So Far, Yet So Close (3)
One of the golden rules of school romance tropes.
A naive heroine falling for a bad boy.
Since there are plenty of girls in real life who are drawn to bad boys, it's not entirely a fantasy.
In other words, the reverse case—a naive male lead falling for a bad older girl—also exists.
As someone who prefers kind people, it's a sentiment I can't quite understand, but hey, to each their own.
Whenever I saw that kind of development in school stories, I just shrugged and accepted it, thinking, I guess that could happen...
But today, I made up my mind.
'I'm going to save you.'
I was going to show him the power of a childhood friend.
"...Go shopping together?"
"Yeah. We're having dinner together anyway. Just hang out with me for two hours before that, okay?"
It was Saturday, two days after I had discovered Yuseol's scandalous(?) taste.
To achieve my goal, I went to Yuseol's house starting at lunchtime.
I absolutely did not go just because I wanted to eat the brunch his mom made.
"I'm going to an amusement park with Min-ah and Soo-ah next week. I was planning on buying some new clothes anyway, and since we're eating out in Mapo today, I figured this was the perfect chance."
"If you're shopping for clothes, wouldn't it be better to go with my mom? Or Yujeong-nuna?"
"They're the ones who went out on a date, okay? My sister finally came home from her dorm, so the two of them went to a bookstore."
"Is that so?"
Yuseol let out a long yawn and checked his phone.
The sound of rapid typing continued as if he were sending a message.
...No way.
"Do you have a girlfriend?"
I knew he didn't, but one could never be too careful.
Especially around that cheeky girl, Seong A-rin.
...He's not texting her, is he?
"A girlfriend? All of a sudden?"
"You're popular, you know."
"Me?"
"Wow, look at you playing dumb. Do you want to get tickled?"
I wiggled my fingers mischievously and grinned.
Yuseol leaned back slightly and showed me his phone screen.
"It's for a group project. And if I were actually popular, would I be hanging out with you like this?"
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"I'll go with you. Though I don't know how much help my opinion will be."
Having finished his text, Yuseol stretched as he looked at me.
Normally, I would have teased him relentlessly, but today was not the day for that.
"Then I'll see you in thirty minutes."
"Huh? We're not leaving right now?"
"I have to change into my shopping outfit."
"......?"
Leaving a bewildered Yuseol behind, I stood up.
A bad girl and the male lead who falls for her.
It's a classic, but that trope is outdated.
What's trendy these days is the Kind Gyaru to Otaku.
A gyaru who is kind to otaku.
Of course, the otaku in this scenario isn't Yuseol, but me...
'I'm going to become a mature, teasing older-sister type who doesn't get flustered by suggestive things...!'
I, Chae Yujin.
Am a girl of action.
"Miss Yujin, I have a question."
"Yes. What is your question, Mr. Yujin?"
"Why did we come all the way to Hongdae to buy clothes? I'm pretty sure there are plenty of clothing stores in Yeouido."
Having survived the weekend subway hell, we arrived at the mecca of youth, Hongdae Street.
Yuseol asked me, looking significantly more exhausted than before we set off.
I wagged my finger and graciously explained the reason.
"First of all, most of the shops here are cheaper than department stores. And most of the stuff in department stores is geared toward adults, so it doesn't look right on teenagers like us."
"...Oh."
"And most importantly, I'm a fashion expert, aren't I? A true fashionista has to shop in places like this."
Yuseol nodded as if he understood.
But then, he scanned me from head to toe...
"What exactly changed? Did you spend thirty minutes just choosing a hat?"
He had just uttered the absolute worst thing you could say to a girl who dressed up.
This is why childhood friends are hopeless.
Because of how familiar we are, he couldn't even notice the subtle changes in a pretty girl like me.
"You're making a big mistake. What, did you think I was taking a dump for thirty minutes?"
"...Why would you suddenly say that?"
"Look closely. Can't you tell I look a bit more lovely?"
I spread my arms wide and struck a pose.
For the sake of the fashion-illiterate Yuseol, I deliberately showed off my socks, necklace, and circle lenses—the key points of my outfit. But his reaction?
"......?"
He made the absolute worst face you could make at a girl who dressed up.
"Hey. Wipe that look off your face right now and compliment me."
"...Do I really deserve the honor of walking alongside such a beautiful person?"
"Put a little more soul into it."
"...How much do I owe you for the friend fee?"
"Pfft—! Pass!"
I bumped shoulders with Yuseol, who was grinning and pretending to pull out his wallet.
"...What are you doing?"
"I don't want to get lost."
And then, I naturally took his hand.
I knew it was a stretch, but I figured I could get away with it using the childhood friend buff—
"You're not a kid, how would you get lost? And if you do, you can just call me."
Why couldn't he just let it slide even once?
We've known each other for four years, you should get the hint by now.
"Okay. I'm in a great mood today, so I think I'll buy four outfits. I should tell my mom and your mom that we'll be a bit late."
"...Come to think of it, I think I have a terrible sense of direction."
See? You always end up losing to me anyway.
"Are you sure you won't lose me holding my hand so loosely?"
Laughing playfully, I raised our joined hands to eye level.
His fingers were remarkably slender and pretty for a guy.
But his palm was calloused, and his hand itself was much larger than mine.
'He looks so cute, but his hands are so manly.'
......Huh?!
......Wait, what?!
Chae Yujin, what are you doing?!
Now is not the time to fall for him...!
"Look. It feels like we're going to slip apart any second...!!"
I forced myself to hold back from squirming.
To make it look like a joke, I squeezed his hand slightly, dropping a hint that he should grip it at least this much...
Slide.
The moment I relaxed my grip, Yuseol spread his fingers wide.
Then, naturally rotating his wrist—
Squeeze.
He interlaced his fingers with mine.
...Huh? I wasn't expecting things to go this far...?
"Is this fine?"
Yuseol casually brought our clasped hands up to my eyes.
Caught completely off guard, I couldn't even find my voice...
"H-Hwah?!"
"Sorry. Did I squeeze too hard when trying to adjust my grip?"
Thinking I was silent because it hurt, Yuseol loosened his grip slightly while looking at me.
He wore a look of genuine concern.
...This is cheating.
"M-My hand almost broke...!"
"...It was that bad?"
"O-Of course! A girl's hand is much more delicate than you think...!"
I hurriedly untangled my fingers and pulled my hand back to my chest.
Because of my overly dramatic reaction, Yuseol stared at me with a look that said he couldn't tell if I was joking or serious, forcing me to quicken my pace.
How is Seol Yujin so natural at this...?!
I was supposed to be the one leading today...!
"We're busy today, so keep up!!"
"Uh, okay...?"
Yuseol trotted along and quickly caught up to my side.
Even as we walked, he kept glancing at my face and asking if I was really okay...
...As if I could be.
I shouldn't have let go.
My lips pouted in regret.
In the past, "gyaru" might have carried the image of a delinquent, but nowadays, it has evolved into a wholesome term for a fashion-conscious popular kid.
And Yuseol was a guy who liked the mature, older-sister style that accentuated a girl's figure.
I mean, just looking at Seong A-rin's Instagram, it was filled with those kinds of photos.
'...I really don't get it. Why does he like that kind of cheap-looking body? Do guys just care about volume?'
...Ugh. Well, what choice do I have?
If that's what Yuseol likes, then I have to adapt.
If you like gyarus, I will gladly become the girl of your dreams.
"Welcome~."
And so, we arrived at a women's clothing boutique.
Specifically, a shop packed with clothes designed to maximize femininity.
'...No way, people actually wear that in public?!'
The moment we stepped through the entrance, my eyes locked onto a flimsy piece of clothing.
Seeing a mannequin dressed in a style that might as well be called underwear, my jaw dropped.
I had researched the place beforehand, but seeing it in person felt completely different.
I wondered if it was really okay for kids who had just graduated middle school to be here...
"Do I need to help you pick out clothes too?"
Seriously, stop lying!
How can you be so casual about this!
You're supposed to be blushing and stammering, while I tease you for being cute...!!
"Go take a look around. I'll search for something that might suit you too."
Contrary to my inner turmoil, Yuseol calmly scanned the racks.
Whether by coincidence or not, the clothes he was looking at all had a similar vibe to the mannequin I had just seen.
...Wait. What does he mean by finding something that suits me...?
All the clothes here look like things only mature, curvy older girls would wear...?
For him to look at those and search for something for me means...
'He's imagining me wearing those clothes right now, isn't he?!?!'
H-He really does like this kind of stuff...?!
"J-Just wait there...! I'm going to look around...!"
Not knowing how to react, I quickly headed up to the second floor.
From the second-floor railing, I peeked down at Yuseol on the first floor...
'...Pervert!'
He was choosing so seriously.
I had come here to show off my mature charm, but I was the one getting overwhelmed.
...But still, yes.
'...I definitely have to buy that.'
I had confirmed his taste.
"Is there anything specific you're looking for?"
After confirming Yuseol's taste, I browsed through similar clothes.
Just as I was worrying about whether I could actually wear them and if they would look good on me, a sales associate approached me with a bright smile.
"...Um, I'm looking for a blouse and some casual clothes I can wear easily."
"How about something like this? I think it would look wonderful on you."
With those words, the associate smiled warmly and pulled out a top.
"...Isn't this underwear?"
"It's a padded camisole. It's comfortable enough to wear casually at home, but it also shapes your waist and bust nicely, making it perfect for layering under a jacket or cardigan like this."
She styled it for me in an instant.
It was the kind of style you'd see on Instagram influencers.
Honestly, regardless of my usual taste, I had wanted to try wearing something like this at least once...
'But it's so embarrassing...!'
A flowy dress with a cardigan.
Or a blouse or linen shirt with a skirt.
Having always stuck to a pure and innocent look, I had never once worn clothes that emphasized my figure.
Even if I had come here with that intention, suddenly wearing something so revealing felt like too much, so I was about to decline.
"I think your boyfriend would love it if you wore this."
"B-Boyfriend?!"
Boyfriend.
That single word made me completely forget what I was about to say.
"When it's different from your usual style, it acts as a major charm point. He'll realize that his pure girlfriend can be this feminine too."
"...R-Really? It works as a charm point?"
"I guarantee it. You're so pretty, he'll definitely fall for you all over again. What do you think? I think it would look perfect paired with these cargo pants."
The associate smiled gently and gestured toward the fitting rooms.
Miraculously, before I knew it, I was holding the padded camisole and several other items in my hands.
"...I'll go try them on."
"Sure! Let me know if you need anything!"
I walked into the fitting room as if possessed.
.
.
.
"...Um, excuse me? My chest feels a bit tight, do you have this in a size up?"
"Yes! I'll bring it right over~."
"Thank you..."
"Should I call your boyfriend over?"
"...Yes. Please bring my boyfriend."
"How cute~."