Bamboo Forest Manager

Mom has left.

It was truly a stormy day, and it was a time when I once again felt the weight of the choices I had made.

And so, the peace passed.

Before I knew it, it was the period for midterm exams.

- Anonymous 415: Tips for getting the exam papers.

- Anonymous 267: Don’t post about midterms, people in the 400s.

- Anonymous 211: Hahaha look at the old-timers in the Bamboo Forest.

↳ Anonymous 302: They brought it upon themselves.

↳ Anonymous 97: It’s true though. If you want consideration, you should speak within common sense.

↳ Anonymous 125: Talking nonsense about mutual aid. If we help you, will you help with our exams? Will you do our assignments? What do you give?

↳ Anonymous 413: Buy coffee.

↳ Anonymous 146: That’s bought with the seniors’ money, so you kids go study.

- Anonymous244: There’s no need to help the freshmen. We’re just helping out of goodwill, but they think it’s their right.

- Anonymous142: The Business Department has deleted the collection of posts sent to freshmen. Figure it out on your own.

↳ Anonymous425: ? Senior? I haven’t checked that yet.

↳ Anonymous387: I heard it was left by graduates?

↳ Anonymous444: Ha, damn. Is Gahyeon University always like this with its hierarchy?

- Anonymous432: Seniors, stop with the power play. It’s really too much.

↳ Anonymous141: Yep, it’s your issue. It wasn’t like this last year.

↳ Anonymous71: Ask the sophomores. Back then, everyone kindly explained everything. They even found missing exam papers.

↳ Anonymous210: If kindness continues, they think it’s a right.

↳ Anonymous129: It’s funny to see them complain and then come looking when they need something.

“Sigh.”

I’ve only been attending Gahyeon University for a year now.

But I dare predict that this might be the most chaotic and noisy midterms ever.

The online community is currently ostracizing members in the late numbers of 300s to the 400s.

To be exact.

First-year students.

Criticizing this year’s freshmen.

If you’re asking why it turned out this way, it’s a bit complicated.

First of all, the Theater and Film department was the starting point.

First-year freshmen were caught badmouthing seniors in the group chat.

They didn’t just criticize one or two people.

They called out the names of the second and third-year seniors one by one and insulted them collectively.

They even made remarks high enough to require a court visit without hesitation.

Ranking appearances, figures, breasts, butts, and hips seemed to happen often.

Thanks to this, the Theater and Film department was turned upside down.

Seo Yerin’s friend and colleague at Gold One, Lee Se-ah, was also fuming, insisting that the juniors needed to be disciplined, which Seo Yerin barely managed to calm her down.

Of course, if it had ended here, it would have been just that.

- Anonymous407: Idiots. Look at them living with a sense of entitlement over something so trivial. Those fools who haven’t even been to the military act like they’re enforcing military discipline, does that give them any dignity? They’re just kids.

“Tsk.”

Anonymous407.

A troll who has been spewing curses at random people in the Bamboo Forest since last time.

This guy was precisely the culprit adding fuel to the freshman hate in the Bamboo Forest once again.

The flood of replies under Anonymous407.

All of them are criticizing Anonymous407.

“We suspended them for a day, but they’re at it again.”

Ultimately, the situation began to escalate into another fight.

I resolved it by giving a three-day suspension to Anonymous407 and all the guys who fought with him.

“The atmosphere these days is really something.”

Watching the freshman hate catch fire on the Bamboo Forest, I head to the café.

I heard Ahn Hyeon-ho got the lecture notes for the class we’re taking together, so we decided to study.

Since it’s exam period, the café was crowded.

I couldn’t see Ahn Hyeon-ho, so I wondered where he went, but among the three guys eating cake at the large table for group guests, one was Ahn Hyeon-ho.

The other two were naturally Han-kang and Pyo Jinho.

I heard both of them postponed their military service and are on a break from university, just hanging out.

“Was it senior Han-kang who got the notes?”

I asked as I sat down in disbelief, and Ahn Hyeon-ho nodded with a fork in his mouth.

“Yeah, the senior just gave it to us.”

“That’s something passed down from my seniors. It was given by the girl I was dating at the time.”

Han-kang says proudly.

Honestly, even if it’s called a treasure trove, it’s just a collection of past exam questions.

But it’s better than nothing, so I gratefully accept it.

“Because of the freshman hatred this time, it became harder to get the treasure trove. Thanks to you, it’s easier now.”

“Freshman hatred?”

Since Ahn Hyeon-ho is also part of the Bamboo Forest, he must know about the freshman hatred.

While listening with one ear and letting it out the other, I send a message to Seo Yerin.

- Kim Woojin: Secured the treasure trove.

And a reply comes back in just a few minutes.

- Seo Yerin: Did you make that rhyme?

- Kim Woojin: No. Even if it’s just past exam questions, it’s still something.

- Seo Yerin: That’s a relief. Where are you? I’m free since my lecture is over.

- Kim Woojin: I’m at a café with the guys. Senior Han-kang is here too.

- Seo Yerin: I’m going to play with Arin.

The chat ended just like that.

I could see her run away immediately upon hearing that senior Han-kang is there.

Honestly, I wanted to leave too, but I was already caught by the three of them.

“Hey, how can you do something like that to the seniors? Right, Woojin?!”

Han-kang bangs on the table and stares at me intently.

“Right? I’ve felt this since last year. These days, there’s no respect for seniors, no respect.”

“What? Are you saying this for me to hear?”

“Huh? Feeling guilty?”

This jerk.

“Do something worth respecting. Always trailing after the juniors, getting beaten like a dog by senior Ju-hee.”

“Ahem.”

Han-kang awkwardly turns his head.

I don’t understand why he’s acting like this when he’s not even a senior anymore.

“But where’s Chan-woo?”

At that moment, Pyo Jinho, who was eagerly devouring the cake, finally spoke up.

I wondered what was so great about gathering with these fools and even calling Jeong Chan-woo.

“He said he can’t come today because he’s with his girlfriend.”

Ahn Hyeon-ho knew exactly whether Chan-woo was actually invited.

I hope things go well with his current girlfriend.

“Ha, Chan-woo is really lucky.”

“I’m not really outdone anywhere, but he’s-”

Naturally, the conversation shifted to talking about Chan-woo.

Since studying was already on the back burner, I also shared an anecdote related to Chan-woo this time.

The tale of Jeong Chan-woo, who started dating another girl just three days after breaking up with his girlfriend.

“Isn’t Chan-woo really able to pick and choose girls?”

“But there are some who don’t. Those who don’t care much about looks.”

“Why don’t the ones who don’t care about looks ever take an interest in me?”

Ahn Hyeon-ho’s words are followed by a comment from Han-kang and Pyo Jinho.

As I listen silently.

Buzz.

- Choi Yiseo: What are you doing? You said you were studying, but you’re not in your room?

Why is she in my room?

• Kim Woojin: Came to get the exam papers.

- Choi Yiseo: Oh. Where are you?

Why is a similar conversation continuing?

- Kim Woojin: At the café. Hyeon-ho is here too.

- Choi Yiseo: I should go study with Yerin.

No contact after that.

Seo Yerin and Choi Yiseo, out of contact.

As I chuckle at their similar reactions, suddenly three pairs of eyes are on me.

“Hey, what if.”

Then Pyo Jinho asked a serious question.

“If you died and were reborn, and God let you live as either Jeong Chan-woo or Kim Woojin, who would you choose?”

What kind of ridiculous question is this?

I looked at Pyo Jinho in disbelief.

“Chan-woo.”

“Shut up, shut up. Shut up, Jeong Chan-woo.”

These bastards?

“Right? I’m also for Chan-woo. I shouldn’t have asked.”

When even Pyo Jinho got knocked out, this feels oddly disgusting.

I put my phone away, rotated my shoulders, and spoke to the guys.

“Think about it. Except for looks, I’m not bad compared to Chan-woo.”

It was so absurd that Han-kang asked first.

“Do you have a girlfriend? Are you dating Yerin or Yiseo?”

“Still in the talking stage, right?”

I’ve done everything, but saying something like ‘friends with benefits’ here is a bit off.

As I hesitated, they immediately shook their heads.

“Chan-woo already has a girlfriend. Seems like he dated two girls not long ago.”

“……”

“Rather than having a tempting fruit you can’t eat. Isn’t Chan-woo, who gets to enjoy apples, grapes, and strawberries, better?”

My mouth stays tightly shut.

After all, it’s true that I’m not dating anyone.

I can’t explain the detailed situation either.

This time, Ahn Hyeon-ho adds.

“His looks are a clear win too.”

“Hey, I’m not bad either. I even get hit on sometimes these days.”

“You? Hmm.”

What is this.

The girls subtly tell me that I’ve become more handsome, but maybe because they’re guys, they’re oblivious to the change.

“Let’s put that on hold. So, do you have a lot of money? I heard Chan-woo is working as a model now, not just at the PC café. You know the hourly pay for that is huge.”

“Phew.”

I’m the son of a conglomerate chairman, you guys.

If I wanted to, I could outright buy this café right now.

Those words almost escape my throat.

But I manage to swallow them.

“You seem to be tight on money, seeing as you live in the dorm instead of an apartment.”

I had some money from working at Gold One and selling my eldest brother’s adult products.

But it’s hard to survive a year with just this.

I thought about looking for a part-time job.

Something like a fitting model like Chan-woo…might be too much though.

“Did I lose in the concept of money too? Is there anything else?”

“Exercise.”

As Ahn Hyeon-ho mumbles ambiguously, Pyo Jinho immediately interjects.

“What about exercise?”

“I evolved from doing home workouts to now going to the gym-!”

“But isn’t Chan-woo a regular at the gym? He goes there whenever he’s bored.”

That’s right.

Chan-woo was going to the gym before I was.

Exercise… I can’t beat that.

Seeing the weights he lifts, I can’t even think of keeping up.

From the start, my purpose for exercising is a bit different.

To be precise, my exercise purpose is sexxxx.

“That’s the big one.”

Now that I’ve found something I can win at, I said confidently.

“……”

“……”

“……”

The three people stared blankly at me at the same time.

I shrugged and nodded.

“That’s huge.”

The three were momentarily flustered.

But soon they snickered.

“Hey, even I-”

“Ha. I wear two pairs of underwear. Otherwise, it looks bulky.”

“When I did Taekwondo, the kids didn’t want to shower with me. Said it was demoralizing.”

Look at these guys.

They jump in immediately, not wanting to lose.

“Commoners are being cheeky.”

When I clicked my tongue, they all got riled up, causing a bit of a commotion.

But we took a breather since others were giving us looks.

And then.

“Chan-woo might be a bit small, right?”

Someone said, and our faces started to brighten.

“Oh, right. Chan-woo might be small.”

“The kid looks flashy on the outside but lacks substance.”

“Haha! God is fair.”

I don’t know why this conversation started.

Anyway, I thought the vote might lean towards me.

“So, who do you want to be born as?”

I asked again with a smile.

“Chan-woo.”

“No matter what, it’s Chan-woo.”

“You have to be born as Chan-woo of course.”

The same answer came back again.

The reason being.

“Schrödinger’s Woojin. I can’t believe it until I observe it.”

“Kim Woojin, bluffing with just one precious thing hidden in his underwear, is pathetic.”

“Woojin, you know what? Those who obsess over size are usually small.”

Sigh.

This won’t do.

“Damn, if I could just show them for 5 minutes here-!”

Woong! Woong! Woong!

A phone call came in right on time.

It was Yu Arin.

- Hey, it’s a video call. Look at your ear.

Looking at the screen, I see Yu Arin at the school’s basketball hoop.

Turning the screen slightly, I see Seo Yerin and Choi Yiseo with her.

I sneak off to the bathroom.

I didn’t want to show the kids to these guys.

“Why? Weren’t you three hanging out?”

- I was just checking if you were really hanging out with guys.

“Ha, I’m busy right now. I’ve been insulted!”

- What nonsense.

“There is. Hang up. This is a battle I must win for your self-esteem, so you don’t feel inferior.”

- …Why does it already feel ominous? What’s going on?

“They say second Woojin is small?!”

- Ah, damn.

- Woo-jin…

- Isn’t second Woojin big enough?

Various reactions.

Yu Arin and Choi Yiseo sighed, and Seo Yerin asked with genuine curiosity.

“Anyway, don’t call me. If you see someone arrested for public indecency on the news, that’s me.”

- I told you before. I dislike you most of the time, but sometimes I like you. But there are times I especially dislike you. Like now.

- Why does that matter, Woojin? Do you think I like you because of that?

- I don’t care either! Really!

“Guys…”

A lump rises in my throat, and my heart feels full.

Yeah, this is love.

- Just let it go, you idiot. Just agree and let it go. What’s the point in winning an ugly fight?

- That’s right. Let’s not make unnecessary noise.

- But I think Woojin will win everything.

Receiving all sorts of consolation that aren’t really consolations.

It truly felt like it didn’t matter at all.

I hang up and return to my seat with a calm mind.

“Hello, cutie.”

“Is it cold, Woojin?”

“Did you check in the bathroom?”

“You bastards, where’s the nearest sauna? Follow me, you bastards.”

Where’s the stationery store.

Gotta buy some more and go, these jerks.