the grand bazaar

"i think at this point, you're just going to be following me all day."

he snickers. "you were the one who chose to follow me at the underground city. held on to my arm, even."

"because i mustn't lose you again back then."

"yeah, and i mustn't lose you now."

i sneer. "what is that you want, doyoung-ssi?"

"we're at the grand bazaar, and i'm gonna be needing your help." he says as he drags me along with me. "teach me the art of bribery."

"bribing?"

"hmm-mmm."

"play hard to get. and don't look stupid."

"do they accept aegyo—"

"no, for the love of god, don't. you wanna be hit by a wooden stick?"

our first attempt was to head over an old ceramic store, with a kind old man as its owner. as we were about to head to the cashier, doyoung refuses, saying that 'he feels extremely bad asking for a price cut from someone so warm and welcoming'.

the second store sells a bunch of blue eye glass beads, very popular as gift souvenirs.

"you're only buying two?" i ask, looking at the latter in surprise. usually people buy a dozen while they're here.

"yeah, one for the both of us." he says as he chooses the one that he likes (out of all the beads, they all just look identical). "it's a nazar boncuğu, an amulet to stray off evil spirits, and i do not want this to fall to the wrong people. buying this requires commitment! you out of all people should know that!"

i sigh at his overreactions. "you know, some people buy these for their dogs."

we didn't get to bribe because the woman simply said 'our purchases were too modest'. it was a way to encourage us to buy more, but doyoung refused, saying that he has no interest of buying any more demon-slayers and would rather use the money for food.

speaking of food, we ended up stopping at a local kebab shop that has gone on for a few generations down. doyoung engaged the cook into a wild, spontaneous interview.

"so this.. you like eating this?" he asks.

"yes! yes, my favorite food. this. i love it."

"favorite food.. is it that good?"

"my grandmom, genius... she make. i love it. i make good, but she better."

"do you eat this on your spare time?"

"eat.. not too many. lamb, meat, expensive."

"really?" he takes his wallet again. "i'll buy three, then. you'll take one."

"no! no, sir, it's okay."

"just take one~ you deserve it. you better have lunch during winter."

"alhamdulillah! ma'am, tell this man that i love him and i would like to marry him off to my daughter!" she says to me wholeheartedly. i laugh.

"what did she say?" he asks as we went over to munch our lunch.

"she said that you're handsome and husband-worthy."

"hmm, would you agree?"

i laugh. "no. you have awful bribery skills."

"does 'bribery skills' include to your criteria of husband-worthy?"

"i like clever people so kind of, yeah."

"then i must work harder."

"you ended up losing more money than getting some profit," i sigh. "but what you did for the woman.. i appreciate it."

"money can buy happiness, you know." he says lightly. "i might not be able to buy mine, but at least i could buy others simple packages of joy— that's enough to paint yourself a smile on your face, don't you think?"

i nod. "you really are something else, kim doyoung-ssi."

for he doesn't just experience the world for what it is, he appreciates it.