316. Change (11)

Shi-hyun's decisiveness was swift. At the sound of the word "date," he immediately scheduled it for the very next day. Did he seriously have nothing planned for tomorrow? I couldn't say no. I was the one who brought it up first, after all. He even brought up the topic with the kids in the evening beforehand. "Tomorrow, go to Grandma's house." "Grandma's?" "Yeah, Shi-u, can you take Jae-won and Saet-byeol with you?" "I can, but... why so suddenly?" Shi-hyun answered without hesitation. "Grandma must be lonely, so go and keep her company." It was such a cheat-like reason. With that reason, even I couldn't object, and it was a reason the kids wouldn't suspect. "I guess so." Shi-u understood immediately. "I'll have to miss swimming class for a day, but can I ask you to do that?" He was worried about Mom, and she'd be happy to see her grandchildren, right? "Yes." "Isn't Mom going?" "Um... Mom and Dad have work to do." "Okay, then." "Saet-byeol-a?" "Yes." With all the kids agreeing, my worries disappeared. If Shi-u was the chaperone, I could trust them. "Don't make Grandma too tired." "Yes." I contacted Mom in advance, and she was naturally delighted. Since the next day was the weekend, she was even happier when I said they'd be staying overnight. Mom must have been lonely too. In the morning, the kids naturally went to school. They said they'd meet at home and go to Grandma's house together, so I told them to take care of it. "Shall we get ready to go out too, then?" "Yeah, yeah." Seeing Shi-hyun looking so happy made me worried. I couldn't pour cold water on him when he was this happy... But then again, we really haven't had much time together since the funeral. It's a date, so I should doll myself up a bit, right? I rummaged through my closet, trying to find something pretty to wear. Most of it was outdated. I'm not getting any younger, so I can't go overboard. I settled on something relatively neat. It was something I wouldn't normally choose because I'd be self-conscious about my chest, but it's a date! I put on clothes that were more form-fitting and emphasized my chest more than what I usually wear. Maybe it's because I haven't worn them in a while, but it felt a bit awkward, but it still looked good, I think. When I came out after changing, Shi-hyun frowned. "What's wrong with your clothes?" "Wh-what do you mean?" Does it not suit me? I checked myself again. There didn't seem to be any major problems. "Haa, never mind." What's wrong with it? "You don't like it?" I went with plain pants because a short skirt would be too much. "No, it's pretty." "R-really?" But he had a different reaction earlier? Hmm... whatever! Since there was no one to be self-conscious around, I stuck close to Shi-hyun more than usual. "Let's go." "Why are you like this today?" "Why? You don't like it?" I was a little embarrassed trying to act like this after so long. "No? Let's go." We left the house and headed to the department store. How long has it been since I've been to such an expensive department store? "It's been a while since I've been to a place like this...." I buy expensive and nice clothes for the kids, but not luxury brands. "Why? Are you uncomfortable with luxury brands?" "It's not that...." Actually, I did need some clothes like this. When going to official events, you need to wear expensive and neat clothes. Otherwise, people will talk. Especially since Shi-hyun has a position, there were times when he had to appear in front of people. "Should we look at your clothes first?" I took Shi-hyun to the men's clothing section. Is it because it's a luxury brand? "The prices are considerable." A top costs a minimum of 500,000 won, and if it's even slightly decent, it's over 1 million won. And that's just for a top, not a set! "It is expensive." We decided not to be stingy and just buy it. Let's not be intimidated by this. "Let's look quickly." "Okay." Why? Shi-hyun's eyes looked sad. I looked for anything that looked good and held it up to Shi-hyun. "It still suits you so well." I felt this when I bought Shi-hyun's suit before, but his looks and proportions were a scam. Shi-hyun was silent. "Everything looks so good on you, it's hard to choose." Black had a neat taste, and gray or light gray had a sophisticated taste. I looked at white too, but it didn't suit Shi-hyun. Shi-hyun is getting older too... He still looks like he's in his late 20s, but there's a maturity that makes it unbalanced. "Should I bring out a more mature taste after all?" I chose a sharp-looking suit among the black suits. Bringing out the sharp feel made him look really cool. "Shi-hyun-a." "Why?" He looks a little dissatisfied? "C-can you smile evilly?" "What?" "Smile like a villain." Shi-hyun didn't seem too keen, but he smiled as I asked. It was a truly evil-looking smile. I couldn't resist and took a picture with my phone, and it turned out really well. "Look at this." I showed Shi-hyun the picture I took. "Keuk." Shi-hyun burst out laughing when he saw his own picture. "Doesn't it look like a villain executive in a movie?" That's what I was aiming for from the start, but it turned out really well. "Y-yeah, keuheuk." Shi-hyun kept laughing, as if he found it funny himself. But it's amazing how it turned out like this. "I have to save this." "Keuheup, e-erase it." "Why? It turned out well, didn't it?" "Erase it." "I don't want to." I picked up my phone and ran away from Shi-hyun. Shi-hyun couldn't chase me properly because he was wearing the clothes. In the meantime, I uploaded the photo to the family group chat. "It's no use erasing it now." "I won't erase it, so stop messing around." Was I being a bit much? "Anyway, it suits you well, I should buy a set to match it." "Do whatever you want." Shi-hyun's reaction was strange, as if he had given up. "Heuheung." I was excited and chose clothes for Shi-hyun. He looked so good in everything, I liked everything I chose. "Changing the dress shirt you wear inside makes a different feel." "Then reduce the number of clothes and buy dress shirts instead." Is he annoyed with shopping after all? "Are you annoyed?" "You don't wear these clothes often even if I buy them." That's true... Shi-hyun preferred clothes that were easy to move in. His job also meant that his clothes often got damaged, so he preferred to wear cheap clothes, throw them away when they wore out, and buy new ones. "You wear these when you go somewhere." "There aren't many times to wear them." "Why not? You have to wear them to relatives' or friends' celebratory or condolence events." There were fewer times he participated directly because I was there. But he still needs them. "You can solve that with the ones you bought before...." I cut off Shi-hyun's words. "Uh-uh, clothes are a standard for evaluating a person, you have to wear good clothes considering what you earn." "Haa...." Shi-hyun eventually sighed, annoyed. "Anyway, I chose two sets of tops and pants, and several dress shirts, so that's enough." In addition, I chose expensive tie pins and cufflinks. The clerk was grinning from ear to ear, seeing us buy so much at once. "I did say not to save money...." "Why?" Shi-hyun's hand was trembling slightly when he saw the payment amount. "Is it because it's your stuff?" "Haa, never mind." ... I chose it for Shi-hyun, but he doesn't like it that much? Honestly, I'm a little angry? Does he not like my actions? "Are you going to keep reacting like that?" He used to accept even this side of me well! "It's a date, right?" "Huh?" "You're not going to indulge me anymore? You don't like me taking care of you?" "N-no, it's not that!" I got even angrier seeing Shi-hyun flustered. Has he become too comfortable? Is that it? "But are you going to keep sighing?" I picked up the items that had been paid for and left the store. Shi-hyun hurriedly followed me. "You hate me taking care of you that much?" "I-I'm sorry." "What? What are you sorry for?" I dressed up nicely because it was our first time together in a while, but I felt terrible. I don't know how long it's been since I've felt like this. I didn't even feel like this at the funeral! I ignored Shi-hyun and strode through the department store. Shi-hyun kept apologizing, but I didn't accept it. I felt that bad. He's always complaining that I only take care of the kids, but he hates it when I take care of him? I made it obvious that I was sulking. Shi-hyun, realizing that apologizing wasn't working, quietly followed me. Arriving at the women's clothing section, I slowly looked around the store. "It's definitely diverse." There were many pretty lace clothes that I wanted. The problem is whether there are clothes that can cover this stupid mass of fat.... "Heuheungheung." I looked for clothes I liked and asked the staff. "Um, can I see something that fits me separately?" "Of course." Is it because it's a brand name? The prices were high, but the staff was just as professional. The staff glanced at me, checked my measurements, and brought a few clothes. They were the lace tops I had been looking at. "How do you like them?" Hmm... I savored each one. The sizes were definitely different. The chest width was generous from the start, so there was no need to worry about the clothes stretching. "I'll buy this one for now." I really liked the lace pattern too. I put two of them on the counter in advance and looked at other clothes. More than that, Shi-hyun is quiet? Looking to see what he was doing, he was obediently holding the luggage and guarding my side. Was I too angry? It's a date, so it's not good to keep getting angry, right? "Heumheum, how about this?" I showed Shi-hyun a skirt. "It looks like it would suit you." "Really?" I asked again to see if Shi-hyun's answer was sincere. "Yeah, it's good because it's not too short." "Is that so?" Hmm... Shi-hyun's reaction has definitely changed. He's become serious, you could say? "Then I should buy this too." "This looks like it would suit you too?" Shi-hyun actively offered his opinion. "This?" "Yeah." Isn't the length a little short? The length was around the thighs, and it was fluttery, so men would like it. "Isn't it a bit too much for me to wear?" "It suits you well enough." "R-really?" I couldn't properly look Shi-hyun's smiling face in the eye. Why is he smiling so brightly? "T-then I guess I'll buy this too." As I picked one or two, the pile of clothes became quite large. "Let's pay for these first and go somewhere else." Shi-hyun has become too active. Is it to make up for his mistake earlier? I didn't dislike it. More than that, many of the clothes Shi-hyun liked were too much to wear at my age now. "C-can you think about our age a little?" "Why? It looks like it would suit you well if you wore it?" It would suit me, I guess! But I want him to think about my age. "Let's think about age, get me some more demure clothes." It's embarrassing to expose my thighs at this age! It can't be helped since Shi-hyun has no interest in fashion. I completely forgot about the fight we had earlier and enjoyed shopping. Is Shi-hyun taking revenge for me getting angry? The clothes he was recommending to me were all clothes that fresh girls in their early 20s would wear. "Are you doing this on purpose?" "No? I really think it would suit you...." It was worse because he was being sincere. I have no choice but to buy it if he's like this! I have no choice but to wear it if he's like this!