Chapter 3: Even a Plain Guy Can't Hunt with Status Windows

Silently, Shin Yeona followed me as we headed to a motel. Even as we walked, I still couldn't wrap my head around it.

'Accepting a sudden sex offer while thinking inside, "I want to change myself."'

The status message showed real-time surface emotions and inner thoughts. In other words, unless she thought about what resolve she'd come to the club with, I had no way of knowing.

'Guess I'll have to guide the conversation and draw it out.'

That's when Shin Yeona spoke up to me.

"Um, can I buy some booze to take with us?"

"Huh? Sure. I'll get it."

We ducked into a nearby convenience store. She headed straight for the fridge and pulled out two bottles of soju.

"This should be enough to get buzzed, right?"

"What's your tolerance like?"

"Ah... I've never drunk before."

Shin Yeona gave an awkward smile.

'Come to think of it, I don't even know my own limit.'

"Should we grab three to be safe?"

"Sounds good."

We bought the booze and some snack accompaniments, then checked into the motel. I could tell she was unfamiliar with the place.

"First time at a motel?"

"Yeah... What about you, oppa? You're older, right?"

"I'm twenty-three."

"Oppa it is, then. Um, before we start... can we drink first?"

"Of course."

Truth be told, I was tense too, knowing my first time was coming up soon. I spread out the snack bag wide and poured soju into paper cups, handing one to her.

"Shall we cheers?"

"Yeah, let's. Cheers."

She clinked her cup lightly against mine and downed the half-full shot of soju in one go.

"Ugh... it's bitter."

Her slightly scrunched face was adorable.

"Really your first time drinking?"

"Yeah. I'm a repeater, after all. Never had the chance."

"Got it. Mind if I ask one thing?"

"Go ahead."

"I mean, I suggested it, but it was kinda impulsive. Must've sounded super rude—why'd you say yes?"

Instead of answering, she just stared at me intently. I stared back.

Her unmanaged, overgrown bangs. Her half-hidden features had a hint of cuteness, but they were buried under chubby cheeks. Her figure followed suit—plump rather than beautiful. In a word, ordinary. Just like I'd been before the change.

I recalled her status message from the club. That strong will to change herself.

"Thinking about it... gratitude was the biggest factor."

"Gratitude?"

"Just for making that offer. I've... never gotten any guy's attention before."

She spoke plainly about her life.

"It's only natural, really. I've got nothing going for me. Back in school, I was the girl who sat in the back reading alone."

A life on the fringes, ignored. The epitome of ordinary. A dime-a-dozen character.

"I thought college would change things. So I studied hard."

The more she talked, the more I got drawn in.

'I thought the CSAT was my one shot too.'

"But apparently, that rubbed people the wrong way. The party girls in class made me their bullying target. Turns out, getting that kind of negative attention is tougher than you'd think. If not for the guy who helped me out, I might've had some dark thoughts."

A guy. Her first love, probably.

But instead of fondness, a wry smile crossed her face.

"I was truly grateful. Thanks to him, I got decent scores. But the reason I chose to repeat? Just one—I wanted to go to the same school as him."

Hearing that, I gave a wry smile of my own. I could already guess the ending.

"But... he was dating her. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠One of the girls from the group that bullied me."

Past nightmares resurfaced. Kim Hyeonseo, who ruined my third-year prep. She'd approached me sweetly, but she had a boyfriend.

Shin Yeona continued.

"I get it. Even I can see she's pretty."

A story that felt all too familiar. Our tales even shared the same ending.

With a sigh, Shin Yeona filled her cup to the brim and downed it.

"Don't drink alone—cheers next time."

I matched her, downing my shot as I spoke. No clink of glasses, no cheerful toast. But this felt good in its own way.

"In the end, I was the fool. He just showed a moment's pity and kindness, but I deluded myself."

I'd been the same. Blinded by loneliness and the rare attention given to an ordinary guy like me.

"I clung to him like an idiot. Thought being with him would change me, make me better."

Similar situation, but Shin Yeona's conclusion differed from mine.

"Only I can change my situation for the better—and I didn't realize that. So... I want to change. No, I will change. With my own strength."

Resolve burned in her eyes.

"I've decided a while back, but... changing yourself takes more courage and will than I thought. I needed a shock. That's why... I came to the club."

Seeing her awkward smile, I thought about how massive a decision it must be for a woman to choose to "discard" her first time. Bigger than a man's, no doubt, with deeper loss.

Changing oneself is, in a way, revolutionizing the world. Like a bird hatching—it must break its shell. Shin Yeona chose rupture as her hatching shock.

Her face flushed from the alcohol. Having poured out everything, she beamed.

"Pretty stupid, huh?"

I answered with utter sincerity.

"No. I get it."

More than anyone, I understood her—from the heart. In the end, I'd given up. Abandoned the first step toward change. Sure, I prepped for the civil service exam, but that was inertia. My true first step came only after getting the Desire Fulfillment App.

That's why—and because I'm me—I understood her dissatisfaction with her ordinary self. Her bold resolve to change.

'Right. The first desire I ever harbored was...'

For a split second, my mind and body felt detached. But sensation returned to normal.

'What was that?'

Not important right now.

"Anyway, I totally get it. I was desperate to remake myself too."

Even after I finished, she kept blushing, so I checked her status window.

We traded stories back and forth, polishing off all the booze we'd bought. Finally, the last cup ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠emptied.

"We finished the drinks."

"Yeah."

"So... shall we?"

Her face flushed as she said it. Instead of words, I approached her. As ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠my hand touched her, she trembled slightly and closed her eyes.

"I... this is my first time."

"Mine too."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Same as you—I came to the club today as my first step toward changing."

"Ah..."

Instead of more words, she leaned in and kissed me.

"First times swapping, huh... Feels kinda nice."

Clumsy moves since it was both our firsts. But no awkwardness. The heat between us built steadily.

'The booze? Or knowing her heart?'

My head burned. Her status showed she was thinking the same.

We kissed again. Smack. Smack. Smooch.

As our lips met, we stripped off each other's clothes. Modest breasts, waistline buried in flesh. Arms and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠legs plump. No beautiful curves, not even as flattery.

But it didn't matter anymore. This padding was her eggshell. Thinking that way ignited excitement.

I pressed my hardened cock against her pussy. Smaller than the Korean average. I glanced at her reaction, but she didn't mind.

'Does size not matter? Or does she not know the average?'

Didn't matter either way.

"Going in now."

"Yeah. Gently... please, oppa."

"Got it."

I slowly pushed my hips forward. The brief resistance gave way with a tearing sensation.