Diet | K.TH (REWRITING)

Chapter 26: Tummy Tuck

Im not sure how it got to this point. My face entirely flushed as a stylist has a measuring tape wrapped just around my underboob, openly in the store for others to see. Jihan wanted to get my measurements to help with shopping. Which sounded perfectly fine, until it was actually happening... Granted I wasn't exactly naked, it was embarrassing. But what makes it worse is that I felt eyes on me. Eyes I couldn't ignore.

To be completely honest, where Jihan had taken me was a plus size beauty boutique. I was so excited when we first arrived. It made me feel important, and pretty that there was a shop dedicated for women who didn't fit the mold society had created.

We met the owner, Rae who was in fact the stylist as well, and she was so cheerful and beautiful. She was...like me. She had a stomach, and big cheeks and yet she was one of the most beautiful women I had ever seen in my life.

Everything about the experience was so thrilling. It all seemed perfectly fine. I was nervous yet I was handling it. I had just enough courage to take my top off to get measured. So how did it end up like this? With my eyes locked onto Taehyung's, and him looking like a deer caught in headlights. "T- U- um, what are you doing here?" I stammered while turning away, and letting Rae continue her work. I wanted to run away. Hide somewhere no one could see me, but I couldn't let my good mood be killed right now of all times.

Taehyung's eyes were still on me yet he wasn't as shocked as he was before. If anything he was entirely smug. I could feel his eyes searing right through me without any remorse. "What was that, (Y/n)?" It sent shivers down my spine when I heard the small click of his tongue echo in my direction. Whether intentional, or not it felt like he was toying with me as he added a tension to the air that wasn't there before.

How long had it been since he tried talking to me like that? Obviously long enough to let it catch me off guard. To flush, and not understand why me. He was a tease, and I honestly didn't believe in his sultry tone towards me. That's not something he'd do right now.

With a small huff I tilted  my head to the side just to look at him for a brief moment, "What are you doing here of all places?"

"I, well-" "You're here!" He was cut off by the small sweet chirp of a voice I didn't recognize. A curvier girl popped up from behind a rack of dresses, and belined right for Taehyung. Her arms wrapping around him adoringly. He didn't attempt to finish his sentence as he was immediately distracted with her. I couldn't see it, but I knew she was fawning over him and he was loving every second of it.

"Cho Hee! What have I said about your friends showing up while you're working?" Rae called to the girl as we watched her giggle up at Taehyung. Every moment of this was irritating me, and Jihan could see it. Her hand grabbed mine quickly trying to make me relax. But I couldn't. The irony of this happening on what I thought was a good day was just too much.

It made sense why he had that little spark of confidence back. There was just another girl in his life that couldn't resist that charm. Typical. I sigh before pulling my hand away from Jihan. Multiple feelings swirling through my head as I try to avoid looking over at them.

"Well, he certainly has a type doesn't he."

I smile at Rae as I tell her I forgot to do something, and needed to leave. I wanted away from whatever was happening. Though I didn't exactly know what was going on, it just felt like a better idea not to be there. Whether I was jealous, or embarrassed didn't matter at that point. I just felt the urgency to disappear..

I looked over at them for a quick moment. I didn't know what possessed me to do so. But it hit me when I seen him smiling.

Cho Hee, as Rae called her, was absolutely beautiful. She was bright, and had a shining feminine personality. Not to mention, her lack of stomach. She was just thick, and curvy and looked like a damn model. Why wasn't I surprised that she was instantly latched on the arm of a stupid good looking frat boy.

No matter what was going on, I just wanted all the embarrassment to stop. So I got redressed, and stormed out as quickly as possible with Jihan tagging along behind me.

"I swear I had no idea, " Jihan tried to comfort me as she chased after me through the plaza as I looked for a different store to go into. "Its fine, I still need a swimsuit right?'

I just let my feet carry me away. I was upset, but I shouldn't have been. I don't want him, I don't. We are just people who have the same friends. That's it. Nothing more than that.

I stop walking finally. My mind itself still raced ahead. There was no telling where it would go,  but it hurt.

My stomach bothered me even more than usual. I wanted it to go away. I wrap my arms around my waist as best possible. The feeling of hiding just became more intense. Maybe I needed some fancy waist trainer, or a corset. Maybe I could start taking diet pills or willingly get a tape worm. I wanted my stomach to go away. I wanted to be pretty like Jihan, Rae or Cho Hee. What was wrong with me?

I slowly came in and out of my head. I wanted to stop thinking, but it was like I was trapped. Yet at some point everything around me just seemed dark, like my thoughts just seeped into reality. When my head was finally clear enough I looked around. To my surprise I had stopped in front of a thrift shop, and push through the doors without second thought. Because bargains, and funny finds sounded so much better than anything else I could be dealing with right now. "This seems fun! R-right?" Jihan was trying so hard, and I did feel terrible for dragging her around. I needed to lighten the mood. Not letting it bother me sounded so easy... yet I was so- what was I?

"It does, wanna help me look?"

I smiled weakly while pushing some hangers around on the rack in front of me. I didn't want to kill her shopping trip mood. She was so excited to go out today that I absolutely wanted her to stay happy. So we shopped. Playing around, and making fun of each other in every attempt to forget the days hiccup.

"Look at this!" Jihan placed a very large hat on her head with a loud wheeze. It looked like the kind of hat rich women would wear to tea, but it was just so big that it flopped and covered Jihan's face. She brushed its brim up dramatically before looking at me to make a weird face. I had to contain my laughter to not disturb anyone else, but my stomach hurt from watching her being chaotic as usual.

I was still confused, and upset. Nothing was going to change that. But Jihan saved the day once again, and I love her for it.

In the end I did manage to find a swimsuit for the trip. Something a little more comfortable for me, but Jihan approved so it was a success.   So after paying, we finally made the drive back home and finished the night watching movies together.

Not once did she bring up the Taehyung incident, and neither did I. To be entirely honest I don't think that night would've been a good one to talk about it. Im still so confused, so in a weird head space that I don't know if I can't confront everything in my mind right now. As much as I'd love to fix everything for me all at once, I know I can't. Taehyung is just something I have to face later. Whether he ever actually meant the things he said, or if he was playing with me, this part of life is definitely going to change my entire view on how relationships or feelings work in the long run.

Its a scary thought.