Mudoo - Chapter 18

The place Tae-shin brought her to was a huge shopping mall that allowed pets. It hadn’t been open long, so the place was packed wall to wall with people.

“I could’ve come by myself, you know. You didn’t have to come with me,” Seula mumbled. But she was clinging to Tae-shin’s arm like a cicada stuck to an old tree, one hand tight around Dong-gil’s leash.

“For someone saying that, you’re leaning on me pretty hard,” Tae-shin said.

“Feels nice to hold on to, that’s all.”

It was true — his broad frame and sturdy arm were a lot more reassuring than she wanted to admit. Just knowing she had something solid to grab onto was comforting in a crowd like this.

There were so many people that spirits practically tripped over each other — but most were already slinking away at the feel of Tae-shin’s presence. Aside from that, it looked like any normal day. Parents pushing strollers with little kids clutching their hands, couples walking by arm in arm, groups of friends laughing so loud they turned heads — the whole place was full of life and noise, and even Seula’s steps grew lighter as she walked among them.

“But… people keep staring at us,” she whispered to Tae-shin, glancing around at the lingering eyes. She looked herself up and down to see if her outfit was weird, but found nothing out of place.

“You really don’t get it?” Tae-shin asked, sounding like she was the strange one. He leaned down and murmured in her ear,

“It’s because they’ve never seen someone this handsome before.”

…What was he even talking about?

But now that she looked properly, she realized all the glances really were going his way. Was he really that good-looking? She turned her head to get a proper look at him — and for a second, her breath caught in her throat.

His long, slightly curved eyes, that easy, half-smile playing at his lips — it all seemed to blur out everything else around him. She’d gotten so used to seeing him up close that she’d forgotten how striking he was. Out here, he practically glowed. The broad shoulders under his long coat, the long legs — Seula didn’t want to admit it, but there was no denying it now.

“…I wanna go in here! Right here!”

Just then, Dong-gil, who’d been sniffing around, sat down stubbornly in front of a restaurant and barked.

Trust his nose — it was a place that even had drinks and meals for pets.

“Seula, you hungry?” Tae-shin asked. Neither of them had eaten breakfast, so all three headed inside.

“Are large dogs allowed?”

“Of course! Right this way, please,” the staff answered cheerfully and led them to a window seat. Dong-gil hopped up beside Seula and sat his big butt down like he owned the place.

When the staff set down a special dog menu, Dong-gil wasted no time — he smacked his paw right down on a couple of pictures.

“I want this, and this! And this too!”

Beef steak and pumpkin purée — nothing less for him.

Tae-shin gave him a look and said,

“Pick one.”

“One portion’s not even a snack for me!” Dong-gil huffed.

“He’s right. Just let him have both. He’s huge and probably doesn’t get treats like this every day,” Seula said.

“What about you, Seula? What do you want?” Tae-shin asked, his voice gentle. Seula hesitated, torn between the salmon eggs benedict and the octopus oil pasta.

“What about you?” she asked back.

“I’ll have whatever you choose for me.”

That made it easy. When the waiter came over, she ordered Dong-gil’s picks and both dishes she’d been eyeing for herself and Tae-shin.

While waiting, Tae-shin took a sip of his americano and glanced around at the other tables where dogs and owners sat together.

“Times have changed. Dogs have it better than most people now.”

“Dogs have their own struggles too, you know! We do, we do,” Dong-gil snapped right back, sounding for all the world like a grumpy old man.

Seula set down her cup and turned to Tae-shin.

“Come to think of it, I still don’t know how old you are. How old are you?”

“Hundred.”

“Don’t joke. It’s not even funny.”

“I’m serious — that’s me rounding it down. Real number’s… about five hundred?”

What was he even saying now? Seula just stared at him, speechless, but his face was as serious as stone.

“…You’re not kidding?”

“It’s been so long, I lost count.”

“….”

She turned to Dong-gil for backup, hoping for at least a laugh — but even he stiffened up and looked away.

A nervous smile twitched at her lips. Her cheeks spasmed a little.

“What’s wrong with you two… Seriously…”

Right then, the waiter appeared with their food, saving her from having to process it any longer.

Tae-shin picked up his fork and knife, cutting into the poached egg on the eggs benedict. The golden yolk spilled out beautifully. Then he looked up and asked,

“How old do I look to you?”

“Twenty-nine? Maybe thirty-three at the oldest?”

“Then let’s split the difference and call it thirty-one.”

“Who picks an age by splitting the difference…?”

Tae-shin just smiled, took a bit of food, and set it neatly onto Seula’s plate.

“Should I not mention I also have a Korean War veteran medal somewhere?”

“…Please stop. You’re making this really awkward.”

Meanwhile, Dong-gil had already licked his pumpkin purée bowl clean and buried his nose in the plate with the beef steak.

***

Seula had never even gone near a luxury store before. She’d always lived on a modest salary, spending modestly. But thanks to Tae-shin, she found herself stepping into a high-end boutique for the first time in her life, completely bewildered.

“I’ll get you something as a little work-well-done gift. Don’t worry about the price — pick whatever you like.”

“Congrats on getting employed gift! Congrats on getting employed gift!” Dong-gil barked happily, strutting ahead with his tail wagging.

“Feels more like a consolation prize for surviving my first possession…”

“However you see it is up to you. I’m giving it because I want to, so I’d like you to accept it without overthinking it.”

“I’m shameless enough to pick the most expensive thing here, you know.”

“Then no consolation gift for your second possession, got it.”

Seula pouted at his deadpan tone. Tae-shin laughed softly and added,

“I’m kidding.”

Inside the store, there was even a section for dog clothes and accessories. Dong-gil happily trotted off toward it, saying he’d check it out himself.

“Is there something you’re looking for?” a staff member asked politely.

“We’ll just have a look around for now,” Tae-shin answered smoothly before Seula could get flustered.

“Of course — please let me know if you need anything.”

Seula’s eyes were instantly drawn to the handbags lined up neatly in a display case. She’d only ever seen bags like these in airport photos of celebrities or K-pop idols. Seeing them this close felt unreal.

While Seula was gawking around like a tourist, Tae-shin was perfectly at ease, as if he came here every other day.

“You come to places like this a lot?” Seula asked.

“Well, I am over five hundred years old, after all.”

“Pretty sure they didn’t have malls five hundred years ago.”

“True. But when Korea started modernizing, I’d already checked out all the old department stores — from Hwaseong to Mido.”

She’d meant it as a joke, but the more he went on, the more he really did sound like someone who’d been around for centuries. She shut her mouth before she asked anything else.

“See anything you like?” Tae-shin asked, stepping closer.

“Honestly, I have no idea. It’s my first time in a place like this, and I can’t even tell what’s nice or not. I guess it’s true — you only know how to spend money if you’ve done it before.”

She let out an awkward laugh. Tae-shin called over the staff who’d been waiting a few steps away and quietly said something to them. The staff nodded, disappeared behind a narrow door between the displays, then came out wearing gloves and holding a bag.

“You’re lucky, ma’am — the black just came in. Would you like to try it?”

Seula didn’t even know what it was exactly, but just one look told her it was fancy. Classic, elegant, unmistakably expensive. She took the bag almost in a daze.

“There’s a mirror over here.”

She turned to face the mirrored wall — and the second she saw her reflection, she froze. Her mouth fell open and wouldn’t close.

“Isn’t it gorgeous?” the staff asked brightly.

But in the mirror, it wasn’t just her standing there.

There was another woman reflected behind her — layered in jewelry, designer clothes, shoes, a bag, all from the same brand — wearing them all at once, grinning in satisfaction.

A ghost, obviously. But the staff seemed totally unaware.

Just then, a big, warm hand covered Seula’s eyes.

“Should we leave if you’re scared?” Tae-shin whispered behind her, just loud enough for her to hear.

“You don’t have to push yourself too hard.”

Seula stood trembling like a leaf. She took a long, steadying breath.