A long curtain draped over the window.
The darkened room flickered faintly with the light of a lamp placed on the dresser.
Amid that dreamy atmosphere, the center of the blanket bulged upward.
It was Hayul, who had worked a late-night shift and was now fast asleep, clutching a pillow tightly as she ventured into dreamland.
With soft snores, Hayul was sleeping soundly until a sudden vibration jolted her awake.
"What the… it's my day off, seriously."
Grumbling slightly, Hayul checked her phone and spoke as if it was no surprise.
"What… Sehwa? Yawn."
It had been a while since Sehwa called.
She always meant to reach out first, but with work piling up, she hadn't paid it much mind.
Still half-asleep, her bleary eyes fixed on the name glowing on the screen. Suddenly, she let out a scream-like gasp.
"Sehwa!?"
This was bad.
The phone had been vibrating for a while, and it was a miracle it hadn't stopped.
Hayul hurriedly answered the call.
—"Noona, where are you?"
"Uh? I-I'm at home, noona's at home."
Through the phone, she could hear the sound of heavy rain and a sigh of relief from Sehwa.
(It must be pouring outside.)
"Sehwa, what's up? Is something wrong?"
—"There's something… Noona, are you allergic to dog fur?"
Dog fur allergies? Why would he ask that?
"No? I don't have anything like that."
—"*Cough!* Ugh, no, I wasn't swearing at you, noona."
"Sehwa, are you sick? That cough…"
—"I'm fine. Noona, sorry, but can I ask you for a favor?"
The desperation in Sehwa's voice carried through the phone.
Hayul, cautiously, responded.
"I'll hear you out first."
—"I found an abandoned dog, and it's been soaked in the rain. I was going to take it to my place, but I'm allergic…"
She didn't need to hear the rest to guess what was coming.
It was probably a request to bring the dog to her place.
(I can barely take care of myself… Even if it's Se-hwa asking.)
Hayul hesitated, ready to refuse.
The dog was pitiful, but she wasn't confident she could care for it.
"Sehwa… I'm sorry—"
—"And it's a puppy."
Before Hayul could finish, Sehwa added "puppy" as if to persuade her. Hayul paused, frowning.
Her resolve wavered as Se-hwa's plea tugged at her heart.
—"I know you're busy with work, noona. But I can't just leave it like this… If I take it to a shelter, it might get euthanized. I couldn't just walk past it… *Cough.*"
"Sigh… Alright, then…"
Hayul was about to agree, but Sehwa, mistaking her pause for rejection, hurriedly continued.
—"I'll cover the food, treats, and all the costs. And when you're at work, I can come by sometimes to look after it…"
"Is there anything you need in advance?"
Hayul blurted it out without thinking, her face flushing.
She had meant to say it was okay to bring the dog, but with Sehwa saying he'd come to her place, it sounded like she was only agreeing because of that.
Didn't that make her sound like some kind of pervert?
Nervously waiting for Sehwa's response, Hayul sighed in relief.
—"A towel should be fine. Thanks, noona."
Sehwa's casual tone made hayul feel a pang of guilt as she replied.
"No… it's nothing. I'll send you my address."
__
_____
A shivering vibration clung to my stomach from inside my clothes.
The ticklish sensation of wet fur brushed against me.
Holding the dog, I couldn't run, but I was heading to Hayul's place as fast as I could.
Next to me was Mina, keeping pace.
"Why are you following me?"
"Are you kidding? You're going to a girl's house alone? That's why… I'm coming with you."
Mina's face flushed slightly, but her eyes sparkled as she spoke.
This is driving me crazy.
Earlier, when Mina kept pestering me, I told her it was just a noona I know. But she jumped up and insisted on coming along.
"I told you, she's just a close noona."
"Yeah, right. You keep going on about your 'close noona.' You know why? Because girls are wolves."
"What… Do I look like someone who'd get eaten?"
"That's not it… Ugh, why are you acting like this out of nowhere?"
Mina brushed back her wet silver hair in frustration, her gaze shifting to the dog in my arms.
(I don't even know why I did it.)
I couldn't just walk past a trembling dog soaked in the pouring rain.
If it were a person, how could anyone ignore that?
(Though, I guess I've always liked dogs.)
People carry their dark desires, but animals dogs don't.
They're just pure, beautiful creatures that look at their owners with sparkling eyes.
In my past life, when everyone turned their back on me, the stray dogs in the neighborhood still wagged their tails happily when they saw me.
Even when I looked like a wreck, they didn't care.
(Still, I couldn't take them in. If I'd irresponsibly brought one home in that state…)
I'd have committed a sin.
Lost in thought, Mina spoke up, sounding exasperated.
"Fine, I get it. I'm coming with you."
"No way. I didn't even tell noona you're coming."
"Can you check the address while holding the dog? I'll do it for you."
Mina waved her phone, emphasizing her usefulness.
Of course, I could manage. It's just a bit inconvenient.
But seeing how desperate Mina was to come along, I sighed and gave in.
What else could I do but explain it to Hayul noona?
"Do whatever you want… *Cough!*"
My dog fur allergy seems worse than I thought. The coughing wouldn't stop.
Mina looked at me with what seemed like pity and said,
"Want to hand me the dog? You look awful."
What kind of embarrassment is this in front of a girl?
Being treated like I'm dying over some dog fur.
Maybe that's why I snapped back curtly.
"I'm fine. It'll get wet again if I hand it over. Just check the address."
"…"
Mina clearly heard me but stayed silent. Then, she started unbuttoning her white school uniform, which clung tightly to her figure, revealing her curves.
Even the black tie in the center came off.
"Mina?"
Without responding, Mina kept undressing.
Startled, I looked away, but something was draped over my shoulder.
Glancing over, I saw Mina's uniform jacket.
"…Put it on for now."
"Why…"
As I started to question, the norms of this gender role reversed world hit me again.
Here, it's normal for a girl to offer her jacket to a guy.
Like how a guy might cover a girl's lap when she's wearing a short skirt.
Mina saw me getting wet and acted on it.
It was absurd to be treated this way, and I was about to tell her to put it back on.
Until I saw her.
Mina stood there nonchalantly in just her underwear.
Her pretty, teardrop-shaped chest was visible through her flesh-colored bra.
A small puddle of water glistened provocatively in the dip of her cleavage.
(....Damn.)
I wasn't a saint, and I was a perfectly normal "guy."
But the disconnect with this world had kept me from seeing women as women.
Yet, the solid wall I'd built inside me began to crack as I saw Mina, a beauty, standing in front of me in just her underwear, like some kind of strip show.
Against my will, my eyes instinctively scanned her body.
Her skirt clung tightly to her wide hips.
Its short length revealed her fair thighs, with raindrops trickling down them.
As I stared blankly, wondering if I was the weird one, Mina tilted her head and looked at me.
My body froze.
(Damn… What am I doing?)
Turning away abruptly would make me look guilty, so despite my inner turmoil, I kept my gaze steady and indifferent.
To anyone watching, I probably looked like a soulless husk. But Mina, seeing me, gave a slightly apologetic look.
"Sorry. I know it's awkward, but bear with it. I'll put it back on when we get to that Hayul noona's place."
I nodded, barely maintaining a calm expression, while inside, I felt crushed and chaotic.
Thank goodness for the rain.
It probably hid my dumbfounded face.
____
______
Raindrops pelted the umbrella Hyemin was holding.
Listening to the pattering, Hyemin's face twisted.
"Ugh… Damn it."
Hyemin was on her third cigarette, trying to soothe her burning frustration.
Suyoung looked at her with pity.
"Hey, Jung Hyemin. You okay? This isn't like you, throwing a fit."
"…Lovesickness."
"Cut the crap. Is it because of Sehwa? Just give up. he seems into Mina already."
"If it was that easy, would I be like this?"
Hyemin let out a deep sigh.
Honestly, at first, she approached Sehwa because he was pretty and had a tattoo near his eye, which made him seem easy.
That's why, when Seungmin was harassing Sehwa, Hyemin stepped in to score some points.
It was fine up to that point.
But the moment Sehwa smiled, saying her name and thanking her, Hyemin had to suppress the nausea rising in her throat.
Sehwa's beautiful yet intimidating smile was irresistibly captivating.
Hyemin, smitten, started imagining a future together.
The two of them, cozy at home, sharing a cigarette after a round of sex, asking if it was good.
Setting Sehwa's picture as her phone wallpaper and bragging to everyone about her boyfriend.
Just thinking about it drove her wild with excitement.
So she tried to get closer, slowly opening her heart.
(but why does he let Mina touch him)
(Because it's Mina.)
Were they that close that she'd let Mina touch his hair?
(Even if Mina's pretty… I have way more money and could treat him better. Should I borrow Mom's car keys to show off?)
Hyemin even entertained absurd thoughts, grumbling again.
"Damn it… What's so great about Mina?"
"That's enough. She's been keeping her distance from us anyway."
"…Suyoung. Why haven't you been approaching Sehwa lately? Did you really give up on him for me?"
"Give up? he's not even yours. I just… felt a bit uneasy."
What kind of nonsense is that? Uneasy about that beauty?
Hyemin genuinely wondered what Suyoung's eyes were made of.
"Have you been to an eye doctor?"
"That's not what I mean, you blockhead. At first, I thought he was just another party guy."
"And?"
"Isn't it weird? he doesn't even flinch when that short punk messes with him."
"So what? Our Sehwa's aloof personality is part of his charm."
Frustrated, Suyoung exhaled sharply and said,
"Did you hear Sehwa cursing out that short kid in some weird language last time ?"
"I heard. Wasn't it just him mixing up Korean with Russian? he said so himself."
"You believe that? Did you see his face? his mouth was smiling, but his eyes weren't. The whole vibe was off."
Suyoung continued.
"Think about it. Why does he have tape all over his sleeves? You know why, don't you?"
"Probably just some small tattoo… What's the big deal?"
"What if we peeled it off and it's something huge? Hyemin, think. That personality, those tattoos, and he's from Russia.
If there's something behind him, it changes everything. If you try to get with him carelessly, you might end up stabbed
Can you handle that? Our families run businesses, not gangs."
"Are you saying Sehwa's a mafia? Suyoung, you're seriously delusional."
"I'm not saying mafia. Just that something feels off."
"Stop with the nonsense. It's embarrassing."
Hyemin dismissed Suyoung's words as ridiculous.
A woman blinded by love could be that oblivious.
Besides, it was an absurd idea to begin with.
Suyoung, fed up, waved her hand dismissively.
"Whatever, I'm done. If you want to keep going, do it."
"…Just hear me out one more time. I have an idea…"
---
___
"…So you're saying we get Minwoo's crew to mess with him a bit, surround him, and then you swoop in like a knight in shining armor to save Sehwa?"
"…I know it's embarrassing, but there's no other way. If this keeps up, Mina's gonna take him. I really want to be with Se-hwa forever."
"Forever? What is this, the 80s? Fine, but promise me one thing. If this goes south, it's not my fault. You deal with it."
"Please, Suyoung. If this doesn't work, I'll give up. Just help me this once."
Hyemin clasped her hands together, begging Suyoung.
"I'll treat you big time next time."
Suyoung, calling Hyemin crazy, reluctantly took out her phone.
"Ugh… Damn it. I've got a bad feeling about this… Hello? Minwoo, It's me. Can you talk?"
_________________________________________
Translated by Reversalmanhwa.web.id
/ Reversalnovel.web.id