Chapter 99

Muk Ha-neul is emotional compared to others. Of course, there are differences in the degree of emotion, but among those who come to such a department with an interest in literature, it’s likely harder to find those who don’t feel that way.

In that sense, it was really fortunate for both of us that we were in the Literature department at this time. If I had committed such an act with an ordinary friend, I wouldn’t have been able to bear the embarrassment.

Normally, I would have felt embarrassed, but today, when I decided to put everything aside, it was different.

A nurse came by again at night to check my condition and removed the IV. Thankfully, she said my condition was much better than before. I was told that she would check my condition again in the morning, and at that time, the doctor’s decision about my discharge would be made.

“That’s a relief.”

“Yeah. It is.”

Hwa-won and I talked throughout the night… Although the same situation continued, I fell asleep much earlier than usual. Given the medication and the fact that my body wasn’t entirely well, it was natural.

It was natural, but I felt a bit disappointed. Before sleeping, I kept chatting with Hwa-won about trivial matters. I couldn’t remember what we talked about, but it was likely all meaningless jokes.

I didn’t dream. Perhaps I just couldn’t remember, but if I couldn’t recall it, that was enough.

The next day, when I woke up, I checked the person next to me before even looking at the time. Hwa-won was still sleeping in the caregiver’s bed next to me.

When I checked the time, it was only 6 AM. I had just woken up, so I obviously didn’t feel sleepy, but I just lay back down and closed my eyes.

And thus, I spent some time like that.

The nurse came by once to check my condition, and breakfast was brought. While I was eating the horrendous-tasting rice, Hwa-won teased me while eating a sandwich he had bought from the hospital cafeteria.

“Want a bite?”

“I don’t eat cucumbers and tomatoes.”

“I know.”

Silly jokes, foolish banter, meaningless conversation, and then the doctor arrived.

“Fortunately, your condition has improved quite rapidly. I think you can be discharged right away. Just make sure to take the prescribed medication. When you have severe menstrual pain, please take the medicine that I’ve prescribed you separately from what you already have.”

Still, it was embarrassing to talk about menstruation in front of Hwa-won. Although we chatted a lot about trivial things, I hadn’t said a word about my period since I woke up.

Fortunately, Hwa-won didn’t bring up menstruation either. He must have seen my face turn a bit red, but he said nothing.

I mumbled an answer to the doctor in a voice as quiet as a mosquito, and soon, the doctor left the ward.

“I’m glad we can be discharged. Do you need help with anything?”

“Get out so I can change clothes.”

Hwa-won didn’t say anything and left the hospital room. I had no intention of clumsily changing my clothes in front of him, thinking that since we were both guys, there was no need for that. I had a fleeting thought that I might have done that before, but at that moment, it simply wasn’t happening.

And the moment I pulled out the clothes I had worn, I realized a small problem. I was currently on my period, and when I came to the hospital yesterday, I had been barely aware, and Muk Ha-neul had dressed me.

The ordinary black flare skirt felt even larger than it did on the first day I wore it.

After about ten minutes, I called for Hwa-won.

“Come in.”

“What’s taking you so long to change?”

I wasn’t sure what expression I was making. Hwa-won stopped talking as he looked at me. I couldn’t tell.

Once again, Hwa-won didn’t say much. Would it have been easier if he had made a joke? I pulled a hat over my head to cover my expression. I didn’t really have much to carry, so I could easily manage with my hands.

“Let’s go.”

I didn’t wait for a response and quickly stepped out of the hospital room. Though Hwa-won didn’t walk particularly fast, he soon caught up with me. We finished the discharge procedures and stepped outside the hospital.

The slightly chilly outside air cooled my flushed face.

And I felt something new in my groin area. Until now, I hadn’t really felt these things because I wasn’t in good condition.

With every step, a gentle breeze brushed under my skirt, and it felt oddly empty down there. Since my period wasn’t over, I also felt a bit uncomfortable and exposed.

While I had been moving quickly inside the hospital, my pace unexpectedly became more delicate without me realizing it. Even though my walking speed changed, Hwa-won remained beside me.

“I have a car.”

“Yeah.”

As I got into Hwa-won’s car, the conversation that had momentarily been interrupted due to me wearing a skirt resumed naturally. It was much better now that I didn’t have to walk.

“I think the car has changed.”

“I brought a more expensive one because you said the last one was cheaper than that woman’s.”

“Still, that one looks more expensive.”

“Dammit.”

However, Hwa-won didn’t comment about my outfit until the end. Now that I was in the car, the wind blowing between my legs was no longer an issue, and there was no need to walk delicately. I felt like I could just let anything happen.

So, I decided to speak first. I knew he wouldn’t bring it up.

“Why aren’t you talking about this?”

“What about it?”

“The skirt.”

“What’s there to discuss about that?”

“You usually would have joked that it suits me well.”

He probably would have. That was Hwa-won. But now, Hwa-won was different.

“What the hell are you talking about, idiot.”

“Why are you suddenly cursing?”

With a face that suggested I was pathetic, I glared at Hwa-won as he seemed to try to brush off the situation with a curse. He sighed deeply and then said.

“That doesn’t suit you at all.”

“Ahahahaha!!”

Hwa-won’s response made me burst into laughter. I just laughed. I laughed because it was genuinely enjoyable, funny, absurdly delightful.

I couldn’t remember the last time I laughed like a fool because I was so happy.

Seeing me, Hwa-won muttered, “Crazy bastard.”

Yeah, I am a crazy bastard.

~

When I entered the house, I immediately stretched. A strange sound escaped my mouth.

“Ugh!”

“What an odd sound.”

Ignoring Hwa-won’s comment that mirrored my thoughts, I went into my room to change clothes, but I couldn’t find any decent pants.

I didn’t want to keep wearing a skirt in front of Hwa-won, and since I had already worn the same clothes for three days, I had to change.

…Come to think of it, yesterday I had been in my underwear in front of Muk Ha-neul. It was hard to say anything about it now, but looking back, it was incredibly embarrassing. I had run out in my underwear after losing my mind over Hwa-won’s message and had then gone to the hospital wearing clothes after being in pain on the sofa.

Hopefully, I didn’t stain anything… Should I be thankful to Muk Ha-neul for not bringing it up, or should I be angry at her for leaving me in my underwear? I guess it would be right to be thankful since she helped.

As I rummaged through my clothes, I noticed there were no wide-legged dark-colored pants. Should I have a separate set of clothes for when I’m on my period? I searched online and found that there are pajama pants specifically for that time, but anyway, I didn’t have any at the moment.

Eventually, I gave up finding suitable clothes in my wardrobe and looked elsewhere. I opened the box of clothes Madame had given me, and I found the chick-yellow pajamas I had worn before. Although they weren’t dark in color, they seemed wide enough since they were pajamas. This should be okay; they probably wouldn’t stain too much, but if they did, it would be noticeable, right? I had no real experience with this.

Anyway, my serious dilemma began.

Chick-yellow pajamas going out in front of Hwa-won vs. entering to change my clothes and coming out in a different skirt in front of Hwa-won.

Whichever I chose, it would be equally embarrassing. My pride as a man had long been shattered, but I hadn’t forgotten the feeling of embarrassment.

Still, I couldn’t go out in just my underwear, so in the end, I chose the chick-yellow pajamas. The skirt made me feel too defenseless psychologically. The only person who could attack me here was Hwa-won, and even if he did attack, it wouldn’t matter if I was in a skirt or pajamas. I knew he would never do that.

Alright, I might as well act a fool. If Hwa-won sees me, he’ll laugh and tease me.

It’s better than having him worry about how I look in a skirt.

Hiding my unnecessary tension, I opened the door with a big bang.

Hwa-won looked at me and reacted just as I had expected. The moment he saw me, he burst into laughter.

“Ahahahaha! What is that outfit? Wow, it looks so good on you!”

“Shut up.”

And I retorted with curses as if it was predetermined.

Yeah. Alright, this is fine.

~

Hwa-won spent the whole day teasing me about my chick-yellow pajamas, and gradually, conversation flowed naturally.

“So, is that outfit the one given to you by Professor Seo’s Madame? The one her daughter used to wear? Didn’t she say anything?”

“There’s a long story about that…”

“What is it?”

“I won’t tell you.”

Would I really tell him? As I giggled foolishly, Hwa-won pointed at me and said,

“How cheeky you are these days.”

“I’ve always been cheeky. You’ve just been giving me a pass until now. There should be a bit of a difference in levels.”

“Whoa.”

Hmm, yeah. It used to be like this. The atmosphere was comfortable. It was just enjoyable.

“By the way, it was a bit cold outside earlier. Were you okay? Your clothes seemed a bit thin.”

“I haven’t bought winter clothes. I need to buy some.”

“Weren’t you supposed to go shopping with Muk Ha-neul? Why not go together and get it?”

“Well, there are some issues with that.”

Hwa-won started teasing me for having received the same proposal from both Muk Ha-neul and Ham Yejin that day, so I ultimately rejected both. For a very Hwa-won-like reason.

“Are you an idiot? Just accept both and go separately with them on different days.”

“Are you saying I should buy two pairs of clothes?”

“That’s something you need to manage yourself. You’re throwing away a chance to date Ha-neul.”

“Ham Yejin offered too, you know.”

“Not that Ha-neul, idiot.”

“I know. I was just joking.”

“Not funny.”

Despite saying it wasn’t funny, Hwa-won chuckled. It wasn’t even funny.

“Anyway, I’m planning to buy something online. I’m sure I can get by with just buying something decent.”

“When are you free?”

“I’m always free, right? I just finished my contract with the publisher, and I’m currently unemployed. Why?”

“Then let’s go next weekend.”

“Aren’t you busy? You canceled your appointment with your father.”

“I can do whatever I want for a year after my father’s promise. That’s why I could cancel it. If it were a year later, I could never have done that.”

I wasn’t someone who particularly enjoyed shopping, but since Hwa-won often went out to buy clothes, I naturally joined him. Thus, his suggestion wasn’t anything special. It was just a natural extension of our previous relationship.

“Yeah, let’s do that.”

So, I accepted Hwa-won’s proposal without any thought.

Both Hwa-won and I agreed without any particular thought.

Hmm.

Yeah.

It’s not a date or anything.