Gender Reversed Geum Taeyang - Chapter 33

Chapter 33 – Loading-Unloading Part-Time Job (1)

While some people make do with meals costing just 1,000-2,000 won due to tight finances, others spend hundreds of thousands of won on a single meal.

Of course, unless you’re incredibly wealthy, you can’t help but be mindful of such expenses.

Still, there are people who can afford such spending without it affecting their assets.

“So, how’s that work you’re doing these days? That internet broadcasting thing?”

“It’s going okay, Mother. Things are working out more or less.”

“Don’t you ever plan to stop calling me ‘Mother’? It sounds so stiff no matter when I hear it.”

“All my college friends address their parents this way. Besides, I’m an adult now, so I can’t keep calling you ‘mom’ like a child forever.”

And Ari’s family typically belonged to the latter category.

Though not extremely wealthy, they could afford to have gatherings like this when they wanted to.

That Sunday when she had hung out with Yuhan at home.

Ari was having dinner with her family at an upscale restaurant in Seoul.

Truth be told, her broadcasts hadn’t been going smoothly lately.

After a five-day break, she took another emergency break two days later.

Ari had her own valid reasons.

She determined that stress was causing her recent strange and confused mental state, and she met with Junhyuk to find ways to relieve that stress.

Since he was her longest and closest friend, and above all her lover, she thought meeting him would help relieve her stress.

Because her mental state was making even daily life difficult, she decided to postpone broadcasting for now.

But viewers had no way of knowing what the “personal circumstances” mentioned in the break notice meant.

It was somewhat natural that viewers were becoming dissatisfied with Rete, who had started taking breaks without explaining why.

The silver lining was that after the joint broadcast with Yuhan, the chat regulations on Rete’s channel had been loosened somewhat, and viewers were happy they could enjoy the broadcasts more comfortably than before.

These two factors were affecting Rete’s broadcasts in opposing ways.

However, Ari didn’t particularly want to reveal such details to her parents.

“What am I supposed to call you then, if noona talks like that?”

“You can call them whatever you want.”

“Why can’t you both just call us Mom and Dad?”

“I’m comfortable with this way, Father.”

Though they could have been busy enjoying each expensive dish at this high-priced restaurant.

Since they weren’t unfamiliar with expensive meals, everyone enjoyed their food comfortably.

A pleasant family dinner.

“How are things with Junhyuk these days?”

If it had been Ari in her confused state earlier this week, this question might have made her feel strange.

“Same as always, really. We meet up, eat together, hang out.”

But now Ari was maintaining quite a clear state of mind.

Meeting with Junhyuk had been quite enjoyable, as expected.

“Well, you two have always gotten along well since you were young.”

“It’s more like Junhyuk hyung adjusted to her.”

“Don’t you ever run out of things to say about your sister…?”

Father’s light scolding.

Ari smiled as she playfully poked her brother’s side.

Ari found this time comfortable and was happy because of it.

“There’s no ‘friend’ like Junhyuk. It’s fun even when we’re not doing anything special.”

“Right. Don’t mess up and make him cry. No, I’m sure you’ll handle things well.”

“We’ve been close for almost twenty years now.”

Not just Ari, but everyone felt the same.

Her parents were glad their daughter living alone seemed to be doing well, and happy that the whole family was gathered after a long time.

Her brother, too, though always bickering with Ari, had no reason to dislike having the whole family together.

Perhaps that’s why no one noticed.

How Ari emphasized ‘friend’ every time she answered questions about Junhyuk.

And that fact…

“You know how well I treat him as a friend.”

Even Ari herself hadn’t realized it.

Though hanging out with Junhyuk was fun.

Whether it was because he was a ‘friend’ or because he was a ‘lover’.

Ari hadn’t reached a conclusion.

###

Monday of the week after visiting Ari’s house.

1 AM. The usual time when broadcasting ends. Or should I say Tuesday at this point?

Anyway, checking my phone, there was a KakaoTalk message from Ari.

Asking me to contact her when the broadcast ends.

Ari’s broadcast ends at midnight. Has she been waiting for my contact all this time?

Well, she does handle various tasks after her broadcast ends, so maybe that’s possible.

Shortly after I replied, Ari called.

The content wasn’t much.

She apologized endlessly while asking if she could get back the Nintendo Switch that her boyfriend had asked to borrow.

I actually think it’s a completely reasonable request, but Ari kept apologizing to me endlessly.

… Wouldn’t it be strange if I didn’t return it when her boyfriend needs it?

And Ari’s apologetic tone carried some emotion.

Quite negative emotion.

It was strange enough that such emotion was noticeable, but there was something even stranger.

That negative emotion seemed somehow directed at her own lover.

She kept apologizing throughout the conversation, saying she was sorry that her boyfriend ‘suddenly’ wanted to borrow ‘what she had lent to me,’ to the point where it was actually burdensome.

Though something felt off, it probably wasn’t my business to worry about.

Anyway, I said I’d return it whenever convenient.

I borrowed it saying I’d use it for broadcasting, and I did make good use of it for about a week, so it makes sense for me to return it quickly.

But then.

‘No! You can use it until tomorrow! I’ll come to your place the day after!’

Does she really treat others this way too?

Or just me?

… If it’s just me, that seems strange too.

I’m not sure. Whatever the case, she’s not someone who can’t handle herself properly.

Anyway, I’ve made good use of the Switch for about a week.

Since I had to return the console eventually, I decided to make the most of it while borrowed, so my broadcasts have mainly featured Switch games lately.

In Mario Kart, I finally reached the level where my skills could overcome viewers’ interference.

Mario Party, which I ended up playing at least one round per day due to viewers’ demands… the results were always similar, but it always received positive reviews.

Though I played various other games, the one I enjoyed most was definitely Animal Crossing.

Ari, who watched my broadcast, allowed me to create my own character, and I played with that character.

Whether flirting with the furry villagers walking around town or going fishing when viewers bothered me.

Well, what I want to say is this.

I’m not sure how my broadcasts will go now that we have to return to the pre-Switch era.

I really enjoyed it, and viewers loved it enough to forget about Minecraft.

Once the Switch is gone, all that’s left is my computer, but the games I can enjoy with it are limited, and viewers’ reactions won’t be entirely positive.

Hmm. Has the time come to make an investment?

I’m not in a particularly comfortable financial situation.

My broadcasts don’t receive many donations.

The reason… I have some idea why.

While it’s technically a male cam broadcast since I’m a guy with a camera on, I don’t stimulate romantic feelings, and with my looks, people don’t see me as an innocent guy either.

Of course, this isn’t the only reason for low donations, but it must have some impact.

Anyway, money is tight.

The remaining money is set to go toward food and next month’s rent, and there isn’t much left after that. I shouldn’t touch next month’s rent either.

Damn. I didn’t want to do this again, but it seems the time has come.

Regular part-time jobs would be hard to find, and since it takes a month to get paid, they’re not suitable for me who needs quick cash.

Construction work would be at the station area, but they probably wouldn’t hire me anyway.

I’m not sure if my old construction site connections are still around the station area, but they weren’t deep relationships anyway.

What’s left is… loading-unloading work.

Though I’m hesitant due to memories of getting injured doing loading work before, still.

With this body’s physical capabilities, shouldn’t it be reliable?

Won’t this peculiar body manage somehow?

I can’t keep hoping to make big money just from internet broadcasting forever.

Even if it becomes possible later, now is not the time. It can’t be.

To put it crudely, it’s a shitty situation but.

My life has always been like this anyway.

They say strike while the iron is hot, so let’s start from tomorrow.

###

“… You want to borrow the Switch?”

“Yeah. Looks like you haven’t been using it lately based on NewTube.”

Maybe he doesn’t know about the joint broadcast with Yuhan since I didn’t upload it to NewTube?

Since Junhyuk doesn’t watch live broadcasts even of my channel, he might not know I used the Switch recently.

He doesn’t really know about TwitchyTV anyway.

The last time I took a break to hang out with Junhyuk was quite fun.

Since we go way back, just sharing old memories is entertaining, and we have somewhat similar interests.

Though I think Junhyuk is a good ‘friend’ who’s fun to be with…

This is too sudden.

While Yuhan is using it actively.

I really enjoyed watching Yuhan having fun.

Why is he suddenly saying he wants to take the Switch, which he wasn’t even particularly interested in?

A streak of irritation rises.

‘Should I say I don’t have it?’

But that’s not right either.

Yuhan’s viewers all know that I lent him the Switch.

Honestly, I don’t think there’s any chance Junhyuk would find out where my Switch is, but.

In a romantic relationship… hiding unnecessary things could lead to bigger fights later.

“I’m not sure where it is right now… I’ll look for it.”

“Okay! Just find it by Wednesday!”

The call ended. Right away.

I should contact Yuhan after today’s broadcast…

Will he be disappointed?

No.

He’ll say it’s fine.

If no one else, Yuhan will.

He’ll say it’s fine, thinking of me.

Regardless of what he actually thinks.

… Somehow, a corner of my heart feels uncomfortable.

(End of Chapter)