The Fox Awakens to It -1-
I go through discharge procedures right away and leave the hospital. I stop by the cafe to apologize to the Cafe Owner. I haven't been able to work properly lately because of the stalker, and now I'm straight-up missing shifts—talk about being a nuisance. I bow my head deeply in shame, but she pats my shoulder reassuringly.
"You've definitely been flaking out a lot lately. But Jae-hyun, you know how much sales have gone up since you started working here? Just cover for me on a weekend shift sometime as payback."
"Of course!"
"Hope it all works out. Be careful—that woman looked properly unhinged back there."
She's right on the money. I flash a wry smile and mumble a vague response.
Seo Ji-ah unnie offered to drive me all the way to my friend's place, but I turned her down. I've been imposing on her enough lately; I didn't want to trouble her further. Besides, Kang So-ra's probably stuck at the station, so there shouldn't be any danger. Instead, I swing by my apartment to pack a few days' worth of clothes, and we decide Ji-ah unnie will hold onto that box from this morning as potential evidence. I doubt it'll come to that, but thinking back to her meltdown at the cafe... who knows? She might even break into my place.
"You sure you don't want a ride?"
She sounds like a wet puppy whining—adorable, but saying that out loud probably wouldn't fly.
"Pfft. I'm really fine. I'll text you when I get there."
"...Sigh. Alright. Take care, okay?"
"Yep."
-2-
By the time I arrive at Lee Yoon-ju's house, Han So-eun—the girlfriend Yoon-ju can't live without—is there to greet me.
"Huh? What are you doing here?"
"Huh? Just came over to hang out like normal?"
"Ugh. Sorry. Did I crash your date?"
"I heard the gist. Must've been a disaster for you too."
She giggles and smacks my arm. I can only nod glumly in agreement.
Yeah, a total disaster.
"Where's Auntie and Yoon-ju?"
"Auntie's out. Yoon-ju's at the convenience store up front!"
"Hey, Han So-eun."
"Yeah? What?"
I set my double bag down by the sofa first—
"Sorry about this."
"About what?"
"Well, nothing's ever gonna happen between us, obviously. But I figured it might still make you uncomfortable or whatever?"
"Hahaha! Nah, it's fine. I know you two aren't like that anyway!"
And besides, Yoon-ju's all about you anyway? She grins like a little devil.
So damn confident.
"What do you even see in her?"
Even seeing my sour face, she beams back.
"Hehe~ She's cute! I love how she's so pure and innocent deep down, even if she acts tough. And she always shows her love full throttle!"
"...Okay. Message received—you two are disgustingly lovey-dovey. Can we drop it?"
Shouldn't have asked. Now I'm the one scarred. Tsk!
She watches me click my tongue with obvious delight. She's got a sneaky mean streak too. Yoon-ju and her both...
"Still, glad it wasn't worse. You okay?"
"Eh, more or less? Someone helped me out."
"Ooh~ Girlfriend? Oh, right, you're single. So, like a girl you're talking to?"
She lets out this girly "Kyaa~☆" squeal. I can guess what she's thinking without her saying it, but weirdly, I can't bring myself to deny it like usual with a casual "Nah, nothing like that."
"Ooh? No denial?"
"Cut it out. My life's already at zero."
"What's that mean? C'mon, spill—what's she like?!"
"Uh... close neighborhood... friend, I guess?"
Honestly, I'm not even sure anymore. There've been times I've second-guessed myself before, but I always brushed it off like, Nah, no way. Don't be stupid. In this reverse world where guys are rare, don't chase pipe dreams.
But now... that certainty's gone.
"Yoon-ju was worried. Seven years older! I was shocked too when I heard. Isn't that kinda old?"
"You think?"
Seven years. Even counting my past life, it's not a small gap. In this world, it feels like almost a generation difference.
I'd probably worry too if my friend suddenly started crushing on someone that much older.
"But she's not weird or anything. Like I said before, it's 'cause of how she looks. Girls hit on me all the time thinking, Won't work anyway, but if it does, jackpot!"
"Mm, yeah. I'd probably do the same. You're super harmless and sweet compared to other guys, Jae-hyun."
Me? Harmless and sweet?
I blink in confusion, and she giggles.
"Weird. My first impression wasn't like that... Anyway, you just see it whether you like it or not. Whether someone's after you as a 'guy' or not. But with her—Ji-ah unnie—she didn't have that vibe."
Ji-ah unnie's human too; she must see me as a guy at least a little. You can't help noticing my gender sometimes, and I've felt it from her occasionally. But fundamentally, she sees me as a person first, not a guy named Yoon Jae-hyun. In a way, it's like how I got close to Yoon-ju by treating her casually.
Of course, if you asked now if that puts Ji-ah unnie and Yoon-ju in the same category, I'd firmly say no.
"Heh~ Really? Yoon-ju was worrying over nothing? More importantly, introduce me to this Ji-ah unnie sometime!"
"Uh, sure. I'll ask her later."
We're all neighborhood folks; we could hang out. None of them—Ji-ah unnie, Yoon-ju, or So-eun—are shy types.
"So, Jae-hyun, you like her? 'Cause she sees you as a person first?"
She's leaning in, eyes sparkling with curiosity. I know what she's getting at, but it feels kinda embarrassing.
"Not in the way you're thinking, probably."
"Oh ho. Even you aren't sure?"
Fair point.
"I've never really gotten what 'liking' someone romantically even means."
"Never had butterflies for anyone? Not even once?"
"...Nope."
Not even in my past life. No puppy love in puberty either. Kinda weird, huh?
"Whoa~ Total cherry boy."
"Hey!"
"Haha, sorry sorry."
Say that to another guy and you'd get sued for harassment.
"What, you gonna sue me?"
"Save the aegyo for your girlfriend."
Cute, but it's giving me chills—knock it off.
-3-
Yoon-ju returns from the convenience store soon after, and I have to recount everything again. I get swept up in her energy and spill all the details, which actually feels pretty cathartic.
"No way, that bitch is insane!"
"Tell me about it."
"So what's next?"
Detention at the station won't last over 24 hours max, probably released with a warning within 12. So she'll be out tonight at latest, tomorrow morning for sure. That's why I'm crashing here temporarily.
"Ji-ah unnie's handling a ton. She said her college senior's a sharp lawyer. If I sign a power of attorney, they'll take care of everything—no need for me to worry."
Thinking about it, I've owed her big time through all this. It makes me wonder, Is this normal? It feels like more than just a close noona-little bro thing.
Her reactions seemed beyond that too. Suddenly, I'm curious: What am I to her?
"Seriously, watch yourself. No wandering late at night, got it? You've always been too careless—you're a guy. And your sense of distance with girls is weird."
"I wanna say 'not this again,' but... sigh. Yeah, I dunno."
I looked it up online—stalking penalties aren't that harsh. Up to three years in prison or a 30-million-won fine. And any stress or fear I felt is subjective; objectively, her crimes aren't that severe.
"I'm no law expert, but probably suspended sentence or fine at worst. Real jail time seems unlikely."
For her to get actual prison, she'd have to stalk me again after trial, or something like assault happens. Just my layman guess.
"Our laws are such bullshit. What, victims gotta get stabbed or raped first before reporting?"
"Right? Jae-hyun, you must be so anxious."
"...Argh, whatever!! For now, I'll do what I can. Deal with the rest later!"
But weirdly... when the stares started, or I heard footsteps at dawn, or got that first box—my mind went blank, heart pounding, breath catching in terror. Fear I'd never felt before.
Now? Eh, whatever—bring it!
Some baseless confidence kicked in. Why? Probably Ji-ah unnie.
With her around, she'll protect me like today. Help or no, just knowing someone reliable will comfort me when I'm down... maybe I can tough out most things.
"Enough gloomy talk! Jae-hyun, so what about you and that unnie now?!"
Was my face that serious? So-eun tries steering to brighter topics.
Why it jumps to me and Ji-ah unnie, no idea.
"Huh? What about? I owe her huge, so I'll treat her to a full-course meal or something. I'm not that shameless."
You wouldn't get it, So-eun, but I'm not like the default rude guys here. Born different. Of course I'll repay her somehow.
"Gotta get a thank-you gift too. Damn, what should I buy?"
Not too cheap, not too pricey—how to pick the right price? And what to get?
"Nooo! Not that!! Like, romance! Love! You know, that way!"
"Huh? Babe, c'mon. She's seven years older than me. Romance? No way."
"Age is just a number in love! And you don't seem totally against it."
"Me?" / "Him?"
Where'd that come from? On what basis?
"Normal guys don't text or meet up that often with girls they're not into, right?"
"Pfft~ You don't know yourself. Yoon Jae-hyun doesn't fall into the 'normal guy' category."
"Fair."
Even without pink romantic vibes, isn't texting and hanging with close friends normal?
"Mm... Varies by person, hard to pin down. But like... missing them when they're gone, smiling just thinking of them, getting jealous if they seem close to someone else or show interest elsewhere?"
I mull over So-eun's words.
Question 1: Do I feel empty without her?
Well, we see each other almost daily. Of course I'd wonder and worry if she's gone. Last time she visited her family, I felt it—empty and curious.
"That's it?"
"Pretty much. Oh, she looked super mature and cool dressed up once. But anyone would think that..."
They haven't seen her, but her beauty's no joke—celebrity-level objectively.
Question 2: Do I smile just thinking of her?
Career woman, cool beauty on the outside, but her sloppy, cute sides peek through. Makes me chuckle watching her.
"Hm. Someone said if you find someone 'cute,' it's game over there."
"Cute's subjective. Dunno if it's my bias or she's actually cute."
"True. Pass."
Question 3: Jealous if she gets close to others?
No idea. Never happened.
"We've never had others around, so..."
"Imagine it! Her laughing with some hot guy, haha-ho-ho!"
"Ji-ah unnie?"
I try, but it doesn't click. She doesn't seem into regular guys.
"Huh? She told you?"
"Yeah. Dated a few after puberty, but all bad memories. Says she avoids guys and isn't into dating."
Plus, I believe guys and girls can just be friends.
"Tricky. Too pure and it's hard, huh? Ever get heart flutters around her? Or find normal stuff extra lovable?"
So-eun's dying for a pink answer from me. I wanna clarify my fuzzy feelings too, so I play along and sift through memories and emotions.
First meeting, no info—just cafe regular and part-timer getting friendly. Bumping into her on the street, exchanging names. Times with Ji-ah unnie flash by.
Full of gaps: older but sometimes childish-cute; seems put-together but clumsy, making me wanna look after her. Reliable big-sis vibe too—takes care of me, and I lean on her without thinking.
Click.
The shutter sound jolts me from my thoughts.
"What? Why the pic...?"
"What do we do with this idiot."
Huh? I scowl, but Yoon-ju shoves the phone at me first—my candid shot.
On screen: a face even I from my past life have never seen. Soft, gentle smile—subtle but real. The kind that tickles anyone looking.
"Huh?"
"Congrats, dumbass. Yoon Jae-hyun's finally in love. But seven years older? For real?"
Yoon-ju sighs sourly. So-eun giggles like it's hilarious.
I stare at the photo, face heating up late.
"...For real? Huh? Why? No, what?"
Do I... like Ji-ah unnie? Like, romantically? For real? Since when? Why?
"This is so dramatic—I feel like I'm in a drama!"
"Feels complicated to me. Seven years is still too much, right?"
"Wanna say 'age doesn't matter,' but yeah, seven's rough... If you're worried, hit the cafe? She comes daily—could 'bump into' her."
"Kinda nosy, but... maybe?"
My burning face ducks as I groan. Their chatter fades; just my pounding heart and swirling memories of Ji-ah unnie fill my head.