Save Me from Shopping Hell
Arm in arm with Noona, whose hands were full of shopping bags, I finally escaped that hellish store. Why the hell are women's underwear so expensive...? Back in the day, I'd order bazooka deliveries—five pairs for 20,000 won. But this stuff? The fabric's barely a third of regular clothes, yet they charge the same price. It's ridiculous.
"…Noona, you okay?"
"Huh? Why?"
"Just… aren't you spending too much?"
At my words, Noona smirked and leaned into me, rubbing her face all over my chest like a cat.
"Don't worry. I told you earlier, right? Mom and Dad gave me money specifically to buy you some nice clothes."
"Still…."
"You'd freak if you knew how much I got."
Her words dragged my mind back to the allowance days from my male life. Mom probably gave about 100,000 won more than Dad. Dad with 50,000 won, Mom… maybe 150,000 won.
That wouldn't even cover a fifth of these underwear and clothes….
I shot her a worried look, and Noona sighed, leaning in to whisper right by my ear.
"Don't freak out. Mom and Dad together gave me #@% million won."
"What."
The insane amount hit me like a truck—I must've misheard. Mom, Dad… wasn't the favoritism a bit much? Though thinking back, even my little sister never got that kind of cash back then.
"You've never asked for anything since you were little, so they wanted to spoil you this time and let you dress up pretty."
Ah… yeah, as a guy, I'd begged for shoe money starting in middle school. Add up all those allowances, and it might match what Noona got today.
"So don't worry. Today, I'm covering you from head to toe!"
"W-wait. Didn't we just buy everything?"
"What are you talking about? We still need outerwear, shoes, and makeup. We're just getting started."
Her bright, innocent declaration froze me in place. I'd already exhausted myself picking crop tops, skirts, and underwear—and now it's just the beginning?
I turned to glare at her, but Noona just beamed back, oblivious. Fine… if it makes her happy, whatever.
"How about lunch first, then more shopping?"
"…Yeah."
With half-resigned eyes, I nodded and hooked my arm through hers, trudging to the nearest restaurant. It was just before lunch rush, but every place was packed. After wandering forever, we ducked into a Western joint.
A place I'd never have entered back then, but my legs ached, and the bags were heavy—I just wanted to sit.
"Welcome! Sit wherever there's space."
We dumped the bags on chairs and collapsed into seats.
"Haa… I'm seriously dying."
I face-planted on the table with a groan. Noona placed her hand over mine and giggled.
"Yoonie, what if you're already wiped? After food, we've got makeup, shoes, and outerwear left."
"Ugh…."
As I mumbled into the table, I felt her chuckle and pat my head. She wasn't suggesting we head home soon, so we might shop till dinner….
"Shall we order? What do you want?"
I peeked up and tapped one item on the tablet menu.
Mala Rose Pasta
"Kh… Got it."
I felt a bit wronged seeing her stifle a laugh. It wasn't because it was mala—I just poked randomly, and it happened to be mala. Probably.
"Yoonie, how do you even survive without mala?"
Noona started kneading my cheeks like dough with both hands.
"Ah, sthop it!"
"Okay, okay. Our Mala Princess needs her pasta mala-style too."
"Ahning…! I swear I just poked randomly…."
My words mangled from her pinching, but she found it adorable and kept stretching and releasing my cheeks. Maybe we were too lovey-dovey, or because my face was buried—either way, I felt eyes on us. Embarrassing.
"Sthop, Noona. People are staring…."
I yanked my face free and whined. She let go with a regretful pout.
"They're staring 'cause you're too pretty. What a shame."
"Nooo… They're side-eyeing 'cause you keep babying me without ordering."
Or maybe 'cause you're too pretty. Anyway, as I grumbled, Noona smiled sweetly, nodded, and tapped the tablet to order.
Mala Rose Pasta x1
White Wine Pasta x1
Ricotta Steak Salad x1
"This enough?"
A bit more than usual, but with all-day walking, we needed the fuel. I don't love pasta much, but mala makes it okay, right?
"Hit the department store first for lipstick… haa, this is so fun."
Hearing her mutter while waiting for food, I dreaded the afternoon. Soon, our dishes arrived—mouthwatering visuals. I grabbed a fork, but—
"Hold up. Photos first."
"Oh, right…."
-click
Noona whipped out her phone and snapped away meticulously. I watched dazedly, but her phone crept upward suspiciously. No way she's filming me? Nah, just the pasta.
"…Noona?"
"Oh yeah! Didn't you say you'd post if you had time yesterday?"
"Ah."
"Quick, snap some!"
She cut in just as I opened my mouth… whatever, it reminded me of something I'd forgotten thanks to her.
I aimed my phone at my pasta and shot.
Hmm… since turning girl, photos just turn out better today.
-click, click!
After editing for the fan cafe, a noise made me look up. Noona was blatantly filming my face.
"…Noona, what're you shooting?"
"Huh? Your focused Yoonie face while snapping pics. You've always pursed your lips cutely when concentrating."
"…You won't delete it?"
"Of course not?"
Her shameless grin left me speechless, glaring. She just cooed over that expression too and kept snapping. Fine… snap away. Capture every angle.