Raw Meat Cravings
The whole thing happened in the blink of an eye. At Hyunseo's shout, Mom came running in a panic and tried to pry my mouth open by squeezing my cheeks.
“Spit it out! Open your mouth!”
“Mmmph—!”
But even though I was panicking, my mouth kept moving on its own. My brain knew I should spit it out, but my tongue was already busy chewing the piece of raw meat on top of it.
The raw pork made a wet, squelching sound as I chewed, and a strange sweetness spread across my tongue. It was bland since it wasn’t seasoned, but for some reason it felt oddly satisfying—like it was melting perfectly in my mouth.
“This is insane… completely insane…”
In the end, Mom gave up and pulled her hands away with a heavy sigh. Both she and Hyunseo stared at me in horror as I chewed raw meat right in front of them. After I finally swallowed the un-cooked piece of pork, I glanced nervously at their faces.
They both looked like they’d just witnessed something unbelievable.
“Um… it’s actually… pretty good?”
“Are you out of your mind?”
When I casually dropped that comment while they were still frozen in shock, Mom raised her voice.
She was seriously asking if I was in my right mind. The problem was, I was in my right mind. So why the hell had I suddenly started chewing on raw meat? I’d done it myself, but my brain still couldn’t catch up.
“I don’t know… it just kind of happened…”
“You’ve really turned into an animal.”
I was mumbling some half-hearted excuse when Hyunseo spoke up from behind Mom, her face twisted in disgust. She’d just called the sight of me gnawing on raw meat animalistic. I wanted to argue, but it was such a plain, undeniable fact that I had nothing to say.
Furry ears? Check. Fluffy tail? Check. Chewing raw meat? Check.
If that wasn’t an animal, what was?
I was flailing my arms, completely at a loss for words, when Mom finally couldn’t take it anymore and started rummaging through the living room drawer.
“Lee Hyunwoo, take your medicine before you get sick.”
“I-I’m fine. Probably.”
Mom immediately shoved a packet of dewormer at me. Even as I told her I’d be okay, I could only tack on that weak little “probably.”
It was more like an instinct-level feeling. Yeah… gut instinct felt like the right word.
“If you get sick at dawn because you didn’t take it, don’t come crying to me.”
She shook the medicine packet at me like she was daring me to test her. I’d somehow managed to win with sheer stubbornness earlier, but what happened after that was still unknown territory.
“…Fine.”
I reluctantly agreed, even though I really didn’t want to take the stupid medicine. I was basically accepting whatever consequences might come with zero confidence.
Still… was raw meat always this delicious?
Since I’d already put my foot down, maybe just one more piece…
The second I reached for the bag of meat, Mom slapped my hand with a sharp smack.
“Ow!”
“You were seriously going to eat it all before I even had a chance to cook it.”
I flinched and yanked my hand back, rubbing the stinging spot while sneaking glances at her. I’d only eaten one piece…
“Your dad’s coming home early today, so just wait a little longer.”
“…Okay.”
When I kept stealing glances, Mom told me Dad would be home soon and that we’d all eat together then. Dinner got pushed back a bit.
Time passed, and it was 6:57 p.m. Just like Mom said, Dad came home early.
For the first time in a while, all four of us sat down at the table together. While the meat was grilling, Hyunseo and I pulled side dishes and rice out of the fridge and heated them in the microwave.
“Whoa, we’re having meat today?”
“Yeah.”
Hyunseo gave a short answer to Dad’s awkward question. Even though he tried to look casual, his face had brightened up noticeably. He seemed pretty excited about the meat too.
“Ugh, but when I think about how Hyunwoo was chewing raw meat earlier…”
“Huh? What’s that about?”
Mom chimed in, adding a few words to Hyunseo’s comment. Dad’s eyes went wide.
Why did she have to tell him about that?
“Ah, Mom…”
“What? What’s going on?”
I called out to her in embarrassment, but she just silently shook her head while Dad looked around in confusion. It didn’t seem like she had any intention of explaining.
Even though Hyunseo had brought it up, I started explaining myself.
“I don’t know. When I came to my senses, I was already chewing on raw meat.”
Even I thought it sounded like a ridiculous excuse. But what could I do? It was the truth.
With my half-hearted explanation, Dad asked while picking up his chopsticks.
“Is that because of the disease too?”
“I guess so.”
I picked up my spoon with a sullen expression. It was the only answer I could really give.
Dad tilted his head at my vague reply.
“You really do see new things the longer you live. Wow.”
He let out a few words that sounded like he was completely floored. I muttered to myself in my head.
Even if you live a long time, you probably won’t see something like this.
Anyway, our whole family had come home earlier than usual. We were all wrapping up the day when Dad suddenly asked me,
“Is the tail uncomfortable?”
Out of nowhere, he was asking if my tail was bothering me. I glanced behind me. Well, sometimes it was uncomfortable, but…
I answered like it wasn’t a big deal.
“It is, but why?”
“I mean, you’re carrying around a big fluffy thing all the time.”
Dad seemed genuinely worried that it might be inconvenient for me. I wagged my covered tail in response.
“It’s lighter than you’d think. As long as it doesn’t get wet.”
Honestly, the thing that bothered me more was in front. Two heavy lumps that were visible if I just tilted my head down a little. Unlike the tail, they felt pretty heavy whether they got wet or not. Plus they got in the way no matter if I was lying on my stomach or my back.
“The real problem is this.”
I lifted the area under my chest as I spoke. Dad, who had been sipping water, choked and coughed.
“Cough—! You can’t do that in front of your friends, you know?”
Come on, we’re family. Of course I don’t do this in front of other kids. Dad seemed to have a lot of questions and kept asking me all sorts of things, which was rare for him.
“How’s school? Any problems since it’s an all-boys school?”
“They’ve been really considerate. I talked with the principal too.”
When he asked if there were any issues at the all-boys school, I honestly told him the school had been very accommodating in many ways.
“You talked with the principal?”
“Yeah? Yeah.”
For some reason, Mom reacted to the conversation with Dad. I answered again as her voice approached from the living room.
“What did he say?”
“He asked if I wanted to transfer.”
“And?”
“I said I didn’t want to. Then he told me to come to his office anytime if I had any problems.”
“Why are you only telling us this now?”
I casually recounted the whole thing with the principal, but Mom sounded genuinely shocked that I hadn’t mentioned it sooner.
Well… she hadn’t asked.
I blinked innocently and answered.
“You didn’t ask.”
“Ugh. There are things you should say and things you shouldn’t.”
Mom let out a frustrated sigh after hearing my answer. Did I really need to mention something like that…?
“This kid is going to drive me crazy. She doesn’t tell us the things she’s supposed to.”
“Does it really need to be said?”
When Mom kept scolding me, Dad spoke up on my behalf this time.
At his comment, Mom frowned like she was saying, Are you serious?
I piled on, turning to Dad.
“Right?”
“Aigoo, I should just keep my mouth shut.”
Mom shook her head at Dad’s attitude. As expected, the only one who ever took my side was Dad.
A few hours later, deep into a quiet Tuesday night.
I woke up thirsty in the middle of the night while everyone else was asleep.
Mmm…
Even though I’d just woken up, I knew what I had to do. Still half-asleep with my eyes barely open, I walked over to the water dispenser, grabbed a cup, filled it, and drank.
The water made a glugging sound as it poured, then slid down my throat.
“Ahhh.”
After several big gulps, I let out a refreshed sigh. I was about to head back to my room when my eyes somehow drifted toward the refrigerator.
There was definitely still some uncooked meat left inside from dinner.
My hesitant hand reached for the fridge door.
…Just one piece.
With a soft click, the fridge opened, revealing a black plastic bag. Inside was beautiful, vivid red raw meat.
Carefully, trying not to make any noise, I pulled one piece out. It felt like sneaking a hidden piece of chocolate. I tied the bag back up so no evidence would be left behind and put it exactly where it had been.
My own little perfect crime, carried out in secret.
Humming a little tune, I flopped back down on my bed.
And so came Wednesday morning.
It had already been a full week since I’d turned into a fox-eared beastman girl. Someone once said humans are creatures of adaptation. Even though it had only been a week, I was already getting pretty used to it.
“Hwaaaam.”
I let out a short yawn as I headed to school. It was still the usual quiet time of morning with few people around. The second I left the apartment complex, a few gazes turned my way. Even with my tail and ears hidden, my bright orange hair stood out.
Maybe I should dye it black or something.
I tapped my feet impatiently, then took off running like always, starting the day with a quick sprint. Running had somehow become part of my morning routine. It wasn’t exactly to avoid people’s stares. It just felt like part of the day’s natural flow. Starting the morning with an all-out sprint just felt good.
It was another ordinary weekday morning. I thought today would be a perfectly normal day too.