Bamboo Forest Manager - Chapter 14



14 – 14. The English and Karaoke Incident

The next day.

Seo Yerin was attending a lecture early on Friday morning. They say that the highlight of college life is having no classes, but she wondered if it was necessary to have breaks from the first year, so she diligently took notes.

However, although her hand was moving diligently to write, her mind was thinking about something else.

“Now that I think about it, just wanting to meet someone doesn’t mean you can meet them.”

Seo Yerin had intended to go to Kim Woojin and apologize and thank him for what happened yesterday, and also ask for his phone number.

However, because their class schedules were different, it wasn’t possible to meet him right away like in high school.

“What should I do?”

If she continued like this, it could be postponed until next week, but she didn’t want to delay it that much.

She wanted to apologize right away.

“Even though our classes overlap on Tuesday.”

They took a mandatory major course together at 9 a.m. She remembered the time when they finished the class and had pork belly.

“Do I have to wait until then?”

While pondering about various things, the lecture ended. Seo Yerin moved with her friends to have lunch during lunch break.

Because she was a poor freshman, they couldn’t go to the restaurant every day, so today they decided to buy sandwiches or triangular kimbap from the convenience store and eat them on the terrace.

“Yerin, are you okay? I heard something big happened at the karaoke yesterday.”

Other classmates who had been observing Seo Yerin’s expression because of what happened yesterday quietly asked.

The important thing was that they weren’t the ones at the karaoke.

“The rumor has already spread….”

The rumor seemed to have spread already.

With a worried heart, Seo Yerin asked.

“How did you know?”

“Well, it was just circulating as a rumor. People were talking about it among themselves, and it even surfaced on the anonymous messaging app.”

“…Even on the anonymous app?”

Instinctively taking out her phone, Seo Yerin checked the anonymous app. And there, a noticeable post caught her eye.

– Anonymous46: There were people fighting in the karaoke yesterday. It seemed like they were English major students. Watching a senior being cursed at by a junior, it felt like the world had turned upside down.

Nowhere was a name disclosed, and though spoken as if a witness, it was clearly written by a student majoring in English.

Although one could hear the sounds of people fighting outside, it was impossible to determine whether this was related to the English department, and the senior-junior relationship was also uncertain.

A prank played with anonymity.

But countless replies poured in below.

↳ Anonymous11: The concept of the Class of ’23 is a bit lacking.

↳ Anonymous190: Why are they fighting?

↳ Anonymous46 (author): Seems like it’s because of a girl. A senior is close with a girl, and a junior guy is jealous for no reason.

↳ Anonymous87: Why is this person so clueless? Are you not in the English department?

↳ Anonymous31: In the English department, rumors about who it is have already spread. They’re just excited that an outsider got involved in their circle.

↳ Anonymous224: ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

“….”

Sigh.

Strength tightened in the hand holding the phone. Kim Woojin couldn’t believe he was being ridiculed like this, suddenly becoming the aggressor.

“Kim Woojin, he’s just not that great.”

“There’s a reason why the kid walks alone. Han River senior got some weird misunderstanding yesterday.”

“Do you know Yoon Ji, who attended the first semester and took a leave of absence? It’s because of him too.”

Even friends who hadn’t properly seen him were casting a dark light on Kim Woojin.

Because it was hard to believe.

“No.”

Seo Yerin spat out a word towards her friends.

A momentarily focused gaze.

Since they were friends who usually got along, Seo Yerin began to explain with a deep breath.

“Woojin helped me.”

Putting down the sandwich she was about to eat, Seo Yerin explained the situation from yesterday.

Her friends, though taken aback, had no choice but to believe since it was the account of the person involved, Seo Yerin.

“W-Woojin did that?”

“Ah… I feel kind of sorry now. I think I cursed the kid for no reason, just believing rumors.”

“That’s right. It’s a bit creepy even for Han River senior.”

Grateful for their belief, the problem was that it wasn’t enough. The issue was that the negative rumors had already spread, and she was worried about how much pain Kim Woojin would feel if he saw this.

“This won’t do.”

I didn’t have such thoughts, but Seo Yerin immediately added Kim Woojin as a friend in the group chat.

Originally, she planned to get his number and add him naturally, but she felt like she couldn’t just stay put here.

– Seo Yerin: Woojin-ah, it’s me Seo Yerin. Where are you right now?

Because she wanted to meet and talk, Seo Yerin immediately sent a message, but…

‘…there’s no reply.’

Seeing that she wasn’t receiving any response, she started to worry for no reason.

Maybe he heard a rumor and got hurt, so he turned off his phone or put it away completely.

“Ah, really.”

Seo Yerin covered her face with both hands and let out a deep sigh.

She worries.

Is she unnecessarily stressing about Kim Woojin not responding because of herself?

While thinking various thoughts, one of her friends, Yoo Arin, suddenly interrupted.

“Should we create public posts too?”

With her hair tied up, she casually shook her back hair like a tail and had a sly smile on her face.

“Public posts?”

“How would we do that?”

“We can write posts on Ddaenbam Forest. Just say that it’s all lies. Actually, it’s the senior from Han River who’s the bad guy.”

Why is that?

Seo Yerin thought that Yoo Arin’s mouth was gradually curling upwards, seemingly enjoying the current situation, but…

“Yeah, let’s do that.”

In order to erase the false rumors surrounding Kim Woojin, they needed to do whatever it takes.

From the beginning, this side is correcting the false information spread by the other side, so there’s no need to feel guilty.

“Everyone, turn on Ddaenbam Forest. If you don’t have it, download it.”

“Oh, something interesting is happening.”

“It feels like being a hacker.”

“Agent Yerin, turn on Ddaenbam Forest.”

Under Yoo Arin’s leadership, Seo Yerin’s friends immediately opened Ddaenbam Forest and started flooding the bulletin board with posts.

– Anonymous299: I’m an English Literature major, class of ’23. The karaoke room post is not true. It was the senior who first approached the girl, and the junior protected her.

– Anonymous30: I’m speaking up because some weird rumors are spreading. Is it fun to twist things and make the person who did a good deed look bad?

– Anonymous59: This is really a joke. Is this the extent of the hypocrisy in Ga-Hyeon University? It’s one thing to be petty, but swapping the victim and the perpetrator, is this the real reality of Ga-Hyeon University?

Seo Yerin also wanted to write.

She wanted to write, but…

“……”

The name “Anonymous69” was holding her back today.

Unable to do anything, Seo Yerin was approached by Yoo Arin, who asked discreetly.

“Yerin, have you written anything? Just go with the flow and write without revealing that you’re involved.”

“Uh, uh! I was planning to directly contact the administrator.”

“Hmm?”

Yoo Arin thought it was strange that Seo Yerin seemed flustered, but the situation was rapidly changing.

The reaction was happening not in the Bamboo Forest, but in the English Language and Literature chat.

– Han Hyorin: The English Language students are making a fuss in the Bamboo Forest right now, do you know?

– Han Hyorin: (Picture)

A captured screenshot of the Bamboo Forest is uploaded.

There were two captures, one being the initial attack post at the karaoke room and the following one being a rebuttal post made by Seo Yerin’s friends.

– Kang Seowoon: It seems like there was a small argument with Hangang senior and Kim Woojin at the karaoke room yesterday, but it’s a bit concerning.

– Kim DongSu: They’re ruining the department’s image. It might be fine for the seniors, but if the professors hear about it, it won’t be good.

From Noble mtl dot com

– Se Bom: But I heard it was Kim Woojin’s fault, isn’t it?

“Wow, crap. Haven’t we caused a huge mess?”

“Isn’t this a bit scary?”

Seo Yerin’s friends caused some trouble, leading to a commotion. Seo Yerin was also worried, but…

“hehehe, this is it. Ah, this.”

Yoo Arin, who caused the incident, was shaking her head, flipping back and forth between the Bamboo Forest and the department chat, seemingly excited about something.

Yoo Arin, who usually had a lighthearted and playful image, had a different atmosphere than usual.

She was enjoying the thrill of stepping out of everyday life, laughing and pointing at the department chat.

“So, it’s become a big deal.”

– Choi Yiseo: It seems like our department students are spreading rumors, so please don’t post anything on the Bamboo Forest for a while.

Choi Yiseo, a senior in the department, stepped forward to mediate. Moreover, she declared not to write any strange posts on the Bamboo Forest for no reason.

“Anonymous is why it’s great.”

Yoo Arin continued to write without stopping. She didn’t mention any real names, but she spoke about seniors and juniors, making it clear who the victims were.

“Ah, Arin, are you being too excessive with your writing?”

In the end, Seo Yerin tried to stop Yoo Arin, but Yoo Arin shrugged her shoulders and responded.

“He has received so much unfair criticism. We should at least do this much.”

Although she said that, Yoo Arin seemed more like she was enjoying herself rather than considering Kim Woojin important.

At that time, when the sound of the bamboo forest and the barking alternated.

All the posts regarding the incident in the English Language Department and the karaoke room in the bamboo forest were deleted.

“What?”

The administrator’s notice came to mind.

-Administrator: The Gahyeondae bamboo forest is not for English-related posts. From now on, all posts related to English and the karaoke room will be blocked.

If you don’t want your necks cut off, don’t post anything related to English for a while.

The strong response of the bamboo forest administrator stood out.

The reactions were intense.

↳ Anonymous11: Finally, the administrator is doing something. Yeah, those English bastards were getting on my nerves.

↳ Anonymous190: It was fun though, damn it.

↳ Anonymous27: I enjoyed reading the English-related posts.

↳ Anonymous46: Ridiculous. What does the administrator control in the anonymous free board?

↳ Anonymous287: ……..

↳ Anonymous87: Hey 46, are you an English student?

↳ Anonymous30: Sorry for stirring up trouble.

↳ Anonymous299: I’m sorry.

↳ Anonymous69: s*x.

↳ Anonymous79: Look at the administrator’s charisma.

“Oh, it was so much fun.”

While Yoo Arin regretted, the other students let out a relieved sigh and thought it was fortunate, and Seo Yerin thought the same.

She discreetly checked the chat again.

There was still no response from Kim Woojin.

* * *

– Anonymous69: Please delete the sniper post against the English Department. It’s someone who has been unfairly accused.

– Anonymous30: I am a 23rd-grade student from the English Department. They’re trying to unmask the person who wrote the post related to the karaoke room. Actually, the juniors are the victims.

– Anonymous46: There are people opposing my post, but they are bullies. Please don’t delete the sniper post.

– Anonymous287: Please delete the sniper post against the English Department.

Seo Yerin checks the 1:1 inquiries that have come to her, scratching her messy head that has turned into a magpie’s nest.

Among them, the most noticeable one is, of course, “Anonymous287?”

An notice from Ahn Hyunho, who calls it a ‘writing tax’ and asks me to write something related to English.

Kim Woojin is the victim and the culprit himself, fighting among themselves with the bamboo forest not ending there, but the conversation continues in the English Department chat as well.

“Haam.”

Kim Woojin, who woke up from sleep, yawned once, checked all the related posts, deleted them, and left a notice.

Then he lay back on his bedding.

It’s like honey-filled Friday.

“Why are you guys causing trouble for no reason? Let me rest.”

For Kim Woojin, who became the center of the incident, the Friday afternoon nap was more important.