Episode 26. Fastening 3
Episode 26. Fastening 3
Even though I took painkillers, my lower abdomen still hurt throughout the 4th period, making me wonder what was going on, but as soon as classes ended, the pain miraculously subsided. I guess the medicine is finally taking effect.
Since they're not serving school meals today, I can just attend the closing assembly and head straight home.
The moment the homeroom teacher finished speaking, the kids jumped up and left the classroom at the speed of light.
I also gathered my bag and slowly got up from my seat.
At that moment, something gushed out from below with a squelching sensation.
"......"
How should I describe it.
The feeling of giving birth to a warm, lukewarm, squishy jelly-like mass...?
As I stood frozen, staring blankly into space, Seyeon asked with a puzzled look.
"Yubin-ah, what are you doing?"
"......I'm going to the bathroom for a moment."
"Hmm, okay......"
Seoyeon glanced at me with a pitiful expression.
After changing the now disgustingly soiled pad with a new one, I returned to the classroom.
Inside, Seyeon was waiting for me.
We trudged down the stairs together.
"Yubin-ah, will you be able to come today?"
"Um, at 7?"
"Yeah. If you're too tired, just rest at home. Don't push yourself to come."
Seyeon said while tightly holding my hand.
I smiled and replied.
"Since I took painkillers, I'm fine. But I probably can't exercise... I'll just come to get some food."
"Ah, right. Hehe......"
When I said it jokingly, Seyeon also smiled faintly.
Of course, resting at home would be best as Seyeon said, but that's only when your family situation is normal.
Obviously, going to Seyeon's is better than being in my empty house with no one and nothing. At least I won't go hungry or feel lonely.
♡♥♡♥♡♥♡♥♡♥♡♥♡♥
Anyway, I dragged my aching body and trudged home.
My house, as usual, reeked of mustiness.
First, I took off my uncomfortable uniform and entered the bathroom wearing only a short-sleeved shirt and panties.
"Wow... what's with my face."
Tear stains ran from the corners of my eyes down my cheeks, and there were faint dark circles visible. My hair, which usually flowed smoothly no matter what, was slightly frizzy and puffy today. I looked messy and miserable, as if I'd been through something terrible.
If until now I was just a normally pretty girl, now I looked like a depressed, sickly high school girl. Though I was still a beauty.
I considered taking a shower, but I had no energy and couldn't be bothered, so I just washed my face. Still, the water on my face helped me feel a bit more alert.
I straightened out the crumpled futon properly and laid it on the floor, then plopped down on it.
Thanks to the painkillers, the lower abdominal pain was less severe, but the lethargy and dizziness remained. Even while lying still, the stains on the ceiling seemed to squirm and move.
It seemed like staring at them would make me dizzier, so I tightly closed my eyes. I should sleep more until it's time to go see Seyeon.
"......"
Tick, tock......
The second hand sound, which I normally wouldn't even hear, felt loud as if ringing right next to my ear.
"Sigh......"
Several minutes passed like that with my eyes closed.
I thought to myself.
'I can't sleep.'
Did I sleep too much at school?
Thinking that, I unconsciously tried to turn on my side but jolted and looked back at the ceiling. If I move carelessly... something sad might happen.
'What should I do.'
Watching YouTube on my phone would be best at times like this, but as I said before, since I use a one-room portable WiFi, it would take an eternity to load a single video.
'Books... I don't have any, right.'
I mean physical books, not e-books.
This girl's house doesn't even have proper daily necessities, let alone personal items... so there isn't a single book to read.
Eventually, I had no choice but to close my eyes again.
And so time slowly dragged on.
"......"
Grrrroowl-
"Ah."
My eyes unconsciously opened at the strange sound from my stomach.
"Ah, what the."
It was annoying to be startled like that just as I was about to fall asleep, but hearing it made me strangely hungry.
Various foods popped into my head one after another. Especially sweet, salty, and spicy ones.
Tteokbokki, buldak-bokkeumyeon, milk chocolate, seasoned chicken, vanilla ice cream, malatang, macarons, chocolate donuts, yogurt, bubble tea.
I want to eat them.
'...Oh my god.'
I was shocked to realize that most of the foods that just popped into my head were on the 'List of Foods Teenage Girls Like'.
Especially buldak and malatang - I haven't even thought about them since trying them once or twice before, so why do I suddenly crave them......
Achieved Season 766 of 'I've truly become a girl'...!
"Ugh, damn it. This is driving me crazy."
The more I imagine, the hungrier I get, which is a big problem.
There's nothing at home. Plus, I have no money so I can't go out and buy anything. And this wasn't something that could be solved by drinking water like usual.
As I squirmed quietly, fidgeting with my hands and feet, I turned my head and miraculously saw my phone. The phone I could use to contact Seyeon.
'Should I send a Katalk...?'
The thought occurred to me and I pondered again. What exactly should I send?
I'm hungry, so buy me food?
"This is a bit......"
Of course, sweet Seyeon would buy me anything even if I sent it that directly, but then my conscience would really hurt too much.
I thought for 7 minutes about how I could phrase my request for food in the most elegant and refined way possible, then made a decision.
'Right, first I'll make it seem pitiful......'
I pressed the phone keyboard and began typing the message character by character.
[Eun Yubin: Seyeon-ahㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ]
'Good, this should make me look really pitiful, right?'
I then turned off my phone screen. I decided to wait quietly until a reply came.
♡♥♡♥♡♥♡♥♡♥♡♥♡♥
Seyeon, who had been reading a book while sitting in a plush chair, suddenly looked up at the notification sound. Who would contact me at this time, Seyeon thought. The phone floated over and approached Seyeon.
Thinking it might be her parents, Seyeon turned on the screen only to see Yubin's message.
[Yubin♥: Seyeon-ahㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ]
'......?'
Her pretty and cute girlfriend (one-sided) had contacted her in a pitiful manner.
Seyeon immediately called. The ringtone sounded several times.
"Yubin-ah."
"Ah, yes. Seyeon-ah."
Yubin's voice carried a slightly flustered tone. She hadn't expected a phone call at all.
"What's wrong?"
"......"
Yubin was silent for a while. It felt like she was choosing the right words in her head.
After a long yet short silence, Yubin finally spoke.
"We-well, if you're okay with it, I was thinking maybe we could meet earlier today."
"Earlier? What time?"
"...Now."
Seyeon couldn't help but laugh at Yubin's trembling, embarrassed voice.
"Why?"
"Uh, um...... Just, I have nothing to do. I'm bored."
"Hmm, okay. Call me when you arrive at school. I'll come right down."
"Yes!"
Yubin answered cheerfully, sounding happy.
After a brief silence, the call ended.
The phone that had been floating in the air dropped into her hand. Seyeon stretched her body smoothly in the chair and extended her legs. As she did, she slowly recalled Yubin's appearance from earlier today.
She seemed to be the type who really suffers from severe menstrual cramps. To the point of being unable to move while face-down on the desk for hours.
Plus... she even yelled at her.
It felt like a cute small dog that had been obedient and well-behaved until now suddenly went "woof" and barked. It was quite surprising, but she wasn't angry. Rather, Seyeon thought it was cute.
But since she did misbehave, she needed some discipline. Seyeon decided to properly educate her someday.
Actually, that made it feel more regrettable. Of all days when we have plenty of time, she had to be in such pain. If it weren't for her period, she would have stripped her right away and given her a thorough 'education'.
Of course, taking care of her sick girlfriend (one-sided) and nursing her attentively was plenty enjoyable too, but the disappointment was unavoidable.
Anyway, Seyeon hoped Yubin would arrive as early as possible while slowly looking back through the photos they had taken together.
♡♥♡♥♡♥♡♥♡♥♡♥♡♥
Thank goodness.
I had that thought as I walked through the streets. I thought she might find it a bit burdensome, but I was grateful she readily agreed.
I walked hard, passed through the school gate, crossed the wide training ground, went over the hill, and finally arrived in front of the dormitory, then called Seyeon.
After waiting a bit, the automatic door opened and Seyeon came out.
Seyeon, smiling brightly, grabbed my wrist and led me inside. She was still in her uniform.
Whoosh-
The elevator quietly went up. It was made of glass so you could see outside. The cityscape came into view.
'I want to live here too.'
I was briefly lost in happy imagination when Seyeon grabbed my wrist again and dragged me along.
Seyeon's room was neat as always. One book was placed on the desk. When I looked before, the bookshelf was empty, so where did this appear from......
Seyeon, sitting on the bed, looked up at me and asked.
"Yubin-ah, you're hungry, right?"
"Huh? Ah, yes."
Having my true intentions seen through in an instant, I unconsciously answered honestly.
"Since Yubin is a patient......"
Seyeon muttered that while tapping on her phone.
"Do you like porridge?"
"Um......"
It was awkward to answer. Because I'd never eaten porridge before.
When I told her that fact directly, Seyeon tilted her head slightly.
"Yubin seems to have a lot of things she hasn't tried."
"Well, I was just busy surviving......"
"I'll order some so you can try it now. It'll be delicious."
"You'll order it?"
"Yeah. Why?"
"Delivery... comes here? To the dormitory?"
"Ah."
Seyeon chuckled.
"Actually, the rules here aren't that strict. Like university dorms, they allow pretty much everything."
"Aha......"
'I want to live here too.'
The thought surfaced once again.
Seyeon ordered porridge through a delivery app, and we chatted while waiting for the food to arrive.