She Was Just Cute as a Kid, But Now...

The cicadas screeched so loudly it felt like they were piercing ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠eardrums. It was midsummer.

Sunlight blazed down on the wide yard of a countryside house. In one corner, two six-year-old snot-nosed kids played in the dirt, making a fresh, childish promise during their game of house.

"When we grow up, you have to marry me and Seola, okay? Got it?"

"Yeah! When I grow up, I definitely want to marry Minjun too!"

They linked their tiny hands and giggled brightly. From the wooden veranda, their parents' warm voices drifted over.

"Minjun! Seola! Stop playing in the dirt and come eat some melon!"

"Whoa! Melon!"

The sweet, refreshing scent of melon tickled their noses as the two children ran laughing toward the hall. That peaceful scene...

Suddenly vanished.

"......"

The first thing that filled her vision was the stained, old wallpaper on the ceiling of ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠their rented room.

The melon scent that had tickled her nose and the warm countryside sunlight were gone without a trace. Only the faint, slanting glow of late afternoon light seeping through the window cracks lingered in the room.

Seola blinked slowly, then carefully turned her head.

"Zzz... zzz..."

Beside her, Minjun lay fast asleep under the same blanket, completely dead to the world.

Maybe because they'd gone at it so intensely earlier and drained everything out, he slept with his mouth slightly open, his face utterly relaxed and defenseless.

Seola stared quietly at Minjun's cheek peeking out from the blanket.

He really was just cute when we were little.

The face of the six-year-old groom from her dream gently overlapped with the sleeping boy before her.

Without realizing it, Seola reached out and softly brushed his messy bangs aside.

But her hand stopped. The moment her eyes landed on those Pacific Ocean-wide shoulders and the firm, toned muscles of his bare chest exposed outside the blanket.

I must be crazy.

Her heart sank with a strange, heavy thud.

Where had that snot-nosed little kid gone? In his place lay a man who had grown far bigger than her.

When had the boy she used to play in the dirt with turned into this? As she studied his face again, her cheeks flushed hot for no reason.

Seola pressed both hands firmly against her burning cheeks.

Haa. Why am I like this, seriously.

When she thought about it, everything felt strange.

The fact that she'd ended up rolling around naked with her best friend. The fact that they were now planning to film and sell that embarrassing video. She'd sworn at the cafe that it could never happen, yet somehow she'd fallen for his shameless smooth talk about a ridiculous housework bet and just gone along with it.

Part of it was pity seeing him hurt and groaning yesterday... but she knew that wasn't everything, and that was the bigger problem.

Why had she accepted it all so easily and even played along? She couldn't figure out her own heart.

As if lamenting her tragic fate, Seola buried her reddened face deep into the blanket and muttered very softly.

"Haa, seriously. This is my fate."

"Ugh..."

He stretched his stiff body, and his joints cracked loudly.

Rubbing his eyes as he sat up, he saw the spot beside him was empty. The sound of running shower water came from the bathroom. Seola must be washing up.

Outside the window, it had already grown dark.

"Already time for dinner."

He yawned widely and headed to the kitchen.

The pot of doenjang stew Seola had made that morning still sat there with leftovers.

He opened the fridge, took out half a wilted zucchini, half a block of tofu, and some green chili peppers. He sliced them and tossed everything into the pot. When he turned on the gas and brought it to a boil, the savory aroma filled the house again.

While he clattered around setting the table, the bathroom door opened and Seola stepped out, drying her short wet hair with a towel.

"Huh? You cooked?"

"Yeah. It's just finished. Come sit down."

He set the stew pot on the table and spoke casually like always. But when their eyes met, Seola's hands paused in midair.

"......"

Her gaze lingered on him for a moment as she dried her hair, then her cheeks flushed pink and she quickly looked away.

Normally she would have tossed the wet towel onto the floor and grabbed a spoon first, but now she just fidgeted with the towel for no reason.

Why is she acting like that?

A question mark floated through his mind, but he didn't press her. He scratched the back of his head awkwardly and nodded toward an empty chair.

"Let's eat first. It'll get cold."

"...Yeah, okay."

Seola sat across from him hesitantly. For the first few bites, only the sound of spoons clinking passed between them.

To break the awkward air, he spoke up first.

"By the way, the fridge is completely out of side dishes. We should set a date soon and go grocery shopping."

"Oh? Yeah... You're right. We're almost out of toilet paper and shampoo too. Maybe we can hit up a big mart on the weekend."

"Sure. I'll buy the meat. My paycheck just came in anyway."

"Mm. Thanks."

After a full cycle of conversation, the strange atmosphere gradually melted back into their usual comfortable vibe by the time the bottom of the stew pot came into view.

"I ate well. Leave the dishes. I'll do them."

Seola stacked the empty bowls and headed to the sink. Soon the sound of running water mixed with clinking dishes filled the room.

He patted his full stomach and stood up.

"Hiss..."

He twisted his waist lightly, rolled his shoulders, then pressed his fingers into the bruised side and ribs from yesterday's fight. Even taking a deep breath didn't cause the sharp sting he'd felt during the day.

Hmm, it's better than I thought. At this rate I can run.

After resting all day and eating well, the pain had subsided quite a bit. It seemed better to work up a light sweat than to stay stiffly lying around.

Changing into comfortable training clothes from the closet, he called out to Seola's back as she washed dishes.

"Hey, I'm going to the neighborhood park for a run. I'll be back soon."

The clinking sounds stopped instantly. Seola, still wearing rubber gloves, whipped around with a horrified face.

"Are you crazy? After getting beaten ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠like that yesterday, what running? What if something hurts again? Don't be an idiot and just rest quietly in the room!"

"No, it's just... my condition isn't bad right now. I think it'll heal faster if I sweat a bit and loosen up."

When he stubbornly insisted, Seola let out an exasperated sigh.

"Haa... Seriously. Your stubbornness is the worst. I can't stop you, no matter what I say."

She yanked off the rubber gloves, shook her head, then grabbed a few pain patches from the first-aid drawer and came back.

"Sit down first even if you're going out."

"Huh?"

"Turn around and lift your shirt. I'll put patches on the bruises before you leave."

He nodded and obediently turned his back. As he lifted his shirt, several cool patches stuck firmly to his aching back and side.

Slap!

"Ow! Hey, go easy...!"

"Stop whining. And wait a minute. I'm going to change clothes too."

Seola tossed the empty patch wrappers into the trash and added that after smacking his back sharply. His eyes widened.

"Huh? You're coming too?"

"Obviously. You think I'd let you go alone after what happened yesterday?"

When Seola glared at him, he flinched and nodded meekly.

"...Okay, okay. Let's go together."

Running had always been something they did together since they started living on their own. As he shrugged and reached for his sneakers, something occurred to him.

"But wait, didn't you just shower? If you're going to sweat again, isn't it pointless to..."

Tap!

Before he could finish, Seola's finger mercilessly flicked his forehead.

"...And whose fault is that? Huh?! Who shoved that thing in someone else's mouth earlier today!"

With a grinding sound of teeth, Seola's face turned bright red again. Faced with her fierce energy, he instinctively shut his mouth.

"...Haa. Fine, let's drop it."

Seola let out a long sigh and shook her head.

"Wait five minutes. I'll change and be right out."

She walked briskly toward her closet.

He went to the entrance first and tightened his shoelaces.

Hiss. Haa—.

They ran side by side along the park trail, enjoying the cool night breeze.

Despite his injuries, he kept a fairly light pace. Suddenly remembering what happened in the alley yesterday, he spoke up first.

"Hey. Maybe I should learn boxing."

"Boxing? Where did this come from all of a sudden?"

"Yesterday Jinwoo knocked that guy out with one punch to the chin. It was so cool, wasn't it? It's not just physique—once you add skill, even thugs go down in one hit."

At his serious concern, Seola, jogging lightly beside him, let out a disbelieving "Pfft!"

"You? Learning boxing? Hey, Lee Minjun. Have you ever seriously hit anyone in your entire life?"

"Well, no... I just never had a reason to use my fists."

"Such big talk. The same guy who calls me first because even a cockroach is too gross. Are you going to the gym just to get hit instead of the sandbag? Do you get off on being beaten or something?"

"Ah, come on! Say it nicely!"

Flustered by Seola's brutal honesty, he raised his voice and pouted.

"Besides, don't I have a decent build? If someone with my frame learns boxing properly, most guys wouldn't even dare look at me. The world's dangerous these days... and there's no guarantee something like yesterday won't happen again."

He slowed his pace slightly and glanced at Seola.

"We're living together like this away from home. It'd be reassuring if at least I knew how to fight properly."

It sounded casual, but the words carried his wounded male pride from failing to protect Seola yesterday, along with his sincere desire to protect her properly from now on.

Maybe she caught the hidden meaning.

Seola, who had been about to tease him, slowed her steps a little.

Under the streetlight, she looked up at him and let out a soft laugh.

"...Yeees, yeees~ Our Minjun is so dependable."

Her tone was playfully sarcastic, but her voice overflowed with joy and relief she couldn't hide.

Seola, now in a better mood, tapped his shoulder and skipped a step ahead, hopping lightly.

But then she suddenly stopped and whipped around.

"Oh! Wait."

"What?"

"Now that I think about it... If you really learn boxing and start using your fists outside, wouldn't that cause problems?"

"Huh?"

"Even Jinwoo yesterday was careful, saying if he used his fists recklessly he'd end up at the police station. I heard that when someone who's trained in martial arts hits people outside, it's treated like using a weapon and gets heavier punishment. Where would we get the money for settlement fees?"

"...Huh?"

"What if you end up in jail for showing off? ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠If you get a criminal record, I'll really abandon you and go back to our hometown."

At Seola's sharp dose of reality, his daydream of becoming a boxing champion shattered.

"...Now that you mention it, yeah. Fuck, Korean law is too unfair to the good guys."

"Exactly. So stop getting weird ideas and just focus on running properly!"

Thump!

After speaking, Seola punched his side and dashed forward.

"Ugh! Hey! Didn't you just hit my ribs?!"

"No I didn't~ Stop whining and try to catch me!"

"Don't you dare run! If I catch you, you're dead!"

He chased after the giggling Seola at full speed, burning with frustration.

After running around the park like that, they were both drenched in sweat.

Panting, they stepped into the brightly lit convenience store at the park entrance.

"Haa, haa... Ah, I'm dying of thirst. Water, water."

He grabbed two cold 500ml water bottles from the fridge and paid.

They plopped down on the parasol chairs outside the store, opened the caps, and gulped the water down.

The cold liquid sliding down his throat felt exhilarating as it cooled his heated body.

"Puha—! I feel alive again."

"Seriously. Sweating it all out feels so refreshing."

Seola, holding her water bottle beside him, smiled brightly as she enjoyed the cool autumn night breeze.

The suffocatingly strange atmosphere from earlier in the day seemed to have blown away with the sweat.

They were back to their usual comfortable, familiar selves, sharing an ordinary night routine.

After their light run, they returned to the room and took turns showering as usual to wash off the sweat.

After refreshing showers, they sprawled on the bunk bed and each fell into their smartphones.

"We're done, you bastard~!"

"Pffft! Haha, oh man. This is so fucking funny."

Seola lay on her stomach on the bed, scrolling through Reels and giggling to herself.

"......"

But he didn't respond to her laughter, eyes fixed only on his phone screen.

To anyone watching, it might look like he was seriously reading news with that grave expression. In reality, what played secretly on his screen was none other than the "masterpiece" they'd filmed earlier that day.

Below Seola's cleverly obscured chin line, the enormous volume shook without pause alongside raw, explicit movements.

Maybe because it featured his childhood friend whom he'd seen in every state since they were kids, even the ragged breathing sounds through his earphones made him swallow dryly.

Haa... No matter how many times I watch it, it's truly a work of art.

He was so focused on the screen that he didn't notice the shadow creeping closer from the bed.

"Hey. What are you watching? I've been calling you but you didn't answer."

"......!!"

Seola's face suddenly popping over his shoulder. He jumped in shock and reflexively flipped the phone face-down against his chest.

"Uh, uhh?! Ah, no! T-this is, um... Y-YourTube!"

"YourTube? Don't lie. The screen was full of skin tones just now, wasn't it?"

Seola glared at him with hawk eyes and reached for the phone on his chest at lightning speed.

"Hey, wait! Ah!"

In a struggle that ended instantly, Seola snatched the phone and flipped the screen.

There, paused in all its glory, was a close-up of her own cleavage covered in saliva and his cock.

"...You..."

Seola's face flushed as if it would explode. Her pupils shook violently, then a scream loud enough to shake the whole house burst out.

"Pervert!!! You irredeemable fucking pervert!!!!!!!"

Thwack—!

"Aaaack!"

Seola mercilessly smacked his face with the nearby pillow, then stormed to her room with loud footsteps.

Slam—!!

The sound of the door slamming as if it would break echoed through the house. Clutching his tingling nose, he shouted toward the closed door.

"Sleep well!!"

"Shut up!! Go die right now, you pervert!!!"

Seola's angry curses came from beyond the door. He picked up the phone from the floor, rubbed his throbbing nose, and muttered.

"Hmm... In that case."

Time to seriously start making money. He sat down at the computer desk and turned on the power.

Tap. Tap.

In the dark room, only the monitor's glow lit his face.

Familiarly navigating overseas proxy sites, he set up a crypto wallet and created an account on an overseas adult platform that wouldn't allow identity tracking. He dragged over the video he'd edited earlier and pressed upload.

The die had been cast. Now all that remained was waiting for this video to blow up and bring them a sweet windfall of cash.