Bamboo Forest Manager

“Hmm, ahem.”

Choi Yiseo checked her wristwatch awkwardly.

A wristwatch she doesn’t normally wear, a navy coat and white blouse coordinated by Minji.

She scratched her cheek in embarrassment, having dressed up so much. There were men interested in her, but seeing her poised for an appointment, they didn’t dare approach.

“Phew.”

Kim Woojin, who was leaving for Gold One tomorrow.

She wanted to go with him, but she had things to do during the vacation, so she couldn’t join him.

They would be apart for two months.

Choi Yiseo mustered up the courage to ask him out today.

Honestly, she was a bit embarrassed at first, but now she was glad she did and inwardly praised herself.

Even though there was still some time before the appointment, the strange excitement was surprising.

‘We often hung out together normally.’

Even though they had met outside of school before, her heart was racing. She realized again how much she really liked Kim Woojin.

“Hmm?”

Just then, she heard Kim Woojin’s voice behind her. Turning to greet him with a bright smile.

“…What?”

There stood Kim Woojin, casually dressed in black workout clothes.

“Huh, what?”

The important thing was that Kim Woojin himself looked flustered. As they stood there, choosing their words.

Kim Woojin spoke first.

“Didn’t you call me out to exercise?”

Oops.

She had just asked to meet, and he misunderstood. Since Choi Yiseo was usually focused on exercise, she often called him out for it.

Although she felt like crying because of the misunderstanding caused by her usual behavior, she forced a smile and spoke.

“I must have not been clear.”

“…Wait a minute, I’ll just change quickly.”

Realizing why she called him out, Kim Woojin tried to turn back to change his clothes, but Choi Yiseo shook her head and stopped him.

“No, no! It’s okay as it is!”

“Sorry.”

“Why are you apologizing! It’s my mistake! Besides, we’re not even dating yet…”

Her voice trailed off, sounding a bit sorrowful. Choi Yiseo, fidgeting with her hands, seemed weaker than usual.

Seeing her like that, Kim Woojin quickly came up with a reason.

“Ah! If it’s okay, could you come with me to buy some clothes?”

“Clothes…?”

“Yeah! I’m going to Gold One tomorrow and need to buy some clothes.”

At his considerate suggestion, Choi Yiseo stared blankly at him before smiling softly.

“You’re leaving tomorrow and you still haven’t bought clothes?”

She linked arms with him carefully.

In the now relaxed atmosphere, they started walking down the street.

---

“Looks good.”

Choi Yiseo showed a genuinely satisfied smile as she looked at Kim Woojin in his new clothes.

Although she knew there were many handsome people around, like Ahn Hyeon-ho, Han-kang, and Jeong Chan-woo, she still thought Kim Woojin was the coolest.

Even if Minji, her roommate, said she was blinded by love.

“Ahem, this feels awkward.”

Though it wasn’t his first time shopping with a girl, Kim Woojin felt uncomfortable.

At first, she thought it was just the store, but remembering his ex-girlfriend and her friend Oh Yoon-ji’s interest in clothes, a strange jealousy welled up.

They must have often shopped like this.

‘……’

A sudden thought entered Choi Yiseo’s mind: Is what I’m doing right? Even though they had broken up, being with her friend’s ex-boyfriend like this.

As she reached this long-delayed realization.

Choi Yiseo’s previously excited feelings calmed down.

Tap.

She lightly placed her hand on Kim Woojin’s chest, clad in a brown coat, and patted it, giving a bitter smile.

“Shall we go?”

“…Okay.”

Kim Woojin also realized the sudden change in her mood, but. It wasn’t easy to hide these feelings.

She just hoped time would help.

---

They shopped.

Ate.

Watched a movie.

It was more enjoyable than she thought. If they started dating, would such times continue daily?

She worried she might become a fool, but for Choi Yiseo, it was a happy time.

There were moments when Kim Woojin’s desire and reason conflicted, which was also quite impressive.

But the knot in her heart didn’t dissolve easily.

They met in the morning, but the sky was already dark.

She thought about suggesting a drink, but feared it might reveal her jealousy and ugliness.

So she was too afraid.

“I’ll go now.”

Choi Yiseo waved goodbye in front of her house. With Kim Woojin going to Gold One, they wouldn’t see each other for two months.

She wanted to leave a memorable farewell, but.

What came out was a dry, hollow goodbye.

‘Ah, what’s wrong with me today.’

She shouldn’t have thought those things at the clothing store. A day later, she’d regain her composure, but it was hard to now.

“Okay, take care. Have a great vacation.”

Kim Woojin, noticing Choi Yiseo’s odd behavior, smiled lightly and saw her off.

They wouldn’t meet for two months, but it was only for two months.

Such a short time wouldn’t rattle their friendship or bring drastic changes to their relationship.

But if she had to express it.

Stagnation.

Yes, it would stagnate.

Feeling a sudden fear, Choi Yiseo stopped, but the timing was unfortunate.

Buzz!

Her phone rang.

Realizing it was hers, she quickly took it out and was startled by the name on the screen.

• Yoon-ji -

It was a call from her high school friend, Oh Yoon-ji, who she hadn’t heard from in a while.

“What’s wrong?”

Seeing her startled reaction, Kim Woojin approached, but she quickly hid the phone.

Kim Woojin, having seen the name, grimaced and gestured.

“You’re not going to answer it?”

It was hard to read Kim Woojin’s emotions. Was it anger or longing?

Caught between them, Choi Yiseo cautiously answered the call.

• Yiseo? Long time no see.

Oh Yoon-ji’s voice was the same as always. Just like in high school.

She had a leadership quality, though some might call it domineering.

“Why are you calling?”

She went straight to the point.

She didn’t have the emotional space for small talk.

Though it might seem cold, Oh Yoon-ji got to her point.

• You’re on vacation, right? Can you and Minji help me out?

“…Help?”

• Yeah, think of it like a part-time job. It won’t take much time. It’s nothing major.

“I’ll think about it. I’m outside, so I need to talk to Minji first.”

• Okay, think positively about this. It’s nothing bad.

With that, Oh Yoon-ji hung up. They only exchanged necessary words, which was typical of them.

Choi Yiseo cautiously looked at Kim Woojin with concern.

“……”

Seeing him biting his lip and clenching his fists, she instinctively hugged him.

“It’s okay! She didn’t know you were here; she just talked about work and hung up.”

“I know.”

Kim Woojin’s voice was dejected.

It was the first time he seemed so fragile, showing how heavily Oh Yoon-ji weighed on him.

“Just.”

A painful sigh escaped. His voice was filled with regret and sorrow.

“Knowing she’s doing well… it all feels so meaningless.”

Unlike him, still struggling and rejecting other women’s advances.

Oh Yoon-ji’s words about her steady work stirred complex emotions in Kim Woojin.

“…I’ll go then. I had a good time today.”

Gently pushing away Choi Yiseo, Kim Woojin turned slowly.

The last day before leaving for Gold One Hotel.

It was a memorable day for Kim Woojin.

---

Crack.

“Phew.”

He had to get up early to catch the bus to Gold One Hotel.

No matter how much beer he drank, he couldn’t sleep. Regretting not buying stronger liquor, he reached for the next can.

Knock, knock.

There was a knock from outside. Checking his phone, it was already midnight. Wondering who it could be, he headed to the door and asked.

“Who is it?”

“It’s me.”

“…Choi Yiseo?”

Choi Yiseo had unexpectedly returned.

When he opened the door, her cheeks were red from the cold.

She carried large paper bags in both hands, and she handed one to him as she walked in.

“It’s so cold. Were you drinking alone?”

Choi Yiseo, who had felt oddly down since the clothing store earlier, seemed to be feeling a little better now.

In a light tone, he responded while checking the paper bag.

“Just feeling a bit down?”

Inside, there was wine and a small cake, probably from a convenience store.

“What’s this, trying to get into the Christmas spirit?”

Asking with a smile, since Christmas was approaching, Choi Yiseo sighed while taking off her coat.

“Today’s my birthday.”

“…?!”

“Since you’re leaving for Gold One tomorrow… I mean today. We met a day early.”

He had no idea. He wasn’t the type to celebrate birthdays.

“I thought you’d be drinking alone, so I came. Minji threw a surprise party, but I apologized and left.”

“……”

“Sit down.”

Following her, he sat down.

An opener was included, so he opened it cleanly this time.

‘Last time?’

When was that?

Maybe it was the beer or his hazy memory. Taking a sip from a beer glass instead of a wine glass, he looked at Choi Yiseo.

Seeing her smile while eating the cake, his worries seemed to lessen.

“Thank you.”

He sincerely thanked her.

“Hmm?”

With a fork in her mouth, Choi Yiseo pretended not to hear and offered her beer glass.

They clinked glasses and drank the wine. Even if it was from a convenience store, it was quite good.

“Wow, it hits hard.”

Having drunk beer earlier, and being weak to wine, he felt dizzy as he looked at her.

Seeing her eat the cake and drink the wine alternately made him wonder if she was hungry.

“Hey, are you planning to stay over?”

Feeling tipsy, he asked, and she gave a slight nod. There was another paper bag, probably containing her clothes and toiletries.

“You’re a grown woman; aren’t you afraid of staying with a man?”

Though he said that, he wasn’t in the mood for it. His voice was shaky, he knew he was drunk, and last time, she had refused because there was no condom.

‘Actually, I have some now.’

He had bought a box from an adult store last time.

“Too bad, I should’ve bought some condoms.”

Pretending there were none, he mumbled slyly.

Acting like he was giving up.

Tap.

A small rectangular box landed on the table.

Realizing it came from her pocket and that it was a condom.

The flush of intoxication suddenly cleared, and he looked at her.

With a fork in her mouth, she avoided his gaze, but.

Her blushing face sent a clear signal.

‘Oh, right.’

He remembered the time he had clumsily opened a wine bottle.

It was that day at Seo Yerin’s house, where he met that guy.

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