions when she came over to my place, the way she used her legs to thump me on the back.

“H-her body is amazing too! She has muscles! Ah, but her body feels soft overall, so it feels nice to hold!”

“Hmm, it was soft.”

Her chest was really soft.

“……”

As I casually responded, pondering how to eat the steak, I chewed over what I said and lifted my head.

Seo Yerin, who brought the topic up, and Choi Yiseo, who was listening beside.

And even senior Han-kang, who was serving us.

All of them were looking at me with surprised eyes.

“Hmm, I spoke in a way that could be misunderstood.”

If I just stay quiet, it is done.

Pretending like nothing is wrong, I put the fork down and said,

“So what I meant is…”

I am a master of quick-witted responses.

Having been harassed by an ex-girlfriend, I have experience in spouting various excuses, so I’m good at speaking up in these situations.

What I have to say is.

What I have to…

So.

Woong!

Just then the phone rang.

A quick glance at the screen showed a message from Yu Arin.

-Yu Arin: Save me! I’m going to explode from the gossip!

“Fuck.”

Yu Arin, this colorful character.

Save me first.