episode_0033

Asking to meet Jiwon’s parents.

It was so awkward that I couldn’t say anything.

I can somewhat understand.

Just last month, their son suddenly turned into a daughter. Even if it were me, I would have been shocked.

Thinking like that, I went to see Jiwon’s parents.

“Why did you follow me?”

I thought for sure Jiwon wouldn’t come.

Strangely, Jiwon was following behind.

“Well… I came to see my mom, so I was curious.”

Unable to deny that statement, I simply said I understood for now.

Approaching the place Jiwon mentioned, I started looking for Jiwon’s mother.

I had seen her a couple of times in high school.

My memory isn’t that great, so I don’t even know what she looks like right now or what to say.

“Oh, there’s our mom.”

I approached as Jiwon pointed and spoke.

“Are you Mrs. Kim Jiwon?”

Approaching without much thought, I asked if she was Jiwon’s mother.

“But… who are you?”

“Ah, I’m Jiwon’s friend, Kang Jihoo. Jiwon couldn’t make it this time due to some urgent matter, so I came to convey the message instead.”

After saying that, the mother nodded quietly.

“But… who is next to you?”

I glanced at Jiwon beside me and hesitated for a moment.

Since Jiwon came on their own, I couldn’t really say, “Oh, this kid is Jiwon,” so I didn’t know what to say.

“Th-that’s Jiwon’s boyfriend, Shin Jiwon.”

Wow… I’ve never seen someone with such naming sense in my life. Kim Jiwon… Shin Jiwon, different surnames but the names are the same.

I don’t know if this will pass smoothly.

For now, I just let it go and moved on.

“Okay… bye.”

Fortunately, the mother took it well, but my heart almost skipped a beat twice.

**

So, we talked with Jiwon’s mother at the cafe.

I asked where Jiwon is now.

I decided to play dumb since I didn’t really know.

She might know who’s right next to me.

After chatting again, I asked her to pass on a message if she finds Jiwon.

We said our goodbyes, or so it seemed…

“But what message should I pass on when I contact him?”

Jiwon smiled and said to her mother, “Well… I was going to suggest we live together again.”

The mother also smiled and conveyed the message before leaving the cafe.

Is she thinking of living with Jiwon again?

In that case, wouldn’t it be better for Jiwon to return to their original self quickly and go back to where they used to live? I pondered.

“Sigh… Sigh…”

Jiwon suddenly started breathing heavily.

Why is Jiwon acting like this all of a sudden? I asked, holding onto Jiwon.

“Damn… damn… I’m so lucky to have turned into a girl through TS.”

Has the pain made them delirious?

They started saying some bizarre things out of nowhere.

“Hey, what are you talking about all of a sudden? Explain it in detail…”

At my words, Jiwon began trembling all over.

“Can I explain at home…?”

I agreed to Jiwon’s request and decided to take them home quickly.

What on earth is going on?

**

Back at home, Jiwon drank water and started taking deep breaths.

Seeming a bit more composed now, they approached me and said, “Don’t live with that person.”

Breathless, Jiwon spoke to me.

What on earth are they talking about? I asked them to explain so I could understand.

After calming down for a moment, Jiwon spoke.

“I didn’t tell you about when I lived with my mom, did I?”

I nodded in response to Jiwon’s words.

What exactly happened between those two…?

Jiwon slowly began to bring up stories about herself and her family.

Inside the house, she had been treated poorly by her older brother and sister.

And in her cramped studio apartment, with no one around and money running low.

She was kicked out of her home just like that.

The fact that such a person was looking for her again.

“Maybe… they ran out of money at home, or one of the rent payers left.”

Seeing Jiwon’s serious expression for the first time, I couldn’t find the right words to say.

Roughly interpreting Jiwon’s words, it simply meant that there was no money now…

That must be why they were looking for Jiwon.

“Okay. Why are you getting serious?”

As I pondered, Jiwon looked at me and reassured me that everything was fine.

“It’s okay. Our parents probably expected this.”

I nodded in understanding at her words.

Right now, maybe all I can do is nod in agreement.

Thinking so, Jiwon stretched and yawned.

“Oh… I was energetic just a moment ago, but now I’m tired.”

Jiwon spoke as if nothing had happened.

But… surely there must be something bothering her.

Thinking that way, I told Jiwon that I understood.

Directing my words towards Jiwon, I said, “Hey, let’s have pork belly tonight.”

Even when feeling down, at least thinking about eating well, I suggested having pork belly to Jiwon.

In response, Jiwon just looked at me quietly.

“R-really?”

We decided to have meat together.

Today… I decided to spoil Jiwon with a full-course meal.

**

I took Jiwon to an all-you-can-eat pork belly restaurant and grilled the meat.

“Hey, give me the tongs. It’s burning.”

“Ugh! Fine!!! You can’t sit still, I said I’d take care of the grilling today!”

Although Jiwon asked for the tongs because the meat was burning.

Since I had promised to take care of everything from one to ten today, I had to do the grilling too.

Thinking so, I grilled the meat for a while.

“Hey.. I said I would do it..”

“Well…”

I started making charcoal pieces called dark meters instead of grilling the meat.

“Is this a barbecue? Why are you making charcoal?”

Apologizing to Jiwon for my actions, I handed her the tongs and scissors.

I thought I was good at cooking, but maybe not?

While Jiwon grilled the meat, I watched her from the side.

“Why are you staring at me like that?”

Jiwon asked me why I was staring at her like that.

“I just feel like you’ve grown up.”

“You used to claim you could make kimchi stew and invented a technique called ‘Hwadun,’ so it’s surprising to see you cook so well now.”

“Why does that sound like you’re picking a fight?”

The tongs and scissors she held started heading towards me.

Realizing the trouble I would be in if they reached me, I immediately apologized.

After enjoying the meal with drinks, we returned home together.

It was nice to return home, but as soon as we arrived.

“Damn it…”

I started crying as soon as we got home.

I don’t know why I suddenly became emotional, but now all I could do was comfort myself.

After squeezing juice for a while, Jiwon hugged me.

“I’m sorry about our mom today…”

“I feel bad for making you suffer for no reason, I don’t know why, I just feel sorry..”

Jiwon, who had been juicing earlier, now started to smile a little.

“It’s okay, did you finish juicing?”

When the juicing was done, Jiwon smiled and nodded slightly.

“Alright then… let’s call it a night.”

After patting Jiwon’s head, I suggested we go to bed.

It seemed too early to sleep yet.

Still, thinking that sleeping now is the best option, he sent Jiwon off to bed.

Thinking it was time for me to sleep too, I started laying a blanket on the floor.

I did have a good meal today, but…

If there’s one big issue now…

It’s money… running out completely.

I do have some emergency funds set aside, but those are strictly for real emergencies.

And while I have enough food to last about three days… still, I couldn’t help feeling anxious.

I mean, I thought I could feed Jiwon well, but I didn’t expect the two of us to devour five portions of meat…

Rather than living recklessly like this from now on… at least, wouldn’t it be better to be frugal?

Still, until the money starts coming in, I should be able to manage.

With that in mind, I checked the amount in my bank account…

A pitifully meager amount of 3192 won remained.

“Oh… damn…”

An expletive slipped out of my mouth without me realizing it.

Is 3,000 won really all I have to my name…?

I’ll have to spend the money with the mindset that I won’t use it anymore in the future…

Seeing the remaining amount, all I could do was sigh.

Lately, because of Jiwon, I’ve been spending way too much money…

Now, I really need to start saving.

After contemplating about money for a while, I suddenly felt hungry.

Since Jiwon is asleep…

Should I make something to eat…?

Getting up from my spot, I checked the refrigerator.

Most of the items inside were frozen foods.

“I just want something simple to eat…”

I closed the fridge door and opened the cupboard.

And what caught my eye there was…

Pancake mix.

… Should I make kimchi pancakes?