Chapter 5

At the supermarket downstairs, I was lingering at the underwear section, and it piqued the shopkeeper’s interest. She came over and asked me in an intrigued tone, “For your father?”

“Yes.” I randomly took one and tried to get away from her.

Instead, she held my hand and stopped me. “I think that’s too small. Your dad has a sizable belly, so maybe this will fit better.”

“He… He’s on a diet.” I grabbed the one she forcibly put back onto the shelf. Then, I ran toward the clothing section and picked a sports jersey and a pair of shorts.

At the cashier, the shopkeeper was giving me an odd smile while she scanned the items. “Do you have a boyfriend?”

I was taken aback by her words. I could feel the blood rushing to my face.

“N-No! My cousin came over, so I’m just getting him some spare clothes.”

I paid for the clothes and ran.

When I reached home, my mother instantly took note of my panicked expression. She asked, “Why are you so out of breath? Where did you go?”

“A morning jog.” I ran a few steps in place while I hid the plastic bag behind me. I then sprinted back to my room and locked the door.

I took a few minutes to calm down before I threw the bag at him.

His hands, which were busy playing games, stopped. He threw me a glance and swept his gaze at the bag.

He did not say a word, nor did he move.

Was I too rude?

I hesitated for a few seconds before I took out the clothes, laying them out in front of him one by one. With a low voice, I said, “They only have clothes like this downstairs. Can you make do with them for now?”

“Sure. But don’t you think your request is a little too much?” He hooked his slender finger onto one of the clothes I bought, swept his gaze over it, and sighed dejectedly.

What request? What was too much?

“You’ve already seen everything. Are you asking me to go commando?” He looked at me teasingly.

I was so confused that I was at a loss for words.

That was when my mother knocked on the door again.

Annoyed, I pulled my door open to reveal a small gap.

“What did you buy? The shopkeeper from downstairs said you forgot this.” She then handed me a black plastic bag.

I took the bag and opened it. I then instantly closed it and muttered, “My underwear.”

Once again, I closed the door guiltily.

I must have left it at the shop since I left in a hurry.

At that moment, I felt my life coming to an end. Nothing could save me from all this embarrassment.

I turned my back to him as I waited for him to get dressed. After that, I squatted before him and earnestly tried to explain myself.

“This is a complete misunderstanding,” I said.

“Ok.” He was still playing games, and he seemed as though he was saying to me, ‘sure… sure… keep lying.’

“When we go out later, can you cooperate with me?” I softened my tone of voice.

It was a weekend, and my parents would most likely be home all day. The idea to make him disappear into thin air was impossible.

He did not answer.

Looking at how he was acting right now, I felt a pang of regret about what happened last night.

When his game finally ended, his hands stopped moving and he looked straight at me in the eyes. He asked with a low voice, “Did I not cooperate with you last night?”

He stretched out his arm and poked me on my forehead. He deliberately dragged out his tone of voice as he added, “Madam, one shouldn’t be too greedy.”

Madam? He called me ‘Sister’ last night and now I became a ‘Madam’?

*sshole.

I sat on the ground. ‘Is he threatening me?’

“What do you want?”

“What do you think I want?” He asked me instead.

Great. He was negotiating with me just because he has some good looks.

I glanced at my dresser and saw the birthday present from my mother. I took it and handed it to him. “This bag is brand new. Give it to your girlfriend. Will that do?”

I was pretty sure an escort would cost less, and I felt my heart break giving it away.

He threw me a glance and stood up. Looking down at me, he said, “Sure. I’ll leave it with you first.”

After saying that, he walked straight out the door.

He…

My mind went blank.