Bamboo Forest Manager - Chapter 382



Devoted Love

“Oh dear, oh dear, our Woojin.”

Still at the hotel.

Since checkout time hadn’t arrived yet, they were spending a little time in the hotel room.

Sitting on the bed, Seo Yerin hugged Kim Woojin.

Stroking his hair, she let him bury his face in her chest, soothing his weakened mind and body.

“When will you come back if you leave now?”

It was annoying, as if she was singing some kind of lament, but it seemed to be comforting nonetheless.

Maybe it was because she was buried in his chest, or maybe it was because of Seo Yerin’s lament.

“……”

“……”

Choi Iseo and Yoo Arin fell into deep thought as they watched the two of them.

What on earth should they do about this?

If they had made the first move, it would have been different, but because of the news of Kim Woojin’s enlistment, it became an awkward situation to reveal the lie.

“Ahhh! How can I leave my kids behind and go!”

Kim Woojin suddenly lifted his head and pressed his ear to Seo Yerin’s belly.

“Our child is waiting for daddy like this! If this goes on, I won’t even be able to see them being born.”

“……”

“Wait a minute! Don’t you hear a faint sound right now?”

Even Seo Yerin couldn’t help but keep her mouth shut in the end.

The three of them thought simultaneously.

This guy is seriously ill.

If they told him that the news of the pregnancy was a lie while he was struggling like this?

Who could do that here?

“Right? Yerin, don’t you feel something from your belly?”

“I think it’s because I’m hungry.”

“Hungry? What, what do you want to eat? Ah, wait a moment.”

Kim Woojin, who had been depressed about the military until just now, smiled brightly and took out a notebook from his pocket.

Kim Woojin read the densely written contents.

“Pregnant women should never eat raw food. I saw it listed as forbidden food. It might be tough, but I’ll help you out.”

“Huh?”

“Of course, it’s still early, so you don’t have to worry too much. But I’m worried, so I’ll be a little pushy, okay?”

“Okay.”

“Oh, I also learned massage? Want to stretch your legs? This helps with swelling-.”

Was he really the same person who was depressed just now?

His devoted actions were full of consideration, and the smile on his face seemed to indicate that the pressure of the military had long since disappeared.

“Did he prepare all that?”

“In just one day…”

Normally, Kim Woo-jin’s actions would have been touching.

Even though he often joked around or did strange things, you could feel that he was caring and considerate towards his family.

But seeing him exude warmth like that,

The three of them started to feel dizzy.

It would have been better if she were really pregnant.

Kim Woo-jin was so devoted that such thoughts crossed their minds.

“How is it? Cool?”

“Yeah, it’s cool. Feels good…”

Even Seo Ye-rin, feeling awkward, scratched her cheek and couldn’t say anything.

“Really? That’s a relief.”

Kim Woo-jin smiled brightly, rejoicing.

Was he always a young man who could smile so innocently?

They saw a new side of him.

“Oh, by the way, how many classes do you have today? I have one in the morning.”

At Kim Woo-jin’s question, the three of them answered quickly as if they were nervous.

“I have two in the afternoon.”

“I have classes all day today.”

“One in the morning, one in the afternoon.”

Seo Ye-rin, Choi Yi-seo, and Yoo Ah-rin.

When they told him their schedules, Kim Woo-jin nodded.

“I see. Honestly, on a day like this, I want to stay with you all… but it’s a bit much, right?”

Kim Woo-jin looked at them pleadingly.

Normally, they would have agreed, but at this moment, being with him was uncomfortable for the three of them.

“If I miss this class, I’ll have to retake it!”

“Hmm, I can’t help it if I want to get a full scholarship.”

“Me too! My parents said I need to get good grades if I want to keep doing YouTube.”

“Oh, right. You should.”

He openly showed his disappointment, but it quickly changed.

“Then let’s all have dinner together tonight. Is that okay? I’ll make a reservation at a good restaurant. I’ll also ask them to prepare some good food for the pregnant woman.”

How good of a place could it be if he can even decide the menu?

Kim Woo-jin’s care and kindness clearly showed his love for them, and they were naturally grateful.

“Shall we go then?! I need to stop by my house first!”

“We’ll be late!”

“Let’s go!”

Awkwardly shouting, the three of them stepped out of the hotel. Kim Woo-jin followed behind.

Yoo Ah-rin subtly clung to Choi I-seo and whispered.

“Hey, what are we going to do? He’s totally excited right now. Shouldn’t we tell him now?”

“Well… but.”

It was hard to tell him the truth when he was so obviously happy.

There were other reasons, of course.

“Ah, I was really depressed because of the enlistment. But thinking about our kids gives me strength.”

“……”

“I was worried about how I’d do in the military. But thinking about our kids, I feel like I can really do my best.”

Didn’t they all see how Kim Woo-jin, who had been struggling with the thought of enlistment, suddenly brightened up when he talked about the kids?

“If you can tell him, do it. Preferably when I’m not around.”

Rarely, Choi I-seo passed the responsibility to Yoo Ah-rin, who bit her lip and shook her head.

“I, I can’t… I didn’t know he’d be this happy.”

The two of them glanced back.

Seo Ye-rin was boldly linking arms with Kim Woo-jin.

“Woo-jin, how about a morning coffee? My treat!”

“Pregnant women shouldn’t drink that!”

“R-really?”

Seeing Seo Ye-rin, the two started to worry.

They thought Seo Ye-rin might be able to tell him boldly.

“I see…”

The tears welling up in Seo Ye-rin’s eyes, as she lowered her head, were filled with the sorrow of not knowing how to explain the tragedy that was to come.

“Hmm? Ye-rin, are you cold? You’re shivering.”

“N-no.”

The trembling body was a rare sign that Seo Yerin was feeling fear.

“Haah.”

“We’re screwed.”

In the end, the two couldn’t say anything and headed to school, almost pushing each other.

* * *

“Hmm?”

During the break in the middle of the lecture.

Choi Iseo, who was briefly reviewing what they had just learned, saw Kim Woojin holding tumblers in both hands.

“Iseo!”

Kim Woojin, who spotted Choi Iseo, ran over immediately.

Ignoring the stares around them, he handed over a tumbler.

“What’s going on? Don’t you have a lecture too?”

“Ah, I’m going to the military anyway. I just took a self-declared holiday today.”

“Even so, you should manage your grades.”

“Got it, sorry. But here, take this.”

He handed over the tumbler, brushing off Choi Iseo’s words.

“It’s chamomile tea. I heard it’s good for pregnant women.”

“……”

“It’s hot, so let it cool before drinking. Don’t want to startle our baby.”

“Woojin, you don’t have to worry so much.”

Choi Iseo bit her lip and tried to resist.

But Kim Woojin responded with a bright smile.

“I know, I know. It’s still early, so we don’t have to worry too much. But I can’t just do nothing.”

“……”

“I’ve thought about it. I thought it would be tough until I enlist. But now, I want to do my best for our kids until I enlist. It actually gives me more strength.”

“……”

“Anyway, Iseo, fighting! Study hard! I’m going to give this to Arin now!”

Since Seo Yerin had two afternoon lectures, she hadn’t come to school yet.

Kim Woojin was taking care of Choi Iseo and Yoo Arin.

From noble mtl dot com

A few minutes later.

– Yoo Ah-rin: f* f* f* f* f* f* f* f* f* f* f* f* f* f* f* f* f* f* f* f* f* f*

Looking at the message from Yoo Ah-rin, Choi I-seo rarely felt such deep empathy for her.

‘I must absolutely tell him next time.’

At this rate, I might get a stomach ulcer.

I feel sorry for taking away Kim Woo-jin’s happiness, but eventually, the truth must be told.

An hour later.

Another break time.

Trying to forget the current situation, Choi I-seo forced herself to focus on studying, but her eyes caught sight of Kim Woo-jin.

“…….”

“I-seo!”

He approached with the same bright smile as before.

This time, he was holding snacks and a blanket.

“This is yokan. It seems it’s made as a snack for pregnant women? Try it, and if you like it, I’ll order more.”

“…….”

“And I found out separately that even if strenuous exercise is difficult, there are protein shakes made specifically for pregnant women. I ordered those too.”

“…….”

“Wrap this around you too. Why are you sitting by the window, making yourself cold for no reason? You need to keep warm.”

Kim Woo-jin wrapped the blanket around her.

‘Ah…….’

She had planned to tell him next time.

She didn’t expect him to come again during break time, so Choi I-seo couldn’t say anything.

She wasn’t ready to take away his happiness yet.

‘If only I were really pregnant…….’

All these actions would seem cute, and she would have loved how he cherished her.

Even if he was a strange guy, she would have praised herself for catching a good man.

Tears unknowingly welled up in her eyes.

Seeing this, Kim Woo-jin was startled and hugged Choi I-seo.

“I-seo, what’s wrong? Is something the matter?”

Students nearby glanced over, but Kim Woo-jin didn’t care.

“No, it’s just…… I never imagined you would do all this for me.”

I really couldn’t have imagined it.

I was worried that I might be abandoned like in dramas or movies before I sent the text.

Now, I want to smash the phone that sent that text.

“What? I’m your husband and father.”

Kim Woo-jin whispered proudly in my ear.

“Iseo, I really love you. And thank you so much.”

Tears flowed down Choi Iseo’s cheeks as she heard that.

“I love you too… I love you too.”

But, they were not tears of emotion.

They were tears of lamentation for the current hopeless situation.