Chapter 15
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: No More Avoidance
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[Son, what time are you getting in?]
[Just left, so around dinner time.]
[Drive safe.]
[Yeah.]
Ah, this is the worst.
Every step I take brings this rustling sensation, like it's all in my head.
The awkwardness between my legs. The dull ache in my lower belly.
To think I'd be meeting Mom in this state.
If I'd known it'd turn out like this, I would've visited her before going off to play.
No, I should've shown my face during the semester, before this body even changed.
Half a year since we last met, and now it's like this.
But regrets won't change anything.
Time's already slipped by.
Surprisingly, the train ride brought no thoughts to mind.
Somehow, it'll work out.
The scenery outside rushed past relentlessly.
Mountains, trees, sky, then more trees and mountains.
When I stepped off the train, a familiar scent brushed my nose.
Maybe this is what hometown smells like.
Only after leaving the station and seeing the familiar sights did my heart start pounding.
Now it's real. Time to confess.
Confess that her son has become her daughter.
I walked along the familiar road toward home.
The high school came into view.
Then the middle school.
The elementary school.
Before I knew it, I was standing at the front door.
What will happen when I unlock this door?
I pulled out my smartphone and sent a text.
I had to say something before going in.
[You home right now?]
My hand trembled holding the phone. The "1" on screen wouldn't disappear.
Breath caught in my throat.
I let out a short breath. As anxiety made me bite my lip, the "1" vanished.
If I just walk in like this, it'll be chaos. No, even sending this text will cause chaos.
Still, she deserves at least some mental preparation.
[I'm home. You here now?]
[About to come in, but don't freak out.]
I confirmed the "1" disappear before placing my finger on the door lock.
Beep—beep—beep—
One last number, and the door opens.
My finger felt heavy.
Beep—
With a trembling finger, I punched in the final digit. Click—the lock disengaged.
I gripped the door handle and turned.
As the door swung open, a warm aroma flooded out.
The smell of kimchi stew—you could guess its look and taste just from that.
I stepped slowly inside.
"Son, you're here? What's that about not freaking out?"
Mom's voice drifted from the kitchen.
That tender call of my name almost made me reflexively answer.
'I'm home—.'
But I held back.
Ah, footsteps approaching from afar.
A face beaming as it headed toward the entryway.
Those welcoming eyes froze for a split second.
Her expression shifted slowly, turning into a look questioning how I knew the code.
Those eyes stared straight at me, and words I didn't want to hear followed.
"Who... are you...?"
Mom's gaze scanned me from head to toe.
A moment of silence.
But then, her face bloomed into the brightest, most dazzling smile I'd ever seen.
Eh? What's this?
In this situation?
It was a genuinely moved expression. And then came words I never expected.
"......! Oh my gosh. Eun-hae's girlfriend?"
"Ah, no, um, Mom..."
As I stammered in panic, Mom's eyes lit up even more, brimming with utter certainty.
"That's what you meant by not freaking out? Why didn't Eun-hae come in and send you first? Eun-hae, hurry up and come in! It's cold out there."
'No, that's not it.'
"Always so stoic, and now you bring home someone this pretty... Goodness, you could've given me a heads-up."
'I'm not...'
"You keep so many secrets. My boy does."
Mom couldn't hide her excitement as she hurriedly slipped on slippers and poked her head into the hallway, peering both sides of the door.
She really seemed convinced I was the girlfriend.
"Son... hurry up and come in...?"
Even after checking, no one was there.
Another deep silence fell after glancing both ways.
The eager smile slowly faded from Mom's lips.
Is now the time to speak?
If I wait longer, she might kick me out with no chance to explain.
I clutched my chest with trembling hands.
My heart pounded like never before.
"It's me... Mom."
"......?"
Mom's eyes fixed on me again. Unlike before, it hurt—a complete reversal.
'It's okay. If I explain well, it'll be fine.'
"I'm your son, Eun-hae. I, I texted you not to freak out. It's me. Baek Eun-hae."
Mom stayed silent for a while, then spoke in a quivering voice.
"......What are you talking about?"
Every response stung.
It's okay. I braced for this.
"I, I woke up like this as a girl, and I wanted to tell you, but... I was scared, so... now."
The more I spoke, the colder her eyes grew.
"Ah... Aah..."
Then they turned to outright treating me like a crazy woman.
Wary. Like staring at a total stranger.
Of course.
Some random girl claims to be her son—who'd say that unless insane?
I knew it, but it still burned.
"......"
"It's not a lie, it's really...! I'm Eun-hae. I texted you last week, and the don't freak out one earlier—that was me too. L-Look... here...!"
I hurriedly pulled out my smartphone.
The flashy lock screen and wallpaper didn't match the moment, but I ignored it and shoved the screen in her face.
"If it wasn't me, how'd I open the door...? This phone's mine too... Look. The texts. This is my, my phone."
Mom stared at me wordlessly.
What else can I show? My hand shook holding the phone.
Ah, right.
I withdrew the phone, stuffed it in my pocket, and frantically searched for my wallet.
In my haste, the phone slipped out and smashed onto the hard entryway floor, screen shattering.
Never cracked it before.
But that's not important now.
Ignoring the broken screen, I yanked out my wallet and pulled the resident registration card.
"See? R-Resident registration card's Baek Eun-hae. Name's me. Photo's me. It's me... Address matches, ah. Right. This ID photo, we took it together, Mom..."
Mom's eyes wavered. I gave an awkward smile.
"Hehe..."
What did that look mean? Caution? Fear? Confusion?
...Trust?
Whatever it was, I'd never seen eyes like that before.
More, more, prove it's me.
Ah, where to look?
Should I stand straighter?
Where to put my hands?
"Hyesung University Computer Science. Went to Beonsung High... Middle school too... Elementary was Beonsung Elementary..."
I couldn't meet Mom's eyes.
"Ah, right, and back in elementary, you always biked me to school... And—"
I babbled everything I could recall. Even the tiny house secrets no one else knew.
Mom's lips quivered faintly.
After staring piercingly for ages, she swept her forehead with a trembling hand.
"......Come in for now."
Only then did I realize I'd been yelling in the entryway.
"Yeah..."
I swallowed tears and stepped inside.
We sat facing each other at the dining table.
Kimchi stew bubbled in the kitchen, steam rising.
Under the table, I fidgeted with my hands clasped.
"Um, Mom."
The moment I spoke, Mom cut in.
"...Eun-hae."
Her voice low and heavy. Hearing it after so long made my shoulders flinch instinctively.
"Ah, yeah..."
"Mom believes you. You're my child, after all..."
I couldn't respond.
"......"
"When did it start...?"
"About a month... ago..."
"Why didn't you tell Mom all this time?"
I hung my head.
"I was scared... Didn't know what to do... Thought I could handle it alone..."
Mom gazed at me for a long time, then let out a soft sigh.
"Ugh..."
"All grown up and still such a baby."
"Sorry... Ah, I'm sorry..."
"It's okay."
"Mom..."
I couldn't hold back and stood.
One step, another. Short strides toward Mom. Arms wide.
Right now, I just wanted to be held.
Mom stayed stiff, arms not fully open, still dazed.
She might not fully grasp yet that the girl before her was her son.
Still, I burrowed into her embrace.
My lowered height buried my face in her chest.
The warmth and coziness—unlike a blanket—overwhelmed me.
Tears I tried to hold back burst free.
"Mom... Mommy..."
I sobbed endlessly in her arms.
Moments later, Mom's awkwardly hovering hands gently touched my back.
They stroked slowly, softly, up and down.
It'd been so long since I'd felt that touch.
"Waaah..."
Not my first time crying since the change.
But bawling like this in front of Mom? How long had it been?
In the end, I let it all go, crying like a child in her arms.