She was no different from a beast

Chapter 37

—–CROW—– 

“…Are we really sure about this?”

“Well, it’ll be fine. Yerin is there, too.  You said yourself that we could trust Yerin with Yuna.”

“I know, but…honey…you know how Yuna spent all that money she saved…”

Seriously. What’s with all the worrying?

It was early morning at the ferry terminal.  The ferry wasn’t leaving for a while, but we’d all come early to spend some quality time together as a family.

“I have a plan, you know?!”

“That’s what *I* thought. I thought our daughter was smartly investing in stocks, but it turns out she was throwing it away on bits of data. It’s almost funny.”

Ugh, this is why older people are so behind the times!

Stocks? Sure.

But I don’t have a stock account, and I don’t know anything about which companies are good investments right now. How am I supposed to play the stock market?

I still remember Mom and Dad’s faces when, before fifth grade, they saw me put all the money I’d earned working at the flower shop and fixing roofs into cryptocurrency.

* “Oh my? Honey?  What is that? Are you playing the stock market? Huh? Are stocks…supposed to be like this?”

* “?? No, this isn’t the stock market! Honey! Stop Yuna!!”

* “I’m going to Mars!  I’m going to Maaaars!!”

Dad, who kept up with current events through the news, freaked out when he saw me about to go all-in on crypto and yanked my hair.

Mom, startled by Dad’s reaction, clung to my arm, trying to pry my hand off the mouse. But the invincible Han Yuna still managed to put all her money into crypto!

Even now, but especially back then, as soon as crypto exchanges opened in Korea, all the so-called experts on the news were saying negative things like, “Why would you buy this?  You can’t buy anything with Bitcoin in Korea.”

But that’s just for now!  It’ll skyrocket by the time I graduate high school!

Just you wait. I’ll be back a millionaire!

“Anyway, my siblings will get sick if they stay out here too long. It’s a cold, windy winter day, so you should head home soon.”

“Daughter…aren’t you being a bit harsh to your mother, now that you’re older?”

“Wow, now that you’re going to the mainland, you’re going to treat your mom and dad like this?”

“What the…?”

Seriously?  Are they ganging up on me? That’s not what I meant at all.

I was just worried about my little twins in kindergarten.  It’s funny how they took it.

Anyway, a lot has happened.

I’ll change gradually, without rushing.

So Mom and Dad can feel comfortable letting me go.

Usually, that would mean becoming mature and independent enough to live on my own, but like Dad said, and like Mom said, I’m still a kid.

I’ve made memories, enough to feel sadness, but not loneliness.

I’ve played house with Mom, worn a naked apron, and almost got my head bashed in with a pot.

I’ve stuffed seaweed, which is good for pregnant women, into my panties and then pulled it out in front of Mom and Dad, only to get whacked with a ladle.

The three of us went to a villa, and I secretly opened a bottle of wine at night and got hit on the head with it.

I’ve walked on my hands in front of my adorable, toddling siblings to show off my big sister strength and gotten spanked by Mom.

Every year at the school sports day, I’ve dominated dodgeball, hitting kids in the face with the ball, making them cry, and getting scolded for it…

‘…’

Wait, are they getting rid of me because I’m too much to handle?

Why are all my memories filled with getting hit, scolded, and bruised?

“You have to listen to Yerin Unnie, okay?  And call every weekend.”

“Of course~! I have your numbers saved, so don’t worry!”

“How can we *not* worry? Honestly, I want to spend more time with you, Yuna…”

Hmm, Dad seems okay with me leaving now, but Mom still looks at me with longing as she strokes my hair, clearly not wanting me to go.

I smiled wryly and hugged her back…I’ll definitely miss this.

‘Mom’s boobs have gotten even bigger.’

I can’t believe this is the body of a woman who’s given birth to three kids, with her slim waist and perky, soft breasts.

Why did such a beautiful woman marry a man like Dad?

Hehe, don’t worry, Mom. I’ll call every day and come back to Ulleungdo during vacations, so…

“…I want to spend more time with you, but the older you get, the more trouble you cause, and it’s getting harder to handle.”

“???”

Are they seriously abandoning me?

Ouch, that stings a little.

I looked at Mom with a dumbfounded expression, and she avoided my gaze, forcing a smile.

…Seriously?

Are they really getting rid of me because I’m too much trouble?

“Haha, just kidding, Yuna. Make sure you eat well and stay healthy there, okay?”

“…”

“I-I really am kidding.”

“Hmph.”

I puffed up my cheeks and turned my head away, feigning a sulk.

I was terrified for a second there!

Hmph, whatever. I’m going to have a blast and laze around on the mainland during vacations!

“Stay healthy, like your mom said…and here, take this. It’s a gift from Dad.”

“???”

Dad pressed a small piece of paper into my hand.

I tilted my head, and he hugged me and whispered in my ear.

“Let’s play Thunder Attack on the weekends.”

“Aha, okay.”

It’s his gaming ID.  Right, important stuff.

I’m inheriting one of Dad’s accounts.

He always logged in for me at the PC bang whenever we were on Ulleungdo.

“Your mom and I have to take your siblings to kindergarten now.”

“Okay!  I’ll see you later! Mom! Dad!!”

I waved as they walked away towards the car where my two siblings were still fast asleep, ready to take them to kindergarten.

I smiled brightly and waved back with all my might.

The chilly December wind whipped around me.

In a few days, Ulleungdo would get even colder, and the sea would be shrouded in white fog, halting the ferries.

So I had to leave now.

Dad’s gaming ID, a few clothes, shoes, slippers…and some spending money so I could buy whatever I wanted without holding back.

That’s all I was taking as I left Ulleungdo.

‘…’

‘As soon as I arrive, I’m putting all this spending money into Bitcoin.’

If I sell it around this time next year…oh, the sweet, sweet profits.

Just the thought made me shiver with excitement.

The towering buildings I’d seen so much of in my past life.

But the mainland landscape was new to this life.

Hmm, hmm.  This is nice! The peaceful, quiet countryside of Ulleungdo is nice, but as a civilized person, the city feels more familiar!

A familiar yet new landscape, exciting and grand.

It was autumn, the heat fading, and energy at its peak. I wore tight black leggings.

In a cozy cafe, with gentle music playing, the clinking of ice diluted the bitterness of the Americano that washed away my fatigue.

I sat with my legs crossed, long, straight hair swaying, savoring the taste.

My crop top revealed smooth skin, a slender waist, and toned abs.  The cafe staff and surrounding patrons couldn’t help but steal glances.

Normally, I’d be self-conscious and zip up my jacket, but I nonchalantly displayed my figure, gazing out the window.

Honestly, why should I hide it?

I’m not naked; I’m covered where I should be.

I can’t blame them for looking if I’m pretty, right?  Hehe.

I rather enjoyed the mix of envious glances from women, bewildered and subtly lustful looks from men, and the general surprise and admiration.

If Mom saw me, she’d freak out, scold me for “walking around half-naked,” and probably give me a good spanking, but what can I do if I have a nice body?

‘Do I need another new bra already?’

If you’re going to scold me, you shouldn’t have given me these alpha female genes!

It’s nice getting taller thanks to puberty, but my breasts are growing too fast, and I have to replace my bras constantly.

I go to the convenience store so often that the cashier recognizes me and suggests a larger size, but less than a month later, I’m back, telling her it’s too small again… Her expression is always a sight to behold.  

I felt a bit bad as she looked back and forth between my burgeoning chest and her own more modest one.

‘I wonder what her face will be like next time.’

Well, even if a teenage girl feels insecure because of my chest, it’s not like I’m *trying* to make them grow.

So I don’t feel particularly sorry. And if I don’t feel sorry, what should I do?

Enjoy their reactions, of course.

Lost in these leisurely thoughts as I sipped my coffee, my phone buzzed in my pocket.  It was Mom.

*Sigh*, I was going to call when I got home, but she must have been really anxious to call me first.

“Hello… Whoa!  Mom, you scared me! I was going to call when I got home~  I’m just taking a break after working out.”

I flinched at Mom’s booming voice, then chuckled, giving her an update on my life.

I told her my twin siblings were settling into kindergarten well, that their teachers loved them, and that my youngest sibling was as cute as Mom and me.

I also heard about Jeongwoo and Yuri… They were both doing well.

Jeongwoo had ranked first in the school and won a gold medal at the Taekwondo sparring competition, and Yuri was maintaining her usual above-average grades.

“Oh, me?  I’m, well…”

*Snicker.*

What about me?

“I’m screwed, Mom. Yerin Unnie’s shop went bankrupt.”

Wow, Seoul rent is brutal.  Crazy.

—–CROW—– 

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