Bamboo Forest Manager - Chapter 330



Hell of Group Projects

Group projects.

For university students, there are many terrifying situations, but this one has become so infamous that it’s practically a meme, and it’s the most malicious of them all.

A time to witness various human caricatures.

The suffocating feeling of having to move with strangers, as if shackled at the wrists and ankles.

A rather rare situation to see just how ugly a person can become.

The last group project wasn’t honestly that bad.

There were frequent mishaps along the way, but still, our captain, Senior Joo-hee, firmly took the wheel and led us through.

If it could be seen as a glimmer of hope.

This time, however, it seems to be a tale of despair.

“Phew, so…”

I couldn’t help but stifle a sigh at the explanation coming through my phone from the teaching assistant.

I briefly explained my situation and requested either a change of group members or to be moved to another group.

The teaching assistant said they would speak to the professor about it.

The professor, it seems, has also reached out to the other students.

“Starting from the next lecture, they’ll be coming, right?”

– Yes, they said they would. This time, each of them had their own circumstances. I’ve also gotten permission to share their numbers with you. I’ll text you the details.

“Haah.”

Why do I feel so distrustful?

It seems the professor and the teaching assistant genuinely want to help me.

“To be honest… I really don’t think these people had any valid reasons. What do you think?”

The teaching assistant, after all, has spent more time in university than I have.

I wanted to hear their honest opinion about the current situation.

– …….

After a moment of silence, the teaching assistant finally spoke.

– So.

With a soft sigh.

– You’re going to have a tough time.

—

—

It felt as if a glimpse of my future had been laid bare before me.

“No, then just switch groups! If I join another group, it’s all over!”

– I initially said the same to the professor. But the other group is already filled with six members, and if you join, it’ll throw off the balance, they said.

– The professor even spoke with the other five directly, and they all claimed they would work hard on the assignment.

– If you suddenly drop out, it would be the other five who end up in an unfair situation…

From noble mtl dot com

“No! Of course, if the professor calls, they’ll say they’ll work hard! I would’ve said the same!”

– P-please calm down. For now, just reach out separately.

In the end, shouting here would only serve as a vent for my frustration.

I barely managed to compose myself and ended the call.

“Phew, alright. Let’s give it a shot.”

We hadn’t even begun yet.

Who knows?

There might truly be a deeper reason behind it all.

For now, I created a chat room with the contact I received on my phone.

[Compulsory Humanities F Group Project.]

I added “Compulsory” to the chat title, just in case these fools forgot it was a required course.

– Kim Woo-jin: Hello.

– Kim Woo-jin: I’m Kim Woo-jin, a second-year English major.

Tap, tap, tap.

I waited, tapping my phone screen. Without realizing it, I was biting my lip, and before I knew it, ten minutes had passed.

‘Ah, ten minutes isn’t too long.’

They might all be busy.

Maybe I’m being too picky…

Ugh!

“Whoa!”

A reply came.

I’ve never waited for three people to respond like this before!

– Heo Jeong-ah: I’m Jeong-ah’s boyfriend. Don’t get too close, you b*stard.

“Oh, Jesus! What the hell!”

What is this jerk saying now?

—

Can’t you read Korean properly?

– Kim Woo-jin: Can’t you see the chat room title? Damn it, you b*stard.

After a moment, a reply came back.

– Heo Jeong-ah: But why are you contacting me?

– Kim Woo-jin: That’s nonsense. We have to do a group project. Don’t you want to get a grade?

– Heo Jeong-ah: Can’t we just talk about it in class? I’ll be there too, so we can go over it together.

She’ll be there too?

– Kim Woo-jin: …What’s your name again?

– Heo Jeong-ah: What do you care?

– Kim Woo-jin: I think you’re in this chat room too, right?

As I waited with a flicker of hope, a moment later.

– Hwang In-woo: Ahem, I misunderstood. Sorry.

“Oh, shit.”

Even the boyfriends of those girls were chosen as group members.

How incompetent must the professor be to form groups like this?

– Heo Jeong-ah: I’m sorry. My brother misunderstood a bit.

– Hwang In-woo: I’m really sorry. I didn’t know it was a group chat.

Let’s show some patience.

Damn, superhuman patience.

– Kim Woo-jin: Yes, it’s fine, so let’s gather. We need to decide on a leader and a topic first.

– Kim Woo-jin: The professor said since the class just started, we can keep the topic light. Maybe each of us can share real-life examples of humanities writing—

I briefly explained the group project.

I conveniently omitted that the portion of the grade for this project was a bit low.

And then.

Silence.

“Ugh, ugh.”

I feel like I’m going insane.

Have I lived so poorly?

Just as one must scatter bait to catch fish.

I too sprinkle the best bait to lure them out from their depths.

—

– Kim Woo-jin: I’ll take the lead.

– Hwang In-woo: Yep, you fit the role perfectly.

– Heo Jeong-ah: You have the face of a leader.

– Lim Dong-kyu: Understood, leader.

– Shin Se-rim: (emoticon)

Look at these b*stards, all popping out.

‘Wait, one of them hasn’t shown up.’

Is one of them really that busy, or did they just forget their phone?

Well, since we’re all here, I made a promise to meet tomorrow.

‘Today, I’ve already hit the overdose.’

If I try to communicate with these idiots any longer, I feel like my brain might short-circuit.

* * *

The next day at lunch.

On my way to the place I promised to meet with the team, my phone buzzed.

– Bang Da-ye: I’m fully booked today, can’t go out!

“…….”

That’s the same girl who didn’t respond until the very end yesterday.

– Kim Woo-jin: You’re telling me this now? It’s ten minutes before our meeting time!

– Hwang In-woo: Then let’s just meet another time.

– Heo Jeong-ah: Right. It can’t be helped. We need all the team members to decide together.

– Shin Se-rim: (emoticon)

– Lim Dong-kyu: Acknowledged.

– Kim Woo-jin: So when are you free?

– Kim Woo-jin: We have to meet.

– Kim Woo-jin: …….

No reply.

Brring! Brring! Brring!

– Seo Ye-rin –

Just then, a call came in from Seo Ye-rin.

– Woo-jin! Have you met with the team? I called to check if you’ve forgotten us and are off cheating with some other girl!

“…….”

– Even if there’s a stunning girl, you can’t look for more than five seconds… What? Ah, three seconds? Okay. No more than three seconds!

It seems like Yu-A-Rin and Choi Yi-Seo are nearby.

“Where are you?”

– Hmm? We came to eat hamburgers.

“I’ll be right there.”

– You’re coming?

I want to see you.

* * *

As I stepped into the hamburger joint, I spotted three figures huddled in a corner.

“You’re here!”

“Ugh, look at that one, they’re practically dead.”

“It must be tough.”

Choi Yi-Seo and Seo Ye-Rin were sitting together, while Yu-A-Rin was off to the side, so I had to make my way over to her.

But I went straight to Seo Ye-Rin and wrapped myself around her.

“Waaah!”

“Oh dear, it’s okay, it’s okay.”

As I buried my face in Seo Ye-Rin’s chest and let out a wail, she gently patted my head.

Being smothered in her ample bosom made me feel a bit more alive.

After a moment, I stood up again and sat next to Yu-A-Rin.

“This jerk has an empty spot next to me, but since Seo Ye-Rin’s chest is so big, you went to cling to her, right?”

Caught red-handed.

“Yeah.”

Choi Yi-Seo replied nonchalantly while munching on fries.

“Momma’s boy.”

Seo Ye-Rin declared triumphantly, supporting her chest from below.

“…….”

I stayed silent, but Yu-A-Rin stomped on my foot from below as punishment.

“So, you’re saying the group project members aren’t normal?”

“Ugh! These guys really seem crazy—Ah! Yu-A-Rin, stop stepping on me! My foot’s going to get crushed!”

“Damn it!”

I try to calm Yuarin down while feeding her fries, shoving them into her mouth like some kind of fuel, and I respond to Choi Iseo.

“They’re a couple, one just gives short answers, and the other keeps sending those stupid rabbit emojis. And the last one checked the chat ten minutes before the meeting and bailed!”

“That’s pretty harsh.”

“Those jerks!”

Munch munch.

I stop feeding her fries for a moment, but she steps on my foot, urging me to keep going.

Munch munch.

“I swear, I’m going to lose my mind because of them! We’ve just started, and I can’t even imagine what’s going to happen next.”

It’s only been a day since we got assigned the group project, and I’m already wondering if we’re all just going to end up dead together.

Or maybe I should just do it all myself and leave their names out of it?

“How’s Group A doing, Iseo?”

Munch munch.

“…Why is only Arin getting fed?”

“Hmm, our group is… good. Everyone’s doing their part. I’m the leader, and the one doing the research already sent me the first batch of materials.”

Already… they’ve chosen a leader, settled on a topic, and started the research?

“The one making the PPT is sending me old slides they made, wanting to set a rough framework and asking for my input on what looks good.”

That’s incredible.

Isn’t that a miracle?

People should live kindly.

Munch munch.

“Feed me too!”

“Then what the hell! How am I supposed to eat?!”

“If I feed you, it’ll be fine!”

“Why do we have to do it so inefficiently?!”

Seoyeon starts hitting me under the table in frustration, so I end up using both hands to feed everyone fries.

Munch munch.

Chomp chomp.

“It feels like all the bad luck for this group project is landing on you, Woojin.”

Choi Iseo, with a sympathetic look, shoves a fry into my mouth.

I nodded, my face twisted in sorrow as I took it in.

Mumble, mumble.

Nibble, nibble.

Chomp, chomp.

* * *

The next day came.

I was sitting in a lecture when my phone buzzed.

– Bang Da-ye: I’m sorry!

What could she possibly be sorry for?

I paused to think, realizing I hadn’t even apologized after flaking on our plans yesterday.

‘Is that what she’s sending now?’

I couldn’t help but send a reply, bemused.

– Kim Woo-jin: Are you abroad, by any chance?

Is there a time difference or something?

The reply came the next day.

– Bang Da-ye: No.