1 – Song Ara
Insane.
Have I really seen such a bizarre composite?
I swear, I have no memory of taking such a picture.
A picture of me kissing Ara.
To burn that picture, I tried every evil thing to tear the frame apart.
But it won’t open at all.
It seems like it’s not the type that opens.
Come to think of it, I heard that things like pictures are sealed to maintain a completely vacuumed state to prevent oxidation when in contact with the air.
So, it’s like treasuring the photo of Ara and me kissing.
This is just ridiculous… Is this some kind of simulation?
“Ugh… Embarrassing, what the heck…”
I hadn’t even fully grasped the situation of being dragged to Ara’s house, let alone how to handle this photo.
First, I turned the frame around to hide it, then nervously rummaged through my pocket to take out my phone.
It was in there because that’s where I kept it.
What came out was not the cheap old smartphone I used as a spare, but an expensive, top-of-the-line Mango phone.
“Wow… so fancy, seriously…”
And there, Ara was shyly posing in a dress as the background of the phone.
My head was spinning.
The background was one thing, but this thing cost as much as half of the financial aid I received when I became independent.
Why on earth was this in my pocket?
Am I going crazy?
I swallowed hard and pressed the power button.
“It’s unlocked…”
As soon as the face recognition lock recognized my face, it unlocked.
It was a technology that Mango was proud of as an ‘innovation’, and I knew it well.
With the intention of reading through all the news and posts about Song Ara, I went through each one.
She hadn’t quit being an idol, and she was doing well on various TV shows.
It seemed like she was shooting a commercial almost every three days.
And I came across a shocking article.
‘Idol Song Ara, Marries 18-year-old Ordinary Man.’
Insane.
If she’s only 18, isn’t she the same age as me?
And to announce marriage at such a tender age, even if you’re an idol, there should be some limits.
I even read the comments below, sorted by likes.
ㄴSong Ara, you little thiefㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
ㄴWow, she was a damn girl. So envious.
ㄴShe probably married for money, don’t be fooled.
ㄴDo you even have that kind of money, you damn woman?ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
ㄴWait, isn’t she the second daughter of the chairman of the Seonghwa Group?
ㄴPlease, keep your delusions to yourself in your roomㅋㅋㅋ
A chaebol’s second generation stirring up trouble in the comments?
From Noble mtl dot com
It was so ridiculous that I couldn’t help but laugh.
And not a single comment criticizing Ara’s idol image.
Instead, most reactions were like envy, saying things like “I’m so jealous,” “Being a celebrity, offering set menus among each other,” and so on.
And then the picture from earlier came to mind.
Could it be… me marrying Ara?
Considering our age and all?
“What’s going on here…?”
And as I skim through other news, something feels off.
There are videos of a man involved in s*xual harassment and a male weather caster, quite an unusual sight, on the main banner.
“No way… A world where men and women have swapped places?”
It’s something I’ve only seen in online novels.
I’m convinced that’s what it is.
“Seolhwan, are you coming in?”
At that moment, without waiting for my response, Ara, wearing a white gown, opens the door and walks in.
I was startled by her unguarded appearance.
“Sis… Can you please cover up properly?”
“Hey, you’ve seen it all and done it all, so stop pretending.”
“Still, this is a matter of decency…!!”
“Okay, okay. So don’t get mad. You’ll faint again.”
Ara, instead, pats my head with concern.
Then, she leans in and lightly kisses me.
If I collapse from high blood pressure, it’s all Ara’s fault.
Seeing her smiling and giggling, unaware of others’ pace, as she takes off her gown and puts on underwear like a bra and panties, I felt embarrassed and lost.
It seems even I, a socially awkward person, have realized that the affection from the other side runs unexpectedly deep.
What on earth happened to me on this end?
Now, just graduated from high school and already getting married…
It doesn’t seem like it was a result of an accident…
And on top of that, the other party is a superstar idol…
Lost in thought for a while, the show of Ara changing clothes ended.
She was wearing a long-sleeved shirt and long pants, with sunglasses and a mask, and a hat pulled down low.
Ara’s outfit for going out was just as it was when she passed by in the hallway.
Seeing her come over here, it felt good for no reason because it was the first time I saw her “ordinariness.”
“Let’s go.”
I couldn’t bring myself to refuse Ara’s hand reaching out to me.
I held her hand tightly as if she were a child.
“You’re still young~ so cute.”
“…..”
An idol calling a high school student cute.
It seems difficult to understand the emotions of this world.
***
“Hey, look at her.”
“Huh? Isn’t that Seong-hwan?”
They are friends in the same class as Yoo Seong-hwan.
Although they have never had a deep conversation, they are not on bad terms, so it’s okay to call them “friends.”
If there were a vote for the most handsome guy in school, 130 out of 100 people would agree that it’s Yoo Seong-hwan.
Touched by the resonance of friendship.
“But who’s the person wearing sunglasses and a mask next to you?”
“Her hair is long, and she seems incredibly pretty. It’s a shame.”
“Did she catch a cold? Is she your girlfriend or something?”
“Seonghwan, who won’t even approach a girl, has a girlfriend? What a foolish guy.”
She wasn’t a girlfriend but a wife. However, neither her school friends nor the teachers knew. The teachers knew that Song Ara was a legal representative, but they didn’t inquire further due to personal privacy.
“Seeing her at the hospital, she must be sick.”
“Ugh, that annoying principal… why does he involve even guys and make them endure insults?”
“To be honest, isn’t it your fault? This is ridiculous.”
“What did you say, you woman?!”
They themselves sought the hospital, feeling like they might die from pelvic and leg pain, so they know well why Seonghwan came to the hospital.
The incident of female students graduating and causing a riot happened, and the principal declared that he would pick the noisiest class and rotate it every day.
And the first victim was Seonghwan and the girls’ class.
The boys were silent, but they expressed their anger at being rolled in the same situation, and the girls’ rebellious spirit was about to explode, asking why they were dragged into this mess.
But that rebellion was also quelled.
“Anyway, remember we agreed to have coffee and cake tomorrow?”
“Oh~ I’m so broke; I’m going to die. This is a big problem, a big problem. Can’t we switch to a Shake Shack burger?”
“Oh, you foolish girl, do you, the perpetrators, have the qualification to sit at the negotiating table?”
“I honestly know it’s not here.”
“You’re being honest again at a time like this.”
Still, she sighed deeply as she followed her friend, Bural(???).
***
“Patient 428~ What’s your name?”
“I’m Yoo Seonghwan. January 98….”
After finishing the reception at the outpatient department, I received treatment and went outside.
I didn’t have much to say to the doctor because I always came to the hospital for the same reason.
Still, when they gave me a medicine I had never received before, I took it.
Outside, Ara stretched her body out.
It seems stiff after sitting for a while.
“It’s dinner time. What should we do about food?”
“Dinner?”
“I mentioned it this morning. Let’s eat out today.”
“Did you… say that?”
“It’s really hurting a lot, isn’t it? If you keep hiding it, I’ll cry.”
“No, I’m really not in pain, so don’t worry.”
I lifted my arm and struck a muscular pose.
I didn’t have any muscles, but I wanted to show that I was healthy.
But suddenly, was Ara not pulling down the sleeve she had pulled up in a panic?
I let out a scream in sudden pain.
“I’m… I’m sorry…”
“Sis, since when did you become so strong…?”
“Huh? I’ve always been like this…”
Arа sis, a woman who once pressed our doorbell claiming she couldn’t open a jammed jar, was never capable of such strength.
She was definitely not someone who could exert that kind of force.
Could it be that the world had turned upside down, and even strength had become stronger in this gender-reversed universe?
“But still, you can’t show off your bare muscles outside, being a guy!”
“You’re surprisingly conservative.”
“It’s not about that! Other girls are watching, you know? Because he’s a guy, he should be careful!”
“Um…”
I pulled down my school uniform sleeves again and straightened my clothes properly.
Wearing the thick and oversized uniform, Ara’s eyes lit up with a big smile.
‘Indeed, cute.’
It seemed that Ara hadn’t changed much more than I thought.
***
“Ugh, disappointing.”
“We’ll go out to eat after the graduation ceremony.”
“Really?!”
Ara was alternating between being gloomy and brightening up.
Whoever sees this might think I have a condition like schizophrenia.
I simply suggested not eating out today, and the reaction was as if the lottery had been won when I proposed cooking at home.
It’s a topsy-turvy world between men and women, so isn’t it the man’s role to cook?
It seems I’ve never properly cooked for Ara.
“The side dishes at the banchan place are tasty, but what Seong-hwan makes is especially delicious.”
“I’m sorry. I can’t do it often.”
“Seong-hwan was busy with college entrance exams, too, you know?”
How can someone be so considerate?
Seems like Yoo Seong-hwan hasn’t properly cooked for his wife who feeds him.
I’m not an ungrateful piece of trash.
From now on, whenever Ara eats at home, my hands will definitely be involved.
“Now that graduation is approaching, I’ll take care of things regularly.”
“Really? I’m okay, but if Seong-hwan finds it difficult, um… I don’t have to.”
“Words and actions are separate.”
“Uh…”
Her sparkling eyes and hesitant refusal, filled with expectations, were a bit pitiful.
While driving, physical contact may be inappropriate, but at least patting her head should be fine.
“I’ll do well from now on, Ara noona.”
“Ugh….”
You can feel the wave of emotion flowing.
The ‘Sung-hwan’ here is definitely worse than I thought.
To think I’ve been neglecting such a devoted wife.
“Let’s stop by the mart first. I checked the fridge earlier, and there wasn’t much.”
“Okay, got it. Should we just go to our usual place?”
“I’m not sure, but let’s go there first.”
“Ugh, always joking around.”
She stepped on the gas as if testing the Ferrari’s zero-to-sixty performance.
By the way, she got a speeding ticket.