Chapter 44
Chapter 44
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: Thigh Swing
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Yi Ju-ha, that fucking bitch...
Why the hell hasn't she actually contacted me?
I ended up fidgeting my foot restlessly for no reason.
This is the first time Yi Ju-ha's gone radio silent like this.
She's not coming or going, and it's starting to bug me. Have I gotten too used to being her bread shuttle...?
"We'll wrap up today's class early."
"Thank you!"
"Great work!"
Maybe because the festival's coming up, or everyone's just too distracted to focus...
The professor ended class ahead of schedule.
I've got a ton of free time this afternoon.
They mentioned playing soccer in the evening, but it's not set in stone... Even if we do, it'll probably just be a small group passing practice.
"Hmm..."
Should I head to Yi Ju-ha's place?
I felt bad for not going last time even though I meant to.
This might be a good chance to drop by.
'Sigh.'
If not me, who else would?
She's been splitting the cash with me steadily, so she's probably alive...
But I have no idea what she's up to.
She hasn't gotten hooked on Texas Hold'em again and lost her shirt, screaming her head off, right?
If she'd blown her money on poker, she'd be blowing up my phone begging for a bailout... Since she hasn't, it's probably not gambling.
"No clue."
I've only ever seen her quirky or aggressive side...
So this low-energy mode feels totally off.
Oh... It's not like she never gets like this.
Back at school, she'd go low during her period too.
All the other bread shuttles would double down on caution around her...
'That just hit me.'
Our bread shuttle alliance...
Not quite friends, but not not-friends either—this weird bond.
We survived by swapping intel on the delinquents' moods and info each day...
Fuck.
'Beep. Adult verified.'
On the bus to Yi Ju-ha's place.
I leaned my head against the window, phone in hand.
The scenery rushed by outside...
"Ha..."
The crossdressing prep is going smoothly...
At first, I seriously thought some gay psycho had set this up—what the hell is this?
Girl makeup didn't suit me at all; I looked like a deranged lunatic staring back from the mirror...
I still remember the senior girls panicking and fumbling around.
But after three or four tweaks, they got the hang of it...
It started looking halfway decent.
Took off my glasses, tried contacts, drew on eyebrows...
The upper face, especially the eyes, came out shockingly good. Even I was surprised...
But the lower face is hopeless.
No matter what, it's a guy's jawline.
Not super square, but that masculine jaw is impossible to hide.
The overall manly lower face vibe...
Facial bone structure seems tough to mask with makeup.
Mask to cover it might work, but who knows.
They're prepping secret weapons like lifting tape, but for now, that's the situation...
Honestly, it was kinda wild.
Makeup and hair really make all the difference...
Makeup alone felt off,
but slap on a long straight wig, and boom—total stranger.
Is this... me...? Fuck... Brain freeze level shock.
"Goddamn it..."
I'm a guy... a fucking guy!
I wanted to get handsome, more masculine—not pretty, you idiots...!
Small comfort: I'm not the only one. They drafted two or three elite troops besides me.
They scoured every freshman and sophomore in the department, mobilizing anyone decent-looking.
Operation Make-'Em-Gay...
And I'm at the vanguard... Sob...
'Beep. Exit here.'
Lost in thought, and I'm already near Yi Ju-ha's place.
Trudging up the familiar path...
I've been here enough that it's starting to feel routine.
Spotted the noodle soup joint where we ate with Yi Ju-ha.
"Huh..."
Glancing around as I walk, a familiar figure catches my eye.
Midway to Yi Ju-ha's—a park-like playground.
In the empty lot, one girl sat on the swing.
...It's Yi Ju-ha.
Three-stripe tracksuit top, dolphin shorts baring her thighs.
Her signature baggy white tee showing off her upper chest.
That sloppy way she chews on her cigarette...
No mistaking it—pure Yi Ju-ha.
'Total unemployed slob vibe.'
What the hell's she doing here at this hour?
She seems pretty down...
I sneak up and plop down on the swing next to her.
"Fuck, you scared me, shithead."
"Wh-what are you doing?"
She squints at me as I sit.
Why's she looking at me like that...?
"School?"
"Just got out."
Oh, yeah?
She gives a curt reply and turns her head away.
...Not thrilled to see me. First time for that.
She's always like, "Oh, you total loser. Hey, Yi Jun-hyeong. Looking extra lame today." Throwing in some jab...
But weirdly quiet now. Something must really be bothering her. I ask softly.
"...Lose at Texas Hold'em?"
"Fuck no. As if I'd play. Told you not to."
"R-right?"
As long as it's not that...
Just some bad mood then.
Sudden PMS flare-up or whatever...
"..."
"..."
Silence hung between us.
Only the creaky squeak of the swings.
This takes me back.
Days spent fucking around in empty construction sites, buildings... playgrounds like this.
Nothing to do but scroll phones, chain-smoke to kill time.
What, no parents waiting for them...? Even if not, why loiter outside doing jack shit...?
Those times were rough.
Still don't get it. Gaming at home would've been way better...
Why huddle outside doing nothing...?
Anyway, nostalgia hit.
Somehow down to just us two now. Back then, always a crowd.
Time flies... Even that dumb crew's gone.
"Ha, fuck. Outta smokes."
Yi Ju-ha flicks the empty pack away.
Now I notice: the ground's littered with butts... Over ten, easy.
Chain-smoking in one spot? Gonna get lung cancer, idiot...
"Want me to grab some?"
The words slip out on autopilot.
Whoa... Even I'm shocked.
But friends buy stuff for each other sometimes! Yeah! Fuck.
She snorts at my quick reply.
Oh... She laughed. Eyes all crescent moons.
"What, gonna buy 'em? How long you gonna shuttle?"
...Good question.
But the queen shuttle-maker herself saying that...
Still, it cracked her up; her face looks brighter.
"..."
Yi Ju-ha leans her head back on the swing chain and stares right at me.
Why... why?
Squeak... squeak. The weird sound echoes.
Now she's staring again. Can't read her at all.
Guy delinquents stare like, "Damn, this dude's ugly as fuck lol."
Girl ones just stare for no reason.
Does it to every bread shuttle. No idea why.
'Bzzz.'
Feeling awkward, I stare ahead—phone rings.
Wh-who? Yu In-ha?
Glance: KakaoTalk's blowing up too. What the...?
"H-hello?"
'Hello my ass! Why the fuck didn't you pick up?!'
"I did?"
'Called earlier and you ghosted!'
Did she? Had it on silent... Missed it.
"Wh-what?"
'Fuck, massive bug showed up! Huge one, I said!'
...Calling about a bug? Just kill it...
"How big?"
'Wrist-sized, fuck! Fist-sized! Real fist!'
...After all that silence, first words are about a fist-sized bug.
Handle that shit yourself!
Guess no bugs in her place till now. Full panic.
'Hurry, come quick. Gotta catch it while I see it.'
"I-I'm out. Got prior plans, can't.'
'Quit bullshitting! What plans you got, fuck!!!'
Oof... Breathless roar.
Sneak a peek at Yi Ju-ha.
Weird saying I'm at her place...
Even if I do, she'll just scream to kill the bug then come back!!! Or some shit...
"C-can't you call someone else?"
'Fuck, we're all girls, can't kill it!!! Can't!!! Come!! Argh!!!'
Fuck, my eardrums!
Yi Ju-ha raises one eyebrow curiously.
If she were okay, I'd go—"Yu In-ha needs bug help!" But suddenly leaving...
Fuck it!
"I really got plans! I'll kill it later!"
'Hello? Yi Jun-hyeong? Hey fuck! Don't hang up! Don't you dare, bitch! I'll kill y—'
Click.
Hang up and look ahead.
First time cutting off Yu In-ha. Cold sweat.
"What was that?"
"Uh... Y-Yu In-ha called. Big bug at her place... Wants me to kill it."
"Yu In-ha?"
Yi Ju-ha pulls out her phone.
"Huh, she called me too," she mutters.
...Called her too? Must've rung everyone, saved me for last. Not even a last resort...
"Whoa, it's huge. Real fist-sized."
"...For real?"
Sent a pic on KakaoTalk too, huh.
Yi Ju-ha shows her phone—fuck, it's massive. Actual fist-size?
"Snapping pics instead of killing it, then calling around."
True...
But looks tough. Even I'd cringe facing it...
Yi Ju-ha pockets her phone, chuckling weakly.
Stretches with an "Ah---". Mood seems way better than before.
Yu In-ha's freakout cheered her up.
"Go. Hung up on Yu In-ha too. Grown a pair, Yi Jun-hyeong?"
"Even so, running off now..."
Just got here; leaving would be weird...
Going and coming back's even dumber.
Bug'll be fine somehow...
"..."
Yi Ju-ha stares at me again.
Her face softer now. I glance, then look away.
Keep dropping gaze... Better not look.
"Hey."
"Yeah?"
"Look."
"At what?"
"Here, dumbass."
Thought she meant tits...
Peek—she's smirking subtly, just the corner of her mouth.
Pats her thigh twice.
The swing-compressed thigh...
"Sit."
"...Sit?"
"Yeah—sit."
Brain freeze at the unheard command.
H-has she ever...?
I shuffle awkwardly in front of her swing.
She beams, wiggling her thigh invitingly.
...Is this okay...? Kinda hits my male pride...
'Gulp...'
Male pride...? Toss it!
Squeeze into the narrow swing seat—her face right there, noses almost touching. I turn away.
Not just face—two watermelon-sized things...
'Squeak... squeak...'
Yi Ju-ha says nothing, just keeps swinging gently.
This awkward mix of discomfort and comfort lingers.
Thigh feel... Insane... Feels like being petted as a lapdog—kinda shitty but good...
Swings slow back and forth with her movements. Weird feeling. Her blank stare amps the tension.
A slightly hot silence envelops us.
Clothes can't hide her skin's warmth.
Nothing act, but feels oddly erotic...
...Feels like the roles flipped...?