The loud ringtone echoes through the room.
I thought they would've picked up by now, but no matter what, they just won't answer.
"Ah, fucking bitch… Why aren't you picking up…?"
My heart was restless.
So restless that I was stomping my feet in frustration.
…Right now, it felt like I was standing naked in the middle of the street. I wasn't sure, but that's exactly how I felt.
"Ah, shit…."
I bit down on my lip.
Sure, it stung for a second, but nothing changed.
"…Fucking bitch, why is it always when I need you that you pull this shit…?"
My frustration was reaching its peak.
My pounding heart had gone beyond calm—it felt like it had stopped entirely.
"Haaa…."
—The number you have dialed cannot be reached. Please try again later.
"Fuck! Fuck!!"
Rage surged through me as I slammed my fists against the bed.
But instead of cooling down, the heat in my face only intensified.
"Haah, ha… haaa…."
…Maybe I was overreacting.
Just who the hell was this, playing such a stupid prank on me…? If I ever found out, I swore I'd kill them.
Buzz—
Then, my phone vibrated.
The unfamiliar vibration made me scowl instinctively.
[You have received a message from an unknown sender.]
"You… fucking… piece of shit…."
That bastard I wanted to strangle was a year older than me.
But no guys from around here came to mind.
[Unknown: Hey~ Send the pic already 😂😂😂]
"…You disgusting pervert… You picked the wrong person to mess with…."
Random chatting—something I'd tried out of curiosity.
It was the worst decision ever.
If I could turn back time, I would've in a heartbeat.
[Unknown: You gonna text me if you leave? 😂😂😂 Don't run away~]
This bastard definitely knew me…
But how the hell did they figure it out?
My age? The snack bar? Living nearby? The photo I sent?
"Ugh, damn it…."
Each clue on its own was vague.
But put together, everything screamed me.
"…Stupid bitch. I must be insane…."
I never expected to run into someone I knew.
I just wanted to mess with some creep, that's all.
"…Ah!"
Then, the ringtone blared.
My hand moved like lightning, grabbing the phone.
"Hey! Why the hell weren't you picking up?!"
—Ah, you scared me! You crazy bitch, screaming out of nowhere!!
"Whatever. I need to ask you something."
—What, what is it? Why are you talking like that?
"…Was there a 21-year-old guy who lived near my place?"
—...Huh?
"I said, was there a guy a year older than me?"
—Hey! Park Eum-jik!!
"…I told you not to call me that. You wanna die?"
—Ahh!! Hey! Hey! Park Eun-ji's got a boyfriend!!
"What the hell are you talking about?! Hey! HEY!!"
The background noise erupted into chaos.
The other side of the call instantly turned into a circus.
—Finally, Eun-ji has a boyfriend too?!
—Who is it?! Name! NAME!!
"Ah… Seriously, you crazy bitches…."
My head throbbed.
My mind was already a tangled mess, ready to explode, and I didn't have the patience to deal with this. I just hung up.
Click—
I threw my phone down in irritation.
Then, I flopped face-first onto the bed.
"Haaa…."
No progress.
I needed to figure out who it was before I could decide whether to kill them or not. Calling Choi Ji-young just made my stress worse.
Buzz—
"Ah, for fuck's sake…."
What should I do…? Just do what they say…? But then what? What happens after?
Questions led to more questions.
And in the end, I realized I had no choice but to deny everything.
"…Just wait till I find out who you are…."
My hands trembled with anger.
I picked up the phone I'd just thrown.
Buzz—
[You have received a message from an unknown sender.]
What the hell did they have to say that was so urgent?
[Unknown: Pic]
[Unknown: Pic]
[Unknown: Pic]
Then, photos flooded in one after another.
I couldn't believe my eyes.
[Unknown: You stupid bitch 😂 The pic you sent is exactly the same as the ones Park Eun-ji posted?]
"Ah…."
A chill ran down my spine.
All I could think was—I'm screwed.
"...Ha, haha…."
The photos were from my SNS.
A hollow laugh escaped me.
Of course—the pajamas in the photo I'd just sent were the same ones I was wearing in pictures with my friends.
The bed, the blanket, even the hair falling over my shoulders—it all matched.
[Me: 😂 You got me.]
[Unknown: 😂😂😂😂😂]
[Me: I stole those pics from that girl… Had no idea you'd know her 😂 sorry]
[Unknown: Stole them?]
[Me: Yeah 😂 It's not me… My boobs aren't that big 😂😂😂.]
"…Fucking bastard…."
I had to play it off somehow.
My mind was screaming that I'd been caught.
[Me: Go jerk off to it if you think it's me 😂]
My pride was already shattered.
It pissed me off, but I thought this would be the end of it.
[Unknown: Nah, not interested in fake pics 😂]
[Me: Fake? What's that?]
"…What the hell is he talking about?"
I didn't get it.
But for some reason, it felt like an insult directed at me, and that pissed me off even more.
[Unknown: "No-ggol" means not turned on 😂]
"Are you fucking kidding me…?"
[Me: 😂… That's 'no-ggol'?]
[Unknown: Yeah. Even if you stripped naked in front of me, I wouldn't get hard 😂]
Like I'd ever strip naked in front of a creep like that. But for some reason, his words grated on my nerves.
[Me: What are you talking about 😂 Her boobs are insane 😂😂😂 Even I'm jealous, and I'm a girl.]
[Unknown: 😂😂😂 Really? As a guy, I'm not into fake boobs 😂 Wouldn't take it even if you offered.]
"…I wouldn't give it to you even if you begged, you bastard…."
Somehow, the situation seemed defused, but for some reason, he kept getting under my skin.
[Me: That girl wouldn't give it to someone like you anyway 😂😂😂.]
[Unknown: Like I said, wouldn't take it.]
[Me: I said she wouldn't give it, dumbass!]
[Unknown: And I said I wouldn't take it.]
"Ah… You're really pissing me off…."
Wasting time on this bastard was pointless.
"Huu…."
Just as I was about to leave, thinking it was over—
[Unknown: Hey 😂 The pic you sent isn't on her SNS.]
"...."
[Me: Really? Maybe she deleted it 😂.]
[Unknown: Deleted my ass 😂😂😂]
What the hell?
What was he getting at? Why was he making me so anxious?
"Haah, huu… haaa…."
Buzz—
Another vibration.
This time, it wasn't the random chat.
[Choi Ji-young: 😂😂😂 Everyone's freaking out about who's a year older than you 😂😂😂]
[Me: 😑]
[Choi Ji-young: Ah~ Why so scary~?]
[Me: Fuck off, bitch]
[Choi Ji-young: 😂😂😂 Hey, but seriously, why a year older?]
[Me: Shut up.]
[Choi Ji-young: 🥺 So mean.]
"Haa…."
I exhaled sharply, ready to throw my phone across the room again.
I didn't want to think—my mind was already a mess.
[Choi Ji-young: Or just ask your errand boy 😂 How am I supposed to know all the dickheads in your neighborhood?]
"Ah…."
Ji-young's words suddenly made something click.
I immediately dialed a number.
Ring— Ring—
—H-Hello?!
The voice answered after just two rings, and the corner of my mouth twitched upward.
"Hey, what are you doing?"
—Me? Just, uh, out for a bit…
"Whatever. Do you know any guys a year older than me who live around here?"
—Ah… Older than us?
"Yeah. Older."
—Uh… Hmm, I… don't really know…?
"Then what good are you?"
—Ah, what should I do?
"Come find me. Figure out who it is."
—Uh, okay.
His voice was the same as always.
Outwardly, he looked fine—but that was it.
That pathetic voice… The way he couldn't hide it… There was something about it.
I didn't know what, exactly.
But something about it kept irritating me.
"Hey."
—Huh, yeah?
"…Are you laughing?"
—Wh-What?
"What, something good happen? You're grinning like an idiot today."
—Ah… Was I…?
Only the sound of wind came through the phone after that.
He waited quietly until I hung up.
"Hey."
—Uh, yeah?
"Where are you?"
—…Outside…
"No, where outside?"
—I was hungry, so I went out to eat.
"Huu…."
—…Why?
Maybe I needed someone to take my anger out on.
This frustration, boiling over—I needed someone to unleash it on.
"Get to my place in 10 minutes."
—…Now?
"I said now."
—Uh, I'll be right there!
From the other end, I heard running, then heavy breathing.
"Where are you, huh?"
—Here! Now! I just passed, uh, C-Cono!
"That was fast? Get here in 3 minutes."
—Uh, okay!
His panting breaths, the sound of him struggling—my lips curled into a smirk.
"Did you pass the convenience store yet?"
—Hah, huu! Just passed it! Need something?!
That strange feeling from before was mostly gone.
He was panting, just like always, doing exactly what I told him to.
"Nah, just come."
I felt good.
The image of him drenched in sweat, gasping for air, yet still avoiding my eyes—it made me feel even better.