Episode 30
Seorin composed her expression and stepped inside the main house, only to bump right into Youngsook, who was just stepping out.
“Oh my, Seorin.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Seorin quickly bowed her head. If Youngsook took issue with anything, the entire day would be exhausting. Fortunately, Youngsook seemed to be in a good mood. With a pleased look on her face, she gestured to Seorin.
“Hurry up and get ready to go out.”
“Get ready? Where are we going?”
“Let’s go look at dresses together. It’s not a casual occasion—it’s for an engagement announcement. Goodness, I don’t know why there are so many things to do. It’s for a formal group event, so we can’t just wing it.”
Seorin’s heart sank at the combination of words: dress, engagement.
“Dresses?”
“Yes. Taeyoon and Jaehee’s engagement announcement date has been set.”
“There’s a lot to prepare. Don’t just stand there.”
Her body froze at the mention of engagement. It was something she had wanted more than anyone else, yet now her heart kept breaking.
Seorin forced a smile, desperately trying to hide her reaction from Youngsook. The muscles around her lips trembled slightly, but Youngsook, focused elsewhere, didn’t notice.
“Anyway, you’re coming with me, so hurry up. You’re young—you probably know the trends better than me.”
“She’s a bit picky, you know? Jeez,” Youngsook muttered under her breath, sighing. Seorin, pretending not to hear, nodded her head.
“Yes. I’ll get ready.”
She sprinted all the way back to the residence hall. Her eyes felt hot, but she didn’t let herself cry. Feeling this weak over an engagement announcement wouldn’t do her any good.
It’s a good thing. This is what I wanted, she told herself, repeating it like a mantra, almost believing it for a moment.
Youngsook and Seorin’s car stopped in an alleyway in Cheongdam-dong.
“Ugh, we’re going to be late.”
As soon as she got out, Youngsook rushed into the boutique. Her anxious face showed that they were tight on time.
Seorin followed her inside. Thankfully, Jaehee hadn’t arrived yet, and the waiting area was still empty.
“Welcome, ma’am.”
The boutique manager approached with a pleasant smile.
“We have a reservation under Yoo Jaehee of Ohseong Group,” Youngsook said proudly, emphasizing “Ohseong Group” with noticeable pride.
“Of course, we know. We’ve cleared the schedule for you. But… where is the bride?”
Youngsook smiled without answering directly.
“She’ll be here soon. Just sit and have something to drink.”
Youngsook, sweating slightly from the rush, sank into a velvet sofa near the entrance. The manager, noticing her discomfort, whispered to a staff member to bring iced coffee.
Soon, iced coffee was served, and Youngsook began drinking through a straw. But Yoo Jaehee didn’t show up, even as Youngsook finished her drink.
“Where is that girl?”
As the minute hand completed a full circle, Youngsook’s patience wore thin. Her frown deepened just as the boutique door opened.
“Jaehee, how could you not call…?”
She turned with irritation, but her face showed surprise instead.
“Taeyoon?”
Seorin, who had also looked up, froze. Two figures entered through the door—Yoo Jaehee and beside her, Seo Taeyoon.
Was he supposed to come today? The memory of his heat from the night before flashed through Seorin’s mind, and she instinctively looked away.
Youngsook, caught off guard, forgot her anger and even stuttered.
“T-Taeyoon, you came too?”
Though the question was directed at Taeyoon, the answer came from someone else.
“Yes, Mother. I told Oppa to come. He wasn’t going to, so I had to chase him all the way to the office. He was so reluctant… That’s why we’re a bit late. Sorry!”
Jaehee smiled brightly and answered on his behalf.
“It’s not about being sorry. But you could’ve called ahead.”
Behind them, Seorin could feel Taeyoon’s intense gaze burning into her.
The way he looked at her made her heart tighten. His blatant stare made her anxious that Youngsook and Jaehee might pick up on something.
“Oh, Seorin, you’re here too?”
Jaehee finally acknowledged her presence and slipped her arm into Taeyoon’s. He didn’t push her away, which was unusual for him.
It was a strange feeling. The same hand that had touched her the night before was now holding another woman. It felt like her insides were sinking.
Jaehee, seeing Seorin’s sunken expression, smiled even more brightly.
“Well, now that the bride’s here, shall we look at dresses? We’re choosing the engagement outfit today, right?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Then follow me.”
The manager led the group into the fitting area. Taeyoon and Jaehee walked in front, followed by Youngsook, and lastly, Seorin trailed behind.
Seorin tried to quiet her breathing and footsteps. She sincerely hoped that nothing would happen today—that it would just be a calm, uneventful day.
To ensure that, she had to stay out of sight, especially out of Taeyoon’s line of vision.
Jaehee began trying on dress after dress. Seorin couldn’t understand how they all looked the same, yet she changed so many times.
No one complained. Even Taeyoon, whom she thought would leave early, stayed stubbornly.
Each time the curtain opened, Youngsook and the staff offered repeated compliments and gasps of admiration.
Encouraged, Jaehee continued trying on dresses with enthusiasm.
On the surface, everything seemed perfect. But behind the curtain, Taeyoon’s uncomfortable gaze kept drifting toward Seorin.
At first, she thought it was accidental, but the stare became persistent—enough for even the boutique staff to whisper to each other.
Youngsook, afraid Jaehee might notice, didn’t say anything but kept poking Taeyoon’s side with her elbow. Yet his gaze wouldn’t budge.
Not toward the bride-to-be Yoo Jaehee, but toward the assistant who had merely tagged along.
Amid the tense atmosphere, Seorin kept her eyes fixed on the floor, not daring to look up.
She feared locking eyes with Taeyoon and dreaded giving the impression that she, too, had feelings for him.
It felt like being called to the principal’s office. She didn’t have to look to feel everyone’s eyes on her—her scalp prickled from it.
Despite the growing tension, only Yoo Jaehee remained blissfully unaware, chatting cheerfully.
“Is this better? Put my hair up. And these earrings, please.”
Her voice, giving out dressing orders behind the curtain, sounded strangely out of place—like an old Christmas jingle in June.
Again, the curtain swished open. This time, she wore a light pink dress, its hem dotted with glittering beads like snowflakes.
“How about this one?” Jaehee asked.
Youngsook, now barely holding back anger, mechanically clapped with a forced smile.
“Oh, this is lovely too. You wear everything so well, Jaehee.”
“Really? I feel like the color’s a bit tacky though…”
Turning back and forth to check her reflection, Jaehee suddenly asked Taeyoon,
“What do you think, Oppa? Do I look okay?”
Her face showed clear expectation. It seemed she wanted to hear at least a “You look pretty,” or even just “Not bad.”
After all, now that they were planning to marry, wasn’t she allowed that much?
But the words that came out of Taeyoon’s mouth were completely different.
