swxtched. | jhs

XII : SNAKES

HER RINGTONE GOES off. God. It's the snake.

Unlike a lot of people, Green actually likes snakes. They hiss at things that annoy them and hiss at things when they simply feel like it. They're pretty quiet and scaly, and they don't shed as constantly as dogs and cats. They're not messy and can eat things whole. That's secretly so cool to her.

Some people fear them. They're so different from humans in so many aspects that she can't help but admire them. Many years ago, her cousin, who moved to America, told her that he had a class pet snake— and she wanted one ever since.

Maybe a snake is her spirit animal.

But Hoseok hates them of course, like a lot of people.

She picks her phone up from her study table and lazily speaks into the receiver, "Hello?"

"Hey Geurin-ssi, I just had this thought," Hoseok says. "I was switching with your body for like, two, three months before I had my first period. So my question is, isn't it supposed to happen once a month? Do you think it was because of the switcharoo?"

"Why are you asking me as if I'd know the answer."

"Sorry. It just popped into my brain." Hoseok clears his throat awkwardly. "Birth control?"

"My period is irregular, okay?" Green rubs her temple, finding the randomness too painful to compute. "Is that all you wanted to ask? Because if that's it I'm out."

"Wait, don't hang up! Have you been practising the dance routine?"

Green groans, struggling to keep her phone still with her prosthetic arm as she attempts to plug her earphones with her left hand. "Do you think I can practise your dance in my body?"

"Well, I can."

"That's great. For you."

"It's thanks to you for teaching me how to take out your arm," Hoseok says. "I'm always scared of swinging it around, you know. But more importantly, I've danced in your body, and if your body wasn't lithe enough before, it is now."

She finally plugs it in, pushing the buds in her ears. "Great use of 'lithe.'"

"Stop."

Green freezes, but not because of what Hoseok said just now, but before that. Lithe.

It's not like she's been ignorant about all the things Hoseok has done for her, intentionally or otherwise. He has helped her weak body become stronger. She doesn't feel like dying walking to and from school anymore. (Speaking of dying, she finds it insane how an amputated arm can depress her so much in a few months to make her that physically and mentally weak.)

Her healthier body has actually stabilised her mood and diet. She's eating more.

He didn't have to do that.

"Thank you," she whispers sheepishly.

"I— what?"

"Thank you. For making me... lithe."

Hoseok laughs all of a sudden. He didn't expect that. "Oh wow. You're welcome! But anyway, God knows what'll happen if we switch at the actual competition, so I really need you to learn the dance routine."

She pauses to let this turn over in her head and takes a sip of her tea. It tastes more bitter than usual. She grimaces. "I still don't know how I can help you with that."

"Oh come on. I think you're pretty good at dancing, especially when you dance with my friends in my body," Hoseok says. "And we're contending for a lot of money. We'll split it between us four."