“Hey, Bronze.”
Seo Yerin calls out to me.
Gritting my teeth, I glare at Seo Yerin, who is acting all smug.
“What, Bronze.”
Just a few hours ago, I was definitely Silver.
The gap between me and Seo Yerin was like heaven and earth.
But now, the message flashing before my eyes says I’ve been demoted to Bronze.
It felt like my angel wings had been torn off, and I was suddenly a human standing on the ground.
“Never look down on Bronze again, Bronze.”
“……”My mouth shut tight.
Even though I wanted to say it was because of Seo Yerin, I couldn’t entirely blame her since I had also made mistakes.
“I guess I’ll order some ramen.”
Trying to soothe my frustration, I decided to eat some ramen.
Just a few hours ago, it was unbearably uncomfortable with all the eyes around me watching me play games with Seo Yerin.
By now, I had grown accustomed to these things and wasn’t bothered by them at all.
Especially since Han-kang kept glaring at me instead of focusing on the game.
“Want to eat ramen?”
Seo Yerin showed interest.
“Uh, do you want some too?”
I thought it was about time for her to go home, but Seo Yerin scratched her cheek and declined.
“No, I have dinner plans tonight. I think I need to eat there.”
“Really?”
Well.
It was just that she didn’t have the opportunity at Gold One.
In fact, Seo Yerin was a woman whom countless people wanted to make plans with and meet, to the point where her schedule was overflowing.
Even now, if she checked her messages, there would be a ton of people asking to meet up.
“……”
Thinking about that made me slightly uncomfortable, but knowing that this was my unique form of obsession and possessiveness…
“Then I guess I’ll eat alone.”
Pretending to be cool for no reason, I started choosing ramen.
Black bean ramen? Spicy ramen? Or maybe cold noodles?
As I began to ponder over the menu that appeared on the screen, Seo Yerin, who had been watching idly beside me, leaned forward and pointed at the screen.
“How about this? Udon? This one is really delicious!”
“Udon? Hmm.”
It didn’t seem bad.
Since I didn’t particularly want anything, I just ordered the udon she recommended.
“Aren’t you ordering any other sides?”
“I’m still thinking.”
I ordered a Pikachu pork cutlet as well and waited while reading a webtoon.
Since Chan-woo scolded me before, it’s just a regular webtoon, not an adult one.
“Hmmm, what webtoon is this?”
Despite it not being an adult webtoon, Seo Yerin kept showing interest and talking to me.
It was a bit annoying, but I briefly summarized the plot for her.
A few minutes later, even though the udon and Pikachu cutlet had arrived, Seo Yerin still clung to me and stared.
“Even if you ask for a bite, I won’t give you any.”
“I’m not asking for any!”
‘Then why are you here?’
She wasn’t even playing the game anymore, just staring blankly.
“Aren’t you going to your appointment?”
I distinctly remembered her saying she had a dinner appointment.
“Hmm, just wanted to look at your face.”
“Why, do I have something on it?”
“No, there’s nothing on it.”
“……”
I was secretly hoping she’d say something like ‘handsomeness’.
“Hurry up and go to your dinner, you’ll be late.”
“Yeah, it looks like I really might be late.”
Seo Yerin muttered absentmindedly, then smiled and slowly stood up.
I thought she was leaving, but she leaned in to whisper.
“Don’t worry, I’ll leave just like this.”
“…Huh?”
Like this?
It was a casual outfit.
Although it felt like she had dressed too simply, it was Seo Yerin, so even that was part of her charm.
“It means you’re someone I can meet without dressing up.”
She winked and walked away.
Watching her back, I felt an unexpected sense of peace.
‘Ah, damn it.’
The moment I realized that Seo Yerin had said that because she understood someone like me.
I clasped my head and sighed.
I felt embarrassed, and I thought it was foolish to give her any room when I hadn’t decided anything yet.
As I sighed at my own foolishness and indecisiveness while eating udon, I felt gazes from the side.
A glance revealed that four idiots were staring at me intently.
“What are you staring at?”
I wanted to say something nice, but they never make it easy.
“Who the hell is Kim Woojin dating?”
Ahn Hyeon-ho’s annoyed grumbling set off a series of complaints from all around.
Why is that?
Somehow, the conversation ended with a plan to go drinking.
“If I ever drink with you guys again, I’m not human.”
Pyo Jin-ho mumbled with his hands stuffed in his pockets.
When he was harshly rejected by Yu Arin, he felt like he might die on the spot.
Now, he doesn’t even mention Yu Arin, as if he’s completely forgotten her.
‘Is it because of the military?’
Or maybe he’s just too stressed about having to enlist in a week to think about anything else.
“Jin-ho, let’s just drink and die today.”
“Yeah, let’s just die!”
Han-kang and Pyo Jin-ho had grown closer, perhaps because they were enlisting together.
Leaving the two behind, I walk with Chan-woo and ask.
“But is your girlfriend okay with you going out to drink?”
“Huh? Shouldn’t it be okay?”
“…Huh?”
Shouldn’t it be okay?
What does that mean?
We weren’t going out for drinks with just the five of us.
We were tagging along with Ahn Hyeon-ho, who had a drink date with a junior he was interested in.
“Damn, why are we all going together.”
Thanks to this, Ahn Hyeon-ho’s expression was intensely contorted, and he was sending various messages to the freshman class president.
They’re probably calling friends to increase the number of people on their side too.
It’s a bit odd for just the five of us and the female class president to drink together.
So naturally, the number of women would increase.
“Didn’t you tell your girlfriend?”
This guy has a chance of drinking with girls, and he didn’t tell his girlfriend?
Jeong Chan-woo tilts his head with an innocent expression and asks back at my words.
“Do I have to tell her?”
“……”
God definitely gave Chan-woo good looks and took away many other things.
Or did some bald uncle put a curse on him or something?
“Keep in touch, Chan-woo. If you keep doing that, you might end up in a fight.”
I gave him serious advice as a friend.
“Hey, it’s nothing. If I contact her too often, she’ll probably dislike it.”
“I, I said it, right?”
“Yeah, it’s fine. She’s my girlfriend, so I know her best.”
He responds with a shrug, making it seem like bait, which is pitiful.
“But, on the other hand, are you okay?”
Chan-woo asks me back.
Given my complicated situation, I naturally don’t feel like attending this drinking party.
“If the atmosphere gets weird, I’ll just say I’m going to the bathroom and head back to the dorm.”
“Aha.”
“Still, since senior Han-kang and Jin-ho are going to the military, we should at least pretend to fit in.”
Although the two were making a fuss, I didn’t think it was pathetic.
I, too, would be going to the military, and that would be my future as well.
Exemption?
Even my brother, the vice chairman, served in the Marine Corps as an active-duty soldier.
My other brother was too overweight to go, but I wasn’t like that.
The meeting place was a pub.
It was a place chosen by Ahn Hyeon-ho, where you could sense his intentions clearly, as a motel area was just 10 minutes away.
Entering the place, the kids seemed to have already started.
I thought there might be some guys mixed in, but it was all girls.
Moreover, the faces looked strangely familiar.
‘They’re dorm kids, huh?’
Kids I’d seen a few times while passing through the dormitory.
Was Gyu-ah, the freshman class rep, also a dorm resident?
“Hi, guys.”
When Ahn Hyeon-ho greeted with a smile, the freshmen welcomed him warmly.
It seemed he had made a good impression as a second-year in the department.
I thought they would naturally feel uncomfortable with us coming in afterward.
“Hello, I’m also originally your senior, but you probably haven’t seen me because I took a leave of absence this time.”
Just by looking, Han-kang, who had a warm, church-oppa vibe, greeted and the atmosphere changed a bit.
“…I’m Kang’s friend.”
When Pyo Jin-ho, who had a big build and a rough bear-like appearance, openly felt awkward, laughter broke out and things lightened up.
“I’m Jeong Chan-woo from the Department of Architecture.”
As Chan-woo appeared, he spread his arms wide and welcomed us eagerly.
“Ahem.”
Lastly, when I entered, the atmosphere immediately became somber.
‘These reactions are something.’
Choi Yiseo had told me my reputation was excessively bad, but I didn’t think it would be to this extent.
Isn’t it a bit much to have no reaction at all, especially from a senior living in the same dorm?
‘Guess I’ll just have to go.’
No need for a few drinks.
I decided to have a beer, cheer on the two who were going to the army, and then head back.
‘Hmm?’
But among everyone avoiding my gaze, one person was staring at me intently.
The freshman class president who had an appointment with Ahn Hyeon-ho met my eyes with a peculiar smile.
“Whew.”
I came outside in less than 30 minutes, feeling the cool breeze as if it were clearing the rising alcohol buzz.
The night air was still cold, quickly cooling my head and relaxing my tense body.
The remaining four people still seemed to be in a pretty good mood.
Well, they might seem quite appealing at a glance.
‘I should get back quickly.’
Enjoying the free drinks and snacks, I was about to head back to the dormitory with a smile.
“Senior!”
A voice, sticky with familiarity, called out to me from behind.
When I turned around, there stood the freshman class representative who had been overly friendly with Ahn Hyeon-ho just moments ago.
“Are you going to the dormitory? Let’s go together!”
“…Why?”
I seriously couldn’t understand why she wanted to go together. This girl who seemed to be in such a good mood with Ahn Hyeon-ho.
“I think I might be a bit drunk. I snuck out.”
“Drunk?”
“Yes!”
She seemed way too lively.
I was a bit puzzled by the situation.
“I’m not going to the dormitory.”
I decided to dodge the situation for now.
I had already had conflict with Ahn Hyeon-ho over Choi Yiseo and didn’t want to get unnecessarily involved with the freshman class representative.
“Then, where are you going? Let’s go together, senior!”
“I’m going to a room salon.”
“……”
A stern expression that came to mind for a moment.
I thought this would be enough to fend her off, but this person approached me again.
“But don’t leave, come to the dorm with me. Yes? Let’s have a few more beers in my room.”
“What are you doing?”
Gyu-ah smiled slyly at my question.
The term “fox-like” seemed to be made just for her.
Her upturned eyes definitely gave her a fox-like beauty.
“Gyu-ah!”
Then, a man’s urgent voice could be heard from afar.
“What are you doing there! Who’s that guy!”
A tall man ran over with a worried expression and began to question her.
“Oppa?! I clearly said we should take a break for a while!”
Were they lovers?
’Ahn Hyeon-ho, you idiot.
‘Of all people, why did you choose someone like her?’
I’ll have to tell Ahn Hyeon-ho to get his act together later.
“It was just about taking some time, not breaking up. How can you do this again?”
“I’m going to date senior Woojin now. Stop obsessing over me!”
Gyu-ah immediately links her arm with mine.
Huh, what’s this?
This seems similar to something that happened before.
Back then, Yu Arin did this to get rid of Pyo Jin-ho.
Naturally, Yu Arin comes to mind.
What would Yu Arin or the others think if they saw this now?
The thought process takes about two seconds, and I can picture myself collapsing on the floor.
“Ahhh! Get off!”
That was a survival instinct.
I push Gyu-ah off my arm and simultaneously trip her.
It was the wasabari1 move that Yu Arin taught me out of boredom at Gold One.
Thud.
Gyu-ah falls flat on the ground.
Thanks to me holding her hand, she fell gently, but her body was turned, and her face pointed towards the ground.
As a result, she fell face down.
“……”
“……”
Even Gyu-ah’s boyfriend was staring at me blankly, seemingly shocked, and Gyu-ah was too embarrassed to get up.
“Kim Gyu-ah, I’ve misjudged you. I thought you were a quiet person, but how could you think of having three affairs?!”
It wasn’t really my place to say that.
First one who strikes wins.
If they start the fight with agitation and fabrication, I’ll respond in kind.
“Uh, it’s Lee Gyu-ah.”
Her boyfriend corrected me cautiously.
“Lee Gyu-ah? Like the iguana?”
“No, it’s Lee Gyu-ah.”
Oh, I see.
I thought her name was ‘Iguana’ for god’s sake.
“Iguana! Behave yourself properly! Go and apologize right now to the person I cherish the most in the Department of Applied Sciences, Ahn Hyeon-ho!”
“It’s not ‘Iguana’, it’s ‘Lee Gyu-ah’.”
“But doesn’t ‘Iguana’ just roll off the tongue better?”
When I seriously asked Gyu-ah’s boyfriend, he looked at me with a strange expression and was convinced.
“…You must not be close with Gyu-ah.”
“Yeah, I prefer dogs or cats over reptiles.”
“……”
It was supposed to be a killer joke you know.
Guess it didn’t land well.
“But isn’t Gyu-ah passed out?”
Shrugging, I replied to her boyfriend’s question.
“Socially, she’s almost passed out. She’s too embarrassed to get up.”
As if agreeing with me.
Very faintly.
“Fuckers.”
I heard Gyu-ah’s curse.
ED: Wasabari, a Judo move also known as Okuri ashi harai, is a double foot sweep from standing position. To execute the technique, extend the stepping motion of the opponent's leg towards their other leg by using your foot pushing against his foot's instep or side ️
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