Date (2)
“I love you!”
Yoon Seo-ra declared while holding both of Jeong Ha-yeon's hands.
“Y-Yes? What?”
Jeong Ha-yeon panicked at the sudden love confession.
“What the...”
And Seo Joo-hwan, witnessing the NTR attempt right in front of him, couldn't hide his bewilderment.
“What's your name?”
But Yoon Seo-ra, as if blind to everything else, stared intently at Jeong Ha-yeon and continued.
“Uh, Jeong Ha-yeon.”
“Height?”
“A little over 170...”
“Then your three sizes... roughly from the top, 34-25-3...”
Seo Joo-hwan's ears perked up at the valuable info.
She could tell at a glance?
“W-What are you saying! Stop it!”
Jeong Ha-yeon shrieked as her three sizes were suddenly revealed to the world.
“Oh.”
Only then did Yoon Seo-ra snap out of it, stopping mid-sentence and bowing her head frantically.
“S-Sorry. That was so rude of me.”
“Extremely rude! What the hell are you doing?”
Jeong Ha-yeon glared at Yoon Seo-ra with sharp eyes, clearly furious. The store wasn't empty—there were over a dozen customers besides the part-timers.
Yoon Seo-ra, realizing her mistake, kept bowing and apologizing nonstop. But soon enough, her flushed face twisted into excuses.
“I'm not usually like this... It's just that Ha-yeon, you're exactly my type...”
“......”
Jeong Ha-yeon was speechless at the confession-like words.
*
Once things calmed down, Seo Joo-hwan asked with a hunch.
“Noona, you into girls?”
“Huh? I'm not a lesbian! Ha-yeon, it's really not like that!”
But Jeong Ha-yeon, who'd just endured a non-confession confession, still looked uneasy. It was only natural—her exact three sizes, which even she hadn't known precisely, had been broadcasted.
Yoon Seo-ra hurriedly explained further.
“My type as in, my ideal model type.”
“Model?”
“Yeah. Your height, proportions, face, vibe—it's all exactly what I've been looking for. I even want to gift you clothes I've designed myself.”
That reminded Seo Joo-hwan of Yoon Seo-ra's talents he'd forgotten about.
As the owner of a clothing store, her standout talent was Coordinate, but her Design talent was impressive too. Checking her status window again, he finally understood the earlier scene.
Her Impulsiveness outranks Design right now.
The potential rank was higher for Design, but currently, Impulsiveness led. It was less a talent and more her personality trait—which explained her bold move.
Seo Joo-hwan said,
“Noona, you do design too? I thought you were just a shop owner.”
Playing dumb, Yoon Seo-ra smiled shyly.
“That's my main gig, but I love designing. I gave up on doing it seriously a while back, though. Still, I keep at it as a hobby.”
“Oh? So you make them yourself too?”
“Uh... a little, as a hobby?”
Her expression was oddly awkward, sweat trickling down her back.
Can't say that one!
Her real hobby wasn't design or sewing—they were just accessories for her true passion: cosplay. But she couldn't admit that, so she changed the subject.
“Anyway, Joo-hwan. You and Ha-yeon... dating?”
“Yep. My girlfriend. Pretty, right?”
Yoon Seo-ra smacked her lips in quiet regret.
Good guys always have owners.
She didn't have strong feelings for Seo Joo-hwan—just mild fondness. But hearing he had a girlfriend made it sting a bit. Uneaten rice cakes always look bigger, after all.
She shook it off quickly. Even if he were single, she wouldn't pursue anything. Her shop kept her too busy for boyfriends anyway.
And without Jeong Ha-yeon, there was still the issue of...
Aigoo, Su-ah.
Thinking of Han Su-ah, she smiled bitterly. It was obvious last time that Han Su-ah liked Seo Joo-hwan.
Seo Joo-hwan teased playfully,
“I got a scare thinking you were stealing my girl right in front of me.”
“Ugh, seriously sorry. Ha-yeon, I'm so sorry. That wasn't my intention at all.”
“Yeah, it's fine now.”
After repeated apologies, Jeong Ha-yeon nodded graciously. It was awkward, but snapping at his acquaintance would've been rude.
Jeong Ha-yeon said it was okay, but Yoon Seo-ra didn't stop at words.
“Instead, let me coordinate for you. I'll throw in a full set of top and bottom that you like.”
“No need to go that far...”
“No burden. I'm grateful to Joo-hwan anyway, and even without that, I really want to style you once.”
Seo Joo-hwan jumped in before Jeong Ha-yeon could refuse.
“We came to ask for your coordinating anyway. I'll buy a few more for myself too. I'll spread the word in my department—shop at Swan for clothes.”
“Sure. But Swan?”
Yoon Seo-ra tilted her head at the unfamiliar term. She hadn't been called that yet.
“Your shop's Style Completion, right? Shortened it.”
“Swan... Swan. That's good. Means swan too.”
Chewing on the name, Yoon Seo-ra nodded vigorously.
“Right? Fits since you coordinate sometimes.”
“Yeah, suits my shop. Hmm. Can I use Swan as the name?”
“Of course. No big deal.”
“Great. So, Ha-yeon?”
“Yes?”
Jeong Ha-yeon blinked in surprise at the sudden call, while Yoon Seo-ra's eyes sparkled.
Grinning, she said,
“From now on, you're my doll.”
“...Huh?”
Seo Joo-hwan smiled wryly at Jeong Ha-yeon's confusion, remembering his own time as a doll.
Looks like lunch is skipped today.
It'd take a while.
*
“Ha-yeon, your legs are gorgeous. Why hide them? Can't waste legs like that!”
“Proportions are perfect—anything looks good. Clothes suit you, not the other way around?”
“Try a skirt, skirt!”
“Hyah. Even edgy fits you. Call me unnie?”
Yoon Seo-ra dressed Jeong Ha-yeon like a dress-up doll, trying various outfits with extra enthusiasm—Ha-yeon was practically her muse.
Seo Joo-hwan watched from the side as she emerged in new looks each time. Jeong Ha-yeon, unused to them, looked awkward every change.
Glancing at him, she asked,
“H-How's this?”
“Pretty.”
“This one?”
“Really pretty.”
“This?”
“Super pretty too.”
Her eyes narrowed at the repeated answers.
“Everything's pretty?”
He felt wronged.
“They really are. What can I do?”
“Haa.”
“For real.”
Yoon Seo-ra only brought perfect matches—what could he say? His fashion sense wasn't sharp enough for specifics anyway.
So, actions over words.
“Noona, ring up everything Ha-yeon's tried on.”
“For real?”
“Yeah. No worries on price—get them all.”
Jeong Ha-yeon panicked more than Yoon Seo-ra.
Grabbing him, she said,
“What do you mean all? And why're you buying my clothes?”
“First date gift.”
“Too expensive even for a gift. One's enough.”
“It's fine.”
“What's fine? You rich? College kid with that kinda money...”
“I am.”
Not bravado—he really had it. Even without Bitcoin gains, recent settlements were in the millions. Platforms ahead meant tuition for years was covered.
“No way...”
Jeong Ha-yeon trailed off. Right—he lived alone in a two-room. Tough for a student without serious cash.
“Still, no.”
She refused firmly. Common sense said his money came from parents. Hard to believe a early-20s guy earned enough for that himself. And rich kids blowing cash without care? She despised it.
Especially given her past.
Seo Joo-hwan scratched his eye corner awkwardly.
Wanna buy 'em all.
Seeing them suit her perfectly, one outfit felt stingy. He had the money.
Yoon Seo-ra wedged in.
“Three outfits then. I give two, you buy one, Joo-hwan gifts one. Perfect?”
“No, unnie said one...”
“Saw how they fit—wanna give two now.”
“That's too much...”
Yoon Seo-ra leaned in, cutting her off.
“Then model for me?”
“...Model?”
“Yeah. Not now—later. If shop grows, planning a mall with friends. You two model then.”
“......”
Jeong Ha-yeon pondered. Seo Joo-hwan seized the gap.
“Sounds good. Settled.”
“Wait...”
“Generous pay, of course.”
She shut up at "generous pay." Independent since adulthood, no allowance. Tuition and living scraped from pre-college jobs—not luxurious.
How much left in the bank...?
She nodded.
*
They left three outfits at the shop—too bulky to carry, pick up later.
Exiting Swan, Seo Joo-hwan headed to a nearby cosmetics store for the recommended lip.
“YSL Rose something? 614, I think.”
“Rose Immerse, right?”
The clerk nailed it despite vagueness, adding recs.
“Base with 614, layer 615 Ruby Wave inside. Feels like rose petals soaked in.”
No clue, so he bought both. Jeong Ha-yeon watched, thinking lipstick was fine—but gasped at the price.
“Two lipsticks over 100,000 won?!”
Post-purchase reveal. She scolded him like a spoiled rich kid.
He dragged the refund-insistent girl to a pre-scouted cafe: mint choco specialist. Mint-painted entrance, inside packed with couples—guys dragged by girlfriends.
Jeong Ha-yeon paid for drinks and desserts before he could, sitting down. Sipping mint choco latte, she spoke.
“Why always try to pay? I have money.”
“First date—guy pays, right?”
He scratched his head, confused. Shouldn't she like gifts?
She frowned.
“You from the '90s? Who does that now?”
“......”
“Don't next time. And return this. Spend within means, not like that.”
“I am within means...”
He'd held back to avoid burdening her. Real earnings could've bought dozens.
Guess it burdened her.
Post-regression inflows dulled his money sense. Controlling it, but to her, it looked wasteful.
She sighed deeply.
“'Within means' doesn't mean blowing allowance from parents when it's not your own money... Oh.”
She froze, peeking at him anxiously. Word slip—hurt his pride?
But his reaction surprised.
“Huh? That's why?”
“...Huh?”
“It's money I earned.”
“...Then save more. Part-time's hard-earned.”
“Uh... not easy, but... smh.”
Far beyond part-time. How to explain?
*
Jeong Ha-yeon blinked in shock.
“This is your novel?”
“Yeah. First time showing someone I know—kinda embarrassing.”