Chapter 10: Running Mate


    Hmmm.


    I felt a bit of an odd sense of dj vu as I looked down at my phone.


    Specifically, it was an odd look at the Bamboo Forest site that appeared on my phone screen.


    Why havent I seen it recently?


    Anonymous69.


    In other words, Seo Yerin hasnt been posting on the bulletin board recently.


    There was a time when she was acting like she would die if she didnt post it, so it was somewhat worrying that she suddenly vanished.


    Was I overthinking this?


    The way I see it, Seo Yerin seemed to relieve the stress she faced in reality by saying the things she never would in real life as Anonymous69.


    All the same, if she resolved that in reality, there would be no reason to venture into the Bamboo Forest.


    Did she get a boyfriend?


    It was all a shot in the dark, but perhaps it wasnt that strange.


    Well, its a good thing that the Bamboo Forest got cleaner with one spammer disappearing.


    Actually, some users were also saying that it was nice that the persistent posts by Anonymous69 have vanished.


    The problem is.


    Should it be called the conservation of fools?


    As soon as Anonymous69 vanished, one more stood out.


    It was none other than Anonymous287.


    It was Ahn Hyeon-ho, a student in the English Language and Literature Department.


    -Anonymous287: How about just bumping into someones shoulder for starters? If you dont apologize and smirk as you pass by, wouldnt that piss the other person off?


    He was asking almost daily in the Bamboo Forest about ways to pick fights with other people without making others feel too badly.


    The important thing was that he thought this was helpful, and among the users of Forest, thements were frequently made.


    -Anonymous209: Thats just being tantly rude. Isnt it better to subtly make them feel bad?


    -Anonymous11: No, no this person just intentionally wants to stir things up. But since the opponent is aplete coward, they are tantly picking a fight.


    -Anonymous209: Ah, for real?


    -Anonymous11: This person always brings in their own way to pick fights that they think of. It is kind of interesting to watch. They are useful.


    -Anonymous75: Agree, there are a lot of tant ones. I tried what this person suggested thest time and well, it worked out good. It was satisfying to see them fuming over something which was the bare minimum which they couldnt evenin about.


    -Anonymous287: Ha, I just wish they would throw the first punch so I could have no regrets. I am confident I could beat them with a smile under the guise of self-defense.


    -Anoymous287: Moreover, it seems like theyre dating a senior from our department. Shit, why are they eyeing someone elses girl.


    They arent some eelementary school kids.


    Calling the police would only escte the situation, potentially leading to a settlement and if things go wrong, even a criminal record.


    It really felt like dealing with a child, hoping that I would start the fight first.


    Ahn Hyeon-ho had been making annoying remarks recently, or had a tendency to hit and run away.


    Seeing this actually makes me think less of it.


    Since hes fully expressing his thoughts here, it makes me feel absolutely nothing.


    Even if he picked a fight with me, he is the one who ends up feeling anxious about it.


    -Anonymous90: When is the sex oneing? Why dont I see them anymore?


    -Anonymous11: You want to see him?


    -Anonymous90: They are fun.


    -Anonymous11: Go jerk off, you virgin.


    -Anonymous90: ? why are you picking a fight?


    -Anonymous11: Its fun.


    -Anonymous243: Honestly, isnt my step sister practically my girlfriend?


    -Anonymous65: Bullshit.


    Euh.


    All these posts areing up.


    Hoping that the members of the Bamboo Forest will help me out. I wonder if Ahn Hyeon-ho can really make me angry.


    <em>Ding-dong!</em>


    While I was somewhat managing the Bamboo Forest, the doorbell rang. It wasnt a visitor, but it seemed like a delivery had arrived.


    As soon as I received the package and opened it, there was a pair of ck running shoes inside that Choi Yiseo had rmended to mest time.


    Hmm, not bad?


    They looked good in the pictures, and I quite like them. Trying them on and jumping in ce, I felt a sudden urge to go for a run.


    Ah. She asked for a photo.


    Choi Yiseo had asked me to send a photo via Kakaotalk once the running shoes arrived. I sent a photo of me wearing them and a couple minutester, a reply came back.


    ss rep: Come outside


    Kim Woojin: ?


    Suddenly?


    ss rep: If you got running shoes, you should try running in them. Hurry up ande. Ill run with you.


    Is she really trying to make me her workout buddy?


    Have I just caught the bait she threw?


    I dont hate it.


    Honestly, because there was an impulse inside me wanting to try out the new running shoes I just bought, I couldnt refuse.


    Shhh.


    Since she also tried to help me regarding the ex-girlfriend, Oh Yoon-ji.


    Kim Woojin: Where?


    ss rep: Lets meet in 10 minutes at the starting point of the stream and walk away.


    Kim Woojin: No no, 20.


    ss rep: If you answer like that one more time, youll regret it when we meet.


    Kim Woojin: Too far.


    I couldnt help but be suddenly polite, thinking of Choi Yiseo looking down at the phone coldly.


    ss rep: How long will it take?


    Kim Woojin: 20 mins.


    ss rep: Then if you run, it will take 5 minutes. Lets meet in 10. If yourete, you buy dinner.


    Kim Woojin: Stop being unreasonable


    But the number 1 on myst message never disappeared. It seems Choi Yiseo has already started getting ready to leave.


    Ah, seriously.


    I felt the urge to put on the shoes and run but I never expected that such a sudden situation will arise.


    Although I was shocked, I quickly changed into my workout attire and went out on the walking path.


    Oh, 9 minutes.


    Huff! It feels like Ive run on everything, right?


    What now?


    I managed to run here in just under 10 minutes but honestly, I felt exhausted. I felt the urge to stop but Choi Yiseo fiddled with her smartwatch and exined.


    Lets just run for about 10 minutes for now. We wont go too fast and lets run at a pace which suits you.


    Ive run for 10 minutes already.


    It took 9 minutes, but why doesnt it count that I had to run all the way here?


    That was a warm-up.


    Isnt warm-up also a part of exercise? I think I ran very hard.


    Fine, fine, lets go.


    Saying so, she patted me on the back making me wonder why she was being this familiar with me, but eventually I was pushed and began to run.


    Youre being too pushy.


    Its for your health. You eat pork belly, pork cutlet, and ramen, so you need to exercise.


    I agree that I had to exercise though.


    Are you still thinking about what you atest time?


    As if.


    While continuing to push on my back, Choi Yiseo gritted her teeth.


    It wasnt me, but the PT who got angry. Asking what I ate to gain weight in just one day.


    Go, go!


    Choi Yiseo, seemingly all the more energetic by the thought of working out, became livelier. Judging by theughter in her voice, she seemed to be enjoying herself.


    It felt more like the joy of running freely than just the pleasure of giving me a hard time.


    After running for a while.


    Aha, how long have we been running?


    20 minutes? We didnt run much though.


    Opposite me, who was panting and trying to catch her breath, Choi Yiseo was stretching her body like she was alright.


    You should continue working out. Your stamina is really bad.


    Huff! Huff!


    How about running with me every morning? What do you think? We could jog in the morning and then head to morning sses together. You have a 9 a.m. ss on Tuesday right?


    Dont you have friends?


    Are you really the one asking me that?


    You said you live with a friend. You can do it with them?


    I decided to change the topic since it would put me at a disadvantage but the response was a bit odd.


    Hmm?


    Choi Yiseos expression darkened swiftly.


    It felt like she didnt want to mention the friend she was sharing a home with.


    Are things with the high school friend not as great as I imagined?


    Though it felt odd, Choi Yiseo nced at me and asked.


    Are you checking the Bamboo Forest board?


    Ah, yes. I check it from time to time.


    In reality, I check it every day.


    Almost every hour at that too.


    Ill text youter.


    There was no need to ask what the message would be. It has to be about sending me a message timed with when Oh Yoon-jis high school friends would target me.


    Is that alright?


    Since wevee this far into the topic I thought I should ask, feeling a tad doubtful. Its almost like betraying her friends.


    Its not because of you.


    At my question, she rubbed her hands and mumbled.


    Looking at what the guys are doing, it feels like watching a cult move. Yoon-ji, the person involved, isnt saying anything, yet they keep ming and bad mouthing you.


    Thats not right. Once the issuees out into the open, Ill gather everyone and talk to them about it. Ill make sure you dont get hurt.


    Its tough having the wrong friends.


    Choi Yiseo was in that situation now.


    Sigh.


    Feeling sorry for her, I patted her on the shoulder and her sweat-drenched blue hair was giving out a refreshing scent to me.


    ?!


    Surprised, she pulls away. She seemed flustered, wondering what I was doing but I decided to change the topic.


    What will you have for dinner? Ill buy.


    My turn to decide then?


    Should we go with rock-paper-scissors then?


    No, Ill decide.


    As I extended my hand, she seemed to remember her previous two defeats which led her to eat oily pork, so she backed down.


    And a sly smile rose.


    Theres this sd ce which is really nice around here. Lets eat there.


    A sd ce that tastes good?


    I frowned at her yful expression as she knew how much I abhorred such food, and so I reached out with my hand.


    Lets do rock-paper-scissors.


    No. Hurry up and follow me.


    Having lost the power to decide, I had no choice but to trudge along behind Choi Yiseo.


    Ugh, Ill buy then.


    Seeing my displeasure, she patted me on the shoulder and I responded with a bright smile.


    Hurry up now, noona (elder sister).


    Ugh.