Bamboo Forest Manager

Chapter 86: The Call

Chapter 86: The Call

The next day, Sunday, as the shooting came to an end, the movie filming that seemed like it would carry on forever finally came to a halt.

I thought we would all have dinner together, but since it was just the beginning for me, senior Ju-hee decided to be considerate of me and agreed to gather separately at a later time.

Thanks to that, while everyone was happily drinking away, having finished a big task, I alone faced the misfortune of editing.

“Yawn.”

I was pushing ahead with the editing process.

After finishing a smooth Monday lecture, I was editing at a PC café.

I tried doing it a few times at home with my laptop, but the lag was so severe that I ended up coming to a PC café instead.

“Here, take this.”

“I didn’t order this though?”

“It’s on the house.”

Chan-woo brought me some Jjapaghetti.

This PC café was the best near my house, and I came here because Chan-woo was here, and seeing him made my heart flutter.

‘I haven’t done anything here.’

Yet, I find it hard to meet Chan-woo’s eyes, feeling as if I’ve done something wrong.

‘Ah, Yu Arin, really.’

Blaming Yu Arin once in my head and eating the Jjapaghetti he gave me as a service, I continue to focus on editing. It seemed like it would get complicated if I let my thoughts wander too much.

The midterms are over, and the festival has passed.

Now, finals are approaching for us, and soon it will be vacation time.

Last vacation, I couldn’t overcome the pain of a breakup and lived like a shut-in, so this time I planned to live more like a human being.

‘Should I go on a trip?’

Even if going abroad is too much for me this time, I thought about backpacking around the country.

It would be a bit cold since it’s winter, but it might be okay to travel with a tent or something?

With that thought, I found myself searching for camping gear without realizing it.

From tents to portable stoves, burners, and various tools. Surprisingly, there was a real pleasure in looking at these objects which I hadn’t before known.

“What’s this?”

A chilly voice coming from behind me.

“This is strange.”

Even though I want to run away, the moment I try to get up, the weight pressing down on both shoulders forces me back into the chair.

As I lift my head slightly, there was Senior Ju-hee, looking down at me with the corners of her lips slightly trembling, wearing a white hat pulled down low.

“I heard you were editing.”

“Se, Senior... It’s not what you think”

“I even ordered coffee after hearing you’d be here, so what am I supposed to do now?”

As she put more strength into her hands, it felt like my shoulders were going to dislocate, so I cried out in desperation.

“No, Senior! I’ve finished today’s work! I was just taking a break and doing something else for a bit!”

Only then did senior Ju-hee’s grip around my shoulders loosen. While rotating my stiff shoulders, I played the video I had edited.

Although it was still the early part of the entire video, Senior, having watched it all, suddenly grabbed my head with both hands and patted it vigorously.

“Wow! Woojin! You did so well?! Really great job! Wow! Our cutie! You’re back!”

“I never went anywhere!”

Without realizing, my words trailed off, expressing how shocked I was. Anyway, senior Ju-hee, with a satisfied smile, handed me one of the iced coffees Chan-woo had brought.

“Drink it down. Wait, didn’t you just start today?”

“Yes, that’s right. But I practiced a bit on my own, and it turned out quite well, I think?”

“Wow, as expected, Woojin does a great job.”

Senior sat next to me, drinking coffee with a satisfied look. I thought about stopping as we looked at the camping gear, but seeing how much I enjoyed it made me consider doing more of this.

As I tried to turn off the video of the camping gear, Senior, who had been silently watching, immediately asked.

“Planning on going camping?”

“Ah, I’m thinking about trying it during the vacation time. I don’t really have a part-time job.”

“Is that so? That sounds nice.”

Senior sighed at those words.

Being tied down by scholarships and living in a dormitory, it seemed like Senior didn’t have much financial freedom to go around.

“Camping is nice. Ah, I want to go too.”

“Let’s go together then.”

“I can’t this time. Call me next time maybe? I have a part-time job this vacation.”

A part-time job?

“Do you work somewhere specific?”

As I showed interest, Senior took a sip of her coffee and sighed regretfully.

“During vacation, we have to vacate the dorm rooms, right? So, I looked for a part-time job that includes accommodation along with pay.”

Amidst these various concerns-

Woong!

An incoming message for me.

It was peculiar that it came as a phone message, and not a KakaoTalk message.

“What are you doing?”

A familiar voice called out to me.

Yu Arin, standing askew with her hands shoved into the baggy pockets of her hoodie, looked down at me.

There was a strange atmosphere yesterday, but today’s Yu Arin didn’t seem much different from her usual self.

“What’s up, why did you come here?”

I knew she didn’t like coming to the PC café because Chan-woo worked here.

Yu Arin, frowning deeply and sitting next to me, lets out a sigh.

“Jeong Chan-woo told me.”

“...Who now?”

Without realizing it, I found myself staring at Yu Arin and asked again, and as she sank low into her chair, she stretched her hand out and pushed my face away.

“What are you staring at!”

“No, you said...!”

Just as I was about to argue that Chan-woo had told her-

Woong!

Woong!

My phone rang again.

Annoyed, I checked the message that had come through.

Big brother: Come home during the vacation.

Big brother: Mother is saying she wants to see you.

Big brother: Stop acting like a child now.

Kim Woojin: ᅩ

“Wait, Chan-woo told you I was here?”

“Why are you being this clingy today?!”

While I was focusing back on Yu Arin.

Woong! Woong! Woong!

This time, a call came through.

“Haah, let me take this call.”

“Is it Yerin? Or Yiseo?”

“My brother.”

“...You have a brother?”

Without responding to her, I answered the call, and a voice colder and more rigid than anyone I’ve ever heard before pierced my ears.

If you don’t come home for this vacation, know that I’ll cut your allowance off and clear out your room.

“Ridiculous. When have you ever given me an allowance?”

I’ve already talked to Dad about it.

“...Hyung.”

You know when to step back, huh.

“Did you think I would say that? Screw you. I can just get a part-time job. Don’t bother.”

You? Getting a part-time job?

I wanted to retort something to my scoffing brother.

“Ha-aaah Woo-Woojin! I-I can’t hold back the moans anymore!”

“...?!”

Suddenly, Yu Arin leaned in close, moaning. Without realizing it, I jerked back, and Yu Arin flashed her trademark mischievous smile and flicked her middle finger up.

Sigh.

A sigh came from over the phone.

“Wait, just a minute. Don’t get the wrong idea about this.”

Are you messing around with another girl again?

“It’s not that, what...!”

Just as I was about to deny it.

I felt a strange sensation.

“Again?”

Now.

Did he say ‘again’?

......

He didn’t answer me.

The fact that my usually unyielding older brother chose silence this time.

“How did you know I was dating Yoon-ji?”

Without realizing it, I got up abruptly and pressed for an answer.

I’ve said all I have to say. Come home during the vacation.

With that, he hung up.