Massage (2)
Aqua's fashion show had begun.
The first outfit Aqua tried on was a pair of denim overalls with a white tee and a straw hat. She looked just like a quintessential country girl ready to grab a hoe and dig up some potatoes at any moment.
"Oh my goodness!"
Mom placed both hands on her cheeks and stomped her feet, utterly enchanted by the cuteness. I was too busy snapping photos to notice much else.
"Aqua, can you make a V-sign with your fingers?"
Before I knew it, I was lying on my stomach in front of her, camera at the ready.
"...Hmm, gotta get lower for the best angle."
Dad was even egging me on from behind.
Aqua circled in front of the mirror, admiring her reflection. She stood there for a good while, clearly fascinated by her first real clothes.
Next up was a flowing blue dress. It was the kind of exaggerated costume you'd see at a school festival, but on Aqua, our humble home transformed into a palace.
Clothes really are all about the face, huh!
Everything suited her perfectly. Blue skin or not, it was downright unfair how well it all matched.
"She's a total princess!"
"Like a fairy tale fairy princess!"
Aqua beamed at Mom and Dad's praise, giggling as she spun around. The dress fluttered softly, melting our hearts in the process.
I usually hate photo duty, but today I volunteered as the one-man camera crew with genuine joy.
No wonder parents' phone galleries are nothing but kid pics.
I finally got what it felt like to be a parent.
And once I did, Mom's enthusiasm made total sense.
Women just wanna dress up pretty kids—that's the vibe.
How long had she been holding back that urge? Her joyful smile lifted my spirits too.
After lunch, Aqua presented her gifts to Mom and Dad.
Aqua lounged on a watery chair with arms crossed, greeting our parents at the door. Her gift? Massages.
"What a cute little thing."
"A skin massage—it's been forever."
Mom and Dad beamed at the unexpected treat. The room was set up with blankets for two, plus steaming herbal tea.
It was tea brewed from Spirit Realm herbs I'd bought at the Spirit Shop.
"Please come in. Tea first."
I played assistant, serving two cups with a bow and queuing up some classical music.
Mom sipped and her eyes widened.
"Oh... the aroma is divine."
Even Dad, a vending-machine coffee loyalist, was impressed.
"Hmm! Thought it'd be bitter, but it's tasty."
Once relaxed with tea, they lay down at my cue. Aqua started with Mom, perching by her head.
Aqua placed her tiny, chubby hands on Mom's face. As she massaged with healing water, Mom let out a groan.
"Hngh!"
One hand clutched her chest. This might improve her skin but wreck her heart if I'm not careful.
While Aqua handled Mom's face, I kneaded Dad's limbs by hand. Only Aqua could wield the healing water properly—mine would mostly soak into me instead.
After Mom's facial, we switched.
"Feeling refreshed?"
"Whose hands do you think these are? Of course."
Mom and Dad sighed contentedly with every rub on limbs, hands, and feet. Oblivious to my sweat, I kept at it.
Thirty minutes later, done.
Mom checked the mirror in awe.
"No wonder healing water cosmetics cost a fortune. One session like this..."
Dad flexed his back and knees, shaking his head with a grin.
"Aqua's massages really work wonders! Even better than last time!"
Maybe thanks to her new Healing Power, Aqua's healing water packed an extra punch. Regular sessions before break's end could shave ten years off their bodies.
"Great work, masseuse."
I bowed playfully to Aqua.
Aqua crossed her arms, a satisfied smile on her lips.
After Mom and Dad retreated to their room, Aqua gave me a facial.
-For massages, move your hands along the skin's grain like this!
Aqua followed a beauty YouTuber's tutorial on her phone. Lying back, I watched her chubby cheeks bob side to side. It was oddly soothing.
I savored the languid ten minutes.
She tapped my forehead lightly.
"Yeah, please."
Aqua fetched a hand mirror. Her massage worked wonders—my beach-tanned skin had lightened to porcelain smoothness.
A few more and I'd be actual china doll material.
Top-tier spirit, top-tier healing water—worlds apart.
Luxury massage in my own bed? Priceless.
Grateful, I pulled Aqua from her perch onto my face.
I blew a raspberry on her watery belly. She burst into giggles.
I hugged her tight, blowing more. She squirmed but stayed put.
I scooped her into my arms. She wriggled into a comfy spot and fiddled with the phone.
She's a pro at this now.
Water body made early touchscreen woes, but she'd mastered it in hours—befitting a supreme spirit.
Chin on her head, I peered at the screen. She was YouTubing.
Movies, dramas, now YouTube... Kids learn fast these days.
Whether Aqua counted as "kids these days" aside, she absorbed human culture like a sponge. Hard to believe she'd only discovered movies and dramas last week.
Wait... is my spirit a genius?
As I pondered, Aqua paused.
She'd searched "spirits" and scrolled. One thumbnail caught her eye: "How Spirit Users Spend Vacations." The beach pic looked familiar.
"That's our beach, right?"
Aqua tapped play. Sure enough—Haynaru Guesthouse beach, Samcheok Beach.
A giant rose from the waves.
"That's you, isn't it?"
The water giant was Aqua from our banana boat ride days ago—someone filmed and uploaded it.
On screen, she shrank, towing someone like a sled. Then my water-skiing clip, ending with us surfing waves into the sky.
Aqua replayed it, eyes sparkling.
Good—she wasn't upset. Relieved, I checked the views.
"Twenty thousand already."
"For a non-pro? Yeah."
Meant folks found it novel and fun.
"Comments?"
We scrolled.
We chuckled through them. As we hit the bottom, Aqua bolted up.
Her eyes sparkled at me.
"Film?"
No downside for the family biz. Mom and Dad mentioned guesthouses use YouTube now.
They said websites aren't enough anymore.
Plus, with Aqua? Views guaranteed—even this grainy clip hit 20k.
Views don't matter anyway. Not monetizing.
Spirit channels count as kids' content—no ads.
If she wants it, that's reason enough.
That's what spirit users do.
"Sure. Let's."
Her eyes gleamed with excitement.
Oh yeah...
The "unforgettable memories" quest. This promo vid might help—I hoped humbly.
The snag hit where least expected.
"..."
Filming in the yard, I stared blankly from the screen to Aqua.
She'd ditched her speech pattern entirely. Repeating herself too. Epic camera shyness.
Her gaze wandered lost between lens and my eyes, yet she soldiered on like reciting a textbook.
I facepalmed at her flubs.
Poor thing.
But cute. The mix twisted my heartstrings—I couldn't watch.
Still, record it.
Useless for promo, gold for personal keepsakes.