"What do you mean?"
"Mm, it's nothing."
Haeyoung pretended not to understand what was being said.
Gaeun realized that Haeyoung didn't want to bring up that topic again in front of the camera, so she quickly changed the subject.
"Well then, I'll head in first. See you tomorrow, Haeyoung."
"Unnie, Gaeun..."
Gaeun turned around.
"Trust that instinct you're feeling right now."
"Huh?"
Haeyoung smiled silently.
She had no intention of explaining things in detail in front of the camera.
But she believed Gaeun would understand well enough.
"I think your feeling is right."
Gaeun stared at Haeyoung for a moment, then gave a small nod.
*****
Characters:
• Son Gaeun (30 / Designer)
• Yoon Taeri (25 / Studying Korean Medicine at K University)
• Woo Minji (27 / Freelance Model)
• Seo Haeyoung (28 / Interpreter & Translator)
• Lee Jaeyoung (29 / Employee at a Foreign IT Company)
• Park Chanwoo (30 / Barista)
• Han Yunhyuk (29 / Employee at an Automotive Company)
• Kim Dojin (26 / Studying Physical Education at Y University)
• Jo Sungjoon (27 / Actor)
*****
From early in the morning, Woo-yeon House was bustling with activity.
Today, based on the cards drawn the day before, a random date was scheduled.
Haeyoung had already showered and was fixing her hair.
Knock knock.
"Haeyoung, can I come in for a moment?"
"Yes, of course. Come in."
Gaeun entered cautiously, looking a bit shy.
In her hands was a large shopping bag.
"Haeyoung, do you know our brand?"
Gaeun tapped lightly on the logo printed on the bag.
Haeyoung recalled Gaeun's introduction from the day before—just a beat too late.
She had mentioned that she worked as a designer and had launched her own brand.
Judging by how surprised everyone was when they saw the logo on the shopping bag, it seemed to be quite a well-known brand.
"...I'm really sorry. I don't know much about fashion."
"No, it's okay! I just thought you'd be interested since you always dress so well. Actually, this works out perfectly."
With a rustle, a pile of clothes still wrapped in plastic spilled out of the shopping bag.
"You have some time right now, right?"
"Yes, I do, but what is all this...?"
"Let's see... I think this one would go perfectly with today's outfit."
Gaeun pulled out a light-colored cardigan and held it out.
"What's this for? Don't tell me… you're giving it to me?"
"Yup! I want you to have it. It's brand new... want to try it on?"
"Why are you giving me this all of a sudden?"
Without even waiting for a reply, Gaeun spun Haeyoung around and slipped the cardigan onto her. It matched her outfit perfectly, as if it had been planned.
"I knew it would look great on you! I might have to ask you to model for us someday. Want to take the rest too? Everything here is brand new."
"No, that's way too much. I can't just accept all of this."
"Why not? I want to give it to you."
Haeyoung shook her head firmly, insisting she couldn't accept it, but Gaeun didn't seem to care and kept pulling out more clothes.
"Oh right! What's your shoe size? I brought a few pairs of shoes too."
"Hold on, I brought more."
Gaeun came back with an armful of shoes, accessories, even socks.
Before they knew it, Haeyoung's bed was piled high with new clothes, like a small mountain.
"This is way too much. If you really insist, then please—just let me have one item."
"No way! If you don't take all of this, I'll be seriously hurt!"
Haeyoung ran her fingers through her hair, clearly flustered.
She had a feeling she knew why Gaeun was doing this.
It seemed Gaeun had fully understood the warning Haeyoung gave her yesterday about Minji.
Knowing Gaeun's personality, she must have felt the need to repay her in some way.
But honestly, this wasn't necessary at all.
If Gaeun managed to distance herself from Minji early on, it would be a good thing—for Haeyoung's sake, too.
Because then Minji could be isolated.
So really, this wasn't for Gaeun's benefit, it was all for the sake of revenge.
That's why accepting everything felt like a guilty indulgence.
She was just wondering how to politely turn it down when the door suddenly burst open.
"Huh? What are you two doing?"
It was Minji.
She looked back and forth between Gaeun, Haeyoung, and the pile of new clothes on the bed.
"I was just giving Haeyoung a few gifts."
Minji's eyes darted around suspiciously.
"Wow, it's your brand, right? MEOS!
"Yeah, that's right."
"But all of this? Oh no, Haeyoung unnie, did you guilt-trip Gaeun into giving it to you? You know how kind she is, she can't say no! Don't take advantage of her like that."
Minji casually positioned Haeyoung as the villain in the situation.
But at this point, no one here was going to be swayed by her anymore.
"No way. I brought them over myself. Haeyoung kept saying it was too much and that she couldn't accept them."
"Oh, really?"
Minji paused for a moment, then quickly scampered over and started rummaging through the clothes on the bed.
"This blouse is so pretty!"
"You've got a good eye, Minji. That piece sold out really fast, we still have people asking for it."
"Really? It feels like it was made for me."
Clutching the blouse tightly to her chest, Minji looked up at Gaeun with wide, kitten-like eyes.
She was clearly waiting for Gaeun to say,
"Then you can have it, Minji."
But no matter how long she waited, Gaeun didn't say a word.
The silence stretched as the two simply locked eyes.
Time passed slowly.
"Haeyoung unnie, isn't this a bit too much? Don't you feel a little uncomfortable accepting it all?"
This time, Minji switched targets.
If she couldn't get it from that pushover, she'd try taking it from the other one.
"It is a bit much. But Gaeun unnie said she'd be upset if I didn't take it, so I've decided to accept it gratefully."
"You're really going to keep all of it for yourself? I didn't think you were that type… So greedy."
"Why? Do you want something too?"
Haeyoung asked directly.
"Of course! It would be an honor to wear something Gaeun unnie made. Every time I wore it, I'd think of her! We should share, don't you think? Gaeun unnie would probably prefer that too, right?"
"Nope."
"…What?"
Gaeun replied with a gentle smile.
For a moment, Minji was completely thrown off.
Minji was visibly flustered.
But what followed left no room for doubt—it was a clear rejection.
"As a designer, I prefer my clothes to go to someone they really suit. Someone who makes them look good, even without trying."
Minji clamped her mouth shut.
The message behind Gaeun's words was crystal clear:
Haeyoung has the right fit.
You don't.
That's why I don't want to give them to you.
Haeyoung chuckled inwardly.
Gaeun had really changed.
Yes—sometimes a single sentence could shift someone's heart completely.
More than the clothes she'd been given, this moment—this change—felt like the real gift.
As if to drive the point home, Gaeun added one final remark:
"Of course, I could give it to you if you asked... but Minji, you tend to ask in a way that puts people on the spot."
"That's not the kind of person you are, right?"
It was what Minji had said earlier, targeting Haeyoung.
Now Minji's face went pale and stiffened.
I guess she's flustered because both of the "pushovers" turned out to be like this?
Minji's eyebrows twitched sharply. Her momentary embarrassment soon gave way to anger.
"Oh, I never said I wanted it that badly. Since it's Gaeun unnie's clothes, I was just trying to wear them for her."
She smiled softly again, but the barely concealed irritation was obvious.
"Wear them for her?"
"Yeah. I usually wear Chanel or Prada. I've been comfortable with those brands since I was young. I'm not really into fast fashion."
Of course, that was a lie. Although she was a freelance model, her small stature meant she only occasionally landed beauty shoots that focused on her face.
"Alright then. Minji, you can just keep wearing Chanel."
"Aww, are you sulking, unnie? That's not to say MEOS clothes aren't good. I've even bought some myself! The clothes are really nice."
Minji wasn't the type to praise Gaeun's clothes so easily. Gaeun seemed to think the same and didn't let her guard down.
"It was a dress, but the design was a bit disappointing, so I ended up wearing it as pajamas. Wow, the fabric was super soft, just perfect. I really admired the quality of the material."
A dress she didn't like the design of, but the fabric....
Most people might have let that comment slide, but not Gaeun.
"So, the design wasn't very good, huh?"
"I'm not saying it's bad. How could I possibly judge your clothes, unnie! It's just… when I wore it, it looked a bit… mature? Maybe even a little too grown-up for me. So, like you said, I think it suits Haeyoung unnie or Gaeun unnie better!"
What a cheerful way to throw shade.
She had just hit Gaeun's brand and her age , both the sources of stress for Gaeun here.
This time, even Gaeun couldn't keep her expression in check. She looked just like her old self.
"Minji."
"Yes, Haeyoung unnie?"
Minji's eyes widened. Clear, innocent-looking eyes. Big, blinking eyes.
Who would suspect the devilish thoughts behind that face?
Who would think someone so smiling could relentlessly corner you?
"You've been messing with me so many times, I'm the only one who can handle it."
"So, do I look older or younger? You keep changing what you say since yesterday, and it's confusing. Can't you even remember what you said? You're still young—how can you be so indecisive already?"