Lunch Promise (2)
I had no issues when I woke up. But when I went to wash up and open the closet, disaster struck.
What should I wear today? I have nothing to wear. The clothes are too bright. Too flashy... I don't want to wear stuff like that. I need neutral colors. But there are no neutral colors. What counts as neutral for me? Black and brown. I don't have any of those. And among them, my absolute favorite is black. It's the most neutral, right? No one looks weird in it. Mom would bring gukbap if I wore it. I could just throw it on without thinking. No worries about stains. No worries about spills. It's not flashy either. It was the perfect color for me in every way. But there's none in my closet. The washing machine is already whirring away.
No choice—I tried on this and that. A dress... it's okay... but the air circulating between my legs, down there, still feels so weird. So pants it is... I put on some tight training pants that cling like a second skin... but these are too uncomfortable. Too constricting. I really can't stand feeling that confined. If my back itches even a little, I have to scratch it. As I peeled off the clingy pants, I thought to myself: How do people wear pants that stick like this? Doesn't it bother them? It bothers me so much. I just can't understand it.
Next, stockings? I tried them on. The feel is nice... but since it's my first time, it felt too awkward, so I took them off. Hmm... nothing to wear. A dress? Too cold now. I opened the window—yep, chilly.
"It's cold. I need to wear thermal underwear too."
Do I even have any? Nope, not a single piece. How have I been surviving? Winters without thermals are brutal. One set of sleepwear isn't enough. Cold air sneaks right through the gaps between clothes. You'll catch a cold that way.
"Gotta buy some."
Normally, I'd throw on thermals, baggy slacks, and a puffy jacket with duck down, and winter's sorted. Argh... seriously! Why don't I have any?! I need to optimize this closet later. The wardrobe that was fine all summer is suddenly a problem in winter.
"Hmm... why is everything so picky like this?"
Right now, this closet demands serious courage from homebody me. At home, no one sees you, so who cares? I'd just wear whatever. But thinking about stepping out in these makes my face burn red.
What, do I want something tough? Just a black t-shirt and soft black pants. Why don't I have that? Ugh... jeans are a no-go. Jeans are uncomfortable. They cause sweat rashes, limit movement, and with my slim waist, I need a belt. Even bathroom trips are a hassle. Should've run the laundry last night. Should've checked the closet. No helping it now. Regret's too late.
I hunted for the closest match to my taste. Time ticked by, and cold sweat started beading. The window's open, but I'm hot. What do I do?
"No way, I have no clothes. How did I even go out before? I had black stuff back then. Wore that. Right? That's what happened, yeah?"
I racked my brain. Back then, I wore all black. Lucky me. Now luck's run out. How do I overcome bad luck? I crossed my arms and glared holes into the closet.
Kim Yu-jin waited for Sena at Hapjeong Station. How's the streaming going? Is it fun? Sustainable? How long will it last? What's up with YouTube? Why stream every day? And so on. She was curious about it all.
But chatting on Discord or calls was tough. Responses were always slow, or nonexistent. Checking, Sena was always live. Gotta respect that grit. But grit alone won't cut it—you'll crash and burn. Even Himaru streamed nonstop like that before getting sick. Pure time investment. But one big illness flipped the script. Life's top priority? Health.
Health is everything.
"Oh~ Looking pretty today!"
"Ah, hello."
"Where'd you get those clothes?"
"Me? I don't know!"
"Why not?"
"Uh... um... no idea!"
Shy Sena. Brown checkered shirt and jeans. She looked like a fresh-faced college kid.
"Way better than before. Fold the sleeves here—it'll look nicer. You wear stuff to look cute, but this way it looks sloppy."
Yu-jin carefully folded Sena's long sleeves.
"Gasp! I didn't know!"
"Good thing I told you, huh?"
"Yes!"
Sena glanced back and forth between her sleeves and Yu-jin, fidgeting.
"What? Uncomfortable?"
"No, not that... what're we eating today?!"
"Hmm... what do you think?"
"Something tasty?"
"Uhuhu. Exactly. Shall we go?"
"Yes!"
Yu-jin and Sena walked together.
"How's streaming?"
"Super fun! I'm growing tons."
"How much?"
"A lot. It's insane. My YouTube's blowing up lately too. You subscribed? I did."
"Of course."
"Hmm... likes too? Show me!"
At Sena's insistence, Yu-jin pulled out her smartphone. Opened YouTube, tapped subscribers.
"Hmm. Hmm."
Sena shoved her face right up to Yu-jin's phone. She was dying to know. Did you really? No lies? Expectations sky-high.
"See? Right?"
"It really is!... Whoa. Confirmed."
"You see it?"
"Yes... saw it clear as day."
"Did you do it?"
"Every time. Look... what's this? Notifications are on. Not turned off."
At Sena's words, Yu-jin quickly enabled alerts.
"Done. Already was."
"Hmm... okay. Got it. I really did mine."
Sena unfolded her phone... and poked at the wrinkles.
"Eek. The creases are getting deeper... didn't used to wrinkle like this. Look."
"Where?"
"Right in the middle. Feel it. It's all dented."
"Uh... yeah. Kinda dented."
"Makes me sad... it's expensive."
"Phones are consumables. Can't be helped. Look at mine. Beat-up from daily use."
Sena eyed her phone, then Yu-jin's, and grinned.
"I see."
She folded it back. Yu-jin, who'd seen the whole thing, played it cool despite the awkwardness.
"Wait. You were gonna show your YouTube sub."
"Huh? Oh! Right. Here—see? All done. I hear the upload alerts every time."
"Ooh, for real. Good job. But no off-days?"
"Me? Never. Stream every day."
"You need breaks. Manage your condition. Fatigue builds up, then bam—sick."
Sena scrunched her nose, opening and closing her mouth.
"Why?"
"N-no... nothing."
'I'm young and healthy.' She wanted to say it but held back. Felt like a landmine... her intuition pinged. Normally, she wouldn't care. But now, viewer chats flooded her mind.
Lessons learned so far: time to tread carefully.
"No, tell me. What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing. Just... yeah. Forget it!"
"Got it. You're not just saying that 'cause I'm older... right?"
"...Probably not..."
Sena flinched hard, super flustered. How'd she know? She stared at Yu-jin with wide eyes.
"No, you can't do that. Age doesn't matter. Rely on youth and you'll crash hard. I did too, back in the day. But now age is hitting limits. Ah, yeah. Exactly."
"I... wasn't gonna think that."
Glitching Sena. But Yu-jin didn't press the gap.
"For real? You believe me?"
"Yes. Sounds right."
Silence fell briefly, but it didn't last.
"Weather got cold all sudden. Right?"
"Yeah... yep."
"Let's hurry? Yeah?"
"Ooh! Just what I wanted. I walk fast normally."
"Ah... I see."
No sooner said, Sena matched Yu-jin's pace—or rather, sped ahead. So fast it felt like general-level shrinking steps to Yu-jin. Couldn't keep up if she tried. No clue where they're going, Sena just bolts. Yu-jin grabbed clueless Sena, gave directions, got ditched again with shrinking steps, grabbed again... finally out of breath.
Yu-jin latched onto Sena from behind.
"Hey, you're not running?"
"Walking."
"Who walks like that?"
"Me."
Sena declared proudly.
"Yes... slow down. And not this way—right here, turn right."
"Ah... done now?"
"What?"
"Taste over? Gotta walk slow now?"
"Yes. Slow."
"Hing... so stuffy and tiring. That tempo was perfect. Why not? I'll slow by one beat."
Yu-jin shook her head.
"No. Walk slow now."
"...Okay."
"Just past here and we're out."
"Then hurry and sit, right?"
"No. Slow. You'll trip rushing."
Sena pouted. Never tripped walking fast. That's safe walking. Slow feels stuffy. But.
"Got it."
No choice. Respect elders, follow their words—it's natural. Elder spoke, so she deleted all counterarguments from her head. Instead: If it were my little bro, I'd chew him out. Huh? Can't keep up?! Grind through it! Just fantasies.
Sena trudged along with Yu-jin, pouty-faced. Very slowly. Nice and easy.