Chapter 28
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: I Became a Woman. And Ate Ramen.
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I woke up to find a text from Sia on my smartphone.
[H Department Store, come by 1 PM to —.]
Agreeing to go underwear shopping with Sia... what the hell was I thinking?
It didn't feel real.
The little sister of a friend I'd known since middle school and high school had invited me to go buy underwear.
And Si-woo hadn't even tried to stop it.
Underwear was definitely one of the essential things I'd need to live in this body from now on, but of all people...
My friend's little sister?
...Come to think of it, maybe it was better than learning from Mom.
There was still time until the appointed day, and Si-woo had said he couldn't log into Death Code today either, so I was completely on my own.
I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling.
......What should I do?
That's when my phone rang.
It was an unknown number.
Looking at it, it didn't seem like a survey or an ad.
I was frantically searching the incoming number to figure out what it was when the call cut off.
"Huh...?"
The search result showed it was the reserve army office.
A moment later, the same number called back.
You didn't have to call again.
Reluctantly, I answered, and a clumsy voice came through the smartphone speaker.
He seemed pretty new to the job.
"Hello. Is this Reserve Soldier Baek Eun-hae? I'm calling to confirm due to changes in this year's reserve training roster."
"Ah, yeah. I... became a woman...."
"Yes... uh...?"
I couldn't tell if he was flustered by hearing a woman's voice on a reserve army call or by what I said, but he definitely sounded thrown off.
And from his pretty dumbstruck reply, he seemed extremely confused—no, bewildered.
"You became a woman...."
"D-did you change your number? Is this not Baek Eun-hae at 010-XXXX-XXX...?"
"No. Number's right. I became a woman."
They said the name change and everything else would sync automatically, but had the notice not gone through yet?
The government really doesn't do shit.
"Please hold a moment."
I heard him turn away to consult someone, then come back.
"Sorry. D-did you perhaps get gender reassignment surgery or something?"
"No, it's a bit of a special case. The notice should be coming through soon...."
"No, but you still need to hear the reserve duty explanation—"
"I don't have to go anymore."
I hung up.
"...Fuck."
Should I be happy about this or not?
Happy that I only did student reserves and graduated from reserve duty?
No, if I'd changed before discharge, I wouldn't have gone to the army in the first place.
Instead, I'd have to deal with periods every month.
"Sigh......"
...Whatever.
Lying in my room staring at my smartphone, my stomach started to growl.
I shuffled over to the pantry, but it was completely empty.
The fridge only had a few cans of Zero Cola—nothing to eat.
Suddenly, I craved ramen.
Not cup ramen, but packet ramen.
I threw on some clothes and headed to the convenience store. For one packet of ramen.
I hadn't thought about it before, but Si-a's words suddenly nagged at me.
So outside, I hunched my shoulders as much as possible to make my clothes look baggy.
Ah, I deliberately avoided the convenience store where that part-timer had confessed to me last time.
Even though it was the closest one.
A little disappointing, but I headed to the one across the crosswalk.
I bought just the one packet of ramen and headed straight home.
It was Jin Ramen—the spicy kind I always ate.
Not the mild flavor.
Mild honestly tastes like nothing.
Whenever the army rations came mild, I’d hit up the rookies without hesitation, toss them some pocket change, and swap for the spicy ones.
Better to eat a fried udon cup than that bland crap.
The moment I got home, I went looking for a pot.
I opened the cabinet under the gas stove—empty.
Come to think of it, I'd shoved all the kitchen stuff up high because I hated bending over.
I'd been all gung-ho about cooking when I first moved out, but ended up ordering takeout every time and forgot.
I bent at the waist and reached for the pot—
"Ugh......"
On tiptoes, reached again—
"Ughhh......"
No dice.
This nagging sense of déjà vu from somewhere.
Something similar happened at Si-woo's place too.
Back then I'd asked him to grab a book, but right now, there was no Si-woo to ask.
"......"
I dragged the computer chair over and climbed on top.
"Ughhh...."
The chair kept trying to swivel side to side—I was scared I'd fall.
"Hngh......"
Held my breath to focus.
One hand on the stove, twisted my body to stretch as far as possible, and barely grabbed the pot handle.
The pot I finally pulled out was covered in dust.
I rinsed it lightly in the sink to shake off the dust and plunked it roughly on the stove.
Pushed the chair back to the computer desk, good as new.
Now for the powder and noodles.
Normally you boil the water first, add powder, then noodles.
But I heard some Michelin chef dumps everything in before boiling, so that's how I do it now.
If Michelin does it, who can complain?
I cracked open a bottle of water, filled the pot, and dumped in the powder and noodles raw.
......Couldn't see inside well, so up on tiptoes.
The water was turning red from the powder, and the hard noodles bobbed around.
Lit the gas and set a 5-minute timer on my phone.
By then, the water should be boiling perfectly when it goes off.
Browsed the community on my computer a bit, and soon the ramen smell wafted up.
That pungent chemical seasoning stinging my nose.
Watched community until the alarm, then headed back to the ramen.
Water boiling furiously. Perfect.
Pulled out chopsticks and pressed down the center so the slightly softened noodles submerged fully.
Set another timer for the 3 minutes printed on the packet and got a bowl ready.
Back to community until the alarm, then to the ramen, lifted the pot, and transferred to the bowl.
Too risky it'd pour out fast, so I went slow, but the broth trickled down the pot edge all the way to the floor.
"Ah, shit...."
Held the noodles with chopsticks to keep broth from splashing and fully transferred to the bowl.
Grabbed a tissue, wiped up the spilled broth, and tossed it in the trash.
Pulled my pajama sleeve down to cover my hand completely, cupped the bottom of the bowl, and hurried over.
Even like this, it got hot through my clothes quick—had to set it down fast.
At the computer, nudged the keyboard forward a bit, set down the bowl.
Setup complete.
Right hand on mouse, left on chopsticks.
Chopsticks with left hand used to be hard, but I do this so much now it's second nature.
Ramen after so long.
Grabbed a clump.
"Fuu—fuu—"
Blew on the noodles I'd pulled from the broth, eyes on the monitor.
Seemed cooled enough, so I shoved them in my mouth.
Ah.
The spiciness hit the second it touched my tongue.
Wait, too spicy.
"Sssup...."
I always loved this 'spicy' level before—why's it so hot now?
But no matter how spicy, my chopsticks didn't stop.
Forcing it down because it burned, mouth got too hot, so I lifted my head and let out a breath.
"Haaah...."
That's when I felt something off between my cheek and jaw.
Like something damp sticking there.
Set down chopsticks, touched with finger—hair soaked in ramen broth.
"......"
No wonder you tidy your hair with one hand when eating noodles.
Maybe because I scarfed it like an animal, but both sides of my hair ends were damp with broth.
Had to sacrifice a hand for ramen just to manage my hair.
I let go of the mouse, fixed my hair, and demolished the ramen.
Finished the ramen and checked my phone—new text.
[Baek Geum-hae: Mom's messing around, right?]
Older Brother. He'd talked to Mom apparently.
Brother's been overseas since I was little, so we don't see each other much, but he's great.
Not because of the pocket money he sends sometimes, absolutely not.
With the big age gap, he always felt more like a dad.
Even now, he's too busy abroad to come home much.
Last saw him 4 years ago.
Sent a quick reply to Brother.
[Little sib. What do you mean you became a woman. Mom's joking, right?]
[I really changed.]
Sent it, but no read receipt.
Maybe the time difference or he's busy.
Half-grilling Mom, I texted her.
[Mom, you told Brother?]
[I did. Why?]
[No, he just messaged me...]
[He needs to know. He's family.]
[Since he messaged, ask about Seollal plans?]
Seollal.
Going to relatives' in this body would be chaos.
Normally I'd stuff my face with holiday food and dip, but now? How would they look at me?
They wouldn't even recognize me at first.
Head already spinning thinking about explaining from the start.
[Not going this Seollal.]
[Okay. Don't push yourself. Mom'll go alone. Call if anything comes up, love you Eun-hae.]
[Love you too.]
I flipped my phone face down.
Stretched my arms up over my head.
Pajama top hem rode up a bit—stomach felt cold.
"Uuum......"
Before meeting Sia, there's something I need to do first.
The weekly regular check-up.
Tomorrow already.
I've been going out more lately, but I can't skip it.
But I can't keep hunching my shoulders at the check-up either.
Ordering online before shopping with Sia feels weird too.
"......"
I ransacked every corner of the house. I definitely bought some way back when, but couldn't remember where.
And finally.
"Found it...!"
I found the disposable pads shoved in the corner.
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