****
Suits or jackets.
To frequent places like this in the future, I needed polished attire.
It had to be something I could wear anywhere.
It needed to be suitably high-end yet casually wearable.
And, most importantly,
‘Not too feminine…’
One might wonder what I meant, given my female appearance, but I was a man.
More precisely, I had been a man.
Therefore, if I were suddenly told to wear flowy, feminine clothes, it would inevitably feel awkward, regardless of my current outward appearance.
Moreover, if I were to wear a skirt and accidentally spread my legs, it would cause an uproar.
‘Absolutely not.’
I certainly didn’t want a nickname like ‘XX-dong Spreader’ (TL Note: A derogatory Korean slang term referring to a woman who spreads her legs in public, often associated with a lack of decorum or promiscuity.) to stick.
Having pondered these various thoughts, I eventually arrived at a department store.
Since a department store and an outlet mall were conveniently located nearby, there was no need to travel far.
It was within walking distance, so I enjoyed the cool morning breeze as I made my pleasant entrance.
‘It’s quiet.’
It was a weekday morning, a time when quietness was to be expected.
Perhaps I could browse at my leisure.
‘It has been a while since I last visited a department store. How many years has it been?’
I recalled coming to this very department store when I was diligently preparing for job interviews.
The memory of my hands trembling as I purchased a suit on an eight-month installment plan for a company interview still lingered vividly.
If asked why I had bought such an expensive suit, it was because I had once worn a cheap suit to an interview and received a slightly mocking smile.
I could still picture the interviewer’s sneer as they looked at me.
That day, I was barely asked any questions, and as expected, I failed the interview.
People often say that others are less interested in us than we imagine.
While true, this certainly didn’t apply to the job market.
It was astonishing how much interest they seemed to take in others.
‘They say academic background is everything, but I’m not so sure about that.’
If academic background were truly everything, wouldn’t Seoul National University boast a 100% employment rate? Of course, it might offer an advantage over graduates from other universities.
Ah, I don’t know.
Such complex matters no longer concerned me in the slightest.
I should stop these useless thoughts and simply enjoy myself.
After all, that was why I had come.
“Oh…”
Dismissing my complicated thoughts, I confidently stepped onto the first floor of the department store.
‘Is this a restaurant floor?’
An overwhelming number of restaurants and dessert shops sprawled before me.
Had it always felt this way? It truly struck me how long it had been since my last visit.
Having eaten too much breakfast earlier, the food itself didn’t particularly catch my eye, but a cafe visible in the distance immediately seized my attention.
It was a cafe resplendently decorated in gold, orange, and red hues.
In truth, it felt less like a cafe and more like a palace.
‘What kind of place is this?’
Driven by curiosity, I slowly approached it.
As I drew nearer, the subtle, fragrant aroma of coffee wafted toward me, making my heart flutter slightly.
‘They sell a lot of things…’
Upon closer inspection, I saw that they sold not only coffee and beans but also cups, saucers, and even sugar bowls.
Was it a specialty coffee shop?
A quick search online revealed it was a luxury coffee establishment from Singapore.
‘What? 16,000 won for one cup?’
Then, while browsing reviews, I encountered a shocking price.
How could a cup of brewed coffee cost as much as an entire old-fashioned fried chicken?
I couldn’t resist.
“I can’t not try it.”
What could a 16,000 won cup of coffee possibly taste like?
Filled with great anticipation, I scurried into the shop.
****
“Hmm…”
To be perfectly honest, it was less impressive than I had anticipated.
Perhaps my expectations had simply been too high?
Still, among all the coffees I had ever tasted, this was the first to possess such a potent aroma and sharp, distinct flavor.
The bitterness, which seemed to declare, ‘This is coffee,’ was more pronounced than any sweetness, yet it was far from unpleasant.
It tasted good.
But was it worth this price?
Ah, the cup and saucer that accompanied it were indeed luxurious, and they even provided a straw that looked like some kind of collectible merchandise.
Considering the vanilla cream served alongside the coffee, perhaps the price was justifiable after all.
‘Considering the accompaniments, it might be a reasonable price.’
As I continued to enjoy the delicious vanilla cream, a sense of satisfaction gradually began to settle in.
‘Paying an extra 5,000 won for dining in compared to takeout is a bit much, though.’
Drinking in the cafe was about 5,000 won more expensive than taking it to go.
I wasn’t sure of the exact reason, but I suspected it was for the seating.
‘Well, at least there’s the enjoyment of looking around.’
As I gazed at the dazzling, almost painfully bright interior of the shop, I felt a slight surge of feeling like an immensely wealthy magnate.
While it was true that I was an immense magnate, the sensation of actually experiencing it still felt somewhat subtle.
Smiling faintly to myself, I quickly finished the remaining coffee in my cup.
‘The aftertaste is definitely different.’
Then, rising from my seat, I carried the lingering scent of coffee that enveloped me as I exited the shop.
‘Where should I buy a suit?’
Having no specific plan of where to shop, I looked around.
The first floor was entirely restaurants, so there wouldn’t be any suits here.
Unsure of where to go, I glanced around before approaching an employee at the information desk.
“Excuse me… I’m looking to buy a suit. Could you tell me where to go?”
The female employee listened to my question with a bright smile.
She then pulled out a small pamphlet from the desk and showed me the overall map.
“You are currently here, customer. For women’s apparel stores, please go to the third floor, proceed straight in this direction, and then enter the other building through this garden.”
This department store was ridiculously vast.
It felt like three large buildings had been merged into one.
“Thank you.”
Following her kind directions, I walked diligently and arrived at the location the employee had described.
Indeed, it was all women’s clothing.
Familiar brands abounded.
However, the fact that all the clothes inside were women’s wear was unfamiliar to me.
‘A place that sells suits…’
After walking for about twenty minutes, I discovered a problem.
‘It’s all low-end brands.’
The stores in this vicinity were not the high-end brands typically called “luxury goods,” but rather common, ordinary brands found everywhere.
Alternatively, it was a place filled with inexpensive, budget-friendly brands.
I certainly wasn’t looking down on these brands.
After all, during my time as Choi Min-hoo, I had always bought my clothes from places like these.
The reason I considered this a problem now wasn’t about whether they were low-end or not.
‘If I were going to buy clothes here, I would have just bought them nearby.’
There was no reason to come all the way to a department store if I was going to buy from a common brand.
‘Are there no other women’s apparel stores besides these? That can’t be right.’
After a moment’s thought, I spotted a touch-screen map affixed to a large pillar nearby.
I vaguely searched for a luxury brand that came to mind.
A spinning circle appeared on the screen, then vanished.
‘It’s in the next building.’
The luxury stores were in a different building, not this one.
I had mentioned looking for a suit, so why had they directed me here?
There were suit stores here, but…
‘These are too casual.’
The suits had casual designs, suitable for students.
They looked like clothes that would perfectly suit high schoolers or college freshmen.
As I considered this, a thought struck me.
‘…I am one of those kids.’
My reflection in the mirror suddenly came into mind.
‘It’s understandable they’d mistake me for a student.’
And my current attire certainly didn’t help.
It had been a bit of a roundabout journey, but at least I had found my way.
****
Men generally aren’t that interested in luxury brands.
Is that too much of a generalization? Let me rephrase.
I hadn’t been particularly interested in luxury brands.
Consequently, I had always assumed that famous brands exclusively produced bags or wallets.
So, I had specifically sought out a place that sold only women’s suits, but upon arrival, I discovered that even these renowned brands offered suits.
‘I hadn’t known that…’
Beyond suits, there were also many coats and jackets.
What appealed to me was that these clothes didn’t stand out as overtly feminine.
Spotting a jacket that looked like it could be worn as a semi-formal piece, I immediately entered the store.
The staff looked at me with a hint of curiosity.
After a brief moment, an employee approached me, greeting me adeptly.
“Welcome. Are you looking for anything specific?”
Could it be that luxury stores assigned a dedicated attendant for selecting items?
Feeling a little uncomfortable, I nodded and replied, “Yes… I came in after seeing the clothes displayed out front…”
“May I inquire about your size?”
“Um… probably around an L.”
An M wouldn’t fit because of my chest.
I had vaguely seen online that a D-cup might feel tight in an M size.
In truth, I didn’t know for sure, as I hadn’t properly measured myself.
My underwear was also bought based on a temporary self-measurement, and the clothes I was currently wearing were simply purchased after a rough length estimate.
‘Nothing is certain.’
Perhaps it was natural, given that this was my first time buying clothes.
It would be a good idea to get proper measurements while I was buying several outfits.
“Please wait a moment.”
As I responded with that thought, the employee said so and disappeared somewhere.
I was left standing alone in the store.
Feeling a bit awkward standing by myself, I slowly looked around the interior.
‘It’s fascinating.’
The overall ambiance of the store was antique and refined.
A rich, heavy scent tickled my nose, which was quite pleasant.
Each of the employees was impeccably neat and clean, practically gleaming without a single blemish.
It felt as if I now understood what it meant for a person to ‘shine.’
“Customer, is this the item you were looking for?”
While I was briefly admiring the store, the employee returned with a packaged jacket.
It was a navy jacket.
Some might call it a blazer, but in any case, it looked suitable as outerwear.
Although it was still summer, autumn was approaching, and the mornings and evenings were a little chilly, so buying one seemed like a good idea.
Most importantly, I liked that it wasn’t too flashy.
“Yes, this is it.”
“Would you like to try it on for size?”
“Oh… yes.”
“Then, I will guide you to the fitting room.”
Following the employee, I entered a fitting room located a little further inside.
Unlike other fitting rooms I had seen, this one had luxurious curtains, and the interior was quite spacious.
“If you need any assistance, please press the bell here.”
The employee, both polite and somewhat stiff, drew the curtains.
Inside, I carefully took off my tracksuit.
As I removed the black tracksuit, the cheap white T-shirt I was wearing underneath came into view.
It felt out of place here, and I smiled a little sheepishly.
Then, I carefully put on the jacket that had been hung nearby.
As I put it on, I noticed the tag: ₩2,280,000.
I was so startled that I almost dropped the jacket.
‘What kind of price is this?’
It was an amount that exceeded the cost of a one-night stay at a hotel.
Regardless of my 500 billion won assets, such a price for a single piece of clothing felt rather unfamiliar.
Even for a luxury item, it was just a jacket without any particular distinguishing features.
Though the material might be different, and a craftsman might have stitched it stitch by stitch, all I saw was the price.
After a moment’s hesitation, I dismissed the thought.
‘After spending so much at the hotel, what’s the big deal?’
Thinking that living like a chaebol was proving more challenging than expected, I carefully tried on the jacket.
A cheap T-shirt. And over it, the jacket.
‘…It does suit me well.’
Looking in the mirror with the jacket on, it definitely made a difference.
The 8,000 won T-shirt now looked like a 50,000 won T-shirt, thanks to the jacket.
Looking only at the top half, excluding the bottom, I almost looked like the youngest daughter of a chaebol family.
‘This isn’t a dream, like in a drama, is it?’
With such idle thoughts, I turned my body this way and that, examining my reflection.
It was undeniably different.
The feeling was distinct from simply wearing a tracksuit.
This made it a little more interesting.
‘Should I try on something else?’
