Someone Like You Wouldn't Like <em>Half Half Island</em> Anyway (10)
I've gotten pretty used to Ban Do-young's body by now. Not physically, but mentally. Moving it around had been easy from the start of the possession—aside from menstrual cramps—and her talents flowed naturally if I just let the body take over. So what does mental familiarity mean? It means I've come to accept that I'm possessing this body as completely normal, without any shock or surprise.
It's like a newlywed couple who start off embarrassed to be naked outside the bedroom, but over time, seeing each other bare or even farting becomes no big deal. Not that I'm thinking of high school girl Ban Do-young as my wife or anything. Even if I'm quick to adapt to new environments, going from a 27-year-old man's body to a 10-years-younger high school girl's named the same overnight? Of course, I'd forget the change sometimes and get startled.
The first times I lost awareness of the possession, I'd jolt at my reflection in the mirror. Like showering with sleepy eyes and catching sight of it, or locking eyes with Ban Do-young's face over the black screen of my dead phone battery. Of course, that's all in the past now. After about a month, even seeing her naked doesn't faze or embarrass me anymore. Though I do feel damn impressive every time.
I've heard pro models take nude photos of themselves daily to confront their bodies head-on. I bet I could do that now.
Yeah. I was in the bathtub, and I just went ahead and accepted Do Ha-min's demand to snap and send a photo right then. Switching to the front camera, Ban Do-young's face flashed her usual playful grin, and even as I hit the shutter, there was zero embarrassment or shame.
So I figured it'd be no big deal to send it off casually.
> [Send 1 photo?]
"…Send."
…
"Whoa… you actually sent it, Ban Do-young. Are you insane…?"
But after hitting send with trembling fingers, my face in the bathroom mirror was flushed redder than I'd ever seen.
"Whoa, look at that tomato face. It's totally Do Ha-min's shade…."
Was it the bathwater heat rising to my cheeks? Ban Do-young's reflection looked just like Do Ha-min—eyes misty, cheeks pink, huffing to hide it.
What the hell. I was the one teasing him. So why am I the one blushing like this? The one who should be red-faced is Do Ha-min, freaking out over the pic. Not me. Sending one bath photo now—what's so embarrassing? We've done worse already. We'll do worse later.
The Ban Do-young heading home might blush, but the body staying here—you—needs to play it cool. Even if I feel embarrassed, you don't. It's not even my real body; just a photo. So why am I feeling the shame, not you?
"M-maybe just delete it…."
No way. Ban Do-young doesn't pick fights then chicken out like some third-rate thug. And he demanded it in 10 seconds first. I was just responding fairly. Yeah, I'm in the right. All his fault. Gotta act even more shameless here. You asked, so I sent. Like this.
"…Haha, even added a ♥ at the end… Now I look like a total psycho."
-Glug glug glug. Unable to keep staring at my phone, I set it on the dry sink and sank deep into the tub. Bubbles carrying my voice rose to the surface, mirroring my mood.
"…."
A minute passed. Five. Ten.
"…Why no reply?"
The phone on the sink stayed silent. Do Ha-min should've reacted by now.
"Did he drop his phone or something?"
I'd fled first from my own photo, but with no reply, I soon grabbed the phone to check. No new notifications. I'd set it to vibrate and alert, so I'd have heard if anything came.
"Oh, the 1 is gone."
The unread marker on the photo and messages had vanished. Meaning he'd at least seen them.
"…No way he told me to send in 10 seconds then ignores it?"
If so, Monday at school—no mercy. That death penalty joke becomes real.
"He's late. Even sending a 'Stop it!' Marina-chan sticker wouldn't be too late now…."
No way. Did the shock make him nosebleed and pass out again? With his cherry-boy vibes, it was possible.
"Guess I gotta call… In case he's collapsed alone."
I opened contacts to dial Do Ha-min.
-Knock knock
"Ban Do-young, you didn't fall asleep in there, right? It's been an hour already, kid. Dad needs to shower too—wrap it up and come out."
"…Ah. Got it."
Yeah, better hand over the bathroom to Dad and call from my room.
"Ban Do-young, I told you not to take your phone in the bathroom. Wanna get electrocuted?"
"Psh, that won't happen. If you're nitpicking, why shower with water, Dad? You're Ban Do-che."
"Don't get cheeky. Safety accidents always need caution—don't you know?"
"Yeah yeah, got it."
After an unplanned scolding, I shook out my wet hair and headed upstairs.
-Bzzz
"Oh, KakaoTalk came."
By the time I got to my room after the nagging, a reply from Do Ha-min popped up. Making Ban Do-young wait 17 precious minutes? Let's see how genius this delayed response is.
"He better know sending 'Stop!' after photo-gawking is lame…."
"Fuck, it's a lame reply! Too late!"
I chucked the phone onto the bed.
….
"That's too much! There's a wrong way to mess up—how could you…!"
"Sorry for real. Wasn't on purpose!"
"For real? Not an April Fool's prank?"
"Totally real. Sent side dishes Saturday to prove it…? I did everything right?"
"Don't call your own pic 'side dish'!"
"Okay, okay, don't get so mad… I'm sorry, really."
"Sigh…."
Time flew to Monday again. With weekend drama, I left home early to reach class first—aiming for alone time with always-#1 arriver Do Ha-min.
Luckily, beyond some aggrieved whining, he didn't hold me accountable much. Skipping cram school, sleepover at a friend's, even the injury—seemed no big parental punishment. If it were severe, he wouldn't settle for mild raised voices.
Relief? Since he wasn't aggressive like expected, I stayed apologetic and low-key.
"Um… can I ask something?"
"What…."
"It was a mistake giving it, but… did you try it?"
"…."
Do Ha-min shot me a side-eye frown. Better evoke empathy over teasing now.
"Sorry, but… just curious! If something like that's right there, don't you wanna try? I would. Can't if you don't have it."
"…Why ask?"
Huh. Not a straight denial. Questioning intent means…
"D-did you really try it…?"
"Sigh, that's why I didn't wanna say. Knew you'd sniff it out."
"Hehe… thought so."
"What's with that grin."
Yup. Curiosity unbeatable. Any guy this age wonders. Even protagonist Do Ha-min couldn't resist boyish urges.
"I-I only opened it not to get played by jokes. No intent to use."
"Then you'd try if you had it! Kekeke, at least one manly side—relief?"
"Don't wanna hear 'manly' for that…."
"Psh, whatever. Spill the review since you did. How'd the first rubber-rubber piston feel?"
"…J-just call it by name. That's weirder."
Do Ha-min blushed, dodging the tale.
"After using it, names don't matter. Hurry up!"
"N-no. Absolutely not."
"Ugh, unfair. I wanna try but can't. No review share?"
"…."
I straightened from my apologetic slump. Time for empathy-to-tease switch. Ban Do-young specialty incoming.
"Oh, did Do Ha-min's not fit…? Too big, turned to crinkly piston? Kekeke."
"…Hurt, so took it off quick."
What.
"W-what'd you say…?"
"The one you gave… too small, wouldn't go in, yanked it off."
"T-too… small? That size?"
No way. Man's memory confirms Mom's condom wasn't small. It was one of hers and Dad's. Calling that small? What about our Ban Do-che then?
"Maybe didn't know how, or it was small—hurt more than expected. Don't wanna retry… Oh, scent was fine. Real lime."
"R-right? First time, probably clumsy fit! Yeah! Can't man up without basics!"
Yeah, I'd gauged Do Ha-min's "potential" last time. Limp lower half, flopping weakly—still vivid on Ban Do-young's back.
'Wait, limp so…?'
If properly hard…
"…."
"…U-um. Ban Do-young. Why you staring at my pants since earlier…?"