The Sex(y)ist KTH FF

Chapter 12: "Okay, Tae."

"C'mon Ahjussi. Keep up the pace. You're slowing us down," I say, clapping my hands twice in quick succession.

Taehyung levels me with a glare.

"Would you like to see how fast you walk while carrying all of these bags? Because please be my guest." He gestures to all the shopping bags he's holding. And in all fairness, there are many.

So many that I'm surprised this is the first time he's complaining. And he's only complaining because I taunted him.

"No thank you," I smile. I do slow down my pace.

My shopping has been extensive, especially considering I'm not done yet.

There's a lot of things I want to still get my mom that I think she'd like.

My dad isn't really that excitable about gifts in general. So it isn't that fun getting him gifts. My mom and Somin however love receiving gifts so it's always fun shopping for them.

I still needed to get something for Appa. I don't know how he reacts to gifts but I still want to get him something he'd like.

I haven't been telling Taehyung anything. Sometimes I get his opinion on whether something looks nice or not but I haven't actively been updating him on which gift belongs to who. I kind of just look, pick a gift, pay for it and then hand the bag to him.

Well actually sometimes I pay and sometimes he does.

At a few stores while I'm still looking he's paid for items. And it's awkward because I'm not used to it. I'm comfortable paying for the gifts I choose by myself. I have enough savings to do so.
But when I try to argue about it, he ignores me or rolls his eyes which is more annoying than him arguing back.

I've bought most of the things I wanted to, there's just a handful of items I still want to get.

Like Appa's gift which I thought about for a while.

Taehyung says he's done shopping for his friends which means he's either very decisive or they're very much white elephant gifts. Maybe both.

"Let me leave this in the car before we continue?"

"You can. I'm just going into this bookstore. I'll be quick but I'll stay here until you come back."

"Don't wander off, Soo Hyun."

"Yeah yeah."

"I mean it."

"I won't," I whine and I suddenly realise why he gives me these reminders. Clearing my throat and straightening my stance, I say the words again more seriously, "I won't. I promise."

"Okay," he nods and then walks off with the shopping bags.

I consider wandering off or hiding somewhere nearby just to see his reaction but then think better of it.

Even though I know exactly what I'm buying from the bookstore, I still spend a few minutes browsing, taking in the underrated scent of new books.

I quickly purchase the 2 books I came for before I continue browsing.

I pick something up at random and flip through the pages seeing something particular that makes me stop.

"Oh ! si tu pouvais lire dans mon coeur, tu verrais la place où je t'ai mise!" I read.

Oh! If you could read my heart, you would see the place that I keep you!

I can't help the smile that crosses my face upon reading that. It's a happy smile even if it holds a touch of melancholy.