The Business Department Wants to Dispose of Defective Inventory - 7
The moment I stepped outside the building, September sunlight poured down over me.
It was blinding. But far more intense than the glare was the shame wrapping around my entire body.
It felt as if I were walking down the street completely naked—only worse. The humiliation spread from the top of my head to the tips of my toes.
Here I was, Seo Chaewon, a twenty-seven-year-old man, striding across campus in an outrageously feminine outfit.
The fact kept echoing in my head. I couldn’t believe it.
If this was a nightmare, I desperately wanted to wake up.
One hand was locked with Eunbi’s, fingers interlaced as she dragged me along, while the other kept yanking my short skirt as low as it would go.
Every gust of wind made the fabric flutter, and each time my heart seemed to stop.
What if someone saw the panties I was wearing—Eunbi’s panties? The thought alone sent a chill racing across my skin.
I had already given up trying to cover my backside and focused everything on shielding the front.
Fortunately, the campus was mostly empty. Most students were either in class or had already gone home.
Still, it wasn’t completely deserted. A couple sat on a bench, a group of guys had stepped out for a smoke, and a few girls were heading toward the library.
And every single one of them was staring straight at me.
Of course they were.
Pink frilled skirt, long black hair, an outfit covered in ribbons—pure Lolita style. Anyone dressed like this walking across campus was bound to draw eyes.
Cosplay? A photoshoot? Their curious gazes felt like needles in my back.
I dropped my head and squeezed my eyes shut.
If I don’t look, it’s fine. If I can’t see them, they can’t see me. The ridiculous self-hypnosis carried me forward one shaky step at a time.
The women’s heels I was wearing for the first time made walking an ordeal.
The added height ruined my balance, and the narrow toe box crushed my feet.
Did women really put up with this every single day?
Whenever I stumbled, Eunbi squeezed my hand. I wasn’t sure whether to feel grateful or resentful.
The long hair tied back swayed with every step. The ends brushed the nape of my neck and my bare shoulders, an unfamiliar sensation that made me feel, for a terrifying instant, as though I had actually become a woman. The illusion only made my skin crawl harder.
“Senior.”
Eunbi’s voice was playful, almost a whisper.
“Those guys over there are all staring at you. You really are cute, aren’t you?”
I lifted my head just enough to glance sideways. Three or four guys who had been smoking were now openly gawking.
One of them had his phone raised. He wasn’t filming, was he? My heart dropped like a stone.
“Aaaah…!”
A whimper slipped out.
“W-what if they recognize me…!”
My voice shook. Tears threatened to spill.
The shame had crossed some invisible line; I felt dangerously close to crying.
“So what if they do?”
Eunbi answered calmly.
“You’ll just have to drop out.”
My legs trembled. This time it had nothing to do with the heels.
Pure terror and humiliation made my knees knock.
What if one of those guys knew me? What if the photos ended up online?
What if someone posted them with the title “Seohan University Cross-dressing Guy”?
The mere thought made the world go dark.
Please, please don’t let anyone recognize me.
I bit down hard on my lip and prayed. The nervous habit had returned.
I could feel lipstick smearing, but I had no room left to care.
I wanted to die.
I truly did.
Eunbi stopped in front of the fountain at the center of campus.
It was the same central park where the tired cicadas had been crying earlier.
Benches ringed the fountain, and rows of trees offered shade—a place students usually relaxed. Right now it felt like the middle of hell.
Eunbi released my hand.
For a second I felt like an abandoned astronaut drifting alone in space. Emptiness and panic surged at once.
I looked up at her without thinking, eyes pleading. Take my hand again. Please. Don’t leave me alone.
She ignored the look completely and raised her phone, the sound of the camera app opening loud in my ears.
“All right, Senior, let’s finish the outdoor shoot. Strike all the poses we practiced earlier.”
“H-here?!”
I glanced around. Several students were already sitting on the nearby benches, and more were walking in our direction. They were starting to slow down and stare.
“Are you insane?!”
“Oh, come on.”
Eunbi sighed and waved her phone.
“Then stay dressed like that forever. We’re not leaving until I get the pictures~”
“F-fine! I’ll do it!”
I had no choice but to finish quickly before more people gathered. The longer I dragged this out, the bigger the audience would become. Gritting my teeth, I stepped in front of the fountain.
“Good. Start with the basic pose. Hand on your hip, one leg forward.”
With shaking legs I extended one foot. My hand found my hip.
The heels made me wobble, but I managed to stay upright.
The miniskirt rode up slightly, exposing my backside to the open air.
Click.
“Next. Both hands in front of your chest, head down. Eyes on the camera.”
I obeyed. As I lowered my head, the long wig cascaded over both sides of my face.
Out of the corner of my eye I saw passing students stop to watch. Whispers reached me.
“Is that a photoshoot?” “Cosplay?” “Wow, she’s really pretty.”
I wanted to die.
Click.
“Okay, next. Turn around and look back over your shoulder.”
I turned my back to the fountain and glanced toward the camera.
The September breeze brushed my bare shoulders where the off-shoulder blouse left them exposed. It felt cool.
Sunlight filtered under the short skirt, so I pressed my thighs tightly together.
Click.
“Nice. Now hold the skirt on both sides and stand on tiptoe. The fountain in the background will look really pretty.”
I gripped the frilled edges. Rising onto my toes in heels made balance even harder, but I forced myself to hold the pose.
“Smile, Senior. You look terrified.”
I forced the corners of my mouth upward. My facial muscles twitched.
As I shifted my legs through the poses, the light-blue panties rode up between my cheeks.
Click.
“Last one. Make a heart with both hands and hold it beside your cheek. Wink too.”
The crowd had grown. Nearly ten students were now openly watching, some filming with their own phones.
Aaaah.
My mind went white. But running now would only make everything last longer. With trembling fingers I formed a heart shape, pink-nailed fingertips meeting in front of my cheek, and winked.
“Perfect!”
Click.
“Okay, we’re done!”
Eunbi lowered her phone and beamed. My knees gave out and I sank to the ground right there.
The heels touched pavement. The skirt pooled around me.
Everything shook. The tension drained away and tears welled in my eyes. A sob threatened to escape.
Applause sounded from the onlookers.
“Great job~” “So it was a photoshoot.” “She’s really cute.” Their voices reached me, but none of it brought any comfort.
Please, just let this end.
I looked up at Eunbi with desperate eyes.
I wanted to run away immediately, but she was busy scrolling through the photos on her screen, taking her time.
“Hey! Let’s go already, please…!”
My voice came out like a plea.
“Don’t rush me. I have to check the pictures.”
“P-people are still watching…”
The crowd hadn’t dispersed. A few were still pointing their phones at me.
My grip on the hem of the skirt tightened. Every breeze made the fabric flutter; I couldn’t relax for a second.
“Haah, fine.”
Eunbi finally lowered the phone, sounding annoyed.
“We’ll check them inside. Come on, follow me.”
This time I was the one who grabbed her hand first, fingers interlacing tightly.
Under normal circumstances I never would have done something so bold.
Grabbing a girl’s hand—especially one I barely knew. But right now I had no room to think about that.
I just wanted to get away from this spot as fast as possible. Holding Eunbi’s hand was the only thing that gave me even a shred of security.
“Oh, Senior.”
Eunbi looked down at our joined hands and smiled meaningfully.
“So forward all of a sudden? Grabbing a girl’s hand first like this… It’s kind of exciting.”
“Just hurry up!”
I ignored her teasing and urged her forward.
Eunbi chuckled and started walking. I followed with quick, awkward steps, the heels clicking sharply against the pavement.
Something felt off.
Eunbi wasn’t heading toward the engineering building.
“This isn’t the way… The College of Engineering is in the opposite direction.”
“I’m going to the business school building right now.”
“Why…? Why…?”
She didn’t answer, simply kept walking at a leisurely pace and completely ignored my question.
When I tried to pull my hand free she only gripped it tighter.
Before long a building appeared ahead.
Kumho Asiana Paolo Business Hall.
The building that housed the business department. It had a completely different atmosphere from the engineering building, Rich Science Hall.
The exterior was finished in beige marble, and a large chandelier hung in the lobby.
It felt expensive and stylish—nothing like the dull, utilitarian vibe of the engineering buildings.
I had never been here before. Everything felt unfamiliar.
The corridors were wide, and plaques from corporate sponsors lined the walls.
Even the students passing by looked more fashionable than the engineering crowd.
And I was walking through this place dressed like this.
I kept my head down and followed behind Eunbi.
I could feel the sidelong glances from passing students, but I had no energy left to care.
Eunbi pressed the elevator button. The doors opened and we stepped inside. Thankfully, it was empty.
I watched her press the button for the top floor.
“Where are we going…?”
“The restroom.”
“The restroom…?”
The elevator rose. With a soft ding the doors opened.
The top-floor hallway was quiet. It seemed there were no classes at the moment; almost no one was around.
Eunbi led me straight to the women’s restroom at the end of the corridor.
The women’s restroom.
Was she finally going to give me my clothes back? Was this nightmare about to end?
The thought made my chest tighten with hope. At last I could get out of this disgusting outfit.
Eunbi pushed the door open and walked in. I followed. The restroom was clean and spacious.
The lack of urinals made it feel strange to me, though the overall layout was similar to a men’s restroom, just larger.
Seven of the eight stalls stood open. The eighth door was closed, but there was no sound from inside, so it seemed empty.
My reflection stared back from the mirror above the sinks.
Long black hair, made-up face, pink frilled skirt, off-shoulder blouse—a cute girl.
…That was supposed to be me?
It was the first time I had seen myself properly. I really did look like a woman. No—more feminine than most women. A shiver ran down my spine.
“All right, we’re here now…”
My voice trembled.
“Give me my clothes back…”