LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 14
In fact, for me, the outside world was both a mysterious entity and a place of tranquility.
Kids playing in the playground outside the window.
A quiet walking path in the park.
Occasionally, the city skyline I’d gaze at in the early morning.
Soon, this noisy and crowded ‘outside’ would inevitably become a completely unfamiliar sight for me.
This wasn’t the outside I knew.
It was too loud, too chaotic, and above all, there were way too many people.
“Ugh……”
I was getting dizzy.
I had just stepped out of the car, and yet, the moment I saw the people starting to emerge from the parking lot, I felt overwhelmed.
I never knew I had panic disorder…
Well, I guess it’s fair to say I never had the chance to find out.
“What’s wrong?”
“…Nothing.”
I tried to act like I was fine, not wanting to worry Mother.
Actually, I said I was fine, but there was nothing fine about it.
It was just shopping, after all.
“Let’s go.”
Led by Mother’s hand, I slowly moved into the department store.
At least one good thing was that the store was well-heated, so it wasn’t cold at all.
No, it was even close to being too hot, so I took off the scarf and hat I had bundled around myself.
“Taking it off?”
“It’s too warm.”
“Is it? Hmm.”
“Why?”
Instead of answering, Mother wore a strange smile and reached out her hand to me.
“Give it here.”
“No, I’ll carry it.”
Her actions somehow reminded me of the old days, and I felt a peculiar emotion welling up inside me.
As we stepped fully into the store, a massive crowd far greater than in the parking lot filled my vision.
And…….
It didn’t take me long to realize what Mother’s strange smile meant.
“Welcome… huh?”
“Big brother, look over there.”
“Why? Oh, um…”
“Oh my.”
For some reason, the staff greeting us at the entrance, the couple seemingly on a date, and the young mother pushing a stroller all froze as if time had temporarily stopped.
Feeling something was off, I instinctively followed their starstruck gazes.
‘Ah.’
It was then that I became acutely aware that my appearance was very eye-catching.
I hadn’t really noticed it since I hardly ever went outside.
“Is she a foreigner…?”
“Still, the person with her looks Korean, though?”
“She looks like a doll…”
It wasn’t just because I was pretty.
For better or worse, my appearance was extremely noticeable.
Silver hair and eyebrows that matched the color of my hair.
Plus, red and brown eyes that created a mixed-race vibe with sharply defined features.
This combination produced a unique and mystical aura that was hard to find anywhere in Korea—or really anywhere in the world.
“Ugh.”
I had no choice but to put on my furry hat again and stuff my hair inside it, then wrapped my scarf tightly around my face as I had done before.
As soon as I covered my hair and face, sighs of disappointment poured in from all sides.
“Ah…”
“I think we stared too much. Let’s go.”
“Uh, okay.”
And the source of those disappointed sighs wasn’t just from the onlookers.
“What are you doing?”
“…I’m sticking out.”
“And so what? You’re just pretty.”
Of course, I don’t mind being pretty.
I just don’t like being the center of attention to an excessive degree.
“It’s overwhelming.”
“It’s not like you can help it… but I feel a bit let down. I wanted to show off a bit.”
“Am I a monkey at the zoo?”
“Isn’t there a pretty monkey too?”
“Just stop talking.”
Mother, who used to unconditionally accept all my opinions and fulfill my every demand without hesitation, was now teasing me with laughter.
So if you ask me whether I like this or not… well, everything has its pros and cons.
“Hmph.”
Even though I covered what I could, I could still feel the occasional gaze linger on me with each step I took.
It seemed to stem from the eyes and the special aura I couldn’t quite hide.
The upside was that the frequency of those glances was definitely lower than when I first stepped into the department store, so that was some small comfort.
“Let’s go, we said we’d go shopping.”
With it already like this, I just wanted to get this business done and go home as soon as possible.
“Just wait a moment.”
“Why?”
“There’s someone coming.”
“…Who?”
Please don’t let it be one of Mother’s neighborhood friends even on my first outing!
‘Please, anything but that.’
Just being outside felt like I was choking; how could I possibly want to shop among a bunch of aunties?
I’d rather die.
‘…I really hope it’s not that.’
As I desperately prayed in my heart, Mother, who had been looking at her smartphone, spoke up.
“Just a moment… ah, there she is.”
From a distance, a familiar figure waved energetically.
Dressed in a light gray overcoat that came down to her thighs, an ivory turtleneck, and a black string wrap skirt, even from afar, I could tell she was a beauty.
Plus, her open demeanor made it clear she was either a college freshman or a recent graduate just starting in the workforce.
‘Phew.’
Having confirmed the identity of the uninvited guest, I let out a sigh of relief.
Because I only knew one social rookie who would drag me out to go shopping like this.
“Mama!”
And as expected, it was my younger sibling.
“Have you eaten? Did you?”
“Yeah, with my friends.”
No sooner had Mother’s usual worry about our meals ended than my sibling’s gaze shifted slowly to the side.
“Uh, oh… there’s also…”
It had already been quite some time since I had become a woman, and my sibling was accustomed to the terms of address between us.
Yet, seeing her deliberately swallow the rest made it seem like she was worried someone might hear.
“Just call me ‘sister’ since we’re outside.”
“Okay, um? Uh… sis.”
Of course, it was just as awkward for her, so I figured there wouldn’t be much reason for her to call me separately during this shopping trip.
“Where should we go first?”
It was Mother who broke the awkward atmosphere.
“I want clothes! I hardly have anything to wear these days.”
“…Anywhere is fine.”
I had nothing special I wanted to buy anyway.
I was just trying to appease Mother and my sibling, hoping to get home as soon as I could to take a break.
“Then let’s go look at clothes first. I was hoping to buy Yujin some clothes as well.”
Since I wouldn’t gain anything by holding out here, I obediently followed the two women.
As we officially entered the clothing store, Mother and my sibling were busy checking things out and giggling away.
“You and your sister are both so pretty! Um… but have I seen you somewhere before?”
“Haha, I hear that a lot. But she’s not my sister. She’s my daughter.”
“Oh my, really? You look so young! Would you like to see this as well?”
A smooth transition from compliments to product recommendations.
Truly, a pro.
“Ugh……”
The staff momentarily glanced at me, but I was standing far enough away that they seemed unsure if I was with them or not due to my distinct appearance.
At that moment, Mother called out to me.
“Yujin! Come here.”
At her call, the staff feigned shock for a moment, then composed themselves.
“Try this on.”
What Mother and my sibling handed me was a flowy tennis skirt.
“…No thanks.”
“Why not? It’ll look pretty on you.”
“I don’t like skirts; they make my legs feel exposed.”
That had been my conclusion after I was forced to wear a skirt from the internet one time.
I didn’t mind women’s clothes per se.
After all, there was clothing that suited different people.
But skirts were an exception.
“Just try it on anyway. Don’t you think it’d be a waste to leave those pretty legs uncovered?”
“That’s not happening.”
I acknowledged it was pretty, but no matter how much it was, I just didn’t like it.
Impatiently, my sibling chimed in.
“If you don’t want your legs exposed, just wear tights underneath it. It’s winter, so you can wear thicker ones.”
“Now, that’s even worse.”
Skirts weren’t enough, and now she was suggesting tights? What on earth does she think I am?
“Regardless, I don’t want a skirt. Buy me something else. As long as it’s not weird, I’ll wear it.”
“Are you going to complain later?”
“You must not know; I’m great at complaining, and if you try to make me wear something strange, I’ll run away.”
“Do you think you could find your way home by yourself?”
At Mother’s words, I was left speechless.
Of course, I’d clearly lose any semblance of control if I stayed like this, so I had to resolve the situation.
“What do you mean? What age are we in that I can’t find my way home by myself?”
I tried hard to sound calm, but I couldn’t mask my trembling voice.
I’d never taken a bus, let alone the subway. It was clear I wouldn’t be able to find my way home alone.
“Really?”
“…That’s unfair.”
Come on, this is just cruel. Can you really poke at someone’s weaknesses like this?
These heartless devils!
“So just follow along quietly.”
“…Alright.”
As I finally showed signs of giving up, a bizarre spark lit up in Mother and my sibling’s eyes.