Chapter 3

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 3

Chapter Title: Bathroom

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Su-a, who had been staring at me blankly for a moment, finally spoke up.

"...Ha-rang, what the hell are you?"

"What do you mean?"

"How did you know I like strawberries and can't eat almonds? I've never told anyone that."

I shrugged, trying to play it as cool as possible.

There was no way I could confess that a memory from nine years ago had just popped into my head.

"Uh, well..."

"..."

If I faltered here, it was over.

I frantically racked my brain for a plausible excuse.

"R-right! Back when you were ordering."

"When I was ordering?"

"Yeah. You couldn't take your eyes off the strawberry latte poster, so I figured that's what you wanted."

"...Did I? Okay, but what about the almonds?"

"Th-that! I just guessed from how you look."

"What? From how I look?"

"Yeah. You strike me as the type with a nut allergy. Am I wrong?"

It was absurd even coming from my own mouth.

Reading allergies from someone's face?

Even the most hardcore physiognomists would scoff at that.

I was busy berating myself for saying something so stupid when...

Su-a nodded, looking amazed.

"Whoa, seriously. Aren't you some kind of fortune teller? That gave me chills."

...It worked?

Su-a had always accepted things in the weirdest ways.

Relief washed over me, but it left a strangely bitter aftertaste.

Hey, Su-a. You can't just swallow everything people tell you hook, line, and sinker!

I'm fine, sure, but if some sleazy guy really put the moves on you, you'd hand over your heart, liver, and all.

This worries me. Like, insanely.

I could already picture Su-a, beaming innocently and giving her all, only to get hurt.

Every guy but me is a wolf.

...Wait, aren't I a guy now too?

No, that's not the point!

This won't do.

I'd planned to skip OT and crash at home, but I had to change that.

I'll stick to Su-a like a shadow.

Just try coming near her, any creep.

I'll be watching with both eyes wide open.

Having reached that conclusion, I calmed my excitement and continued the conversation.

"...Just a lucky guess. I have good instincts."

"No way."

"Whatever. When the bell rings, grab the coffee. I'm hitting the bathroom."

I shoved the pager into Su-a's hand ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and stepped away.

I heard her calling after me to wait up, but I pretended not to hear and quickened my pace.

Finally reaching the bathroom mirror, I splashed cold water on my face.

'Gotta keep my head straight if I want to protect Su-a.'

But soon, that fundamental doubt crept back in.

...Is this right?

Sure, regression gave me a second chance at life.

But I'd hurt Su-a and broken up with her too.

To her, I'm not an ex-boyfriend—more like an ex-stalker, and I couldn't argue.

Who am I to meddle in her love life now? Do I even have the right?

I'm not her boyfriend or anything.

My mood sank deeper into gloom when...

Click.

The bathroom door opened, and someone stepped in.

In the mirror, I saw a burly guy.

I didn't think much of it.

No sense of anything off.

But the guy's demeanor was weird.

He froze in place, staring at me like his eyes might pop out.

'What the hell, quit staring.'

Irritation surged.

The dude gawking pissed me off, so I scowled back through the mirror.

Then it hit me.

'Right. I'm a girl right now.'

And this was the men's bathroom.

"...Excuse me."

The guy said to me in a flustered voice.

"This is the men's room."

"..."

A wave of injustice hit me.

Hang on, I'm a full-grown Korean guy with military service under my belt!

Should I flash my service number?

But I swallowed the words rising in my throat.

The reflection in the mirror was unmistakably a girl.

Being in the men's room like this? Even being generous, I'd look like an idiot or a slut.

Not wanting a scene, I started making excuses.

"Oh... yeah! I know."

"Pardon?"

"I'm here for a hygiene check. Looks good. Nice work."

I held my head high and strode toward the door like I owned the place.

As professionally and curtly as possible.

'...'

Perfect. Nailed the natural act.

I even felt a swell of pride at my quick thinking.

But before I could step out...

"Hey! Wait a sec!"

The guy grabbed my shoulder in a panic.

'Damn, he didn't buy it?'

Calling the cops?

Would I become a criminal...?

I'd been a shut-in studying for exams, but in my past life, I'd lived 29 spotless years—no jaywalking, even.

Sure, Seon-woo Lee framed me for harassment, but no criminal charges stuck.

I didn't steal, recycled religiously—a model citizen.

And now, second life barely started, and I'm red-flagged.

For invading the men's room, no less.

If I got arrested for real?

How could I face my parents?

'Mom... I'm in juvie.'

'What?! What happened?!'

'Well, I went into the men's room and...'

'I'm disowning you.'

What about Su-a?

'Ha-rang, why are you at the station?'

'...Got caught red-handed in the men's room.'

'Oh my god. Were you that desperate for guys? Total man-eater.'

'It's not like that!'

'Should've told me. I could've set you up.'

'No! The one I like is you...!'

'Don't lie to yourself. You just love men that much, Ha-rang.'

My delusions spiraled.

...Might as well bite my tongue and die than end up like that.

I barely held back tears, squeezing my eyes shut.

I was about to speak first, ready to confess and find some light, when the guy strode toward me.

"I don't usually say stuff like this, seriously."

Usually you'd just call the cops without a word?

Maybe giving me a last defense? But his next words blew past all expectations.

"Could I get your number? You're totally my type."

"..."

They say real shock leaves you speechless, and that was me right then.

This guy for real...?

Me, getting hit on by a dude in a men's bathroom.

I stood there dumbfounded, no reply. He took my silence as a green light and stepped closer.

His eyes—nervous yet cocky—sent chills down my spine.

"Too sudden? Sorry. I just know I'd regret letting you go."

Discomfort surged past shock.

The fact he saw me as a girl was creepy beyond endurance.

I had to escape.

I scowled as hard as I could and fired back.

"...Don't have a phone."

"Come on, liar. Even elementary kids have phones these days."

"Then go hit on them."

"Haha... Give me your Insta handle at least. I'll DM you."

"I'm on a digital detox. Deleted all SNS."

"Whoa, then at least your name? You're not detoxing that too, right?"

"Changing it right now, so no name. Move."

He let out a hollow laugh at my firm tone.

I seized the moment he stood stunned and bolted without looking back.

Ran for my life.

Only when the bathroom was far behind did I stop, gasping for breath.

Then a sharp voice from afar.

"Ha-rang!"

Turning, I saw Su-a approaching, face scrunched up.

"Why'd you take so long? And why's your face red?"

Instead of answering, I snatched the iced Americano she'd brought and chugged it.

The coolness soothed my burning throat, calming my gut at last.

Whew, now I can breathe.

"Slow down. What happened?"

"Nothing. Absolutely nothing."

But seeing Su-a's face again made the bathroom ordeal hit fresh.

I could shrug off cheesy lines with my 29-year-old uncle brain...

But Su-a?

Who else is ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠easier prey than a clueless 20-year-old co-ed?

I know their dark intentions better than anyone—how could I leave her alone?

'Yeah, I gotta stay by her side.'

Su-a tilted her head at me mumbling to myself.

What to do ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠with this girl? I sighed deeply and spoke.

"Whatever. OT's starting soon anyway."

"Oh? Time flies."

"Let's go. Stick right by me—no wandering."

I glared back at the bathroom one last time, then turned away.

Good—no one following.

Yeah, forget it.

Won't see that guy again anyway.

That's what I genuinely thought then.

Ju-won Kang couldn't tell if his luck today was good or bad.

Hansol University's freshman OT included one truly horrific event.

Called "Meeting Your Seniors."

The name alone sent shivers.

Ju-won, a sophomore, fully agreed.

He'd been roped into mentoring by accident, but he'd never planned to join such nonsense.

This wasn't the '80s, and he wasn't the type to haze freshmen.

Just annoying.

Being dragged here against his will soured his mood completely.

So he'd ducked into the bathroom to scheme an escape from the boredom.

'...'

And there was a girl, brazenly in the men's room.

Honestly, first impression: total shock.

Drab gray hoodie, sloppy jeans.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Maybe from our school, but impossible to believe she was an OT freshman.

More like a jobless night-snacker from the convenience store nearby.

But despite the rags, her beauty shone through.

If anything, it made her unreal face stand out more, leaving him stunned.

Ju-won stared blankly at her face.

She was so pretty, he forgot for a moment.

That this girl had barged into the men's room.

Right, snap out of it.

No matter how cute, he had to say something.

Ju-won cleared his throat and spoke.

"This is the men's room."

She finally turned, shoulders flinching.

Too harsh? He almost felt bad, but then she shamelessly bullshitted.

"...Here for a hygiene check."

Ridiculous, obviously.

But weirdly, no anger. Her voice was so good, it dazed him.

Too fine a voice for a men's room.

One sentence flipped the vibe.

'But why dress like that?'

At first, pure curiosity.

The insane gap between face and outfit was just intriguing.

Before he knew it, his gaze lingered on her face, questions piling up—what's her name, major, everything.

By the time he snapped back, his mouth was moving on its own.

"Could I get your number? You're totally my type."

She stared at him, expression blank.

Ju-won stepped closer.

"Too sudden? Sorry. I'd really regret missing this."

"...Don't have a phone."

"Nah, liar. Even kids have 'em."

"Hit on them then."

"Haha... Insta ID? I'll DM."

"Digital detox—all SNS gone."

Ironclad walls, this far?

I'm not the type to get brushed off like this.

Normally it'd bruise the ego, but Ju-won just kept grinning.

Her thick-skinned nonsense was entertaining.

The chat didn't last; she bolted without a backward glance.

Ju-won stood dazed, watching her back recede.

"She's something else."

No name, no major.

But oddly, no rush.

He felt certain they'd cross paths again.

Hands in pockets, Ju-won walked off slowly.

The day, full of forced irritation, now buzzed faintly—thanks to that weird girl.