Chapter 23: Nice to Meet You, Mom. My Name is Heena. (2)

    TL: looloo

    Schedule: 4/Week Wed-Sat

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    I met my girlfriend in the city for the first time since we started dating, and it had been a long while since we last saw each other. Shockingly, we hadn''t seen each other for four whole days. Although there were times we couldn''t meet because of my part-time job, at least back then she used to come and see me.

    It might be a stretch to call this a "long time," but given how she''d been bombarding me with messages since early morning, expressing how much she missed me, it felt like an eternity.

    "I''ve missed you!"

    With a desire to fully express those feelings, she jumped into my arms as soon as we met. For a while, she clung to me, savoring our embrace, reminding me of a puppy seeking affection.

    I simply wrapped my arms around her petite frame. Although it had been some time since I saw her face, we''d texted a lot and even video called, so it wasn''t as if I felt a desperate longing.

    But there''s a certain reassurance in seeing someone after a few days apart. In my life, I''d never felt this way just from not seeing someone''s face for a short time. In the little over a month we''ve known each other, her presence in my life had grown significantly.

    After a moment of embracing, Heena began to lead me somewhere by the arm.

    We hadn''t planned anything for the day, so I wondered where she wanted to go.

    "Where are we headed?"

    "The department store!"

    She answered with an excited face, walking ahead of me with anticipation.

    We occasionally visited department stores for window shopping, but those were spontaneous decisions. This time, we were setting out with it as our clear destination.

    There was a large department store not far from where we met. We quickly arrived and headed up on the escalator.

    She walked with such certainty; she must have had a particular store in mind. I grew curious.

    Throughout our time together, Heena never directly expressed a desire to buy something specific.

    Given the mood, she probably had something in mind this time. I thought this might be the moment when I could finally buy her a gift.

    I''ve always appreciated her for teaching me, for the little things she bought for me, and for simply spending time with me. And now, my heart raced in anticipation.

    What could she possibly want to buy...

    Upon reaching our floor, I found myself at a loss for words, shielding my eyes briefly.

    Right in front of the escalator was a clothing store, likely showcasing their seasonal collection.

    "Heena! What do you think of this?"

    There she was, with a pure and bright smile, holding up an item against her body, seeking my opinion.

    It was an item made mostly of strings, except for the fabric that covered the more private areas.

    The bikini, while not overly revealing, had an undeniable allure. It was black, adorned with cute patterns here and there. Heena showcased it with sparkling eyes, leaving me at a loss for words. More than anything, I wished to flee the scene.

    We had planned a vacation, so shopping for a swimsuit was understandable. But why did I accompany her? The store buzzed with women, like Heena, also seeking swimsuits. Among them, some sneaked appreciative glances our way, their satisfaction clear. Their smug expressions bothered me.

    "Does this suit me?" Heena asked, her face falling at my silence.

    "No... it looks great on you. But maybe I should wait outside?" I said, my voice filled with sincerity and a hint of desperation.

    She shook her head firmly, a rare denial from her, "No way! I thought of surprising you after buying one, but..."

    "That would have been great! So, I''ll just head out..." I tried to interject.

    "No, I want to wear what you like best. I''d love it if we choose together."

    Her determination was evident, stronger than usual. This was the same girl who''d always turn down my offers to buy her something.

    "You''d look good in anything, I swear," I said earnestly.

    Giggling, she asked, "Thanks! Should we look at other styles? What do you prefer?"

    I took a deep breath to steady myself. My best way out was to help her pick something quickly and check out.

    I mustered the courage to look again, only to find her holding up two new swimsuits, "Which one do you prefer?"

    Both were undeniably sultry. Either would look good, but the thought of others seeing her like that unsettled me.

    "The designs are lovely, but maybe something different?"

    "Why?"

    "They''re a bit... provocative," I hesitated.

    "Don''t you like that sort of thing?" she teased.

    "...I''ll wait outside. That one''s perfect. It looks great on you."

    With great effort, I managed to utter just those words before hastily making my exit.

    On my way out, I quickly pointed to the swimsuit and asked a nearby store clerk its price, then promptly paid for it.

    While it was a bit more expensive than anticipated, it didn''t matter.

    Because there was an overwhelming sense within me that I absolutely had to purchase it.

    ---

    Raei Translations

    ---

    "But it''s too expensive..."

    "It''s okay."

    As we left the department store, sure enough, an argument briefly arose between Heena and me about the swimsuit I''d paid for.

    I''d always felt guilty for only receiving from her, so I was relieved to be able to gift her something this time. I easily brushed off Heena''s complaints.

    Both of us have birthdays early in the year, making it difficult to buy birthday gifts.

    "Then I''ll buy a swimsuit for you too."

    "I bought one last year. And you wearing that is the best gift for me."

    I genuinely meant it.

    Heena''s face reddened slightly at my words and she replied in a soft voice, "Thanks, Yeonho."

    She held the paper bag with the newly purchased swimsuit close to her, cherishing it.

    Seeing her like that, I felt content and thought it was a good time to bring up another topic. "By the way, my mom said she wants to meet you. Are you free tomorrow?"

    Suddenly, Heena stopped in her tracks. Her smile vanished completely.

    Turning to look at me with robotic motions, she asked shakily, "Why are you mentioning it now?"

    "I heard about it yesterday?"

    "You should''ve told me earlier, even if it was just through a message!"

    I was taken aback, never having seen Heena like this before. Although she hadn''t really raised her voice that much, I was still surprised.

    It even made my heart race.

    In contrast to my feelings, Heena, looking almost panicked, muttered to herself, "What should I do? The clothes... No, that should be fine... But what else do I need... A gift. I need to prepare a gift!"

    "It''s not that big of a..."

    "Yeonho! Let''s go back! I need to buy a gift!"

    She grabbed my wrist urgently, retracing our steps.

    What was a brief swimsuit shopping trip turned into a much longer adventure to find the perfect gift for my parents.

    After discussing when she should visit tomorrow and ensuring it''s a convenient time for my mother, Heena left first to prepare.

    Left alone at the bus stop, I tried to shake off the feeling of being somewhat abandoned.

    Let''s just think of today as a shopping date.

    Author''s Note:

    Seeing yesterday''s comments, I was genuinely shocked.

    I realized a lot of you are speculating:

    "You mean, after graduation they can’t hold back their desires?"

    "They went on a graduation trip as two, but came back as three?"

    "The wedding is sooner than the college entrance ceremony?"

    "They both can''t go to college because they need to look after a baby?"

    90% of what I see on Novelpia is 19+, but these stories could fit right in.

    I''m quite intrigued. Look forward to it, although it may or may not happen.

    It''s Schro?dinger''s plot.

    Thank you for the comments and recommendations! Love you!