Chapter 41: Suspension of payment (2)

Part 3

What if something serious had come up? That worry gnawed at me as I sat in the sparsely populated hospital lobby, killing time for what felt like forever. The cap I now wore more often than not was pulled low over my eyes, and I stared blankly at the large TV blaring a public broadcast channel. Footsteps approached from a distance, growing closer.

The checkup process hadn’t changed much, but the fact that the consultation was with my parents instead of me sent an uneasy premonition creeping in. Their faces, drawing nearer, felt oddly comforting—probably because of that unease.

Had I become a burden to them again? Would this change my daily life? Vague doubts swirled relentlessly in my mind. They hadn’t told me what was going on, and though I’d brushed it off with a They’ll tell me later, the doctor’s words—“Today’s consultation is with your guardians only”—had sent those suppressed feelings spiraling out of control.

“…Mom?” I said.

“Hmm? Why so serious?” she replied.

I started to stand, but Mom gently pressed my shoulder, guiding me back to the chair. With a soft sigh, she sank into the seat beside me, looking exhausted. Dad settled next to her, his awkward cough echoing oddly in the quiet.

“…Did they say something big’s coming, something I need to prepare for?” I asked.

No immediate answer. Mom gave a gentle smile, taking my hands in hers and gazing into my wide eyes. The question of what was wrong intensified, racing through my head.

Was something really happening? Their expressions didn’t suggest life-threatening news or some catastrophic expense, but their cautious demeanor was unsettling.

“Why drag it out?” Dad said gruffly, clearing his throat as if he couldn’t stand the suspense.

Mom’s hands, which had been softly stroking mine, paused. I swallowed hard. Normally, she’d have snapped back at Dad, but her gaze stayed fixed on me as she spoke.

“…Yoonseo.”

“Yes?”

A faint tremor passed through her hands. The worst-case scenarios brewing in my mind surged forward. Her lips moved as if in slow motion. A deep breath, then—

“…They said you’ll start your period soon.”

I was too stunned to speak.

Part 4

“But, like, isn’t it a bit harsh to just blurt that out to someone who used to be a guy?” I said.

“It’s not like it’s something to make a big deal out of either. The doctor made it sound so ominous, I was freaking out thinking something major was wrong,” Mom replied.

“They said there’s nothing wrong with your health. Physically, like I just mentioned, no issues at all,” Dad added.

Sure, it’d be a lie to say I felt nothing about getting my period, but…

“Yeah, I guess it’s not a big deal,” I said.

That was my honest feeling. It was startling, sure, but last week I’d already been told I couldn’t go back to being a guy. This wasn’t something I’d imagined, but I wasn’t about to deny reality with an Oh, that can’t happen to me! attitude.

If even my internal anatomy had changed, it made sense. Periods? Menstruation? Wow, the wonders of life.

“They said it’ll probably start in two or three days. Shouldn’t you wear a pad or something?” Dad asked.

“Honey! Watch what you say in front of her!” Mom snapped, her hand swinging toward his back as he drove, defenseless.

“I’ll shower tonight and start wearing one,” I said.

“You too! Acting so casual makes me feel silly for worrying!” Mom exclaimed.

We grabbed lunch at a nearby diner, learning that beans and fish are good for periods—a surprisingly useful tidbit.

Part 5

“By the way, Jooyoung’s stopping by today,” Youngjin said, poking his head out from the kitchen.

“That’s good,” I replied.

He tilted his head, puzzled by my vague response. Maybe it was too ambiguous, but I didn’t feel like explaining. I’d already cleared it with his mom.

“It’s not like we haven’t seen her in forever. Why ‘good’?” he pressed.

This guy was too curious. He’d probably just get mad if I explained.

“I’m taking three days off starting tomorrow. So it’s good she’s coming while I’m here,” I said, a faint smirk tugging at my lips as I leaned into a detached tone.

His face scrunched up, even more confused. I was glad no customers were around.

“…A week into the job and you’re already taking a break?” he said.

“I got your mom’s permission.”

This isn’t for a normie like you to dig into. Drop it. I waved him off, and he finally seemed to get that I had my reasons, retreating to the kitchen. Not completely clueless, then.

“…Yawn.”

By my third shift, they’d decided I was competent enough to handle the front alone. During the crazy 2 p.m. rush, Youngjin or his mom would help, but that was it.

“Seeing how happy your mom was about the kitchen being less hectic, I can’t exactly complain…” I muttered.

Manning the counter alone for hours was, honestly, pretty boring. Not that I wanted a constant flood of customers, but still—boring was boring. A glance down the hall to the kitchen showed no signs of life. Youngjin had stormed off after my teasing.

“Maybe I’ll bring a small book next time,” I mused.

A pocket-sized book wouldn’t be a hassle to carry. If it was, I could get a crossbody bag for my wallet and phone too.

“But that’s for next shift.”

What to do now? I glanced through the glass wall. The asphalt shimmered under the blazing sun, and no one was around. No customers seemed imminent.

“…Maybe I’ll try a mobile game,” I thought.

Chatting with Sanghyeon’s viewers made it seem fun, and he’d recommended a few. Even if it wasn’t for streaming…

“…Wait, streaming?”

Why hadn’t I thought of that? I adjusted my phone’s volume to low and opened the streaming app I’d installed but barely used. Not having earphones was a slight regret, but not a big deal.

Part 6

“She’s been mentioned a ton lately. Is she really that big a deal?” Bonfire asked.

• You’re on the streaming boards more than the mods lol. Haven’t you seen the pics?
• Since she showed her face, it’s all anyone talks about. You haven’t seen them? Total cap.

“I only check the boards to catch people stealing my art and using it however they want,” Bonfire shot back.

• Breaking: Bonfire says no streamer but him is worth reading about, stirs controversy. Another case of living up to his name?

“Don’t waste donations on nonsense. Thanks for the 5,000 won, though.”

Bonfire, aka “Campfire” or “Kindling,” was a masculine, commercial artist who knew where to draw the line despite his reputation. He was cautious, aware of how much trouble careless comments could cause. That’s why he rarely mentioned other streamers on his channel, especially those he wasn’t close with. But this situation—constant mentions of her for a week straight—was too much to ignore.

• She’s prettier than 2D.
• Nunabbattajo’s like 2.5D lol.

“You guys hyping her up on my stream are the least convincing,” Bonfire said.

He was genuinely curious now. Afraid of slipping up, he avoided clicking on posts about others, but this time, he opened the board on stream—a rare sight for his viewers. Minimizing the rough sketch he’d been working on for 30 minutes, he switched from his tablet to his mouse and keyboard, searching for “Cheungjeokun.”

“Do I need to add ‘Nunabbattajo’ or something…?” he muttered.

The page loaded quickly, and his lips clamped shut. He’d worried about filtering for her name, but it was unnecessary—her posts dominated. You’d have to exclude ‘sister’ to find anything about Cheungjeokun himself.

“If I think it’s overhyped, I’m banning everyone who’s been begging for a collab sketch,” he said.

• Won’t happen.
• No one in Korea could think that.
• Fr lol.

“Pick one to open,” he said, offering a handicap.

The chat pointed to a recent post titled “Nunabbattajo stretching.” It was overwhelmingly recommended. Even my paid commissions didn’t get this much buzz in a day. He kept his expression neutral—years of streaming experience helped—though his cam was off anyway. Clicking the post, he braced himself. Female streamers aren’t even rare these days. Why the fuss?

A brief loading screen, then a dazzling cascade of honey-blonde hair glimmered under soft lighting. Bonfire’s eyes froze.

• Yo, it’s just her neck up!
• Scroll down!
• Kindling!!!! Stream freeze again?!

“…Sorry, sorry,” he stammered.

Thank god the cam’s off. Really, thank god. His widened eyes betrayed him as he thought it.

• Wow… never gets old.
• This is the streaming board’s Pulitzer Prize fr.

Just a screenshot of a girl stretching her arms overhead. No fancy composition, no heavy edits—just a basic capture with a watermark from a free program. Yet Bonfire was speechless. Okay, I get the hype. She was… striking.

Slender. Her thin frame stretched gracefully, yet it didn’t look awkward—she clearly took care of herself. Her body screamed slender charm.

But more than that, her sleepy, narrowed golden eyes and delicate features held his gaze. If he hadn’t known it was a photo, he’d have thought it was a stylized illustration with a touch of subculture flair.

Her slightly parted lips, faintly flushed cheeks, and eyes sparkling under the monitor’s light—they didn’t seem real.

• Gonna ban us?
• He admits defeat!

The teasing chat didn’t faze him. He just lowered his head, needing a moment to cool off. Speaking now, he wasn’t sure what he’d say.

“…Wow, she’s… really stunning,” he managed.

• Lmaooo.
• 15-year otaku vet Bonfire surrenders to 3D!

“No, this is straight-up unfair. With visuals like that, I’d beg to draw her myself,” he said.

The chat was right to lose it. He had to admit it. As he found his voice again—

• Loved the art. Over-the-top praise is embarrassing… Keep it up!

“Thanks for the 5,000 won, Nunabbattajo-nim… wait, what?”

• ?
• Is that real?
• It’s HER?!
• Same ID as her solo stream last time?!

A brief commotion erupted. The donor had left the stream, nowhere to be found in the viewer list.