Chapter 21: Promise

I regretted sending that message. It was something I wouldn’t normally do. But I was unusually impulsive today.

Regret washed over me, but it was too late. Or… could I still delete it? Yejin hadn’t read it yet; deleting it would erase it.

I decided to delete it and reached for my phone, but the message showed as “read.”

Ah. I should have done it sooner. She read it; I couldn’t delete it. It was too late.

What would Yejin think? Reading it again, it was incredibly random. “What are you doing?” Would she think it was annoying?

It was pointless worrying; I just needed to wait. But I was uneasy about the possibility of her finding it annoying.

I turned off my phone, closed my eyes, and counted to sixty. I needed time to calm my racing heart.

If she didn’t find it annoying, she’d reply within sixty seconds. This was the best option.

Even if she didn’t reply, I shouldn’t be disappointed. This happens all the time. Repeating this calmed me slightly.

Around fifty seconds in, I chuckled. My indecisiveness and negativity hadn’t changed, even after the gender change. I was ridiculous.

After sixty seconds, I picked up my phone. Checking her reply was the best option. Though it probably wouldn’t be good.

[Yejin: I’m watching YouTube. You?]

The best possible outcome, the opposite of what I expected. Relief and joy washed over me.

My heart was racing again. The negative thoughts vanished.

Human emotions are so unpredictable. The rapid change made me wonder if something was wrong with me.

But what if there was a problem? I’m more concerned with the present than the future; the present mattered.

[I was just lying in bed, using my phone.]

[Yejin: We’re in the same boat lol]

[Yejin: Bored?]

[I don’t have anything to do..]

[Yejin: Hmm, how about studying?]

[Studying is…]

[Yejin: lol Just kidding.]

[Yejin: Watching anything?]

[Yejin: Dramas or anime are fine too.]

Yejin noticed my unfamiliarity with this kind of messaging and skillfully kept the conversation flowing.

It was easier and more enjoyable than I expected. I wondered why I hadn’t realized this before. Unlike my initial anxiety, I felt reassured as we talked.

Talking to Yejin, I realized that even popular kids like anime. It was unexpected. Finding common ground eased the conversation.

[Yejin: Speaking of which, I need to go to the supermarket this weekend.]

[Yejin: I want to make pasta.]

As the anime topic ended, Yejin changed the subject. I needed to buy mapo tofu ingredients.

I had a week until the competition but needed to buy ingredients this weekend to prepare. I replied.

[Can you make pasta?]

[Right. I need to go to the supermarket too.]

[Yejin: Why?]

Should I be honest? Yejin seemed unaware of the Yuri Gallery, so it should be okay, right?

[I want to make mapo tofu!]

[But I don’t know the ingredients…]

[Yejin: Then, want to meet this weekend?]

What? My honest reply received an unexpected response. My brain froze.

[What?]

[Yejin: No?]

[No, I don’t mind….]

I quickly denied it. I didn’t mind, but her sudden suggestion surprised me.

[Yejin: I need to go to the supermarket, and you do too; it’d be better together.]

[Yejin: I’ve made mapo tofu lots of times!]

[Yejin: I can help you a lot!]

Yejin’s persuasion was rapid. It was just a shopping trip, so it’s fine, right?

Considering the frustrating blog, Yejin’s help would be invaluable.

But I worried she might find it inconvenient. Pasta is relatively simple—pasta, sauce, bacon, garlic, parsley—but mapo tofu looked incredibly time-consuming.

[But it’ll take a long time… are you okay with that?]

[I feel like I’m wasting your precious weekend…]

I sent the message; Yejin replied quickly. It was… strange.

[Yejin: It’s fine.]

[Yejin: I’d rather spend the weekend with you.]

It was a playful response. It wasn’t just a simple “okay.” Is this typical female communication? I didn’t know, having only recently changed gender. I decided to double-check.

[Really…? ]

[Yejin: Do I look like I’m lying?]

[Yejin: My sincerity is dismissed as a casual lie…]

[That wasn’t my intention…]

[Yejin: Just kidding.]

Everyone seemed particularly playful today. I sent an angry emoticon; she called it cute. I resigned myself.

[Yejin: Let’s make a plan!]

[A plan…? ]

[Yejin: Are you stupid??]

Making a plan for a simple shopping trip was baffling. Couldn’t we just meet and go?

But Yejin was so adamant, I reluctantly agreed. I had nothing else to do; it was convenient. And planning shouldn’t take long.

I regretted my casual agreement. Yejin was serious; she discussed the date, time, place, and even having dinner together.

…What? It was just supposed to be a shopping trip. The conversation shifted to dinner.

I wanted to object but stopped. Yejin did ask for my opinion during the planning. I’d been easily swayed by her detailed plan, agreeing to everything.

Objecting now felt awkward. It was my fault. And I wouldn’t mind meeting Yejin privately for dinner.

It was beneficial for both of us. Yejin excitedly finished the plan, saying she needed to study, adding that she was looking forward to the weekend.

Now what? The sudden silence after our lively online conversation felt empty.

“OO….”

Stretching, I made an odd sound. Embarrassed, I stopped and got up.

I slowly sat at my desk, turned on my laptop, and opened the Yuri Gallery, finding it unchanged.

But as a moderator, constant checks were necessary. The blue tag was optional, but I did it automatically.

That post about my sister was still up. It had only been banned for 10 minutes.

But the content was more explicit than before. Was she rebelling? Annoyed, I gave her a 30-minute ban.

I checked a few more posts before closing my laptop. Mom and my sister should be home by now.

I cautiously opened my door and saw my sister sprawled on the couch. She must have gotten off work. I hadn’t realized how much time I’d spent messaging.

My sister looked up, then stood abruptly and hugged me. She was tall for a woman; I was being hugged.

“Unnie…? Did you have a good day?”

”Yeah… I’ll just… hold you for a bit…”

Why is she acting like this? She was always so assertive; this was strange. She buried her face in my shoulder, muttering.

“Those b*tches…”

“Unnie?”

“Nothing. Can I… hold you a little longer?”

Her words were slurred; I didn’t understand and asked again. She made a request.

I didn’t know what was troubling her, but I nodded, hoping this would help.