I decided to think things over. To make sense of this situation for myself, Ryu Sehwa.
The doctor is quite old. A physician by profession. Even at first glance, they seemed gentle and serious.
A person with all these qualities was stitching up my skin and casually mentioned that their daughter was conscripted into the military. At the age of 20, no less.
…First question: Is the person in front of me insane?
No. They're a doctor, so that's unlikely. I don't know if anyone's ever seen a mentally unstable doctor, but I certainly haven't.
Then, second question: Was that supposed to be a joke to entertain me?
No, it's way too unfunny for that. Who would even make a joke like that? Even someone with the worst sense of humor wouldn't go there. It was the kind of line that would make even a pickup artist cry in defeat.
(…Since when did our country start conscripting women?)
If my body hadn't already swapped, I might've laughed it off with a "Wow, you're hilarious, doctor," and moved on. But having already experienced the world turning upside down, I couldn't help but think something else had gone completely wrong. Something I wasn't aware of.
(Goddamn, this sucks… I knew something was off from the start. As if just swapping bodies wasn't enough. I bet God's having a blast up there, watching this poor lamb suffer)
I'm not religious, but I figured I'd try praying just this once. In movies, people in situations like this always seem to appeal to God at least once. I stayed quiet for a few seconds and glanced at the doctor's expression, just in case.
…As expected, it was the look of a parent worried about their daughter. I'd seen that look plenty of times before.
"You must really care about your daughter," I said.
"Haha, yes. Parents with kids can't help but worry. Seeing a young, handsome guy like you get hurt like this brought it out of me. I guess I got a bit carried away, acting unlike a mother with a daughter. Heh."
The doctor gave an embarrassed smile while stitching up my finger.
(Holy crap, that didn't sound like a joke at all. This is insane. Women are suddenly going to the military?)
I wanted to bolt out and figure out what else had changed, but I held back and quietly waited for the doctor to finish. If I yanked my hand away mid-stitch, it'd be a disaster.
So, I decided to stay calm. If I made a scene like I did at the convenience store, I'd just end up looking like the crazy one again.
(Hayul's not reacting at all either. Like it's completely normal. So, this must be common knowledge here. Just how far does this world's common sense twist?)
Once the doctor finished stitching my wound, they cleaned it with an alcohol swab, wrapped a bandage around my finger, and told me it was done, advising me to be careful in the future. I thanked them, got up, and headed out of the emergency room. But Hayul didn't follow. She just stood there, still at my spot.
"Hayul?"
"Oh, yes! Just a moment, Sehwa. The doctor called me over for something. I'll catch up with you soon!"
(The doctor called her? Probably just giving her some precautions or something. Maybe they think she's my guardian)
I didn't think much of it and stepped outside, immediately feeling the piercing stares of people around me as I waited for Hayul.
"Sorry for making you wait," Hayul said as she came out, noticing the stares directed at me and stiffening slightly as she apologized. I shook my head lightly, signaling her not to worry.
"No, I'm the one who should be sorry. By the way, why did the doctor call you?"
"Oh… uh, well… precautions! They just told me what to avoid. I guess they thought I was your guardian."
Hayul stammered, like she was hiding something. I figured the doctor must've given her some wound-care instructions, but something felt off.
(If it's just precautions, why call her separately? It feels like she heard something else…)
"Really? What did the doctor say I shouldn't do?"
I asked casually, probing a bit. I wasn't that curious, but it felt odd. Her face turned ashen the moment I asked.
"Uh… well, they said…"
"Yes? What did they say?"
Her face grew paler by the second. Back at my place, her face was as red as if it were on fire, and now it was changing colors like a chameleon. She spoke in a barely audible voice.
"…Wash your hands well, don't drink or smoke, and avoid intense exercise. That's what they said."
One of those sounded off, but the rest seemed like standard advice. Still, telling me to wash my hands with a wound like this? It was obvious she was making it up. It seemed like the doctor had said something to her in private, but since she was trying so hard to cover it up, I found it kind of cute. I smirked, raised my bandaged hand, and teased her a bit.
"Hmm… Wash my hands with this? Won't water get into the wound and make it worse?"
Having dealt with plenty of hand injuries from my athletic days, I knew how to manage them. At my words, her face went from pale to flushed as she scrambled to change the subject.
"Oh! Yes, you're right, Sehwa! I must've misheard! Haha, that could've been bad."
She bowed her head, looking increasingly pitiful, so I stopped teasing her. We went to the reception desk to pay the bill, and I felt a pang of guilt watching her trembling hand pull out her card to cover it. I was grateful she'd paid for the taxi and now the hospital bill, which wasn't cheap. I made a mental note to treat her to a proper meal someday.
After settling the bill, we left the emergency room and called a taxi using Hayul's phone. While waiting, we sat on a bench in the hospital's garden-like area. The hot air hit us immediately. The bright sunlight was nice, but the stifling heat was unbearable.
As I watched people bustling by, Hayul, who'd been quiet, suddenly spoke up.
"Um… Sehwa."
"Yes?"
"Lately, have you been feeling… uh, never mind. I've always thought your tattoos were really pretty!"
The first part was too quiet to catch, but I heard the second part clearly.
Hmm, now that I think about it, they are pretty high-quality. Definitely worth complimenting. I glanced at the tattoos on my chest and left arm, nodding in acknowledgment.
"Thanks. They hurt a lot to get."
(Honestly, how would I know if they hurt? I didn't get them myself.)
"They're really nice. Most guys don't get tattoos, so it's… um, unique. Oh! Not that there's anything wrong with guys getting tattoos! Please don't misunderstand. But for you, Sehwa, they really suit you, don't they?"
(She probably liked them, right? Judging by how many are on this body. But why does it sound like guys getting tattoos is unusual? Is this another thing where common sense is flipped?)
I felt a bit uncertain and decided to probe.
"Yeah, I guess I'm a bit unique. I do like getting them. But it seems like guys don't usually get tattoos, huh?"
Hayul's expression darkened slightly, like she'd made a mistake. Did I sound sarcastic?
"Well… yeah, I guess? It's usually more common for… uh, certain types of guys, or… no, never mind. Guys do get them less often than women, but these days it's like a fashion thing, right?"
Her expression showed confusion, as if wondering why I, a guy, was asking her, a woman, about this. Still, she did her best to answer.
So, let's sort this out: a world where women are conscripted into the military, and guys getting tattoos is much rarer than women. Thinking back, the guys I saw earlier were acting and talking like women. It was only two people, but after everything I've been through, it's too much to dismiss as coincidence.
(What the hell? I need to get home and look into this. But honestly, what could be more shocking than my body swapping at this point?)
I'd already half-given up.
As Hayul and I talked, the topic shifted to the lettering under my eyes. Her eyes sparkled with curiosity as she stared at it.
"I've been wondering for a while, but that 'ADONIS' under your eye what does it mean? I've been curious since we first met."
(Yeah, what does it mean? I don't even know. Probably just something random, right? Hey, if you're still out there, tell me what the hell you scribbled under my eyes!)
I didn't want to admit I had no clue. Not knowing the meaning of a tattoo on my own body would make me look pretty dumb.
"Hmm… I'll keep that a secret for now. I haven't told anyone, but I'll let you know first someday."
Her lips trembled with excitement, like she was trying not to smile. It reminded me of a puppy wagging its tail furiously at the sound of a walk.
(Why's she so thrilled about being the first to know?)
"Thank you for telling me first! Oh, by the way, Sehwa, where are you originally—"
*Buzz.*
Her phone pinged with a notification that the taxi had arrived, cutting her off. She looked disappointed, like she wanted to keep talking, but quietly followed me to the taxi. When we reached it, she stopped me.
"Sehwa, would you… maybe want to grab a coffee with me today? Oh, wait, I forgot you're injured. Sorry…"
God, why is she so kind? I worry she'll get scammed someday. I'd already lost count of how many times she'd apologized today.
I lowered my eyes, feeling a mix of frustration and concern not because I was upset, but because her kindness was almost suffocating.
"No, I'm the one who's sorry. I'd love to, but I think I need to rest today."
"Oh, of course, you must still be in pain. Um… maybe next time, then?"
Coffee next time? After all she'd done for me, refusing would be rude. But I'd noticed her speech was oddly formal for a woman.
Still, I softened my expression and looked at her gently. Her excessive kindness and stiff speech were just part of who she was, and it made me fond of her.
"Of course. No reason to say no."
"Really? It's a promise, then! I'll message you later, so you better reply!"
I agreed readily, and she opened the taxi door with a flourish, gesturing for me to get in first, like a gentleman escorting a lady. She was consistently so spirited. I got in, feeling the cool AC breeze, and thought about what I needed to do once I got home.
It was quiet in the taxi, and when I glanced at Hayul, she was staring out the window, lost in thought.
We arrived at my place without speaking. At the gate, we looked at each other, and I spoke first.
"Thank you so much for today, Hayul."
I bowed politely. She grinned brightly, a stark contrast to her serious demeanor in the car.
"No, I'm the one who… I mean, it's nothing. Just buy me a coffee sometime."
"No way."
Her face fell, looking hurt, as if I'd misunderstood her. I must've sounded too curt.
"I mean, coffee's not enough. I'll pay you back for the coffee, the taxi, and the hospital bill."
Her expression melted into a smile, but then she suddenly turned serious.
"Sehwa, if anything's ever wrong, you can call me anytime. Don't keep it to yourself, no matter what it is."
I didn't know what she was worried about, so I just gave an awkward smile.
Still, it felt nice to have someone to talk to for the first time. Relationships are fleeting like the wind, I thought, as I parted ways with Hayul and went inside.
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Translated by Reversalmanhwa.web.id
/ Reversalnovel.web.id