Chapter 4: Meeting(3)

The so-called big mart wasn’t actually that big.It just occupied the center of the small shopping area.Still, there were quite a few people coming and going inside.And every one of them was glancing at Kyunghee as they passed.There was no malice or anything like that.It was just that a woman with her head bowed, arm linked with mine, drew attention.But even those small glances seemed to weigh heavily on Kyunghee.If I hadn’t moved, she’d probably have stood there like a statue forever.Thinking I’d have to fix this slowly, I pointed at a basket and spoke to her.
“Grab a basket.”“Huh? Okay.”
Kyunghee immediately picked up a plastic basket.Since I’d gone shopping recently, there wasn’t much to buy.Just some vegetables, a bit of meat, some dairy.If I felt like it, maybe some seafood or noodles.That much, we could carry together.Or I could carry it all myself.With that thought, I took a few steps forward but turned back, sensing something off.Kyunghee was standing there, stiff as a board.Like a robot waiting for orders, unsure of what to do.
“What are you doing? Not coming?”“I-I’m coming.”
Her eyes darted around briefly.Then she started following me, stumbling over her steps.Honestly, it was a bit frustrating, and I wanted to drag her along, but that didn’t seem right.She was already so timid; forcibly pulling her would probably scare her more.Since it came to this, I figured waiting for her to catch up while slowly picking items wasn’t a bad idea.
“………………”
Kyunghee waited quietly while I chose ingredients.Sometimes she’d shrink back or fix her gaze on the floor, but when I put items in the basket, she’d force a smile.Each time, I felt guilty, like I was bullying her.Even though I was the one trying to be considerate.To lighten the mood, I occasionally asked if she wanted anything, but her only response was that she was fine.Even though I kept adding items to the basket without comment, it must’ve been heavy, yet she didn’t show it.How long had we been shopping like this?
“………………”
Kyunghee was holding the basket with trembling arms, forcing herself to keep it up.The basket was full of ingredients, making it quite heavy, but she still didn’t complain.Or maybe she’d never learned how to complain.She’d been taught that unfair treatment was normal.When her legs started trembling too, I had no choice but to take the basket from her.
“Ah…!”“Follow me.”
I planned to check out at the self-service counter and arrange delivery.Since we spent over 30,000 won, delivery shouldn’t be an issue.So, with one hand holding the basket, I went to the self-checkout and started scanning.Kyunghee watched me hesitantly, then cautiously opened the bag when I handed it to her, as if she’d just understood something.
“Meat and milk need to go in the fridge.”“Okay.”“So we’ll carry those, and the rest will be delivered.”
I finished scanning smoothly, called an employee to get a receipt for delivery, and picked up the box.While putting meat and milk in the bag, Kyunghee followed hurriedly behind.I taped up a decent-sized box and packed the ingredients from the basket, but Kyunghee didn’t say a word.I could tell she was trembling, clinging close to me, but I had no idea what she was thinking.Was she anxious? Scared?If only she’d say something about what she liked or disliked.That’d give me something to work with, but she was silent as a mute.
“All done.”“We… we can go now, right…?”
Maybe relieved to finally go home, Kyunghee grabbed my arm and asked desperately.Her timid reaction to the stares around us was pitiful, but I was glad she’d at least expressed a preference.Still, when I didn’t answer right away, she let go of my arm and lowered her head.Like she’d done something wrong, like a guilty person.In truth, I was just debating whether to send her home first.Taking someone like her to a clothing store felt like it’d be better if I went alone.
“Not heavy?”“I-I’m fine.”“You can go home first if you want. I’ve got some things to do.”“I’m… fine…”“No, let’s go home.”
So I tried to nudge her to go home first.Oddly, she shook her head, saying she was fine, but my decision was firm.Her half-crazed expression, her wildly shaking eyes.No one would call that normal.It was best to let her rest at home.
“It’s heavy. Give it to me.”“I-I’m fine…”
I tried to take the bag since it looked heavy, but she refused, gripping the straps like her life depended on it, so I had no choice but to let her carry it.
“You memorized the route, right?”“Yeah. I did. Not perfectly, but…”“…You probably can’t go alone.”“No, no! I can go alone. I know the password. I found it once already.”“Really?”
I was honestly pretty worried, but it seemed okay.If I let her go ahead and followed slowly to keep an eye on her, there shouldn’t be a problem.
“Then go ahead and wait. Take the delivery when it comes.”“Okay, I-I’ll go first.”
Kyunghee forced a smile and started walking unsteadily.I pretended to head elsewhere, then turned to follow her.Thankfully, she seemed to have memorized the route.She was looking around frantically but heading the right way.Of course, she avoided bumping into people, sticking to the edges as she walked.
I worried she might get hurt, but she managed to find her way.After a while, I watched her enter the alley where my apartment was and turned around.She knew the floor and the password, so it should be fine.I didn’t know what she was thinking, but seeing her hurriedly enter the password gave me a rough idea.Her not expressing her emotions made her hard to deal with.She was clearly misunderstanding something, but I had no way to correct it.
They say alcohol brings out true feelings, and that’s not for nothing.I had money to buy alcohol, so it wasn’t a bad idea.I didn’t know what kind she liked, but with money, I could just buy a variety.Soju, beer, makgeolli. Maybe even some whiskey.Buying a mix and letting her try them seemed like the plan.Of course, buying alcohol and clothes might stretch my budget, but it’d be tight.
My parents would probably allow alcohol as entertainment expenses, but clothes were another story.If I suddenly bought women’s clothes, they’d grill me.So, buy alcohol with my dad’s card and clothes with mine. Hmm.It’d be close.Honestly, if I hadn’t asked for all college expenses to be covered instead of going to a top university, I’d have run out of money already.And if that were the case, I probably wouldn’t have taken Kyunghee in, sending her away with a “sorry, but no choice.”And then Kyunghee…
…Better not think about that. I shook my head to clear the thoughts and shifted gears.Speaking of parents, I needed an excuse for them now.With food and other expenses suddenly doubling, I needed a reason.Maybe say I threw a party with friends or something.Thinking that far, I sighed instinctively.
Still, I felt this was manageable.It was a bit of a burden, but not unbearable.As I told Kyunghee, if I budgeted carefully, it’d work out.So I organized my thoughts on what clothes to buy.With that in mind, I opened the door to a clothing store, and an employee greeted me with a smile.
“Welcome!”“Hi, I’m here to buy clothes for my little sister.”“Oh, you came alone?”
The employee at the counter smiled kindly and asked.It was probably unusual.A guy walking into a women’s clothing store alone.
“Yeah. My sister’s going on a trip and urgently needs clothes.”“Oh, she didn’t come with you?”“She said she could go a day without clothes, but since she’s going with friends…”“Yeah, that’d be awkward. Alright, I’ll help you pick some out.”
I’d prepared my excuse, so it went smoothly.I’d already thought about colors that would suit Kyunghee.When I pointed out some comfy hoodies and jeans, the employee’s face lit up.I gave her Kyunghee’s measurements, and she nodded, heading to the back.
“Mom!”“What?”“Where’s the small and medium stuff?”“It’s right there!”“Ugh, come on!”
Hearing loud voices from the back, I got a bad feeling.If both of them came out and bombarded me with questions,and my lie fell apart… ugh, the thought alone was dreadful.I’d definitely get some weird looks.What reason would a guy have to lie while buying women’s clothes?While I waited, the employee came out with clothes and spoke.
“Do you need underwear too?”“She mentioned going to a pool, so probably.”“Ah, got it. The size…”“When she asked me to buy her underwear for her birthday, I think it was AA.”“You must be close if she asks you to buy underwear.”“We’re not that far apart in age, so we’re pretty casual.”“That’s nice.”
I handled the employee’s conversation smoothly, smiling.She packed the clothes as requested, put them in a paper bag, and handed it over.I calmly finished paying and walked out with the bag.
Now I’d buy some alcohol and head back to the apartment.