What'd the KakaoTalk say?
Cold sweat drips down my back.
Pretty sure I turned off notifications recently...
"What do you *think* it said?"
...How would I know?
Dozens, hundreds of possibilities flash through my mind.
No way it's about OnlyFans at this hour...
Or maybe? Juha's got a flipped sleep schedule, so she might've...
"D-Don't know..."
Can't say till I see it...
Feels like she's testing me.
Maybe probing about what the fortune-teller said yesterday...
*Stare.*
Her gaze locks onto me.
Dark hair falling, impossible to read her thoughts...
"Why're you holding that bottle?"
"Huh?"
Oh, I didn't even realize...
Her eyes narrow.
"...Gonna bash my head with it?"
"N-No, just cleaning up—"
Honestly, if she mentioned OnlyFans, I might've swung without thinking...
She hands me the phone with a blank face.
"Says she got the gift."
"Gift?"
Oh...
That. Hah...
My body relaxes.
The pillow I sent via same-day delivery. Guess it just arrived. Fuck...
"Hah..."
Thought it was something else.
Like Yoo In-ha saying, *OnlyFans payment came through!* or some shit...
"You guys exchanging gifts?
Thought you barely hung out."
...Uh... did I say that?
Forgot I lied...
"Seems you're close. Giving gifts and all."
She props her chin, tilting the phone.
Probably annoyed 'cause of her fight with Juri. Gets low whenever Juha or Juri come up...
Not my business, though. Their fight, not mine. Can't help getting messages...
*Grip.*
My hand tightens on the phone.
Her weird expression, hand trembling as she grips it.
H-Hik... give it back or don't! Why hold it like that?!
"Ugh."
*Thud.* Why's she sulking?
She leans back on the sofa, turning away.
Sulking at me won't fix anything.
Brief silence lingers.
Let's clean up and get outta here.
She slowly combs her hair with her hand and stands.
"Let's clean up and go..."
---
[Juha: What's with the pillow?]
[Juha: A gift?]
Phew, nothing major.
No way she'd bring *that* up at dawn...
Did Yoo In-ha upload her video? Or still debating?
*OnlyFans...*
...She uploaded.
Not the main video, but the test one from before.
Testing the waters, huh?
"Hnng..."
Not checking it now...
I pocket my phone and rest my head on the desk.
Post-festival, I feel... empty. I close my eyes.
Got class, but don't feel like going today.
*May...*
Lots to do.
Poker prelims, sports festival, volunteer work, and field trips before finals.
Volunteer hours or photos from some expo or whatever.
Wonder if Yoo In-ha's done hers.
[In-jae: Joonhyung]
[In-jae: Long time lol]
[In-jae: Teacher's Day—wanna visit our homeroom teacher? Others are going]
[In-jae: Sent via KakaoTalk 'cause I don't know Insta]
Oh, In-jae.
Elementary school friend. Been a while.
Right, Teacher's Day is the 15th. Went last year too...
[Yeah, I'm down]
Now that I think about it, middle school friends might hit me up too.
Wasn't a bread shuttle back then... fuck...
[Don't have an Insta lol]
Fuck, like I'd have Instagram!
My KakaoTalk profile's blank—why would I have Insta?
Felt like friends' messages were getting rarer... are they all on Insta? Nah...
[In-jae: Oh lol, I'll make a group chat later]
Cool, cool...
Been a while since I saw elementary friends.
Last year we met, but not many showed up. They were seniors...
Wonder who's coming this time.
"Hah..."
Suddenly don't wanna go.
They'll ask where I go to college.
Am I okay? Where'd they end up? Good schools? Heard some are retaking exams...
"Fuck."
Feeling pathetic.
Sometimes their KakaoTalk profiles look so flashy...
Some have girlfriends, went to good colleges, even drive cars already.
Some got jobs from vocational schools...
"Hah..."
What am I doing?
Thought I'd just study hard...
But is that enough? Should apply for scholarships too.
Uncle helped with government aid for freshman year, but what about sophomore year?
Was gonna go to the military and figure it out later.
March and April flew by, and reality's hitting.
Kinda settled in, and finals in June are coming fast.
Then summer break.
What about the military?
Was gonna figure out aid for sophomore year after the military.
Save up for tuition and living expenses there...
"Argh..."
Others go after sophomore year.
Should I do that?
OnlyFans might cover tuition if I keep at it.
Or go after freshman year?
Still got till December...
"Fuck."
Military... fuck...
Thought we'd be unified by 20.
Next year, maybe? No way... North Korea, unify already!
"Hngh..."
They said it'd unify! Why hasn't it?!
Why not, damn it...
"Military... military..."
Seniors keep yapping about it, driving me nuts.
More returnees are showing up at the club, talking military.
Didn't see them much in March or April, but May's full of them.
Were they avoiding it 'cause it was awkward?
"Going right after first semester's the real deal."
"Nah, hold out till 30. If you don't get public service, break a leg."
"That's the real tip lol."
"Don't go army. Navy or air force, period..."
Ugh, my head hurts.
But if I go to the military...
What happens to OnlyFans?
Never thought about that.
Live off saved money for two years?
Or they find another guy to shoot with? No way...
Shoot during leave? Feels weird imagining it...
"Hah... whatever..."
Don't think about the military.
North Korea's collapsing by December...
Unification's coming... they'll wave a white flag...
"..."
Cheek on the desk, I blink.
Calendar says May 8th.
Parents' Day.
"...Ugh."
Don't think about it...
---
"Class dismissed. Meet the assignment deadline~."
"Good work."
Ugh... slept...
Think I slept through the whole two-hour lecture...
*Wipe.*
Oh, drool...
Hope no one saw.
I swallow, slowly lifting my head.
First time sleeping through a two-hour class... am I crazy?
What do I do about this lecture?
I grab my stuff and stumble up. Last class today...
Guilty but refreshed, fuck... tomorrow's the weekend...
[Juha: Checked OnlyFans?]
Got a message from Juha...
I rub my eyes and scroll up.
[Haven't yet.]
Talking about Yoo In-ha's upload?
Feels weird to check... haven't looked.
Didn't check comments either, just saw it's up...
[Juha: Comments are wild]
Why... why?
Bad reaction? Haven't checked, so I don't know.
[Juha: They're going nuts asking when I'm uploading]
...Oh, that's what it was?
Thought she meant Yoo In-ha's blew up.
Now that I think about it, it's been ages since Juha uploaded.
Haven't shot recently either.
I was busy, Juha had her mental breakdown, and Yoo In-ha caused drama...
No time to shoot properly.
[Yeah, it's about time...]
Are people pissed?
Guess we've been taking subscription money without uploading much.
Feels kinda bad...
[Juha: What should we shoot?]
Yeah...
What to shoot? Can't think of anything off the bat.
Something mildly spicy like before should work...
But not the choking shit...
[Juha: Come over when you're free]
[Alright...]
Got an afterparty tonight, so probably not today...
Tomorrow? Gotta think about what to shoot first...
There was that sponsor too. Need to talk about that...
"Argh..."
Been a while since I hung with Juha.
Feels weirdly exciting.
So long it's like my brain's already reacting.
"..."
Gotta sit for a sec.
Something's... rising...
I sit in the hallway, puffing up my pocket. Looks like I'm a fucking pervert.
Hah...
No word from Yoo In-ha.
Guess I wouldn't know what to say either.
Thought we'd run into each other at school.
What do I say if we do? How do I act? Just... *"Uh, hi..."*?
*H-Hmm...*
It's getting harder...
Forgot about it, but now it's back.
Her slim shoulders, waist... face heating up.
Just seeing shoulders makes me flutter, fuck...
"Yo, Joonhyung. What's up?"
"Eek! Senior."
Fuck, of all times...
Can't stand up now, what do I do?
"L-Leg cramp..."
"Oh, really?"
Third leg, but yeah...
He scratches his nose.
"Need a rub?"
"N-No, it'll go away soon..."
A guy rubbing it would make it go away fast...
"Alright, alright. Coming to the afterparty?"
"Y-Yeah, gotta go."
"Cool, cool. We're getting smashed tonight."
"Y-Yes..."
How much are they drinking...?
He waves, heading down the hall. Go already...
Was gonna drink lightly and leave.
If it gets wild, I'll dip early.
Or go straight to Juha's...?