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Chapter 74 - Chapter 74: Fortune-telling

"Fuck, so many people..."

Whoa, for real.

Over there, where the stage is.

The girl group news has it packed already.

Ugh, this is beyond just not seeing—it's watch-from-a-distance level.

"Wow..."

The path's getting clogged even now.

Might have to give up on watching...

So many outsiders, it's insane...

"Ugh... should we just skip it?"

Park Ye-young grumbles, annoyed.

Might be better to catch it at another school's festival... why's it so crowded today?

Still, feeling reluctant to leave, I follow the crowd like I'm possessed.

"Ugh, fuck..."

"Hoo..."

It's dark, and with this crowd, hope there's no accident...

"Stay in line!"

"Don't push! Keep the spacing!"

Staff are shouting, running around like crazy.

Total chaos. The girl group's not the issue—breathing is.

"Hmm..."

Too many people; the closer we get, the less I see.

I'm not even that short, but tall people keep blocking my view.

Gotta stand on tiptoes or something...

"..."

If I'm barely seeing, Park Ye-young's like hitting a wall.

Kinda funny... the closer we get, she's just staring at people's backs.

"Fuck..."

Haha...

She's not small, but she's a total shrimp here.

Most girls are hopping to see over the crowd.

Gotta give up... better to watch from the library stairs.

Or zoom in with a phone camera or bring a telescope, fuck...

"Ugh, so annoying..."

She's used to front-row views at school, never felt this humiliated.

Back then, she'd say "move" and people would scatter.

But here? Can't do that with all these outsiders...

"..."

She glances up at me.

I already know what she's gonna say...

"Lift me up once."

"Hoo..."

Lift her...

Not sure if I can. Won't my arms fall off?

I'll try, but...

"Uh... how much do you weigh?"

"Wanna die?"

Knew it...

Her thick thighs and chest catch my eye. Those thighs look heavy...

Maybe 55kg? Definitely not in the 40s.

If she's heavier than Yoo In-ha, I'm fucked!

Her waist looks slim, though...

Lighter than Yoo In-ha? Maybe not?

"I'll try lifting..."

My life...

How do I even do this?

Grab her thighs or waist? Kinda confusing.

Waist first, I guess?

She relaxes, letting me grab her.

Her slim waist... feels weird...

I steady my breathing, hands on her hips below her waist.

Here goes, with both hands...!

Hnggh...!

"Hnnggh...!"

H-Heavy, fuck! So fucking heavy!

"Wow, Joonhyung!"

She cheers, floating up.

S-Stay still! It's *so* heavy!

"C-Can you see? See anything?"

"See it perfectly, fuck. The view's insane!"

Of course, my view's like 190cm now!

Ughhh... my arms are breaking!

"J-Just come down for a sec."

"Why?"

'Cause you're fucking heavy!

Lifting's impossible. Piggyback's better. Or carry her on my back...

My arms trembling, I lower her.

She's all excited, flushed, urging me.

"Fuck, it's so clear up there! So fun!"

"L-Lifting's not happening. Piggyback's better."

"Oh, okay!"

Wait.

My neck's not gonna snap, right?

Never done this before, kinda worried... fuck it.

Wait, why am I giving her a piggyback, fuck?

"H-Hold on, hold on."

People keep pushing, no space...

I crouch awkwardly, barely managing.

She giggles, grabbing my shoulders.

"Climbing on?"

"Y-Yeah..."

S-Slowly...

Her face tenses slightly as she sits on my shoulders.

Heavy feeling... I feel her ass... no, I mean, it's *so* heavy...!

"Hnnggh...!"

Arghhh!

My eyes feel like they're popping!

I grip her ankles, forcing my legs to stand.

H-Hoo... feels like oxygen's cut off to my brain...

"Fuck, this is awesome!"

"C-Can... you see...?"

"See it perfectly, crazy!"

I-I can't see... my head's drooping...

What am I doing...? Feels like high school all over again...

"Ugh, what the hell?"

Annoyed voices from behind.

Probably 'cause I'm blocking their view... I-I wanna get down too...

She notices, looks back, and laughs.

"Yo, it's fine. Just get down."

"Hnng..."

T-Thank god...

She hops off, looking relieved, smiling.

"That was fun."

Glad *you* had fun...

"Guys being tall feels like this, huh?"

Not even guys get that view...

She smirks, smacking me.

"Alright, let's check out something else."

---

My neck...

Shouldn't have lifted her.

Almost died...

"Hnng..."

She narrows her eyes at my reaction.

H-Hik...

"Am I *that* heavy?"

"N-No, not *that* heavy..."

"What's 'not heavy'? You're dying over there."

Common sense—it can't be light.

If she was like 40kg, maybe I could've managed...

Feels like at least 50kg... normal, but still...

Her body's kinda full, didn't expect light...

She looks slim, so I thought I could handle it...

Guess not.

You learn by lifting... now I can guess weight by looks...

"Anything to do?"

She loses interest, arms crossed, scanning around.

Everyone's at the girl group, so nothing's happening.

Flea market and food trucks are empty...

Some food trucks have a couple people holding down the fort.

"Wanna get chicken skewers?"

She shuffles over but stops.

Skewers are 7,000 won. Real?

Smaller ones are 5,000, but still pricey...

"..."

She stares at the price tag, then turns away.

Why not eat? It's expensive, but festival food's worth it...

"Want me to buy?"

"You rich? Nah."

Not *that* rich.

Feels like Kim's sucking me dry, so I'm hesitant...

She chugs cheap water, sighing, and sits on a bench.

Far off, the MC yells, "Here we go!" with cheers erupting.

"..."

"..."

What are we doing here?

She leans back, looking tired.

Why come to me instead of friends? She's not friendless... saw her with department buddies in the hall...

Just came 'cause I'm cross-dressing? Hmm...

*Boom boom boom.*

Amplifiers echo from afar.

Cheers over there, silence here... makes me sweat...

No clue what to say...

*Pop.*

Her eyes lock onto something.

Tarot and fortune-telling... hoo...

"Wanna try?"

"Think it's paid."

Paid? Not students doing it?

I glance—some old guy pacing inside. Must be an outsider.

"I'll cover. Nothing else to do."

"You rich?"

"Just got some cash from the pub."

Actually from OnlyFans, but whatever.

She glances at the fortune-telling tent, curious.

Girls must have a system that pulls them to this stuff... wild.

"Let's go."

Better than wasting time on a bench...

---

"Hello."

Hoo... why's he ignoring my greeting?

The fortune-teller glances up, nodding slightly. Thought he was middle-aged, but he's an old man.

Is that a "sit down"? Why so unfriendly!

"Students?"

"Y-Yes."

"From this school?"

"Yes, yes."

Discount for students?

...His face says no chance. I'll shut up.

"What do you wanna know?"

Hoo...

What's this place good at? Need to know to ask...

His attitude's got Park Ye-young crossing her arms, already pissed.

C-Calm down. She looks ready to snap. We haven't even started! Chill!

"Wanna do fortune-telling... what's the best thing here?"

"Not a food stall, what's 'best'? I just do it."

O-Okay...

"Do our fortunes..."

"Both?"

"Y-Yes, both."

Looks like it's about 100,000 won.

Fucking expensive. Shouldn't have come... but leaving's awkward now.

"Write your name, birthdate, time of birth."

Joonhyung. Birthdate. Evening. And male.

Just in case he didn't notice, I scribble "male" next to it.

Park Ye-young grudgingly writes her info.

"Yo, do tarot. Fortune-telling's too pricey."

"..."

He can hear you... whisper...

Tarot's not cheap either, but fortune-telling's better, right? It's based on info, not just cards.

I remember going with my dad as a kid. Been a while...

"Alright, Joonhyung. Male. Let's see."

He flips through a book, sighing heavily.

Why the sigh from the start? Scary as fuck...

"Not exactly a great fate."

What!

I mean, I knew my fate wasn't great, but...

"You'll struggle your whole life and die.

From youth to middle age to old age, a downright rough fate.

Only saving grace is being born male, so you avoid some harsh stuff."

...

I just wanna leave. He stares at me.

W-Why my face? Reading my face too?

"But you've got plenty of women."

Huh?

What's that outta nowhere...

He grins, chuckling.

"You've got two or three around you now.

No need to worry about women with this fate."

"I-I-I'm a forever-alone..."

"Bullshit."

...Isn't this a fortune-telling place? A psychic shop?

Park Ye-young perks up at the women talk, leaning in.

"You'll crash and burn if you gamble. Get a regular company job, you'll do fine. Or that broadcasting thing you're doing—that's a good path too."

"W-What broadcasting?"

"You know what."

...OnlyFans? No way?

How far does this old man see? Is he guessing or does he *know*, fuck?

"Focus on what you're doing now. Don't think about other stuff. Making money's the best. Keeping it's another fate, though."

"...Uh..."

Does he know or not?

It's so vague, feels like he knows *and* doesn't...

If he knows, that's fucking creepy!

"Anything else?"

...That's it? Too short for paid! I scramble.

"Uh, uh, love fortune? Like, girlfriend stuff..."

"?"

His face tilts, confused. Why... why?

"You want a girlfriend too? You're a real horn-dog.

Got some lust in you. If you're already having sex—"

"AAAGH!"

Stop! Stop! I clamp his mouth shut.

"F-Fuck, where you putting your hands—"

"J-Job fortune! Money fortune! Do those too!"

He spits, wiping his mouth, looking pissed.

"Told you. Normal life, get a company job. Wanna ruin your life, go gamble. Wanna make it big, focus on that adult industry thing—"

"AAAAH!"

Okay! I get it! Stop!

"This kid on drugs or what? Interrupting an elder!"

"S-Sorry..."

"Money's up to you. Save, and you'll save. Spend, and you'll spend. If the girls around you blow it, your pockets empty. Try to save, and it'll stack. Your call."

Like a fortune cookie... but weirdly specific... does he watch OnlyFans?

"Thanks..."

He smirks, crossing his legs.

"At your age, girlfriends seem important. Want a normal girl? Put in effort. You'll find a decent one. But if I were you, I'd just have sex. Life's about sex. That's it. Think you'll care about girlfriends when you're dying? Kids don't get it."

Stop with the sex talk... too blunt...

I give up blocking him...

Park Ye-young narrows her eyes at my freakout.

'What's with Joonhyung? Is this guy good?'

She's calmer now, eyeing the old man.

She didn't hear that, right...?

He taps his fan, moving on.

"Next. Park Ye-young."

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