Chapter 225

A day has passed. Han-bom, who was comforting me, went back last night. She said that if I wished, she could at least sleep by my side, but I refused because it wasn’t necessary.

I felt a little tempted because there was no hint that she wanted to toy with me or indulge in selfish desires, but I thought I needed time alone to sort out my feelings.

…Right.

I made a decision. I… I will no longer stay weak. I will not remain someone who is taken from.

I wanted to become Hwa-won’s… lover. I hoped that Hwa-won would love me as much as I love her. So, I will take her. From whom? Hwa-won’s fiancée? Or Hwa-won herself? None of that.

I will take her from the world.

From this world.

I don’t know how Hwa-won will see me now. She might get angry. She might come to hate me. She might come to despise me.

But you promised. That we would still be friends.

So I can do this with you. As much as I want.

[“No matter what happens in the future, we’re still friends.”]

So, I won’t forgive you if you abandon me. Because you swore it.

Of course, I know that this safety mechanism can become a shackle that keeps me restrained, but I can break such chains whenever I want.

I shouldn’t have listened to such words. But in the end, I had to hear it. Those words allowed me to step forward like this.

Being lifelong friends might mean that we can never be lovers, too. You might think that. That could become a shackle.

But, do you know?

A girlfriend is also a friend.

~

Title: [Seol-jjuk Writer’s News from Yesterday]

Looks like she went to Oido with a friend to have clam barbecue.

But she really dressed up properly this time.

If someone saw her, they might think she came to meet with a boyfriend.

Or maybe a cousin.

[Comments]

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

“No! My dear Jjuk!!!”

“Recently, she’s been filing lawsuits a lot, so good luck to her.”

“I didn’t mention any names! Please forgive me!”

“I saw her directly, and she just had a love-struck face.”

“I saw it too, and it made me shudder… A year ago, she was an alpha male, but now she’s completely different.”

“LOL.”

“I also saw her in person, and she became cute. She’s just a girl!”

“Starting from her expression, it was just… wow…”

Title: [What could have happened to make a person change like this?]

[An interview photo of Seol-guk before the change.]

[A photo of Seol-guk, pretending to take a selfie, with a flushed face, having a meal with Hwa-won.]

Wow… It seems like a really scary disease; how can a person change like this?

The photo isn’t mine; I found it.

[Comments]

“Isn’t reposting a reason for a lawsuit? If not, then whatever.”

“I live in Japan, so it’s fine.”

“Ah, you were a Zainichi! Damn Japanese!”

“But they look the happiest in the world.”

“This is over.”

“This is love.”

Title: [Not that anything happened, but it seems like the TS Amta team has won.]

TS Amta has won regardless of what has happened in reality,

TS Yuri and TS Romance teams should sign quickly.

[Comments]

“The Yuri team will accept defeat.”

“No, I didn’t accept it!”

“Defeated wretches struggling, LOL.”

“LOL, I’ll be the next TS patient and play with a cute girl.”

“It’s written there?”

“The one who was originally like this wins the fastest in Amta.”

“The TS Romance team doesn’t exist. Because that’s normal, you crazy gay people.”

“Today, one more goes down.”

“Why is this gay? It’s pure heterosexuality.”

“He was originally a man.”

“If a cute girl confessed to a guy she really liked saying she was originally male, would it still be a thing?”

“Even the guys told me I’m ugly. They say it’s too much to be friends.”

“Sorry…”

Title: [Wow, that guy is really a disaster, just LOL.]

What if my friend suddenly becomes a girl and then confesses to me?

Honestly, for us, he was just someone unknown. Over there, it might be a documentary.

Thinking about how he was originally a guy makes it seem very gay; it makes me want to vomit.

Honestly, it’s a bit disgusting to see him act like that after being a man. Isn’t he ultimately gay?

[Comments]

“You’re a great person who respects those who believe their mental gender defines themselves! Our LGBT gallery will welcome you!”

“TS is heterosexuality.”

“Wow, you changed your stance immediately with one comment.”

“LOL.”

“While that’s true, I can’t help but think of my buddy if he acts like that during sex; it would be uncomfortable.”

“Wait, you actually have sex, huh?”

“Just consider it a beautiful girl who believes she was male in the past, a mental illness.”

“Then why are there old photos?”

“Don’t trust everything you find on the internet; it’s all manipulated.”

“People like this believe Lincoln freed the slaves.”

“What?”

“?”

Title: [I saw this on Twitter; that guy is just a crazy male chauvinist.]

He just changes women all the time, and cheating is basic for him. He’s even dated three girls at once.

They say that half of the girls rumored to be pretty in college have slept with that guy.

When he’s with girls, he’s sweet, but with guys, he talks a lot of misogyny.

They say he was a university mate with the writer, but can’t shake off his habits and even snatched his friend too, LOL.

But the writer also seems like a typical guy, so they probably match well…

[Comments]

“Why does this guy know so much? Is he…?”

“Looking at Seol-jjuk making fun of the writer while subtly putting her down, isn’t she one of the betrayed girls?”

“Yeah, but this IP was someone who was subtly degrading her for a while.”

“It could be that he’s not the girl who was betrayed but rather a guy who lost his girlfriend.”

“Did you pick this up directly from Twitter? LOL.”

“Those who put LOL at the end of their comments are like fake tough guys, pretending to be unaffected but are actually hurt.”

Title: [Breaking news: Friend’s specs who met with Seol-jjuk writer.]

This useless jobless wonder hasn’t published anything for years, LOL.

“So what’s his height?”

“185 CM.”

“What does he look like?”

“He’s super handsome.”

“Where does he live?”

“Word has it he’s the son of the chairman of a well-known company.”

…Damn, I’m going to go commit suicide as a high school dropout jobless person.

[Comments]

“What kind of fantasy character is this?”

“Nowadays, all fantasy characters are virgins.”

“How do you know that? Are you a girl?”

“If I were this kind of person, I’d have the confidence to have a situation like that.”

“Yeah, but you’re not a cute girl.”

“Yet to be!”

“Don’t joke around, LOL.”

Title: [But if I date Seol-jjuk, won’t I get caught for pedophilia?]

Honestly, Seol-jjuk is a bit small, but when I see them together on the street, it still looks like a brother-sister relationship.

[Comments]

“Since she’s an adult, it doesn’t matter.”

“Does it matter saying she’s almost thirty?”

“How can you say thirty alongside ‘child’?”

“Seol-jjuk is just a baby.”

“Honestly, her looks make it seem like she’s just a middle school student.”

“If a guy in his thirties dates a middle school girl, wouldn’t he get arrested?”

“It’s legal, so it’s fine.”

Title: [But that guy isn’t one for just any taste.]

I’m not, but my friend’s friend’s friend’s friend said they met him once.

When looking at girls, he considers their breasts a lot; all the girls who’ve dated him are tall and have big breasts.

Does Seol-jjuk stand a chance?

[Comments]

“You just have to wait ten years.”

“Didn’t happen, huh?”

“It’s well-ripened!”

“It’s rotten, though.”

“It’s matured!!”

“It’s surely rotten!!!”

“You idiots!”

“Looking at their expressions, it’s genuine love; what does it matter that they were originally male?”

“What was the guy’s expression like?”

“He gave a murderous glare when caught peeping.”

Title: [But originally, why would a guy like that date Seol-jjuk?]

What could possibly be lacking for a guy like this to date Seol-jjuk?

Money? He’s loaded.

Looks? He’s good-looking.

I don’t know about his personality, but this alone shows he’s a good catch.

But does he like big breasts?

And what about Seol-jjuk?

Money? She’s from an orphanage, and honestly, her books don’t sell that well, so she’s probably poor.

Looks? She’s pretty, but may not fit a man’s taste.

Even if the guy has a flashy background, that might not hold in Seol-jjuk’s case.

The guy wouldn’t have a reason to meet Seol-jjuk either.

Why don’t we just forget about Seol-jjuk and become streamers instead?

“Seol-guk’s streaming debut: Day 274”

[Comments]

“Why is this guy so specific about dates?”

“Because I’ve been writing to do daily streams.”

“If Seol-jjuk gets dumped, she’ll cry.”

“If she doesn’t get dumped, she can’t do a virgin live stream.”

“You crazy idiot.”

“Seol-jjuk could have made a decent amount of money from suing.”

“The agreement probably won’t happen.”

“She’s probably going to pursue civil action, isn’t she?”

“Civil action seems too troublesome.”

“Did you get sued?”

Title: [But shouldn’t everyone be careful?]

Sure, Seol-jjuk has crossed the line and should sue, but how can we be sure that the guy will do the same?

It looks like that guy’s identity has already been exposed; wouldn’t talking about it here get you in trouble?

[Comments]

“Is it going to get me in trouble…”

“Just ask Seol-jjuk for some pesticide.”

“Will drinking it turn me into Jjuk?”

“No, idiot, you’ll die if you drink pesticide!”

“There are probably plenty of PDFs already floating around.”

“If you click on the link below, it leads to Seol-jjuk’s publisher’s homepage; just send it here.”

“Please save me.”

“That guy is just a loser who couldn’t even debut, why would you give the publisher link, idiot LOL.”

“Wouldn’t it be fine if Seol-jjuk sends it to the guy?”

“I’m sorry! Please save me, I was wrong; please just let it go this once.”

“The speed of changing attitudes is legendary.”

Title: [Proof that Seol-jjuk has fallen in love.]

Honestly, I’m not so sure, but recently there’s been word that stories written by the writer have been sweet.

[Comments]

“Seol-jjuk, Ivan, let’s go!”

“It really does seem like the writer is in love.”

“Could it be that she did it because of the physique difference?”

“Whoa, that’s some serious hybrid press!”

“Seol-guk is a well-known virgin.”

“They’re really going to get a lawsuit for this.”

“If they call her a virgin, I’d acknowledge the lawsuit, but why would calling her a virgin get anyone sued? I really don’t get it.”

“Right?”

~

[So…does this mean they won’t file a lawsuit?]

[Yes, just as long as it’s not serious sexual harassment or insults, that would be fine.]

[That…relationship talk about your friend…]

[Please don’t, or it will become a lawsuit.]

[Is that about halting posts as well?]

[Yes.]

It’s fine.

I hung up the phone and went to the bathroom to wash my face with cold water.

My flushed face didn’t seem to be only due to shame.

I’m sorry, Hwa-won. I had no choice.

You will forgive me, right?

I didn’t do anything wrong.

I think it started yesterday.

Thinking of you makes my lower abdomen ache a little.

---