Maybe this "quest" wasn't so bad after all.
.
Woah that was so cliche...
.
We stepped out of the arcade, the mall's air feeling a little too bright after all those flashing lights.
Ivy was hugging her new plush, smiling like she just conquered the world.
.
"Alright," I muttered, adjusting the massive sunfish under my arm. "Clothes. Before you start wearing my shirts like some dresses."
(Massive... Did he just say massive?!?!?!? Like what kind of massive?, is it lowwwwwwwww)
.
Ivy's gasped dramatically. "But it's comfy!"
.
"Yeah, and it makes you look like a walking laundry bag."
.
She giggled, skipping ahead. "Then I'll pick my own!"
.
"Sure, sure. Go wild, within reasons," I said, already regretting those words. "I guess..."
.
The clothing store's glass doors slid open with a chiming sound. Cool air. Soft lighting. Polished tiles floors.
.
Of course, it had to be that store... the one I usually walked past without entering.
.
A woman in a sleek black uniform turned as soon as we stepped in.
Her eyes widened.
.
"Oh my—Mister Si Hon?"
.
I blinked. "Uh. Yeah?"
.
"Welcome! It's been so long since you've visited! You're… buying clothes?"
.
Ivy peeked from behind me, whispering, "They know you?"
.
I sighed. "Unfortunately."
.
One of the staff Poked my side. "Oh don't be like that Mr. Si—Hon, what do you mean unfortunately?"
.
I ignored her.
.
Then the staff bowed slightly, hands clasped in front of her. "Tsk, We'll prepare your usual preferences right away—"
.
"Actually," I interrupted, setting the giant sunfish down beside a mannequin. "Not for me. For her."
.
The woman blinked. "Her?"
.
Ivy waved, holding up her tiny blob-plush. "Hi! I'm Ivy!"
.
"Oh! How adorable!" The staff's voice melted instantly. "And what would you like to wear, Miss Ivy?"
.
Ivy's eyes widened, sparkling like she'd just been given divine authority. "Anything?"
.
Well she did.
.
I opened my mouth to say something sensible but she was already gone.
.
She darted between racks, running her hands through dresses, skirts, and jackets.
.
Every few seconds came a gasp or a "Whoa!" or an "Ahjussi, look at this one!"
.
One of the employees whispered to another, "He's… letting her pick herself?"
.
The other nodded like they were watching a miracle.
.
"Yeah," I muttered, crossing my arms. "I'm feeling generous today."
.
A few minutes later, Ivy returned with her arms full—pastel sweaters, denim shorts, a hat with bear ears, and something suspiciously glittery?
.
Wait glittery?
.
"… You said no pink explosion," I reminded her.
.
"It's not pink!" she said proudly. "It's rose sunrise!"
.
I groaned. "That's pink with marketing."
.
She giggled, spinning around as staff members smiled from afar, already whispering about how Si Hon was actually shopping like a human being.
.
Then One of the staff clapped her hands together, smiling.
.
"Let's try them on, shall we? The fitting rooms are this way, Miss Ivy."
.
"Okay!" she chirped, hugging the clothes and bouncing after her like an excited puppy.
.
I followed a few steps behind, dragging my poor sunfish along the floor.
.
The staff at the counter whispered as we passed.
"Is that really Mr. Si Hon?"
"He's… carrying a plushie."
"I think I just saw him smile—"
"Shh! Don't ruin the moment!"
.
I sighed. "Great, great... Ha-Ha-Ha. Now everyone thinks the neighborhood shut-in with money finally grew a heart."
.
While Ivy disappeared behind the curtain, I leaned against the wall outside the fitting room. I could hear the rustle of clothes and her muffled little hums.
.
Then—
.
"Ahjussi! How do I put this on?!"
.
"Which one?"
.
"The skirt thingy! My legs feel weird!"
.
I rubbed my temples. "That's… how skirts work, Ivy."
.
A pause. Then a dramatic, "Ohhh…"
.
Of course.
.
After what felt like an hour (probably five minutes), the curtain slid open—
.
Ivy stepped out wearing a pale hoodie and a simple denim skirt. The sleeves of the hoodie were still a little big, but it actually fit.
.
She twirled once, the hem fluttering. "How do I look?"
.
I blinked. "Not bad. You look… normal?"
.
She puffed her cheeks. "Normal?! I look cool!"
.
"Sure. Cool."
.
One of the staff giggled softly nearby. "She looks adorable, Mr Si Hon. Your daughter has good taste."
.
I froze. "My what?"
.
Ivy tilted her head. "Daughter?"
.
The staff smiled kindly. "Oh, I'm sorry! She looks just like you when she smiles."
.
"What? I didn't even smile—once?"
.
Then Ivy brightened instantly. "Oh! That's because I am his daughter!"
.
I nearly choked on air. "You're what now—"
.
The staff burst into laughter. "Ahaha! You're so cute! But you've been Calling him Ahjussi and all— such a funny little girl!"
.
Ivy blinked, confused by their reaction. "But—"
.
"Don't worry about it," I muttered, patting her head before she could make it worse. "She's… my cousin's kid. Visiting."
.
The staff nodded, still smiling. "Of course, of course."
.
I exhaled quietly. Crisis averted.
.
Then Ivy looked up at me, whispering, "But Ahjussi, you don't look like a cousin…"
.
I gave her a flat stare. "Please... don't start."
.
She snorted, clutching her tiny plush again. "Hehe. Fine."
.
The staff were still curious. One of them then finally gathered the courage to ask, tone playful,
"Excuse me, Mr. Si Hon… may I actually ask who the young lady is? Your little sister? Or perhaps…"
.
Before I could answer, Ivy piped up—loud and proud, "like I said I'm his daughter!"
.
The entire store went silent for half a second—then laughter rippled between the staff.
.
"Ahaha, I see! What a funny girl!" one of them said, still chuckling.
.
I sighed, rubbing my temples. "Wait, no, please... Daughter…? I'm twenty-two. She's ten. Do I look like I could've raised a kid that fast?"
.
Ivy huffed, puffing her cheeks. "Well you act like a dad sometimes!"
.
"Yeah, well, I also act like a guy who regrets walking into this store," I muttered.
.
The staff just laughed again, clearly enjoying the show more than doing their job.
.
After a few more minutes of Ivy admiring herself in the mirror, we finally made it to the counter.
.
"Did you find everything you needed, Mr. Si Hon?" the cashier asked, all polite smiles but barely hiding her curiosity.
.
"Yeah," I said, setting the pile of clothes down. "Just these."
.
I shifted the massive sunfish under my arm, the one from the arcade, while Ivy hugged her little bear plush like it was part of her soul.
.
While the cashier started scanning, a few employees nearby whispered.
.
"Is he actually paying with his card this time?"
.
"No way, that card looks like it has infinite money."
.
"Do you think it glows when it swipes?"
.
I whispered at myself. "those people really need new hobbies."
.
I handed over the card anyway. The cashier accepted it like it was made of gold.
.
Beep.
.
The receipt printed out.
.
Transaction approved.
.
Ivy leaned against the counter, smiling at her reflection in the glass. "Ahjussi, I like shopping with you."
.
"Yeah, sure," I muttered, sliding the card back into my wallet. "Let's just go before someone asks for a picture."
.
Ivy looked at me. "What?"
.
"Kidding"
.
As we walked out, one of the staff whispered behind us, a little too loudly, "See? I told you he's not heartless! He even shops now!"
.
I pretended not to hear, but Ivy giggled all the way to the exit.
.
(Okay guys since I feel generous. I'm gonna Drop another chapter tomorrow?)
Cyaaas mwuass