“Can I dress you in my style?”
“First, you need to consider that I don’t have your face and body, boss.”
At my words, Cha Hyunwoo burst out laughing, then answered.
“You’re handsome.”
“Thank you. I don’t think I’m ugly either. But I’m saying this because I have you in front of me, boss.”
At my words, Cha Hyunwoo’s ears turned slightly red. Cha Hyunwoo asked as if nonchalant.
“Am I handsome?”
“What kind of question is that….”
It was really absurd. At the answer that came out reflexively without me knowing, Cha Hyunwoo’s ears turned red. I’d felt this before, but Cha Hyunwoo seemed to have weak immunity to compliments about being handsome itself. There was no way he hadn’t heard many compliments about being handsome in his life, and yet he was like this. Even now, when we worked together, it made me fall into the illusion of becoming a pigeon delivering notes.
“But haven’t you heard you’re handsome a lot in your life?”
“Huh?”
“I thought you were handsome the moment I first saw you. No, does this even need to reach the level of thought? You just look handsome.”
I was genuinely curious. The last sentence almost came out like talking to myself. Cha Hyunwoo, embarrassed by the sudden shower of compliments, cleared his throat several times before speaking.
“I thought you were handsome when I first saw you too.”
“Yes….”
“That’s why it’s like that.”
“What is?”
“So…. when you say I’m handsome, it’s a bit….”
Cha Hyunwoo’s voice almost crawled in. Because I’m complimenting him? But I was also a person with objectivity, so it was hard to agree with Cha Hyunwoo’s words. However, the situation of two guys telling each other they’re handsome in the morning was funny, so I decided to just let it go.
“Well, anyway…. Thank you. But I didn’t say it to get compliments.”
“Have you been in contact with Haejin-ssi lately? You said you couldn’t reach him well that time.”
Cha Hyunwoo changed the subject. Come to think of it, when Eun Haejin wasn’t responding before, I’d mentioned in passing to Cha Hyunwoo that Eun Haejin wasn’t answering.
“I met him a while ago. Because Haejin got accepted at a company.”
“Did you hear why you couldn’t contact him?”
“He seemed busy, but I don’t know exactly. Why?”
Did the two of them grow fond of each other after the three of us met that time? He didn’t seem very interested though. At my words, Cha Hyunwoo just smiled ambiguously and shrugged. A person who’s kind by nature takes care of even these small things.
I stretched fully and turned on the POS system. Anyway, I had to work today.
***
After that, I met with Eun Haejin whenever we could make time. We didn’t go anywhere together when we met—usually we just ate together or sat at my place or Eun Haejin’s place and each did our own things. Eun Haejin often asked me about that book, but since I didn’t know anything yet either, there wasn’t anything more to talk about.
Time passed like that and the promised Thursday came. It was the day I was supposed to go look at clothes with Cha Hyunwoo. Actually, I’d never gone to look at clothes alone with a guy before. I wasn’t interested in clothes in the first place, and usually I just liked wearing comfortable clothes, so I’d occasionally buy a few training suits or basic T-shirts and rotate wearing them.
Even adding up all the clothes in my old closet, it definitely wouldn’t exceed 300,000 won. But now to go out with the purpose of buying clothes. Of course, the main purpose was to completely overhaul Lee Hyun’s closet, which didn’t have a single comfortable piece of clothing.
I’d promised to meet Cha Hyunwoo in front of my house yesterday evening. Since Cha Hyunwoo had a car, it was more efficient that way. I stood in front of my house a bit earlier than the promised time and waited for Cha Hyunwoo. But even though I came out 10 minutes early, Cha Hyunwoo arrived right away.
“Why did you come so fast?”
“I ended up leaving early somehow.”
I nodded at Cha Hyunwoo’s words and got into Cha Hyunwoo’s SUV. After seeing me sit in the passenger seat and even fasten my seatbelt, Cha Hyunwoo started the car.
“Where do you usually go to buy clothes?”
“When I was younger than now, I went to vintage shops and various shopping streets, but now I usually solve it at department stores. How about you?”
“I…. if something I see really seems useful, I buy it….”
“You’re not interested in clothes.”
“No.”
“But they say it’s better to buy good clothes and wear them for a long time.”
It was one of ten repertoires that people around me would say when they saw me dressed like a beggar normally. Better to wear a 100,000 won item for ten years than a 10,000 won item for one year. But I was the kind of person who wore a 10,000 won item for ten years, so I just shrugged once and moved on.
I headed to the department store, led by Cha Hyunwoo’s hand. It had been so long since I came to a department store for the purpose of shopping.
“Boss, if I buy just two pieces of clothing here, my entire monthly salary will be gone.”
“You said you’d let me dress you in my style?”
Cha Hyunwoo smiled brightly. For reference, I didn’t not come to the department store to shop because of money. Of course, I couldn’t say that wasn’t a factor at all, but the reason I didn’t come to the department store to buy things was because I was the kind of person who got tired within 30 minutes of walking around shopping for clothes. I was even feeling a bit of fear at Cha Hyunwoo’s smile.
“Uh… yes?”
“If it suits you, I’ll buy you one.”
I had a strong thought that I wanted to cancel even now and just go eat together, but Cha Hyunwoo looked so happy that I couldn’t bring myself to say it out loud.
***
“This isn’t it.”
“It suits you though?”
“Yes. It suits you well. It’s the clothes, but the model is so good.”
Cha Hyunwoo took me straight up to the men’s clothing section and seriously repeated putting jackets on and off, putting shirts on and off, putting pants on and off.
“Does the size fit?”
“No. It’s uncomfortable.”
“Uh…. Customer, the size is fine right now. This is originally clothing that fits snugly. It suits you so well though?”
“My maximum compromise is jeans.”
“But it suits you so well though?”
“I have nowhere to go wearing this.”
I really had nowhere to go all dressed up. At most, I’d go to school.
“Anyway, this isn’t it.”
“Is there nothing you like?”
I thought for a moment, then picked the relatively comfortable jacket I’d worn just before. That jacket was also one I’d wear maybe once a year.
“Should I buy this?”
“Yes. And I’m not trying on any more clothes.”
Cha Hyunwoo paid for the jacket with eyes full of regret. When I glimpsed the price tag, it was half my monthly salary. I also felt uncomfortable, like I was unilaterally indebted to Cha Hyunwoo.
“But I can’t accept this for free.”
“Wear it when you meet me next time.”
I glared at Cha Hyunwoo with a bit of resentment. Receiving my gaze, Cha Hyunwoo slyly turned his eyes away. Anxious that Cha Hyunwoo would turn his eyes to another clothing store, I grabbed Cha Hyunwoo’s hand and rushed to the escalator.
“No no no. Not anymore. Really, stop.”
“Just a moment.”
“Let’s go down quickly. Wow, what’s that? How interesting.”
“Hyun, my hand….”
“Should we go eat? Ah, I’m hungry. I want to eat.”
I could feel Cha Hyunwoo’s firmly held hand keep wriggling. I deliberately gripped his hand tightly and dragged Cha Hyunwoo to the escalator. Only after pushing Cha Hyunwoo onto the escalator did I let go of his hand.
“It was really a fun time. I realized the joy of shopping. I’m so happy.”
At my soulless voice, Cha Hyunwoo was dazed for a moment, then burst out laughing. I looked at Cha Hyunwoo soullessly, then checked the restaurant area.
“Are you hungry?”
“I’m drained, so I need to put something in my mouth.”
“Is there anything you want to eat?”
“You choose, boss. I eat everything well.”
At my words, Cha Hyunwoo thought for a moment, then picked an authentic Chinese restaurant. After entering the restaurant and ordering food, I relaxed a bit.
“I definitely came to buy comfortable clothes today.”
“Sorry. I went a bit overboard.”
“Well…. You looked happy, boss, so it was okay.”
At my words, Cha Hyunwoo just smiled without answering for a moment, then said.
“It’s nice being out alone with you like this.”
“Me too.”
“Hyun. Let’s come out together often next time too.”
“Okay.”
“Really?”
“I like coming with you, boss.”
When I answered readily, Cha Hyunwoo hesitated for a moment as if about to say something.
