Having Become a Woman, I Now Live as a Complete Outcast

As I stepped into the classroom, a cooler breeze greeted me compared to the heat outside.

Maybe it’s because summer hasn’t fully hit yet, and the classroom still feels refreshing.

It’s almost like the weather’s protesting that it’s too early to crank up the AC.

“No way, is that girl crazy?”

“I told you, she’s totally nuts! Everyone’s freaking out, saying we should cut her off.”

Normally, when someone walks into a classroom, at least one person might say hi. But for me? Nada.

I kept my presence as invisible as possible, eavesdropping on their chatter while quietly making my way to my seat.

Thankfully, I reached my designated spot—second-to-last row by the window—without catching anyone’s eye.

I’m getting pretty good at this stealth thing.

If there’s one thing I’ve mastered in the mere ten days I’ve been at this school, it’s navigating the morning commute unnoticed.

Not exactly something to brag about. More like depressing.

Swallowing my silent tears at this harsh reality, I opened my bag.

I’m pretty sure first period’s math, so I’ll grab my textbook first.

Then, until the teacher shows up, I can mess around on my phone for a bit.

I suddenly remembered a video I didn’t finish watching before bed—I want to wrap that up.

“…Huh?”

I’d pulled out my pencil case and textbook, ready to grab my phone with a grin, when I froze.

Wait a sec. Isn’t fifth period PE today?

I didn’t bring my gym clothes, did I?

A cold bead of sweat trickled down my forehead as the crisis hit me.

No, no, hold on.

Maybe I got it wrong.

Mom always said I’m smart enough but scatterbrained sometimes, so my memory could totally be playing tricks on me.

Clinging to that slim hope, I rummaged through my desk drawer and pulled out my go-to notebook.

I’d taped the class schedule to the first page.

First period: Math. Nailed it.

I scanned downward, checking each subject.

Science.

English.

Korean.

…PE?

Oh.

No sigh, no sound escaped my lips as the truth sank in.

PE? For real? This is my life now? This is the best it gets?

Why is this happening to me? Back in middle school, I never forgot my gym clothes and got scolded—not once! So why, of all times, at my new school…?

I just want to disappear.

Tears pricked at my eyes, but I forced them back.

Sure, forgetting gym clothes happens to everyone once in a while.

The problem is why it has to happen when I don’t have a single person I could borrow from.

The only one I could maybe ask for a favor in this whole school is my little sister, a first-year. Ugh.

I knew something felt off this morning while eating breakfast—I should’ve double-checked everything.

I’m such an idiot for brushing it off as no big deal.

Why didn’t I trust my gut for once?

Would it have killed me to take one last look to make sure I didn’t forget anything?

Getting scolded doesn’t even bother me.

From what I’ve seen the past week, the PE teacher seems pretty chill—maybe they’ll let it slide this once.

What does worry me is the image burned into my brain: everyone else in gym clothes, lined up, while I’m standing there alone in my uniform like a sore thumb.

I already know the kids whisper about me behind my back. I can just imagine what they’ll snicker about today.

Should I fake a stomachache from lunch and skip? I mulled it over seriously for a second but shook my head, dismissing the thought.

What’s the point? I’m already known as the class loser.

---

I wonder if this is how a death row inmate feels, eating their last meal before execution.

At lunch, I stayed behind in the classroom alone, munching on bread in a cloud of gloom.

At least this school lets you eat outside the cafeteria.

It’s a small mercy for loners like me—I can dine in dignified solitude while others are laughing and chatting in the school store.

At my old school, eating anything outside the cafeteria during lunch—or anytime—got you an instant lecture.

Maybe the principal here is looking out for students like me?

…Nah, that’s way too optimistic. Never mind.

“Hey, loser.”

“Gah?!”

I was savoring my elegant, uninterrupted lunch when the classroom’s sliding door screeched open, followed by a familiar husky voice.

Startled, I jolted so hard my chair slid about ten centimeters out from under me.

Thankfully, the bread I was chewing didn’t lodge in my throat, but…

“Pfft! Cough! Cough!”

Of course, I’d taken a sip of my drink right then and choked spectacularly.

Barely keeping it from spewing out, I hacked away.

Park Seoyeon, the blonde classmate who’d called out to me, rushed over, stomping her feet. One hand grabbed my shoulder while the other patted my back.

“Hey, hey! You okay?”

“Y-Yeah, I’m fi—cough! Cough!”

My attempt to speak was swept away by another wave of coughing.

Ugh, I can feel that going down the wrong pipe.

My vision went white, my lungs screaming like they were stuffed with cotton.

Gripping the desk, I finally coughed up the rogue liquid, and my head cleared—barely.

But Park Seoyeon must’ve noticed the tears in my eyes from choking, because she tried to hoist me up, panicked.

“It’s not stuck, is it?! Come on, to the nurse! The nurse’s office—!”

“I-I’m fine… I’m good.”

I managed to croak out something coherent despite my leaking pronunciation, trying to calm her down.

“Uh… okay? Good, then.”

Park Seoyeon scratched her head, looking sheepish.

She probably realized she’d overreacted to a simple choke.

Not that it felt simple to me—I was half a second from the afterlife.

So what the heck did she want, barging in and nearly killing me like this?

If she doesn’t have a good reason, even a loser like me might just start a revolution.

“What’s up?” I asked, eyeing her with a mix of suspicion and defiance.

Her face flickered with… embarrassment?

That look alone made me dread what was coming.

“Uh? Oh, it’s not a big deal… I just saw you, so…”

“……”

…Seriously?

Her answer was exactly what I’d feared, word for word. Anger didn’t even hit first—just pure exasperation.

I get that she’s looked down on me since day one, but come on—does she think I’m a complete idiot?

I’m not some pushover who swallows every jab in silence.

I avoid trouble because I don’t want it, but I’ve got a temper too.

‘I think it’s time to set her straight.’

Sure, going up against Park Seoyeon, our class’s top delinquent, is a losing battle in my current state. But I’m done just taking it.

At the very least, I’ll make it clear I’m not her punching bag—maybe she’ll think twice before messing with me next time.

“P-Park Seoyeon!”

“H-Huh?”

I shouted her full name as fiercely as I could, glaring up at her with what I hoped was an intimidating stare.

She clearly didn’t expect me to come out swinging—her eyes widened, more flustered than before.

Yes! She’s rattled!

I was badass just now!

Now’s my chance—keep the momentum going!

I psyched myself up for the next step, but then…

‘…Wait, what do I even say?’

Digging through my brain, I realized I didn’t have a single solid reason to chew her out.

Sure, she calls me a loser and teases me, but she’s never laid a hand on me.

She hasn’t extorted me or snatched my food either.

Her “loser” jabs are so routine by now, I barely even get mad anymore.

But yelling about something that doesn’t bother me feels… forced, doesn’t it?

‘Still, I gotta say something.’

Backing down now would just make her think I chickened out, and I’m not about to let that happen.

If I’ve drawn my sword, I might as well cut something…

“U-Uh…!”

I blurted out the first thing that came to mind, scrambling for words to throw at her.

Tell her to stop teasing me? Nah, that’d just bounce right off her.

Stand up and slap her? She hasn’t hit me, so that’s a bit much.

Burst into tears? No way—that’d make me look like an actual loser.

To show I meant business, I grabbed her sleeve and locked eyes with her, mustering all the determination I could.

My eyes were still a bit wet from choking earlier, but I ignored it.

She clearly didn’t expect me to double down with action—her eyes went wide, and her face flushed red.

Perfect. One killer line to wrap this up.

Something to make her rethink her ways while letting her know I’m pissed.

Can’t just curse her out, though—so what’s the perfect thing to say for this moment?

My brain raced, and a scene from a drama flashed through my mind.

Yes.

That’s it.

The angry actress, tears and snot streaming down her face, glaring at the guy with watery eyes and saying…

“…I hate you.”

…Huh? Wait. That feels off.

(End of Chapter)