Chapter 40
*
And so we ended up at the SPA brand store near the school.
In the men’s clothing section, I followed Bae Yu-rim around, busy looking here and there as if I’d never been to such a place before. Having always ordered clothes online, it had been a long time since I’d visited an offline store.
“It’s my first time choosing men’s clothes, so I’m not sure,” Bae Yu-rim said, rummaging through shirts hanging multiple on each hanger and tilting her head.
“I’m fine with anything as long as it’s not as dull as what I wear now.”
“Well, it would be hard to be duller than what you have now.”
“But for a blind date, wouldn’t something brighter be better? Girls like colorful things,” Kim Jae-hyun, who had insisted on coming along, muttered.
“I told you it’s not a blind date,” I corrected, glaring at Kim Jae-hyun.
“If it’s not a blind date, then you must be meeting that girl you said you were flirting with before.”
“Who are you talking about?”
“You brought her to the studio and now you’re denying it?”
“When did I ever bring a girl to the studio…?”
I was about to refute immediately but trailed off as I remembered something.
Could he be talking about Shin Ji-ye? She had come to the studio once to give me medicine, so Kim Jae-hyun wasn’t entirely wrong.
Soon, I got tired of explaining the circumstances in detail and just shook my head.
“Jeong-ha. Try this on,” Bae Yu-rim said.
“This is… pink?”
I hesitated after receiving the shirt Bae Yu-rim suddenly held out, checking its color.
“What’s wrong with pink?”
“Won’t it look too flashy?”
“The color is light, so it won’t stand out much.”
“But still…”
“Anyone can see you’re a cool tone, so wearing this would be much better.”
“Hey, Bae Yu-rim. What’s with the embarrassing pink for a guy? Have some pride, just go with what the mannequin is wearing…”
“Be quiet, Kim Jae-hyun.”
Bae Yu-rim sharply cut off Kim Jae-hyun and pushed me towards the fitting room. The store staff was curiously observing us three huddled together whispering, so I obediently entered the fitting room before attracting more attention.
When I came out wearing the clothes, Bae Yu-rim approached with a satisfied face. She must have picked out a few more outfits in the meantime, as she had several hangers in her hand. Kim Jae-hyun’s constant commentary could be heard like background music.
“Oh. Surprisingly, it suits you quite well. Why does pink look so good on a guy?”
When I actually came out wearing the clothes, Kim Jae-hyun praised it, adjusting his glasses with interest.
“As I thought, it looks good. Try these on too.”
“Isn’t this too much? I don’t need this many…”
I was about to make a timid protest at the pile of clothes accumulating in front of me.
But a familiar voice calling my name made the words I was about to say retreat back down my throat.
“Choi Kyung-won?”
Looking towards the source of the voice, I saw Choi Kyung-won standing there with a bunch of friends on either side, looking pleased to see me.
“Why are you buying so many clothes? Are you going somewhere? I thought you weren’t interested in clothes.”
“He’s got a blind date set up,” Kim Jae-hyun boldly stated, even though it wasn’t true. Choi Kyung-won’s eyes widened rapidly.
“Oh? A blind date? Then I understand. Of course you need new clothes!”
“What? N-no. When did I say I was going on a blind date?”
“Come on, why are you being shy? Everyone goes on tons of them until their second year.”
“I’m telling you, it’s not like that…”
“Ah. Right. These are guys from our department. First time meeting them? Tae-woo has a part-time job interview tomorrow and doesn’t have any neat clothes, so we all came to help him choose one. But you know, choosing clothes for a part-time job interview is surprisingly difficult? If it’s too formal it’s a bit strange, but if it’s too casual…”
Choi Kyung-won introduced his friends while rattling off unsolicited information. Inwardly relieved that Joo Kwon-oh wasn’t with him, I lightly tapped Choi Kyung-won’s arm.
“Hey. Please don’t tell our project team members that you saw me here.”
“Why? Is it a secret?”
Choi Kyung-won looked puzzled as I lowered my voice to a whisper. I couldn’t specifically ask him not to tell Joo Kwon-oh. It was difficult to explain.
“Just… because it’s embarrassing. It’s not a big deal, but…”
The truth was that I didn’t want Joo Kwon-oh to hear that I was desperately trying to dress up, but I couldn’t really say that outright.
“Ah. Well, okay.”
Choi Kyung-won answered that he would do so, still with an expression of unresolved doubt.
“And I’m not buying clothes for a blind date.”
“Okay, I got it, don’t worry. Why are you so embarrassed about it?”
Choi Kyung-won patted my shoulder and grinned.
“I may not look it, but I can keep a secret, you know?”
“…Right. Thanks.”
“Good luck buying clothes, and I’ll see you in class.”
What is this ruined feeling? I should have just kept quiet. I belatedly realized that my request to keep it secret from our team members had actually increased the suspicion.
I felt like I needed to explain properly, but it was impossible for me to unravel the subtle differences in interpretation between people in such a public place, with several people watching.
Moreover, Choi Kyung-won quickly disappeared to another section with his friends to choose clothes, so there was no time for a longer conversation.
I also naturally forgot about running into Choi Kyung-won as I was busy trying on the clothes Bae Yu-rim had picked out.
*
I bought one each of pants, a t-shirt, a shirt, and socks that Bae Yu-rim and Kim Jae-hyun unanimously chose. After finishing shopping and having dinner together, it was well past 9 PM when I returned to my studio apartment.
I was quite tired from carrying shopping bags for several hours.
Completely drained from being out, I collapsed on the floor as soon as I entered my room.
“Ah, I’m exhausted.”
Shopping is indeed difficult. But I felt much lighter now that I had decent clothes to wear on Saturday.
After rolling around on the floor for a few minutes, I pushed the shopping bags aside and got up to take a shower. Just as I was about to undress, my phone started vibrating.
Checking the caller ID, it was Joo Kwon-oh.
“Hello?”
“Why are you answering the phone so late?”
Unlike usual, Joo Kwon-oh’s voice was low. At his cold tone, I unknowingly stopped in my tracks and pricked up my ears.
“Did you call? Why?”
“Yeah. Five times. Where are you now?”
My heart sank at those words. He called five times? Did something happen?
“I’m at home now.”
“Jeong-ha, where did you go today?”
“Today… I was at school and then just came home.”
I stumbled over my words in surprise.
“Really? That’s strange. Choi Kyung-won said he met you outside.”
“Ah.”
I was at a loss for words for a moment as Choi Kyung-won was suddenly mentioned.
I had earnestly asked him not to say anything, but he went and told Joo Kwon-oh already. How many hours had even passed?
I felt newly betrayed by Choi Kyung-won, who had smiled smugly saying his lips were tighter than they looked.
“Well…”
“He said you bought clothes for a blind date.”
“……”
I told him it absolutely wasn’t like that, but he spilled everything. That bastard Choi Kyung-won.
It was unbelievable. And when did it change from a group blind date to a one-on-one blind date? It’s too much to assume it’s definitely a blind date just because I bought some new clothes.
“I guess it’s true then.”
Tears welled up for some reason at Joo Kwon-oh’s cold voice.
“It’s not. Kyung-won misunderstood.”
I quickly denied it. I was so flustered that I couldn’t even think of how to explain. My mind just went blank.
“Then what is Choi Kyung-won talking about?”
“Clothes… I just went to buy clothes. With Yu-rim and Jae-hyun.”
“So you did go to buy clothes.”
“Yeah.”
“You said you’d be in the studio because you were busy with an assignment today.”
I experienced my mouth going completely dry in an instant.
“Kwon-oh, that’s…”
“Did you lie?”
“……”
“Explain to me why you did that.”
Today, even Joo Kwon-oh’s faint breathing seemed to sting my ears particularly sharply.
He was right, I had lied. The SPA store in Daehangno was in the opposite direction from my house, so I couldn’t even make the excuse that I had stopped by on my way home. And I had kept missing Joo Kwon-oh’s calls to check.
It was natural for Joo Kwon-oh to be suspicious, having caught me in a lie and then hearing about a blind date. If I were in his position, I would have reacted the same way.
As I was gathering my thoughts, Joo Kwon-oh spoke again.
“Jeong-ha. I was sincere when I said I like you. Even if we’re not dating, I’d like us not to hide things from each other during the three times we agreed to meet.”
“It’s true. It’s absolutely not a blind date or anything… I just went out to buy clothes with my friends.”
“Then why did you lie about having to stay at school for an assignment?”
“……”
“Were you afraid I’d tell you not to go?”
“No. To you…”
I hesitated, unable to continue speaking easily.
“I wanted to keep it a secret from you.”
“Why?”
After chewing on my lower lip with my upper teeth, I finally concluded that telling the truth was the best option.
