Chapter 10: Shopping Buddy

"I'll go and see what happened to Jan Di." Ga Eul managed to say at last. She tried to free her other hand from Han Kyul's grip but it was just too tight. He really wanted Ga Eul to stay.

Yi Jung noticed what Han Kyul is doing. He grabbed Han KYul's hand and lifted it to free Ga Eul's. The way Yi Jung held and let go of Han Kyul's hand was just too powerful. Han Kyul felt as if his bones were about to break.

The two then managed to get out of the porridge shop and they entered the black Mercedes Yi Jung used before, but this time, he has a driver. They sat at the back and all this time, Yi Jung was holding Ga Eul's hand.

As they were traveling, it can be seen from Ga Eul that she is getting more worried. The hand that Yi Jung is holding is already sweating, yet, he did not let go of it.

The car halted and this indicated that they've reached their destination. Ga Eul was surprised that they were actually in front of a mall. 'Huh? Why this place? What is Jan Di doing here?'

They got out of the Mercedes, still holding hands. It can be observed that the mall has just opened because people are just coming in, and all of them are salesladies. Ga Eul asked her companion, "Sunbae, what are we doing here? Jan Di wouldn't be here this early."

Yi Jung just smiled and Ga Eul suddenly understood.

"Yah Sunbae!" she let go of the potter's hand. "What are you trying to do this time? Jan Di's not hurt, isn't she?"

Yi Jung just continued smiling. Ga Eul turned her back at him and was about to go back to the porridge shop when she realized that Yi Jung has her bag. She walked back to get it but Yi Jung was already running towards the mall. She sprinted to catch him, as if trying to catch a snatcher. She's so used to running because of soccer that she caught up to him, but then, she already set foot on the mall.

He smiled at her again then snapped his fingers. The guards put up a sign on each door- closed- and locked each. They were the only customers now.

"Sunbae." Ga Eul said, panting. "Let me have my bag now. I'll go back to my work."

"You don't need to come back to your work, Ga Eul- yang. I've already filed for a leave for you and Jan Di this weekend. We're going on a trip."

"On a what?"

All the salesladies and guards were looking at them by this time. All can't help but smile at the young 'couple'- that's what they thought- in front of them.

"A trip. You, Jan Di and the F4 are going on a trip this weekend. Our flight is on 1 PM so we better hurry up to buy you clothes."

"Wha… What?!" Ga Eul exclaimed. "I can't. My parents don't know about this. For sure, won't allow me."

"I forgot to mention. I've contacted them earlier and they approved of your coming along since Jan Di is going too."

"Yah Sunbae!" Ga Eul was not able to tell what she wanted because Yi Jung grabbed her hand once again. He looked at his watch and said, "We've got about three hours before our flight. Let's get going." then smiled at her.

They rode the elevator and reached level three. This part of the mall is dedicated to clothing and shoes for both men and women. They went inside a boutique which sells beach outfits.

"Sunbae, where exactly are we going?" she asked her shopping buddy. Ga Eul was wondering if they are going to the beach since they entered this kind of store.

"You'll find out later." Yi Jung picked up a bikini and held it in front of Ga Eul, thinking whether it fits her. "What's your size?" he casually asked her.

Ga Eul reddened out of embarrassment for the salesladies were looking at them, smiling. She grabbed the bikini Yi Jung was holding and put it back in the rack. "I don't think it's appropriate for you to ask questions like that."

"What? What's wrong with that?"

Ga Eul's face reddened once more. She can't get out of this now. 'Alright. Since we look okay now and Jan Di's going, I'm coming along.' She thought to herself.

"Can you… uhmm… just let me pick my own clothes?" Ga Eul asked the infamous Casanova.

"Sure, you can. But I would appreciate if you ask me my opinion first before buying them."

"It's not like you have a thing for fashion, huh?"

"Sort of, I guess." Yi Jung smiled.

Surely, the Casanova's smile attracted attention from all the salesladies from the shop. His charm was just so irresistible and Ga Eul was drawn by this for the nth time.

Ga Eul searched for the clothes she wanted and fitted every blouse, shorts and dress to show it to Yi Jung. Her style maybe is simple but it brings out the beauty in her. Yi Jung was always mesmerized when she comes out of the dressing room. But then, when it was time to pick her bikini, Ga Eul decided that she would not fit them.

"Why not?" he asked, teasing her.

"Of course, I won't flaunt my body in front of you Sunbae."

"There's nothing to flaunt."

Ga Eul got a little irritated so she answered him back, "Why? Have you seen it?"

Yi Jung laughed at this and replied, "I haven't. But I think I'll see it later on when we arrive at our destination. You're going to wear that bikini and I'm pretty sure there's nothing to see."

Ga Eul did not reply to him anymore for answering him back would cause another misunderstanding between them.

For about an hour and a half, Ga Eul and Yi Jung were shopping clothes for her. They moved from one store to another. They've already bought two bikinis, two pairs of shorts, two tank- tops, four dresses and two pairs of flip- flops.

While they were walking past a store after store, Ga Eul asked Yi Jung, "Is it alright if you paid for all of these? They are all expensive. I'll pay you later on, I promise."

"Ga Eul- yang, how many times do I have to answer that question, huh? I already said it and I'm never going to repeat it again, so listen. You don't have to pay me. Take it as a gift from me. Anyway, Jun Pyo owns this place so I've got a little discount." Yi Jung grinned.

"But…"

"No buts."

"Argh!" Ga Eul stopped walking. "That's the problem, Sunbae. I don't easily accept gifts. It makes me feel that I owe you something. Just, let me do something for you- something that would serve as my payment."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes I am."

"Since you really look like close to pleading, then…" Yi Jung thought for a while. "Pick me clothes for the trip. We still have an hour and I haven't packed anything yet."

"Uh. Sunbae, are you sure? I don't think you'll like my style. And, I haven't picked clothes for men before."

"Anything will be fine for me." Yi Jung assured her. "But before that, let's get something to eat. I assume you're already hungry."

Ga Eul nodded. "Can we get something we could eat while walking? It would save time." She suggested.

"Okay."

They ordered a few pieces of pizza, wrapped individually and two large cokes. Yi Jung and Ga Eul were now looking for a shop to buy Yi Jung's clothes.

They found one and Ga Eul immediately started to get to work. She picked up a few colorful and plain polo shirts that would make Yi Jung comfortable. She assumed that they were going in a beach since she bought clothes for this place. Ga Eul got a few pairs of shorts and comfortable khaki's.

Yi Jung looked at how Ga Eul was working on her task. Though what she picks is not his style, Yi Jung admits that those combinations are good. 'It can't be that bad to change my style for once.'

Even though Ga Eul did not ask him his size for the shirts and shorts, it seemed to him that she got the right measurement and those clothes would fit him. It was as if Ga Eul knew him too well that she did not need to ask him.

She finished at last. Ga Eul was able to produce four combinations of clothes, varying from each other, somewhat experimenting.

'I'll be dead. I kind of mixed and matched everything.' She thought.

"I'll try them." Yi Jung said.

'Uh oh. He won't like those.' Ga Eul was so pessimistic; she just crossed her fingers at her back.

Yi Jung tried on first the white cotton polo, a pair of Hawaiian shorts and flip- flops. Though the clothes look that they were miss- matched, when Yi Jung emerged from the dressing room, the clothes suddenly seem to complement each other.

Ga Eul smiled at her work and realized, 'It seems to me that whatever he wears looks well on him.'

The salesladies at this store were whispering to each other about how much they envy Ga Eul for having a 'boyfriend' like Yi Jung. They were all saying that they look good together and that Yi Jung was also lucky to have a 'girlfriend' like Ga Eul for she has a sense for fashion.

Ga Eul grabbed a pair of shades from a table and held it in front of Yi Jung. "You seem too ready for the vacation." She said to him.

"And you, too, should be. We've got to go or they'll leave us and all of this shopping will be a waste." Yi Jung reminded her.

She wore a red, knee-length dress with circles as designs. Ga Eul paired it with a nice pair of white flip- flops.

Before they left the store, Yi Jung grabbed a white hat from the corner of the store and put it on Ga Eul's head.

"It fits your clothes." he said to Ga Eul.

"We'll take this too." Yi Jung turned to the cashier.

As they left the mall, the two look super excited and ready for the vacation they'll have for the weekend. They once again, held hands together back to Yi Jung's black Mercedes.

*a/n: Whew! Haha. This chapter was written in one of my 'breaks' while studying so sorry if this one is not good enough. Also, I know that the ending is kind of rushed. Haha. Just wait for chapter 11. That chapter will be purely dedicated to their flight to New Caledonia. I am emphasizing on this trip because the next chapters after New Caledonia might be… uhmmm… (I won't say it. haha!) Weeh, HELL WEEK is over for me! xD But I have my quarterly exams next week. Haha. After that, I think I'll be free again. Anyway, please R & R guys! Reviews are very much appreciated! :D