Chapter 39
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: Don't Tease Me.
I pulled out the outfit Sia had picked for me from the closet.
My opinion had been taken into account, if only just a little.
At least it wasn't a skirt. That was a relief.
The bottoms were pants, and while the neckline of the top was a bit wide, it didn't expose my shoulders.
That day in the department store fitting room, they'd made me try on clothes that left my navel bare or my shoulders exposed.
Compared to those, this outfit was much better.
Recalling how I'd worn it at the department store, I slipped my feet into the pants.
Since I hadn't worn them once since trying them on, the stiff fabric brushed against my calves, then my thighs.
I pulled them up to just below my navel and fastened the button, and the pants clung perfectly to my body.
"……."
Sia had said these were supposed to hug the body's lines like this.
After putting on the pants, I picked up the top.
A plain knit top. It was the least revealing of the options Sia had suggested.
Come to think of it, she'd told me to tuck it into the pants.
"This is how it looks good. Ab. So. Lute. Ly. Don't pull it out. Got it?"
I styled it her way and stood in front of the mirror.
A dead ringer for a girl stared back from the mirror.
It didn't even look particularly dolled up.
Even I had to admit, objectively speaking, it was cute.
"……."
Just the pants alone made my upper body feel constricted.
How do people pull pants up that high, all the way past the navel?
Of course, it did make my legs look longer.
"……Hmm."
'Alone, it doesn't look bad at all….'
I'd already shown Sia once, so no big deal there, but now I had to show this look to someone else.
Especially to Si-woo—that was a bit regrettable.
What would he think when he saw me?
For the first time, I stepped outside wearing an outfit Sia had chosen.
The exposure was minimal, but from the moment I left the house, I felt strangely embarrassed.
Just a plain knit top, pants instead of a skirt, pulled up a little high—that was it.
Nothing weird about it, but maybe it was because they clung so tightly, outlining my figure.
I'd always preferred looser clothes anyway.
Today's outing was for Si-woo's housewarming.
I'd decided on a set of toilet paper rolls as a housewarming gift.
Toilet paper was practical, something everyone needed plenty of.
The price was reasonable, the bulk was a bit much but not too heavy—I could carry it fine.
I headed straight to the neighborhood mart as soon as I stepped outside.
On the way, more men than usual struck up conversations with me today.
Probably because this outfit was more put-together than my usual ones.
I'd stopped saying I liked women—it was a lie anyway.
Now I just said I already had a boyfriend.
It was a lie, but it worked great.
Saying that should keep them from getting clingy.
It felt like I was discarding my pride, but it beat having them grab my wrist.
Inside the mart, I hesitated a bit.
Should I get the 10-roll pack or the 20-roll one?
The quantity doubled, but the price didn't quite—feeling like I'd lose out on the deal, I went for the bigger 20-roll pack.
It was lighter than expected but still heavy; I figured switching it between arms would make walking okay.
Carrying the pack, I headed to the subway station.
By this point, normally another guy would've approached, but strangely, no one did.
That was convenient.
I'm an idiot.
A total moron.
I didn't notice a thing about the toilet paper pack in my hands as I laboriously descended the subway stairs.
Not even when I tapped my transit card, turned, and passed through the turnstile.
Somehow, no one had approached me since leaving the mart.
I realized something was off right after boarding the train.
As the doors closed and I found a seat, the lady across from me looked my way.
Her gaze lingered on my hands for a moment before shifting to the window.
A high school kid standing nearby glanced me over too.
There I was, in Sia's outfit, holding a bulky pack of toilet paper—an utter mismatch.
No wonder they stared.
Now I was sitting on the subway clutching a pack of toilet paper.
Finally, it all clicked in my head.
Si-woo's place was far from here.
A long ride on public transport.
There were marts near his place too.
…So why didn't I just buy it there?
Every time people got on and off, eyes flicked toward me.
'I'm not being a nuisance on the subway, am I…?'
Feeling self-conscious, I picked up the pack I'd set on the floor and hugged it to my lap.
It wasn't heavy, but the bulk was the issue.
Holding it with both arms hid half my face.
At least this way, I wasn't bothering standing passengers as much, so I kept holding it.
Whenever my activities involved going out, this always happened.
Heading out didn't make me nervous anymore, but maybe my body had adjusted while my brain hadn't caught up.
…Otherwise, this situation made no sense.
I didn't used to be this oblivious.
I arrived at my stop. The doors opened, and I got off quickly.
Emerging above ground, a gust of wind slammed into my face.
It was pretty strong.
Stray hairs whipped into my view. Mine, of course.
Smack—
A side gust lashed my hair across my eyes.
I brushed it away roughly and kept walking, but the wind was too fierce.
I felt pathetic somehow.
Trudging along with a huge toilet paper pack, battling the wind.
This neighborhood was new to me, yet it felt oddly familiar.
I couldn't place why. Like I'd seen it somewhere.
I rarely left home, so familiar areas were few.
Where had I seen it?
It didn't feel like my old neighborhood.
The buildings were bigger overall, roads up to eight lanes wide.
I entered Si-woo's address into my map app and walked slowly.
The paper kept bumping my legs, slowing me down.
I kept checking the map app while walking.
Getting lost on an unfamiliar route would be a disaster.
I knew he'd moved to an apartment from the address name.
I'd thought, oh, just an apartment.
Not one like this.
…Si-woo, this guy. Did he even need to work?
I got in the elevator and pressed 14.
As the doors closed, my reflection appeared in the interior mirror.
My hair was a total mess from the wind, and I stood there hugging the toilet paper pack with both arms.
I looked exhausted. Pitiful, even to myself.
If I hadn't been holding the paper, maybe less so.
The elevator stopped at 14, doors opened.
The hallway was quiet.
I walked to the unit Si-woo had given me, checked the time before ringing the bell.
Twenty minutes early.
Not work, just a friend—arriving early was fine.
'Unit 1407, right…?'
I double-checked the unit number Si-woo sent.
To avoid ringing the wrong door in a catastrophe.
I looked up at the plate.
[1407]
The numbers gleamed in gold leaf.
Gold leaf. Actual gold leaf.
Si-woo, you bastard.
"Hoo…."
I took a light breath and pressed the bell.
Today was the housewarming.
I'd never done a first day at a new job, but with the move just wrapping up, things had been hectic.
I hadn't even logged into Death Code lately, and there was more prep than expected.
Originally, I'd planned to just invite Sia for a casual dinner to celebrate the move.
But Eun-hae said she'd come too, turning it into a proper housewarming.
The distance was decent, so I was honestly surprised she'd agree.
I'd prodded her on purpose, expecting her to bail from laziness.
So I'd only prepped for two. Had to run out earlier for extra ingredients.
Everything was ready now. We could start as soon as they arrived.
I was sitting at the computer, idly watching NerTube, when the bell rang.
One of them—Eun-hae or Sia—had arrived.
Early, so probably Eun-hae.
She was the type to show up ahead of time to avoid being late.
To confirm, I checked the intercom screen first.
Nothing. No one there.
'Did Eun-hae shrink or something…?'
A bit puzzled, I approached the front door.
"Who is it?"
"…It's me."
A tiny voice, but I recognized it.
Yup, Eun-hae first.
I turned the handle and opened the door. Strangely, even through the gap, I saw no one.
But I heard Eun-hae's voice.
…A small pinky finger poked out from below, gripping the edge of the door.
Eun-hae spoke in a slightly trembling voice.
With the door open, it came through clearer.
"Don't tease me…."
"What?"
"Don't… tease me when you see me…."
What? Don't tease her about what?
I had no idea what was up, but I answered anyway.
"O-okay."
As soon as I replied, Eun-hae's upper body peeked out from behind the door. She'd been hiding there.
I started to ask why, but shut my mouth.
What I saw hit me first.
I let go of the door handle unconsciously, but since she was holding the door, it didn't close.
The first thing that caught my eye was the beige knit top.
Not much, but the round neckline exposed her collarbones a bit—and from my angle, with her short stature, I could almost glimpse the gap.
Next, her face.
Why was her hair so messed up? What happened?
There'd been wind earlier when I went out—maybe that.
"……Uh."
What reaction was I supposed to have?
Eun-hae opened the door wider, revealing her full figure.
I didn't know the exact name of the pants.
But they were pulled up high, tight against her.
The knit hem tucked into the waistband.
No way she'd style herself like this.
She wouldn't even buy clothes like these.
"You…."
She cut me off, trailing off as she looked away.
"I had to wear this because of Sia…."
The new look of Eun-hae filled my eyes.
Her reaction left me unsure how to respond.
Why was she so embarrassed?
I had no idea how long we stood there silently, facing each other.
Eun-hae tugged at her sleeve cuff, looking a bit shy.