---
"Young lady, I have some business to attend to behind the scenes. You can try on all these dresses and choose the one you like. My assistant will accompany you, okay?" The manager placed several pieces of clothing on the table in the fitting room.
"Of course, I'll try on the outfit by myself," Vira answered with a small smile. She couldn't possibly change clothes in front of a man, right? Even though the manager acted feminine, Vira still saw him as a man. She didn't even dare change clothes in front of her husband.
"Oh, okay. I'll leave you to it. Press the bell if you need any help," the manager said before leaving the room.
The manager stepped out of the fitting room, which had mirrored walls. He was sure he didn't like Vino's wife. He entered another room that seemed to be his private office.
"Sarah, you should know about all this!" he grumbled, looking utterly disbelieving.
---
Inside the fitting room, Vira was overwhelmed by how beautiful all the clothes were. She had a hard time choosing the right one. A lace dress with a Sabrina collar and beautiful floral motifs caught her attention. She took the dress and tried to put it on.
Vira fell in love with the style of the dress as soon as she put it on. It was a slim-fit dress with lace seams that made her look pretty and feminine.
As she tried to pull up the zipper on the back, she realized it was difficult to move it up due to the slim design of the dress. The zipper stopped halfway, stuck near her waist.
"Oh my! The material of this dress is low-quality. Why is it so tight? What's wrong with it? I can't even zip it up!" Vira grumbled, irritated. She tried again, but the zipper wouldn't budge.
After several failed attempts, her hands and back began to ache, and she decided to give up. The zipper was stuck in the middle of her back and wouldn't go up or down.
"I must call for help," she thought.
Vira peeked through the curtain of the fitting room, staring outside. She seemed hesitant to leave the fitting room with her back half-exposed. The manager had mentioned a bell to call for assistance, but Vira couldn't find it. This was her first time at such an expensive boutique, and she wasn't sure what to do.
She looked around the room, unsure whom to contact. "Where are the boutique staff?" she wondered aloud.
The fitting room she was in was private, designed for special guests who wanted to shop without being disturbed by other customers. They could call for help if needed, but no one had come.
On tiptoe, Vira approached the door, thinking that the staff might be waiting outside.
Meanwhile, Vino had been sitting on a sofa, reading news on his tablet. After a few minutes, he grew bored and got up. He began choosing some clothes, picking items that were unlike his usual taste. His choices amazed the boutique staff.
Vino, known for his immaculate appearance, usually ordered suits and the latest European releases, but this time, he had chosen casual t-shirts and sporty jackets, a big departure from his usual style.
"Wrap up all my choices," he said to the staff.
"Yes, young master," the boutique employee replied politely.
"Can you help me put on this shirt?" Vino asked, pointing to a white casual shirt and jacket with lines along the sleeves.
The employee nodded and immediately helped Vino change clothes.
"I'm sure my wife will love my new look!" Vino said with a happy expression, clearly satisfied with his new style. Everything he chose was with his wife's tastes in mind.
The two boutique employees behind him whispered in astonishment, "Wow, he even cares about what his wife likes!" One of them added, feeling envious of Vino's sweet attitude.
Vino smiled at their whispers. "I've worked hard for this."
"Has my wife finished yet?" Vino asked, glancing down the hall where Vira was still trying on clothes.
"I need to help her," he said, walking toward the fitting room.
The staff at the boutique were amazed at the change in Vino's demeanor. He was known for being cold and indifferent, but now, they saw him treating his wife with kindness. He seemed like the dream husband.
Klek! Vino opened the door to the fitting room.
As soon as he stepped inside, he froze. Vira was standing in front of him, bareback, trying to sneak around as if she were a thief.
"What's wrong with her?" Vino thought, confused by her behavior. From the moment they met, Vira's actions had never ceased to confuse him.
"Hey!" he called out.
Vira was startled, not daring to turn around. She wondered, "Who's there? Was someone behind me?"
"What are you doing?" Vino asked.
Vira turned around, recognizing his familiar tone of voice. She froze, her eyes widening in shock. Her mouth hung open.
She had known that her husband was handsome, with a healthy, athletic build, but he looked completely different now. He was relaxed and casual, wearing a sporty t-shirt and jacket, paired with white sneakers. He looked fresher, younger, and definitely even more handsome.
"Ahhh... So handsome," Vira's heart screamed.
Vino stepped closer, closing the gap between them. He was now standing directly in front of her, and Vira continued to stare at him in awe, unable to speak.
"Wow, I'm talking to you, not the door!" Vino said, clearly annoyed at her blank expression.
Vira snapped out of her daze, feeling embarrassed. She had been so mesmerized by his appearance, but now she regretted it, especially after his rude comment.
"Ah, yes, sorry about earlier," she apologized, trying to save face.
Suddenly, she remembered the dress she was still wearing and pressed herself against the wall, trying to hide her exposed back.
"What's going on with you?" Vino asked, still surprised by his wife's behavior. Earlier, she had been speechless, and now she was practically hiding against the wall.
"N-no, no... It's fine," Vira stammered, feeling embarrassed.
Vino walked closer, his steps slow but deliberate, while Vira's face remained tense.
Vino grabbed her wrist and quickly turned her around to see the part of her back that was exposed.