The mall rose like a cathedral built for fabric and fragile egos.
Glass walls. Polished floors shining like they had personal ambitions. Chandeliers dripping light as if illumination itself were on commission.
The doors sighed open.
Cool air wrapped around them instantly, perfumed and precise.
A staff member approached with a warm, practiced smile that could probably calm stock markets.
"Good afternoon," she greeted. Her eyes scanned them once, then sharpened slightly. "Are you here under the name Kim Ha-Joon?"
Do-Hyun nodded.
The staff's smile widened by a polite millimeter. "Of course."
She glanced at Ji-Ah.
There was a brief pause.
Nisa stepped in smoothly, voice soft but steady. "She's with us."
The staff nodded immediately. "Understood."
No more questions.
Just silent recognition.
They were guided deeper inside, racks parting like velvet curtains.
"Please feel free to explore," the staff said. "We'll assist as needed."
And just like that, chaos began.
Do-Hyun & Nisa
They stopped in front of a section that practically screamed refined elegance.
Do-Hyun picked up a charcoal suit.
Nisa lifted a deep emerald dress.
They looked at each other.
"Matching?" he asked.
"That's not matching," she laughed. "That's coordinating."
He tilted the hanger toward her. "You'd stand out."
"You'd look serious," she replied.
"I am serious."
"You're not."
He leaned closer. "I proposed."
She blushed immediately.
A nearby mirror caught the moment.
He tried on the jacket.
She stepped back to evaluate him with dramatic scrutiny.
"Turn," she ordered.
He obeyed.
Min-Hyuk gasped loudly from across the aisle. "Are we watching a fashion show?"
"Mind your business," Do-Hyun replied.
Nisa adjusted his collar gently.
"That one," she decided.
"And you?" he asked.
She lifted the emerald dress again.
He didn't hesitate. "That one."
They both smiled.
Matching without matching.
Balanced.
Soft.
Ridiculously in sync.
Min-Hyuk & Seo-Yeon
On the other side, Min-Hyuk had already selected three suits like he was preparing for a global summit.
"Which says stable but mysterious?" he asked.
"None of them," Seo-Yeon replied calmly.
He clutched his chest. "Wounded."
She picked up a navy suit instead. Clean. Sharp.
"Try this."
He eyed it suspiciously. "Navy is predictable."
"You are predictable."
He tried it on anyway.
When he stepped out, even he paused.
Seo-Yeon folded her arms, pretending neutrality.
"It fits," she said.
"That's it?" he demanded. "No dramatic reaction?"
She reached out and adjusted his sleeve.
"There," she murmured. "Now it's perfect."
He froze slightly at the softness.
Then grinned. "So we're matching?"
She raised an eyebrow.
He held up a silver tie. "This matches your dress."
She looked down at the sleek silver-gray dress she had picked without announcing it.
Silence.
"…Fine," she conceded.
Victory.
He looked entirely too pleased.
Ji-Ah
Meanwhile.
Ji-Ah stood alone in front of an entire wall of suits.
For him.
She exhaled slowly.
Closed her eyes.
Tried to picture him.
The way he stood. Slightly relaxed but always composed.
Broad shoulders. Clean lines. Minimal but sharp.
He didn't need loud colors.
He needed presence.
She opened her eyes and ran her fingers across fabrics.
Black felt too obvious.
Gray felt too cold.
Then—
Deep midnight blue.
Not flashy.
But powerful when light touched it.
She lifted it carefully.
"Yes," she murmured.
She could already see it.
The way it would frame him.
The way he'd pretend not to care.
The way everyone else would notice.
Then she turned to her side of the racks.
What matched midnight without screaming about it?
She moved slowly this time.
Less teasing.
More intentional.
A soft champagne-toned dress caught her eye. Elegant. Flowing. Structured at the waist but effortless everywhere else.
She held it up against herself.
Imagined standing beside him.
Balanced.
Not overpowering.
Not fading.
Complementing.
She smiled faintly.
"Annoying," she muttered under her breath. "Why do I care this much?"
Because he trusted her.
That was why.
Across the store, the others were laughing. Arguing about ties. Debating shoes like national policy.
But Ji-Ah stood quietly for one more second.
Midnight blue in one hand.
Champagne in the other.
Four hours suddenly didn't feel long at all.
And somewhere back at the studio, Ha-Joon was working.
Unaware that the suit she chose would make him look exactly like the man she remembered.
Only sharper.
The reception desk gleamed like it had a degree in intimidation.
Marble surface. Gold trim. A chandelier hanging above it like judgment.
Garment bags were laid out one by one, carefully folded, tagged, approved by mirrors and group debates.
The staff member smiled again. "Will that be everything?"
Min-Hyuk glanced at the growing total on the screen and inhaled slowly. "Define everything."
"Don't look at me," Do-Hyun said calmly. "This was your idea."
"It was not my idea to buy two ties."
"It was strategic."
Nisa stood beside them, clutching her garment bag like it contained national treasure.
"Okay," she said suddenly. "Important rule."
Everyone looked at her.
"When we go home," she continued, eyes bright, "we have to show the dresses and suits to Ha-Joon."
Ji-Ah blinked. "Why?"
Nisa gasped softly. "Because he trusted you."
She pointed at Ji-Ah accusingly.
"And I need to see his face when he sees what you picked."
Min-Hyuk snapped his fingers. "Yes. Mandatory reveal."
Seo-Yeon adjusted her bag on her shoulder. "You're all dramatic."
"You're participating," Min-Hyuk said.
She didn't deny it.
Do-Hyun leaned casually against the counter. "He's going to pretend he doesn't care."
"Exactly," Nisa said. "Which makes it better."
Ji-Ah tried to sound uninterested. "It's just a suit."
All four of them turned to look at her.
Simultaneously.
Min-Hyuk narrowed his eyes. "You spent twenty minutes staring at fabric like you were solving a murder case."
Seo-Yeon added calmly, "You closed your eyes."
Nisa clasped her hands. "You visualized him."
Ji-Ah froze.
"…You all need hobbies."
The staff member politely looked away, pretending she was not absolutely entertained.
Do-Hyun chuckled. "Come on. You know he's going to look good."
"He always looks fine," Ji-Ah muttered.
Min-Hyuk leaned closer. "Fine?"
She glared at him. "Shut up."
Nisa bounced slightly on her heels. "No but really. When we get home, we should all try everything on. Like a pre-preview."
Seo-Yeon tilted her head. "You want a fashion show?"
"Yes."
Min-Hyuk pointed at her. "You're excited."
"I am," Nisa admitted, smiling wide. "His mom and sister are coming. We can't just show up casually."
Do-Hyun nodded thoughtfully. "She's right."
Ji-Ah sighed, accepting defeat. "Fine. We'll show him."
Min-Hyuk grinned. "And if he compliments you?"
"He won't."
"And if he does?"
She adjusted her bag with unnecessary precision. "Then I'll assume he has a fever."
Laughter rippled across the marble floors.
The payment went through. Receipts printed like official declarations of elegance.
Garment bags were handed over carefully.
As they walked toward the exit, sunlight spilling through the glass doors, Nisa leaned closer to Ji-Ah.
"You picked midnight blue, didn't you?"
Ji-Ah paused.
"…Maybe."
Nisa's smile widened knowingly.
"He's going to look unreal."
Ji-Ah didn't answer.
But the faintest curve touched her lips.
Behind them, Min-Hyuk whispered loudly to Do-Hyun, "Place your bets. He compliments her first or the suit first?"
Do-Hyun smirked. "Suit. Then her. Indirectly."
Seo-Yeon walked past them both. "You're all children."
The doors opened again.
Warm air greeted them.
Four hours well spent.
And somewhere waiting at home was Ha-Joon, unaware that he was about to become the main event of his own runway.