Caution: Handling a Pubescent Girl
Today was Thursday, the busy morning hour when everyone rushed to school or work. Shin Lara should have been hustling too, but for some reason, she lay motionless in bed.
She'd pulled the covers up over her head, lying there as if asleep but not quite. Her father, Shin Seojun, watched his daughter pitifully and spoke up.
"…Lara, you really not going to school?"
"……."
Did she fight with a friend or something? At her age, whining about not wanting to go to school. She'd always been a bit of a daddy's girl, but still… He sighed at the complexities of a teenage daughter.
"I told you I'm heading out on a business trip today, right? Make your own breakfast and dinner."
"Have a safe trip…."
"Yeah, I'll be back."
Shin Seojun waved as he left the house. With all responsibilities dumped elsewhere, he stepped out, leaving just one girl alone in the vast home.
A 17-year-old high schooler skipping school with a fake illness because her heart wouldn't give her a straight answer. She knew she shouldn't, but getting up felt impossible.
She'd definitely run into him at school, and she'd regret pushing him away after he'd reached out. So she delayed the choice.
Skipping one day wouldn't solve anything—it would only make it worse—but she still didn't want to go. That's because Shin Lara was a complicated girl in the throes of puberty.
At an age too fragile and imperfect for logic or efficiency to dictate her actions.
"Haa… What about tomorrow? He'll definitely say something."
Slipperier than he looks, tougher than he seems. Childish like a little brother most days, yet somehow adult-like at times. She was shying away from this boy—close but not quite, reliant yet distant.
'…Should I beg for one more day? But saying that and then backing out now… Evaluation next week….'
She mulled over excuses to throw at him, got annoyed at herself, and yanked the covers back over her head. Thinking was a hassle.
Maybe sleep would fix it somehow. She squeezed her eyes shut, but sleep wouldn't come, so she opened them again. She wanted her phone but feared a message from him. Getting up? The bed was too cozy.
"Haa… Whatever, whatever. It'll work out somehow…."
She muttered to herself, but guilt piled up over him. She wasn't a kid anymore; she knew better. Her tangled thoughts made her avoid facing him.
The delinquent girl Lara wrapped herself tight in her fluffy pajamas and rubbed her face into the pillow.
"…I'm hungry."
Even now, her body demanded food—she hated it. As she reached for her phone to order delivery, a sound came from the door.
Ding-dong~
No delivery ordered, yet the doorbell rang. Puzzled by the uninvited guest, she headed to the door.
"Delivery guy?"
Without a second thought, Lara shuffled over. If she'd been calmer, she might've checked the intercom first. But… well, a complicated yet simple age.
"What the…."
The door lock clicked open. As the door swung wide, the visitor peeked in.
No need to ask who. She knew him well.
"Oh, you're up. Good thing."
"……You."
"Hey, Lara. Came by since you skipped school."
The boy smiled casually at her—her bandmate Seonggwang. The moment she saw him, she slammed the door shut.
Leaning back against it.
'Why the hell is he here?!'
Forget why—just how did he get her address? He was tight with the teachers, so maybe… Her heart raced pointlessly as her pocket phone buzzed.
The caller was obvious. She snatched it up irritably and yelled.
"Why are you here?!"
[Heard you caught a cold since you didn't show. Brought some porridge…]
"Oh, you got porridge? Thanks… No, sorry. Really grateful, but sorry… Could you just leave the porridge at the door and go…"]
[What? If it was abalone porridge, I'd ask for a bowl, but?]
"Get out!"
I screamed at the top of my lungs, and he went quiet awkwardly before muttering.
[Lara, you really won't open up?]
"No. So leave. More importantly, what about school?"
[What about it?]
"No, seriously…!"
…Come to think of it, I was skipping with a fake illness too, so snapping at him—the actual victim—felt unfair. Coldly speaking, it was brazen to yell at the one inconvenienced. Sure, I'd broken the promise first… But still… Still, this was wrong.
This was a clear invasion of privacy. Snooping out my unshared home address, showing up unannounced, without a word to me. Even if I'd told him not to come anyway, or ignored his calls. This crossed the line.
Trespassing, privacy violation… legal stuff.
"Anyway, go home. The answer… tomorrow. I'll really tell you tomorrow."
[……Just say it over the phone.]
"Cold's too bad to talk… Puhng-choo."]
[….]
No reply after my lame excuse. After a pause, Seonggwang spoke.
[Fine, whatever. Can't help a bad cold. Rest your throat, drink lots of water.]
"Uh, y-yeah…."
[Hanging up.]
He cut the call abruptly.
"…Did he really leave?"
Staring at the ended call, she glanced at the door. No more sounds outside. Relieved he wouldn't barge in, guilt welled up deep inside.
This wasn't right. Her selfish tantrum had burdened him, leaving her depressed. Yet she worried he'd get fed up and actually leave for good, staring at his contact.
"I should apologize…."
An overdone drama cliché—regretful lovers. No dating experience, Lara felt uneasy, just staring at the door.
Beep-beep-beep.
"…Huh?"
Then, keypad tones. A six-digit code, followed by the door's response.
Tri-li-li~
"Wha… what…?!"
Correct code—the lock whistled open. The door swung in, and he stepped inside.
"Masterkey Seonggwang descends upon Lara's abode."
"N-no, wait… How did you get in?!"
"Unlocked the doorlock?"
"No, how did you know the code!"
He tilted his head at her words and showed his phone screen. Video call. To someone familiar.
"Dad?"
[Hey, Lara. Skipping school is one thing, but no fake illnesses. You two had stuff to talk about today, right?]
"You didn't give him the door code, did you?!"
[Yeah, I did.]
What the hell was this guy doing? So absurd, she forgot to get mad and just laughed dryly.
Seonggwang grinned; Dad chuckled too. She snatched the phone and yelled at the lunatic.
"Are you insane?! Why give out the house code to some guy! What if something happens!"
[Don't worry. He signed a pledge not to. Right, Seonggwang?]
"Absolutely not. I swear on Grandpa's name."
[See? And your mom's a lawyer—what's to fear? If sued, employee family discount—70% off.]
"That's not the point!"
She snapped, but Dad eyed her annoyedly. What was he thinking? It wasn't about laws.
"I'm your only kid!"
[Two?]
"One daughter! She's alone—what if!"
Her voice cracked with real hurt. Seeing her genuine anger, Dad closed his eyes carefully.
[Seonggwang.]
"Yes, sir."
[I mentioned when we signed the pledge… As a family man, I'm worried, so again:]
Not to her. Serious-faced, firm and decisive.
[Physical harm by Lara—bruises, fractures, organ rupture, etc.—compensation not guaranteed, right?]
"Yes."
[Good. Don't sue us over some injury. Have fun.]
"Dad!!"
[And Lara. Go easy on him.]
"Just wait till you get home! I swear…!"
[Bye~]
With a cheerful wave, the video cut off. She yelled at the now-silent phone more, fumed alone for ages, then handed it back to Seonggwang.
"…."
"So, Lara. Can I come in?"
"……."
His cheeky smile pissed her off, but since she started this mess, she couldn't complain and opened the door wider.
"…Don't contact my dad anymore."
"I'll try."
He strode in, and for the first time, she let a non-family guy into her home.
Once permitted into Lara's house, I buzzed with excitement—first time in a peer girl's home, and way fancier than expected.
"Whoa~ Lara, nice place you got."
The intruder gawked around, sighing in awe. Lara glared irritably and shot back.
"…You've lived in better. Big deal."
"That was flashy outside, but old building—not great. New cheap one's better."
What I envied most? Having it thanks to family pull.
'Dad said her mom's at some famous overseas law firm.'
Not one to judge by money, but it felt like Lara had a halo of privilege.
Eyes sparkling, I poked around new gadgets, buzzing solo.
"Don't touch stuff. Need something? I'll get it."
"Cool. Grab some food. Skipped breakfast."
"Doesn't mean be shameless… Sigh, fine. I'm the sinner…."
Good she knew it. Lara sighed deeply, headed to the kitchen. While gone, I toured.
Clean white interior, rooms huge as living rooms. Parents' bedroom, brother's room. Scanned it all.
"Lara~ Your bro's into hip-hop!"
Signed rapper albums in a display case. Even synth keyboard—composes too? Rich family, no burden for another musician.
"Hey! I said stay put…!"
Lara rushed over, grabbed my shirt, dragged me.
"Said don't touch. Didn't."
"I'll turn on the TV—sit on the couch nicely. Not a kid…."
She thought wrong—17's still a kid. Bratty Seonggwang. Prime baby treatment age.
"Oh, PS5 here. Play that instead of TV?"
"Fine, I'll set it up. Be good, kid Seonggwang."
"Yay~"
Home consoles were my dream. Not anti-games, but buying felt wasteful—then money ran out anyway. Proxy satisfaction via streams, but actual play? Jackpot.
"Hmm, what to try."
While Lara fetched snacks, I fiddled with the controller. Tons of discs, downloads galore. Picked a famous fighter.
"Fighter game, huh?"
Lara returned with snacks, sat primly, watched.
"Iron Fist… You play this?"
"Not this series, but arcades with Jeongyeon noona back then."
She loved games—used allowance on PC bangs, arcades. This was arcade staple. Probably vented real-life beatings here.
"Hmm~ Surprising. Thought Jeongyeon noona hated games."
She listened intrigued. I eyed her home look curiously.
"You wear that around the house?"
"…."
Her face hardened, staring straight.
"What."
"Not weird or anything…."
Lara dressed sharp, great proportions. Used to polished her, this bare version was… fresh. Faded yellow tee, fuzzy heart pants. Spiky bedhead—innocent vibe, made me chuckle.
"…Funny?"
Offended, she glared daggers, kicked my back.
"Huh? You barge in pre-shower, laugh 'cause I'm grungy?"
"No, not that… Besides, if I'd said, you wouldn't let me in."
"…I would."
"Oof… smells bad, funky… unwashed? Super… Ack! Ow!"
"Out. Get out my house!"
"Wait… It's your dad's name on the deed. He let me in—why… Sorry! Sorry! No smell! Joke!"
Pummeling my head with cushions, she eased at my pleas. Bothered by my words, she smoothed her curls, grabbed a tie, ponytails up.
I stared blankly; she narrowed eyes annoyed.
"Look away, play game?"
"…."
Just watching. No clue why so prickly. Nothing gained staring, so back to game per her.
She sulked cutely, staring. Offered her the pad.
"Lara, wanna play?"
"…Me?"
"Yeah. Warm up before quick match."
"Mm… Sure."
Easier acceptance than thought; logged in.
"Lara, why 'Angel Lara' ID?"
Sweet side yeah, but not angel.
"…Random. Don't nitpick."
ID's whatever. Picked character.
Pre-load, fiddled stick. Thought pad, but joystick here—lucky.
"Phew… Lara, don't cry if you lose."
"Not a kid, won't cry over games…."
"Legend of Bucheon Champ Arcade, disciple of 'Hwarang Chair-Smashing Psycho Jeongyeon.' Rough style."
"Why talk like that… Sigh, game's on. Play."
Match start, deep breath pre-fight. Jeongyeon sensei said breathing key in martial arts. Oxygen fuels brain, smooths thought. Masters' bouts like chess—read, predict, strike first. Hand predicts moves. Mastered, Lara's win chance zero.
No bullying, but I'm Seonggwang—guy who hits girls too.
"Haaah!"
Swinged joystick freely, lethal combo. Lara pitied, parried all with flashy fingers.
"…Huh?"
Blank, froze— she exploited, combo'd me senseless. Beatdown whole round, immobile.
"Tch."
"……."
Perfect round. Next same. 3-round perfect sweep.
Trembling hands off stick. She eyed me like trash.
"Why so bad?"
"…."
Dropped stick, accused like cultist cheat.
"Lara. No meta picks. Mid 15f no-deal combo starter's cheap."
"Duh, can't counter? Quit. Half-circle side evades."
"Dirty, Lara. Devil play—why Angel ID! Lucifer!"
"Haa… Done? Turn off?"
"Switch char, rematch."
Bored but agreed. 3 straight wins, yawned.
"…How long? Boring."
Her scornful eyes boiled my blood. Gritted teeth.
"Till I win!"
"Shouldn't have started."
That day, 13 char swaps, zero wins. Lara snapped, ended fighter game.