Chapter 59
Chapter 59
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 59
Chapter Title: Shopping with Rahee Unnie!
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After moving, the very next day.
I arrived at the meeting spot in a state of high tension, busily scanning my surroundings like an anxious cat.
Why does my heart feel so fluttery?
In truth, I've talked with the members so many times I couldn't even count them if I tried.
So getting worked up over meeting one-on-one now feels kind of ridiculous.
Even so, my meetup with Rahee unnie had me this nervous because...
She's probably the member who's most at odds with me, in all sorts of ways.
Ring ring ring~
I wonder when unnie will show up.
With a mix of excitement and anxiety, as I waited...
My phone rang loudly.
"Da-jeong-ah, where are you?"
Rahee unnie's voice came through the moment I picked up.
I quickly scanned around again, trying to gauge my position.
No distinctive buildings in sight.
The shop I'm standing in front of is the most notable thing, I guess.
"Ah, unnie. I'm right here in front of... this store that sells stuffed dolls."
"Huh? I don't see you... Where's our maknae hiding?"
"Ah, you can't see me?"
Eh? What?
Did I maybe mix up the meeting spot?
No way...?
I'd clearly shown the address to the taxi driver and said, "Please take me here!"
"Where on earth is our maknae? I really can't see you."
"Um, unnie. How about I come to you in... Huh?"
If that was the case, I couldn't inconvenience Rahee unnie over it.
I was just about to suggest she tell me her location so I could head over.
But a strange sense of wrongness hit me, and I blinked, pulling the phone away from my ear for a moment.
Didn't unnie's voice just come from really close by?
Of course, she was on the phone, so it would sound nearby.
But no, it felt like mumbling right behind me...
Like in a horror game.
Like bracing for a shadow creeping up from somewhere, I slowly turned my head.
If it wasn't my imagination, the voice definitely came from right behind me...
Whoosh!
"Gotcha, Da-jeong!"
"Kyuuut...?!"
In my maxed-out state of wariness, something suddenly tackled me hard.
I let out a rabbit-pierced-by-a-needle squeak and got taken down without resisting.
"Kuhuhu, 'Kyuuut!' Seriously, how is even our maknae's scream this cute?"
"U-Unnie...!"
The one who'd tackled me was, of course, Rahee unnie.
I pursed my lips at her bursting into laughter over my silly scream.
But unnie didn't mind at all, stroking my head in her usual my-pace way.
"It's our first time meeting alone, so I couldn't resist a little prank. Our maknae isn't mad, right?"
"A-A little bit..."
I could put up with any antics from the members.
But this time, the malice in teasing me was crystal clear.
I grumbled back and looked up at her sullenly.
"Really mad? Sorry. Unnie just likes our maknae way too much. You know that, right?"
"Uuu, saying it like that is cheating."
"Huh? If we're talking cheats, then our maknae's cuteness is the biggest foul."
"I-I don't know...!"
She's slipping away with that again!
But I'll let it slide today.
Today's the first time meeting Rahee unnie alone, after all.
I can't be a petty kid and get sulky on a day I should enjoy to the fullest.
Yeah, yeah. I'm so mature.
"Anyway, the weather's getting pretty chilly now. Didn't you come out in something too thin?"
Those were unnie's first words after releasing her hug and stepping back.
We're right in the heart of autumn now, after all.
Compared to the peak of summer, it definitely felt cooler.
But this level of chill? No problem for me!
"I'm fine. I'm... super resistant to the cold!"
"Even so, short-sleeve tee and pants in this weather..."
I-Is that so?
Should I have worn more?
Truth be told, even if I wanted to, I didn't have anything decent at home.
These were the summer clothes I'd been wearing all season.
"Well, it worked out perfectly. Today, unnie's gonna coordinate our Da-jeong all cute."
"Coordinate?"
"Yeah. I'll turn you into the cutest girl in the world, so no worries."
I didn't ask for that much...?!
Of course, I'd heard we'd be shopping.
But I just planned to grab a few plain tees and pants to rotate daily...!
Me, the cutest girl in the world? As if I'd want that!
"Alright, let's go? Unnie's already scouted all the shops Da-jeong would like."
"Eek...?!"
Unnie grabbed my hand and showed me her phone screen.
It was lined end-to-end with what looked like store names.
If we check all these, we won't make it home today.
How the heck did things turn into this?
No matter how hard I think back, nothing comes up.
I'd clearly come to the clothing store with Rahee unnie.
And then she picked out clothes she thought would suit me.
Yeah, up to there, it was fine.
But why...?
"Kyaa! Da-jeong-ah, you're too cute! Next, how about this skirt? Then a hoodie? Hoodies are super in with the oversized fit these days, so matching it like this would look great..."
...were the three or four outfits suddenly turning into piles out of nowhere?
What's the point of going into the fitting room?
Every time I change and come out, the clothes have doubled.
At this rate, I've basically become a dress-up doll.
Still, unnie isn't doing this in a bad way.
She's just enthusiastically picking what suits me best.
I tell myself that's it and head out in the next outfit she'd chosen.
Top is a light pink hoodie.
Bottom is a white skirt with subtle pleats.
But the hoodie's so oversized, it looks like it's swallowing the skirt and me whole.
"Unnie... isn't this too big? The sleeves too..."
"No, no. It suits you perfectly! The droopy sleeves are the key point!"
"R-Really?"
"Yeah."
Droopy sleeves as the key point?
What does that even mean?
Honestly, I don't get it.
But Rahee unnie knows way more about fashion than me.
So I just wear it without arguing.
"Da-jeong-ah, next this one! It'll suit you perfectly!"
"A-A hat too?"
"Yeah! This beret is the accent."
Eeeek...?!
I-I've hardly ever worn hats.
I had one at home once, but it got moldy on the buckle, so I tossed it.
Still, it's unnie's recommendation, so I should try it.
Even if it doesn't seem my style...
Skirts still feel so awkward.
I took the clothes and ducked back into the fitting room.
As I stripped down to change into unnie's picks...
Another skirt. Despair.
Sob, why no pants?
Pants are the comfiest.
Skirts feel like wearing something full of holes. So weird.
Swish—swish—
O-Okay.
It probably won't suit me anyway.
This time, even unnie will think it's meh and not pick it.
"Da-jeong-ah, all changed?"
"Y-Yeah. One sec..."
I pulled on the sweater, fastened the skirt's belt.
Placed the beret unnie gave me on my head.
Uuugh, no mirror, so I have no idea how I look.
But no matter what, it feels off.
"Unnie... opening the door?"
"Yeah, come on out."
I fumbled the doorknob, pushed it open.
Up till now, the outfits were somewhat normal.
But showing off this cutesy girly getup for the first time ever? My eyes are spinning.
"U-Unnie. How is it...?"
"L-Let me see...?!"
Gathering my courage, I stepped out and shyly asked Rahee unnie.
Unnie, who'd been checking previous outfits, turned to look at me and froze mid-sentence.
Eh? D-Does it look that bad?
I figured a cute style like this wouldn't suit me.
But Rahee unnie of all people reacting like this? Kinda hurts...
Squeeze—
"Eep?"
"Da-jeong-ah, it suits you so well!"
"Ububu, unnie...!"
...Or so I thought, right then.
Rahee unnie charged in and hugged me fiercely.
Can't... breathe...!
"You're seriously too cute! Especially that beret! My eye for fashion is impeccable!"
"It... suits me...?"
"Yeah. Totally. So much!"
Sh-She's said it three times. I get that it's sincere.
Anyway, glad it didn't waste unnie's effort in picking them out.
Honestly, "cute" still feels awkward to hear.
But praise from unnie makes me happy.
Getting my head patted feels amazing too.
"Next up, what to..."
Unnie pulled away and started eyeing other clothes, clearly plotting more outfits for me.
I almost yelled "No!" but barely held it in.
Grabbing unnie's sleeve, I cautiously spoke up.
"U-Um, unnie..."
"Yeah?"
"C-Can I pick out some clothes for you too?"
"Da-jeong-ie picking for unnie?"
"Y-Yeah..."
I pressed down hard on the beret atop my head.
Nodding a bit timidly.
Rahee unnie stared blankly at me, blinking.
Sh-She hates the idea?
Makes sense. I have zero fashion sense.
If I picked for her, unnie would probably just snort in amusement at best.
Still, I don't wanna just be the one getting dressed up.
We're here together, so I wanna see Rahee unnie try stuff on too.
Of course, escaping this infinite loop is a tiny factor.
R-Really, just a tiny bit.
"For real? You'd do that? Then unnie's all for it."
"Eh? I-It'S okay...?"
After a brief awkward silence.
Unnie agreed with a bright smile, and I ended up surprised.
I-Is it really fine?
I don't know much about clothes.
"B-But I brought it up, so it's weird to say this, but... I don't really know clothes..."
"It's fine. Just tell me if it looks pretty or not to you. That's fashion anyway."
She patted my head over the beret.
Added that she wanted to try what I picked.
That much is easy.
I have an eye for beauty too, after all.
If it's not her taste, she just won't buy it.
Zero responsibility, pure fun!
But first...
"Um, unnie. Your hand..."
"Huh? Oh, sorry. Did the constant petting annoy you?"
I pointed at her hand stroking over the hat.
Unnie misunderstood, yanking it back with an apology.
"N-No...! Not that..."
"Not that?"
"Y-Yeah. I mean..."
Too embarrassed to say it outright.
I swiped at the air, then plopped my hand on my head, removing the beret.
Grabbed unnie's wrist, gently placed it back on my bare head.
"This feels better."
Blushing, I shared my honest feelings.
Petting over the hat doesn't transmit at all.
"...Pfft. Da-jeong-ie likes unnie petting her?"
"Y-Yeah. Feels like getting praised..."
Not a kid anymore, getting happy over praise is embarrassing.
B-But adults like praise too!
Plus, the members are my favorite people.
Praise from them? That's the world's greatest happiness.
Yeah, exactly.
So this isn't embarrassing.
Just being true to my heart!
"Then unnie'll have to pet you lots from now on?"
"J-Just occasionally. Really, just occasionally."
Honestly, I'd love it more often.
But too shy to say that, I fibbed a bit at the end.
Just like that, Rahee unnie forgot about her own shopping.
Spent ages petting my head, pinching my cheeks, hugging me tight.
Pouring on the affection.
All the unnies are great, of course.
But Rahee unnie especially feels like a real big sis who looks out for me. Love that.
Th-Though she can be a bit much sometimes.