Episode 3

by Muse · 2026-03-16

Jihu brought his t-shirt and pants and handed them to me.

Jihu: Wear them, you can't go out like that.

And he was watching me. No matter how much I had turned into a man, my heart was still that of a woman. I couldn't change my clothes in front of a man watching. When I hesitated, Jihu quickly noticed and went out the door. I always feel it, but he is quite quick to catch on. As I changed my clothes and stepped outside, my slippers that I threw casually caught on my toes.

Jihu: Wear them. If you're going outside.

The slippers are also his. I can't wear mine.

Jiyoon: I know.

I put my feet in and pulled my hood down again. With this face, this height, this physique, going outside was still too scary. As I stepped out the door, Jihu, standing under the hallway fluorescent light, scanned me once.

Jihu: Even walking... has changed.

Jiyoon: What has?

Jihu: When I was a girl, I stepped quietly on my toes, but now... I'm just striding.

Jiyoon: Do you really have to say that?

Jihu: It's awkward.

Jiyoon: ...I'm awkward too.

Unknowingly, those words came out sharply. Jihu closed his mouth. When we entered the elevator, there was a mirror again. Two awkward men. No, one man and... one woman who had become a man. I instinctively lowered my head. The brim of my hat covered more than half of my face.

Jihu: You.

Jihu spoke while looking at me in the mirror.

Jihun: Don't press the hat down too much. It makes you look even more suspicious.

Jiyoon: Then what should I do?

Jihu: Just act like usual. Be chic.

Jiyoon: ...Sure.

At those words, my mouth twisted slightly without me realizing it. A face that was neither a smile nor a cry. The elevator arrived at the first floor. The hospital was close to home. A 10-minute walk. That 10 minutes felt like hell. This hospital, which is also my workplace, feels so unfamiliar and frightening today. I kept looking around to see if anyone was watching. What if someone I know sees me? What if someone calls out, "Ji-yoon?" What if someone mistakes me for a man and tries to talk to me? My body moved instinctively, but my mind kept avoiding it. Ji-hoo spoke next to me.

Ji-hoo: Don't worry. If you run into someone you know, I'll explain everything.

Ji-yoon: What are you going to explain?

Ji-hoo: A traffic accident? Plastic surgery? A doppelgänger?

Ji-yoon: ...Please just shut up.

Ji-hoo: Okay.

As I entered the hospital, the familiar lobby looked like a strange place. I worked here. Just a week ago, I would come in, swipe my card, sit in front of the computer, organize patient data, greet people, and work overtime... Today, I'm standing here with this face.

Ji-hoo: If you feel dizzy, hold onto the wall.

Ji-yoon: ...No.

But I was already touching the wall. Ji-hoo went to the reception desk and explained. I didn't say anything until the end. I felt like if I opened my mouth, that low voice would come out again. Ji-hoo came back and explained.

Ji-hoo: For now, I registered with my insurance.

Ji-yoon: Why? If you get caught...

Ji-hoo: You're an idiot, if you register under your name, it'll be easier to get caught.

I have no words. I was prioritized for a detailed examination. The interior was cold and bright. The sound of machines, the footsteps of nurses, the smell of disinfectant. When they told me to change clothes in front of the MRI machine, I became dazed.

Ji-yoon: Ji-hoo.

Ji-hoo: Yes?

Ji-yoon: What... should I do about my clothes?

When Ji-hoo looked at the training pants I was wearing,

Ji-hoo: …Ah, they said to change into a patient gown?

Ji-yoon: It's a men's patient gown.

Ji-hoo: Your body is male right now.

Ji-yoon: Still… I… underwear…

The moment I brought that up, Ji-hoo's expression froze. For a moment, we were both silent.

Ji-hoo: …Ah.

Ji-hoo scratched his chin.

Ji-hoo: What should we do about that…

Ji-yoon: Why are you worried? It's my issue.

Ji-hoo: Well… if you're uncomfortable…

Ji-yoon: I'm uncomfortable. Really uncomfortable.

Ji-hoo: …Yeah.

In the end, I changed into the patient gown.

Maybe because of my broadened shoulders, the men's patient gown fit better. That was so horrifying. When I entered the MRI machine, my breathing sounded louder than the machine's whirring.

Wheee~

Thump thump~

Clank~

Throughout the examination, I closed my eyes and thought.

If this is real… am I no longer a woman?

No, no, it can't be, it must just be a hormonal issue, I denied it in my mind, but my body was undeniably ‘male’. The area around my eyes grew warm again. I was told not to move while crying inside the machine, so I just bit my lips tightly.

When I finished the MRI and came out, Ji-hoo was waiting by the door.

Ji-hoo: Are you okay?

Ji-yoon: I don't know.

My voice cracked without me realizing it. Ji-hoo's gaze on me wavered slightly. Blood tests, physical exams, blood pressure, pulse, hormone levels.

The staff conducting the tests said,

“Your male hormone levels are… quite high.

Do you take any supplements?”

Ji-hoo: No. Nothing.

Next was the doctor's consultation.

The doctor looked at my records, looked at my face, and stared at me with a mysterious expression for a long time.

Doctor: Hmm… It would be best to refer you to a specialized team in this field. Your levels are… significantly different from the norm.

Ji-yoon: I… was originally a woman.

It came out of my mouth, and the doctor's expression hardened.

Doctor: ...What did you say?

Ji-yoon: Until yesterday... I was a woman.

Ji-hoo interjected.

Ji-hoo: It suddenly changed like this. This morning.

The doctor spoke with an ambiguous face that was neither smiling nor serious. It seemed like a face that didn't know how to accept what was being said.

Doctor: Um... I feel like I didn't understand the joke...

Ji-yoon: It's not a joke.

I extended my hand. The mark of a women's watch that hadn't seen sunlight looked narrow and white.

“Until yesterday... I wasn't in this body.”

The doctor seemed unable to find the words to respond.

To change gender overnight.

Could anyone even imagine that?

Doctor: ...If this is a matter of gender identity, then perhaps you should see a psychiatrist or a family medicine specialist...

The doctor interrupted.

Ji-yoon: That's not it. I was a mentally healthy woman.

The flustered doctor seemed to struggle to come up with an answer.

Doctor: ...This is not something I can judge. I think it needs to be looked at by the research team within our hospital.

That statement ultimately meant, “Even the medical staff cannot explain this.”

Every time I inhaled, my chest felt hot. I broke out in a cold sweat. Ji-hoo grabbed my wrist.

Ji-hoo: Let's go. For now, let's get out.

I just nodded.

As we came down to the lobby, people brushed past us. Some of them glanced at me. I pulled my hat down further. Ji-hoo held the door for me.

Ji-hoo: Now, where are we going?

I understood. This issue wouldn't be resolved at the hospital level. There was only one place where all of this had started.

Ji-yoon: ...Lumen Bio.

Ji-yoon: I have to go back there.

Ji-hoo bit his lip.

Ji-hoo: I thought so too.

We walked out of the hospital. The sunlight felt much sharper than before. As we approached the Lumen Bio Clinic, the building looked exactly the same as yesterday. But today… it seemed even more ominous than yesterday. I stopped walking.

Jiyoon: Jihu.

Jihu: Yes?

Jiyoon: I… I'm scared.

Jihu came over and said quietly.

Jihu: …I'm scared too.

For a moment, we didn’t say anything to each other. Then Jihu spoke.

Jihu: But even if you tell me to go alone… I will go with you.

I took a deep breath and headed towards the door.

Jiyoon: Okay.

The automatic door opened with a 'click.' At that moment.

Doctor: The doctor sitting at the counter looked up. And the expression that appeared on her face was not surprise or joy… but close to horror. "…Yoon… Jiyoon?"

The moment she called my name with a trembling voice, a chill ran down my spine. To recognize my name immediately. With this face. In this appearance. At this height.

Jihu whispered beside me.

Jihu: …Hey, what did she just say?

I whispered softly.

Jiyoon: She… called my name.

The doctor stood up from the counter. Her lips were trembling.

Doctor: How… so quickly…

Jihu immediately jumped forward to block her.

Jihu: Wait a minute. What do you mean by quickly?

The doctor did not answer. Instead, she approached me and whispered.

Doctor: Did… no one come last night?

I blankly shook my head.

Jiyoon: Who… would come anyway.

At that moment, the doctor's expression hardened even more.

Doctor: It's over…

She exhaled a trembling breath.

Doctor: Really… it's over…

Jihu shouted irritably.

Jihu: Explain it now. Right now.

She quickly turned off the computer monitor at the counter. Then she looked towards the door and said in a low voice.

Female doctor: Jiyoon. And... your friend.

Female doctor: First of all... please come inside.