What's the most essential thing for a human to live in a country?
Clothes? Food? A house?
All wrong. It's money. And right now, I'm feeling that truth deeply.
Today is the day I'm supposed to pick up my new ID. But how do I get there? Public transportation.
Money? None.
How cool. I'm so cool for being broke that I'm about to lose my mind.
"Damn it… this feels like something I've experienced before."
Feeling defeated, I slumped my body. I became an octopus and collapsed onto the bed.
"No, wait. You're still here? Common sense says you need money to live. So why the hell are you like this? No consideration for the next guy?"
I started ranting at the previous owner of this body, who's long gone. This isn't right, seriously. Did they survive on dew or something?
I looked around the now-clean room, trying to find some satisfaction. Fine, what can I do about being broke? Damn it.
"But if I don't get my ID today, won't I become an illegal immigrant or something?"
I could almost see it. Being called a "whitey" and chased while working in some far-off factory. If I get caught, I'll probably be deported back to Russia, right? The fate of an illegal immigrant.
"Ha… damn it."
After going through all sorts of crap, my mouth has turned into a filthy rag. It's too late to turn back now. I kicked the innocent blanket in frustration, but all it did was stir up dust, making things worse.
"Cough, cough. This damn…"
*—Bzzz.*
While filling my hungry stomach with dust instead of food, my phone rang. I went to the desk to pick it up.
"This is Ryu Sehwa."
"Hello! Sehwa! Good morning. How's your hand doing?"
It was Hayul. A call first thing in the morning. It felt like she was nagging me to pay back the hospital and taxi bills she covered.
Of course, it was just a feeling. Hayul wouldn't do that.
"It's doing better today. But what's up this early?"
(Gasp.)
Hearing Sehwa's words over the phone, Hayul realized she might have crossed a line.
(Oh, maybe it's too early to call… I thought we were close enough for this.)
Hayul, who had been excitedly pacing, stopped and asked with a face like a kid whose toy was taken away.
"Uh, well… I was just wondering what you're up to today, Sehwa."
"Oh, I see."
"Yeah…"
Hearing Sehwa's cold tone, Hayul regretted her earlier enthusiasm.
[I shouldn't have called. I should've texted and taken it slow.]
Sehwa, on the other hand, didn't think much of it. But then he hesitated.
If he said it, things might get complicated. Hayul might ask about it and make him flustered.
( Should I say it or not? Maybe I should just be honest. It's not like I can't tell Hayul. )
After some serious internal debate, Sehwa spoke in a low, serious voice.
"Hayul, I actually have something to confess."
"What?! A-Already? But we haven't known each other that long…"
"I was going to tell you eventually."
"Yes! Yes! What is it?"
"I actually immigrated from Russia to Korea this time. I'm going to pick up my ID today."
"…"
"Hayul?"
"Congrats… You must be busy today. I'll hang up now."
*—Click.*
Hayul ended the call with a noticeably colder tone. Sehwa, puzzled, thought to herself.
(What's that about? She didn't react much. I told her because she seemed curious before.)
Meanwhile, Hayul was curled up in a corner of her bed, hugging her knees and sobbing. She cursed herself for the foolish misunderstanding.
(I got excited thinking it was a confession… I was the only one who got carried away. And now I acted petty and sulked… Sehwa probably thinks I'm some oversensitive girl… Probably…)
While Hayul was wallowing in gloom, Sehwa, unfazed, lay back on the bed, staring at the white ceiling.
(Maybe Aunt knows something? It doesn't make sense that I don't even have money for a taxi. How am I maintaining this house then?)
But he was still hesitant about his aunt. She wasn't his real aunt, after all. Talking to her might expose that he wasn't the real Sehwa.
But not asking made him imagine himself screaming while being dragged onto a plane back to Russia.
(I absolutely can't live anywhere but Korea.)
Weighing her options, she made a decision.
"Hey, Aunt, how have you been?"
"Oh, hi. Sehwa? How's your health?"
"I'm taking my meds fine. By the way, is there any money Mom left behind? I'm looking around, but I don't have any."
"What? That can't be right. Your mom called me before, bragging about opening a bank account for the first time."
(Then where did it go? I can't find it anywhere.)
Her aunt continued.
"I remember her saying she put some money in it. But you're not the type to spend recklessly, right?"
"Yeah, that's true."
It did seem like he lived frugally. This kid was just a cheapskate.
"Maybe… look around carefully. She might've hidden it somewhere."
At his aunt's last words, I tried to imagine what the previous owner was thinking.
(Let's think. They tried to kill themselves, so they probably didn't have much stuff. Why would someone about to die need anything? But having no money at all doesn't make sense. Did they hide it somewhere?)
I hung up and decided to search again. But first, one more question.
"Thanks. By the way, Aunt, about the tattoo under my eye. Do you know what it means? I feel like I mentioned it to someone, but I can't remember."
"…You don't remember?"
What did I do wrong? My aunt's voice suddenly turned menacing.
Did she figure out I'm not the real one?
"…Natalia Sasha."
I instinctively knew she was calling my original name.
Something's definitely wrong. Her voice turned ice-cold.
(Damn it, why did I ask…)
"Yes, Aunt."
I answered calmly, hoping she hadn't caught on yet.
Then her booming voice roared through the phone.
"You're asking because you don't know?! No way. You're lying about taking your meds! You little…"
The kind aunt turned into a demon.
"Sasha, you brat… After your mom passed, you're all I have left. You can't do this to me. No, I'm coming to Korea as soon as this is over, so don't stop me. Damn it. This is why you shouldn't leave a boy alone."
*—Click.*
She spat out words like a machine gun and hung up. Damn, I'm screwed. If she sees me in person, I'll be exposed instantly.
(Since I mentioned the meds, I can just say I forgot because of stress.)
For now, I decided to look for the money my mom supposedly left. But no matter how much I searched, nothing turned up. I speculated.
(A bankbook is thin. Thin enough to hide somewhere. And I think I see a spot.)
I pulled back the blanket on the cheap bed and lifted the sheet. There, under it, was a large brown envelope.
(Damn… you crazy idiot. How am I supposed to find it here?)
I opened the envelope and checked inside. There was a bankbook, some cash, and a bunch of damn family photos dozens of them.
(Ugh, making me sad again. Why the hell did they put a lighter in here? Were they planning to burn it all before dying?)
Grumbling, I took the money and checked the bankbook.
(500,000 won withdrawn monthly… probably rent. 4 million won left?)
It was more than I expected. If I were completely broke, I'd have to sell my body or something. This amount should tide me over until I find a job.
Leaving the bankbook, I threw on a tracksuit over my tank top and headed out to the subway station.
The clear sky was nice to look at. The heat rising from the ground was bearable.
If it weren't for this.
"Hey, can I get your number?"
"Sorry."
That was mild.
"Pretty boy, where you going dressed like that? Meeting your girlfriend?"
"Got business."
"Oh? Whoever it is, I could make it more fun. I'll even pay. How about it?"
"Wouldn't it be better to leave before I kill you?"
Damn, how many times has this happened before even reaching the station? I should wear a mask next time. Or is it my clothes? It's already hot, and wearing more would drive me crazy.
The last woman got pissed when I snapped at her, her face turning red, but after looking at me, she seemed to think I was some kind of thug and stormed off, fuming.
Guess I didn't look like a gangster boyfriend. I couldn't believe I was getting this kind of treatment.
After all that, I finally reached the station, got on the subway, and managed to sink into a seat. It wasn't rush hour, so there weren't many people a miracle for Gangnam Station.
"The next station is Seoul National University, Seoul National University Station. The doors will open on the right."
I was giggling at my phone when the announcement played. I opened the map to check how far I'd come.
(About halfway. Still a bit to go.)
After checking the arrival time, I was about to dive back into web surfing when I noticed something odd about a young woman sitting across from me.
Her pants had a slight stain at the crotch. And one hand was in her pocket…?
??
(What the hell is she doing, that crazy woman? Using me as material?)
I'd never seen someone masturbating on a subway before. When I looked, she glanced at me, then quickly looked away, pretending not to notice.
Fine. I'll let it slide. Even if the genders Role are reversed, I'm not living like some delicate girl. If I were a guy here, I'd probably scream and call the cops. But I'm too steeped in my old world's ways for that.
I, Ryu Sehwa, won't let my dignity be tarnished. By my standards, going over and confronting her would be ridiculous. Crying to the cops about being used as material? That's pathetic.
But I couldn't just do nothing. So I switched my already cold gaze to one of disgust, like I was looking at a bug.
But this crazy woman, seeing my look, seemed to get even more excited. Her hand in her pocket started moving faster, expanding and contracting wildly. Then her eyes rolled back, and she shuddered.
I knew instinctively what that was. I was a guy once, after all.
(Wow, damn… guess I was a tasty dish. I respect your guts.)
I mentally applauded this bold woman.
Crazy bitch.
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Translated by Reversalmanhwa.web.id
/ Reversalnovel.web.id