"Nothing here."
"Of course not..."
What, you think I'd leave stuff lying around?
I hide it well...
Nah, I don't even keep that stuff on my computer anymore.
I clear my browsing history regularly because of data...
"Boring."
Why're you looking for fun here, fuck?
But I'm kinda nervous.
Did I clear my history recently? Shit, maybe not...
*I don't search weird stuff...*
Back in the day, I looked up *"How to beat up bad girls," "How to win against bad girls," "How to get stronger," "Weaknesses of female delinquents," "Satisfying stories of beating bad girls"*—useless shit like that...
Haven't searched that in a while, though...
"Eat some snacks..."
"Mm, Concho."
Juha sits back on the floor, turning on the TV and munching snacks.
What a mess...
What's she gonna do next?
My precious day off...
"No Netflix?"
"Don't watch that stuff."
"What do you even do with your life?"
Just game... I'm not into dramas or movies.
I watch sometimes, but it's been ages since I hit a theater...
"When're your parents back?"
"Not today..."
"When then?"
What do I say?
She stares at me.
Hoo...
"At least a week?"
"Really on a trip?"
"Y-Yeah... they're gone..."
A pretty far trip...
Words aren't coming out right.
Don't really wanna talk about it... don't wanna say my parents aren't around...
"I've been living alone for a while...
Don't know when they're back."
"Why alone?"
"Just... some stuff."
She blinks.
Pauses, thinking, then turns back to the TV.
Thought she'd pry, but she's got some tact, I guess.
"So I can hang out a bit?"
"I mean... sure..."
Kinda annoying, though...
Who knows what you'll do?
Good thing you all have your own places now...
If this was high school, my place would've become your hideout.
Not a home, but a damn village bus, fuck...
"..."
"..."
Silence lingers.
Just the TV's meaningless noise fills the living room.
Awkward...
Juha leans on the couch, scratching her nose.
"Call Yoo In-ha?"
"Why her..."
"It's boring."
Her coming would make it loud...
Or maybe not—she's been down lately, so maybe not *that* loud.
It'll get lively, though...
"Got spare pants or a shirt?"
"Why?"
"Skirt's uncomfortable."
To change?
Why change? Weren't you leaving, fuck?
"You're not going...?"
"In a bit."
*Heh* face...
Fuck, no gaming today...
"Do your thing. You said games, right?"
"Yeah..."
Gonna be distracting as hell...
I trudge to grab clothes.
Short-sleeve and shorts should do, right?
---
"..."
Now she's sprawled on the couch.
Changed into my clothes, Juha lies there, wiggling her feet.
Acting like it's her house... won't starve anywhere, fuck.
*Ugh.*
I hang her discarded clothes on a hanger and sit in my chair.
Fine, let's game, fuck.
"Can I vape?"
"E-cig?"
"Yeah."
Should be fine...
Cigarettes stink, but e-cigs are okay.
Maybe on the balcony?
"Balcony's probably fine."
"For real? I'm doing it."
"Y-Yeah."
Shouldn't matter.
Neighbors smoke like chimneys anyway.
E-cig's tame...
*Slide.*
She opens the balcony door, puffs on her vape, and looks outside.
E-cig's fine, right...?
*Swish.*
I quietly close the balcony door.
Don't want the vape smell coming in.
*Hoo.*
Leaning on the railing, she exhales vapor.
Fluffy clouds of e-cig mist...
What's she looking at? Just the view?
"Hnng..."
Can't focus on gaming...
Let's do Helldivers. Heard there's a vehicle update, gotta try it!
*Slide.*
She comes back in, breathing lightly, standing beside me.
Looking down, curious.
"What's this game?"
"Helldivers. Like a shooting game."
"Never heard of it."
"Steam game, so maybe..."
"Yeah?"
*Weird hobby.*
She drags a chair from the dining table and sits next to me.
Why's she sitting here? So distracting...!
"Why you so nervous? Just play."
"Hard to focus with you here..."
"Wanna die?"
"N-No!"
I'll play, fuck.
Thanks for not bugging me...
*Bang bang bang.*
"Hmm..."
She yawns, staring blankly.
Tired? Or bored?
"Your place makes me sleepy."
"Does it...?"
"Feels like a nap spot."
Maybe *you* just wanna sleep.
Sleep addict or something.
"Hnng—"
She yawns again, standing from the chair.
*Flop.*
Back on the couch, she yawns again, leaning on a pillow.
"Sleepy."
"Sleep..."
Sleeping's helpful.
I can game in peace...
"Wake me later."
"How long?"
"Like an hour..."
Feels like she won't wake up...
Fine, whatever.
I turn back to the screen.
*Glance.*
I peek back—she's staring at me, wide awake.
Not asleep...
"What?"
"Nothing..."
"Play your game."
Just... distracting, fuck...
She yawns, crumpling the pillow.
"Watch porn in your room or something."
"I'm not..."
"So many tissues, fuck."
...
They're for my nose, fuck!
Not *that* kind of tissue!
"You'll ruin your bones, Joonhyung."
I'm not watching, fuck! Haven't in ages. Probably...
Can't focus at all.
I lower the volume and barely manage to game.
First time in a while... distracting, but it's fun once I start.
"..."
It's quiet now.
I glance back—Juha's eyes are closed.
Clutching the pillow, dozing...
*She's really asleep.*
How's she sleep so much?
Out the moment her eyes close.
She was like this in school too...
"Where's my earphones..."
Wanna turn up the volume...
If she wakes, she'll wander around, annoying me.
I plug in earphones and focus on the screen.
For galactic democracy!
---
Hng...
What time is it?
Fell asleep on my bed mid-game.
Juha virus or something? Why'm I so sleepy around her?
"Hnng..."
What time is it?
It's dark outside. My day off! My day off!!
*Whoosh.*
Chilly evening breeze.
It's really evening... barely gamed, and my day's gone...
"Hnng..."
Is Juha still asleep?
Living room's dark.
I rub my eyes and walk out—Juha's on her phone.
Watching in the dark, huh?
Still here. Knew she would be...
Body feels heavy.
"Dinner? Eating here?"
"Already ordered."
"What?"
"Chicken."
Chicken's good...
I yawn, sitting under the couch.
Her rustling sounds fill the air.
Already evening... dark and quiet.
"Your place is so quiet."
"Dunno..."
Living alone makes it quiet, maybe?
The complex is pretty calm too...
"Got booze, grab it."
When'd she buy that?
I open the fridge—full of soju and beer.
This damn soju... don't get why people drink it. Fruit soju's okay, though...
"All of it?"
"Whatever you want."
Two bottles each... four total, kinda a lot.
"Let's watch TV."
"Y-Yeah."
Not staying over, right?
Feels like she's gonna...
I set down two cups and a bottle opener, turning on the TV.
*Glug glug.*
She pours drinks.
"Somaek?"
"Just beer for me."
"Drink somaek."
Fuck.
Why do people drink soju? Somaek's just beer flavor anyway.
Feels good when you're drunk, but till then, it's like lab alcohol...
*Clink.*
She lightly taps her glass against mine.
Bubbly somaek foam... smells good, like barley...
"Hmm..."
"Ugh..."
Bitter, fuck...
I wiggle my fingers, belatedly flipping channels.
*"Wow, the proud soldiers of the army!
Just looking makes you feel secure."*
*"Let's interview the trainees. Tough, right?"*
*"Not at all! I could do 10 years!"*
*"Wow!"*
Fuck.
My life in six months?
My hand freezes. Gotta change the channel... can't move...
"Guess you're going to the military, Joonhyung."
"..."
Did you have to say it?
Tears well up inside. Should've been born a girl, fuck...
She gulps somaek, asking,
"When you going? Usually when?"
"After freshman or sophomore year..."
"Freshman year ends when?"
"December or January?"
December?
She blinks, glancing at a calendar.
"Not long left, huh?"
"I know..."
Heart's racing, hands shaking...
This summer break's my last, hnng...
She smirks, leaning on my arm.
"I'll visit you. No one else will, right?"
"Would be nice..."
But it's still six months away! Why the fuss now?!
"Gonna be boring without you."
Then enlist yourself...
Guess I'll be cut off from society for two years.
Free from being a bread shuttle. Kinda wild...
"Where you going? Army? Navy?"
"Dunno... won't know till December..."
"Everyone goes to Gangwon, right?"
"No idea..."
I don't know, fuck...
I barely hit the button to change channels. Don't wanna be bald... gotta shave my head... don't wanna show my forehead, fuck!
"What about OnlyFans when you enlist?"
"Huh."
No clue.
Yoo In-ha could film with you. Or with Ji-hyun noona... something like that?
"Maybe film during leave... there's ways, right?"
"Can soldiers do that?"
"Uh... maybe?"
Is it not allowed? Fine if you don't get caught?
What happens if you do? Filming OnlyFans as a soldier... what's the punishment?
Military law? Execution or something?
She makes a grossed-out face. Didn't think about OnlyFans, huh...
"Go after sophomore year."
"Planning on freshman year."
"Go after sophomore year, damn it."
Why're you deciding, fuck?
Feels cleaner to go after freshman year.
Seniors say go early or super late, so freshman year seems right.
"There's public service, right? Apply for that."
"You don't apply for it..."
Heard it's near impossible to get public service since last year.
Almost everyone gets active duty.
I want public service too! Fuck!
"Can't you get exempted? You're skinny, might work."
"Probably not..."
You'd need to be starving or diseased to get exempted...
Why military talk now? Ruins the chicken vibe...
"Some people get exempted. How?"
"No idea..."
No way I'm getting exempted...
I'm too healthy, walk fine. Break my fingers for it?
*Ding-dong.*
Chicken's here...
I grab the bag from the door and trudge back.
Whoa, Yakoba—my favorite brand!
While setting up, Juha says, staring at her phone,
"Yo, jail time gets you exempted."
"..."
Go to jail?
I'd rather just enlist...
"Or having a kid."
You gonna have one? Fuck.
Just go to the military...
A kid? I'm still a virgin... well, not anymore.
"Fuck... unfair... unfair..."
Unfair only guys go...!
Why was I born a guy?!
She snickers, turning away.
"Ask Yoo In-ha to pop out two kids."
What.
Chills down my spine, fuck.
Two kids with Yoo In-ha? Dizzy just thinking about it. Marriage life? Can't imagine it—just getting beat up daily...
"Let's just drink..."
*Clink.*
Military just for having a dick... hnng...
Can't I sell my dick for five years for an exemption? Fuck...
"Then OnlyFans is only seven months left."
Hoo... guess so.
Unless I film during leave.
"Seven months... seven months..."
She mutters, lost in thought.
What scary shit's she planning, fuck...