Chapter 33:
Kwon Yi-soo.
Baek Joo-won glanced at Seo Jae-yi at the familiar name.
Unaware of his gaze, Seo Jae-yi chided Jeong Hoon.
“I know other people besides him, you know.”
Jeong Hoon chuckled and apologized for her protest, as if implying that Kwon Yi-soo was the only person she knew well enough to accompany her here.
“So what brings you here today? Have you finally decided to get a suit from our shop?”
Jeong Hoon’s face lit up with anticipation, but Seo Jae-yi immediately dashed his hopes.
“I don’t wear such cumbersome things. Haven’t you given up after seven years?”
“You were young then, but you’re an adult now.”
Seo Jae-yi had first visited this shop seven years ago, when she was seventeen.
She had only ever accompanied Kwon Yi-soo to get his suits tailored, and she had only ever browsed the shop, but for some reason, Jeong Hoon had taken a liking to her. He had even offered to make her a suit for free.
Kwon Yi-soo had told her to do as she pleased, but Seo Jae-yi had refused, saying she had no occasion to wear a suit.
“Anyway, I’m not getting one. I’m here to get a suit for this gentleman. This shop is the best I know.”
“Why don’t you get one yourself if you think so highly of our skills?”
Jeong Hoon shook his head, looking disappointed as Seo Jae-yi stubbornly refused. She was so stubborn.
“The gentleman you brought has an excellent physique. He’ll look even more dashing in our clothes.”
“Right? Make him an amazing suit, something that suits him perfectly.”
“Trust me.”
They started discussing, treating Baek Joo-won like a mannequin.
“Solid would be better than checks. Or maybe pinstripes.”
“Stripes are good. And definitely a two-button jacket. And a lapel pin instead of a pocket square.”
“You have a good eye.”
“I learned from the best.”
Seo Jae-yi was surprisingly knowledgeable about suits, as if she had been trained by a professional. If only she knew this much about flowers, her shop would be thriving.
“A jacket, trousers, and a vest as well?”
“The full set: a vest, dress shirt, tie, and of course, shoes.”
Baek Joo-won, who had been standing still like a mannequin, was startled by Seo Jae-yi’s words.
“That’s not necessary.”
Even considering her insistence on calling it a bribe, this was excessive for simply compensating him for a water-damaged suit.
However, Seo Jae-yi looked puzzled, as if she didn’t understand what he was saying.
“A suit is naturally a three-piece. And you have to buy matching shirts and shoes, right?”
How could one buy a suit without getting matching shoes? Seo Jae-yi looked genuinely confused.
It was baffling that she was so adamant about suits when she always dressed casually in jeans and a cardigan.
“Ah, of course, it’s different for casual wear.”
Seo Jae-yi quickly added, sensing his thoughts.
“But not for suits. Suits have to be a complete set, from head to toe. Everyone who comes here does that. You can’t be the only exception.”
Tailor shops usually sold not only suits but also matching ties and shoes.
It was only natural for Seo Jae-yi to consider it the norm, having seen people get full sets tailored here since she was seventeen.
“Well, that’s true.”
Seo Jae-yi became even more confident when Jeong Hoon chimed in, siding with her.
Baek Joo-won finally gave in, defeated by their stubborn gazes.
“Don’t blame me if I wear the suit you bought me to another guild.”
“Oh, I’ll have to think about that. I’m quite petty, you know.”
“But what can I do? It’s all your fault. Honestly, I’m starting to dislike you a little for insisting on buying me shoes as well.”
“Gasp!”
Seo Jae-yi was shocked.
She couldn’t be disliked, but suits needed matching shoes… But being disliked was unacceptable, but a suit without shoes was incomplete!
Her rapidly changing expressions revealed the turmoil in her mind.
“If the suit is amazing, I’ll try not to dislike you.”
Baek Joo-won finally smiled, seeing Seo Jae-yi’s impending mental breakdown. She looked dazed, realizing he had been joking.
“You’re cruel…”
“Consider it punishment for your stubbornness.”
Baek Joo-won grinned and followed Jeong Hoon, who led him to the back room.
Seo Jae-yi, left behind, sighed deeply.
She was supposed to be winning him over, but she was the one being swayed by his words.
***
“Height 185cm, chest 110cm, waist 84cm…”
Jeong Hoon’s voice came from the back room where he was taking Baek Joo-won’s measurements.
It was a low voice, but Seo Jae-yi, being an Esper, could hear it clearly, as if he were speaking right next to her. She felt a sense of pride, confirming that her estimations had been accurate.
“And… hmm.”
His voice, which had been flowing smoothly, suddenly stopped, laced with a hint of awkwardness. Seo Jae-yi turned her head, wondering if there was a problem. Just then, Jeong Hoon’s voice continued from behind the closed door.
“It seems like we need to adjust the trouser width slightly. Which thigh would you like to have a wider fit?”
Seo Jae-yi thought she had misheard.
But the same thing had happened when Kwon Yi-soo got his measurements taken, so she understood what it meant.
“Ah, that’s…”
The moment Baek Joo-won’s voice started to answer, Seo Jae-yi quickly plugged her ears with her fingers and shook her head, trying to distract herself.
She could estimate his physical measurements with a glance, but she couldn’t eavesdrop on something so personal and private.
Ignoring the strange looks from the other tailor shop staff, Seo Jae-yi desperately blocked her ears and shook her head.
‘It’s been a while since I last came here.’
Perhaps because she was consciously blocking out all sounds, her surroundings fell silent, and memories from the past resurfaced.
She had first visited this place shortly after Kwon Yi-soo ousted the corrupt previous Center Head and became the new Center Head.
He had an Esper secretary, Han Sung-woo, but he always brought her along as a bodyguard when he came here.
She hadn’t disliked it.
While Kwon Yi-soo got his measurements taken – he always got them retaken, even though he wasn’t particularly tall – and chose fabrics, she would sit quietly, just like now, observing the people in the shop and watching passersby outside.
It had sometimes taken as long as five hours, but she had never been bored.
It was her only opportunity to leave the Center for a purpose other than dungeon raids.
Because she was young, because she didn’t have a proper Guide, because she couldn’t control her abilities.
The Center, as if fearing something, had prevented her from leaving, citing various reasons. She was only allowed outside under the Center’s watchful eyes for dungeon raids, and even then, she was dragged back immediately afterward.
Even with the condition of being accompanied by Kwon Yi-soo, she had been happy to be able to leave freely after four years of confinement.
Although their destination was always this tailor shop, Seo Jae-yi had been content.
So she hadn’t asked Kwon Yi-soo why he only brought her here, and he hadn’t said anything either, except when summoning her.
This peculiar routine had continued until Seo Jae-yi left the Center and joined Haeil Guild.
“Does he still come here?”
Seo Jae-yi didn’t know if Kwon Yi-soo continued to visit this shop every season after she left. And she didn’t know who he brought with him.
She wasn’t curious, and they weren’t close enough for her to ask. At least that’s what she thought.
“Oh.”
Her gaze, which had been wandering over the shop, decorated with green and wood tones, stopped at the tie display.
A thin scarf, deep blue with silver embroidery, caught her eye.
‘That would look great on Logi.’
She imagined how adorable Airok, with his stunning blue eyes, would look with a ribbon tied around his neck with that scarf.
“We’re done with the measurements.”
Baek Joo-won and Jeong Hoon emerged from the back room as she was contemplating taking a closer look.
Seeing Baek Joo-won’s face, Seo Jae-yi remembered the conversation about his thigh size she had overheard. She had to fight the urge to look at his thighs.
“Now, let’s choose the fabrics and style.”
“I’m just here to replace the damaged suit, so something similar would be fine.”
Baek Joo-won tried to refuse when Jeong Hoon handed him a fabric sample book, but Seo Jae-yi snatched it.
“It’s a good opportunity to see if there’s anything else you like since you’re getting a new suit tailored.”
She needed this to keep her gaze fixed and prevent it from straying. Seo Jae-yi buried her face in the sample book, pretending to search for something with great enthusiasm.
‘If he knew I overheard that, he might actually hate me this time.’
It would be disastrous if he thought she was a pervert. She hadn’t heard everything, but it was unclear if he would believe her. This had to remain a secret.
“This one and this one…”
Seo Jae-yi spoke while looking only at Jeong Hoon. Baek Joo-won, despite it being his own suit, showed little interest and didn’t participate in the conversation.
***
The sun was setting as they finished everything and left the shop.
“Do you have any favorite foods?”
“No, not really. Let’s have what you like, Ms. Seo Jae-yi.”
“Me? Hmm…”
Seo Jae-yi had a typical Korean palate and loved meat, soups, and stews. She knew many good restaurants, but…
Baek Joo-won wasn’t Korean, and perhaps because he always wore suits, she imagined him eating only steak, pasta, and wine.
And she didn’t know a single good Western restaurant.
“Is Korean food okay?”
“I haven’t tried much Korean food, so I wouldn’t know what’s good. But there is something I’ve been wanting to try.”
“Oh! What is it?”
Seo Jae-yi asked, her face brightening. Baek Joo-won slowly spoke.