Chapter 127
Chapter 127
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 127
Chapter Title: Episode 42. Debate Topic: Clothes (2)
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“Huh?”
Bom turned around casually.
Her grass-colored ponytail swayed under the lights, shining brilliantly in every mirror in the fitting room.
“What are you doing?”
“I wanted to try this on.”
Bom's expression was nonchalant, as if she hadn't even noticed someone coming in.
“Why wear that?”
“Just.”
“Just?”
“Yeah. Wanted to wear it.”
“Hmm...? Kinda pervy.”
“Is it?”
Bom smiled. Yeoreum found the smile strangely novel. From their outings for fun, through the dimensional distortion that crash-landed them on Earth, and even during the time they'd spent living here together. She'd hardly ever seen Bom smile. Back then, she'd always thought the Green Dragon was just putting on that mysterious, lofty act.
But now, Bom smiled so easily.
“How's it look? Does it suit me?”
Bom, who had been smiling softly, spread her arms wide.
The dress shirt hung down to her thighs, hiding her shorts completely.
Even Yeoreum, relatively numb to beauty, could see that it suited her.
“Pretty.”
At the word “pretty,” Bom cupped her hands like a flower bud.
“Ah, pretty. Fucking pretty. Give me a kiss?”
At the irritated voice, Bom giggled.
“But... more than pretty or whatever...”
Lately, Yoo Ji-tae had been suppressing his senses as much as possible. It seemed like he'd decided she had earned his trust. It felt like consideration for her privacy.
So probably, he wouldn't know right now.
“Won't that guy hate it if he finds out?”
“Hmm... you think?”
Bom gestured to Yeoreum with her usual expression.
“Come in first. How can you leave the fitting room door wide open like that.”
Yeoreum stepped into the fitting room and closed the door.
Bom turned back and began taking off the dress shirt.
A fleeting thought crossed Yeoreum's mind.
Come to think of it.
Often, in random situations, Bom would mention Yoo Ji-tae and say things like these.
Like how he eats cutely.
Or that he'd surprisingly pay back borrowed money reliably.
Most were compliments or positive remarks. And ones that didn't suit Yoo Ji-tae at all. Gaeul would brush it off with “Really?” and Yeoreum dismissed it as the Green Clan's typical nonsense with “What bullshit.”
But once, Bom had said this.
“Back when I wore that evening dress. It was my first time, so I was super nervous. But Ajusshi immediately said it was pretty. Sometimes he drops these unexpected lines that really surprise you.”
Bom seemed genuinely delighted over something so small. It had struck Yeoreum as a bit odd at the time.
But then, one day after hearing Gaeul's words, her thinking changed.
“Unni, unni! I think I know what Bom unni meant.”
“Yeah?”
“When there were all those hate comments. Ajusshi gave me this super sweet candy as a reply. After I ate it all, he told me what happened and at the end said he's always on my side. I was totally shocked.”
“Oh, right? Right?”
Bom agreed with Gaeul. So Yeoreum had decided not to think much of Bom and Yoo Ji-tae's relationship.
But now, watching Bom carefully remove the dress shirt, a question arose.
What's with her.
No way.
“Bom unni. Just asking randomly, but unni, you don't maybe...”
“Nope?”
The slow reply shot out like a blade.
So Yeoreum's reaction was delayed.
“...What?”
Bom, hanging up the dress shirt, turned around.
“Nope. I mean...”
Then she put a finger to her lips with a “Shh” and left the fitting room.
To the end, that enigmatic smile lingered on her lips, giving no hint of her thoughts.
“...”
Left alone in the fitting room, Yeoreum replayed past events carefully once more. And felt puzzled again.
This line of thinking itself was something she shouldn't assume from the start.
“...What's her deal. Geez.”
Anyway, the Green Clan was always a few screws loose...
Muttering to herself, Yeoreum's eyes suddenly caught Yoo Ji-tae's dress shirt.
“Hmm...”
“But you have a lot of shoes.”
In the designer shoe store, Yoo Ji-tae said to Gaeul.
“Huh?”
“Buying more?”
“Yeah. Can't I?”
The chick, arms full of selected shoes, asked back at Yoo Ji-tae.
He shook his head. Whether she bought a few or many. Even if she bought the whole store. He didn't care.
He was just curious.
“You have similar ones at home.”
They were black loafers. Not too high-heeled.
“Hmm... this is different.”
“They look similar.”
“Look at this.”
Gaeul held out the loafer.
“This one has a strap around the ankle, but the one at home doesn't.”
To him, it was hard to see the difference.
Then Gaeul picked out several pairs of socks and more loafers, asking if it was okay to buy. He nodded. For some reason, she seemed to be buying more than usual.
Well, she loved shopping anyway. It didn't seem that different, but seeing her buy four pairs of the same style in different colors made him rethink it a bit.
Suddenly, the 4th round's Gold Dragon came to mind.
The Billboard goddess, Baby Yellow, loved shopping during off-seasons after tours. As her bodyguard following her around, Yoo Ji-tae vaguely recalled those times.
No matter how much of a goddess or great singer she was, Baby Yellow always had haters. Not every song was a hit.
As blessed as she was, even small setbacks caused her immense stress. He hadn't realized it then, but looking back, that seemed right.
She'd pretend to be fine, but sometimes couldn't resist the impulse. To vent, she'd go on insane shopping sprees at department stores.
Wondering if that was the case, Yoo Ji-tae asked Gaeul.
“Gaeul.”
“Yes!”
Her round golden eyes shone with pure innocence. As Yoo Ji-tae hesitated, Gaeul tilted her head.
“What?”
Was it unnecessary worry? Still, the regressor decided to ask.
“Anything tough lately?”
“No?”
“Feeling okay?”
“Yeah. I'm fine.”
“Need anything?”
“Hmm, hmm... loafers?”
Then she giggled.
“Ah, ah, right! And I need something. Can I say it?”
“Sure.”
“Lately it's just been classes back and forth. Maybe I want to go on a faraway trip.”
Was this a problematic response?
The regressor gauged it.
Come to think of it, the Gold Dragon loved wandering. In the 4th round too. Even in this round, during the guardian consultation, she'd mentioned wanting to go on dispatch. Probably just her nature.
So he'd watch slowly, he thought, and nodded.
“Okay. I'll prepare it.”
After stopping by a few more stores, the day's shopping came to an end.
Yoo Ji-tae was wearing the new turtleneck sweater, tags removed.
They'd bought dozens of clothes and shoes. Most were Gaeul's. Winter, who bought cute slippers, liked them so much she got down from Yoo Ji-tae's arms and walked on her own. Now she could walk and run naturally.
At some point, Winter suddenly turned to Yoo Ji-tae with a startled expression.
“...”
“What.”
“...?”
Staring intently at Yoo Ji-tae's neck, her face grew greatly flustered.
Yoo Ji-tae had no idea why, but the truth was this: Winter had belatedly realized the fatal flaw of the turtleneck sweater.
Turtleneck sweater!
It clung tightly to the body, covering not just the chest but the neck completely.
Unlike a shirt, she couldn't open the collar. Pulling it down was hard too.
How could she check if the necklace was still there...!
Plus, Yoo Ji-tae wore one outfit for days without changing.
Winter, thinking further, grew more serious.
“...!”
Of course the necklace would always be there. Winter trusted Yoo Ji-tae. But seeing it with her own eyes made a big difference. It was like a ritual every time they reunited after parting, where Winter checked on Yoo Ji-tae.
Winter extended her arms with a gloomy expression. Yoo Ji-tae habitually picked her up, and Winter reached for his nape. Then she tugged the sweater down desperately.
“What's wrong.”
“...!”
No good.
With normal strength, she couldn't pull it to his neck. Pulling hard might rip it.
In the end, no matter what she chose, it wouldn't work. Winter's face crumpled.
“Whine...”
Moisture gathered in her eyes beyond bewilderment.
“...”
The regressor felt a bit troubled.
He couldn't figure out why she was like this.
But now conversations worked a little, so he asked.
“What's wrong, Winter.”
Winter hesitated, then spoke.
“...Hate this clothes.”
“The clothes? Hate them? Why.”
“...Hate.”
“You liked it earlier.”
She shook her head no.
He'd thought understanding her would be easier with talk. Wrong. The regressor still couldn't grasp the blue-haired kid's thoughts.
Still. If she hated it, what could he do.
Only after promising to change at home did Winter stop whining.
They arrived at 301.
Winter got down from Yoo Ji-tae's arms. Everyone took their bags to their rooms. Yoo Ji-tae went to his too. The living room quieted instantly. Winter looked for her guardian. He was wiping the clean floor habitually.
Grrr...♪ Quarruk...♬
Singing his usual metallic nasal tune.
Winter glanced around briefly, then toddled up behind him. Hesitating to touch his back, she spoke.
“...Um, hey.”
The guardian turned his head.
Winter looked at him with a faint smile.
“Yes. You called, little miss?”
“...Yes.”
“What's wrong? Need something?”
After hesitating, Winter pulled something from behind and offered it to him.
The guardian took it silently. What was it? Pink rubber gloves in plastic...
“...Gift.”
Winter eyed the “cleaning ajusshi's” hands. His ferocious gauntlets had spikes poking through the old gloves in many places. The spikes were sharp, and the gloves worn out.
Now the guardian understood Winter's glance at his arms before leaving.
“...Little miss!”
A warm feeling spread. Humans called this emotion touching.
She seemed to dislike him daily. But she got him a gift like this.
Ah, little miss...!
As the guardian took the gloves and bent at the waist in Ascalifan courtesy,
“Thank y...”
Winter offered something else.
“...”
It was Winter's personal food bowl. The day before yesterday, the guardian had scratched it while washing by mistake. Due to spikes piercing the gloves.
“...Scratches bad, no good.”
In short, not pure gift. Replacement for broken bowl. The emotion deflated a bit.
Still. Even so. The guardian was happy. He completed the courtesy, bowing at right angles.
“It won't happen again.”
Then his lowered helmet was enveloped by two arms.
The guardian was a bit startled.
“...Thank you.”
When he raised his head, Winter had scampered far away.
Alone in the living room, the guardian looked at the gloves and thought.
Good thing I became the cleaner.