Bamboo Forest Manager - Chapter 36



36 – Confession

Knock knock knock.

The sound of Yuarin eating a Pepero next to me was quite annoying.

While the other kids seemed fine, for some reason, I found even the simplest actions by Yuarin irritating, probably because I didn’t particularly like him.

“Hey, eat quietly.”

Knock knock knock.

“Eat quietly.”

Frowning, I repeated myself, and Yuarin subtly extends the Pepero to me.

“Do you want some?”

“I said eat quietly.”

“Just take it while saying that.”

Yuarin eats the Pepero he gave me while gesturing with his head. It’s not like I’m going to indulge him just because he gave me this.

Knock knock knock.

Knock knock knock.

I also make noise as I eat the Pepero. It’s customary to eat Pepero noisily.

As we continue eating the Pepero like that, I notice Seoyerin and Choi Iseo watching me.

*ahem*

Since I’m giving them attention and behaving the same way, it’s only natural for them to have disapproving looks.

Trying to pretend I didn’t notice, I try to focus on studying, but my gaze keeps drifting elsewhere.

“It’s about time.”

For some reason, Yuarin, who I thought would pass by, ended up studying with me.

Honestly, it’s not very appealing, but being with Yoorin is a kind of opportunity.

Feeling that the atmosphere had calmed down to some extent, I looked at my notebook as if I were looking over a wall and blurted out a word.

“Can one of my friends come and study with us?”

I said nonchalantly as if I were pretending to take notes, but my head hurt.

As I glanced up, I noticed that everyone was focused on me instead of studying.

“A friend? Who?”

Choi Eiseo asked me with a skeptical expression. Seo Yerim and Yoorin also seemed curious.

“…Is it a girl?” Yerim cautiously asked.

I replied that it wasn’t.

“It’s a boy.”

This time, Yoorin squeezed in from the front.

“Do you have a friend too?”

“….”

I couldn’t answer that question outright, and the other two couldn’t hide their surprised expressions either.

“So, Woojin also has a male friend….”

“I was honestly quite surprised. Good for you.”

“Why do I feel dirty?”

Being blatantly ignored by the three of them like this, my feelings became indescribable. I had nothing to deny, but I could only wait for the opportunity to let them know that I also had friends.

Actually, it’s a bit strange to call the person coming now my friend.

The man I could see across the street at that time.

Even from a distance, I couldn’t hide the fact that his jawline and nose were sharply defined, making him handsome.

“Oh, you’re here?”

As I waved my hand and welcomed Jeong Chanwoo, everyone’s attention turned to him.

Yoorin was the first to react.

She turned her head and looked at me, but her unexpected reaction startled me.

“Did she just glance at me?”

Not only that, but I saw her glancing at me with serious eyes. Of course, Yoorin immediately replaced it with her usual playful smile.

“Hello.”

Chanwoo came to our table and awkwardly greeted us with a smile.

“Surprisingly, are these all the faces that everyone has seen at least once?”

The reason why she could say this was because Jeong Chanwoo had actually met the people here before.

Yu Arin and Seo Yerin said that they were close in high school, and Choi Iseo had seen him at the gym once, but she had known of his existence even before that.

“I’m Jeong Chanwoo. He’s my friend, so treat him well because he’s kind and handsome.”

At first, there was a slight awkwardness, and there was a subtle air between Jeong Chanwoo and Seo Yerin.

“Hello.”

“Yeah, hello.”

Still, they greeted each other and took their seats, but I purposely got up and sat in the seat I was originally in.

Although Choi Iseo was seated next to me, it wouldn’t be bad to be in front of Yu Arin.

“…….”

Beyond Jeong Chanwoo, Choi Iseo momentarily glared at me, but the seats were naturally arranged in any case.

“After studying, let’s talk about having dinner. Should we go for drinks… It might be tough because it’s exam time?”

While contemplating various concerns, suddenly Yu Arin gets up.

“Aren’t you thirsty? I’m going to the convenience store to buy something to drink, should I get something for you?”

“Well, then with Chanwoo….”

I tried to go with Jeong Chanwoo, but Yu Arin smiles brightly and grabs my wrist.

“Why do you want Chanwoo to leave when he just came? We’re having a conversation with the three of us. Let’s go together.”

“No, why? I don’t want to go.”

“You don’t have to buy anything to drink?”

“And what if I don’t want to?”

I expressed my disbelief and argued, but because Yu Arin kept forcefully pulling me along, the atmosphere seemed strange, so I followed along.

“Sigh, the flow feels weird.”

I want to help in my own way, but I always feel like Yu Arin is slipping away.

Anyway, since the convenience store is not far, I’m with Yu Arin, picking out drinks.

“Hey.”

Yu Arin stares at me intently without looking at the drinks.

“Hashi chocolate milk was the most delicious. Choco Mong is… not great.”

“Hey, are you kidding me?”

“…….”

When I answered indifferently, Yu Arin frowned and called me again, so I turned my head away, avoiding her gaze and the drinks I was looking at.

“Why?”

“What are you doing?”

“I’m choosing a drink.”

Holding a Chocomong and Hershey’s chocolate milk, Yoo Arin slightly bites her lips and brushes her bangs aside.

Her dazzling blond hair fluttered as if signaling her simmering anger.

“Why did you bring Jung Chan-woo? You’re not even close to him.”

“We are close. Closer than you, who suddenly intervened.”

Honestly, I wanted to be closer to Jung Chan-woo than Yoo Arin. As the kids said earlier, it would be nice to have at least one male friend.

Plus, I liked him.

“Well, fine. Let’s put that aside.”

“Put it aside?”

“Why did you bring him along? If you suddenly call someone like Jung Chan-woo, there must be an ulterior motive. It’s not like you to call someone else like this.”

It felt like she knew me quite well, but honestly, she hit the nail on the head.

I never bothersome with adding companions without a reason.

But I couldn’t help but keep my mouth shut, as I couldn’t tell her that Chan-woo liked Yoo Arin.

“Is Jung Chan-woo going to help me get along with you?”

“?!”

She opens her eyes wide and looks at Yoo Arin. There was no need to hide it separately. I was already sure.

“Ha.”

Seeing my reaction, Yoo Arin glared at me in annoyance.

“Don’t. Got it? I clearly told you not to, right? Because I have no feelings for Jung Chan-woo.”

“Really? Isn’t he so good-looking that you can at least meet him once? We used to be friends since we were young, won’t our relationship be ruined?”

“Stop talking nonsense. Whether it gets ruined or not, it’s none of my business.”

“I really don’t get it. He has a good personality, he’s good-looking, and he has manners. What’s the reason for you to hate him like this?”

“Huh, you really crossed the line.”

Suddenly cursing at me, Yoo Arin shrugged.

“You crossed the line? You should say something.”

“….”

“Cursing is cursing. I just want to take Chan-woo’s side because I’m his friend, more than yours.”

“Do you really not like me?”

“Most of them dislike me, so I’m used to it. Haven’t you heard the kids swearing at me?”

When I replied that it wasn’t a big deal, Yoo Arin looked even more incredulous.

“Doesn’t your mental strength have limits? Are you just showing off?”

“Think whatever you want. If you don’t want to explain, then decide what to eat first. It’s Chocomong.”

Angrily, Yoo Arin finally exploded and rushed towards me.

“Chocomong! You jerk! I’m going to eat Chocomong!”

“I already chose Hushi.”

“Shut up! Buy Chocomong!”

As we argued back and forth, the convenience store clerk gave us a warning, so we quickly bought our drinks and left.

As I, Hushi, and Yoo Arin with a straw in her Chocomong walked back, she suddenly said, “I confessed back in the day.”

“What?”

Did I hear correctly?

I turned my head quickly and looked at her. Yoo Arin sighed and grumbled.

“But he rejected me, and that was the end. I don’t like Jung Chanwoo anymore, and I don’t even have the intention to like him. To be honest, all the remaining feelings have disappeared.”

“……”

“So, don’t try to connect me with Jung Chanwoo. Got it?”

Annoyed, Yoo Arin walked ahead of me, fast-paced. As I watched her back, I felt a chill down my spine.

I hurriedly caught up and asked, “Sometimes, after confessing, the person can look different.”

Even though I had no intentions and rejected her, I heard that the person who received the confession often starts to care afterwards.

Yoo Arin crossed her arms and looked at me.

“So? I’m not interested anymore.”

Her cold response indicated that she truly had no feelings towards Jung Chanwoo. And…

“What could have happened?”

It was clear that something more than just rejecting the confession had happened for Yoo Arin to declare it so coldly. However, it would be crossing the line for me to pry any further.

After that, we arrived at the table without saying a word. All three of us were immersed in our studies without any conversation.

“Ugly, stubborn brat, making us late!”

It was Yuarin, who had just returned with her usual tension.

It could be said that Yuarin’s effort to not disturb the atmosphere was admirable.

Because the girl who had been radiating an intense atmosphere just until now was acting like this, it was fascinating.

Looking at Yuarin, the others whispered quietly so she couldn’t hear.

“Is she a psychopath?”

“Just ignore her.”

In response to my words, Yuarin nervously interrupted and butted in.

I also interrupted her and listened to her interruption.