Avoid Gray Underwear When Meeting Guys
The next morning, Hanjiu was sprawled out on the bed like it was his own, arms and legs splayed wide, eyes closed. I stealthily pressed down on his forehead peeking out from under his bangs, but it didn't budge an inch. Seeing this, I had to admit the guy hadn't changed a bit. Hanjiu had always been hopeless in the mornings, ever since way back.
I left my oblivious sex partner behind and got to work. Under the hot spray of the shower, I washed away yesterday's traces. Then I dried my hair with the blow dryer—of course—and even straightened it. Once it was dry, I headed to the closet. Living alone, I usually prepped naked without a care, but with a guy plopped right there on the bed, I slipped into a white half-cup bra and seamless panties first.
After that, I stood in front of the vanity and layered on the basics, step by step. Skin lotion, essence, then nourishing cream on top. With so many products, it was a hassle, and unlike men's stuff, these had this sticky texture that felt awful going on. To be honest, there were plenty of annoying things about becoming a woman—like having to sit to pee, or the ordeal of using a public restroom. I'd gotten used to those by now. But makeup? God, I missed the days of slapping on one all-in-one product and calling it done.
I'd try skipping a few out of laziness, but then I'd catch sight of my clear, translucent skin in the mirror, and my hand would move on its own. Grumbling the whole time, I finished the basics and went back to the closet. I pulled on a white spaghetti-strap tank top to match the bra, then a slightly sheer linen shirt and wide-leg pants that fell just above the ankles. I tucked the shirt into the pants and checked the mirror for any panty lines in the tight fit.
Yep, this looks decent enough! Leaving the top couple buttons undone might show a hint of cleavage for a sleek vibe, but I wasn't confident enough in my "womanly power" for that. So I just undid the very top one to avoid looking too stuffy. I smoothed out the slightly wrinkled collar and sat back down at the vanity for color makeup.
"What? Staring that hard at something?"
I'd just picked up the lip tint when I locked eyes with the guy glaring at me from over my shoulder in the mirror.
"Nah, just... curious."
"Curious about what?"
"Y'know, you getting dressed, doing your makeup and all."
Still half-asleep, huh? What was so fascinating about getting ready to go out?
"Song Yujeong, you really are a girl, huh."
"If I wasn't, where'd you stick it in yesterday? Jerking off into thin air?"
"That's the problem—your looks and the way you talk don't match up at all."
Hanjiu shook his head like he was done with me. Not liking that look, I cleared my throat with a hmm and flashed a smile at his reflection.
"Oh dear! Was I too harsh? Should I be more careful from now on, like this, Jiwoo-ya~?"
Producing that voice on an empty stomach made my gut churn, but watching Hanjiu's face rot in real time made it worth it.
"Hmm? What's with that face? Isn't this what you wanted, Jiwoo? Should I keep talking all prim and proper like this? Ji. Woo. Ya~?"
"Sorry. Giving me chills. Please, just go back to normal."
"Knew you'd say that, you punk."
I gifted the deflated Hanjiu a triumphant grin, finished applying the tint with the soaked tip, and stood up from the vanity.
"Quit rolling around and get your shit together. Pass me that shoulder bag over there."
"Shoulder bag? This one? You mean this?"
"Dude! That's a tote. The smaller one next to it."
After a couple fumbles, Hanjiu finally found the shoulder bag. All bags look the same—why's it so complicated? he grumbled as he handed it over. Watching him, it felt weirdly nostalgic, like seeing my old self.
"Hey, Hanjiu."
"What now?!"
"The washer's running, so when it's done, hang the laundry up before you go."
"Why me?"
"Your clothes are in there too. And don't half-ass the bra tops like last time! Make sure the pads are straight when you hang 'em!"
~
Yongsan Station on a Saturday morning was pure chaos—like a war zone. Everywhere I looked: people, people, and more people. Even a quick bathroom break sucked the life out of me. After getting tossed around in the crowds for a while, I finally snagged an empty seat in the corner of the waiting area.
Should've just waited at a cafe on the first floor... I caught my breath and checked my phone in my bag. Perfect timing—a text from Unnie. The train had just pulled into the platform; she'd be up soon.
Quick family rundown: We were one boy and two girls. Well, three girls now. Anyway, there was my five-years-older sister, whom I was meeting today, and my two-years-younger sister deep in exam hell.
To be frank, my relationships with my sisters weren't—
"Hey! Song Yujeong!"
My train of thought derailed at that bubbly voice. The familiar face trotting over, waving her arms—it made my voice pitch up an octave without thinking.
"Hey, Song Yunseo!"
The woman who'd rushed up hugged me without warning, arms around my waist. A bit too touchy, but pushing her away felt wrong, so I awkwardly patted her back.
"How've you been?"
"What's not to be good?"
Her mature perfume filled my nostrils during the greeting, then faded as she pulled away. She immediately started scanning me head to toe—face, body, everything—like it was too much.
"What? You look skinnier than last time. You okay? Not sick or anything?"
"Yeah, I'm fine."
"Weight? You eating properly?"
"Aish, come on! I said I'm fine. Anyway, it's too crowded here—let's find somewhere else."
I sighed at her deepening worry and gently tugged her wrist. We escaped the hectic station and headed to a cafe on the first floor. I grabbed our pre-ordered drinks from the counter via app and claimed the last empty table in the corner.
"How's school?"
"Eh, normal. You went to uni too—you know it's not much different from high school."
"It is different! Oh yeah, festival season, right?"
"Ours is next week."
"Pretty late. Made a lot of friends?"
Instead of answering, I pulled up photos on my phone album. The ones I'd struggled to post on my public Insta for "social life," plus some unposted B-sides that were a bit too real. Unnie burst out laughing at shots of me sandwiched between girls, forcing an awkward smile.
As we flipped through pics and chatted, she swerved hard.
"Any boyfriend? Or someone you're crushing on?"
"What the—why guys all of a sudden?"
"Why not? A girl like you? Bet tons of guys hit on you."
"W-well, yeah, there have been some... but ugh."
Her words brought back that near-miss with some nameless guy in gen ed class asking for my number—goosebumps all over.
"No way. This girl you're looking at? Looks fine on the outside, but inside? Pitch-black musclehead."
"Pfft, you've gotten so girly since that cram school. Even now—your speech, the way you're sipping that drink so daintily through the straw!"
"That's just what happens when you're surrounded by girls. Got drilled by my dorm unnies."
Seriously. Thinking about sharing a room with those crazy bitches... ugh. Nothing but memories I wanted to forget. My head throbbed; I calmed it with a sip of sweet cafe mocha.
But Unnie looked uncomfortable across from me.
"Hey, Song Yujeong."
"What now?"
"Why don't you ever call me Unnie? You say it to them just fine."
"Uh... it's embarrassing."
It fit on my tongue okay now, but to my actual blood sister? No way. Song Yujeong wasn't that casual a guy... er, girl.
"That's ridiculous! You've been 'Unnie this, Unnie that'—people are staring weird."
"So what? Underclassmen and sunbaes call guys 'hyung' too."
"That's 'cause 'oppa' feels awkward."
"Same for me!"
Neither of us budged this time.
"I wanna hear my pretty dongsaeng call me Unnie. Lifelong dream!"
"You've got a pretty dongsaeng in Daejeon who calls you that. So visit home. Sejong and Daejeon are close, and you have a car. Mom and Dad worry!"
"They nag about marriage nonstop. Aish, anyway—don't change the subject! Call me Unnie!"
"Hey, Song Yunseo-ssi. Wouldn't it be fun for you to have a dongsaeng who calls you Unnie, even just once?"
It was my win in the end, but she pouted like she'd lost nothing and chugged her coffee. Excuse me? Nothing? After all I'd bent for her! Growing out my hair to my chest was her idea too!
But stirring it up more would just sour lunch, so I dropped it.
~
Lunch was at an Italian spot Unnie had reserved. Nice ambiance; a tall waiter seated us, and she gushed about always wanting to bring her dongsaeng here. Her one sister was quite a bit younger—when Unnie started uni, Yeonie was still in elementary.
After, we hit a massive mall in Yeouido. Unnie, slaving away as a civil servant in Sejong, had given up her precious weekend to come to Seoul and pick out my summer clothes. I'd told her not to bother coming up a million times.
But "I miss your face more than clothes," she'd confessed clingily, and here we were.
We browsed a couple women's stores, chatting fashion—especially women's wear. My experience was short, so I mostly nodded along to her takes. Same here.
"No gray."
I'd grabbed a gray knit turtleneck I liked, but she shook her head immediately.
"Why? Knit turtlenecks are trending. With white pants, it'd be cute, right?"
"It'd look good, sure."
She took it, held it to my body, then shook her head again.
"But no. Turtlenecks make you look older. And Song Yujeong, do you really wanna show off your underarm sweat to the world?"
Underarm sweat? Stunned by the random word, she pinched the flesh under my arm and explained.
"Grays show sweat instantly. And this is knit. Plus your boobs."
"What do boobs have to do with sweat?"
"With two 36Ds glued to your pits, you think no sweat?"
"Kyaa!"
I yelped and stumbled back from her poking fingers.
"What's with the scream, dongsaengie?"
"I-I dunno! And I don't sweat much or get hot easily!"
"You were in the hospital summer before last, cram school last summer. Chilling in AC—when'd you experience real summer?"
Hmm... thinking about it, never. Hospital or AC-blasted dorm. I'd even layered thin cardigans 'cause it was cold.
"Buy it if you want—I won't stop you. But it's not even cute. For knit tees, go round-neck, not turtleneck. Big-chested girls look stuffy in those anyway."
She shoved an ivory knit tee at me instead. "Try this."
"Overreacting just for pit sweat?"
"Says the one who whines about cramps every period."
"That's 'cause mine are bad! You and Yeonie got Mom's mild ones. Mine are for real!"
"Yeah, yeah. Anyway, try it on. You'll learn about pit stains and bra sweat the hard way."
I tsked and headed for the fitting room. Or tried to.
As I reached for the door, Unnie crept up and whispered in my ear.
"Hey, Song Yujeong. You wearing gray underwear by any chance?"
"Underwear?"
Why underwear out of nowhere?
"Uh... yeah, but why?"
"Avoid gray underwear when meeting guys."
Suddenly...? Gray underwear? Oh. Ohhh.
Realizing what she meant, I rolled my eyes hard and glared at her.
"Song Yunseo! You serious?!"
Grinning mischievously, she shoved me toward the fitting room.
"Just in case. Hehe. Hurry up and change!"