Chapter 25
Chapter 25
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: A Woman's That Day
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The clock showed morning, but the ceiling overhead was pitch-dark, without a single ray of sunlight filtering in.
Rubbing my eyes as I sat up, a sudden sharp pain stabbed through my stomach. The tight, suffocating sensation in my gut made my brows furrow involuntarily.
"Ugh... Did I eat something bad yesterday?"
Come to think of it, I had thrown up last night. Maybe that was why my body felt so wrecked.
But the problem wasn't just my stomach. Nausea kept churning inside me, a pounding headache throbbed in my skull, and cold sweat trickled down my back.
I didn't need to take my temperature to know I had a cold.
'I've been feeling chills lately.'
I had to get ready for school, but I didn't want to move a single step. My body felt heavier than usual, and there was a subtle discomfort lingering in my lower half.
...Maybe I should skip.
My biological mother wouldn't care if I didn't go to school anyway. I could just call in sick.
Irritated by this unfamiliar state of my body, I flopped back onto the bed.
I tried to fall asleep like that, but unfortunately, the stomach pain kept my eyelids from closing easily. No matter how much I tossed and turned, the sticky discomfort wouldn't fade, so I finally dragged myself out of bed.
It might be better to wash up clean and lie down again.
I hauled my heavy body to the bathroom. It would take a while for the lukewarm water to come out, so I turned on the faucet first and started peeling off my clothes one by one.
"......Huh?"
That's when I noticed it. A smear of blood on the fabric that had been covering my lower half.
I stared blankly at the unidentified red stain for a while.
No way.
I went back to my room and turned on my phone screen. I searched for the symptoms I was experiencing. Judging by the flood of posts that came up, plenty of people had been through the same thing.
After a few searches, I realized what was happening to me.
A pain that was perfectly normal for women but utterly foreign to me. My first period.
I'd known it would happen someday, but it was far more unpleasant than I'd imagined.
And there was even more devastating news.
"It can last up to a week?"
The thought of enduring this for a whole week made my irritation spike even higher.
I was starting to understand why women got so sensitive during their periods. With this discomfort wrapping around your whole body, how could you not?
If my biological mother tried to hug me like she did yesterday in this state, I might just swing a fist without thinking.
"Ah... Damn it."
The distinctive booze stench permeating the house felt even more revolting today. I wanted to bolt out the door right then, but at the same time, I couldn't muster the energy to move a step.
'Maybe I should hit up a sauna.'
I could stay out until nine without any issues.
That seemed like the better option.
Decision made, I grabbed my phone and some cash. I'd shower at the sauna, so I threw on some clothes haphazardly and pulled a hat low over my head.
Stepping outside into the sunlight, the discomfort eased a little.
But I hadn't taken more than a few steps before that strange sensation bubbled up from my lower half again.
'......This is so annoying.'
I hadn't packed spare underwear. But since I was heading to the sauna anyway, it should be fine.
First stop: the convenience store. I scanned the shelves, grabbed the product I'd looked up online, and headed to the counter.
"Three thousand won."
The instructions were printed right on it, so I handled it without much trouble.
With the pad on, the psychological discomfort eased up a bit. My head and body still throbbed from the cold, but at least that part wasn't nagging at me as much.
I boarded a bus to the nearby sauna and pulled out my phone.
'Gotta tell the CEO.'
I texted that I wasn't feeling well and needed to take the day off.
Not long after sending the message, my phone rang. After a moment's hesitation, I picked up.
"Yes."
[You okay? Can you tell me where it hurts and how bad?]
"Just a cold, I think. No need to worry too much."
[I see. Glad it's nothing serious. Have you taken any medicine?]
"No. I figured... I'd sleep it off."
[You need to take medicine, Sarang. Let me look—there's a pharmacy nearby. At least get some—]
Oh Seo-hee was mid-sentence when the bus announcement played, followed by the bell chiming.
[......Hold on. Are you on a bus right now?]
She'd heard it, and her voice dropped low as she asked.
I shouldn't have answered. Being sick but out on a bus was suspicious in all sorts of ways.
[Where are you headed?]
I reflexively made an excuse, worried she'd think I was skipping practice to slack off.
"Oh... um... the hospital. To see a doctor."
[Didn't you just say you'd be fine after sleeping?]
Damn.
My head wasn't working right, probably because of the cold. I couldn't even remember what I'd just said.
[Sarang. If you don't want to practice, just say so. A day or two off is fine.]
"......It's not that."
Oh Seo-hee would understand if I explained.
"Actually, I'm heading to a sauna."
[A sauna? Why a sauna?]
"Just... thought sleeping somewhere warm might help."
[......]
Oh Seo-hee went silent on the other end for a long while.
[Wait a sec.]
With that, she hung up.
I called back right away to say it was nothing to worry about, but she was already on another line.
Less than three minutes later, my phone rang again.
The caller wasn't Oh Seo-hee—it was Han Sea-ah.
I stared blankly at the house in front of me.
It was elegant enough to draw admiration even on a second visit.
"Come on in. Your head feels scorching."
Han Sea-ah pressed her hand to my forehead and opened the door with worried eyes.
Oh Seo-hee had called Han Sea-ah. When she heard I was sick, Han Sea-ah rushed over to pick me up.
"......I'm really fine. Sorry for making you take time out of your day."
"No worries. It happens to be my day off."
As we stepped inside, a bag of chips with nachos sat amid rumpled blankets on the sofa. The big TV screen played a trendy anime.
She'd clearly been watching it until just now.
"Lately, staying home alone has felt kinda lonely. So I'm glad you're here."
No way she actually enjoys spending time on others. She was just saying it to reassure me.
She might even find me annoying deep down. But my face was thick enough, and I wasn't kind enough to turn down the consideration.
"Um... then I'll just crash here."
"Sure. But have you eaten?"
"No."
"Then you haven't taken medicine either."
"Sleeping it off should be enough."
Han Sea-ah furrowed her brow deeply and held up one finger in front of me, her expression like an adult scolding a child with a stern "tsk."
"Come here."
I just wanted to wash up and sleep.
But I didn't have the strength to refuse. My head burned, and my mind was already hazy.
I followed Han Sea-ah to the table where we'd eaten salad before. A delivery bag of porridge sat there.
"I ordered it on my way out. Still warm—let's eat."
Steam rose as I opened the lid. It was too hot to eat in one bite, so I blew on spoonfuls before savoring it.
She'd gotten it for me, so I finished every bit. Sure enough, eating filled me with a bit more energy.
"......Unnie. Um, do you have... any spare underwear I could throw away? Something you don't use..."
"Huh? Why underwear?"
I trailed off, unsure how to explain.
"It leaked, huh."
Was this women's intuition? She figured it out instantly, even without details.
"Is it your first time?"
I nodded, avoiding her gaze. It wasn't a big deal, but saying it out loud felt embarrassing for some reason.
"Coming with a cold too—must be rough. Got pads?"
"Bought some on the way."
"Good. Go wash up quick. You must feel gross."
Han Sea-ah handed me spare underwear and pajamas.
'......Black.'
I squinted and stretched it out side to side. It was adult-sized, clearly different from what I wore—fancy lace and all.
Washing up in her bathroom, which was several times bigger than mine, washed away another layer of discomfort. The fragrant soap and shampoo erased the booze smell clinging to my skin.
'...Smells like Han Sea-ah.'
Mid-blow-dry, I pulled a handful of wet hair to my nose and sniffed. A deeper, softer lavender scent than Lee Seo-yoon's.
I finished drying my hair, wiped down, and slipped into the underwear and pajamas she'd given me. A bit loose, but okay. I layered two pads carefully to prevent leaks.
I stepped out of the bathroom.
Han Sea-ah lounged on the big sofa under a blanket, watching anime. Her eyes turned to me, a smile curving her lips.
"Come here."
She lifted the blanket invitingly and patted the space inside.
"Unnie will rub your tummy."
Her gentle smile sparked a sudden thought.
Someday, if Han Sea-ah had a child...
That kid would surely be the happiest in the world.