Hwayeong smoothed her clothes and looked at him.
“Did you actually have business with me?”
“....”
“No? Then I’m going.”
She made to leave again, clearly not planning to stick around, but this time, Sinyeong hesitated, then let his hands fall from behind his back.
In his right hand, he held a small white cotton pouch, which he awkwardly held out toward her.
“...Here.”
He looked away like nothing was happening. Hwayeong glanced from the pouch to his face, blinking.
“What’s this?”
“I didn’t mean to buy it... but you’re the only person it might suit.”
His voice trailed off as he cleared his throat, clearly flustered. ‘It’s not like I bought it for you,’ his whole posture screamed.
That was when Hwayeong remembered what she’d seen at the market the day before.
“Oh—the beetle hairpin?”
“Yes.”
“Well, I don’t need it....”
She started to push it back. “I don’t even wear stuff like that.”
Sinyeong stared at her like she’d just kicked a puppy.
