Real Doll (5): A Timid Boy's Unexpected Love
The incident where Isia was crudely tricked and taken down by James forced her to fully accept the reality she was trapped in. The world she once knew was gone. 'I'm a Real Doll, and I have no one on my side.''To survive, there's nothing I won't do.' With those thoughts, even the pitch-black hell became bearable somehow.
Socially abandoned, Isia chose to step into the rawest, most primal world of desires. Violence and sex—those were her weapons now. She no longer hid her Real Doll necklace. Instead, she paraded through the red-light districts, flaunting it to win men's favor.
Plenty of guys took interest in an 'ownerless Real Doll'. She was prime material for a one-night stand. But the moment they'd drag what they thought was an easy lay into a hotel, she'd transform completely. Her old human knowledge was useless, but she put her one valuable skill—swordsmanship—to deadly use, threatening the men, robbing them of every penny, and vanishing. She repeated this ploy until she'd amassed a decent pile of cash.
Sometimes, she'd even ambush and flee from old friends who'd mocked her. "When I was human, you assholes wagged your tails begging me to look your way, and now you sneer just 'cause I'm a Real Doll?! You trash!"
"Ow! W-what the hell, you! Isia?!"
"Call the cops! Ahh! A Real Doll's hitting people!"
"If the cops catch you, you're done for! Ow!"
"Isia, stop hitting us, please!"
"Die! Die, you bitches!"
Getting caught meant death anyway. What did extra crimes matter? It was just venting old grudges.
After assaults by a wanted Real Doll, armed police patrolled near the university constantly. They were bracing for her return, but Isia wasn't dumb enough to charge into an obvious trap. "Hmph. I was just blowing off steam before leaving anyway. I'm never coming back. Nyah~"
Perfect timing—she'd scraped together enough for smuggling. America had only been a temporary stop for studies. Kicked out of college, she had no reason to stay.
She paid over ten times the normal fare to snag a spot in the cargo hold and successfully stowed away. She endured two full weeks of seasickness amid the luggage. For the pampered daughter of a corporate tycoon, it was brutal, but she was past picky eating.
Vomiting repeatedly and battling dizziness, she finally set foot on Korean soil—and tears welled up. "Dad... I finally made it. Dad..." Calling out to her now-deceased father, she slipped off the ship.
Real Dolls were an international system; Korea wouldn't change her status. Still, her homeland felt more familiar and comforting than abroad. And above all... she had to visit her father's grave.
"Because of me... Dad... Dad..."
Even the grave of a corporate founder was pathetically shabby. They'd hastily piled dirt into a mound behind the funeral home, but with no upkeep, weeds overgrew it, and the headstone was half-uprooted. Lee Beom-su. 19xx~20xx For a man of such a turbulent life, the epitaph was insultingly brief. This was the price of being buried by society after clashing with Black Stars. Too cruel.
"Dad... Dad! S-sob..."
"? Who's there?"
"Ack!"
"Who is it? Give me your name. There's nothing here but graves...?"
Even her father's grave couldn't be visited in peace—that was Isia's fugitive life. She couldn't risk exposure. As the flashlight-wielding caretaker approached, she bolted and vanished.
She melted back into the night streets. Lure a man, overpower him with violence, steal his cash. Even as a Real Doll, money made survival possible. Its power was immense. Pay, and you'd get food and a bed. She even had a regular motel.
"Auntie~ I'll crash here again tonight."
"Isia, huh. Robbed more guys with that scarf?"
"They planned to rape me anyway, so it's fair trade. Survival of the fittest, jungle rules."
"Silly girl~ Why not snag a decent guy and settle down?"
"No thanks~. Men are all trash."
But as she adapted to this life, Isia's heart grew more desolate. Humans... she couldn't trust a single one. As a fugitive Real Doll, no one could be believed. Not even the motel auntie she thought was friendly.
Feigning sleep, Isia perked up her ears. "...Hey. She asleep?" "Yeah, looks out cold. Wide open if we go now." The auntie was whispering with someone.
"That damn bitch. Plays innocent, then clubs guys with her scarf? I'll smash her. Fucking cunt."
The door opened to an empty room—the man she'd robbed earlier. Betrayals like this? Isia was used to them; she'd already fled.
Lie to people daily. Get lied to daily. No bank account, so cash stuffed in pockets or bags. No home. Her demeanor turned defensive; everyone looked like an enemy. And overusing the same tricks meant guys hunting her—beating her senseless and taking her money. It happened often.
It hurt. It terrified her. "But quit this, and how am I supposed to live?"
Even her mental strength was nearing its limit. "Fuck..." Curses she'd never uttered before now slipped out naturally.
How long could she keep fleeing, surviving these perilous days? Isia lit a stolen cigarette from a mark, inhaling deeply. She wanted to exhale her worries with the smoke, but her mind stayed tangled, her heart heavy. Still, to endure another day, she had to work. Hunt men.
Dumb... cocky... self-important types were best. Visually? Tank-topped thugs with arm tattoos—perfect marks. Easiest to fool.
Like a pro, Isia scanned for prey. No good idiots today. For a day-laborer like her, no catch meant starving.
"Damn... not biting. Move spots?" Lingering too long spread rumors; men got wary. Expand to another district—
Then a timid-looking guy, sweating bullets, approached. Least useful type: honest, ordinary, and younger.
"Uh, excuse me! Over here!"
"...Huh? What do you want?"
"Um... you're... selling your body, right?"
"And? Gonna report me?"
If so, she'd smash his head with her scarf. But shockingly, the kid handed over crumpled bills and bowed. Who bows politely to a hooker?
"P-please, just once with me!"
"...What?"
This nerd too? Height... 165cm? Face screamed virgin—innocent, clueless about women. Not ugly, though. Not a minor, probably.
"How old are you?"
"T-twenty-one."
"Name?"
"Oh Jingoo... and you, noona?"
"Noona? Who you calling noona? But do you even know what I do?"
"Sell... your body?"
"So? Wanna buy and fuck me?"
"If possible."
"Sigh... you ever had sex?"
"N-not yet."
"Unbelievable. How'd you know I'm a hooker?"
"You stand here every day, go to hotels with different guys... figured it out."
Even this dummy had that much observation. Isia reaffirmed: don't overstay spots.
"Lifelong virgin, why not make a girlfriend instead of buying? Pathetic. No one you like?"
"...I-I like you, noona!"
"What? Jesus."
Confessing to a hooker? Even a total nerd shouldn't be this lame. Isia chuckled dryly.
Still... dealing with such pure innocence felt refreshing after so long. Chatting with Oh Jingoo wasn't half bad.
"You know who I am? Really wanna date me?"
"I know. You always look so sad here."
"........."
"Noona, you don't wanna do this, right? Some circumstance forcing you?"
"......Shut up. Not your business."
She fought back tears, lashing out coldly. Scram. Stay away. Beat it. Our worlds are different. I want empty-headed thugs with shit personalities. You pureboys got nothing worth taking.
"N-need money? I'll give it. So quit this and date me?"
"......"
"Noona!"
"...Want me that bad? Fine, once—for cash."
"No! I really wanna date you!"
"Who the hell are you to... wait."
Words wouldn't work on this type. Reluctantly, Isia removed her scarf, revealing the shameful Real Doll necklace.
Real Doll. Seeking Owner
Proof she was no longer human—an object. Humans reacted two ways: contempt and flight, or pervy interest for a "test drive." Which was this nerd?
"Date me, noona!"
"?"
"Please!"
"Wait..."
An unlisted response—Isia was flustered. She'd thought constant bullshit had numbed her to surprises.
"Didn't you see? I'm a Real Doll. Not human."
"I fell for you! Be my first girlfriend, please!"
"Hey! Listen! Girlfriend schmlfriend—I'm a Real Doll!"
"I don't care! You're human!"
"............What?"
"You look human, feel sad like one, breathe like one! No weird excuses—date me or not!"
".............."
"Noona! Answer quick... Huh? Noona... crying?"
".............."
First time. Since Real Doll conversion... someone treated her human.
"Noona? Why... why cry?"
"S-sob...! Uuugh!!"
She'd figured eternal hell until her skull cracked open in death. That was fate. But meeting Oh Jingoo... gave Isia a new nest once more.