"What are we doing today?"
Saturday had passed and now it was Sunday.
Yesterday was a meaningful time.
After all, I had fun messing with Anonymous287, the guy who posted that I was a sex offender.
I cannot help but wonder, almost to the point of excitement, what kind of expression Ahn Hyeon-ho had on his face.
But as a day passed, those fun feelings diminished.
It was like how playing a game is fun only for that moment and once it ends the sense of emptiness comes over.
'Ah, no more sniping?'
Out of boredom, I briefly skim through the Bamboo Forest posts.
But seeing that nothing much had changed from yesterday's post, I felt more bored.
It is a community of the university, so it made sense that the Bamboo Forest was on rest at the weekends, but I still felt disappointed.
'Maybe I should work out instead.'
After pondering for a few minutes whether to do some exercise or not, I finally decided to and got up from the seat.
While I was putting on my running shoes and stepping out, a call came through.
It was Choi Yiseo.
"She has such great timing."
Knowing that there was just one reason for her to contact me, I answered it.
"Right, come on, we'll work out."
I knew she was going to suggest a workout right then since she had nothing to do on the weekends.
Isn't she addicted to working out?
-Huh?
But there was a hint of surprise in her voice. Wasn't that the reason for her call?
"What, you didn't call to suggest working out?"
When I asked, Choi Yiseo hurriedly confirmed it.
-Right! Right now! At our usual spot!
With those words, she ended the call.
Thinking about it, I wondered if she called me because of yesterday's sniping post.
'Ah, it could be that too.'
It seemed I hadn't been paying much attention because the sniper incident ended so uneventfully.
'Well, we can talk when we meet.'
As I headed to the starting point of the walking trail, Choi Yiseo was already there and it seemed like her house was close to it.
"You're here early?"
"Yes, I live close by."
The blue hoodie matched her navy hair. I remembered how, back in elementary school, we used to playfully say that blue is for boys.
Clearly, when it comes to color, there is no fixed gender.
Even in the blue hoodie, she has a dignified air.
After a brief stretching session, we began a slow jog and Choi Yiseo glanced around before she carefully said,
"Woojin."
"Why are you talking while running?"
If you wanted to say something you should have done it earlier.
Why start a conversation when we were just warming up to run?
But Choi Yiseo had her reasons.
"My senior friends are following us from behind right now."
"What?"
What's this now? I almost looked around but then turned my head to meet her gaze, and my eyes froze there.
I almost gave away that I was looking for them.
"So just run for now. Pretend like we're naturally working out and continue to run until they get tired."
"You know I don't have much endurance."
"That is why."
Choi Yiseo clenched her fists tightly.
It seemed that she was trying to cheer me up.
"We need to do our best."
"Ahh."
"Those seniors are all smokers. So let's do our best."
"Why are they following us? Because of Oh Yoon-ji?"
"Broadly speaking, yes."
Choi Yiseo drew the line there, considering Oh Yoon-ji is the cause for all this. Even though Oh Yoon-ji had a strange nature, I wondered why she would go this far to hurt others.
Well, anyway.
"You chose a terrible friend."
As I reproached Choi Yiseo and ran ahead, she bowed her head and apologized.
"I really am sorry."
With those words, we continued to run. I was out of breath, my calves felt like they were about to burst and I wanted to stop right then and there, but I kept running anyway.
The moment we reached the end of the long walking path, my legs gave out and I collapsed.
"Gasp! Gasp! I cannot run anymore. Just kill me."
If those seniors have followed us this far, it might be time to face them.
First, I will prepare to call the police.
Even as I was gasping for breath, I took my phone out, ready to call 112, but Choi Yiseo, who was next to me, wiped her sweat off and looked around before she sighed.
"Doesn't seem like they're coming. Maybe they gave up halfway."
"Haaah! This is so damn hard!"
As I sat down on the ground, barely gasping for air. Choi Yiseo squatted in front of me.
"I am truly sorry."
"Ahh! Haa! Enough! Let us rest now! We can talk later."
I felt like I would die from exhaustion.
I just wanted to head home, take a shower or maybe go to a convenience store and buy some ORS drinks.
Before the discomfort in my mouth and the heat of sweat had cooled down.
*Wooong*
This unfair scene unfolded before the eyes.
"Electric scooter."
I spotted a group approaching us on electric scooters on the walking path.
"Woah, this is really not right."
Someone ran like a dog to barely escape and while another is coming on an electric scooter with a cigarette.
"Did I do something wrong to deserve this?"
When I glanced at Choi Yiseo to ask, her face darkened, unable to respond.
"Ugh."
I let out a sigh and brought the phone to my ear while still sitting.
"Is this the police station?"
I decided to call the police.
Who dares to act like a gangster in a nation with good public safety like South Korea?
"Yah! He is reporting!"
"Catch him!"
Stupid idiots.
I already told them exactly where I was.
"Yes, yes, come quickly, there are some strange men here trying to pick a fight for no reason. They seem like they will hit us."
Riding the electric scooter, the person reached in front of me, but I had already hung up the phone and was recording a video with it.
"Do you think this is some crime movie where you can just show up in a group and beat me up?"
I smiled, causing them to hesitate.
"What now? You thought this would work? This is why people need to study. You thought it would be alright because your teachers in school always hushed up the incidents and covered it up for you when you beat other kids?"
This is society now.
Do they realize that the shitty school they talked about was actually protecting them?
"You used to curse at your teachers and talk back, right? But in reality, they were just preventing you from getting into serious trouble."
"You bastard! Are you that confident? Calling the police! You sex offender!"
"I really don't understand why you're calling me a sex offender or anything close to that."
It was unfair, perhaps it is better that it turned out like this.
"Fine, let's call them, call everyone. The police, judges, prosecutors, lawyers, let's call them all and thoroughly investigate everything, if I am guilty I will go to jail. Also call the FBI here."
If they are going to push me this far, I will not just stand by.
I abruptly stood up and approached them. Since it was a walking path, groups of people began to gather and watch this.
Many onlookers had gathered.
"People with nothing in their heads don't even know that you can't hit other people! How dare you…!"
Suddenly.
My vision spun.
With the sound of a phone dropping, a numbing pain spread across my cheek.
'Ah, fuck.'
I never expected someone to throw a punch in such a crowded place. A person with poor emotional intelligence had lost it and hit me.
"You talk too much!"
Fortunately, only one guy did it.
But this was my mistake.
Who would have known that an adult, unable to control their emotions and end up causing such an uncontrollable situation?
Anyway, there are many brave people in the world.
"Woojin!"
Choi Yiseo rushed to me hugging me tightly to stop them from hitting me as she wrapped her arms around me.
"Yah! Yah! You'll get hit!"
"Just stay still!"
I could feel not just the warmth but even her touch as she hugged me tightly. Not only my cheek, which felt hot from the hit, but my entire body felt the heat rise.
But the situation wasn't one for feeling comfort.
"Choi Yiseo? Aren't you a friend of Minji's?"
"Do not hit him! What did he do so wrong for him to be hit!"
"Have you lost it? Your friend was sexually assaulted by this bastard!"
"Who even said that! Yoon-ji never said such a thing to me and no one could even get in contact with her!"
The guy who had hit me sighed as he came close. This time, I pulled Choi Yiseo into my arms to avoid him when he tried to grab her by the hair and pull her to him.
Although it ended up with me hugging her too tightly.
Feeling the tickle of Choi Yiseo's hair brushing against my cheek and nose.
"Ah, I should have been more diligent when it came to working out."
I mumbled with a chuckle and Choi Yiseo turned to look at me with a sigh of disbelief.
"Are you really laughing now?"
"Uh, I am. Just thinking about showing how harsh reality can be is making me excited."
"What kind of…!"
Anyway, it was time to get beaten until the police arrived. At that moment Choi Yiseo awkwardly tried to twist her body.
"Hey."
An out of place voice which came form the group of people. A dominating presence which took over the entire place and without even realizing I turned my head toward the voice.
"Senior Min Ju-hee?"
The Joan of Arc of group projects.
Captain Ju was striding to us, hands in her bomber jacket.
I wondered why she appeared here suddenly but that wasn't the main issue.
"S-senior!"
"Senior! It's been so long since we've seen you!"
The thugs who had followed us bowed to her and greeted her. I thought like this was some gangster movie happening, but she walked and stood in front of us.
"Yah, this kid is the only one in my group who can edit. What will I do for the project if you hit him like this?"
'It's a relief that she can't edit.'
As I resolved to really ace a group project for once, I immediately shouted to senior.
"I've subscribed to all the editing Youtubers and professional editing programs too!"
"What…"
Choi Yiseo looked dumbfounded at me, thinking that my words were out of the blue but senior Min Ju-hee bent down and chuckled, looking at me.
"Wonderful. Next time you are scheduling the classes, let me know. Let us add a few we can take together and work on some projects together."
"It would be an honor, senior!"
"Oh my, you cutie."
Senior Ju-hee patted me on the head and I shook my head back and forth in response to her touch.
"Girlfriend? The freshman class rep? You found yourself a good man."
"Right, she found a good man!"
"What are you saying!"
Getting dragged into things, Choi Yiseo punched me in the chest.
"Euk!"
Thanks to that, I sprawled right onto the ground, and Choi Yiseo, who had been holding me, let go.
"You are getting sued."
"Do it."
A brief fight between us, but oh well.
Senior Ju-hee turned her head to look at the thugs, just her presence made them go still.
"Just go. Whatever the reason you have for beating up the kids. It cannot be justified. And try not to run into me again."
"Haa, but noona (elder sister)!"
"But noona what?"
Min Ju-hee walked to the one talking back to her and turned her head.
"Talking back to me now? Want me to remind you of the past? How about going home wearing only your underwear? Has it been so long since you last got hit that you don't remember it?"
"I am sorry!"
"I am sorry!"
The thugs bowed down in apology and grabbed their scooters and hurried to leave.
"You."
I stood up and grabbed the shoulder of the thug who hit me, and smiled.
"Where are you going? Shouldn't you face judgment?"
"…Huh, why don't you just hit me back and call it even? Why make things complicated?"
Look at this one?
"Woah, look at you being so bold. I would like to see if you can be this bold at the police station too."
I smiled as he tried to run.
"I wouldn't run if I were you. We'll end up at the station anyway, and running now would be embarrassing for you."
"Huh, how much do you want? You want to settle it with money right?"
Woah.
I barely managed to hold back a chuckle.
"Haaah! Nonsense. That red line deserves to be drawn."
"..."
"I have a lot of money. I don't need to settle for it."
"That…"
"What now? There is much time and I thought I was dying of boredom today, it will be nice to see each other's face in court whenever I get bored."
"No, that…"
"What? Getting angry? Want to hit me again?"
From far, the police can be seen running towards us and seeing that he hurriedly bowed.
"I am sorry….!"
"No, no! Don't apologize! Don't do it!"
I firmly refused and lifted him up.
"Even if you do that, nothing will change."
"W-wait. The thing is, I am on probation!"
"The fuck?! Straight to jail then!"
"Pl-please! I just got carried away for a moment!"
"Back to jail! Let's go see the tattooed brothers of Zero Two Talent show!"
While I was making a fuss here, the guy knelt down and grabbed my pants.
"Please, please!"
Seeing that pitiful state, I sighed and patted him on the shoulder.
Wiping the smile off my face, I said,
"Get your hands off me, you criminal."
*****
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