Where Should I Go? (1)
I hate hospitals. No matter how kind the nurses are or how skilled the doctors. I hate the cold smell and atmosphere here. Needles are the worst.
"Lena. You heard everything properly, right?"
"Two weeks off, then back to work. Sounds good."
As we walked down the white-painted corridor, Tae-in muttered like she was complaining.
"You didn't forget what the doctor said...?"
"Didn't he say just two weeks of rest?"
Tae-in stopped me in my tracks. Behind her, I could see the gentle-faced doctor we'd just met.
"You must take absolute rest for two weeks. No heavy lifting at all. We'll remove the bandages next week to check your condition."
Tae-in tapped my shoulder, wrapped tight in bandages. Her expression was getting darker by the second.
"If you're deemed okay after two weeks, you can go back to your normal routine."
"Oh. Yeah. Means I can go back to work."
"If you tweak something again at work, it'll all be for nothing."
"I just won't do the hard stuff. I didn't even do anything that tough usually!"
"And you still ended up like this?"
"……."
It was Tae-in's subtle persuasion, trying to make me rely on her. Better to dodge it smoothly.
"I'll be careful. My right shoulder's still fine anyway."
"So now you're planning to hurt your right shoulder."
"No, I'm not?"
We were arguing right in the middle of the corridor, drawing stinging glares from people waiting in chairs.
"Let's just get out of here first."
I didn't want to turn into the zoo's blonde monkey, so I grabbed Tae-in's wrist and hurried to the hospital counter.
"Ms. Elena?"
"Yes."
"The pharmacy will give you some pain-relief patches to apply morning and night. We'll also provide anti-inflammatory painkillers—take them as prescribed. Shall I book your follow-up for next week?"
"Yes... "
So I'm really taking time off like this. I hadn't used a single vacation day in six months, and now suddenly a break. Kim Joo-im was thrilled, saying I'd finally rest. As if he'd enjoy the extra work.
"How about staying home for at least two months, getting nursed back to health?"
"Nur... sed?"
"Yeah. I'll feed you breakfast, lunch, dinner, bathe you—everything. Just lie there and rest. No using that arm."
"What am I, incompetent?"
"Can't use your arm, can you? Gonna eat with your feet?"
"My right arm's fine, I said."
Even after leaving the hospital, the bickering showed no signs of stopping. At the pharmacy. On the village bus ride back. In the alley in front of the house. Even while stacking the stone tower with the rocks we'd picked up together.
"I see... So you don't want my nursing..."
"No, it's not that. It'll be a hassle for you too."
"Hassle? I told you to act spoiled anytime."
"Oh......"
That determination, refusing to give up even when there was zero chance. Tae-in was the type who'd crawl out of the desert yelling, "I miss Lena...!"
"Anyway, whatever. I can handle it myself, so don't come up to the second floor. You're working from home, right? Actually working? Or just playing?"
"………."
She really doesn't work? I doubted it, but she's a rich bum for real?
"I get it. You hate me..."
Cornered against the wall again. Only sidestep or jump to escape.
"No, I'm really grateful, but it'd be too much trouble. Feeding me every bite, bathing me—when would you do your own stuff?"
"……."
"So let's just eat together now and then, like usual. That should be enough, right?"
Ren executes a perfect sidestep, dodging Tae-in's mid-kick. Can he lift her up and finish the combo—
"Wanna go out to eat for old times' sake?"
Ah! Not a mid-kick—a homing attack! Ren floats midair into a counter as the sidestep fails. Crisis of wall-combo doom...
"………."
"You hate that too..."
She wouldn't force girl clothes on me like before, but she wouldn't let me go out in sweats either. No shopping, just eating out. Still annoying, thinking about it.
"Not hating it. How much?"
"Lunch every day."
"Every... day."
Ren survives by a hair. But backed against the wall again—how to take this set!
"Tae-in."
"Yeah?"
I twisted the medicine bag in my hand twice and said,
"I'll seclude myself from the world for two weeks and heal up."
"Lena?!"
Here, wall-run into Flying Angel! Ren escapes the relentless pressure with a pro move!
I stood on the stairs to the second floor only briefly before hopping down, circling the stone tower, and dashing for the gate.
"Where do you think you're running to!!"
"Dunno."
"Th-then, out to eat once? Please? Just once a week!"
"Clothes."
"Pants, guaranteed!"
"…."
I glared at Tae-in from the gate, satisfied with the dramatic negotiation, and squatted down. If my shoulder hadn't hurt from the jump, I'd have bolted.
Out to eat the very next day. As promised, Tae-in brought an outfit matched to pants. Skinny jeans. Tight and uncomfortable, but they showed off Ren's sleek legs nicely. Pants anyway. Good enough.
While the mirror's Ren posed her legs to flaunt their appeal, Tae-in grinned, done with dress-up.
"How's this? Not bad, right?"
The compromise: loose knit top. The long hem covered the waistband, giving a strange sense of security. Definitely women's clothes, but within acceptable limits.
Skirts are the problem. That empty feeling between the legs when forced to change. Unbearable. I'll never forgive that store clerk Tae-in defended, even in death.
"Mask and hat?"
"Yeah."
I slipped into my usual white sneakers and kicked the door open. Cold wind stung my eyes. Freezing winter. We were smack in the middle of December now.
To the garage in the yard corner—Tae-in's beloved car was already warmed up. Shotgun seat was toasty. Tae-in buckled in at the wheel and asked,
"So, thought about what to do next?"
"Hm......"
No conclusion after brooding all last week alone. Streaming tempted me somewhat, but this damn character always tripped me up.
The car slid out the opening garage door into the alley. I sank deep into the seat and groaned.
"No clue."
"...You did think about it, at least?"
"Right?"
Tae-in chuckled lightly and turned the wheel. The car curved smoothly toward the main road.
"Remember what you said when we first met?"
"...Yeah."
"You said you came from another world. And before that, you were Korean."
"Yep."
The car nosed onto the avenue. Quiet neighborhood, few people around.
"Never asked properly, but were you a Tuhon pro gamer back then?"
"…."
High-end sedan kept the cabin hushed even as speed built.
"If so, why not go pro again this life? The looks holding you back?"
"Biggest reason, yeah."
"Then streaming."
"...Worried about doxxing too."
We'd bickered endlessly over "I don't wanna," but now we were finally having a real talk.
"Just voice output's fine."
"What if."
"I'll protect you."
"Protect how...?"
Red light—car stops. Tae-in turns, gazing intently.
"If anyone digs into your identity, I'll block it however I can."
"...What power you got?"
"Power?"
Tae-in reached out, fiddling my right cheek.
"Power to shield you from the world? Been doing it since half a year ago."
"…."
I moved her hand to the wheel and muttered,
"Give me specifics."
"First, Ppase."
Ppase, who'd desperately compared me to 500 Tuhon players lately. First on Tae-in's test bench.
"I'm Ppase's broadcast sponsor."
"...How much so far?"
"Doesn't matter. A lot."
"And?"
"Ppase wouldn't wish you're a girl."
"He gay?"
"Not that. There was an incident."
"...Go on."
Tae-in confidently laid out a plausible plan.
"Use that—throw bait pretending you're a guy."
"Hmm..."
"Collab content with Ppase like that. Chat-only comms—no issue. Once he sees you as male, others will too."
Netorare in a boys' game, hiding gender on purpose?
"Show your face a few times, other streamers'll pitch collabs. You just cameo, snag the crumbs."
"Get paid, you mean."
"Yep. No hard work. Play your fave games. No identity worries."
"More exposure, more risk?"
"Nah."
Tae-in smirked, lip curled.
"Public digs harder when you hide. Show openly, they back off."
"They don't know face or voice. Of course they're curious."
"Nah. Your constant account resets."
"Account resets?"
"Yeah. Sketchy skill on fresh accounts. Not just smurfing—you coach too. Natural to suspect pro."
"…."
"Don't reset. Stand tall. Stream steady—no time for 'who's behind RenMom?' mask. Give 'em what they want. Like, RenMom loves dad jokes."
How does she know this stuff so well? I stared, mouth agape. Tae-in tilted her chin, confident poise.
"Whaddya think?"
Car speeds along the slanted overpass. Sun rises behind her like a halo. Angelic embrace.
Ah, that's resolve. If I stream, she'll protect me at any cost.
"I'd do anything for you. W-well... Maybe cuddle on the sofa or binge Netflix in bed all night? Tiny hope."
Resolve... laced with dirty desires.
"Still don't wanna..."
"Why, why? What's wrong? Huh?"
"Road, road! Watch the road! Blyat!"