Though Hwi-gyeom’s clothing was ordinary, his face was radiant. Despite having seen several famous celebrities, Hwi-gyeom’s appearance overwhelmed them all.
“Welcome. This is the Freda store. I’ll help guide you inside.”
Following the employee’s guidance, Hwi-gyeom entered the store. Inside, several customers were already browsing items.
Hwi-gyeom naturally deflected the gazes following him. It had already been a month since entering this body. He was used to this level of attention now.
“Are you looking for a specific product?”
The employee assigned to guide him looked up at Hwi-gyeom with flushed cheeks. Then, seeing the wound at the corner of his mouth, sympathy seeped into her eyes.
“That bag displayed over there. May I take a look?”
Hwi-gyeom chose a bag without hesitation. The employee’s smile deepened.
“Of course. Could you wait here for a moment?”
“Yes.”
“What beverage would you like me to prepare? We have water, sparkling water, and orange juice.”
“You don’t need to give me anything.”
“Yes. Understood. Just a moment then.”
Hwi-gyeom sat on the sofa and comfortably looked around the store. His face was so peaceful that he seemed like a different person from when he was with Seo-jin.
A slightly languid atmosphere flowed from his faintly smiling face. He leaned his body comfortably against the backrest and crossed one leg. His slightly pinkish ankle drew the gazes of those nearby.
Shortly after, the employee returned carrying a black shoulder bag.
“Is this the right product?”
“Yes.”
Hwi-gyeom uncrossed his legs and leaned his upper body forward slightly. His hair, softly wavy without wax, flowed down over his forehead.
“This is a new product from this season. It’s made of calfskin, and the glossy finish is soft, making it highly versatile with a modern design. Would you like to hold it?”
“Mm. No. I think it’ll be fine without trying it. I’ll take this one.”
“……You’ll purchase it right away?”
“Yes. Ah, checks are accepted too, right?”
“Of course.”
After quickly completing the payment, Hwi-gyeom roughly shoved the change into his pocket. Even after buying the bag, nearly 500,000 won remained, making the corners of his mouth twitch upward.
He wore the bag slung over his shoulder even before leaving the store. Though he only carried one luxury bag, strangely his steps had more spring to them.
‘This is something I really wanted to try at least once.’
If someone asked what was best about possessing a new body, Hwi-gyeom had no choice but to fall into contemplation. Because it wasn’t just one or two things.
Hwi-gyeom looked down at his white, slender hand. The hand without a single callus still felt a bit unfamiliar. The gazes people sent from here and there were the same.
In the past, Hwi-gyeom would be hurt to be called second when it came to having no presence. An appearance you could see anywhere when walking down the street, shabby clothes that showed his poverty, and a complexion that always looked tired.
Though he had occasionally received pitying looks, he had no memory of receiving gazes full of admiration like now.
He took a deep breath. It smelled of leisure and wealth. In the past, when he happened to have a reason to visit a department store, he would strangely feel intimidated. As if entering a place he shouldn’t be, he would watch people’s reactions, and his old, worn-out sneakers were embarrassing.
But not now. Hwi-gyeom walked through the department store with his chest fully expanded. When he saw something he wanted to buy, he didn’t hesitate. Since quite a bit of money remained even after buying the bag, his actions flowed with ease.
It was when he was moving his steps to the restaurant area, getting a bit hungry. An unfamiliar scent brushed past his nose.
No way…….
Before he could look around at the uneasy feeling, a heavy weight descended on his shoulder.
“Baby, what are you doing here?”
A voice full of mischievous playfulness rang in his ear. Only after tilting his head back enough for his neck to bend could he see the face of the man who had spoken.
Hwi-gyeom’s face was instantly dyed with a gloomy light. It was a change that happened in the blink of an eye.
“Hye, hyung……”
The end of Hwi-gyeom’s voice trembled finely. The corners of the man’s mouth tilted loosely. Eyes that flashed like a predator targeting prey swept down Hwi-gyeom’s face.
“Shopping alone? You should have called hyung. Then I would have bought you the entire store, not just a bag.”
At those words, Hwi-gyeom’s heart pounded. Just imagining it made him swallow hard. But he didn’t show it. If he revealed his true nature, different from the original body owner’s personality, his identity could be discovered.
“……What brings you here?”
Hwi-gyeom looked at the man cautiously and lowered his eyes. His particularly long, thick eyelashes fluttered like butterflies.
Haah. The man let out a thick sigh. As he brought his face close as if to kiss him right away, Hwi-gyeom’s eyes widened greatly.
Though views on homosexuality had improved considerably, kissing between men in the middle of a department store was shocking. As Hwi-gyeom restlessly looked around, the man’s hand gripped Hwi-gyeom’s jaw strongly.
“Why are you looking elsewhere? You’re making hyung feel shitty.”
His sharply extended eyebrow twisted crookedly. The man’s voice also dropped a level. Hwi-gyeom’s complexion paled. The man and Hwi-gyeom weren’t even cat and mouse, but tiger and mouse.
If the man lightly swung his hand, Hwi-gyeom could fly far away. Perhaps two or three teeth would be broken.
Though the man hadn’t yet laid hands on him, he gave off an atmosphere that suggested he could at any time. The man was intimidating just standing still. First of all, his fierce eyes were far from ordinary people’s. A timid person’s legs would go weak just making eye contact.
“Hyung came for business, but did baby come here to buy this?”
The man tapped the bag that still obviously looked new with his fingertip and laughed as if amused. Hwi-gyeom only pulled up the corners of his mouth awkwardly.
To anyone watching, it looked like the man was tormenting Hwi-gyeom. A woman passing nearby stealthily raised her phone.
“Hyungnim, let’s go somewhere quiet.”
Just then, a man in a pitch-black suit approached the two. The man called hyungnim, Moon Ha-seok, glanced at the woman holding her phone.
The woman who met his eerie sanpaku eyes made a “hiik” sound and stepped backward. Just his gaze made the back of her neck feel chilling.
Not wanting to cause trouble for other people, Hwi-gyeom stepped forward. When he carefully grasped Ha-seok’s hand, his pupils rolled smoothly toward Hwi-gyeom.
“I, I was hungry and about to eat. Would you like to have a meal together?”
At Hwi-gyeom’s words, Ha-seok grinned. Though he was smiling, he felt somehow chilling, making Hwi-gyeom swallow dry saliva. This man was definitely scary.
“Of course I’d like that. Is baby treating?”
“……Yes.”
Even though he has plenty of money, he’s sucking a flea dry.
Though grumbling words rose to the tip of his throat, Hwi-gyeom nodded his head slightly. Since possessing this body, today was exactly the third time meeting Ha-seok. During that time, he had roughly grasped what kind of personality Ha-seok had.
Ha-seok didn’t like people going against his words. Though different from Seo-jin in appearance and atmosphere, this point was exactly the same for both. They were complete dictators.
“I dreamed of pigs yesterday, so it must have been a prophetic dream about baby treating me to a meal. There’s a good restaurant on the 7th floor here. Let’s go there.”
Though Hwi-gyeom was the one treating, Ha-seok chose the restaurant. Hwi-gyeom followed Ha-seok onto the elevator.
Inside the elevator, a couple with a child had boarded first, and the couple made uneasy expressions upon seeing Ha-seok and two large men.
“Mommy, that ahjussi is scary.”
A child who appeared to be about three years old whispered while tugging at their mother’s skirt. Though the voice was small, the elevator was silent.
Hearing the child’s voice, Ha-seok bent both knees and sat down. Even though he bent his body completely, Ha-seok’s build was so massive it would look like a mountain to the child.
“Ahjussi isn’t a scary person. I’m a cool person. Want some pocket money?”
When Ha-seok took out a yellow bill from his wallet and offered it, the child began to cry. The parents, flustered, pulled the child behind them.
Ha-seok, who clicked his tongue lightly, gave the bill to the child’s father. The child’s father was too frozen to even refuse.
“Your child is quite cute. Have a pleasant time.”
“Y-yes. Thank you……”
It was understandable to be flustered when someone who looked like they should be extorting money was actually giving money. Just then, the elevator arrived at the 7th floor and the chime rang.
“Well then, we’ll be going. See you, kid.”
Ha-seok put his arm around Hwi-gyeom’s shoulder and waved his right hand. Through the closing doors, the child could be seen crying loudly in their mother’s arms.
Hwi-gyeom mentally apologized to the family who had suffered unexpectedly. However, he had his own problems. His feet dragged as he was almost forcibly led by Ha-seok.
