**At the Exclusive Mall...**
"Which one do you think I should choose?" Suzy asked, holding up two dazzling dresses as if she were deciding the fate of nations.
"Suzy, you still haven't told me how you knew I was at the café," Jimin said, trying to keep his voice calm.
"You're so annoying today, Jimin. I just checked your location on my phone. Not exactly rocket science," she replied, shrugging like it was the most normal thing in the world.
Jimin's jaw tightened. He quietly turned off location sharing, already suspecting that if Suzy knew, his father probably did too.
Suzy returned to admiring herself in the mirror, dresses draped over each arm. Jimin sat nearby, looking like a man trapped in purgatory. Shopping wasn't his thing. Shopping with Suzy was its own special category of torture.
The irony wasn't lost on him...Suzy, being the actress and celebrity she was, could have easily brought along an assistant or two to carry her bags. She had a small army of managers, stylists and bodyguards at her disposal. Even now, there were bodyguards...discreet but vigilant, positioned just far enough away to give her "privacy" while keeping a trained eye on the surroundings, scanning for anyone suspicious. But no. She called it "private, intimate time with Jimin," as if dragging him from store to store while he played pack mule was some kind of romantic bonding ritual. Still, she justified it as a way to "spend time together," almost treating him like a high-end toy boy she could parade around.. a designer accessory...curated little PR fantasy.
He suspected she knew exactly how much he disliked it and that this was all part of the carefully curated stunt their parents had set up.
They were, after all, in one of the most exclusive areas of the city's luxury mall...a section closed to the general public, where only a very select clientele were allowed. The air smelled faintly of perfume and money. Every store gleamed like a gallery. Privacy was guaranteed here, but Jimin still felt exposed in the worst way. Still, he forced a polite smile.
"I'm not sure. Both look beautiful."
The sales assistant, who had been hovering nearby, stepped in with a bright smile. "They both look stunning on you," she said, fully aware Suzy would end up buying both anyway and she always did.
Suzy nodded, satisfied, and handed the dresses over. They joined a growing pile of at least twenty other garments waiting to be wrapped.
The afternoon stretched on in an endless cycle of boutiques, mirrors, and the familiar sound of Jimin's credit card sliding through machines. Shopping bags multiplied until it looked like they were preparing to clothe a small kingdom.
By late afternoon, Jimin's patience was running on fumes. He wondered how much longer this spree could possibly last, but he kept walking beside her. Not because he wanted to, but because the agreement between their families left him no other choice.
**Back to You...**
After classes, you barely had time to take a breath before Liz appeared out of nowhere, planting herself squarely in your path. Her energy was as relentless as always.
"Liz, I've already told you...I try to avoid certain places," you said, hoping for once she'd just nod and drop it.
Instead, she turned up the pleading eyes to full power. "Please. Please. Pretty please."
YOU ARE READING
ACATALEPSY I BTS AU
FanfictionThis is the tale of eight young adults whose fates intertwine unexpectedly through some surprising connections, friendships or sometimes quite unusual circumstances. Some characters may question their identity as well as their actual intentions and...
