The Magic Shop: A BTS Short Story Compilation

Part 3: Embarrassed

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The next day, you wake with aching bones and bags under your eyes. You're really too old to be staying up until three in the morning playing games. During your university days, you can pull all-nighters and still have excess energy to power through the next day. Now, if you don't get eight hours of sleep, not even coffee can save your life. With a hand on your back, you trudge your way to the bathroom to do your morning rituals. Then, you take your time making bibimbap for lunch from the leftovers in your fridge. As if she was psychic, your mother sends you a message asking if you need more side dishes because she's just made a bunch for the restaurant she and your father now own. Not wanting her to make the two-hour trip to Seoul just to bring you food, you reply saying you don't need it. As expected, she says she'll come next week anyway. With a sigh, you mark the date on your calendar.

Even though you love your parents, they can be terribly nosy at times. Ever since you graduated from university, your mother has been nudging you to find a boyfriend. Lately, she's outright pushing. Last year, she rallied up all her connections in Seoul in an effort to set you up with a 'nice young man.'  After the first few terrible dates, you refuse to go on any more so the two of you ended up fighting. She's been toning it down since then, but lately, she's been giving you not too subtle hints about how it's okay to come out if you're gay.

Shoving a huge spoonful into your mouth, you save that issue for later. After a delicious meal, you tackle the week's laundry, clean the apartment, then finally take a shower. By mid-afternoon, you finally prepare to head out. It takes you too long to pick an outfit. Despite the mountain of clothing now on your bed, you still have nothing to wear. You take a picture of yourself in the mirror wearing a pink knit dress you rarely wear because it hugs all your curves --- even the ones you don't want to show --- and send it to Yoongi. He isn't much of a fashion advisor, but you can always count on his honesty.

Y/N: Do I look ok?

His reply is instant.

MinYoongi: No.

"Ouch."

Brutal honesty. You go back to the pile on the bed and start looking for something else. Just as you are putting on a mustard yellow skirt you don't even remember buying, you receive another message.

MinYoongi:  Not when you look so uncomfortable.

Oh. You do feel awkward. See, here's another thing about Yoongi. He's always honest, but never unkind.

MinYoongi:  What's the occasion?

Y/N: Nothing

Y/N: Just thought I'd wear something nice for a change.

MinYoongi: Just wear what you usually wear.

Y/N:  -_-

Y/N: Thanks for nothing.

MinYoongi: *thumbs up*

Moments like this make you wish you made more effort to cultivate friendships with your female colleagues. Surely, they'd be more helpful at giving fashion advice. Since you work in a male-dominated field, however, the only woman you get to have friendly interactions with on a daily basis is the ahjumma in-charge of cleaning your floor at work. Sometimes, you also eat lunch together with Dahyun and Nayeon from the product department, but you don't know how to extend the relationship outside work. Both girls have their own personal lives to which you aren't privy to. Yoongi once said the older a person gets, the more difficult it becomes to make close friends. You don't know from which well he draws his wisdom, but so far, they've proven to be true.