since our eyes first met - Minsung

챕터the mall

As we walked through the entrance of the mall, the cool air conditioning hit me, sending a chill down my spine. The place was busy, but not overcrowded, just the way I liked it. Jisung and I kept to the quieter areas, avoiding the main entrances where crowds of people were gathered. His smile never left his face, and despite the hustle around us, I felt a sense of calm just being with him.

»Where to first?« I asked, glancing around at the various stores.

»How about shoes?« Jisung suggested with a grin, his eyes gleaming. »I could use a new pair.«

I raised an eyebrow. »You? Needing new shoes? I thought you were the one always wearing the freshest kicks.«

»Ah, but even fresh kicks can get old,« he said, pulling his cap down a little further, hiding his face. »You should know better than anyone.«

I chuckled, shaking my head. »Fair enough.«

We walked toward a nearby shoe store, the scent of leather and rubber filling the air. As we browsed through the aisles, I couldn't help but notice how natural it felt, being here with him, just enjoying the moment. There was no rush, no schedules, no cameras—just us.

As Jisung started trying on shoes, I leaned against a shelf, casually scanning the store. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a few fans looking our way. I smiled and gave them a small, polite wave, but I could see they quickly recognized us and turned their attention back to their own shopping. The mall was busy enough that it didn't attract much attention, and we didn't seem to stand out as much as we would at an event.

I looked over to see Jisung standing with a pair of sneakers in hand, holding them up for inspection. »What do you think? Too flashy?«

I took a step closer and examined the shoes. They were definitely bold—bright white with red accents—but somehow, they felt like something Jisung would pull off effortlessly.

»They're definitely you,« I said with a smirk. »But you have to admit, they're a little... much.«

He raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by my response. »So you think I should go for something more subtle? What, like a plain black pair?«

»Maybe something in between,« I suggested, tapping my chin thoughtfully. »Not too loud, but not boring either.«

He looked at me with a playful expression, as if he were daring me to make the decision. I sighed dramatically, pretending to be the responsible one in the group.

»Alright, alright. Let's find something in that middle ground,« I said, feeling a bit like I was playing a game.

As we continued looking through the shoes, I found myself getting lost in the rhythm of things. We joked and laughed, shared our thoughts on the weirdest trends in fashion, and just spent time together. It was so easy, like we'd never stopped hanging out despite the busy schedules and the fame that seemed to always follow us.

Eventually, Jisung decided on a new pair of sneakers—a balance between bold and subtle, just like I'd suggested. He grinned triumphantly as he checked out at the register, tossing me a playful wink.

»See? I knew you'd have good taste,« he said, giving me a small nudge.

»You're welcome,« I replied with a smirk, feeling a little warmth spread through my chest. »But don't get too cocky.«

We left the store and made our way to the food court, the sounds of people eating, chatting, and laughing creating a lively backdrop. I could see some fans eyeing us as we passed, but they respected our space, content with a quick glance or a photo from afar. It felt nice to be out in public without the pressure of being constantly on display.