Chapter 14
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: I'm Bad at Lying
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"Ah, shit..."
Waking up didn't change my condition at all. No, if anything, it might have gotten worse.
My whole body throbbed with muscle pain.
Especially below my waist—it felt like someone was pressing an axe into me, a heavy, dull ache.
A pain I'd never felt before.
To cool off, I got up in the morning and splashed cold water on my face.
Cooling my feverish skin with the icy water only made me more irritated.
"This sucks..."
Just because I went out once, and now my body's acting up like this.
Still, I had to do what needed doing.
I hit the power button on my computer out of habit.
I logged into the empty Death Code early and knocked out the day's game homework ahead of time.
But today, my luck was absolute garbage.
'It won't drop? Seriously?'
'Ah. If I'd done the other stuff first, this would've been quicker.'
Ah, this sucks.
"Ah... seriously...!"
The boss patterns were pissing me off.
Why were they coming out so shitty today of all days?
"Why can't I dodge this...?"
I vented my frustration out loud, pounding the desk for the first time in ages.
A thunk sound rang out, and my hand throbbed.
'What the hell am I even doing right now?'
Right then, a notification chimed in Death Code—someone had joined.
It was Seong Si-woo.
"You looked sick yesterday, but you've been grinding Death Code hard, huh?"
"...Just woke up early today."
"Waking up early is good, right? Living that healthy life."
"No... I think I caught a cold or flu or something..."
Si-woo spoke like always.
"You're so fragile. Falling apart after just one day out."
"Hey... that's bullshit. Don't talk like that."
My accent came out too harsh without me realizing.
We usually joked with curses—he'd even thank me for them like a reward—but Si-woo went quiet this time.
"......"
I regretted it the moment it left my mouth, but the timing to apologize slipped away.
To shake off the awkward vibe, I forced a bright tone.
"Hey, lemme finish this and we'll play together. I've almost cleared the homework..."
"...Sure, I'll hang in the room."
Thankfully, Si-woo's voice sounded normal.
I tried focusing on the game again, but my condition didn't improve.
Defeat, defeat, defeat.
I stared blankly at the defeat screens popping up one after another.
My reaction speed was already abysmal, and my head had been spinning for a while—I'd stopped thinking altogether.
No matter how I looked at it, I needed a doctor's stop.
"I'm not feeling great, so let's call it here for today."
"You okay?"
"Gonna sleep it off. Took meds and it's still like this..."
"Go see a doctor at least."
"Ah, shit. Hey, if I was gonna go, I would've earlier. It's not the flu. No cough or anything—just need some solid rest and it'll be fine..."
I logged out of Death Code and downed the last of my Pancol.
Then I crawled into bed and curled up.
The blanket's texture prickling my skin gave me goosebumps.
This was the worst.
The situation, my mood, the timing—everything.
My mind flashed to the meeting with Mom tomorrow.
This pressure alone was enough to drive me insane, so I'd tried to distract myself.
Of all times.
I yanked the blanket over me and hugged it tight.
The blanket warmed up to my body heat too.
My stomach hurt.
More precisely, my lower abdomen.
I wished tomorrow wouldn't come.
I didn't want to admit it.
From the moment I'd only grabbed Pancol at the convenience store yesterday.
From when I'd ignored the stomach pain and chalked it up to muscle soreness.
I didn't want to admit it.
Why do bad things only come after the good ones?
If they came first, the good memories could cover them up.
This is too much.
"Ugh..."
Suddenly, I remembered snapping at Si-woo for real earlier.
I should've apologized right away. But time doesn't turn back.
Treating a friend who'd done me a favor like that, not even a day later.
Me.
A wave of self-loathing and misery welled up, tears threatening to spill.
I buried my face in the blanket. Breathing got hard.
My stomach hurt.
I wished tomorrow wouldn't come.
But the meds in the Pancol must've kicked in—my body started to feel languid.
I wished it wasn't true.
And with that, I fell asleep.
Even though it was much earlier than usual, my eyes snapped open.
Not from refreshment, but a sticky, unpleasant sensation far from it.
And it confirmed my suspicions.
Between my legs, it was damp.
Too sticky and heavy to pass off as just sweat.
Felt awful.
I didn't want to look.
Didn't want to peek inside the blanket.
But I had to.
I lifted the blanket and looked down, and the sight I'd dreaded hit me full force.
"..."
My pants were soaked bright red.
A wave of disgust swept through my entire body.
Things had been kinda okay up till now.
I'd been about to spill this secret and move on.
Why?
Of all times?
Now?
I blankly turned my gaze to the ceiling.
My head was noisy.
'Prayed yesterday it wouldn't happen—but my body doesn't give a damn what I think—felt good—and now it's sticky—gross—feels bad—but do I even deserve to feel bad—strutting around as a Vtuber causing chaos—ended up clinging to Si-woo crying like an idiot—he's nice enough to play with trash like me—and I can't even say thanks just bitch at him—Si-woo's got a job already—I'm rotting in my room chugging beer—can't even hit up my parents—what's so huge about a woman's body to despair this hard—maybe like Si-woo said it's a shot at a new life—why's everything so fucked for me—taking people's kindness for granted spewing thorns—what a loser—feels like I've really become a woman and I hate it—but do I have the right to hate it—gotta live like this every month now?'
My body didn't hurt anymore.
"Haa..."
I just wished it was all a dream.
Bloodstained laundry was a pain to wash.
Squatting on the bathroom floor, scrubbing as hard as I could, but the red stains wouldn't budge.
'Fuck, seriously...'
I finally had to search up how to remove bloodstains before I could clean the clothes and blanket.
If I'd faced reality yesterday instead of denying it, I wouldn't have this hassle.
If I hadn't hesitated at the convenience store back then...
'Why do I always end up like this?'
I avoid anything unpleasant as much as possible. Heavy atmospheres, awkward situations.
Avoiding them led me here.
And this time, avoiding again...
Left me with these blood-soaked fabrics in front of me.
And now the weird feeling between my legs. On top of my panties, there was an extra layer of awkwardness.
A thick pad clinging there, reminding me even more of the emptiness between my legs.
Every step made my thighs rub strangely. Felt like a kid in diapers.
And I have to deal with this every month from now on.
Really, the absolute worst.
Ever since coming back from Iller Munfes, Baek Eun-hae's been acting a bit off.
Seemed drained, like she was sick, but she's logging into Death Code anyway.
Seong Si-woo tossed out his usual joke.
"You're so fragile. Falling apart after just one day out."
But the response was a little different.
"...That's bullshit. Don't talk like that."
No, they always cursed at each other, but this felt more... intense, maybe?
Each letter hammered in with force.
Si-woo froze for a second, at a loss for words.
And her cursing frequency spiked way up from normal.
"Fuck!"
"Ah, this sucks."
"Cut the crap...!"
Si-woo thought.
Ah, how long's it been since Baek Eun-hae turned into a girl?
About a month...?
No way, is it that time?
Only girl around him was his little sister, but thanks to her, Si-woo was pretty familiar with that moodiness.
He'd learned the hard way never to mess with her during that time.
Her period. Yeah. If it's her period, that explains it.
The next day, Eun-hae showed up in Death Code as expected.
Her voice was even more drained than yesterday, but thankfully, the venom had subsided a bit.
"Body feeling better?"
"Yeah... it's okay now..."
Eun-hae's voice trembled faintly.
"Hey."
"What..."
Si-woo swallowed dryly. Then he broached it as carefully as he could.
"You, uh... on it?"
"On what...?"
"Your period...?"
Silence fell over Death Code for a moment.
Soon, Baek Eun-hae stammered in total panic, denying it—but that only solidified Si-woo's conviction.
"H-Hey, what? I'm not on my period or anything...!"
"It's obvious."
"No way I'd be on my period...! Shut up. Fuck... Shut up—!"
She cursed, but it was so ham-fisted, like a hamster throwing a tantrum—almost pitiful.
Even if she was faking, could she fake it this badly?
He was sure now, but what came next was the issue.
What do you even say?
Congrats on your period?
Like I'm her parents or something—that's too weird, right?
But ignoring it...
"Body's really okay, right?"
"H-Hey, I said I'm fine...? What period. Period."
"...You sure you're really fine?"
"Argh—! I said I'm fine...!"
Eun-hae squeaked like a chick.
"Just worried."
Si-woo's voice came through my earphones.
Genuine worry, no trace of joking.
Caught red-handed about my period.
Was it that obvious?
I'd tried to hold it together.
Was I that snappy?
That obvious?
"Wh-Why do you care so much."
"Worried as a friend. Don't get all prideful—tell me if it's tough."
"..."
"I'll help."
Ha, help? Like you could help. It's not like you can take this body instead.
You don't even get how I feel.
I shoved the words back down my throat.
I'll overcome crap like this.
This sucks. Sucks. Sucks.
Why's Si-woo such a good guy?
But the emotion I couldn't hold back leaked out anyway.
Even knowing I'd regret it later.
"I'm fine."