Chapter 20
Chapter 20
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: Holiday's Second Day (2)
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◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ After finishing my shower, I came out to find Dahye sprawled out in front of the shoe cabinet.
She was already fully dressed, shoes and all, grinning up at me.
How excited could she possibly be?
She looked just like a puppy hyped up at the word "walk."
Her twitching toes even resembled a wagging tail.
"Seong~hyeon~! All ready~?"
"Not yet. I still need to do my hair and change. You're not even drying your hair before heading out?"
"Nope! We're just going out to have fun, right? This is fine."
Dahye was wearing a pink character T-shirt with faded training pants top and bottom.
It was the same outfit she'd had on when we first met at the cafe.
With only one set of clothes to her name, she didn't have much choice, but from experience, she looked plenty cute in it anyway.
But not today.
Today, Park Dahye needed to look extra special.
For real.
This wasn't just because I wanted to see her looking pretty or dress her up in something else—no, there was a genuine reason she had to shine today.
"Here, take these clothes. Let's change into something else."
"What clothes? Do you have women's stuff?"
"Just wait a sec."
I pulled out a brand-new set of clothes from the bottom drawer of my closet, still in its packaging.
Sports brand apparel—a dolphin pant set with a matching jersey top, both in light purple.
I'd bought them for Su-yeon to lounge around in at the PC bang,
but I never even got to show them to her, and now here they were coming in handy.
A bit sporty for a date outfit, but perfect for a weekend outing.
If she just threw on a white spaghetti-strap tank underneath, Dahye would look amazing.
"Change into these."
"You really have everything... Girlfriend's clothes?"
"Girlfriend? What girlfriend?"
"Don't you have a girlfriend? Women's clothes in the house and all. Two computers too."
"You think I'd live with you if I had a girlfriend? Nah. Broke up a few days ago."
"Oh, you broke up... I felt kinda guilty about that. Good thing, hehe."
She'd actually been thinking that? Shocking.
Unbelievable.
Even considering living with a guy who has a girlfriend is wild, but feeling sorry while still asking for back hugs? Impressive.
Park Dahye, charging straight toward her desires.
No holds barred.
While Dahye went off to change, I picked out my own outfit.
As I said before, there was a reason Dahye needed to look extra pretty today.
And the same went for me.
I was always slouchy on days off, but today I had to step it up.
What to wear?
Casual to match what I gave her... Let's see.
Gray wide joggers, light purple crewneck sweatshirt, and white sneakers similar to hers.
Just style my bangs up for hair.
Looking in the mirror, the colors matched so well someone might think it was a couple's look.
But let me stress again—this wasn't just for fun. It was necessary.
When I came out dressed, Dahye—who had changed first—was standing by the door.
'Whoa.'
I barely held back the exclamation.
She looked so pretty even in worn-out clothes, so I knew it'd suit her, but...
This was next level.
No contest.
She seemed to be in slow motion again.
Hands in her pockets, gazing toward the balcony, she slowly turned to me.
The dolphin pant fabric fluttering in the breeze.
A glimpse of her sparkling shoulder where the jersey had slipped.
But the real shocker was her snow-white skin.
Her legs, exposed all the way to her ankles by the shorts—what could I even say?
The combo of her natural tone and shut-in life made them glow like LEDs.
Dazzling.
"How's it look? Suits me?"
"Should I be honest?"
"Yeah!"
"You're insanely pretty."
"Whoa."
Her playful face turned bright red in an instant.
She probably never imagined I'd say that.
It was embarrassing for me too, saying stuff like that.
But today, no choice.
Just like Dahye needed to look pretty, I had to shower her with compliments on her looks today.
Blushing, she fiddled with her bangs for no reason.
Then she spotted my outfit and beamed.
"Whoa, you're in light purple too! Couple look? Your hair looks great today!"
"Couple look? Nah, more like camouflage. Ready to go?"
"Yeah! Let's hurry! I'm hungry."
"Sunscreen?"
"Nope? Just put on the lotion you gave me."
"Wait, you usually just use lotion?"
"Yeah! What else?"
Oh man. A hidden pitfall.
These days even middle school boys use moisturizer, but a twenty-year-old girl going out with just guy's lotion?
Fine. I'd already decided to support her until she got on her feet, so might as well start with skincare.
And hair too.
Dahye's hair was so fine and silky it looked great now, but up close, the ends were all split.
But women's skin and hair weren't really my domain,
so she'd need help.
One person came to mind.
"Dahye, mind if we meet someone else today?"
"Hmm... I like just us two, but who?"
"My sister."
"You have a sister? Real sister?"
"Yeah, real one. If you don't want to, we can skip."
"No, I wanna! Super curious about your sister!"
"Perfect. We'll eat, hang out a bit, then meet her before heading back."
"Sounds good!"
"Sunscreen first. Weather's nice—you'll burn."
I handed her the sunscreen, and her face lit up with mischief again.
She closed her eyes, tilted her head up, and said,
"Put it on for me~."
"Oh? Look at you. One back hug and you think you can get away with anything? Wrong. I'm not that easy."
"Come on, I granted your free wish, and you won't do this much?"
Pulling that card now? Sneaky.
Fine, this would be the last one. Time to draw the line.
We'd be living together, so rules were needed.
"...This is the last time. No more after this. Skinship ban from now on."
"You're so stingy, Kwon Seonghyeon. And you don't even have a girlfriend."
"That's why, dummy. Back hugs are for people you're dating. And now we're roommates, so we need boundaries. No skinship!"
"Ugh..."
Before she could complain, I quickly dabbed on the sunscreen and rubbed her cheeks.
Soft and squishy. Youth really is great.
Skin maintained with just lotion felt like max-level slime—springy.
Fun to touch.
"All done. Let's go."
"Yeah! You're taking the bus today?"
"Nope, no car or bus needed today."
There's a fashion district a short walk away, packed with restaurants and malls—perfect for fun.
Cross one street, and there's a canal park great for weekends.
Ten minutes on foot.
Dahye seemed thrilled for her first outing in ages, her steps light.
She'd bounce ahead, then look back and trot to my side.
Spot a walking dog, she'd squat and pet it forever.
She was super excited.
Gaming all day is fine, but coming out was the right call.
The fashion district was bustling as expected—weekend plus great weather.
I glanced at Dahye's expression.
Chattering nonstop in the apartment complex, but she'd gone quiet since.
As predicted.
Her face was stiff.
"Dahye."
"Y-yeah? What's up, Seonghyeon?"
"You okay?"
"Huh?"
"Your face looks down. Hate crowds? We can go somewhere else."
"No! Just zoned out thinking. I'm fine!"
Right. She looked uncomfortable as hell.
Dahye had great focus.
Once locked in, she ignored everything around her.
Like when I explained the menu at the cafe, or chatting at the bar.
But when her focus broke?
From her first time at the cafe, and moving to the second and third spots,
I'd noticed Dahye struggled in crowds.
The moment she shifted attention from me, she tensed up hard.
Like now.
If entering a cafe was tough, a place like this must be hell.
I got it completely.
Six years ago, holed up in my gositel, I felt the same.
Too long in my bubble, and crowds made me feel like an outsider.
[This isn't my place. I don't belong here.]
Trapped in a self-made prison, drifting on the edges.
It was fine for past me, but not for Dahye.
At her prettiest age, twenty, when she should be the world's star—she couldn't treat herself like an outsider. Too sad.
I took her hand and walked her right to the center of the district entrance.
Opened the camera app and said,
"Dahye, look here. Let's take a pic."
"Huh? Here?"
"You kept our first meeting photo. Don't want a first date one?"
"Oh, I super do! Let's!"
"Say cheese~. Here we go?"
Snap!
"Done. Check it out, Dahye."
"O-oh..."
Her eyes went wide at the photo.
We were grinning at the camera, perfectly fitting the street vibe.
Dahye especially shone like an Insta celeb, proudly showing off her flawless skin.
This was why she needed to look pretty today.
Best way to rebuild confidence in a crowd? Dress up.
For girls, it's a 10x buff.
Throw in some hype, and it skyrockets.
"You're the prettiest here today, right?"
"Huh?"
"See? No one else even registers. You're the hottest on this street. Guarantee it."
Yup. Nailed it.
Her anxious face bloomed into happiness,
that bright smile bringing back her bubbly self.
There we go.
This was the real Dahye, barreling toward her desires.
Seeing that grin, her confidence surged.
Maybe I could do more for her than I thought.
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