But If It's a Dangerous Day, Can't We Just Do It From Behind?
Time dragged on after that. It was festival frenzy Friday, closing in on noon. Even the dull, pretentious professor's lecture was barreling toward its end.
Since it started with first period bright and early, classes like this usually unfolded in a heavy, subdued atmosphere. Half the room stared blankly at the blackboard, while the other half nodded off with half-closed eyes, barely propped upright in their seats.
But not today. With every word the professor uttered, the classroom's vibe started heating up in this weird way.
"Alright, that's it for this week."
The professor clearly picked up on it too.
"It's a festival and all, but you all know finals are right around the corner, right? Don't go overboard—start reviewing early."
His words, wrapping up five minutes ahead of schedule, sent a ripple through the room. That was the cue. The three traitors sitting next to me and right behind me shot out of their seats like rockets. And they weren't the only ones. Girls all over the classroom grabbed their bags and bolted for the back door, high school lunch-rush style.
A natural sigh slipped out amid the chaos of toppled desks and chairs. It wasn't just because the friends I'd trusted had ditched me for some pretty-boy idol.
I'd been the one griping first: Do we really have to stand in the blazing sun for over three hours just to gawk at some guy's face?
No, it was more than that.
"Huh? Yuwon, you're not going with them?"
"She said she had to head to the cafe today, remember? Right, Yuwon?"
I nodded lightly at my kind classmates, the ones left consoling the pitiful loner.
"Yeah. Guess it's time for me to go..."
"So the hot potato lands on Yuwon after all."
"Hey, hurry up! We gotta move too. Jihyun just texted—the line's already forming!"
"For real? Okay, bathroom first for me! Good luck, Yuwon!"
At least these so-called friends tossed a goodbye over their shoulders as they dashed off. I started copying the last bits from the blackboard into my notebook.
Aah... I really don't wanna go.
I had zero intention of diving headfirst into club life, let alone manning some event like this. It wasn't mandatory—just voluntary sign-ups—so I'd planned to bail entirely.
But here I was anyway. Solo. No friends in sight.
What could I do now? Harin sunbae had asked me so nicely.
For her stellar rack—no, her face, at least, I'd show up.
I slowly packed my stuff, stood, said bye to the few classmates still lingering, and slipped out of the lecture hall.
Last day of the festival, and the campus was way more electric than the past two days. More people in school uniforms or goofy headbands. Street hawkers grabbing passersby got more takers today—no brush-offs. Everyone was playing along.
Seeing it all made my heart flutter a bit, unbidden. Do I secretly wanna join in?
Festivals really do have some magic to them.
Unlike my pounding heart, though, I had no other plans. Once serving was done, straight back to my studio apartment.
Normally, I'd be sweating under the sun, staring at strangers' backs during the show, then hitting our usual beer joint afterward to tune out the girls' squealing with a pint.
I could join late post-shift, sure. But better not kill their vibe just for me. Let them have their fun without the awkwardness.
I passed a couple arm-in-arm, matching headbands and all, despite the sweltering heat, then headed left of the department building toward the tents on the lawn.
Of the two side-by-side tents, mine was the rear one—for drink prep and break room.
Stepping inside made Harin sunbae's words hit home: Even one girl would help.
All I saw were guys in white shirts and aprons. Hard to believe this was the Management Department's cafe, boasting that golden 5:5 gender ratio.
"Thanks for your hard work!"
My greeting came out gruff and stiff, totally clashing with my soft voice.
"S-Song Yuwon."
"Yuwon was the one coming today?"
They thought they were whispering, but I heard every word!
Guess they didn't even know I was coming. Made sense—no announcement, and the group chat schedule still listed me for Thursday.
I sidled up to the guys, and finally got replies.
"Uh, h-hey, Yuwon."
"Yuwon's here. Come on in, make yourself comfy."
"Hot out there—want something to drink?"
"We still got time. Why'd you come so early?"
I forced my lips into a smile under their piercing stares, fighting the urge to freeze up.
"Haha... No other plans. Heard we gotta change clothes anyway."
They'd said guys had it easier than girls, but these looks? Still awkward as hell.
My male classmates shuffled over with awkward hellos. Male seniors approached with feigned casual smiles.
Years as a guy let me clock it all too well—from an outsider's view. As something other than one of them.
Yeah. These sticky, burdensome gazes treating me as the opposite sex? Far from used to them. Still exhausting.
Am I overreacting?
Their clumsy goodwill prickling my bare arms under my tank top had me flustered when—
"Yuwon! Song Yuwon!"
"Harin unnie!"
My body reacted before my brain to that welcome voice.
Harin sunbae popped out from behind the partition like a genie. Shorter and slighter than me, but right then? A total rock.
"Come here first. Iced Americano okay? Jicheol oppa, could you make us two coffees?"
Bitter black wasn't my fave post-transformation, but her soft hand slipping into mine had me following blindly.
"Uh, y-yeah. Gimme a sec. Right up."
~
We passed a folding table with some jury-rigged coffee machine and ducked into the back. Two spaces divided by office partitions—one for guys, this for girls' break room, she said, tugging my arm.
A familiar folding table sat smack in the middle—probably hauled straight from the club room. Harin sunbae's brown shoulder bag plopped on top.
"Hot, right? Everyone's dying in here, tents or not."
She plunked me in a folding chair and slid the fan my way—the one I'd seen in the club room.
"Nah, I'm good. You take it, sunbae. I don't mind the heat."
"Nuh-uh. Fan yourself. Sitting still here's a sweat-fest."
She flapped her collar with a bright grin. Humid fan breeze mixed with her fresh smile, then a knock on the partition—coffee ready, I guessed.
She kept me seated, fetching the two cups herself and setting one before each of us.
"They had no clue I was coming, huh?"
"Yup. They'd riot for schedule swaps otherwise."
"No way."
"Pfft, yes way. Jicheol oppa just traded shifts with a junior when he heard you were coming."
For real? Goosebumps prickled my bare arms under the tank.
"But hmm, you're not like I pictured."
"Me? How so?"
"Yeah. You chat with guys so casually, I figured you were used to it."
"One-on-one's fine. Groups like this? Kinda meh."
"Hehe. That's why I've been hiding back here. Slow customer day anyway."
Her cute eye-smile melted the goosebumps right off. No wonder the club loved her.
Thirsty, apparently, she chugged a big gulp of Americano, then headed to a green plastic bin in the corner.
Rustling behind her petite frame drew my eye—bin stuffed with plastic-wrapped white shirts like the guys and she were wearing.
"So, Yuwon, what top size do you wear?"
"S for me."
"Huh? S on that body?"
She whipped around, shocked. Honestly, my chest felt snug, but my clothes weren't super fitted, so it worked okay.
She dropped the bin, scooted close, and started groping my arm and waist with her cute paws.
"U-Unnie?"
"You're skinny. Whoa, this figure's unreal."
"N-No, wait."
"Hey, Yuwon. So what's your chest size?"
The blunt question blanked my brain, her hands on my waist forgotten.
"Ch-Chest?"
"Yeah. M's tight for me 'cause of mine."
My gaze dipped involuntarily. Yeah, those would make it tough.
Still, spilling my size felt weird... As I hemmed and hawed, her face inched closer. Fresh green apple scent, then her breath tickling my ear.
"Unnie's a 60G."
"Eek?!"
Shocked by the underbust, doubly by the letter after.
That's a real size?
"Hey, quit freaking! You're embarrassing me."
"S-Sorry."
"So what're you?"
She'd spilled first—no hiding now. I whispered mine, just for her.
"I'm... 65D."
"No way! You're stacked too."
Not compared to you. Pleased with the intel, she grinned and fished an M shirt from the bin, holding it out.
"Might move a lot, so go loose with M. Unnie's doing L. Whatcha got on under?"
"Nothing special. White bra, so it should be fine."
"Hmm... Still iffy."
"I'll try it on."
But where? I glanced around, met her eyes—she nodded with a reassuring smile.
Guess changing here is cool? Partition blocked the view, but still awkward, even girl-to-girl. I backed to the corner, turned away, and tugged up my tank hem.
Fumbling to avoid catching on the neckline, I peeled it off. She reached over right away.
"Here, gimme. I'll hold it."
"Th-Thanks."
"Whoa, Yuwon, your skin's flawless. Thought your face was pale from makeup—total Snow White."
Ugh, don't say that, sunbae.
I ripped open the plastic quick and slid into the shirt. Which meant flashing more skin in front of her than necessary.
Idiot. Should've unwrapped it first.