Cherreads

Chapter 63 - Chapter 63: In this outfit as it is

"...Joonhyung?"

Fuck, no...!

I'm not fucking ready for this.

"Pretty weird name for a chick."

"Yeah, for real."

...Oh...

Juha and Yoo In-ha turn away with blank faces.

They're not connecting it to me.

Guess it's too fucking wild to think it's me.

"Yo, Joonhyung.

I'll handle the line, go help Myung-jun.

He's getting slammed solo."

"Uh... yeah, sure."

Now that I think about it...

Kim Myung-jun's been out there hustling alone.

Not like he needs much—girls swarm in just locking eyes with him.

Still, wrangling crowds solo ain't easy.

"Rough out there, huh?"

"Little tiring, yeah."

Myung-jun's not some loud, in-your-face type.

He looks kinda drained, more beat than before.

He glances at me and smirks.

"Dohyun was saying we hit up a hanbok place during the festival.

Gonna be tough like this, huh?"

"Yeah... probably."

Cross-dressing and serving all festival long...

Hard to roll up looking normal.

Could ask for a day off, but...

"Let's take a breather."

"Yeah, cool."

Tent's packed, line's a fucking mile long.

Hustling more customers ain't gonna help.

Myung-jun slaps his legs and flops onto a stone wall.

My legs are killing me too...

Sitting there, staring at passersby, I catch their glances.

Why the fuck they looking?

"You're pretty!"

...Huh?

Me?

Some waiting customers shout at me like I'm supposed to hear.

I'm not a fucking chick! How do I even respond?

"T-Thanks..."

They fucking with me 'cause they know I'm a dude?

Face goes red as I cover it.

Never got called hot, but pretty? Should I laugh or cry?

"Looks good on you!"

Fuck off with that!

Guess they're bored waiting, throwing shade my way.

Can't yell back that I'm a guy...

Gotta run. I start to get up, but a stare stops me.

Yoo In-ha's glaring, her face cold as fuck.

That pissed-off vibe hits me like a brick.

"Uh..."

She's not just looking at me...

It's me and Myung-jun.

Her scowl screams she's not happy.

What... she's misunderstanding? I'm not a chick! Not your gal pal!

She catches my eye and turns away, still pissed.

Now I remember—she's into Myung-jun.

Hearing "you look good together" got her heated?

...She jealous of me? No fucking way.

I'm Joonhyung, not a goddamn girl!

"Ha... haha..."

All I can do is laugh like an idiot.

Today's a fucking wild ride.

---

Line's not moving at all.

Juha and Yoo In-ha still haven't gotten a table.

Added more tables, but it's still a shitshow.

Fuck...

What do I do?

Gotta talk to them, but when? I'm blanking.

They'll either call me a "crazy fuck" or "gotcha, you're fucked now" the second they see me.

Fuck, I'm screwed!

[Juha: Where you at?]

[Juha: What you doing?]

[Juha: Yo, what's up?]

[Juha: Answer, asshole.]

Missed calls piling up on KakaoTalk.

Wait any longer, and I'm fucking done for.

I peek at Juha in the line—her face is getting pissier by the second.

"This fucker doesn't even show his face after we came all this way?" her glare says.

[Yoo In-ha: Yo, where you at?]

[Yoo In-ha: Why you ghosting, fucker?]

[Yoo In-ha: Juha's pissed, you're fucked lol.]

[Yoo In-ha: Where you go? Trip and die? What's up?]

Fuuuck!

Why they gotta show up on day one?

Can't rip off the wig or wipe off the makeup!

Panicking, stomping my feet, when cheers erupt nearby.

"Hell yeah! It's blowing up on ETA!"

"What's up?"

ETA? The fuck's that?

Senior comes over, grinning, and hands me his phone.

What's this? Everytime... college board? This a thing?

"Joonhyung, you're all over it!"

"Huh... what?"

What the fuck!

I snatch the phone and check the posts.

What is this shit!

[Anonymous: What's with the chick serving at the engineering building?

Wasn't female servers and promos banned this year?

There's a girl serving? What's up? Should I report?]

[Anonymous2: That's not a chick lol.]

[Anonymous3: ?]

[Anonymous2: It's a dude cross-dressing lol. (Likes: 50)]

[Anonymous4: ???]

[Anonymous: For real, the server's a guy?

No cap? If true, that's wild.]

[Anonymous2: Gay...]

[Anonymous3: Gay gay...]

[Anonymous5: Super gay...]

[Anonymous: Need his name ASAP.

Year, name, number, quick!]

[Anonymous2: Gay...]

[Admin: Please follow board rules ^^

No personal info allowed.]

No, fuck no!

I said no rumors! No fucking rumors!

This ain't the time to be grinning!

"Spread the word! Hot guy serving at the engineering building!"

"No way!"

My name and department's gonna leak!

"Chill, don't freak.

Ask them to delete it. Department's about to get outed."

"Ugh, boring..."

Thank fuck.

One senior steps in, and I'm barely saved.

If this spreads, I'm done. I quit!

At least no one's staring too much...

Guess most people outside don't know.

No one's coming 'cause of the post, right?

Please, just go do your own shit...

---

"Fuck, this is annoying."

Juha's face looks cold as ice.

I'm so fucked.

They're seated, snacks out, chugging makgeoli awkwardly.

"This is so fucking boring."

"He's not even picking up."

"At least text back, damn..."

"He get in an accident or something?"

"What accident?"

I did have an accident...

A fucking disaster. How'd it come to this?

"Should we ask? Like, where's Joonhyung? We came 'cause he's at the pub."

"Yeah, do it."

I can't dodge this anymore.

I rush to the mirror, fixing my look.

Fuck, I can't go out like this... Why me?

Deep breath, turn around.

No choice now. Big breath, and I march over.

"Seniors, my friends are here, gonna check on them."

"Huh? Yeah, go."

Dragging this out'll just piss everyone off.

I steel myself and stand at Juha and Yoo In-ha's table.

"?"

"?"

Juha raises an eyebrow, staring.

What's this chick doing here?

Yoo In-ha's eyes go wide, gawking.

We didn't order anything.

"Ugh..."

Can't speak...

I cover my face, shaking like a leaf.

This is a nightmare... a fucking nightmare. Punishment for being a perv.

Deep breath, I sit down.

They look confused as hell by the random join.

Why's she sitting here?

"We... didn't order anything."

"It's me..."

Can't even look up. I'm gonna fucking die.

"Huh?"

"It's Joonhyung... Joonhyung..."

Time slows to a crawl.

Juha's face shifts from question marks to exclamation points.

"No way, I thought you looked familiar—"

"What the fuck! Don't bullshit!"

Yoo In-ha freaks, grabbing my cheeks.

Fuck! My makeup! It's gonna smear!

She lifts my bangs, checking my forehead, face full of shock.

No way, is it that shocking?

"Stop fucking around!"

Don't lift my shit!

I grab her wrist fast. People are watching!

"It's... it's really him. It's Joonhyung..."

"No boobs?"

Juha tugs at my top.

No boobs, I got no boobs, stop it...

"No boobs, huh?"

Like I'd have any...

Juha cackles, smirking.

"No wonder you didn't answer... heh."

What's that laugh?

She's suddenly all hyped, sticking to me like glue.

Shoulder hug's a bit much... looks like a delinquent and her bitch boy.

"Hold up, so earlier..."

Yoo In-ha looks at me, stunned.

Earlier what?

She was jealous? Haha, that's right, it's me, fucker!

"Fuck..."

Yoo In-ha starts banging her head on the table.

Yo, the makgeoli's spilling!

"Juha, crack my head with a bottle..."

"Soju bottle?"

"Just kill me, I'm done..."

Quiet down! Everyone's staring!

---

Stop fucking touching me...

Juha's poking and prodding like I'm a science experiment.

Cheeks, arms, thighs... yo, where's your hand going?

"Yo, chill..."

"The more I look, the wilder this is."

I'm weirded out too...

Reality's hitting hard.

At least she's not pissed anymore. She was a storm cloud earlier.

"Fuck..."

Yoo In-ha rubs her forehead, glaring.

Why... why you staring? You're the one who misunderstood...

"Told you to dress up, not cross-dress, you fuck."

...

It just happened...

Stop shoving your hands under my clothes!

"Here's some service! Joonhyung's friends, right?"

"Oh? Thanks!"

Senior, watching from afar, drops a pile of pancakes.

Service is a bit much... other tables are side-eyeing.

"Our Joonhyung's got friends like these."

"Joonhyung's senior, huh? Hey."

"Kim Gil-su, engineering, third year. Haha!"

Senior, you sound like an old man...

I glance over—department friends are staring. No, fuck...

"Can we get another makgeoli? We'll spread the word."

"Of course, of course! Yo, grab a makgeoli!"

...

Yoo In-ha, you sly bitch, charming people like it's nothing.

Pay for that makgeoli! No freebies!

"Eat up, call if you need anything."

"Thanks!"

"Our Joonhyung's got friends like these."

My shoulder...

Juha smirks, nudging me.

"Thought you were a total loser."

"I mean... I kinda am..."

"After this, what's up?"

After the pub? Probably cleanup or some shit.

Got stuff to do...

Juha grabs my side, pulling me close. Yo... why? This is sus...

"Text me when you're done."

Dunno when that'll be...

Juha gives me a weird look, slinging an arm around me.

"Don't go anywhere."

Why...?

"Stay in that outfit."

...Why the fuck?

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