Date with the Mesugaki
The first thing I did when I woke up in the morning was rub my eyes with the blanket. I'd had a brief happy dream overnight, but it ended with me learning the harsh truth. I couldn't go back. Realizing that once again, tears started bursting from my eyes.
The blanket was so old that the originally white parts had yellowed, and no matter how much I washed it, the musty smell never went away. Rubbing my eyes and wiping my tears with something like that, I felt so sorry for myself.
There wasn't a scrap of food in the house, and there wasn't even any AC to cool me off in the summer heat. I hadn't chosen to come to this world—it had stolen my life by force.
"Fuck..."
No matter how shitty life got, I had to keep living. Even if it was hard, maybe if I kept going, I'd find a way back someday. I dragged my hungry body upright and slowly changed clothes. Most of my clothes were cheap market buys, so I couldn't expect any fancy brand labels.
After changing, I grabbed my wallet. "One... two... Roughly under 20,000 won, huh?"
I'd squeezed some money out of that auntie who groped me last time, but taxes, rent, and buying streaming gear had burned through it all. Now that I'd quit my part-time job, I had no steady income.
If things keep going like this, I might have to sell my body...?
I really didn't want to sell my body. Just thinking about the faces of people who buy sex—how many of them would even look normal? I doubted I could endure it. Hell, most of them were probably like that Shimura auntie lookalike from before anyway.
I had to ration what I had, but first things first—deal with the hunger. I headed outside.
"Jaejun?"
"Hello..."
Sure enough, there was the landlord's daughter, smoking outside like she'd been waiting for me. As usual. How did she always run into me when I came out? Coincidence? Too frequent for that.
"Where you off to? A... date maybe?"
"No, just hitting the convenience store real quick."
"Dressed like that?"
"Yeah."
Choi Jaehee eyed the outfit I'd thrown on. It was hot out, so shorts and a t-shirt—nothing special. Was there something wrong with it?
"Is it... weird?"
"Not weird, exactly... Just, y'know... slutty?"
"This is slutty?"
Weird. Girls on streams and YouTube wore stuff like this all the time.
"It's... not slutty normally, but... on you? Or maybe your legs are just that hot?"
So it was just an excuse to ogle my legs and arms. Her eyes had looked off from the start—turns out she was eye-fucking me. What a pain. Why couldn't women hide their dirty thoughts?
"Don't sweat it."
"Huh?"
"I said don't sweat it. Quit being so annoying."
Maybe yesterday's bullshit was getting to me, but I snapped at her anyway. Not that it was my fault—she started it by prying, and eye-raped me too.
The more I thought about it, the madder I got.
"Haa... You reek of desperate virgin vibes who can't get a guy."
"What'd you say?"
"Mad I called you a virgin? Touch a nerve, trash?"
"That's not... Your mouth."
"Then how's your eye-rape okay? Apologize already, you trashy perv♥"
Jaehee froze, mouth agape like last time, too shocked to speak. The cigarette in her hand kept burning, ash dropping with soft plips.
"Aao~ Cigarette stink is so gross, can't even stay~ Trash, retard~♥"
I whipped around and stormed off. Good thing this world didn't get me punched or reported for shit like that. Back home, I'd be locked up as a psycho by now...
I ignored her stunned gawking and headed to the convenience store.
"Wel... come in."
The clerk gave a half-assed greeting, glued to her phone with a blank face. I ignored her and beelined for the food.
Hmm...
"Triangle kimbap... 1,000 won, cola 1,300? How's the drink more expensive...!"
Korean prices were bizarre. How could soda cost more than kimbap? With 20,000 won left, I had to stretch it. Okay...
"One triangle kimbap and one water, right?"
"Yeah..."
"1,600 won."
1,600 won... My precious 1,600 won, gone. Even if this filled me for breakfast-lunch, what about later? 18,400 wouldn't last a month. Maybe pick up part-time work again...
Money worries—the biggest headache since arriving—nagged me as I tore into the kimbap on a bench. Not the tastiest or best value, but my favorite convenience store food, so it went down easy.
"Mmm... Takes me back..."
Kid me always begged Mom for triangle kimbap or gumball ice cream at the store. No seeing her now, though.
Lost in memories, the kimbap vanished quick—not much there anyway. Simple lunch done, I headed home.
The place was bare except for the PC and a few appliances, but it felt cozy—my sanctuary.
"Haa... Gotta prep for the date."
Meetup with CowPig at 3 PM, so time to get ready.
Hate showering here...
Something about showering made me feel watched. Ghosts? The creepy gaze soured my mood, but what could I do?
Just shower quick and bounce...
I stripped slowly and headed to the bathroom. Watched again...
[Stream has started.]
"Hey, crazy bitch drops a sex joke right away?"
It was about 2:50 PM now. Not much time till the CowPig meetup. I'd gotten permission to stream it, so I fired up early—just in case she flipped and caused a scene.
"Right now, heading to the spot I promised with that CowPig chick... Anyway, on my way."
Outdoor streaming felt super awkward—my first time. Third stream and I'm yabanging a date? Total sense overload.
"You guys think this outfit's slutty? If this counts, you're all virgins who never touched a dude~ Trash~"
Mesugaki speech was automatic now? Thought it'd feel weird, but I'd adapted.
"Haa~ Me, dating a viewer? Hate it so much~"
"You really don't get it? Your usernames scream virgin spinsters who never had a man~ Virgin~♥"
Watch 'em freak at "virgin." Gender-reversed world—virgin here means incel equivalent.
"Heh? Did I hit your clit or something? Why the meltdown? Real virgins? Pffft...! So pitiful~."
"Hey, watch your fucking mouth? One more and you're banned? Wait... Is that her?"
Bantering with viewers while walking, I'd arrived at the meetup spot. Fewer people than expected—easy to spot CowPig. Black tennis skirt, baggy t-shirt. Her?
"Guys, think that's CowPig?"
Even from afar, she didn't scream ugly. Thought it'd be glasses, acne, porky mess per viewers—surprisingly normal. Kinda shocking. She watches my stream?
"Nah~ Not her... No way my viewer's that hot. Must be someone else."
"Your name's ugly as fuck~ Retard."
"What? Nah... Not coming to me."
Wanted to believe that, but the presumed CowPig closed in. I stood frozen in denial, but soon she was right in front of me. Phone in hand—my stream playing on it.
"Hello? CowPig here."
"Ah... H-hello..."
What... Why's she so tall?
Way taller, looking down—couldn't meet her eyes. Too hard.
"You're Meki, right?"
"Yeah..."
Yeah, I chickened hard facing her. Felt like I'd get smacked if I acted up—instinct kicked in, taming me.