Shopping
"I ate well today."
"It was good, wasn't it? Let's go again."
"Yeah. It'll be beautiful once spring comes."
"It will. But the moment the flowers start blooming, the place gets way too crowded."
"I bet."
"Oh—today's appointment must be important?"
"Mm. Remember back then? The one doing an internet broadcast at the café."
"Oh, of course. Are you meeting her?"
"Yeah. She asked me to appear, and I said yes. Why? You don't like it?"
"N-no. So... you're interested in internet broadcasting?"
"Not exactly. I've got two people to feed now, so I figure I ought to try a bit of everything."
"...Oppa. You were already... thinking about that...?"
"I told you you were mine. Of course I've been thinking about it."
Hyunji's voice, calling me back, came out warm and damp. I'd assumed the words wouldn't land all that hard with her. Apparently I'd been wrong.
"...Every time you say things like that, my heart races..."
"I can feel all of it. Keep that up and you'll give yourself an arrhythmia."
"...Why are you ruining the mood?"
"Driver Han is right there."
"I already drew the curtain..."
"Even so. It wouldn't be polite."
"...I really should've just brought my own car."
"No. I'll speak to her later. After your performance, she's putting you through a course. No exceptions."
"...Hmph."
I let out a soft laugh at the pout on her lips, then tipped her chin up and kissed her. It was barely more than a peck, light as a brush of wings, and color rushed into Hyunji's face.
"Think about it. You really believe I don't want you bringing the car?"
"Ah..."
"And we can just go on another date then."
"...Yes. Oppa. One more..."
"The rest depends on how you do today."
"That's mean."
We talked on like that, and before I knew it we'd arrived at the outlet. I'd never been—too many luxury brands for me—but this seemed as good a chance as any to look around.
"Call if you need anything."
"Okay. Unni, do you want to come too? It's been forever since you went shopping."
"...How am I supposed to come along when you ask me with a face like that?"
"Th-then I'll see you later, unni."
"Have a good time."
Hyunji scurried over and hugged my arm as if she'd been waiting for the chance. I was curious what expression she'd worn, but I didn't need to see it to know. The firm line of her body against my arm, the warmth of her, melted something in me. I'd been a little disappointed in the car myself.
"Not many people, huh?"
"Right? Even better."
"Yeah. Could be they're out of stock, too."
"Oh. Now that you mention it, I heard there are days like that."
The weather was lovely, so it had worked out nicely. Even if we couldn't buy clothes, the place was laid out like a park, and simply walking through it felt like a date. I thought that was plenty. Hyunji, it seemed, did not.
"Oh, Oppa. Over there."
"Sure."
The face that led me along by the hand was full of a smile that seemed to shine. Whether the day had left her in such a good mood, or she was simply looking forward to the date, or both—only Hyunji would know. The awkwardness and shyness of a first date had eased a little, and now she was all bright, bouncing life. I was the one who ought to be grateful she'd gotten along so well with Rahee.
"How about this?"
"Mm. I think the one from a moment ago suits you better."
"Do you like brighter colors more?"
"It's because everything looks good on you. Though your skin's so nice, black looks pretty on you too."
"...I'll buy both."
"No. Just one."
"Aww, whyyy..."
"The designs are the same. Pick one."
"...You sound exactly like unni."
"If two out of three agree, what does that make the one?"
"...Tch. Fine. Then... I'll take the black."
"What, is that rebellion?"
"N-no."
I could feel countless eyes on us. The faces I caught in passing were full of disbelief, surprise, and envy aimed at Hyunji. Even the employee standing quietly beside us looked openly amazed. Neither of us paid the stares any mind as we talked. If anything, Hyunji seemed to be starting to enjoy them, and I liked seeing that.
"I'll try it on."
"Sure. That's all right, isn't it?"
"Ah—ah, of course. Sir, the fitting room is this way..."
Humming, Hyunji gathered up two dresses and disappeared into the fitting room. I smiled after her and was browsing the men's shirts nearby when a voice caught me.
"Um, excuse me..."
"Yes?"
"M-maybe... how about this? I really think it would look wonderful on you."
What she offered, eyes sparkling, was a black coat. The season for wearing it had already passed, but it wasn't a design I couldn't wear next year. Expensive, yes—but cheap, for this brand. The original price on the tag was a number I never could have considered. The material looked luxurious, the design clean, and it wasn't easy for something to look this refined. I liked it a little.
"Mm. It might be a bit small."
"Oh, no. You're only wearing a shirt underneath, so this is perfect. And it'll be plenty through spring. This coat design hardly goes out of style, so a lot of people look for it. You can feel how light it is, right from the cut? What do you think?"
"...Well. I'll try it on."
I stood in front of the fitting room Hyunji had gone into and slipped the coat on under the employee's bright, eager gaze, then turned this way and that before the mirror. What looked back was so much better than I'd expected that even I felt awkward.
…A body changes a little, and clothes hang on you like this?
Whether it was the body remade by my Special Internal Energy, or simply a well-cut coat, even I had to admit it suited me. I preferred a looser fit, so the slightly tailored feel was unfamiliar.
"Oh my god. I'm not kidding. Really. I thought it would suit you, but..."
"You're right. You've got a good eye. My shoulders are a bit narrow, though."
"Not at all. I think they're just right. It looks wonderful on you. I'm not joking—you look like a model."
"Oh, come on."
I let the employee's flattery slide and was straightening the fall of my shirt in the mirror—expensive, but still—when the fitting-room door opened and Hyunji appeared, and my hands stopped. So did hers. She stood there in a black mini dress, looking up at me, and her eyes slowly went soft and unfocused.
"...What about the white one?"
"...This one... seemed prettier..."
"Yeah. It suits you."
If the employee beside us hadn't been clapping in delight, we might have met lips right there. Hyunji looked different from usual—innocence threaded through with sexiness—and it stirred an urge to put my hands on her.
"...You both look incredible. Truly."
"Ah."
"...Thank you."
I'd been just as lost in the sight of her. If the employee hadn't spoken, we might have stayed like that for a long while.
"A photo. Let me take one for you."
"...Is that all right? We haven't bought anything yet."
"Oh, of course. Whether it sells or not isn't my concern. You two are gorgeous. I'm so jealous."
The employee seemed to have drifted off into some other world, but Hyunji soon smiled softly and took my arm. Her accessories didn't quite match, yet the dress suited her so well that it hardly mattered. When the employee took the camera Hyunji held out and turned it toward us, I slipped an arm lightly around Hyunji's waist.
"Ah..."
"Still bothered by the stares?"
"No... It's because I like it..."
"You did seem a little more all right with it today."
"...Because I was only looking at you..."
"Same here."
"Oppa. The coat... looks so good on you."
"You too. Makes me want to take it off you."
"...Will you?"
"As much as you want."
"Um..."
What cut through the heat rising in Hyunji's face, and the mood between us, was the employee's voice. I couldn't tell whether she'd heard the whispering or whether it was our pose. When I slowly let go of Hyunji's waist, the woman swallowed—plainly disappointed—and held out the phone. Hyunji took the trembling phone in a trembling hand of her own.
"Then ring these up like this."
"Ah, Oppa. I'll..."
"No. I want to give you one as a gift. You bought dinner last time."
"Even so..."
"Hurry up and change."
"...Yes. Oppa. Thank you."
"Don't mention it."
Hyunji heading back into the fitting room was stiff with awkwardness. I wondered if she'd never even been given a gift like this before. When I took off the coat and handed it over, the employee's cheeks were flushed—she'd heard us, clearly enough. Whatever. I'd tell Hyunji later and enjoy the sight of her getting embarrassed.
"Please bag them separately."
"Ah—ah, yes... You're... you're so romantic..."
"...Ah. Yeah. Was it a bit much to watch?"
"No, no. It was really lovely. These days it's so hard to see a pretty couple like the two of you."
Couples might be hard to come by, but my own thoughts ran a little differently. Luxury brand or not, this was an outlet, and prices that vicious felt wrong. Of course that couldn't be the only reason. People were who they were.
"Um, if I may..."
"Yes. Go ahead."
"It's just—when we took the photo just now, one of our staff took another one on the side..."
Behind her stood a female employee with her hair neatly swept back, face red. The moment our eyes met, she ducked her head in a bow.
"You match the image our brand is going for so well. I don't have that kind of authority, but I'd like to recommend you to headquarters as a model..."
"Come on. I'm not at that level. You're flattering me too much."
"N-no, I mean it. I don't know whether it'll come to anything, but would it be all right if I sent it?"
"Here. Let me see."
"Here..."
One look at the photo on the phone she held out, and I understood why she'd said it. It had come out beautifully. Shot on a diagonal and caught in focus: me drawing Hyunji in by the waist, the black mini dress creasing naturally around her, the bend of her waist giving way to the line of her hips and the clean length of her thighs. Her body covered most of my shirt, my trousers, even my face, so that the coat was what stood out. And the way I was looking at her was... yeah. Lewd.
"Send me one too."
"Ah, o-of course."
"It's fine if I post it on Instagram, right?"
"Yes."
I took the photo from the employee. I wasn't expecting anything like modeling to begin with. I just wanted the picture. Then, as I went to pay for the coat and the mini dress Hyunji was changing out of, I nearly jumped at the receipt. A little dress like that, costing so much.
…I'd better earn hard.
By then Hyunji had changed back into her innocent look and come to hug my arm.
"Oppa."
"Yeah. Let's go somewhere else."
"Okay... Ah, I'll carry it."
She hurried to take the shopping bag I was reaching for.
"I'll carry it."
"No. I might actually get stoned."
"What are you talking about. How heavy could this be."
"I don't want to. Give it here."
"Please, sir. Of course the woman should carry it."
"...Fine."
Even the employee stepped in to settle it, and I was left with nothing to say. There was something almost hostile in her tone, but Hyunji only beamed and hugged the shopping bag to her chest.
"Thank you. Goodbye."
I took Hyunji's hand as the employee's farewell followed us from behind. Whatever had her so happy, her whole face was bright with a smile.
"You like it that much?"
"Yes. I'll treasure it. I came today meaning to buy you a present..."
"You did?"
"...Yes."
For a second I wondered if she was savoring some little victory over the employee. Of course it was Hyunji. Not the grimy calculation of a stained adult like me—just simple, pure joy at being given a gift. Watching her, I felt a little cleansed myself.