Chapter 20: Fake Outdoor Date (2)

“…A dress shop?”

I immediately questioned So-yul’s quick answer. I couldn’t help the slightly disgusted expression that crossed my face.

At my reaction, So-yul looked at me like I was some strange creature.

“Yeah. A dress shop. Don’t you know what that is?”

As if I wouldn’t know.

Even an elementary school student could tell you what a dress shop is. As the words suggest, it’s a store that sells or rents dresses. Basic English.

And even kindergarteners know when dresses are worn.

It’s common knowledge that dresses are mainly worn for weddings.

So a boy and girl visiting a dress shop together isn’t exactly a casual thing. It wasn’t strange at all that I hesitated.

While I stammered, unsure how to respond, So-yul gave a slight mocking smile.

“What? Don’t tell me you’re embarrassed about looking at dresses together?”

“I’m not embarrassed. Just a bit reluctant.”

“Why? When you’re my boyfriend?”

“I’m only a fake boyfriend. Besides, you don’t go dress shopping with boyfriends. Maybe if we were getting married.”

“Then let’s pretend we are getting married.”

What do you mean ‘pretend’.

But well, I’d already resolved myself when agreeing to go out. She’d mentioned picking clothes for the arts festival, so I’d expected we’d be looking at clothes stores together.

Though I hadn’t known it would be a dress shop… It was just for a performance outfit anyway. No need to read any meaning into it.

So:

“Fine.”

I answered briefly and started walking.

So-yul chuckled, then took the lead, walking one step ahead of me.

The dress shop So-yul led us to was closer than expected, and larger too.

I wondered how they made money in this location. Well, people planning weddings would seek them out. And besides So-yul, other arts track students might need dresses too, so maybe there was quite a demand.

As we entered, a staff member walked over to us.

“Oh my. So-yul’s here?”

“Ahaha. Hi, unnie. I’m back again.”

So-yul greeted them with a bright eye smile. The staff member’s expression was similarly pleased. Seemed her talk about coming here often wasn’t just talk.

Naturally, attention turned to her unfamiliar companion.

The staff member’s eyes briefly turned to my face. They scanned me up and down. As I stood there indifferently, they soon turned to So-yul and asked:

“…Could this be your boyfriend?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“What do you mean that’s right?”

I immediately cut in, dumbfounded.

Even if they were an outsider, how could she just confirm it? A small spark could turn into a fire. Plus, I wasn’t even her real boyfriend. She was being far too careless.

But So-yul seemed to disagree. She immediately responded argumentatively:

“Then what?”

“What?”

At my question, So-yul lifted her head to look straight up at me and:

“Then what kind of relationship are we?”

“…Uh.”

Good question.

We couldn’t say we were dating since it was fake. We weren’t close enough friends to justify coming to a dress shop together. And explaining we were breaking school rules for thrills wouldn’t make sense to an outsider.

How should I explain such an ambiguous relationship?

As I hesitated briefly, the staff member who’d been eavesdropping smiled warmly.

“Hehe. What a cute couple.”

They seemed thoroughly convinced of their misunderstanding.

Then without giving us a chance to correct them, they immediately started walking.

“Come this way. I’ve picked out some dresses suitable for this season. You can choose in the fitting room.”

“Ahaha. Yes, thank you.”

So-yul immediately replied as if she’d been waiting, then turned to me saying “Let’s go” and followed the staff member.

Left alone, I had no choice but to follow So-yul’s back.

Somehow today I kept feeling like I was losing.

“You can choose from the dresses hanging here. Considering body size and ease of movement, these would be best.”

The staff member explained while tapping a rack.

So-yul bowed her head.

“Yes. Thank you as always, unnie. I’ll let you know after I choose.”

“Alright. Take your time.”

With these words, the staff member entered the fitting room. They left with a strange smile directed at me as a bonus.

Since So-yul didn’t show any confusion, this must be how she usually picked dresses.

The only difference… was that I was standing right beside her this time.

I glanced at the rack the staff member had indicated.

About 10 dresses total. Most were in eye-catching colors. Rather than the elaborate dresses common at wedding halls, they seemed designed with mobility in mind, with more refined styles.

As I stared at them blankly, a question occurred to me.

“I’m curious about something.”

“Hm? What?”

“Do dresses in your size even exist?”

The moment I said this, a sharp glare hit the side of my head. As I deliberately ignored it and kept my eyes on the dresses, I soon heard a “tch” sound.

“You just don’t know anything.”

“Is that so?”

“Of course. They even make performance dresses for elementary school students.”

“…”

I decided to keep my mouth shut so So-yul wouldn’t feel worse.

Her following complaint of “Say something…” suggested this had backfired.

“Do you always wear dresses for performances?”

When I asked this to change the subject, So-yul pushed out her lips and shook her head.

“It depends on the occasion. Last time at the special performance I wore a simple one-piece. For school events I sometimes wear my uniform.”

“Then couldn’t you just wear your uniform this time too? Why do you want to wear a dress?”

So-yul gave a bitter smile.

“Because special people will be watching.”

“…Ah.”

That made sense.

Hadn’t So-yul emphasized it multiple times? That she wanted to show her best self to her parents through this arts festival.

This was So-yul, who played the model student and never skipped studying just to get her parents’ approval. Wearing a dress to enhance the performance quality seemed natural. It even felt like something she should do.

…Or so I thought.

So-yul made a shy smile, then held up her index finger and:

“You.”

“…”

Her unexpected nonsense left me speechless.

Seeing my reaction, So-yul burst out laughing.

“You’re flustered.”

“I’m not.”

You really take every chance to tease me.

I deliberately frowned and turned my attention back to the dress rack. So-yul snorted and followed my gaze.

“Hey, which dress do you think would look good?”

“You’re the one wearing it, what does my opinion matter?”

“I should hear a special person’s opinion.”

“Stop joking around…”

With her constant teasing, it was impossible to be serious. I was even getting used to this repertoire. She should at least tease me with different patterns.

As I was thinking this while looking at dresses, I caught a soft whisper:

“…It’s not entirely a joke.”

At these words, I immediately looked at So-yul. She had her arms crossed with a quite sulky expression.

When our eyes met, So-yul explained in a whisper:

“Right? My arts track friends will be too busy preparing their own performances to care what I wear. Academic track students won’t be interested in the performance at all.”

Then with a slight smile:

“But you and I have this fake couple connection. Doesn’t that make you somewhat special?”

“I’d like to untie that connection.”

“Then go ahead~”

So-yul laughed and threw out this threatening comment.

My relationship with So-yul was running on a win-win basis. Neither of us could easily walk away. So-yul seemed to understand this well.

But thinking about it, she wasn’t entirely wrong.

So-yul and I had a somewhat special relationship.

Maybe that expression fit perfectly.

“In that sense, which dress looks good?”

So-yul asked, stepping closer to me.

Her tone suggested she’d keep asking even if I said no, and it even felt forceful.

“…Well.”

Though I’d lived my whole life keeping distance from art, suddenly being given this choice felt heavy.

I could barely choose clothes for weekend meals. It seemed nonsensical to help choose what So-yul would wear on stage to gain her parents’ approval.

I fell into thought while looking through the dresses on the rack.

Since So-yul was small, a one-piece might be better than an obvious dress.

No, maybe a backless dress would be better to give a mature impression.

A simple dress might work to maintain her model student image. Or a bright red dress to catch attention…

As I continued pondering, I couldn’t help but laugh.

No point in analyzing this forever. It’s not like she’d actually wear what I picked anyway. Better to just choose one that catches my eye.

“How about this one?”

What I finally chose was a pure white dress reminiscent of a wedding dress.

Compared to typical wedding dresses, it had fewer frills and a relatively narrow bottom. It looked like it wouldn’t hinder movement or piano playing. Well, though I’d never worn a dress or played piano…

“Hmm~ this one?”

So-yul said this, then studied the dress I’d chosen for quite a while.

A faint smile played on her lips as she examined it, blinking her large eyes.

Then she reached out and took the dress.

I thought she might try it on to see if it suited her, but:

“I’ll tell unnie I want this one.”

So-yul seemed to want to skip even that process.

“Ah, no. Shouldn’t you try it on? It might be uncomfortable to move in. It would be a serious problem if it interferes with playing piano.”

“It’s fine. Because I trust you.”

“Don’t trust me carelessly.”

“Hehehe.”

Finding my words so amusing, So-yul covered her mouth and laughed, then:

“Don’t worry. I’ve trusted unnie many times before. The style of dress matters, but there won’t be any comfort issues.”

“Well, that’s good then.”

“And.”

So-yul started briefly, putting her index finger to her lips:

“I think it might be better to save how it looks for the fun of the actual day.”

“What do you mean ‘fun of the actual day’.”

Skipping trying it on just for that reason. Wasn’t this dress for making the arts festival successful?

I laughed in disbelief. At this, So-yul pointed at me with the finger that had been on her lips.

“If it doesn’t suit me when I try it on at the arts festival, will you take responsibility?”

“What responsibility? I haven’t done anything to be responsible for.”

“Oh really?”

So-yul smiled slightly and tilted her head while looking up at me:

“You’re responsible for putting me in a wedding dress.”

“…Good grief.”

Always saying such nonsense.

As I hung my head in defeat, So-yul’s playful laughter tickled my ears.