Chapter 43: I Guess I Really Became a Woman

Date.

The resonance that single word gave me was far greater than I thought.

"What the, Jung Jin-wook. Knowing how to say things like that..."

While flying sitting on the card, the pounding in my chest and the smile on my face wouldn't stop.

The last time was just a prank-like date as a one-day event.

But this time, it's really a date as a man and a woman.

"Ha-eu, I guess I really became a woman."

I realized that right now, I looked exactly like a girl hopelessly in love, hugely excited that the boy she likes asked her to hang out tomorrow.

But even so, for some reason, I couldn't stop this trembling.

'Hah, I don't have clothes at home, what do I wear tomorrow?'

Flying like that, I almost fell off the card while making a fuss by myself.

"Did something good happen?"

"Yes?"

"You've been smiling continuously since earlier."

"It's nothing. You don't need to mind."

After eating dinner while receiving a barrage of suspicious questions from Mom, I ran into my room as if escaping.

I guess I was smiling too much.

But what can I do? I didn't know myself that the fact Jin-wook asked me out on a date would make me feel this good.

"Haa, really."

Lying face down on the bed, the image of Jin-wook exploring my lips and then confidently casting 'Go on a date with me' came to mind.

Rascal, if you see me as a woman, you should have said so clearly.

...Wait, did he say it?

Anyway, if he was going to shake my heart, he should have done it sooner.

But really, what do I wear tomorrow?

I don't have much at home.

"Ah."

I quickly got up, opened the closet door with telekinesis, and started checking what clothes were inside to wear tomorrow.

Sky blue hoodie? No.

Brown knit? I used to wear this when going to dungeons.

Black flare skirt style one-piece dress? If the wind blows, the inside might show... wait, does that matter?

"Argh, I have no clothes."

Clothing stores open at this hour... there aren't any, right?

I looked at the clock.

8:20 PM.

It would probably be hard to find an open clothing store around this neighborhood.

"Ugh, is there any woman nearby I can ask for help..."

I hurriedly took out my phone and searched through my contacts.

Then, a single entry caught my eye.

The name of a person who, unlike me, has been a woman since birth.

[ Oh, Eun-ha-ya! I was actually waiting for you, what brings you here? ]

"S-Si-hyun Unnie..."

[ Yes, yes! ]

Come to think of it, the distance between the Hwaryeon Guild building and my house is coverable by flying on a card.

"That... Ah, I can't say it."

[ Why? Did something happen? Something bad... no way. You're the strongest person in Korea. ]

"Haa, well, it's not a bad thing."

From over the phone, a nuance of "Huh? What is it?" drifted over, urging me not to make her wait and speak quickly.

I debated whether to say this or not.

But to get help, I have to explain the situation...

"I ended up having a date tomorrow, but I don't have clothes..."

[ What? Date? Really? ]

"Yes."

[ Wait. I'll send someone over, so ride that... ]

"It's fine. I'm not that far away right now, so I'll go directly."

I opened the window and floated the card immediately.

I don't usually ride it this often, so I felt sorry for overworking it, but...

What can I do?

"Mom, I'm going out for a bit!"

"Where is this girl crawling out to at this hour!"

"Ah, I'll be back soon!"

I floated into the air, searched the location of the Hwaryeon Guild building on my phone.

Fixing the direction in a straight line, I began to fly at maximum speed.

Usually, I flew only fast enough for my hair to flutter gently, but now my hair was whipping around like crazy.

When I arrived at the Hwaryeon Guild building, a jobless bitch wearing a t-shirt, dolphin pants, and with hair almost disheveled was riding on a card.

"Uh?"

"Unnie!"

Since I hadn't worn shoes when I came out, I couldn't get off the card.

I smirked looking at Si-hyun, who exclaimed, "Wow, what is this? So cool."

"Did you come straight from home?"

"Ah this, well, yes?"

"Still, look at you. Aren't you cold? The temperature is quite low right now."

"Not really...?"

I have no time to feel the cold right now.

To fly cutting through the biting winter wind, I had strengthened my body much more than usual, so my resistance to cold had increased as much as possible.

"Anyway, come in. You said it's tomorrow right away?"

"Yeah."

"The schedule is a bit tight. Do I need to help with makeup too?"

"I can do that myself."

"Hmm, then clothes first. But will my clothes fit your size?"

Seeing Si-hyun speak while looking at a specific part of me (chest), I turned my body slightly and said, "I-It's embarrassing if you stare like that."

Si-hyun coughed in vain and boarded the elevator first.

Following her up to Unnie's house (penthouse), Kang Tae-woo sent me a look asking 'What brings you here?' with surprised eyes.

"Noona, who is she?"

"Hmm, there's a reason?"

"...What are you saying."

"Ah, right. Hey Kang Tae-woo, come here."

Si-hyun Unnie grabbed Kang Tae-woo and sat him on the sofa.

Looking at Kang Tae-woo sending a gaze asking what this was about, she grinned.

"From now on, our Eun-ha is going to put on a fashion show for you, and you are the judge."

"What kind of bullshit is that again..."

"Shut up and listen. Eun-ha is going on a date with the guy she likes tomorrow. But oh my, maybe it was scheduled urgently, she says she has no clothes and is asking me for help."

"What?"

Kang Tae-woo looked at me with a gaze asking if this was real.

Actually, it's not a rumor to spread all over the neighborhood, but hearing her talk about it so openly and confidently made me ashamed.

"U-Unnie, stop..."

"Why? That's nothing to be ashamed of, Eun-ha-ya. Well, if it's your first time, you might need some help. Right, Tae-woo-ya?"

"...Yeah."

"So, let's help a friend. You pick. Imagining what kind of clothes you'd want your future girlfriend to wear on the first date."

Kang Tae-woo made an appalled expression at Si-hyun Unnie's words.

It was understandable, because to Kang Tae-woo, I wasn't a woman but an object of admiration itself.

Seeing me being shy as a woman like this would be hard to adapt to, but asking him to imagine me as a girlfriend and pick clothes?

"Does it have to be me?"

"Is there any other guy with a dick here besides you? Just pick based on your lower body's standards."

"Watch your language, will you? We aren't the only ones here."

...Let's skip over that explicit wording.

Anyway, watching the two bicker, I wondered if it was right to ask this person for help.

I added one clue.

"Jin-wook's taste is a bit conserva—... Gasp."

I should have said 'him', but I said his name...

Startled, I shut my mouth, but Si-hyun Unnie, who heard that amidst the chaos, drew an arc with her eyes and said teasingly, "So that man's name is Jin-wook."

"I knew it."

Kang Tae-woo nodding as soon as he heard the name was a bonus.

Perhaps feeling resentful that he was the only one who didn't know who the target was.

Si-hyun Unnie grabbed both of Kang Tae-woo's arms and asked with shining eyes, "Who is it?"

"Do you know who it is?"

"Yeah. There is someone, the Senior (Sunbae) who always hangs out with her. But weren't you two dating already?"

"We aren't."

"Unexpected. Considering that incident and seeing you two sticking together every day, I thought you were dating."

"You, spout one more word and you'll get hit."

When I growled, Kang Tae-woo shut his mouth.

By 'that incident', he definitely means that, right?

The accident called 'playing with fire' I had with Jin-wook while drunk.

"What, only I didn't know, huh? You two are too much."

"Not something to care about. Those two, although they don't know it themselves, are already famous as a couple."

"Wow, so it was true love. And now they are realizing their feelings and approaching each other?"

Wow, fuck, getting goosebumps.

It's clearly a novel written in her head, but how can she write it so exactly like the reality Jin-wook and I are in?

"Alright, if that's the case, this Unnie has to work harder. Let's go, Eun-ha-ya!"

"Uh, Unnie!"

The fashion show that began after being dragged into Si-hyun's dressing room lasted for quite a long time.

While changing into several outfits to find something that would captivate a man's heart even a little...

Si-hyun was having fun, but Kang Tae-woo and I were aging little by little.

This time, which was harder than expected, could only stop when Kang Tae-woo said those words.

"Let's go with this."

The outfit Kang Tae-woo picked, chosen to match Jin-wook's gaze as much as possible, was...

A black knit dress that only came down to the mid-thigh, and a pure white short coat.

Plus suede long boots that covered up to the knees, creating a sort of 'Absolute Territory' (Zettai Ryouiki) together with the dress.

It was somewhat standard, but...

I felt like if it was this, I could definitely captivate Jin-wook.

"Ooh, is that our little brother's taste?"

"Ah seriously."

"Why, a man can have at least one taste of his own. But I never imagined you could pull off this look. As expected, it wasn't that I couldn't pick clothes, but my pink hair color was the problem."

"Jin-wook-ah, can Mom come in for a sec?"

"Yes."

Jin-wook, who was entering the final revision work, stopped his pen and turned his head.

Usually, she doesn't disturb him when he's working.

Wondering what was up for her to say she was coming into the room.

"Where is Dad?"

"Sleeping."

"He must have been tired today."

"Well. It's strange since he's not at the age to be tired just from playing a little golf. Right?"

His mother's meaningful smile.

Seeing her smile, a momentary anxiety flashed through Jin-wook's chest.

As if...

A feeling that she was about to ask something huge.

"But what's the matter?"

"Hmm, well."

Fuck, 100%.

There's definitely something.

But what did I do wrong?

I haven't done anything particularly wrong lately—

"Jin-wook-ah, do you happen to have a girlfriend these days?"

"Yes?"

"Huhu, lately our son seems to have become a bit cooler, so I was wondering."

Jin-wook felt his mind going blank for a moment upon hearing his mother's words.

What is the intention of asking this suddenly?

What is she trying to tell me again?

"I don't."

After a brief contemplation, the conclusion Jin-wook reached was to play dumb for now.

A woman for me?

At most, there's Hwang Eun-ha, but on the surface, I'm still just friends with her.

Actually, we are much closer than friends, but...

"Really?"

"Why are you suddenly interested in such things?"

"Hmm, well? This Mom never takes photos secretly except when working."

Jin-wook dropped the pen he was holding upon seeing a single photo his mother displayed on her phone.

It wasn't a back view.

Of all things, it clearly captured the side profile—the very moment he and Hwang Eun-ha were kissing—leaving no hole to escape.

"I couldn't endure this one."

"No, Mom, when on earth is this..."

"Ah, come to think of it, you're an adult now too, right?"

Jin-wook tried hard to avoid the gaze of his mother, who was grinning mischievously.

Although she deleted that photo just now.

The fact that she showed it meant she had practically revealed his relationship with Hwang Eun-ha, so he couldn't say anything.

"So, did you do it?"

"Do what."

"What do you think? Do I have to say it with my own mouth?"

"Ah seriously, we didn't go that far."

"Oh my, what a shame. Mom thinks she could take responsibility even if Jin-wook causes an incident he can't handle."

Conversing with his mother, Jin-wook felt his mind becoming increasingly dizzy.

No, there are things to say and things not to say in front of a son.

Is this the power of Ajumma Talk?

"Jin-wook-ah. Maybe because Mom only has two sons, grandsons are good too, but I think a granddaughter would be better..."

"Ah, Mom, seriously!"

In the end, he ended up getting annoyed at his mother.