Chapter 33: Is This the Right Choice?
“Thank you!”
Even after we started dating, Chae-ah hadn't changed at the store.
Her sincere approach to customers still made me smile.
I'd been ready to scold her if she slacked off, girlfriend or not, but my worries were unfounded.
“Sajangnimmm~”
“Yeah, Chae-ah.”
Of course, when there were no customers, she showed a different side.
I let her act as she pleased—it was her freedom, after all.
“Sajangnimmm~. Hehe~.”
She sidled up next to me at the counter, rubbing her cheek against my shoulder like a puppy.
“I love working with you, Sajangnim.”
“Yeah, me too.”
“For real? Hehe, who knew we could click like this.”
She'd gotten even cuter since we started dating, pulling my lips into a smile whether I wanted it or not.
The childish streaks that didn't suit her age were nowhere to be seen now.
“By the way, what do you have me saved as?”
“You mean in my contacts?”
“Yeah, I'm curious!”
I'd anticipated this moment and handed her my phone right away.
But she just clutched it and stared at me.
“What's up?”
“Pfft, you really don't hide anything from me, do you, Sajangnim?”
“Why would I? There shouldn't be secrets between us.”
“Then I'll show you mine too.”
Thrilled that I'd handed over my phone so casually, Chae-ah gave me hers in return.
We checked each other's contacts at the same time.
She had me saved as My Wife♥.
She must've changed it after stopping by my place—it wasn't like that from the start.
Wife, huh.
So very Chae-ah.
“Sajangnim, is that it?”
“Huh?”
Her face, beaming just moments ago, turned pouty as she shoved her phone screen in my face.
Apparently, plain old Chae-ah wasn't cutting it.
“Isn't that enough?”
“How is this enough?! What did you have me as before?”
“Shin Chae-ah.”
“Whaaat…?!”
At the sound of her full formal name, she staggered like the world had ended, clapping a hand over her mouth.
“Th-that's so… heartless! Even if we're boss and employee!”
I'd figured shortening it to Chae-ah would spare me any nagging, but this reaction had me flustered.
“So what should I change it to?”
I couldn't think of anything better, so I decided to hear her out.
“You'll change it if I tell you?”
“Yeah, it's no big deal.”
“Then My Wife Chae-ah. With a heart!”
“Wife…?”
I couldn't fathom her obsession with wife.
We'd just started dating—wife felt way too premature.
“Why not?”
“You trying to marry me or something?”
“Of course we have to get married!”
“Same-sex marriage isn't even legal in Korea. Impossible.”
“Ugh… no romance. Marriage isn't just about legal papers.”
I wanted to agree with her views most of the time, but marriage was a bridge too far.
Maybe because I'd never once considered it—it felt overwhelmingly heavy.
“Romance! Putting romance into it is marriage! It means we're getting closer, you and me.”
“Romance, huh…”
I tilted my head at the word.
I struggled to grasp what romance even meant, let alone what kind Chae-ah was after.
“This is tough.”
Maybe all the crap I'd been through made chasing romance in a relationship feel impossible. I scratched my head, voicing my doubt.
“It was romantic just a bit ago. When you confessed with that kiss!”
“That was romantic?”
“Yes!”
I'd just stopped wanting to run from my feelings and accepted them, that's all.
Who knew she'd romanticize it like that.
“And…”
*Ding-ding!*
“Ah, customer! Welcome!”
She was about to say more when the bell rang, and Chae-ah dashed out.
I tried pondering romance in the meantime.
“Do you have any low-temp wax?”
“Low-temp wax…?”
But Chae-ah was struggling with the customer, so I stepped in to help.
“Looking for low-temp wax, ma'am?”
“Yes, it's my first time. Could you recommend something?”
“Of course. First time trying low-temp wax play?”
“Yes, exactly.”
Low-temp wax play—aka waxing play—uses candles with a lower melting point than regular ones.
I hadn't tried it myself, but I'd studied up, so recommending was easy.
“Everything here is low-temp wax.”
“So many designs? I thought it'd just be red.”
“Yeah, the variety makes it fun to collect.”
“But is it really not hot?”
A lot of people think low-temp wax isn't hot.
Unfortunately, that's a misconception.
It drops hot wax just like regular candles.
“No, it's just as hot. The difference is it melts at lower temps, and it cools and hardens faster.”
“What about burns? Seems risky.”
“Drop it from about 1 to 1.6 meters, and the risk drops.”
“Height matters, huh.”
I pulled out a display low-temp wax, lit it with a lighter, and dripped wax onto the back of my hand from the height I'd mentioned.
“Not hot?”
“No, just warm.”
“Got it, like that.”
“Couple caveats: Don't drip on thin skin or bony spots without much fat.”
“Okay, noted.”
“Obviously avoid ears, eyes, nose, mouth, wounds.”
After covering the basics, I explained ways to enhance the play.
“Test on thick skin first, discuss drop height with your partner. Higher up means cooler when it hits.”
I didn't stop there—I steered her toward other items.
“Prep aloe gel, Vaseline, towels, burn ointment beforehand.”
“No aloe or Vaseline here.”
“We sell them. Want to grab some?”
“Yeah, good idea.”
Stopping here? Amateur move.
A pro keeps the wallet opening, so I led her to more products.
“I've got a combo with low-temp wax play I recommend. Interested?”
“Sure, tell me.”
“Pair it with blindfold play.”
“Covering the eyes?”
“Exactly.”
I picked up a recommended blindfold and kept explaining.
“Not knowing when or where the wax will drop amps up the tension and thrill for the receiver.”
“Then aloe gel, Vaseline, blindfold, and wax. I'll take those.”
“Thank you, ma'am.”
Nothing beats selling add-ons to a customer who came for one thing.
“After play, soothe skin with a lukewarm damp towel, then apply aloe or Vaseline.”
“Got it.”
“Skip any extra stimulation afterward.”
With that, the customer left, bag stuffed with goodies.
Turning back proudly, Chae-ah grabbed my hand, eyes sparkling.
“Sajangnim, you're amazing!”
“Suddenly?”
“Our Sajangnim is a sales genius!”
“Three years running this place builds experience.”
“But have you tried low-temp wax play?”
“No. Just videos and articles.”
I pulled my hand free to wipe dust off the counter.
Then an intense gaze bored into me from the side.
“Why are your… eyes sparkling like that…?”
Chae-ah stared, eyes glittering.
It was different, but reminded me of her face when I explained rope ties nearby.
“No.”
“Huh?”
“Not doing it with you.”
She clearly wanted wax play with me—I shut it down flat.
“Aww, why nooo?”
“Can't trust you with low-temp wax when you don't even know it. You can get seriously hurt.”
No matter how quick a learner she was, I wouldn't risk burn play on her.
“Then you do it to me, Sajangnim.”
This felt eerily like the rope tie talk.
“Try it on you first, then I'll give it a go.”
Even then, she wouldn't drop her resolve to try it herself.
“I said no.”
“I'm just curious. Come on, I wanna try it with you.”
“No means no.”
Even as my girlfriend, I couldn't allow it.
Me doing it to her? Fine.
But I wouldn't greenlight it because she'd never let go of trying it herself.
“Pleeease, Sajangnim, just once? Pretty please?”
“Aegyo won't work.”
“My birthday's soon.”
I held firm against her begging, but then she dropped the birthday card.
No way she was asking for this as a gift—
“Birthday present!”
She was.
“I already got your birthday gift ready.”
“Really?!”
“Yeah, so not this.”
“I'll be greedy and take one more. You get one wish on your birthday!”
I thought she'd be thrilled about the gift, but that joy was fleeting.
She gazed up at me with those big, sparkling eyes.
I knew I shouldn't cave to that look.
“Sajangnimmm…”
But she was too damn cute—like a little bunny.
“Sigh, fine. I'll do it to you first. Then you study more before trying.”
“Yes! Got it!”
“I mean it—study up. If I spot you skimped, no mercy.”
“Yes!”
Finally satisfied, Chae-ah beamed and skipped around the store.
“Ha, already whipped.”
Falling for her this easily already? God knows how much worse it'll get.
Can't let her get spoiled.