I'll Buy You Pork Cutlet Later (3)
"I love you, Dad! Gimme some pocket money!"
"No money, you little shit!"
"Tch."
It's weird. In the end, the operation to act cute with Dad and score some pocket money failed. A setting like being the world's most beautiful woman didn't work easily on blood relatives who'd lived together since birth.
Remaining bank balance: 6,974 won... This is getting serious.
Sighing at the sight of a high schooler's account—once plump with severance pay and unemployment benefits, now too pathetic to even feel that ten-thousand-won joy. What the hell, Ban Do-young, you bitch. How much did you blow on that Starbucks coffee tumbler? Buying a full 15-volume novel set and wiping out the balance? And at the start of the month, no less. Pocket money day is the 1st every month. At this rate, forget movies—we might not even make it to the next payout.
No choice. Time to use that method.
The prices in the Half Half Island world weren't much different from reality. Even hunting for student discounts or matinee deals, 7,000 won wouldn't cover two movie tickets. But no worries. No matter how high prices soar, the world isn't that harsh. Our society doesn't make you give up the cultural life every modern person deserves just because your pockets are empty. If you've got no money, pay with your body instead.
Beautiful world.
"Um, why the blood donation center instead of the theater...?"
"It's all good deeds. You brought your youth ID since we took the train, right?"
"W-well, yeah."
Thankfully, Do Ha-min had remembered to bring something to prove his age. We'd already done a quick checkup when we met that morning.
'Did you get some sleep?'
'Y-yeah. Slept like a rock.'
His face didn't show it, but he claimed he'd slept well.
'Good breakfast?'
'Uh-huh, grabbed something.'
He said he'd eaten breakfast properly too.
'You okay? Cold or something? Taking any meds?'
'Huh? Oh, no. Nothing like that.'
No meds either. The perfect blood donor specimen the blood center dreams of. Red Cross gold, Do Ha-min.
"Hello! Oh my, you two are students, aren't you? First time donating?"
The moment we stepped into the blood donation center, staff in blue uniforms greeted Do Ha-min warmly. Kids coming in voluntarily to do good? Adorably praiseworthy.
"Yeah, no reservation, but we can do the e-screening here, right?"
"Yes, exactly. One at a time, please."
"Hey, I've never done blood donation before—"
"Don't be a wuss. It's nothing. Stings once going in, once coming out. Done. I'll buy you pork cutlet after."
"But suddenly saying that—"
"Go do the screening. You'll be fine, so hurry up."
-Swish.
I sat Do Ha-min in the computer chair and dropped the privacy screen. Knowing I was waiting outside, he gave up quick—click went the mouse.
"What, what? You two a couple?"
"Huh?"
While waiting for Do Ha-min's screening, a nearby staffer approached me.
Her lips twitching oddly—she was clearly holding back a delighted grin at the sight of us.
"Who?"
"Who else? You two. Couple outfits and all, coming to donate."
"...Ah."
Unintentional, but pure coincidence: Do Ha-min and I had matched colors today. Guy and girl in matching outfits? Anyone would suspect couple.
"Hehe, white top and jeans—anyone can wear that, right?"
Today's fit: white top, blue jeans. Safe but neat combo. Hard to pull off without confidence in your looks, but Ban Do-young's face covered it. As the Half Half Island top beauty by setting, it worked. But who knew Do Ha-min would show up to our first private meet in the same getup.
Ban Do-young standing there in that had the power to make guys around her back off without shackles. Do Ha-min? Total opposite. Looked like middle school festival choir uniform at best.
'Well... I picked the least bad option I could stomach.'
Ban Do-young's closet overflowed with flashier colors, sleeker designs. Overflowing with a teenage girl's emotional flair. Nothing like a nearly-30 crusty uncle's wardrobe.
'Eek, this one's backless. Wet hair and strutting in this? Obscene. Walking mosaic waiting to happen.'
'Skirts all mini... How'd she stay a virgin in these? Not for an all-ages webtoon.'
'Whoa, heels. Spikes. These on? Over 180cm.'
Overly feminine stuff got nixed. Too revealing, un-studentlike, or screaming ulterior motives? Auto-reject. Beyond suiting Ban Do-young—it was the dissonance of me wearing it I couldn't handle. Outfits screaming "I'm hunting men" with bold intent. Better the uniform, all same, controlled for equality.
End result: uniform-shirt-like white blouse, jeans over skirts, sneakers over heels.
'Eh, it'll do. No need for frills to snag a Do Ha-min type...'
A tiny rebellion against fully embracing Ban Do-young's tastes before returning home.
"Um... Done. Says I'm eligible."
"Knew it."
"Great job. Morning rush is light—head straight to exam room."
"Got it."
Do Ha-min entered his assigned exam room. As promised, sparse crowd—ID check, diagnosis, finger prick, BP, then straight to donation room.
Confirming him inside, the staffer turned back to me. Probably killing weekend shift boredom with fresh youth chat. Sorry my inner crusty uncle tainted it.
"Hmm, thought you two were fresh 'couple' vibes. Blood center date? Both so sweet and cute. Not?"
"Hehe, even kids got agendas, sis."
Couple. I'd kept it theoretical, but hearing it from a total third-party—not friend or parent—felt weird.
Of course, ending up with Do Ha-min was the likeliest path home, and I was gunning for it. But my mindset differed. Not me with Do Ha-min, but linking Half Half Island's Do Ha-min and Ban Do-young—like clearing a game quest.
Playing female character doesn't make you identify as woman. Possession felt like character grinding in an online fantasy—experience, nurture. My actions here served returning home, enjoying Ban Do-young playtime.
Sure, I yapped "my virginity," but gear's my gear, not "daughter's gear."
"Oh? Not a couple? You came in holding hands, beaming. Peak honeymoon phase... Thought so."
"Hmm, definitely. Let's check affinity then."
-Clang!
I yelled toward Do Ha-min mid-BP in the exam room.
"Hey! Nurse sis says we look like a couple—what's your take?"
"Wh-what...?!"
-Squeeze
> Systolic BP: 163
"My affinity's about 160 now."
"Student! No talking during BP!"
Kicked out after scolding from the doc. Do Ha-min's BP needed a redo.
"Retest normal. AB blood's short—thanks for helping. They'll call you soon; drink water and wait."
"Okay."
Do Ha-min emerged, cotton over his pricked finger. Sounded like green light for donation.
"Do Ha-min! Phlebotomy room, please!"
His name called—turn time. Face drained white on hearing it. Tense as expected.
Not teasing material. Everyone's scared first time.
-Grab.
Slight sweat on Do Ha-min's hand—usually fever-hot even in winter chill, today ice-cold.
"It's fine, fine. Nothing once you do it."
"O-okay... I'll try."
"Perfect. Hero."
Newbie challengers need cheers. Thumbs up for him.
"Phew, first time, but together? Less scary."
"Huh? I'm not donating."
"...What?"
"Birthday not passed yet. Can't."
Donation at 16. Usually post-birthday freshmen. Do Ha-min's Jan 1—proudly eligible by enrollment.
"Th-then movie tickets?"
I pointed my finger at the notice by the phlebotomy door.
Whole blood supply critically low.
Limited to whole blood donors: Up to 2 souvenirs gifted.
"Do Ha-min, this way~"
"Uh, uhhh...? Wait...!"
"Do great! Pork cutlet after—found a spot, 6,500 won each?"
Last glimpse: teary-eyed Do Ha-min.
Ah, pork cutlet, I said!