Gender Reversed Geum Taeyang - Chapter 45

Chapter 45 – Shopping (1)

After deliberately avoiding contact for a while, sending KakaoTalk messages so excitedly after just having a drink…

Of course, I can’t keep avoiding him forever, and it’s a joy to be in contact with Yuhan again, but…

From the other person’s perspective—from Yuhan’s perspective—this must seem quite absurd.

That’s why I think it’s important to make today go well.

Yuhan has been trying to contact me all this time, so he probably has no reason to feel awkward around me, but I think I need to be careful.

Now I’m near Yuhan’s house. While I’m lost in various thoughts, the passenger door opens and he gets in.

Perhaps because it’s definitely getting warmer now, he’s wearing just a white short-sleeve shirt without his usual leather jacket.

“Did you wait long?”

“No, I just got here.”

“You seem like the type who’d say ‘just got here’ even if you arrived 30 minutes ago…”

“Haha… I really just got here.”

Well, arriving 25 minutes ago counts as ‘just,’ right?

I shouldn’t be late for appointments with Yuhan, after all.

Unlike someone who falls asleep and reclines the seat as soon as they get in the passenger seat despite being warned how dangerous it is multiple times, Yuhan checks even my seatbelt before starting to chat about various things.

How I’ve been this past week, what kind of person my brother is, which parts of my broadcast he watched and found really entertaining… and so on.

Hmm. While there are times when I think Yuhan can be quite oblivious when he’s endlessly doing things that make women’s hearts flutter, he’s not generally someone who lacks social awareness.

He probably picked up on the fact that I was deliberately avoiding contact, though I’m not sure why.

Yet seeing him treat me as if nothing happened makes me feel once again that he truly is a kind person.

After driving for quite a while, we arrive at the department store.

Since the department store near my parents’ house where my brother lives is quite expensive, we chose a location a bit further away.

It’s not like a high school sophomore can’t come this far, and since I said I’d grant whatever wish he wants, knowing his personality, he’d gladly make this much effort.

“Wow… the building is so huge.”

“Aren’t department stores usually this big?”

“Are they? I’ve never had any reason to visit a department store in my life.”

What is this, some male-oriented drama’s poor male protagonist line?

While I had a general sense that Yuhan’s financial situation wasn’t very comfortable… was it to this extent?

I saw something online about how husbands who grew up without much means tend to be more frugal with money… damn it, what kind of crazy delusion is this now.

Glancing at Yuhan, I see him looking at the building with curiosity written all over his face.

Seeing someone who’s usually so cool and confident show this side of himself makes my heart tingle.

I think the term ‘gap moe’*¹ that I saw online really suits Yuhan well.

After returning home on Friday, I watched the replays of Yuhan’s broadcasts that I had missed.

I thought his overall performance seemed to have improved, but recently there had been a series of truly incredible events.

I had always thought Yuhan must have dated at least a few girlfriends before.

His extremely handsome face aside from his fierce expression, and an impression that suggests wild behavior regardless of his kind personality.

Honestly… everyone probably had similar thoughts.

In fact, didn’t he mention during his broadcast that he had met many women?

Though it’s a crude and vulgar way to put it, he even said he had “fucked” women.

But then there was that moment when he hurriedly turned off video donations with a red face, ignoring his pain just because a woman’s chest appeared.

That moment when he was caught with adult website addresses in his history, showing how innocently he had lived while harboring curiosity about sexual matters.

I also felt quite guilty about Yuhan’s waist injury since I believed I was largely responsible for it.

The ridiculous term “virgin bitch” came to mind… and I felt self-loathing due to the somehow exciting feelings it stirred.

A character that seems to have stepped right out of a manga.

How can such a man exist?

I think it was truly lucky that I could become close to such a man.

Anyway, back to the present.

Seol Jihun, this brother of mine, still hasn’t contacted me.

While it’s not particularly late, I don’t want to keep Yuhan waiting, so…

[Me]
-Jihun.
-Where are you now.

[Seol Jihun]
-sryryryry
-I had to use the bathroom so badly I couldn’t text while rushing here
-I’m in the department store bathroom now

Is this for real.

“He says he’s in the bathroom right now?”

“Hmm… I was actually thinking of going too. Then I’ll quickly go as well?”

I’m glad he understands.

And a little while after Yuhan left for the bathroom…

My brother Seol Jihun arrived.

###

This is the opportunity of a lifetime.

For once, my sister made an unusual request, asking me to help choose clothes for a friend.

Since she called me, it must be men’s clothes, but Junhyeok hyung’s birthday isn’t that close…

Well, it’s not important. Those damn couples are probably dating just fine anyway.

Today I just need to focus on emptying my sister’s wallet.

Whenever we occasionally go shopping together, something always trickles down to me too.

While our parents don’t give me particularly little allowance, other people’s money always tastes better.

And my sister’s wish free pass?

It’s an insane gift.

With my sister’s backing, I could easily upgrade my phone.

Since our parents don’t strongly oppose anything my sister approves of.

This is what life and happiness are about!

While thinking that… the urge to urinate that I’ve been holding back gets increasingly urgent. Why did she tell me to come to this particular department store…

I should head to the bathroom first.

Action first, report later. Military terminology my sister taught me. This is exactly when to use it!

I entered through a different entrance than the one where I was supposed to meet my sister and looked for the bathroom.

No, is this what they mean by mountains beyond mountains?

It’s absurd that all the stalls are occupied.

Plus the urgent messages from my sister.

No wonder things seemed to be going too well…

.

.

.

Swoosh-

The sound of running water at the sink calms my mind and body.

After thoroughly washing my hands with soap and slightly fixing my disheveled hair.

This is nice, very nice.

My hands will dry naturally as I walk.

I shook my hands vigorously one last time while leaving the bathroom.

“Ah, tsk… what the…”

Oh.

Oh…

Oh………

Height around 180cm.

Sharp eyes and a piercing in the left ear.

Faded dyed hair that screams ‘my way’ and tanning to match.

He’s a delinquent. And clearly not just any delinquent.

‘I’m screwed!’

The blonde, tanned delinquent frowning after getting splashed all over with water that I mindlessly shook off.

What’s worse, he’s wearing a white t-shirt that easily becomes see-through when wet.

Of course, it wouldn’t be that bad unless water was actually poured on it, but would someone like him care about that? I made such a big motion flicking water at him?

I… don’t think so.

“I’m, I’m sorry!!”

An apology… won’t help, but I need to run away quickly while this guy is still surprised.

This day is truly going from bad to worse.

Leaving the man shouting something behind, I ran to the meeting place, but my sister is nowhere to be seen.

Is she waiting inside? What is this, really.

After wandering around a bit after going back inside the department store, I finally managed to find my sister.

“Noona!”

“What’s with you, why are you running so urgently?”

“Ah… just had something happen. Let’s go upstairs quickly!”

“Ah, wait a moment.”

“Why… why?”

“My friend just went to the bathroom. He’ll be back soon.”

“Friend?”

What’s this about now?

“What friend?”

“The friend we’re buying clothes for today. Did I not tell you?”

That annoying expression shows she definitely hid it on purpose.

I’m not even someone who’s particularly shy around strangers, so why is she doing this?

I can’t understand why a perfectly normal person acts this way only toward their sibling.

“No, why would you… if you had a friend coming you should have said…”

“Ah, Ari, you were here?”

?

What’s this chilling feeling?

I slowly turned around.

Haha.

This is too much.

###

Perhaps I still need more time to adjust to this reversed world.

I was wondering why I didn’t see any urinals in the men’s bathroom, but they had even divided all the urinals into stalls like toilet stalls.

Anyway, that aside.

I knew I looked somewhat scary, but I didn’t expect someone to run away just because of a little water splash.

Who was that person anyway?

Was I really that scary even though it was nothing and he even apologized?

Well, whatever. He’s gone anyway.

This is my first time coming to a department store.

Being surprised at how big the building is… that was just something I said because it was my first time here.

As a student, I had no interest, money, or friends, so there was no reason to come to department stores, and after growing up, I was too busy working to have any reason to come.

Hmm. I suppose department stores are different after all—the bathroom and everything is so clean overall that it creates an atmosphere that might have been somewhat intimidating if I had come when I was younger.

But I’m past that age now.

On the first floor’s cosmetics section, various men are shopping while trying samples.

Should I wear makeup when I go to Sehee’s school?

I feel uncomfortable when anything other than dirt gets on my face. Makeup is a word that has absolutely no connection to me in the first place…

Even though I came to buy clothes today to boost Sehee’s confidence during the parent observation day, I might have to endure that level of discomfort.

Uh… I’ll think about it later.

Just imagining it makes me feel suffocated.

By the way, I feel like people have been glancing at me a bit since earlier.

Not a lot, just a little bit.

Is it because I washed my hands and wiped on my clothes?

People are looking even though my side is just slightly sticking to my shirt.

Even people with their lovers beside them!

While it’s not particularly bothersome… should I give up such middle-aged man-like habits now that I’ve come to this reversed world? That seems a bit unnecessary…

Over there, I see Ari standing with another man.

A man whose appearance from behind clearly shows he’s Ari’s brother.

But… as I get closer, the silhouette becomes more familiar.

Not Ari.

The man.

Hmm…

The world is quite small indeed.

“Ah, Ari, you were here?”

One line to announce my arrival.

A male student slowly turning around at those words.

In his eyes.

There was nothing but terror.

(End of Chapter)

P.s. 1. It’s a concept where the huge difference between a person’s appearance and their personality makes them more charming. (Got to know it from Saiki K)