Chapter 79
Chapter 79
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 79
Chapter Title: Gym Plans and Feminist Encounter
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#216
"So, you're heading to the gym with Jun-woo starting this weekend?"
"Yeah, probably. He did say I could just rest at home and only come when I feel like working out..."
"If it were you, you'd clearly pick going to see Jun-woo over staying home alone."
"Heehee... But Jun-woo's trying so hard to work, so maybe it'll bother him if I'm there?"
"If my boyfriend stuck to me like gum all day at my workplace, I might feel a little weird about it...?"
"Hing, gum...?"
She couldn't deny it...?
The day after Jun-woo decided to work part-time at the gym.
After finishing Wednesday morning lectures, while waiting in the hallway for Jun-woo's group—who had gone to buy drinks with Sae-rom and A-ri—I brought up what happened yesterday.
...Actually, at first, I even thought about going out with him when he heads to work on the weekend.
But even I realized that wouldn't fly, so I said I'd go a bit early in the afternoon instead. Sae-rom still reacted like even that was too much.
"Wouldn't it be nice to be together...?"
"Normally, people might find it burdensome, but for you two, it should be fine, right?"
But A-ri, who had been checking her phone, acted like there was no issue at all, which eased my mind a bit.
Yeah, exactly. That's what I think too. There's no way Jun-woo would hate having me around.
"True. Sigh, I'm jealous. Isn't there a guy out there who'd love me even if I was that clingy?"
"Kwaang, am I a clingy girl...?"
"Hey, just maybe..."
"We have boyfriends. Sorry~"
Ever since starting university, with more strangers around—or maybe because Sae-rom and A-ri hang out with us—whenever I'm not with Jun-woo's group, guys approach me way more often.
From unfamiliar classmates to seniors.
This wasn't the first or second time, but it wasn't exactly comfortable being the one turning them down every time. I wished they'd take the hint instead of probing like that.
More than anything,
"...Again with that look. You two."
"Every time you show that side, I wonder what it's like to live as an alpha female..."
"The girl who was whining 'kwaang' a second ago turns ice-cold and speaks like a machine reciting lines... I thought it was a recording."
"Nooo...!"
This is so unfair!
They always ask me to handle rejections because they're not used to it.
Every time it happens and I turn someone down, Sae-rom and A-ri stare at me like I'm scary or amazing.
It made me feel so wronged every time our eyes met.
"From now on, I'm not doing it. You guys handle it."
"Oh, Seo-ah's mad."
"Is our Seo-ah upset~?"
"Sheesh, stop it...!"
"Sheesh~"
As Sae-rom and A-ri poked my sides, giggling like they were having the time of their lives teasing me, someone tapped my shoulder.
"Excuse me~"
"Ah, yes?"
I almost jumped.
Turning around, I saw a short-haired girl in a plain tee and jeans looking at us.
At first, I thought it was a guy and nearly got annoyed at the silent shoulder tap.
But her voice sounded feminine.
"Did you three join any clubs?"
"No, we haven't joined any yet."
"Great! If you're not interested in any specific ones, how about ours? It's all girls, so it'd be perfect for making friends."
"...? All girls? What kind of club...?"
I asked out of curiosity what club would be only girls.
That's when Sae-rom and A-ri next to me frantically shook their heads like 'please don't' and grabbed my hand tight.
What, what's going on...? Am I the only one out of the loop...?
The girl in front of me then spoke up loudly, like I'd asked the perfect question.
"We're the Yeongu University Feminism Club! Our main activity is promoting women's rights advancement, by women, for women—a tradition passed down from our club mothers' generation. What do you think? Interested?"
"N-No...?"
Club mothers...? What goal...?
Befuddled by the unfamiliar terms, I froze, and I heard sighs from beside me like 'we're doomed.'
"Um, sorry, but I'm not interested in that..."
"Why not?"
"Pardon?"
"Why aren't you interested? You're a woman."
What does being a woman have to do with it...?
Just saying 'I'm not interested' felt like it wouldn't cut it.
She looked so purely curious.
With those mad-glinting eyes staring at me, it seemed nothing would convince her.
I'd heard of people like this before...
Oh, right. Clear-eyed zealot. That's exactly her.
I knew I'd picked the wrong one. Now I understood why Sae-rom and A-ri tried to stop me.
Uwaaang, Jun-woo, come soon...
I suddenly missed Jun-woo terribly.
As I stood there speechless, the girl nodded like she understood and spoke.
"You might not know much yet. But haven't you ever wondered? Why do only women wear makeup and men don't? Men walk around bare-faced with no complaints, but why women?"
"...Isn't that for personal satisfaction? Women don't have to either. No one complains if they don't."
"No, no, no! If a woman goes bare-faced, people say 'Doesn't she know how to do makeup?' or 'No one to impress, huh?' There's a double standard only for women in this messed-up world! Even you're wearing makeup right now, naturally."
"I'm not wearing any makeup right now...?"
"Come on, don't lie. We all know, so don't deny it..."
"No, I really didn't put any on today. Ah, I did apply lip balm."
"............."
It wasn't because I was too lazy; Jun-woo loves fiddling with my cheeks or kissing my face all over, but he gets sad when I have makeup on and can't.
So at some point, I stopped doing more than light makeup—or none at all—except on dates.
Does lip balm count as makeup? As I tilted my head puzzled, she stared at my face like she couldn't believe it.
It's true, not a lie... Why make such a fuss?
"W-Well, okay. What about cooking or housework, roles overly demanded only of women like in our club mothers' generation...!"
"Okay, whoever you are—classmate or senior—please stop right there. Our friend here, and us too, have zero, I mean zeee-ro interest, so go spread the word somewhere else."
"How can women say that to each other...!"
As Sae-rom cut her off firmly, her shocked gaze on us was oddly fascinating, so I spoke up.
"Is being a woman that important?"
"Of course! If we women don't band together...!"
"I've never felt disadvantaged for being a woman. In fact, I love it. Because I'm a woman, I get to spend every happy day with the person I love right now. So much."
Of course— I continued.
"There might be women who've faced disadvantages. But you should talk to them, not grab random people just because we're the same gender expecting sympathy. Makeup or housework? It's not because I'm a woman; it's because I love him and want to do everything for him. And he does the same for whatever I want."
"............."
After I finished, I saw her face flush red and pale by turns.
Her shoulders heaving like she wanted to refute me right then.
But whether she couldn't find a counter or sensed my mind wouldn't change,
Soon after, she spun around without a word and strode away quickly.
Watching her back, A-ri giggled loud enough to be heard.
"Aaah, pity you don't know the wonders of love~ or something."
"A-ri, you don't know either. You're single... mff."
"Our Seo-ah. Your cheeks are so squishy...?"
#217
"......That's what happened."
"For real...?"
That happened while we were just buying coffee?
Coming back to see Seo-ah's group looking exhausted, I asked what was up.
The shocking news left not just me, but Si-woo and Jun-hyuk speechless too.
"That... No, what's her name? Anyone know? Talking like that to someone else's girlfriend..."
"Calm down, Lee Jun-woo. We don't know her name. She didn't say, and it was our first time seeing her."
This crazy bitch going around yapping about women—trying to brainwash my Seo-ah too—made my blood boil.
But hearing Seo-ah chased her off calmed me a bit.
"...Seo-ah."
"Hm?"
I looked at Seo-ah beside me, holding my hand and slurping her latte like she was thirsty.
I knew Seo-ah would never fall for it.
"You didn't get swayed by her words or think it sounded plausible or anything, right...? Yeah?"
For a moment, I imagined Seo-ah turning into a feminist screaming about purging han-nams.
Oh, fuck.
I erased that horrific image from my head in one second.
"Hmm... Maybe a little intrigued?"
"Gasp...! I'll be good, no, don't, please don't become a feminist, I'll ease up on workouts—no, wait, maybe ease workouts a bit, do whatever you want, if you suddenly wanna cut your hair short just don't sa—"
"Or whatever. With my Jun-woo here, no way."
As I squeezed my eyes shut reciting anti-feminism prayers, Seo-ah let go of my hand, hugged my arm with her soft body, and whispered.
"You're already so good to me? I'm grateful I'm a woman for that."
Like she'd never go there as long as I was around.
Her emotions conveying how happy she was right now.
Rubbing her squishy cheek on my arm with a bright smile made me smile too.
"...Phew, good."
"You'll keep cherishing me, right?"
"I'll make sure you never even think about that women-this stuff for life."
"Eek, what’s that mean...?"
As we bantered playfully, pinching Seo-ah's soft cheek, a chilling voice whispered in my ear.
"Hey, A-ri. Let's go find that lady. I'm becoming a feminist starting today. My stomach hurts too much."
"Oh, I was thinking the same. Let's go, Sae-rom. We're women's rights activists from today. If we can't have it, smash it."
"Nooo, Sae-rom!!!!!!"
"Ha Si-woo, you bastard. Does that mean I'm good now?"
Seo Sae-rom and Kim A-ri's feminist declaration, met with Ha Si-woo's tearful scream.