Chapter 125: Outside. Sea Song (2)
Part 4
“Where’re you going, Noona?”
“Um… the department store.”
Catching Sanghyun’s surprised look, Yoonseo realized how rare it was for her to go out at this hour. Around 5 p.m., she was usually streaming or chatting on Sanghyun’s stream, unless she was at her bakery part-time job.
“Big deal. You always complain about sponsored clothes being too much hassle.”
“Most of them are too flashy for daily wear, aren’t they?”
“Shopping for summer stuff?”
Mid-July. A month into summer break, the days blended into a peaceful routine, unchanging like a hamster wheel. The weather, however, had steadily grown hotter, making long sleeves or pants unthinkable. Sanghyun’s guess wasn’t far off.
Well, summer clothes, sure. Maybe grab some casual stuff too? Nodding as if she understood, she watched Sanghyun tilt his water glass, lost in thought. Her next words, unsurprisingly, weren’t exactly well-considered.
“Yeah… mainly to buy a swimsuit—”
“Pfft-khghk!?”
“…suit.”
A spectacular spray of water. A thunderous cough. Should she be glad for Sanghyun’s healthy lungs or worried about his current choking? The faint rainbow she glimpsed was hopefully just her imagination.
“S-s-s-swimsuit!?”
“…What’s so shocking?”
“You?! A swimsuit?! Did someone threaten you?!”
What triggered this reaction? Sighing at his incomprehensible intensity, she lightly pushed his chest as he lunged forward. Physically stopping him was impossible—he must’ve stopped out of concern for her. Maybe I should hit the gym, she thought.
“It’s not like that.”
“Then?!”
“We’re going to a private island, remember?”
“You said you’d never wear a swimsuit!”
“…Did I?”
Come to think of it, she hadn’t worn a swimsuit since her transformation. Or any revealing clothes, really. The most daring was probably the younger twin traveler’s outfit from the game…
“Last summer, you just dipped your legs in shorts!”
“I’m too old for a floatie, aren’t I? So—”
“Why a swimsuit now?”
Sanghyun clearly couldn’t believe she’d willingly buy one. An awkward silence crept in. How to explain? Grabbing a dry cloth, she figured letting water dry on the table was gross.
“That rich singer guy, you know?”
“Him…!”
“He sent a card this morning via courier, saying I could use it freely.”
She pulled out a card radiating dangerous vibes, even for a non-commoner. Sanghyun’s frozen expression was so comical she stifled a laugh.
“…What’s that?”
It took him a while to speak. What to say? As an ordinary person, she just parroted the text’s explanation.
“He said I could probably buy an entire department store floor with it.”
She didn’t mention her fear since receiving it, keeping her wallet glued to her. Sanghyun’s shocked face said enough.
“He told me to buy a swimsuit with it.”
“…I see.”
“Gotta buy it, right?”
Watching him nod silently, she wondered if her face looked like that when she read the text.
Good thing she was alone then.
Chapter 5
“…This feels like a scam.”
“He’s the kind of guy who can do this, so don’t worry.”
“Owning an island already sounds like fantasy to me.”
Yoonseo gave an awkward laugh at Seongyoon’s words, musing that a plain T-shirt, shorts, and flip-flops might not suit a department store, even in summer. It was indeed a surreal scale to grasp.
“Honestly, it’s a bit overwhelming…”
“You got permission, so he probably doesn’t care.”
“Different worlds, huh…”
Brushing off Jooyoung’s hollow tone with another awkward laugh, Yoonseo led the way as the two lagged behind. Glancing at their hesitant steps, the card in her pocket felt heavier.
“What about Seokyoon and Youngjin? They live close—didn’t wanna come?”
“Youngjin’s busy with the shop. Seokyoon’s too lazy, says he’ll wear what he’s got.”
“Both so predictable.”
“Hard to see them even during break, for different reasons.”
She’d texted everyone for the shopping trip, but only Jooyoung and Seongyoon from the 4Gang could make it. Jooyoung seemed genuinely here to shop; Seongyoon looked like he was sniffing out a scam.
Sadly, this was just capitalism’s dark side. Heh.
“Let’s go in, it’s too hot out.”
“You’ll get sunburned at the beach anyway.”
“If I burn like this, the local unnie will kill me.”
“Who’s that?”
“You know, from the party—Flying Rabbit—”
Part 6
Buy a women’s swimsuit at a specified brand in the department store. That was the only condition in response to her half-joking text about covering her friends’ purchases too.
It seemed simple, harmless. Her flustered “That’s it?” and impulsive agreement—whether lucky or unlucky, she wasn’t sure anymore.
“Looking for something—”
“No, I’m fine!”
Cutting off the clerk, who bowed politely despite her interruption, Yoonseo shuffled away, fleeing not from the clerk but from the vibrant swimsuits drawing her gaze.
Of course, Sihyun’s chosen brands were all “luxury.” Beyond comfort or material, they oozed high-class, seductive charm—gorgeous designs, unmistakably.
“Choi… Sihyun…!”
A store full of outfits accentuating feminine curves, and she had to pick a swimsuit for herself.
This was a trap—friendship as bait for his sleazy desires.
“He’s nuts. It’s been years since I became like this—how am I supposed to wear that?!”
A one-piece with a cut-out back and sides, barely different from a bikini. A plunging chest design. A bikini with inexplicable ribbons. Sihyun, once a high-class girl, knew what he was doing, probably laughing now. She’d been had—too late to back out.
“…Hoo…”
Blushing, she fidgeted with her hat, took deep breaths, and headed to a store with plainer swimsuits. Third try. The clerk’s awkward smile hinted at annoyance, but she stepped in cautiously.
After hopping between five brands, she’d wasted time. The others had probably picked theirs already—she couldn’t dawdle. This time, I’ll choose. Steeling herself, she faced the swimsuits, ignoring her burning cheeks.
“Uh… ah…”
Her resolve died in three seconds. How do women wear these at the beach? Are they insane?
“Excuse me, miss…?”
“No, I’m fine—”
“Would you like us to recommend something?”
Her head snapped up, stray hairs brushing her vision. The clerk’s unwavering, respectful smile met her wide eyes.
“Recommend…?”
“You’d look great in anything, but maybe you’re overthinking it…”
Her mind raced. What was wrong with buying a women’s swimsuit? Why was she shying away from the clerk’s kind offer? They were the expert—surely they could meet her simple needs.
“Um…”
“Yes, any specific type you’re looking for—”
“…I’m embarrassed about showing too much skin in public…”
Then why buy a swimsuit? The clerk’s briefly parted lips seemed to say. Yoonseo felt it too.
Part 7
“Hnng…”
“Yoonseo?”
“Jooyoung?”
“You were taking so long, I thought something happened.”
She’d narrowed it to two swimsuits, but deciding was tough—not for design, but the price tags’ violent numbers. Even if it wasn’t her money, swiping for such a sum felt wrong.
“I think either will do, but…”
“But?”
Holding both up to a full-length mirror, she sensed slow footsteps approaching. Might as well ask for help. Lightly, she held one swimsuit to her body, raised the other, and turned.
“Jooyoung, which—”
“Ghk…!”
“…looks better?”
Jooyoung’s back bent like a bow—90 degrees forward.
“…Jooyoung?”
“Uh, Yoonseo.”
“Yeah…?”
“Do you… normally act like that?”
“Like what?”
“…Never mind, forget it.”
She learned Jooyoung preferred white over dark colors, but his weird reaction’s reason remained a mystery.
What did he see…?