Even If My Junior Gets Caught Showering, I'm Still an Outsider
Arriving in five minutes meant she was already practically right outside.
Panicking, I bolted to the bathroom the second the call ended.
“Hey, Songha!”
I pounded on the bathroom door and shouted.
“Can you get out as fast as possible?”
The rushing water inside suddenly cut off.
…Y-yes. Huh? Why?
I could hear the confusion in her voice.
It was a natural reaction since I was interrupting her shower out of nowhere… but I didn't have time to worry about that.
My mom was about to show up any second.
Oh. Sunbae, do you need the bathroom urgently…?
“No, that's not it! My mom's on her way right now!”
…?!
Chae Songha gulped on the other side of the door.
…Y-your mom is coming? Right now?
“Yeah! So wrap it up quick and get out. Hurry!”
……
A brief silence followed.
Then the door cracked open just a sliver, and she peeked her head out.
“Um… sunbae.”
“Yeah?”
“Sorry, but… I don't have any clothes to change into right now…”
She trailed off, averting her eyes.
Ah.
She hadn't done laundry yet, so she had nothing to wear. She was asking to borrow something.
I nodded, figuring it out, and quickly grabbed a T-shirt from my drawer to hand over.
“Here.”
“…Ah. Thank you.”
The door clicked shut again.
Hmm. But still.
Sun protection really is key when you're out swimming.
I'd accidentally glimpsed through the door crack while handing over the shirt. There were clear tan lines on Chae Songha's body in the shape of her bikini.
Looked like she hadn't applied sunscreen properly like the other girls.
“……”
Well, my skin was just as burned, so I couldn't exactly judge.
Anyway, I didn't want to hover outside the bathroom and make her uncomfortable when she came out, so I headed back to the living room.
Not long after, the door opened, and Chae Songha slipped out wearing nothing but my T-shirt.
“Sunbae, should I just wait outside for a bit?”
“Ah, yeah. Could you do that?”
I felt terrible kicking out a girl I'd just let shower here in nothing but a T-shirt, but there was no choice.
My mom was pretty damn conservative.
When I first started college and said I wanted a part-time job, she was like, “What does a student need to work for? Just take your allowance and focus on studying.”
She was dead set against me living alone until graduation, too. I barely got permission by promising not to cause any trouble.
If she found out a female junior had come over first thing in the morning to shower in my place… she probably wouldn't even hear me out.
“My mom can't know you're here…”
I said it with an involuntary shudder.
I wasn't trying to be funny, but Chae Songha let out a small chuckle.
“Got it. Text me when it's safe to come back in.”
“Yeah, sure.”
Feeling guilty, I personally walked her to the door.
I opened it for her, and she slipped on my slippers, took a few steps out, then suddenly turned back.
“But, Sunwoo sunbae.”
“Yeah?”
“Wouldn't it be fine to just greet her confidently?”
A faint smile played on her lips.
“We didn't do anything wrong, after all.”
“……”
She's smiling while pushing me right off a cliff.
“Songha, if you're upset with me about something, just say it straight. Don't get revenge like this…”
“…Ahem. Got it.”
What exactly did she get?
Was she actually mad at me about something?
Just as I was about to ask for details, she gave a light laugh, nodded, and headed out.
And shortly after Chae Songha left.
Knock knock.
A knock came from outside.
It was my mom.
A little tense, I opened the door, and there she stood, impeccably dressed even in the morning.
“It's been a while, son?”
The first thing she said upon seeing my face was that it had been ages.
…What.
But she was right—it had been a while. The last time I'd seen her was right after discharge, so yeah, a good chunk of time had passed.
“I'm gonna forget what you look like. Come home more often.”
“Ah, yeah. I will.”
I took the containers of side dishes she handed over, mumbling soullessly.
There were so many varieties, all piled up. I figured I'd stack them in the fridge later, but as I turned to do that, Mom casually followed me in and glanced around the place.
“This place somewhat livable?”
“Yeah. Got everything I need, so it's fine.”
Her gaze drifted toward the bedroom.
In my opinion, for a solo living space, it was pretty decent.
“Well, as long as there's room to stretch out and sleep…”
She didn't seem to agree—her expression soured.
She looked around appraisingly, then sauntered to the window and swiped her index finger along the sill to check for dust.
“You clean every day, right?”
Who cleans window sills every day when living alone?
I wanted to say it, but I knew it'd lead to lectures like, “See, that's what happens when you live alone,” or “You weren't like this before.”
“Of course I do.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
“Okay, if you say so, I'll believe you. But.”
She pulled out a handkerchief and wiped her hand.
“Don't just clean where it's visible. Pay attention to the hidden spots too. That's where you lose points if you ever bring guests over.”
“……”
“And ventilate more often. You have strong body odor, Sunwoo.”
…Is she ever leaving?
It hadn't even been five minutes, and I'd already heard so many nag sessions.
Feeling suffocated, I stared off elsewhere when.
Having inspected the bedroom, she headed to the bathroom.
“Mind if I use the bathroom, Mom?”
“No, go ahead.”
She went in.
And right after.
The door that had just closed flew open again.
“Son.”
“Yes?”
“Why is there women's underwear in the bathtub?”
“……”
My heart plummeted.
Lunchtime.
At a café near campus.
“What?!”
Mo Yuna shouted, forgetting all about the stares from around us.
Because.
“Songha, for real? You actually met Sunbae’s mom?!”
Chae Songha had met Lee Sunwoo’s mother—a fact so unbelievable even hearing it straight from her was shocking.
“No way, how did that even happen? How? Why?!”
“…Calm down a bit.”
Chae Songha tapped Mo Yuna’s shoulder, a little embarrassed by all the eyes on them.
But the topic was too juicy—Mo Yuna showed no signs of cooling off.
“Hayun! Hayun-ah—!”
Far from calming, she waved frantically at Kim Hayun, who was just returning from the bathroom.
Kim Hayun, wondering what the fuss was, joined them, and Mo Yuna grabbed Chae Songha’s arm with a meaningful tone.
“Hayun-ah, you know what?!”
“Huh? What?”
“Songha, this morning!”
“…?”
“She went to Sunbae’s place and ended up meeting his mom…!!”
“?!”
Kim Hayun’s eyes went wide.
“?! For real?!”
“Yeah, yeah! Songha said it herself!”
“What?! No way, how? Why? How?!”
“……”
She’d only mentioned it so it wouldn’t seem suspicious if word got out, but maybe she shouldn’t have said anything…?
Chae Songha felt a twinge of regret, but it was too late—they’d both heard.
No choice but to explain the whole thing to avoid misunderstandings.
“Um, well…”
Chae Songha started explaining in detail.
“This morning, I went running with Sunwoo sunbae, and I stopped by his place quick to shower?”
“Yeah, and?”
“But right then, he said his mom was coming, so I rushed out mid-shower… and forgot my panties… left them in the bathroom.”
“……”
“His mom saw them. …So I had to meet her to explain. That’s it, no other reason.”
“……”
“……”
A heavy silence fell between the three.
“……”
“……”
How does Songha make such an unbelievable mistake…?
Kim Hayun was floored.
…S-Songha forgot her panties again?
Mo Yuna blushed, recalling a past incident.
Kim Hayun spoke up, exasperated.
“Songha, are you an idiot? There are other things to forget. Not your wallet, but how do you forget your pan—”
“…Um, Hayun-ah?”
“—ties, huh?”
“S-Songha made a mistake too… maybe don’t be too harsh…”
Mo Yuna grabbed Kim Hayun’s arm.
It felt way too relatable, hitting her empathy hard…
“…Ahem. So, Songha, what was Sunbae’s mom like?”
Mo Yuna quickly changed the subject before it got more awkward.
Chae Songha pondered the question for a moment.
“Hmm…”
What was Lee Sunwoo’s mom like?
They hadn’t talked long, but her impression was firmly etched in Chae Songha’s mind.
“Super.”
“Yeah. Super?”
“Super super… like a rich housewife from a fancy family?”
It wasn’t just her outfit or looks.
Even if Lee Sunwoo’s mom had worn a burlap sack, she’d still exude class.
“She asked questions so calmly, her speech was elegant, her eyes soft but with this subtle intensity…”
“What? Sounds like my super nice mom.”
Kim Hayun, who’d been listening quietly, chimed in.
Chae Songha just shrugged, neither confirming nor denying.
“Anyway, I was honestly pretty surprised.”
“Yeah… I see.”
So elegant and refined.
Just like my grandma.
If Grandma met Sunbae’s mom…
They’d probably get along great with personalities like that.
Of course, no real reason for them to meet, so fat chance…
“Oh, but did you clear up the misunderstanding okay?”
Kim Hayun asked abruptly amid her drifting thoughts.
“Yeah, I explained everything well, and she understood. But…”
Chae Songha, who’d been speaking flatly, glanced at the other two.
She clearly had more to say.
“Um… Sunwoo sunbae’s mom… s-said to use it for dates with sunbae… and secretly gave me some pocket money before leaving.”
“……”
“……What do I do? Should I give it back?”
Seeing her like that, Kim Hayun.
“You idiot! She didn’t understand a single thing!!”
Couldn’t hold back and yelled.
“What did you even say to make her give you date money?!”
“…Not much.”
“Exactly! What was that ‘not much’?!”
Kim Hayun shoved her face close, ready to devour Chae Songha.
“Tell us everything from the start, don’t skip a word!!”