The Package
I had no trouble getting to Min Soyeon's house. All I had to do was catch a taxi. Before long, I arrived at her place and walked straight up to the intercom without any hesitation.
But then—
“A delivery?”
I spotted a single cardboard box sitting beneath the intercom. The labels plastered all over it read things like [Please leave at the guard station!!] and [Fragile!]. It looked pretty important. Just to be sure, I checked the shipping label. Sure enough, it had Min Soyeon’s name on it.
I wasn’t sure why it had been left here instead of in the parcel locker, but since it was clearly hers, I figured I should bring it inside. I carefully picked up the box and was a little surprised by how light it felt.
What on earth did she order…?
“Patriotic support goods…?”
No matter how I looked at the label, I couldn’t figure out what she’d ordered. Shrugging it off, I held the box in one hand and pressed the doorbell. A moment later, the intercom light blinked on and a familiar voice came through.
[…Who is— huh?]
It was Min Soyeon’s voice. I lifted the box up close to my face and answered in a playful tone.
“Delivery’s here.”
A second later, the gate clicked open with a soft clack.
The instant I saw Yu Jihwan holding that delivery box on the intercom screen, it felt like all the blood in my body froze solid.
Big trouble…
Jihwan had seen the “gift” from Midori. What do I do, what do I do, what do I do—!
I’d thought it was strange that I hadn’t gotten a delivery notice. Looks like the courier just tossed it and left. Damn it…!
I still didn’t know exactly what Midori had sent. No matter how many times I asked, she kept dodging the question, saying I’d know when I opened it. She’d even told me she hadn’t bought everything herself—she’d gotten support from her other “friends.”
“Those useless bitches…!”
I didn’t even have to open it to know what was inside. She’d definitely sent a mountain of weird stuff that Jihwan absolutely could not see!
Deciding I had to hide it somehow, I rushed downstairs without even checking what I was wearing.
Tap tap tap tap—
I flew down the stairs. The moment I reached the first floor—
Knock knock.
Right on cue, I heard Jihwan at the door.
“…Ahem.”
I cleared my throat quietly, swallowed hard, and opened the front door.
Click!
“Soyeon! It’s been a while.”
The second our eyes met, Jihwan greeted me with a bright smile.
…Ugh.
Maybe because I hadn’t seen him in a while, but his smile hit me so hard my heart nearly dropped to the floor. Caught off guard, I quickly looked away—only to stare straight at the box cradled in his arms.
And in that moment…
Fucking hell…
I clenched my teeth so hard it hurt. The giant “Leave at guard station” and “Fragile” stickers were practically advertising that something weird was inside.
What must Jihwan be thinking right now? Did he read the shipping label? It literally listed the contents—
I was biting my lip in rising panic when—
“…Soyeon?”
Jihwan’s voice snapped me back to reality.
“Huh?”
“…You okay?”
“Y-yeah, I’m fine?”
“Really…?”
I tried to brush it off, but he still looked worried, frowning slightly as he studied me. My eyes, however, remained glued to the “gift” in his arms.
After watching me for a moment, Jihwan held the box out.
“This was sitting out front, so I brought it in. Looks like a delivery for you?”
I carefully took the package and stole a glance at his face.
Does… he really not know?
Wondering if he was just pretending, I stared at him intently. He touched his own cheek and asked,
“Why are you looking at me like that? Do I have something on my face?”
Guess he really didn’t know.
“N-no, um— just go wait in the living room first!”
“…Huh?”
He looked puzzled but obediently headed inside. I watched his back for a second, then hurried upstairs.
Thud!
Click.
I even locked the door just in case, then dropped to the floor and frantically tore into the box.
Riiip— riiip—
There was so much tape it was a nightmare to open.
“Ugh, seriously…!”
Midori must’ve gone all out on the packaging. In the end, I had to use a knife to finally get it open. I flipped the box upside down and dumped everything out.
The items that spilled across the floor were—
“…Holy shit.”
At a glance, at least half of them had giant 19+ stickers plastered on them.
I tossed the empty box aside and started inspecting each item one by one.
The first thing that caught my eye was a box with huge English lettering.
Hole of Origin
Next to the name was a tiny illustration of someone poking a hole in a condom.
I cursed and threw it aside, then moved on to the next item. A pair of fuzzy handcuffs. A suspiciously soft coil of rope. Two tubes of clear gel. A bumpy rod. Underwear that couldn’t possibly serve its original purpose. And a bunch of bizarre objects whose functions I couldn’t even guess.
Every single one of them was pure garbage.
She really sent all this crap as a “gift”? Just imagining my so-called “friends” cackling while they picked this stuff out made my blood boil. I was about to boot up the game and give them a piece of my mind when—
“Oh.”
I suddenly remembered Jihwan was waiting downstairs. I couldn’t leave him there forever.
“Ugh…”
I quickly shoved all the junk back into the box, then walked over to the full-length mirror on the wall to check my outfit.
A white tank top that showed just a hint of my bra, paired with pink dolphin shorts. It was a shame the bra wasn’t the sheer black one, but the combination wasn’t too weird.
…Still.
It didn’t look particularly cute or attractive either.
I gathered my hair and draped it over one shoulder.
“…Not great.”
I wasn’t satisfied at all.
What should I do…?
Pouting, I examined my face from different angles before rushing over to my desk. My target was the tint I’d tossed there earlier—one of the cosmetics I’d bought with my friends.
Supposedly it made your lips look kissable.
In a hurry but with careful strokes, I applied the tint, then dashed out of my room.
But when I got downstairs to the living room, Jihwan was nowhere in sight.
“…Where did he go?”
Wondering if he might be in the kitchen, I headed that way.
And there he was—
“Did you check the package properly?”
—casually inspecting the contents of my cupboards like he lived here.
“…What are you doing?”
“Just seeing what we have. Looks like we need to go grocery shopping again.”
The way he said it was so natural it actually felt comforting.
I watched him rummage through the cabinets for a moment before snapping out of it and walking over.
“…Shopping? Right now?”
He said it was already late, so we should go together tomorrow.
Tomorrow?
Why tomorrow specifically…? I couldn’t understand why he was insisting on waiting until tomorrow. It was barely past four. And wasn’t this usually the time we’d go shopping together?
Confused, I watched his expression carefully and asked cautiously.
“…Can’t we go today?”
“Today…?”
Jihwan glanced at the clock on the kitchen wall, looking like he was thinking it over, then spoke with a slightly reluctant expression.
“Sorry. Let’s go tomorrow instead. I’ll call you.”
…What?
The rejection I’d half-expected still hit harder than I thought. I hadn’t expected him to shut it down so cleanly, and the pain sank deep into my chest.
“…I’m sorry, Soyeon. I really only stopped by for a moment, so today’s schedule is a bit tight.”
I was still stunned when he apologized again and tried to change the subject.
“By the way, is the spot that got hurt last time okay? Did you get it treated?”
He’s seriously changing the subject?
I didn’t like how blatantly he was dodging, but I decided to let it slide. He probably had his reasons.
“…No. I just left it.”
That way I can get more out of him.
When I casually lied and said I’d left the wound alone, his eyes widened and he asked why.
“…It only throbs a little.”
“No, that’s— …haaa…”
I’d been subtly trying to get him to touch it, but he let out a long sigh with a deeply dissatisfied look on his face and stared at me.
But… was it just me?
Even though his eyes were on me, his gaze seemed strangely unfocused, like he was thinking about something else. It almost felt like he was comparing me to someone.
The subtly unpleasant look made me frown slightly. Jihwan’s expression softened into worry as he spoke carefully.
“Soyeon… I really don’t want you to be in pain. So please, stop doing that.”
“…O-okay.”
I’d only said it to satisfy my own greed, but his serious response caught me off guard. He looked like he had a lot more to say, but eventually pressed his lips together and gently grabbed my wrist.
…!
The moment his hand closed around my wrist, all the strength left my body. I quietly followed him, savoring the feel of his large, firm hand.
W-what does he want to talk about?
Jihwan sat me down on the living room sofa, pulled something from his pocket, and handed it to me.
What is this?
Unfortunately, it wasn’t what I’d been hoping for.
“…What is it?”
“It’s called Tears of the Mermaid. It’s really good, so drink it quickly.”
Tears of the Mermaid?
I’d never heard the name before.
“Someone I know gave it to me. It’s a high-grade elixir ingredient, so it’s pretty useful.”
“…E-elixir ingredient?”
I knew what elixirs were. Miracle medicines made from byproducts found in Gates. In game terms, they were like cash-shop doping potions.
But how did he get his hands on elixir ingredients? And who was this “someone he knows”?
Before I could ask, he opened the bottle and held it out to me.
“Here.”
“…W-wait, what about you? If it’s that good, you should take it!”
“I have my own, so don’t worry.”
Before I could say anything else, he gently grabbed my chin and tilted my face up.
Hng…!
The moment his hand touched me, all strength left my body again. I couldn’t resist as the liquid from the bottle poured into my mouth.
A fragrant something flowed over my tongue. The tiny amount of Tears of the Mermaid slid straight down my throat.
Gulp.
Only after confirming I’d swallowed did Jihwan let go of my face. He patted my shoulder as if to say “good job.”
“That should take care of all the pain.”
“Ugh…”
I was starting to think that being pushed around like this… wasn’t so bad.
*
After drinking the Tears of the Mermaid and chatting briefly with Jihwan, it was already time for him to leave. I wanted him to stay just a little longer, but I couldn’t hold onto someone who had already turned down my invitation.
Still, I felt a pang of disappointment. I naturally walked him out and saw him all the way to the gate.
“Soyeon, get some good rest. I’ll call you early tomor—”
“…I got it, so just go already.”
I cut him off sharply to kill any lingering attachment. He looked like he had more to say, but eventually turned and walked out the gate.
“See you tomorrow, then.”
“…Bye.”
Jihwan left just like that.
Arms crossed, I watched his retreating figure, secretly hoping he might turn around at least once…
But he never looked back.
Jerk.
Once his silhouette disappeared beyond the alley, I clicked my tongue in disappointment and turned to go back inside—
“…Hm?”
I noticed a small green light blinking on the parcel locker next to the gate. It meant something had been delivered.
I hadn’t bought anything recently, so I couldn’t think of anything that should be arriving. Wondering if my “friends” had sent another package, I opened the locker.
“…What is this?”
Inside was a small box about the size of my palm. I took it out without thinking, turning it over in my hands as I walked back into the house.
No matter how I looked at it, there was no shipping label or delivery notice.
What kind of package is this…?
I shook it gently. Something inside rattled around with a clack clack sound.
…
No label, and it had been neatly placed inside the locker. It must be for me.
I stopped in the entryway, tore the tape open without hesitation, and opened the box.
“…Huh?”
Inside was a small USB drive with the number 1 written on it.
