Episode 24. Fastening 1
Episode 24. Fastening 1
At first, I thought I had wet the bed in my sleep.
The moment I opened my eyes in bed, an inexplicable damp sensation slowly began to bloom between my thighs.
'Fuck.'
Did I really draw a picture on the sheets at this age?
That's what I thought, but.
When a stabbing pain began to creep up from my lower abdomen, I realized that what had soaked between my thighs was far from just urine.
Slightly out of my mind, I stared blankly at the ceiling for a moment before moving as carefully as possible and slowly getting out from under the covers.
Then I shot up, grabbed both my shorts and panties at once, and slowly pulled them down.
"......Shit."
Looking at the crimson-stained panties, I thought.
It's finally come.
♡♥♡♥♡♥♡♥♡♥♡♥♡♥
The thick, sticky blood, as if mixed copiously with syrup, had stained not only the panties but also a small amount on the shorts.
"Ah......"
These are the only pants I have for sleeping.
Do I have to sleep in just a T-shirt and panties from now on?
'Don't tell me the covers too...?'
That thought flashed through my mind, and I hurriedly picked up the covers and flipped them over to check, but thankfully they were fluffy and clean.
"Haa......"
Feeling as if all my strength had drained away, I was about to sit down and rest for a bit, but I immediately tensed my knees to steady my body, which was about to collapse.
If I touch the floor in this state, it'll be a disaster.
First, I took off all my clothes, then quickly went into the bathroom holding only the soiled bottoms.
I turned on lukewarm water and scrubbed the clothes with soap before the blood could dry and crust over.
Then I carefully cleaned my... lower part. That is, my pubic area. It stung slightly whenever the water touched it.
Finally, I turned on the shower and washed my entire body. In the middle, when a clot of blood came out with a gush without any warning, I thought I was really going to faint.
The moment I stepped into the living room naked after showering.
The pain, which had felt like just a slight prick, began to grow larger and larger.
"......!"
It's coming.
Something is really coming.
How should I describe this gloomy sensation of pain gradually surging and accumulating?
It was as if a dozen centipedes were crawling up from my toes, up my calves, knees, stomach, chest, and all the way to my forehead.
"Haa, sssssss......"
If I had to find the most similar feeling I've experienced, it would probably be a stomachache.
The hellish moment, like when you urgently need the bathroom, was continuing non-stop.
My lower abdomen throbbed as if nails were being hammered in, thud, thud.
And the nails are growing bigger and bigger in real time.
"Shi, t. Really goddamn shit......"
My resolution not to swear was long forgotten, and my speech habits from my past life were gradually kicking in.
I took a few steps across the living room on trembling legs before collapsing, then crawled on my knees across the floor until a sudden, intense pain made me stop and press my forehead firmly against the floor.
"Shii. t. Haa, ugh......"
I had already looked up menstruation online.
Of course, I had also thoroughly researched the pain.
According to all the communities and encyclopedias, menstrual pain varied drastically from person to person. While some people hardly felt any pain, others were said to writhe in agony as if they were dying.
I seemed to be closer to the latter.
"Agh, this, fu...ck... Hoo, hoooo......"
Even though I just washed, sticky sweat was streaming down my forehead. Goosebumps rose on my arms, and my stomach heaved violently from my ragged breathing. My lips trembled, and a hot sensation continued from my pubic area.
Looking at it now, it wasn't just my stomach that hurt. My entire lower back area was in chaos. A backache, as if my bones were being crushed, battered my nervous system without rest.
What is this.
What the hell is this...!
I sucked back the drool that was streaming down and thought.
"Huff, huff, huaaaaah......"
What was the cause of menstruation again?
I think... I remember it's the process of shedding the inner wall of the uterus, where blood and various things are expelled.
"Hoo, huff, ugh......"
Yeah, shedding the wall is correct.
But this wasn't just shedding.
They're playing a game right now.
Using the egg as a ball and the uterus as a wall, they're playing a game of brick breaker.
Otherwise, it wouldn't hurt like crazy like this.
"Bullshit, stop it. Shii, t......"
After groaning for a few minutes in an ugly posture like a newborn giraffe, the pain seemed to gradually subside.
"Huff, huff......"
I opened my eyes wide and gasped for air. I felt a prickling sensation in my spine.
It was as if a literal storm had passed.
"Ha, ha, haa......"
I let out a hollow laugh out of disbelief.
"Menstruation, it's really menstruation......"
It was such an obvious statement that a twisted person might ask, 'So it's real menstruation, not fake menstruation?'
But in that moment, I had truly felt it.
So this is menstruation, I realized.
Along with the bonus of the 765th season of 'I've really become a girl.'
"I'm really going crazy."
I got up first. My legs, which hadn't forgotten the pain yet, trembled slightly, but I could walk.
First, I grabbed all my school uniform and threw it on the floor, but took out only the panties separately.
Then I brought the sanitary pads Seyeon had given me last time.
'How do I attach this again......'
I'm sure I watched a video a few days ago, but I can't remember.
So I just searched YouTube for 'how to attach a sanitary pad'.
"Hmm......"
Since I was borrowing a one-bar ipTIME WiFi of unknown origin that's always found somewhere, like a worn-out neighborhood soccer ball, I had to watch it in 480p for smooth viewing.
"Okay... let's give it a try."
First, I carefully opened the packaging.
Rip-
And then... place the panties with the side that touches the pubic area visible.
"Match it here......"
The sanitary pad has crease lines dividing it into three parts; you attach the top line to match the seam of the panties.
Attach the bottom line similarly, and finally fold the wing parts to the back to secure the pad properly.
"Ha, in all my life......"
Attaching a sanitary pad to my panties. I was just dumbfounded.
Anyway, only after finishing that task did I properly put on my school uniform.
I put the remaining sanitary pads in my bag. I heard you don't just use one for the whole day; you have to keep changing them.
♡♥♡♥♡♥♡♥♡♥♡♥♡♥
The excruciating pain, as if being disemboweled, had disappeared, but afterwards, a slightly different kind of pain unfolded.
First of all, a stomachache is a given. However, it's not as mind-shattering as before, just enough to make me occasionally grimace.
The problem is the flu-like sensation permeating my entire body.
Literally. Just like having a real cold, energy is draining from my body and my head feels dizzy.
Combined with the subtly lingering nausea and fatigue, it just makes me not want to live.
"Ugh, sh......"
I barely hold back a curse. I just hated everything in the world.
Even though I'm in fucking pain, I have to go to school. If I don't run, I'll definitely be late, but I can only walk. I feel like vomiting. I have no motivation, as if I've fallen into depression. Why do I have this constitution? Why do I have such insane menstrual cramps? No, why did I even become a girl in the first place......
Such worries gathered like dark clouds in my mind, soon pouring down a steady drizzle. The rainwater that had pooled heavily in my head then flowed down, shaaa, and escaped through my tear ducts. Clear streams of water flowed down my pale cheeks.
I see students hurrying their steps, afraid of being late for school. Among them, only I am walking leisurely like a loser, tears streaming down my face. I turned my head toward the wall to hide my face.
"Ah, why am I like this......"
It's a big deal that my emotions are unnecessarily heightened. Surely... this is also due to the period's influence. Just because my mood became excessively depressed for no reason, I'm crying my eyes out in the middle of the way to school, and I'm so embarrassed I could die.
I arrived at school at 9:11. I think I was delayed by another 5 minutes waiting for the crying to stop.
I quickly walked toward our classroom.
Rumble-
When I pushed open the back door, the attention of everyone, including the teacher, focused on me.
'Ah, damn......'
Unintentional attention. One of the things introverts fear greatly.
I quickly headed to my seat with my head down.
Today's first period must be Home Economics. Since it's a strict yet lenient female teacher, I could sit down right away without any comments.
Thud.
"Yubin-ah."
A voice reached my ear the moment I sat down.
I probably don't need to say whose it is.
I weakly turned my head to look at Seyeon.
"Ah......"
Seyeon's expression, which had been smiling brightly as always, stiffened like stone the moment she saw me.
That's understandable. My face must be a mess, completely drained of energy. I probably look like I'm about to die any second.
"......What?"
"Ah, no, it's... I was going to ask why you were late......"
Seyeon asked, flustered, unlike her usual self.
Perhaps because it was a different side of her, it was quite cute. The way she talked, glancing sideways to avoid the teacher's notice and whispering softly was also endearing.
Anyway, I struggled to part my lips.
"Just, well. Hmm......"
...For some reason, words wouldn't come out.
Since it was Seyeon who asked, not someone else, I should answer......
What is this wicked feeling of wanting to evade the question?
I guess I'm just too ashamed of my morning freak-out.
In the end, I couldn't give a proper answer.
"I was just late. Yeah."
"...I see."
Seyeon nodded gently and went back to focusing on the class. She could have pressed further, but she didn't.
"......"
Ah......
I'm dying, really.