BJ Villainess

* * *

My stepfather sat on the lounge sofa with a flushed face, talking to my mother, indicating he had drunk quite a bit of wine. Chae Bohyeon continued to play the piano persistently as if possessed by the spirit of an inspired genius pianist. Mr. Holton had gone home with Ozworld. Umi was pestering my stepfather for something again.

As I was about to go to my room, my stepfather gestured for me to come over. “Are you taking lessons with Ozworld’s tutor?”

“Yes.”

It was possible because Ozworld’s family covered the entire cost. If I told my parents, they would support the tutoring fees, but that would mean losing my freedom from their interference. So, I had intentionally been indebted to Ozworld.

My stepfather, unaware of the situation between Ozworld and me, spoke naively. “That person seems like a good teacher. It might be good for Umi to have lessons too.”

Since I was in the same class as Ozworld this year as well, I had enough reason to ask him about it at school.

“I’ll ask Ozworld.”

My stepfather smiled contentedly and suddenly showed interest in my academic performance. “You always get good grades, even though we haven’t done much for you. I’m so proud of you. Your mock exam scores were good, right?”

He directed the question at my mother. Since she always paid attention to my grades, she answered quickly. “Ozworld does exceptionally well, but Jiwoo has never missed being second in her class. With her current scores, she could get into medical school.”

My stepfather looked back and forth between Umi and Bohyeon, who had no academic talent, with a subtly regretful expression. Then, as Umi nudged him, he suddenly brought up the topic of studying abroad to me.

“Jiwoo, have you thought about studying abroad? I think you could get into a good university overseas. We’d support you completely.”

This was something that had never happened before my regression. I never expected him to bring up the option of sending me abroad. This idea must have come from Umi, who always wanted me out of the house.

“I…”

Just then,

“Why send Jiwoo abroad when I asked to go?!” Suddenly, Chae Bohyeon stormed over, his face twisted with rage. “I asked to study abroad! It’s essential for a musician! Who plays piano in Korea?!”

“Chae Bohyeon! Don’t raise your voice!”

“Everyone else is going abroad, but not me! If I had studied abroad, I wouldn’t have embarrassed myself by failing the competition!”

“A middle school student studying abroad? There are plenty of good teachers in Korea. You should focus on your studies here first!”

Although my stepfather cherished his biological children, he did not trust them. He thought that Chae Bohyeon, who hung out with bad kids, might cause trouble.

In fact, Bohyeon had already caused plenty of trouble. Recently, he drank to his heart’s content and ended up in the emergency room, throwing the household into chaos.

My stepfather realized that if he sent Bohyeon abroad, he might get into drugs, so he didn’t allow it. Suppose Bohyeon had shown exceptional piano talent. In that case, he might have taken the risk, but Bohyeon’s talent was mediocre at best, requiring money to win domestic piano competitions.

“Send her abroad, and I won’t stand for it.” After issuing this threat, Bohyeon stormed upstairs.

“That, that boy!”

When my stepfather looked sober and became furious, my mother quickly intervened.

“He’s just going through adolescence. He worked hard for the competition and must be very disappointed.”

“If he practiced properly, I’d understand!”

My mother quickly signaled for Umi to go to her room before my stepfather’s anger turned towards her, leaving me alone with him. My stepfather sighed deeply and downed the remaining wine in his glass. The atmosphere was terrible, but I still had to say what I needed to.

“I’m not interested in studying abroad. Bohyeon hates the idea so much; it doesn’t seem right.”

My stepfather didn’t even look at me and responded with a tired expression. “…We’ll talk about this later.” With that, he exhaled a wine-scented sigh and went to his room.

With the awkward talk of studying abroad seemingly settled, I was about to return to my room when my mother stopped me.

“Sit down. Let’s talk for a moment.”

The reason she had sent Umi to her room first was that she had something to say to me. I sat back on the sofa, and my mother poured herself a full glass of wine.

“You’re a smart girl, so I’ll be direct. Your father wants to marry Umi into the Holton family, not you.” She paused, then murmured, “Blood is thicker.”

“You said Ozworld was just a friend, right? Is that still true?”

“…Yes.” I felt a lump in my throat.

“Frankly, what you think doesn’t matter. The problem is Ozworld likes you.”

When I froze in shock, my mother let out an incredulous laugh.

“

, you already realize it now? But how could someone as clueless as you know? Ozworld must have confessed in frustration.”

“…”

“That dress must be from Ozworld too. That boy is quite something. What high school student gives such gifts? Typical boy.”

Her precise analysis gave me chills.

“Reject him. And go study abroad.”

The rejection she mentioned was about Ozworld’s confession.

“Do you think this young love will last forever? Do you think a handsome, well-off boy like Ozworld will hold on to a childhood crush?” She continued coldly as if trying to shatter any illusions I might have. “When you enter society, you’ll see prettier and more qualified girls everywhere.”

I agreed with her completely. I had rejected Ozworld’s confession for exactly that reason.

It was almost funny. I felt I was confirming my blood relationship with her in this unpleasant way. Because of that, a strange stubbornness rose within me.

“He and I are just friends.”

I stubbornly defined our relationship as still ‘friends.’

“It’s possible to have fleeting feelings. But if, as Mother says, those feelings fade quickly, it’s best to handle it properly and maintain our friendship.”

My mother clicked her tongue as if she had heard something ridiculous and changed the topic. “I’ll give you an apartment in my name. Enough cash to cover living expenses and tuition fees for any university you choose.”

“To get rid of me?”

“You want to leave this house, don’t you? I thought that’s why you kept going next door.”

“…”

“Jiwoo. I want you not to upset your stepfather and not become a source of trouble in this family. Just be a good daughter who studies well. Okay?”

“You’re making it sound like I’m the problem. I’ve tried to be as quiet as possible in this house.”

“I know. But what’s the use of being quiet? Umi doesn’t like you. And…” My mother lowered her voice and checked around to make sure no one was listening. “Umi will never surpass you. If her inferiority complex grows, it’ll become a headache. So, go study abroad. You can live there permanently if you want.”

I was already in a foul mood, and this pushed it to its limit. I thought I couldn’t be more disappointed with my mother, but that was a premature judgment.

I chuckled bitterly. “Then just send Umi abroad. If she doesn’t build her resume, she’ll end up buying followers to become a failed influencer.”

I wasn’t making this up, as that’s exactly what happened before my regression.

“Won’t stepfather get mad if you don’t educate her properly?”

“Chae Jiwoo!”

“Why do you call me Chae Jiwoo, Mom?” I stared at my mother as I continued. “You never raised me as Chae Jiwoo.”

In this house, I was always Shin Jiwoo. Never once was I truly Chae Jiwoo. So how could I be Chae Jiwoo now?

“Stop right there!”

I ignored my mother’s call and locked myself in my room.

* * *

It would have been better if I had gone to school. Unfortunately, it was the weekend.

“…

. Chae Bohyeon, you crazy b*stard.”

I tossed and turned, blocking my ears with a pillow to shut out the annoying noise. The grating sound of the piano from the living room was eating away at my nerves. That b*stard always played the grand piano in the living room instead of the soundproof practice room.

I opened my closet to find something to wear, but the clothes Umi washed were still on the drying rack. There was nothing to wear except Ozworld’s t-shirt.

“Screw it. I’ll just wear this.”

I put on the T-shirt and checked my reflection in the mirror. “It’s long enough to look like a dress.” It had been a loose fit for Ozworld, so it looked like a dress on me.

Aside from the torn shorts, I had no other clothes to wear. With no choice, I decided this white T-shirt would be my outfit for the day. However, it was still too cold to wear a short-sleeved T-shirt. So, I also put on Ozworld’s sky-blue striped linen shirt without hesitation.

Grabbing my wallet and putting on a hat, I was ready to leave but hesitated for a moment.

Should I just go out the window? I considered the window but decided against it to avoid tearing my clothes or getting hurt.

As soon as I stepped into the lounge, I realized how naive I was.

A metronome thrown by Chae Bohyeon hit the wall right in front of me. I narrowly avoided being hit.

I glared at him with a rigid face. “What on earth is this?”

Chae Bohyeon smirked unpleasantly and swaggered over. “

, sorry. Could you pick that up for me?”