186 - I Unknowingly Rejected My Favorite

EP.186 #186. The Dignity of a Global Star I've been to department stores before, but I've never wandered into a place like this. "Do... Doa..." "Yes?" "Isn't... isn't everything here a bit too expensive?" My face was faintly reflected on the luxurious marble surface. A single bag took up an absurd amount of display space. I liked the idea of matching couple rings, but I hoped the meaning would be more important than an excessive price. Doa, who was holding my hand, looked up at me. "Oppa." "Yeah?" "Aren't you going to be working with a lot of singers in the future?" "Uh... Probably." "Then, we definitely need to buy it here." Leaving me with these perplexing words, Doa turned towards the salesperson. "Excuse me." "Yes, ma'am." "Please show me this one." As Doa pointed to a pair of rings with her index finger, the employee retrieved them and presented them to us. The brand's signature design was elegantly engraved on the silver band. "Oppa, how about this?" Doa asked as she slid one of the rings onto her finger. "…It's pretty." Regardless of the price, it boasted an overwhelming visual appeal. No, at this price, it should be expected to look this impressive. "Then how about this one?" "I think the one you have now is better than that one." I figured a very fancy design might not suit a man well. "Really? Then we'll go with this one." "Doa, but it's better to take a little more time to choose..." It's not just pocket change! This wasn't something you picked like choosing stickers at a stationery store. "Why? You don't like it?" Doa blinked her round eyes. "No, it's not that." Casting a glance at the staff, I leaned down to whisper into her ear. "It's fine not to overdo it. This feels too expensive." Doa chuckled at my words, ignoring them as she handed her card to the staff. "Please charge it to this card." The salesperson nodded, saying they would prepare it right away, while I, despite it not being my money, shook with nervousness. Soon, a dark navy bag was placed in her hands. Doa immediately requested for the packaging to be removed, eager to wear the ring. "Ah... I love it." Doa clasped her hand with the ring in mine. I found it overwhelming, yet I didn’t want to ruin Doa's happy expression. "Thank you." I wished I could quickly earn enough to get her something nice too. Still in the learning phase, I couldn't dream of giving such lavish gifts just yet. "If you're truly thankful, oppa." She gave me a warm smile. "Make sure to always wear this when you're out." "It's so expensive, I'm scared of losing it." "Then just don't take it off at all." "Alright." Since she got me a ring, what should I return the favor with? A bracelet? Or maybe matching outfits? Something like that? "This is like a high-quality charm saying you’re mine, oppa." "A charm?" "Yeah. A charm to keep away strange girls from you." "Come on, you should have more faith in me. You don't trust me at all?" Wrapping my arm around her waist playfully, Doa wagged her finger at me. "It's not that I don’t trust you, oppa." "Then?" "I don't trust those other girls swarming around you." "Then you could have just gotten me something cheap. Why something so precious?" With her cheeks puffed up, Doa indicated that my words were thoughtless as she rebuked me. "No way! What if a popular idol comes along and says, ‘Wow, you're so handsome, our handsome Lucario oppa!’ and tries to replace the cheap ring with a better one and asks to hang out together?" Ah, so that's the scenario in your head. The corners of my mouth refused to come down from the cute fantasy she conjured. "Is that why you got me something this expensive?" "Yes! That’s why I did it!" "But what if someone offers something even more expensive?" Perhaps not having considered this, Doa’s eyes traveled around the ceiling briefly. "Then I'll get you something even pricier." "What if that person is the daughter of the world's richest individual?" - Thud Doa thwacked my head with the bag she was holding. "Stop going to extremes. Han Taemin, okay? Stick to the point. Want to be banned?" "I'm sorry." "Even imagining if the daughter of the richest person comes by... Well, I don't even know why she'd come to your office, but let's assume." "Then what would you do, oppa, if she said, ‘Oh, I love the girl who gives better rings?’ and left me?" Why would I do that? I embraced her tightly instead of answering. “I can’t imagine being without Lucca.” "It would have been better if you said Doa." Despite her words, Doa hugged me back. "Let’s eat." Though we were somewhat out of the way, continuing public displays of affection in a department store felt inappropriate. "Oppa’s treat! Order the most expensive thing you want!" Doing this didn't necessarily restore my pride, but it felt like the least I could do. "Okay! But I'm not holding back!" No matter how boldly she talked, Doa never ate much anyway. She couldn’t even finish half a chicken on her own. We headed to a shabu-shabu place on the top floor. The price was steep for shabu-shabu, but compared to Doa’s spending, it was just a piece of paper. "Mm~ Yum~" With her mouth stuffed full, Doa chewed blissfully, clearly enjoying it. "It's delicious, especially since it's been a while." "Yeah, how come there aren’t any shabu-shabu places near where we live?" "College students don’t eat much anyway when it’s this pricey." "That seems about right too." "But did you pay for the rings in installments?" Curious, I finally asked, and Doa shook her head side to side. “Nope. Paid in full.” “…Are you okay with that?” Her eyes were half-lidded as she stared intently at me, offering no reply before she handed me her phone screen to see. It was her banking app. And there were more zeros than seemed reasonable. Wait a minute. Is this... a glitch? I had never specifically imagined how much money Doa might have, but the screen she showed me far surpassed my expectations. “Ah! That’s enough! Stop looking!” As I was counting the digits again to be sure, she quickly snatched her phone away from me. "Hey, Doa." "That's why! Stop worrying now!" Her face flushed a light shade of pink as she interrupted me with a raised voice. "Don’t even think of it as a debt. Just wear it beautifully." "...Okay." I thought her global renown was just about her recognition. But her income was on a global scale, too. As all sorts of thoughts floated like clouds through my mind, one question lingered. “But... with all that money, why haven’t you moved?” Was there really a need to keep living in such a cramped one-room apartment? Her place had become noticeably smaller with the fan gifts pouring in from the YM side. There was barely room to step, and I’d helped take some stuff to her studio. "...Because then I'd have to live far from you." “Huh?” “If I move, you won’t be able to come over all the time anymore.” “No, if it’s near school, I can still come over. Why wouldn’t I?” “Ah, no. I like being next door. Let me stay.” I wasn’t sure how much that aspect motivated her decision, but if it mattered to her, I couldn’t argue against it. "...Then, what if I save up money and suggest moving together?" "...What?" “I mean, once I start working in earnest and some money comes in... if I save enough... would you consider moving together?” Doa’s face turned as red as a beet. Why is she reacting like that? “Are you... really okay with that?" “Yeah. Why not? Besides, if I ever want to bring home some equipment, just one piece would be a huge burden in our current space.” Some producers already have a basic setup at home to work from there. But in my current situation, my activities at home were extremely limited. I couldn’t even fit in my main tool, the keyboard. If I put that in, we wouldn't be able to eat. "If... if that's what you want, then I... I think it's okay." "Sigh. How many months will I have to work for that? It's not really about the time—if I write just one hit song, that would change everything." My teacher always mentioned it. One hit song is better than ten mediocre ones. So aim for a big hit each time. I thought it was sound advice. “I could lend you the money...” “No, there's no need to lend me money. Even between couples, that doesn't seem right.” “I could cover the deposit, and we could just split the rent?” “Why would you cover my deposit?” “Hmm? What?” Doa looked puzzled. She tilted her head slightly. “Weren’t you suggesting that we... live together?” ...I didn’t mean that.