episode_0012

I stopped grabbing Jihoo’s collar and tried to calm down a bit.

Yes, Jihoo is also a man and could have a girlfriend, I thought. So, I decided to ask him the most curious question.

“So, have you had sex?”

At my words, Jihoo looked at me as if he was angry.

He hasn’t gone that far yet.

Feeling a strange sense of relief, I asked Jihoo if everything was okay.

In response, Jihoo nodded his head and promptly ushered me out of the house.

I left and returned home.

As soon as I got back home and lay on the bed, my nipples strangely started to hurt.

Although I ran back because it was cold, could it be because of this? I kept holding my chest, thinking about it.

Strangely, my nipples kept hurting.

I took off my T-shirt and unhooked my bra.

Then, I held my chilled nipples and they began to ache.

It felt like I had injured my nipples with the bra by running too fast.

I texted Jihoo about the pain.

Jihoo seemed surprised and replied to my message.

The next day, Jihoo rushed to our house.

He said it seems like the bra is causing the pain. Jihoo told me to buy a sports bra.

I don’t know what the difference is between the bra I’m wearing now and a sports bra, but I felt happy at the thought of going out with Jihoo again.

**

After buying the sports bra, Jihoo suggested we go eat.

When asked what I wanted to eat this time, I thought about asking for something special. So, I suggested we go to a revolving sushi restaurant I knew.

Although Jihoo said a lot when it came to getting things, he asked me to search for the revolving sushi restaurant on the map, and we went there.

While eating our fill of sushi at the restaurant with Jihoo, as we were leaving, we heard someone calling out to Jihoo.

Curious, Jihoo turned around to see a woman calling out to him.

It was scary. I never really approached women before.

The woman pointed at me and said, “Don’t meet her.”

She gestured for me not to meet Jihoo and scolded me.

I was angry. I didn’t understand why she didn’t want me to meet Jihoo.

I couldn’t say anything.

If I can’t speak freely to anyone, how could I say anything to that person?

Seeing me trembling, Jihoo took me and we boarded a bus.

After getting on the bus, I finally calmed down, but even after entering the house, my body was still shaking like crazy.

**

The next day, Jihoo came over to our house.

From what I heard, it seems like someone named Sung-ah is telling him not to meet me.

Still, seeing him come to meet me like this, it seemed like he wasn’t fully listening.

I don’t understand why I shouldn’t meet him.

It was frustrating to hear Jihoo acknowledge it without understanding why he shouldn’t meet me.

“When I look at you, it seems like you’re being controlled.”

Jihoo responded that he wasn’t being controlled and that this was also part of dating.

He said he was trying to become the perfect boyfriend.

“Isn’t trying to be the perfect boyfriend a form of gaslighting?”

Seeing Jihoo unable to respond to my words, I couldn’t help but think that.

Since I’ve done similar things to gaslighting in the past, I knew it well.

In such situations, I usually recommend just breaking up with that person.

But Jihoo wasn’t someone who would listen to that.

Helplessly, I told Jihoo to do as he pleased, and he left.

Was it my fault? Jihoo seemed angry for some reason.

I only told him the truth.

And so, Jihoo left.

-Knock, knock, knock.

I heard knocking.

Did Jihoo come back again?

But Jihoo knows our house’s passcode, so why knock instead of just coming in?

I thought it was Jihoo when I opened the front door, but it was our landlord instead.

“Have you seen the guy who used to live here?”

The landlord asked where he was as if he didn’t recognize me.

For now, I should say he’s not here.

“When the homeowner comes here, tell them to vacate the house by tomorrow.”

“What? Why?”

“I haven’t paid the monthly rent.”

Ah… I forgot about the rent.

I forgot to pay this month’s rent.

Even if I were to get the deposit back immediately, there was nowhere else I could afford to live.

My belongings… I could manage with just my laptop.

Most of the furnishings, including the bed, were optional.

The thought crossed my mind to work part-time again and just pay next month’s rent. However, even that wasn’t a viable option.

I couldn’t work part-time in this condition.

What should I do?

Is this the only way out?

In the end, I packed up my belongings, including just the essentials besides my laptop, and left the house.

And where I ended up was…

“What the hell is all this?”

Two days later, I gathered my things and went to Jihoo’s house.

“Can you let me stay for a while?”

I explained that I had been kicked out through text.

Did he not read it properly?

Jihoo seemed to start piecing together the situation upon seeing me.

He let out a deep sigh and gestured for me to come inside.

I thanked Jihoo and followed him inside.

**

Entering the house, I knelt down.

Jihoo asked me what was going on.

“Let me crash here!”

“Why?”

“I got kicked out.”

I explained my situation to Jihoo as it was.

Upon hearing this, Jihoo sighed and offered, “So you got kicked out and had no choice but to come to our place rather than sleeping rough outside?”

“Golden solution!”

“Golden solution my ass.”

After some banter like this, Jihoo let me stay for about a week.

A week should be enough time to figure out how to secure a place with the deposit.

There must be a way.

So, I rented the adjacent room at Jihoo’s place and spent the night there.

After sleeping and waking up, Jihoo was getting ready to go out.

I didn’t know where he was headed, but since I needed to find a place of my own, I said I would tag along.

We went out, and Jihoo met someone at the designated location.

On the other side was a man chatting and laughing with Jihoo’s girlfriend, Seonga, as she introduced herself.

Seeing them interact, it seemed obvious to anyone that something fishy was going on.

Jihoo noticed this too and simply walked away.

Judging by his expression, he seemed quite hurt.

Even though I’m inexperienced in relationships, having read many novels, I understand the level of hurt involved in such situations.

When someone looks so dejected, you can’t help but feel sorry for them.

Unable to bear the situation, I decided to take Jihoo out for some fun, suggesting we head to a karaoke bar.

We sang at the karaoke bar and tried to lift Jihoo’s spirits, but he still seemed uncomfortable, just nodding his head.

I wanted to do something to help, but there was nothing I could do.

So, we returned home without any real progress.

Later, I decided to stay a few more days at Jihoo’s place in exchange for helping out with household chores.

Since he mentioned liking kimchi stew before, I offered to make it, even though I wasn’t exactly sure how to cook it.

I claimed to be good at cooking, but making kimchi stew is just about adding kimchi and meat, right?

Thinking that way, I added the meat and kimchi but forgot to add water.

As a result, a magnificent pillar of fire emerged.

“You’re creating a bonfire in a place without fire…”

Jihoo teased me.

Fortunately, Jihoo’s expression improved again.

Eventually, Jihoo took over the cooking, and we started eating together.

It was supposed to be a simple meal.

Suddenly, the doorbell rang, and Jihoo ushered me into the bathroom.

While inside, I overheard their conversation.

Apparently, Jihoo’s girlfriend told him not to meet me.

Jihoo got upset with her.

Despite claiming to be a perfect boyfriend, it seems he has his own struggles.

Once the situation settled somewhat…

I stepped out of the bathroom.

Seeing Jihoo looking downcast, I wanted to cheer him on.

I wanted to say many things and help Jihoo, but…

In a week, I will be the one leaving this house.

I prayed to God and told Him that I wanted to help Jihoo by his side.

Just asked God to let me live here with him.

“Hey… Jiwoon.”

“Just live with us in our house.”

God’s efficiency is too certain.

I never thought He would grant my wish so quickly.

Jihoo said he wanted to live together with me.

The next day at Daiso, I said I would buy the things we need for our home.

I never thought we would end up living together like this.

Jihoo asked me if there was anything I wanted to eat today.

I immediately said I wanted to eat meat.

We left Daiso together to go buy some meat.

I wished this moment could last forever.

Living with Jihoo. Will my life become more comfortable from now on?

Jihoo has helped me a lot.

So, I will also help Jihoo in return.

We entered the mart, bought various meats and groceries, and returned home.

Today, at least for this day, I felt truly happy.

Hoping this happiness continues in the future…

I ate and fell asleep.

Just like this… It wouldn’t be bad to continue living as a woman.