You Brought This On Yourself
Who said I seduced you? You brought this on yourself. You kept doing those stretching exercises every day, desperate to grow even a little taller, and then one day, it started. My first period.
Everyone knows women have a uterus. Naturally, I had one too. But the sensation of it contracting—pain ripping through my lower abdomen, back, and thighs, blood seeping out—was a horror and agony beyond words.
"Hnnngh."
An unstable haze and bone-deep fatigue crushed my entire body.
A few days after my first period began, it finally passed, and my mind started to clear. Maybe it was because I'd lived my whole previous life as a man, but the shock of it starting, combined with the all-over pain, had completely drained me. I'd spent those days shuffling anxiously between the nurse's office.
The teacher sent me there after seeing my face go pale as a ghost.
"Yuna, you okay?"
The one who worried about me the most was Chaerin. She came to check on me every break, taking care of me.
She was growing into a full-on delinquent girl, but her heart was still kind and gentle.
"Mmm, yeah, I'm fine."
Chaerin had shot up lately. She was already taller than the average woman in her late 160s—tall enough that I had to look up at her even now. She'd grow into a sleek beauty, no doubt. I was a little jealous.
All I'd grown was my chest. My bra size had gone up another notch recently, which left me feeling all sorts of conflicted.
Am I really going to have to go through this every month?
They said I'd get used to it, but the future still scared me. And with every passing day, I was learning more and more.
That I was a girl now, in every sense.
They say body and mind are connected. As my body became more feminine, was my mind following suit? Skirts were second nature now, and even bras felt normal. It had been twelve years since I'd started living like this.
Humans are adaptable creatures, after all. I was adjusting to it all.
Hiding the bittersweet smile tugging at my lips, I accepted it.
＊＊＊
Thirteen years old. Elementary school was almost over. Next year, I'd be a middle schooler.
My waist stayed slim, but my hips had widened a bit, and the distinctly feminine curves were starting to show.
Mom was thrilled. I still didn't pick out my own clothes, so she kept buying them for me. My closet was stuffed, but she complained there was nothing to dress me in.
How far did she plan to take this?
Still, looking pretty in the mirror wearing the cute outfits wasn't so bad. At thirteen, I was clearly going to grow into a beauty.
...I do look kinda pretty.
I fiddled with my braided hair, tilting my body this way and that as I studied my reflection. Grabbing the hem of my skirt, I made a complicated expression. Ha Yuna was cute and beautiful.
Mom laughed when she saw it, which made me blush and run off. But getting dressed up like this wasn't that bad.
Anyway, to sum up my social circle right now: Chaerin and the boys from our games. That was it. Unfortunately, hanging out with the girls was still tough.
Girls hit puberty faster than boys, especially during these sensitive years. Hormones made emotions explode at the slightest thing.
Getting close to them wasn't easy. Especially since Chaerin, still the center of the class, only looked after me—they got jealous.
We were still just kids, too young to fully control our feelings. There was no fixing it.
And honestly, I felt more at ease with the boys anyway. Maybe that's why I let my guard down.
As the end of thirteen approached, school trip day arrived. Our destination: Jeju Island.
It had been ages since I'd flown, so even I was a little excited.
"Yuna, this is gonna be fun, right?!"
"Mmm, yeah, it will."
I hadn't shaken my shyness, but peering out the window with sparkling eyes before takeoff, a face popped up from the seat ahead.
"Ha Yuna."
Han Seojun, the boy who played the same game as me. He'd hit his growth spurt early for an elementary boy—pretty tall. Girls gossiped that he was the handsomest in school.
I wasn't impressed, though. He was just a gaming buddy. Whether a guy was hot or not didn't matter to me.
I was a girl now, but that didn't mean I'd catch feelings for boys.
Still, kinda jealous.
Already an alpha male with girls squealing over him. What was that life like?
Lost in thought, Seojun showed me his phone. There was a photo of an item.
"Got the item from the new raid mob that dropped."
"What, for real?!"
I shot up from my plane seat without thinking. Games still got me fired up.
"For real."
He showed me his phone again, and sure enough, his character was equipped with it. Damn, lucky bastard.
"That's insane. Seriously OP. If I get this, my build's complete."
I gushed enviously, and Seojun stared at me.
Then he opened the game.
"Here, for you."
I blinked.
"Huh? Why? Don't you need it?"
"I already maxed my main weapon. Equipping this wouldn't boost my specs anyway."
"But if you enhance it—"
"Enhancing takes forever. We raid together anyway. If you get stronger, we clear faster."
Han Seojun, you guy. I'd known he was a good dude, but this confirmed it.
"Seriously, thank you! I'll pay you back someday!"
Touched, I accepted his kindness. Seeing me pumped, Seojun chuckled briefly.
Then my arm got yanked from the side. I turned to see Chaerin sitting there, smiling.
"Yuna, plane's about to take off. Sit down."
"Oh, right, yeah."
Too excited about the item, I'd forgotten. As I sat, Chaerin shot Seojun a sharp glare.
"Quit causing a scene and sit, Han Seojun."
"Got it."
Seojun sat without argument. A cold tension hung in the air for some reason.
"Yuna."
"Mmm?"
"Don't get too close to Han Seojun."
"Seojun? Why?"
"Just don't."
No reason given. But since she was serious, I could only nod and say okay.
We arrived in Jeju. The girls didn't like me much, but with Chaerin glued to my side, they couldn't ignore me if they wanted to stay on her good side.
Thanks to that, sightseeing and leisure activities were fun. Mine were a mess since I'm no athlete, but still enjoyable.
Soon, night fell. The highlight of any school trip: nighttime recreation.
The MC hyped up class-vs-class games. As the mood peaked, talent show time began.
Simple magic tricks led to full-on dance stages. The hottest idol song of the year blasted.
Chaerin's group stole the show. At thirteen, she was already tall and leggy, with killer athleticism. She danced dazzlingly, captivating everyone.
The MC even asked if she'd debut as an idol. She'd begged me to join, but I flat-out refused. All I could do was the robot dance. No way I'd attempt that.
After multiple head shakes and teary eyes, I successfully refused. Tears are a girl's weapon—works like a charm.
Ugh, bathroom.
After Chaerin's performance, nature called urgently. Next up was some other class anyway—no need to watch. I told the teacher and headed out.
After peeing and washing up, I stepped into the quiet hallway. Lights dimmed, a bit creepy. The darkness made me shiver.
I'm weak to dark places.
"Ha Yuna."
"Eek!"
The sudden voice from beside me made me slap against the wall in fright. My super girly scream turned my face beet red, but I couldn't hide my pounding heart.
Looking over, Seojun stood there, looking flustered too.
"Ah, sorry. Didn't mean to scare you."
Why'd he sneak up without a sound? Mortified from the shock, I cleared my throat awkwardly and turned to him.
"...Seojun, bathroom too?"
"Yeah, just went."
"Oh. Let's head back together then."
"Wait."
As I turned for the auditorium, he grabbed me. I gave him a questioning look, and he rolled his eyes before raising his phone.
"Sending the item now."
"Now?"
"Bathrooms are on different floors for guys and girls. No other time."
True. And with Chaerin watching him like a hawk, chances to trade were rare.
"Fine, let's do it."
Trades are quick. I opened my phone; he did too.
"...Ha Yuna, what middle school are you going to?"
We were logging in to meet up when the question came out of nowhere. Middle school. Right, it was already October. Trip over, graduation in months, then middle school.
"Haven't thought much. Probably same as Chaerin."
Assignments are lotteries mostly, but first choices matter.
"I see."
Silence fell after that. He wasn't super talkative usually, but extra quiet tonight. Wondering why, I looked up. He was gazing at me intently.
What the heck? What's with him?
"...I'd like to go to the same middle school as you."
I tilted my head.
"Then put it as your first choice."
"Yeah."
He replied, then initiated the trade. I accepted the item, and a grin bloomed on my face. Perfect endgame gear. Time to enhance with my resources.
As I geeked out...
"Ha Yuna."
Seojun pocketed his phone, calling me seriously in the dim hallway thick with night air. He looked at me more earnestly than ever and parted his lips.
"I like you."
What?
I froze solid. Then Chaerin's words from the plane echoed in my head.
"Don't get too close to Han Seojun."
Now I knew what she meant.
It was the most horrific experience of my life. One I'd never forget.