* * *
“Huh?”
“Excuse me?”
Both I and the clerk were equally taken aback.
Without any hesitation, Eunsoo handed over his card with a composed expression.
“All of it. On a single payment, please.”
“Oh… a-all right. I’ll process the payment for ‘all of it.’ Please hold on for a moment!”
‘No, don’t process it!’
The clerk, realizing the golden opportunity for a massive sale, quickly regained his composure and moved briskly.
I forced my frozen body to move, grabbing Eunsoo in an attempt to stop him.
“W-w-wait a second. Just hold on!”
“Next, we should buy some casual clothes and pajamas. Oh, and underwear. Shoes are a must too.”
“E-Eunsoo.”
“I’d appreciate it if you called my name properly.”
“Eunsoo, I just recovered not long ago. I might suddenly gain weight or something. What if all these clothes don’t fit…?”
“I love you.”
It felt as if I’d been struck by lightning.
My entire body froze, and each movement made my joints creak like a rusty robot.
“I… I know that, but why are you… saying it all of a sudden?”
“Have you ever thought about how I felt seeing nothing but cheap, worn-out clothes left behind while sorting through the belongings of someone I loved who passed away?”
“…”
“Yes, living frugally is admirable. I understand why you cherished those things so much. But for me, it would leave such a deep regret that I wouldn’t be able to bear it.”
I felt a lump in my throat.
If Eunsoo and I were in reversed positions, I might have completely lost my mind from heartbreak.
This was the same kid who had spent five years searching for my body—his feelings must have been etched into his heart.
“I… I’m sorry…”
“If you’re sorry, just do me one favor today.”
“A favor? What is it?”
“Give me your hand.”
When I extended my hand hesitantly, Eunsoo placed a card on my palm and pressed it down gently with his index finger.
“There’s ten million won on this card.”
“Uh-huh…”
“Use it. All of it.”
Pocket money?
Well, I was completely broke right now.
The amount was steep for pocket money, but Eunsoo was upset that I didn’t spend money on myself, so I might as well use it.
Half could go into savings, and the rest for things I needed—
“By the end of today.”
I doubted my ears for a moment.
“T-today?”
“Yes. No donations, no savings, and no shared items or gifts. It has to be solely for shopping for yourself. If it’s not enough, I’ll give you more.”
Not enough?
How could anyone possibly fail to spend ten million won just on themselves in a single day?
And in only a few hours?
Was this challenge even feasible?
As confusion clouded my thoughts, Eunsoo checked his phone for the time.
“There are five hours left until the department store closes.”
Oh no.
A silent scream escaped from my open mouth.
There were plenty of things to buy.
As Eunsoo mentioned, everything I owned was old and worn out.
Casual clothes, pajamas, a warm winter coat, several pairs of shoes, bedding, and food for the party tomorrow—all these needed replacing.
But we were talking about ten million won.
The things I wanted to buy were mostly inexpensive.
Even if I splurged and picked a slightly pricier option, there were limits.
On the other hand, buying something outrageously expensive would feel too painful.
I’d probably collapse from shock after seeing the price on the receipt.
The most expensive item I’d ever bought was a suit for Eunsoo as a gift.
Since it wasn’t for me, it had felt fine to spend that much.
‘Even if I buy something expensive, it’s not like I’ll use it properly…’
It would just sit there collecting dust, a constant reminder of wasted money.
Unlike some people who might find motivation or joy in having such items, I wasn’t one of them.
I’d probably end up with an ulcer from regret.
And selling the things Eunsoo bought for me wasn’t an option either.
Practical items at a reasonable price—nothing overly luxurious.
I managed to stick to these criteria, but I still had half the money left after shopping.
“Eunsoo, can’t I just spend five million won? It’s too much…”
“You have about an hour left.”
“What… happens if I don’t spend it all?”
“Tomorrow, it’ll be twenty million won. And if you fail again, thirty million. Anything you don’t use, I’ll spend on buying things for you.”
“Ugh…”
Eunsoo wasn’t the type to joke about such things. He’d make sure to see it through.
This was the most extravagant waste of money imaginable.
If ten million was this hard to spend, how could I possibly manage twenty or thirty million?
Just the thought of it made my heart race, as if I were drowning in a sea of cash.
‘Maybe I should just buy something really expensive. It’s better than doubling my spending tomorrow.’
Expensive… But what would I do with it?
It’d likely be something I couldn’t handle.
What was even considered expensive?
There were plenty of things I’d hesitated to buy because of the price, so why couldn’t I recall any now?
I felt tears prickling my eyes, the frustration bringing a lump to my throat.
I turned away from Eunsoo, covering my mouth with my hand to stifle a sniffle.
How pathetic.
Unable to spend money even when it’s given to me.
If it were for Eunsoo, I might have managed, but for myself…
“Ah. That’s it.”
An idea struck me like lightning.
I dashed down to the first floor, almost running.
My destination?
A jewelry store.
“Excuse me, can I just buy gemstones?”
The clerk initially greeted me with enthusiasm but quickly shifted to a disappointed expression.
“Please check the items and prices in the showcase. Let us know what you’d like.”
“No, I mean, not finished pieces. Just the gemstones. I couldn’t find what I wanted among the items here.”
The clerk’s polite smile didn’t hide her condescension.
It was clear she didn’t take me seriously.
Already nervous about being in a high-end store for the first time, her attitude only made me shrink further.
Had I made a mistake coming here?
“Unfortunately, what you see here is all we offer.”
“Oh… I see.”
The excitement of thinking I’d found a solution evaporated, leaving me utterly deflated.
“Hyung.”
Eunsoo’s voice called out as he approached. In that moment, I noticed the clerk’s expression change.
Well, Eunsoo did have the look of a wealthy heir.
Even the suit he wore, though not the limited-edition one I’d bought him, was a high-end brand.
His tailored shoes and carefully chosen accessories screamed luxury.
After all, Eunsoo was a walking ambassador for global brands.
“What are you doing here?”
“I was, uh, trying to buy gemstones. But they don’t have any here. Where should I go to get them?”
“Gemstones? They should have them here, though.”
“Yes, that’s correct, sir! Of course, we also handle gemstones exclusively. We take custom orders too. Please, have a seat. What are you looking for?”
The tone was completely different.
Well, Eunsoo does exude a sense of wealth.
I felt both proud and slightly bitter.
I could guess why the clerk hadn’t given me a proper response when I asked earlier.
But being ignored was nothing new.
Just as I was about to explain what I wanted, Eunsoo suddenly wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me close.
“Hyung, let’s go. I’ll take you to a better place than this.”
“Huh? Oh, uh, okay.”
Not holding hands but wrapping his arm around my waist? In public, no less!
I felt so dizzy I couldn’t think straight, simply following Eunsoo’s lead.
The place we arrived at was another jewelry store.
Unlike the previous one, it had a more private, exclusive atmosphere.
Clerks in crisp uniforms rushed to greet us with polished smiles—completely different from the indifferent attitude of the last store.
“Hyung, it’s surprising to see you shopping for jewelry. There’s no need to boost the sales of people who can’t even recognize quality customers. Get whatever you want here, regardless of the price.”
“O-okay.”
Even though we were in a confined, exclusive space, with clerks watching us closely, Eunsoo held my waist and even kissed my cheek.
Wasn’t that going too far?
Sure, he’s naturally affectionate, but still, it would be nice if he could consider the setting.
He’s a public figure too—what if someone recognizes him?
Flustered, I quickly pushed Eunsoo away, fanning my burning face before turning toward a clerk who seemed to be the manager.
“I’m looking for a blue gemstone. The type of gemstone doesn’t matter much, but the color is very important! Something that resembles this guy’s eye color would be perfect. It should be small enough to fit into a ring like this…”
Pointing to one of the displayed rings, I began listing my preferences.
Eunsoo watched me, seemingly taken aback.
He probably didn’t expect me to order jewelry so enthusiastically.
Noticing his reaction, I looked up and grinned at him.
“Eunsoo, take it out. The heirloom ring.”
* * *
