Chapter 13: I became her one-day model

We entered the grocery store. I picked up a discounted item and showed it to Sieun.

“Sister, how about this? It’s on sale.”
“Yunha, don’t worry about sales. Just get what you want.”
“But…”

She patted my head reassuringly. Her touch was warm, gentler than when she slapped me. I basked in her affection for several minutes.

“Yunha…? What’s wrong? You spaced out.”
“Oh, sorry. I just got lost in thought.”

She beamed, like a pet owner whose unruly animal had finally obeyed a command. Then she grabbed my wrist and led me to the meat section, picking up some premium Hanwoo beef, something I could only dream of affording on my old part-time salary.

“Sister, isn’t this too much? Hanwoo beef…”

She just smiled, a proud smile, the kind she used to give others when we were younger, everyone except me. Now, she was showering me with this attention. Was my transformation into a girl the key to her affection? Could TS Syndrome be related to her…?

No, that’s ridiculous. Get a grip, Yunha.

I pushed the absurd thought aside and looked at her. Her smile was so warm it almost made me want to stay like this forever.

But if she knew what I was thinking, she might do something weird again.

As I was thinking this, she finished selecting the meat and turned to me.

“Let’s buy you some clothes, Yunha!”
“Clothes…?”
“You don’t have anything that fits. And what you do have is all children’s clothing. So let’s go!”

She dragged me to a clothing store, the kind with overly attentive salesclerks.

**

“OMG~! You’re so cute!” she squealed, snapping pictures. Isn’t this a bit much…?

“Um… Sister…? Do you really need that many pictures…?”
“Yes! Now be quiet and pose!”

Just pose? I sighed and resigned myself to being her personal model.

**

After what felt like an eternity, the “photoshoot” for a single outfit finally ended. Sieun, looking dissatisfied, suddenly disappeared.

Did she just… leave?

I stared at the spot where she’d vanished for a while. My attention was then drawn to a man.

He looked… creepy. His hair was longer than mine had been when I was a shut-in, and he radiated an unsettling aura.

“Hey there, little girl, want to come play at my place? I have lots of fun things.”

A pedophile. I wanted to kick him where it hurts, but…

It would be pointless.

A small girl stood no chance against a grown man.

“N-No…!”

He scowled, grabbing my wrist tightly. “Don’t be so difficult, kid!”

He started dragging me away. Tears welled up. I struggled, but his grip was too strong. Then—

“What the f*ck is going on here…?”

Sieun reappeared, radiating an intensity of anger I’d never seen before.