“Mom, Dad I’m home!”  I called out as I shut the main entrance door behind me.

  Popping her head around the corner my mother smiled at me brightly.  “Lunch is ready.  How did the project go with Himchan?  Are you finished yet?”

  Taking the plate of freshly made food I sat down across from her and began eating  “It’s going.  Still a few days worth of work to do but I decided to take the day off.  Spend some time with you if you have time.”

  My food was pulled away from me; fork halfway to my mouth as I looked down at the place the plate of food used to be.  Looking up I watched my mother who held my plate in her hand.  “Are you feeling alright Ashiya?  You never want to spend time with me, it’s been years and you always turn me down when I try.  What changed?”

  “I need a different view on something, and I need different advice and opinions.  I need a new look to figure something out.”  I told her.

  “You want to go shopping?”  She sputtered.

  “Can I have my food back?  Please?”

  “Are you sick?  Have you eaten something bad?  Did you take drugs?”  Bombarding me with questions she removed my half eaten food from the table before waking around me and placing her hand on my forehead.  Checking my pupils, the whole body scan.

  “No, no, and no.”  I replied good naturally.

  “Then why is my daughter, that hates shopping and spending quality bonding time with her mother willingly asking to do the two things she despises?  Are you certain nothing is going on?” 

  “I’m positive Mom.”

  “Then what brought this on?  What advice and opinions, what new look?”

  “A boy.  I want to look different for this one.  The edgy clothing and really dark look, the tomboy persona, he’s not one for that and I want to at least let him see me as someone he’d take interest in.”

  Her glare cut me, “This isn’t Himchan, Zelo or Yongguk is it?”

  “Um.  No?”

  “Well then no wonder you want to change.”  She muttered.  “Those three are the only ones who can survive and actually like you like this.  Makes me wonder why they actually stick to you.”

  My jaw dropped.  “Mom!  I’m not sleeping with them!”

  “One day you’ll admit it Ashiya, until then just stay safe.  Though a new boy might be better.  New is better.  I’ll get ready then we’ll head over to the mall.  Oh, this is going to be fun!”

  “This will cause my death.”  I grumbled as she swished out of the room to get ready.  “I think I just made a mistake asking for her help.  I should have just done this alone like I always do.”

  “Get ready!”

  “I am mother!”

  “Then let’s go.”  Skipping into the room she grabbed my arm and pulled me from the house calling a quick goodbye to Dad. “See you later Honey!”

***

  “What about this one?”

  “I don’t like lace and bows.”

  “This one?”

  “Can we please just stick to black or grey?  Hell I’ll settle for white.”

  “Watch your language!”

  “Mother!”

  I’m seriously regretting going shopping with this woman.  I want a skirt and a nice top, an outfit that I would normally never wear because of how impractical it would be in a fight.  I can’t look like I’m part of anything around this boy since he’s very perceptive. 

  I can’t let anything slip and I can’t give any suspicion.  Which means I need to change to hide as much as possible.  No connections with any of my friends because of their clear ties to the underground to those that are highly observant.  I can’t take any chances; so a little change is in order for this particular mission.

  “So you aren’t changing color preferences, just the style of the clothing.  Is that correct?”  My mother asked as she put the undesirable skirts back.

  “Yes.”  I breathed tiredly. 

  “Than what about this?”  Holding up a black mini skirt.  “You can pair it with this top.  The lace isn’t exactly your style I know, but this would look really nice on you.”  The top she picked out was form fitting with the neckline that stretched over the shoulders made of a black lace design.

  Taking them from her I headed to the fitting rooms to try them on.  They fit nicely but I have to say I don’t like how much the skirt exposes my legs.  “Mom.”  I whined.

  “Tights and boots.”  Was her only reply.

  “Argh.”  I groaned as I changed back into the grey jeans and large black sweater I wore to go out today.  “We’re not done yet are we?”

  “No, now hurry up.”  Scurrying after the over excited woman I followed her around the mall.  “Try these on.”

  The black boots she handed over to me went up to my knees with a zipper I almost missed along the inside seam.  Slipping them on around my jeans I stood up and walked over to me beaming mother.

  “Well how do you like them?”

  I can hide a knife in each boot and no one would know.  The sole is think enough to conceal a blade each.  They were actually somewhat practical for someone like me.  “They’re nice.  But will they go with the clothes?”

  Her shoulders deflated, “Do you honestly think I would give you something that wouldn’t work?”

  “I guess not.”

  Handing them back to her she went off to pay for them while I looked around the place once again.  Making my way over to the tights I looked through them to see if there was something that matched the lace around the top.

  “These will do.”  I confirmed verbally to myself as I grabbed the pair that caught my eye.

  “Ashiya?”  I heard my name whispered as I neared my mother who was just coming up to the checkout.

  Placing the tights down I snapped my head up and scanned around us for anyone I might know.  Mentally laughing when I spot the source of the voice.  I tell them they won’t be able to find me if they search and they won’t have any contact with me, yet I’ve already had a run in with Yongguk the night prior and now Jongup spots me at the mall shopping with my mother.  The absolute irony amazes me so far.

  Ignoring him, I started a conversation with my mother, making sure it only seemed as if I was glancing about and never saw him.  I don’t even think he realized I heard him in the first place.

  If they keep showing up it’s going to be hard to do what I need to get done without them asking any questions.  I have to make sure I keep away form them, I have to do this alone or the mystery of the boy will never be known.

  “Let’s get you changed into your new clothes so you can go out.  I know you want to go see that boy.” 

  Shyly smiling I looked up at her, “You think I’ll have a chance?”

  “Of course