88 The End of the Changing Room Drama
Nivritti knew that he was right. But she wanted nothing from anyone, she was just happy to help.
“Oh, I am a fool. Then I would have asked them to cook food for me every day. Delicious food for life!” she shouted, jokingly.
“Ha-ha. You stupid kid!” he playfully hit her on her forehead.
“What?” she demanded.
“You could have asked for money, property and you settle for food,” mocked Kyung-Soo.
“Why do we work NK, for food? If I get free food every day, what else would I need then? Well, if you want, I will ask for money, jewellery, cars and property from ASD,” she taunted him.
“How much do you want?” he asked seriously.
But she was still in a playful mood. “How much do you have?”
“I can’t tell you that,” he said.
.....
“Then give me all your credit, debit cards with pin,” she mocked.
“Done.” He started taking out his wallet when she grabbed his hand and looked at him shockingly.
“You really need to consult a doctor,” she pointed out.
“Why?”
“Because you are an idiot. Keep your money in your wallet, that’s insulting,” she shouted.
“Getting a bonus is not insulting and if I give you money that is insulting,” he contrasted.
“Yes, because I got bonus from my employer for protecting another employee. Your money will be for protecting the name of my friend. Do you really think I did that for Jae and JJ for money?” she inquired.
“I would never insult you, not even in my dreams,” he shouted, shocked. “But really, if you ever want anything, we all will be ready, anywhere, anytime,” he emphasised.
“I will keep that in mind. Now put your wallet back in your pocket,” she let go of his hand.
“My intentions really were never to insult you,” he stressed.
“I know NK. It’s okay,” she comforted him.
“I should leave. I think it’s time.”
“Okay, let me check.”
Nivritti stood up from the bench and reached the door. She opened the door and peeped outside. A woman exited a changing room few doors away from her and left the area. Nivritti stood in that position for a few more seconds making sure no one was keeping an eye on the corridor. Man-Shik too was nowhere to be seen.
“The path is clear,” announced Nivritti.
Kyung-Soo stood up and moved towards the door. In his hands, there were all the clothes that he brought inside.
He was about to exit when Nivritti shouted, “your mask!”
“Oh right!” said Kyung-Soo and hid his face with the mask. “Bye.”
“Bye!” replied Nivritti.
He exited the room and looked around. The path was still clear. He turned back at Nivritti and said, “Ritti!”
“Hmm.”
“Don’t buy that crappy purple dress,” he said.
That made Nivritti laugh out loud. “Okay! Done.”
“And Ritti!”
“Now what?”
“Do buy the dress that you are wearing. It is nice,” he said and walked away immediately.
“What?” leaving Nivritti shocked and standing at the door with her mouth open. “What did he mean by that?” she closed the door and looked at the pile of dresses. She moved closer to the mirror and looked at herself. She softly ran her fingers over the smooth fabric of the blue shirt. It was very comfortable. She smiled at the fact that all his clothes were soft and comforting.
Hiding her face in her palms, she pondered upon the fact that she became a crybaby after coming to Korea and she always cried on Kyung-Soo’s shoulder, well, his chest. And every time she cried, his comfortable clothes were there to soothe her. Today as well, his shirt saved her when she had to hide her revealing dress.
She tried hard to stay away from him but fate or kismet, whatever you want to call it, kept making them cross each other’s paths.
Slowly, she started unbuttoning the shirt and the yellow dress revealed itself. Well, he was not wrong. The dress was fire, and she was looking hot. She recalled what Kyung-Soo said. She smiled shyly and looked down.
“Wait! Why am I blushing? Stop it! Stop it, Ritti!!! Don’t... don’t do that. Don’t walk on the same path. God! Why does he make me feel like this? Why can’t I be emotionless? Why? Why?? Ahhh...” she shouted in frustration.
Taking a deep breath, she calmed herself down. She looked at the pile of clothes and removed the shirt and the yellow dress. She had no time to waste. Saving Kyung-Soo took up much of her time. Quickly she started trying out every dress. Some she liked, some were not to her taste. As per Kyung-Soo’s suggestion, she didn’t even try the purple dress.
She chose a bright pink overcoat, a dark blue bodycon dress and the yellow dress. Placing all the other dresses on her other hand she looked at the blue shirt, Kyung-Soo’s shirt. What will others say if they saw her with a large shirt? Even though it had no magnetic tag, and no one could call her a thief, it would be hard to explain how she stumbled on the shirt and why was she taking it with her.
She had to think fast. First, she hid the shirt under the pink overcoat and came outside. She looked around sheepishly as if she was stealing something from the store. Avoiding looking at anyone she reached the end of the corridor where Man-Shik appeared before her.
“Ma’am,” he greeted.
“What? What?” Nivritti jumped in shock.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you,” Man-Shik looked sceptically at her.
Hearing her voice, Jae-Geun who was patiently waiting for both of them, stood up and approached her. “Finally! Oh, I am never coming with you two. Where is she? Is she not with you?” he complained.
“She is not back yet?” asked Nivritti, shocked. She knew she took so much as Kyung-Soo was inside her room. She could not understand why Jae-Hwa took so much time.
“Oh, she came outside, picked another lot of clothes, and ran in. She didn’t even tell me what she was doing. Are you guys going to loot the store? Why does she need so many clothes? And why are you wasting your money?” the irritation was evident in his voice.
Nivritti just kept looking at him with her eyebrows raised. She pursed and let him finish his thoughts. “Are you done?”
“Yes!”
“Feel better?” she inquired.
“A bit,” he sulked.
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