#112 Coming Out
"Huh? Why's your face like that, son?"
"I got smacked while swatting a mosquito."
I shot Ji-na a glare as I answered Mom's question. Ji-naa flushed red and turned her head away.
'What the hell did I even do?!'
This morning, Ji-na had let out a sudden scream and slapped my cheek while I was deep in sweet sleep. Her face was beet red, like it might explode, and she was huffing through her nose. What the fuck? Did I grope her tits? Her ass? Her pussy? Why hit me?! As a pacifist, I protest! Down with violence!
"Anyway, when are you two leaving?"
Dad, seated at the head of the table, asked me and Ji-na while eating. His tone made it sound like he was telling us to get the hell out of his house already.
"We've finally got the whole family together for a meal, and you wanna kick us out already?"
"Obviously. I'm about to go on a lovey-dovey date with my little girl. So scram."
It wasn't just sounding like he wanted us gone—he straight-up meant it. What a hardcore mama's boy.
"Whoa... Dad, seriously?"
"Who else would I be? I'm your dad, aren't I? That's why I give you kids plenty of allowance."
"Ugh... Can't argue with facts."
He had a point. He gave us generous allowance—insanely generous. What family hands out a major corporate executive's annual salary as pocket money?
"We were planning to eat and head out anyway."
"Then get going. Shoo! Shoo!"
Dad shooed us away like we were flies. Seeing that sparked some petty mischief in me.
Grr... Treating me like a fly?! Even Dad can't get away with that!
"Hand Mom over to me today?"
"...What?"
Dad froze mid-bite, steak perfectly sliced and ready for his mouth. He glared at me like I was his lifelong enemy.
"Looks like I'm taking Mom on a date today."
"I'm kicking you off the family registry starting today. Just so you know—you're no longer my son."
"Honey, enough with the jokes. Eat your food."
Mom smacked Dad's arm, dead serious. She thought he was kidding, but he wasn't. It was dead serious. Scary enough I couldn't even joke around.
*****
Ji-na and I got kicked out right after eating. Mom said to stay longer, but with Dad glaring daggers from behind, we couldn't.
We took one of the cars on display at the main house and headed to my place.
"You feeling okay?"
"Huh? Yeah, fine. Nom."
After a good rest and a hearty meal, Ji-na's complexion looked much better. I nodded, watching her munch on Mint Choco ice cream, then asked,
"That any good?"
"Duh. Mint choco is the most perfect food in the world."
"Isn't that just toothpaste flavor?"
"....."
I gave my honest take on mint choco, and Ji-na stared at me with pitiful eyes.
"Why look at me like that? It's bumming me out."
"Not knowing the true glory of mint choco... You're so pitiful. You've wasted your life."
"What? Mint choco on the level of life itself? What bullshit is that?"
"Tsk tsk tsk. Light's green. Drive."
Well, damn. Ji-na still eyed me pityingly, clicking her tongue. Kinda pissing me off. Anyway, I checked the light had changed and hit the gas.
We drove in silence for a bit before I spoke up.
"Ji-na."
"Yeah?"
"Something happen to you?"
"...Like what?"
"Don't play dumb when you know."
"....."
Ji-naaa turned away. Staring out the window, she finally spoke.
"Just... I got so scared I blacked out without realizing. Plus, I've been super stressed lately."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah."
"I see."
"Mm."
"....."
"....."
An awkward vibe hung between us. Eyes fixed ahead, I spoke again.
"But it doesn't feel like that's the whole story to me."
"What?"
"You're a superpower user."
"...Say what?"
Her fingers, tapping her thigh, froze solid. Like a frog spotting a snake.
"You're a superpower user, but you passed out from stress? That doesn't add up."
"What are you talking about? Me, a superpower user? You must be mistaken."
Normally, getting caught off-guard makes people stutter, but not Ji-na. Not even a little. As expected, no ordinary girl.
"Mistaken... Yeah, I wish I was. But nope. You're a superpower user, right?"
"I said no! What's with you? You drunk?"
Ji-na denied it coolly. Tsk. Guess it comes to this.
When we stopped at a light, I pulled a mask from my suit pocket and slipped it on. Ji-na looked puzzled at first, then her eyes widened at the design.
"Th-that's...!"
"Bingo."
I told her my true identity.
"I'm Steel Armor."
"What the fuck!"
A string of curses flew from Ji-na's mouth.
*****
I wrestled with whether to reveal to Ji-na that I'm Steel Armor. With Elis, she'd become my woman; I'd painted her soul with my color, so I trusted her completely. But Ji-na was different. Would she betray me knowing the truth?
To win her over, though, I had to reveal it eventually. And my dilemma resolved surprisingly simply.
'Uncle Chris told me. Oppa, you're super busy lately. Even went to the company yourself? I heard you said you have a lot you wanna do.'
'Oppa. Do what you want. We short on cash? We got enough to burn millions without blinking. What's the big deal? If you're worried about Mom and Dad, leave it to me. I'll take over the company and let you live like a king.'
'You took such good care of me as a kid. Carried me everywhere. I'll repay all that love. So do whatever the hell you want.'
'But ignore me 'cause you're busy, and you're dead. Actually, didn't tell you, Mom, or Dad... but I'm a superpower user? No matter how strong you are, I'm way beyond a punch. So treat me right unless you want tears.'
'Night, Oppa.'
Mwah!
A while back, Ji-na had kissed my forehead while I slept and spilled all that. Recalling it, my doubts flew away.
'Tsk. No reason to worry from the start.'
Ji-na felt more than sisterly love for me. But blood ties held her back, so she hid it. How to fix that? I'm Bal Jeong-nam, but also not—my true self is some Korean dude whose name escapes me [???]. I call them Mom and Dad for convenience, but I've never seen them as real parents.
Simple way to get hesitant Ji-na over the line: someone outside it pulls her across.
"You... you're Steel Armor? That S-rank villain?"
"Yup."
"Oh my god..."
Ji-na chugged half her coffee like her throat was on fire. We'd arrived home but stayed in the car with cafe drinks—no entering yet. House wasn't clean. Yuna, Elis, and I (my real body) were scrubbing every trace of last night's debauchery.
'Ah...!'
Gonna be a while. Couldn't resist flipping up Elis's skirt and pounding that jiggling ass right in front of me. But who could?
"H-how?"
"How what?"
"How can you be Steel Armor?"
"...? Does that even matter? I am Steel Armor—who else would be?"
"N-no... I mean... fuck, how do I even process this?"
"Process what? Just accept it. Hard to believe, I get it, but it's true."
"Ha..."
Ji-na let out a hollow laugh at my calm demeanor, then got serious.
"So? Why tell me you're Steel Armor?"
"Wanna get revenge."
"What? Revenge on who? Me?"
Smack!
I flicked her forehead—hard enough to sting.
"Ow! Why?!"
"What would I have to revenge on you for?"
"Then who?"
"Who else? The bastard who hurt you."
"Uh..."
Ji-na rubbed her forehead, flustered. Peering into my eyes, she saw no lie—just truth.
"...You'll get revenge for me?"
"Obviously."
"....."
Fidgeting, she glanced at me, then spoke.
"Truth is..."
Ji-na recounted the fog incident. When she finished, I stared blankly.
'No fucking way—that ghost girl was Ji-na?'
Shockingly, Ji-na had ghost transformation powers. And that wasn't all.
'That's why Dad couldn't look at her straight.'
This morning, Dad had avoided Ji-na's eyes. Even asking if she was okay, he'd stared behind her. Made sense now—he was traumatized nearly killing his daughter.
'But revenge might be tricky now.'
Normal hero or villain? Kidnap at night, bug-ify 'em. But High Fog! While I brawled Tough Guy, those two went at it too.
"Can you use your power now?"
"Power? Why?"
"Just wanna see it."
"It's not that great... Didn't you see it at the museum anyway?"
We'd faced off over Siren's Heart: me, High Fog, Tough Guy, and Ji-na. She'd seen me; I'd seen her.
"Just once. Not hard, right?"
"Tch. Fine, quit nagging."
I kept pushing; Ji-na finally activated it. Her body faded, eventually half-transparent, the air chilling like a temp drop.
"Whoa."
Impressed outwardly, I fired up Superpower Analyzer.
Lv.1 Yin Energy Generation (+100)
Lv.2 [???]
Lv.3 [???]
Lv.4 [???]
Lv.5 [???]
Lv.6 [???]
Lv.7 [???]
Lv.8 [???]
Ghost Queen! Badass name! Looked elite—Lv.8, fitting for the Bal family's daughter, all superpowered. Though only I knew.