'The mall. What errands do we have to run here?'
She'd sensibly changed into skinny jeans and a light sweater with her hair slicked into a high ponytail.

'We need clothes for the colder part of the year since our stay got extended. Come on.'

She jumped out.
'You should have told me we were going shopping.'

'I didn't want to spoil the surprise. And I see you cleaned your make up, good.'

I was able to recognize a few brands and some others I assumed must be only national.
I saw Keziah's eye a small pink and brown bag in the display glass longingly.

'Do you like it?'
She nearly jumped at the sound of my voice.

'Oh. It's soooo pretty.'

An associate was immediately with us.
'How much for this purse?'

'3,550,690 won.'
Keziah's eyes bulged.

'We'll take it.'

'Who is 'we'? I'm not paying for this. That's  $3000 dollars for a - no. She said in English and quickly switched over, dismissing my request. 'It's fine Miss, we don't want it.'

She dragged me away but I caught he last glance at the bag.

'I would much rather spend $3000 of my money on clothes than one bag.'

'Fine.'
I followed her into the ladies' section.
'No, you go there.'

'I would like your opinion on the clothes I choose.'

She corked her head a little on the side.
'You have a great sense of style already.'

'I know. But I still needs to know what you think. I don't look good in everything.' Points for humility.

'Should we go to the men's department first then?'

I shook my head.
'I can wait.'

She brought a finger to my face.
'Well then if you are going to tag along, you better not say anything I don't like. Or I'll shove stockings in your mouth.'
I nodded.
'Yes, ma'am.'
I wordlessly watched her pick and choose a variety of clothes.
It was like watching a child at a candy store.
She'd squeal when she found a jacket she loved and do a little dance when an associate brought her a dress in her size.
It was apparent that she loved shopping and I loved watching her in her element.

She stepped out of her dressing room with her phone out.
'What's wrong?' I asked when she pouted at her screen.
'I guess Anne is asleep. I wanted her opinion on the dresses.'

I bit my lips, looking expectantly at her.
I had eyes and a mouth to offer opinions but she did say not to speak so until she released me from my initial promise, I really couldn't help.
'Are you waiting for me to ask?'
I innocently nodded.
'I am a man of my word.'

'Fine. Welsh, help me decide.'
Turned out, I wasn't much help as I'd thought I'd be.
I loved everything she loved and thought she looked good in the ones she hated.

'Welsh! I'm serious. Do you like this dress? And don't say I look good in it, I want actual facts.'
The actual fact is every attire was stunning on her. She just seemed to give the dresses life, it was certainly not the other way round.

'Well the blue beautiful against your complexion, and with your contacts, it brings out your eyes.'

'You really think so?'
Yes, yes I did.
'I love it too. But I won't get it.'
She checked the price tag once more before returning into the closed room to throw off the dress.
At the end of a long dress session. She had the clothes organized in "love", "don't love", and "love but pricey".

'I can take just one dress from the last mound and three from the first.'
She sighed. I could see how hard the decision was for her. But it didn't need to be.

'Miss, can you please put these two piles on hold while we go over to the men's department? And this one.' I pointed to the "don't love" like, can go back on to the floor. Thank you.'

All I needed was a couple of thick sweaters, boots, and a winter jacket.
'Oh, I forgot to look at the boots.'

'We will go back, don't worry.' I chuckled.
She drew out a long navy winter jacket with white fur trim and a gray one which was similar to the first one.
'You should definitely get these two.'

'I only need one.'

'You want one but what you need is three.'
She handed over the two she was holding and then she grabbed a black one as well revealing a camouflage colored one.
'Oh but this would look so good on you.'
And for that comment alone, I would get the camo one.
I left her to do all the pairing and deciding because as we perused the store, I realized that she understood my style.
I tried on a few of the clothes because I have no patience and then decided to get everything else.
'You pick out the boots you want and then we can go back for your clothes.'

When she added her boots to the pile, we concluded that the entire purchase alone would be over four thousand dollars.

'I don't want to spend that much, my dad will kill me if I ask again.' She silently complained.

'Well, you don't have to spend anything today. I'm paying. No strings, no IOUs I won't hear of it.'
Her mouth dropped open.
'You're what?'
I had them put everything in the bags and handed the cashier my card.

'Are you on something?'

I shushed her.
'Some of people understand what you are saying.'

She was in utter disbelief.
'David, wait.'
She called after me as I walked away carrying the large amount of bags in my hands.

'It's okay I got it.' I told her.
'I just need you to take out the keys so I can put this in the trunk of the car.'

She did as was required but still didn't let the matter lie.
'Keziah.' I interrupted her rambling about her going to return the items and pay for some of it and blah blah blah.
I told her it didn't matter that it was fine several times but she would even hear it.

'I will sue you if you return the items.'
It sounded legit.

'You can't do that.'
She didn't sound so sure either. Maybe o could get away with the lie.

'Yes, I can. I know someone.'

She hugged then folded her arms.

'Come on, where else do you want to go?'

'Nowhere.'

'You're lying. You asked about the perfumes at the Dior counter. Let's go there. I want to get a cologne Don asked me to try.'

I observed her inner battle that waged in her mind.
It stung that she couldn't believe that I would do this for her without any strings and that after all this time knowing each other she wouldn't want a gift like this from me. But this was the way I knew how to start making up for my stupidity.
I had literally rewarded a psychopath for keeping her locked up in a cold storage for hours. I could tell myself that, then, I hadn't known the entire truth. But man I should have seen beyond Claire's tears and pleas of forgiveness.
I wanted to admit it all to Keziah, but now wouldn't be the time.

'We should get something to eat after this and I'm paying.' She grabbed my injured hand.

'Okay, mercy.' I winced.

'I'm so sorry.' She immediately eased her bond and checked for any open stitches.

'We can get a sandwich. And then later tonight go to a nice restaurant?'

'Do I have to dress all fancy?'

'There's a dress code.'

'Why do I have the feeling you have already reserved a place.'

I pointed at a random poster and went 'Wow, it's fifty percent off.' And nicely walked away from that open trap.

'I know what you are trying to do.'
Keziah spoke staring outside the window.

'And what might that be?'

'This is your attempt to get my mind of Thomas cheating and last night.'
Among other things, but yes she wasn't totally off.

'I know you said to leave you alone...'

'It's okay that you care, it makes you more human.'
I had to wonder if I'd heard her correctly.
'I remember that night. At the camp site.'
She played with her fingers.

I cleared my throat.
'So, um... dinner tonight. I made a reservation...'
There was no use talking about that today, I thought.

'I knew it.' She breathed.

'It's a French restaurant, would you like to try it out? We can change it if you want.'

She nodded.
'Yes, I will. Thank you for asking.'
She smiled, 'I'll call this progress.'

The night seemed to rush on by. Dinner was cordial and which I immensely enjoyed.
'That was so delicious.' Keziah sighed on the sofa in an unladylike posture made in her rich emerald dress.

I stored the cabinet to be enjoyed later.

'Thank you, Welsh.'

'It was my pleasure.'
The entire night was almost over and not once had she mentioned Thomas.

'What should we do tomorrow?' She asked distracting me from my thoughts.

'I was thinking we could go and watch a movie at the theater.'

We would have to choose a movie when we got there.
'I don't know...'
She sounded hesitant.

'It's just a movie.' I said resting further into my seat.

Her response was delayed and I discovered she spaced out for a second.

'You're in your head again.'
I pushed beside her.

'I don't know what to think or what I'm feeling. I've never been cheated on before.'
We had now reached the talking about Thomas part of the night.

'I think of Claire then I think of him and it's not the same.' she shook her head and run a hand in her hair.
'I don't think I hate Claire. I just get angry. That not the case with Tommy.'
She smoothed the pillow on her lap.
'I don't want to talk to him but then I want him to lie to me. Before I really start to hate him. Because that's what I should do, I should hate him.'

Yes, yes she should hate him. With all her heart. That is the extent of my thought because the truth remained.

'You shouldn't hate him.' Too much , I should have added but chose not to.

She gaped.
'Is that how you feel?'

She moved to sit properly.
'But why?'

'I think he just made a mistake. People make mistakes.' I attempted to rationalize.
'He is a good person, he just fell into a rough patch...'
Possibly a trap even.

'He's only human. Second chances are a thing.'

'Why do I have the feeling you aren't talking about only Tommy?'

She was right. Even I hadn't noticed it subconsciously.

'You're talking about Claire as well.'

'No.' I spurted out.
Who cared about her? I was thinking about me. Claire she could hate.

My response surprised her.

'I'm only saying that...' I didn't know what I was saying.
'It's just that, just take your time you are figuring out who to trust.'

'So can I trust you?'
YES!
My heart screamed in my chest.
Her trust would equal a closer relationship. One I unreasonably craved. A chance to get closer to her and a chance to repair the scars I had inadvertently laid on her.

'Have I done anything to earn that trust?'
We stared at each other, her eyes bore into mine and then she tore them away.

'Oh, Welsh, why do you have to be so... I don't even know the word for it.'

'I don't want to take advantage of you. I believe trust is something that should be earned in good faith. You have to like the person you trust.'

She squared a side-eye at me.
'I used to not like you.'

I shifted to face her, now that the topic was on the table I wanted to know why she disliked me.
'I could tell, you weren't good at hiding your emotions.'

'I wasn't always trying to hide them.'
She laughed a little.
'You were to me, my greatest nemesis.  You stole my job...'

I had to cut in.
'I didn't steal your job.'

'Yes, sir, you did. I let you take my interview time and you walked out with the position.'
She leveled a look that dared me to argue.

'I see why you would see it like that.' I begrudgingly admitted.

'And you always had to catch me at my most embarrassing moments then crassly point them out.'
I couldn't help my laugh, fondly recalling the highlights of her clumsy moments.

'What can I say, I had a gift.'

'And when you did, you had to be arrogant about it. Worst of all, everybody liked you.'

'Not everybody.'
She smiled.
'That's because you were simply perfect. And you were always right while I was wrong.'

'I'm sorry I made you feel that way.'
I meant every word of this overdue apology.
'I'm sorry about the other times I was just mean too.'
This wouldn't fix much but I hoped it was a start.
'So what about now?'

'Mmhmm?'

'Do you still loathe me?'

She tried several times to respond, I saw her inhale and then open her mouth but close it again only to frown.

'It's fine.' I conceded a little hurt but completely understanding why she would hesitate so much.
'You don't have to reply now.'
Maybe a month, who knows a year from now.
I gave her a half-grin,
'After all, who could trust a monster.'
I placed a deliberate hand on my chin,
'No, no, I believe it was an abominable snowman.'

She looked adorably stricken her mouth agape working to speak,
'What did you say?'

'I heard the movie Parasite is a good one.' I smiled then made a grand exit I was proud of.