The Bedwetting Sacrifice
I bought new panties... I tore open the plastic and placed the new rabbit doll right into Min-ji's arms.
Min-ji hugged it tightly and glanced toward the bathroom.
"Pink bunny..."
"She's taking a bath right now~ Mom's washing her."
Wherever she went, she carried that pink rabbit, so naturally Min-ji was looking for a rabbit doll.
"Does the bunny take baths like Min-ji?"
"Of course~"
Min-ji nodded her head.
We rubbed our hungry bellies and dug into the omurice Mom had made.
Min-ji, who was about to turn six soon, had gotten her own room. But with her separation anxiety from just a while ago, there was no way she could sleep alone. Mom had been gently nudging her to try, though. And sure enough, Min-ji started sneaking into my room more often when she couldn't manage it.
Late in the evening, Min-ji showed up in my room again today.
"Oppa... Can I sleep with you?"
"Come on in~"
I pulled back the covers, and she climbed right up next to me. She'd even brought her own pillow—classic thorough Min-ji.
She set the bear doll and her pillow on the bed, then ran back to her room and returned with the black rabbit doll I'd bought her today. Hugging the rabbit tight, she grabbed my hand.
"Oppa too. Want the bear?"
"I'm good~"
The TV noise from the living room drifted in since I hadn't closed the door properly. Mom must know Min-ji was in here.
Soon, Min-ji's breathing evened out, and the ticking of the clock filled the room.
Tick tock, tick tock...
I kept my hand on her belly until she fell asleep. For a kid with such bad affection deprivation, it was impressive she could even sleep without Mom.
Before regression, she'd clung to Mom until she hit middle school. Even when Mom scolded her, she'd stick by her side. On days she got yelled at, she'd sneak into Mom's bed after she fell asleep and curl up in the corner.
I'd thought Min-ji was just needy back then. Never realizing it was all because of me.
The moment I lifted my hand, her brow furrowed, so I placed it back.
I woke up early in the morning and, out of habit, checked my smartphone first thing. That's when voices came from the living room.
"Do-hyun took Min-ji out to play yesterday. She was over the moon."
"Do-hyun's changed so much. Heard he even bought her a gift."
"Ever since his birthday... Makes sense. He bawled his eyes out seeing that pathetic birthday spread..."
"....."
Their silence deepened.
Dad must've come home late last night if I could hear him now.
"He does whatever he wants without us asking... Kid's got it all figured out."
"Yeah..."
"So we're not gonna get in his way."
"Damn right. Never knew he was that thoughtful."
I glanced at Min-ji, who was clutching my hand tight in her sleep. Her brow was furrowed again—probably the noise.
Was the heating on full blast now that we had money to spare? I felt hot all over.
After overhearing my parents and sighing, I pulled up today's Great Lives biography on my smartphone.
And... it wasn't just the heat. I realized Min-ji had peed herself right next to me.
Min-ji panicked hard when she saw she'd soaked my bed. Good thing I caught it quick—the two dolls were saved.
Her pink pajama bottoms were completely drenched, and her eyes welled up.
"It's okay~ Oppa says so~"
"No..."
"Then should Oppa pee here too, so it's less embarrassing for you?"
"....."
I'd said it as a joke to comfort her... but Min-ji took it dead seriously.
Fuck, this is bad.
I bought new panties...
My rational brain wasn't that stupid—it screamed not to piss myself. But looking into those hopeful, teary eyes of hers... no choice.
I flipped over for a second, closed my eyes, and let loose in my underwear.
Min-ji looked relieved, like we were in this together now... What was driving me nuts was Mom's face—like this was totally normal.
She accepted that her nine-year-old son had peed the bed like it was no big deal. As I mumbled about drinking too much water at night, she suddenly brought up Yu-bin.
"You gotta tell Yu-bin~"
"....."
"Pfft, look at that face—you're embarrassed, huh? All red, our little bedwetter?"
"....."
"Acting all grown-up... Back in the day, you'd have run to Yu-bin's for salt~"
Meanwhile, Min-ji relaxed now that Mom's teasing was aimed at me.
No excuse would save me—I'd look like an idiot. Couldn't admit I'd pissed myself wide awake just to spare her feelings. No one else in the world is that stupid except me.
Better to own up to pissing my pants at nine.
Sure, I'd regressed to avoid regrets... but today, wide awake and pissing myself? Fucking regret city.
Mom aside... even Dad was grinning like an asshole, poking fun.
I wanted to punch that sagging philtrum of his.
"Kek! Hahaha!"
Both parents laughing like they'd conquered the world... Hadn't seen them cackle like that since regression.
In that sense... well pissed, I guess. They looked brighter than ever—even thinking I should lead with piss from now on if it keeps them this happy.
Dad was foaming at the mouth, Mom couldn't pull herself together.
Was soaking ourselves that hilarious...?
But the gains weren't just that. Min-ji's bond with me got even tighter.
Was pissing myself worth tanking my human rights and dignity...?
For the first time, I added to the smartphone diary: Don't piss yourself.
"Fuck... Didn't know it could set alarms for specific dates and times..."
Now... I'd change the past me. Felt a bit what future me must've gone through sending that future diary back.
Min-ji, hugging her two dolls, hesitated then shoved the bear into my hands.
"Bear's yours, Oppa!"
"Yeah? Thanks~"
She'd freak if she knew, but the bear doll was now my official body pillow. Gotta have something between my legs to sleep well.
I grabbed my bag, still watching my hysterically laughing parents, and headed to school.
Winter break had hit us kids. The little ones screamed and scattered in joy.
Back home, I played with Min-ji as usual, finished homework, then killed time checking stocks and gaming.
After dinner, I packed my gym bag alone and headed to the Taekwondo dojo.
Before I knew it, I'd become the dojo's trademark.
Lots of reasons, but the big one? Do Min-jun spotting me in a magazine recently. He bought it, brought it to the dojo, and pointed me out like look here.
Now everyone was constantly messing with me.
"Korea’s genius child model Kim Do-hyun? Warming up?"
"Fuck off."
"Hahaha!"
A little elementary kid kicking among college students? Of course I'd blow up.
They stressed athleticism—gym-level equipment everywhere. Not just kicks, but tons of drills for stamina, explosiveness, jumps, etc.
"Hey!!! If you can't even beat Do-hyun who's only trained a month, what's the point?!"
"Sorry!"
"Training for free killing your motivation? Don't show up tomorrow then?"
"We'll train hard!!!"
That's how you get famous around here.
Do Min-jun flipped from laughs to drill-sergeant in a heartbeat.
Now, months later, guys were "forgetting" poomsae and failing promotions.
"Taeguk's old news... I only know Palgwae."
"No shortcuts in our root-deep Hanlim Gym! I'll relearn it."
"Whatever, watch videos at home."
Ended up self-teaching Taeguk 1-8.
Turns out, under 15 it's standard poom belts. Stack 1st to 3rd poom, then at 18+ it converts straight to dan.
Training alone, the head instructor remembered and taught me Taeguk 8jang step by step.
Learned recently: guy swept every tournament back in the day. Pumped out national team players from this dojo. And he's loaded.
"Thought I'd just hand you the belt, but you're serious."
"It's fun."
"Don't do those dumb bets with the hyungs. Ruin your muscles young, regret it grown."
"Got it."
Dumb bets: climbing the ceiling ropes or speed-climbing the bouldering wall.
That's what he meant.
Practicing kicks, I unleashed a 900-degree spin. Phone buzzed—caller ID said Yu-bin.
Stepped to the corner to answer, eyeing the gawkers.
—"Whatcha doing Saturday?"
"Saturday's free? Sunday's Dad's game."
—"Let's go flower viewing! Mom said Ga, Gangwon...? Something."
"Gangwon-do?"
—"Yeah! Flower viewing in Gangwon-do!"
"Cool. I'll tell Mom."
Sure enough... creepy uncles snuck up behind me, leering.
I shot them a weird look and backed away.
"Girlfriend?"
"What?"
"Little shit's got game. Inevitable for a supermodel genius...?"
Ignoring them, they blocked my path.
"Elementary kid, can't start that early."
"Just friends."
"Pic? Gotta have high standards at supermodel Do-hyun level."
Said no and pocketed my phone. They lunged at the glimpsed wallpaper—Min-ji pic anyway.
Physical limits—they snatched it anyway.
"Privacy violation, assholes!!!"
"Tiny thing talking privacy, hilarious~"
Full-grown adults acting childish. Even standing still, I couldn't reach.
National gold medalist my ass.
"Heh heh... Gallery time~ Oh?"
I straight-up low-balled national champ Do Min-jun's nuts.
"Hrngh!"
He crumpled naturally. I snatched my phone and bolted—they chased.
"Grab that punk! Daring to sack the sky-high master's balls? You're dead."
"Get him!!!"