Chapter 34 (1/2)

Chapter 34 – Day 8, Vacation

It was clearly my face in the mirror.

At least, the features were clearly mine. It was still my eyes, nose and mouth. The whole face was a familiar face that I'd seen thousands of times in the mirror.

But there were slight differences, and those subtle differences had huge results. The height of both eyes and their distance from my nose, the degree in which the corners of my mouth drooped, the slopes of my chin and face, all of them had changed. My face was perfectly symmetrical. No imbalances could be seen. Just that alone made me look completely different.

Furthermore, my skin… It had been hard to feel a big difference when just looking down at my body. But when I looked at my face, it was like taking out a piece of wood and replacing it with marble. The blackheads and acne scars that I had been troubled with since adolescence were gone.

I raised a hand to my cheek and felt the texture of hard boiled eggs. It was like peeling off the exterior to reveal the completely moist inside. There was a smooth elasticity.

My eyes moved down. This wasn't the first time that my muscles had swelled up and hardened. I was able to see my forearms and chest getting bigger as my muscle strength became higher. But now the shape had altered. My chest and abs were neatly symmetrical with my shoulders. Further down, my friend was still in a non-combat state…

I regained my spirit. I hurried and washed my body. I had been looking at myself for almost an hour! It couldn't be like this.  I hadn't finished studying for the liberal arts exam that was tomorrow. There were also a few books that I needed to borrow from the library.

I took out a t-s.h.i.+rt and pants. Then…

Ssik!

There was a ripping sound as the t-s.h.i.+rt couldn't withstand the pressure. My clothes didn't fit; my shoulders were wider than the t-s.h.i.+rt, my pants were too tight at the waist and way too short, revealing my ankles. The coat was the worst. If it had fit, then I could somewhat use it to cover for everything else, but I couldn't get my shoulders into it either.

Did I have to buy new clothes? I ended up wearing stretchy sportswear as I checked the mirror. Fortunately, it didn't look too strange.

”Ah, d*mn.” After drying my hair, it became completely like a chestnut burr. This couldn't be left alone.

&

Downtown, near the university.

Kim Sung-yi, the lead hairdresser of the 'Saint-Pierre Hair Shop' was drinking a cup of coffee at the counter next to the receptionist. Even though it was early on a weekday, females who finished their exams early would soon be looking for a hair salon to change their mood.

After lunch, she would probably be held hostage by customers for the rest of the day. ‘Should I just have an early lunch? A sandwich…' Just as she was thinking that… The door opened.

A man entered the beauty salon. “Welcome…” Kim Sung-yi swallowed her breath. The man looked pretty messy at first sight. His s.h.a.ggy hair reminded her of a prisoner from the Joseon period. The worn out sweats.h.i.+rt and pants revealed his wrists and ankles.

However, his face ended the mess. It wasn't a completely handsome face, nor the western face that had become popular in the 21st century. It was more perfect than beautiful. Clean skin. Perfectly symmetrical facial features and body features that couldn't be hidden by the loose sports wear.

“A-Are you looking for the boss?”

”…? Nope.” The man responded in a tremulous voice. “I’m here to get my hair cut.”

”Eh… Do you have someone who is in charge of…”

“It's my first time here.”

“So, you don't have a particular… person in mind?”

”No. Anyone will do. Anyone.” The man speaking, Hee-chul, looked around the beauty salon. It was like he was evaluating the 'grade' of the beauty salon.

'… I am overreacting.' Kim Sung-yi thought. Either way, he was just a young man. He wouldn't worry too much about his appearance.

When Hee-chul came out to buy clothes, he saw the beauty salon. However, the atmosphere was too luxurious. He was also the only male. In addition, such a beggar like appearance… Hee-chul's heart beat quickly at the sight.

'I just went anywhere.' Hee-chul sighed deeply as he thought of the 7,000 won male specialty hairdressers that he normally went to.

The two females thought he was sighing for a different reason.

'Does he not like it here?' The boss looked at Kim Sung-yi. Kim Sung-yi looked back at her boss. Of course she knew… this was the only break she would be able to have today. In addition, there were two other hairdressers who were free.

But this was a matter that involved the shop's pride. 'Sung-yi. Please.' The boss conveyed these words to Kim Sung-yi using her eyes. Kim Sung-yi nodded with a determined face.

”Can you come this way?” She was certain as she led him to a seat. The feeling coming from this person wasn't just because of his face. Was it charisma? Aura? Kim Sung-yi had spent her apprentices.h.i.+p in Apgujeong. It was a place where she had quite a few celebrity customers.

That's why Kim Sung-yi was sensitive to this feeling. When she saw famous actors, she could see the same halo surrounding them. It wasn't just because of his looks. In the entertainment industry, the successful ones had a similar aura. Her old boss called it 'cla.s.s.'

‘Uh, he might be a famous model.' He might have been taking a concept photo. The sports clothes might be a drastic attempt at trendy fas.h.i.+on.

”How do you wan… Omo.” She felt a gentle softness flowing through her fingers as she raised her hand to the man's hair. It was like touching silk. Even though the man's hair was short, the texture was something that couldn't be felt just from a day or two of hair care.

'Scalp… look at the scalp.' Even a scalp that had just been washed wouldn't be so clean. Despite the mess, the man's hair wasn’t matted. Obviously, this man was part of the 'industry.'

“Why are you looking like that?” The man asked.

”Ah, no. Do you have a style that you want?”

“Just make it neat.”

”… Yes?”

“Give me a haircut that is as neat as possible. That's all.”

”…”

This was… He seemed like someone who had never been to a beauty salon before.

While Kim Sung-yi was in turmoil, Hee-chul saw a discount guide on the side of the mirror. 'What? A 20% discount in winter… A cut is 40,000 won?!' It seemed like he had chosen the wrong store. The most expensive cut that Hee-chul had ever experienced was 25,000 won. The outside of this salon looked expensive, but he thought it would only be up to that amount.

It might have been different if he knew a while ago, but he couldn't get up now that he was already sitting down.

Huu. Hee-chul gave a deep sigh.

That sigh was misinterpreted and sharply pierced Kim Sung-yi's lungs. Was he laughing at her? 'O…Okay.' She wouldn't hesitate any longer. Yes. She was Kim Sung-yi. She had an interest in the beauty industry since her childhood. Her efforts paid off, and she became recognized as a top hairdresser by her mid-20s.

‘Will I be intimidated by this atmosphere?' She gave a small snort. The hand holding her scissors was tense. She didn't know what this person wanted, but she would show him more than he could imagine. In the 30 minutes that followed, Kim Sung-yi poured out all the dreams, efforts and pa.s.sion that she had acc.u.mulated for nearly a decade.

Later, this scene would be her most memorable memory in her entire career. A cut that was comparable to 400,000 won, not 40,000 won!

Hee-chul regretfully use his credit card for the first time before leaving. Exactly ten minutes later., the male clerk in the nearby outlet store was going through a situation not that much different from Kim Sung-yi.