TOP SECRET!

CHAPTER 17 - TOKEN

NUHA's P.O.V

" Uwahhh! I'm so full!"

That's what everyone's been saying for the past 5 minutes. It's true the food at that restaurant has a way of luring you to eat till you explode (not literally).

After everyone finally ran out of room for food, we decided to walk around the mall.

Doyoung stopped, " Oh Uniqlo! Nuha let's? I need to buy a new coat." Before I could say 'Yes', he took me by the hand and drag me into the store. Well, I could do a new sweater.

" We'll meet you at the arcade!" Jaehyun said, half shouting in case it attracts unwanted attention.

It looks like they have a new range of sweaters. All shades are pastel colors, pretty, I thought.

It costs $70 each. The pink and the blue looks too hard to resist to not buy. With a heavy sigh, " I'll buy the both of you even if it means no snacks for the next few days." I said to myself, grabbing them off the rack.

The size suits me perfectly and I walked over to queue for the counter.

From my line of view, I noticed Yuta is here with Syaziah. I didn't know they followed us to the store.

" Does this look okay on me?"

" You look like an orange."

" What about this one?"

" You look like a broccoli."

Geez, they're at it again. I can hear their bickering from here. And Syaziah's response does not help either.

I turned to look elsewhere and some kids are giving me weird stares, probably because I'm wearing a black mask.

" Is she an idol?" A little girl asks her mom as she passes by.

" Aniya, don't point at strangers like that," The mother said, " Mianhae." She apologized to me and I bowed, gesturing it's okay.

It wasn't long until the queue gets shorter and shorter. " Here!" The cashier waved, indicating that the counter was empty. I walked over to it and place the sweaters on the counter.

" That will be all, Miss?"

" Nae.."

" The total would be $140, Miss."

With a heavy heart, I slide my card towards the cashier.

" That won't be necessary. Pay with this card and add these too." A muffled voice said beside me. Doyoung who was wearing a mask, place a stack of his chosen clothes on the counter and hands his card to the cashier.

The cashier smiled and took Doyoung's card, returning mine.

Even though I felt relieved that I didn't have to pay for it, I still felt guilty. " Doyoung-ah, are you sure? It's too much..."

" Aniya! I'm fine with it." He said. I didn't bother to resist any more, because I was just too happy to think that it's actually the first time that a guy insist on paying for me.

I can feel my cheeks heating up. Luckily I'm wearing a mask or he would've seen how red I'm getting right now.

" Komawo..." I said slowly, as we step onto the escalator. " My pleasure." He says, ooh my heart! It's fluttering!

" I'll treasure these sweaters with all my heart." I said to myself, looking down at the plastic bag I'm holding.

By the time we arrived at the arcade, Yuta and Ten are busy competing on the basketball hoops, Syaziah and Rahah are dancing miserably at the dancing stage, Kay and Jaehyun are playing snooker at a table, Aira, Yaz and Mizu are shooting zombies.