episode_0004

#Chapter 4. Shin Yookyung and Choi Dohyeok

That night. I came across a video on YungTube, the video app I always accessed.

【Studying for Med School D-217. Please cheer on this repeat examinee!】

The title clearly indicated a study video, but the thumbnail was filled with ample cleavage.

Her face wasn’t visible, and the camera focused solely on the woman’s chest.

Why did she have to wear subtly revealing lingerie and expose half her chest just to study?

After watching a few such videos, it became clear to me that they weren’t made with a motivational purpose, at least.

Then I saw a related video with low views. Neither the thumbnail nor the title particularly drew me in, but I clicked on it out of curiosity.

【Studying Alone Day 12】

The woman in this video was wearing a common gray hoodie. Compared to the previous videos, it was a literally clean, pure study video with no ulterior motives.

The uploader had posted quite a few videos of the same person. There were about 30 videos in total, and the upload dates ranged from a year ago to six months ago.

What surprised me was that the woman’s attire, initially modest like a hoodie, gradually became more daring over time.

As I watched the more recent videos, the level of exposure increased, and the viewership skyrocketed.

“So this kind of world exists, too….”

Well, from the perspective of those filming, it would be better to earn money while studying.

Just as I was about to turn off my phone and go to sleep, my gaze was fixed on a particular thumbnail. It was a video of someone studying in a school uniform shirt. But the uniform was strangely familiar, as if I was looking at Jiyeon’s old school uniform.

【Studying Alone Day 133】

I played the video as if possessed and checked the comments. Sure enough, there were people in the comments who identified the school. It was indeed the uniform of the high school Jiyeon attended.

The video itself was ordinary. However, the woman in the video wore a school uniform shirt tailored to fit her body tightly, which kept drawing my attention.

After a little while, the camera’s angle changed. It seemed as though the camera was set up above and in front, showing her entire heavily-pixelated face and upper body.

But from that scene onwards, a few of the woman’s top buttons were undone.

Without a name tag, I couldn’t tell who she was, but she was a very attractive person. Even though she was dressed like that, her study posture was passionate and meticulous.

Suddenly, I felt that the woman in the video had a similar handwriting to Jiyeon.

Thinking that, her short hairstyle also looked somewhat similar to Jiyeon’s at that time.

Even her facial contours and the placement of her features seemed similar… But of course, that couldn’t be right, I chuckled to myself.

Jiyeon would never have worn such a ridiculous uniform.

After that, I dismissed the foolish thought and decided to go to sleep.

―――――――――――――――

##Shin Yookyung’s Story 1

Shin Yookyung. Now forty-one years old, she is the mother of two children, Hong Doha and Hong Doyun.

In her naive youth, she met her husband and had children early, only to have to say goodbye to him less than ten years later.

Because of this, Yookyung showered Doha and Doyun with an unparalleled amount of love.

There had been many good times and many difficult ones, but nevertheless, time flowed on.

Yookyung currently works as a main broadcast writer and content planner at a cable broadcasting company.

Today, she decided to go with Doyun to the university he was admitted to.

Doyun was disgusted by the idea, but Yookyung was excited from early morning about her “campus date” with her son.

Doyun was an exemplary student who never dropped out of the top ranks in academic performance, and he entered the Department of Media and Broadcasting at a prestigious Korean university.

He had a dream of becoming a PD someday and helping his mother, the writer.

Yookyung was extremely proud of such a son.

Having enrolled in university but having to drop out not long after, she held an immense romanticized ideal of campus life.

“Hmm~. Uh-huh~. Hmm-hmm~.”

After her shower, Yookyung hummed a tune and wrapped a bath towel around her body. Coming out of the bathroom, she ran into Doyun, who was passing by, drinking water.

Gulp—.

As soon as Doyun saw Yookyung, he gulped down the water he had in his mouth all at once.

Though she didn’t realize it herself, Yookyung still maintained a beauty that made her look no older than her late twenties. Her face and figure, as if time had bypassed her, still often made many men turn their heads.

However, Yookyung herself thought that she had a bit of a belly, and her breasts had sagged, making her look unappealing.

“M-m-mom! We’re going together today, right?”

“Hm? Of course. I’ll make you breakfast, so wash up and come…”

Doyun didn’t even wait for her to finish her answer and rushed into his room.

Yookyung went to her vanity to dry her hair. Looking in the mirror, she saw that one of her nipples had slipped out from under the towel.

“Oh my.”

Seeing it, she nonchalantly adjusted the towel. Even if her son had seen it, Yookyung felt no particular way.

Compared to before, her areolas had grown larger, her nipples were more prominent, and their color had darkened slightly. Who would like such ugly breasts now?

She sighed softly and continued getting ready.

Having finished preparing to go out, the two went to Doyun’s university.

Yookyung was completely absorbed in the vibrant campus atmosphere of early April. They had coffee at a cafe and chatted for a while.

Doyun had to go to class soon, so he left first.

Yookyung was regretful that she had to part with Doyun so soon, but she decided to finish her remaining coffee and get up leisurely.

She watched the students gathered in small groups, carrying their coffees. The students’ conversations drifted into her ears.

A female student earnestly drinking coffee, complaining that she hadn’t slept properly because of assignments.

Male students engaged in a heated discussion from early morning, though she didn’t know what it was about.

To Yookyung, they all looked incredibly young and vibrant. Yookyung envied them for being able to enjoy their youth with their peers.

Slurp—.

Just as Yookyung finished her coffee and was about to get up, someone approached her.

“Unless I’m mistaken… are you perhaps Author-nim Shin Yookyung…?”

He was a male student wearing a neat knit, but his sturdy physique stood out. He also had sun-kissed skin like Doha, but his round glasses gave him an intellectual impression.

“Yes, that’s right. How did you know…?”

“Hello. My name is Choi Dohyeok, and I’m a student in the Department of Media. If it’s not too much trouble, could we talk for a moment?”

Dohyeok greeted her politely. Yookyung saw no reason to refuse and invited him to sit.

“Thank you. I heard you also attended this school, Author-nim. May I comfortably call you Seonbae-nim?”

“S-Seonbae-nim? I enrolled, but I dropped out soon after.”

Yookyung gave an awkward laugh and waved her hand dismissively. She had temporarily suspended her studies because she had to give birth to and raise Doha and Doyun when she was young, eventually leading to her withdrawal.

“Even so, within the Media Department, you are already a great Seonbae-nim.”

Dohyeok was passionate. He asked Yookyung what a content creator does and how she rose to her current position.

Yookyung couldn’t answer everything. However, impressed by Dohyeok’s passion, she did her best to answer him.

“Thank you for your time. Could I get an autograph?”

She never imagined she’d be asked for an autograph by a student from a completely different generation. When she replied that she didn’t really have an established signature, Dohyeok asked for a photo instead.

Yookyung readily agreed. In Yookyung’s eyes, Dohyeok was a promising talent. He knew how to think deeply and act, and he was a student who embodied caution and politeness when dealing with adults.

…………….

After Yookyung left, Dohyeok stood in that spot for a long time.

Just then, his phone vibrated. He turned on his phone and checked a message from an anonymous sender.

「Did you meet Ms. Shin Yookyung?」

「Yes, I just met her. As you said, she visited the school.」

「What do you plan to do now?」

“……….”

After reading the reply, Dohyeok put his phone back in his pocket.

Nothing had begun yet. But there was no need to rush. Dohyeok was someone who enjoyed the prelude, the leisurely pace.

He poured out the coffee he had only taken a single sip of into the bathroom sink.

After washing his hands thoroughly, Dohyeok left for class.

―――――――――――――――

About half a month had passed since I started exercising with Doha Noona.

Noona said she had something to do today and asked if we could go out late at night, and I said it was fine.

Eventually, at the appointed time, I waited by the front door, dressed in my newly bought training suit and running shoes.

Doha Noona’s attire was a normal training jacket and shorts.

Although it was late, we went out to the walking path and started jogging. Perhaps because it was close to midnight, the path was deserted.

But that day, Noona was a bit strange. Noona, who always used to look back and check my posture, was now running silently, only looking straight ahead.

Moreover, her breathing was a bit rougher than usual.

“Noona. If you’re not feeling well, let’s go inside.”

I spoke up first, but she just kept repeating that she was fine and continued to run.

Even if she’s a fitness fanatic, she doesn’t need to push herself so hard….

Doha Noona and I finished our jog a bit late. Today, Noona seemed to be running slowly, so I was able to run comfortably behind her.

“S-sweat… a bit…”

She laughed awkwardly and quickly wiped away the beads of sweat trickling down her thighs.

“You’re really okay, right?”

“I told you I am! I’m full of energy. Want me to carry you and run?”

“There you go again. You’re tired, so let’s go inside.”

And so, we finished our usual exercise and went back home.