Karma's Makeover Trap
Im Nana's makeup session dragged on, and before I knew it, Thursday had arrived. Thanks to leaving early, I was already pulling up near Im Nana's apartment. There was only one reason I'd come here. It was karma payback day.
'Phew, calm down.'
"If you just play along nicely today..."
Still, she wasn't the type to sabotage me or anything, so getting this worked up felt a bit ridiculous... But scary is scary, what can you do? Color makeup? What the hell is that...? I never even thought about doing it, let alone getting it done! I figured it'd be something simple, like a quick tutorial... Ugh... But it was too late to back out now. This was all my own doing.
"Might as well ask her to make me look pretty since I'm doing it..."
... Aaargh. I tried forcing some positive thinking, but the fear of the unknown wouldn't fade easily.
Getting prettier wasn't the problem. With a face and body like this, why not go all out? It'd been over a month since the change, and I'd gotten somewhat used to it. But! This was different! Sudden heavy makeup! I wanted to ease into it step by step, at least!
"She's not gonna wax my eyebrows or something, right...?"
Without thinking, I glanced in the rearview mirror and gently stroked my eyebrows in the reflection.
I parked in front of Im Nana's place and cautiously rang the doorbell. Ding-dong. As the bell chimed, quick, cheerful footsteps pattered over, and the front door swung wide open.
"Areum! Come on in! I've been waiting!"
"Ah, excuse me..."
Im Nana greeted me with her usual bright smile. Depending on the person, that smile might come off differently, but...
"You must be tired from driving since morning. Sit down first—want some tea?"
"Ah, yes. Thank you."
Something about Im Nana felt a little off. She was always kind and sweet, but today it was dialed up. Time to raise my alert level a notch?
I sat on the living room sofa and took a sip of the warm tea she handed me. The chill from the cold weather started melting away from my stiffened body.
'Don't let your guard down, don't let your guard down...'
I picked up a piece of the cookie she'd brought with the tea and popped it in my mouth. My wariness plummeted. The cookie was perfectly sweet, and as the sugar seeped in, my defenses finally loosened. Come to think of it, someone this nice wouldn't shave off my eyebrows. Color makeup couldn't be that big a deal, right? Just a bit more blush, some bold lipstick, eye shadow, and done? Even if it was wishful thinking, I wanted to spin the happy circuit somehow.
"Oh? You finished it already? Hehe."
"Ah, the tea was delicious. I drank it all."
"Really? Alright, then—shall we get started?"
"....."
After warming up with the tea, Im Nana led me to the vanity chair. A camera was set up right in front, but... well, she'd said from the start it was for a makeup video. No big deal. The chair was surprisingly cushy, with a backrest too.
"Anywhere uncomfortable? It'll take a while, so if sitting's tough, it'll be rough on you."
"Ah, it's perfect. Super comfy."
"Good. Then let's really begin."
The moment I leaned back against the chair, I saw it. Im Nana's gentle smile from seconds ago vanished in an instant, her eyes changing completely. How to describe it? It felt a bit harsh to compare to a person, but... like a predator that'd spotted—or rather, caught—its prey.
'Wait, does that make me the prey?!'
Damn, something was wrong. The friendly Im Nana was all a facade!
A chill ran up my spine.
"Okay, let's redo the skin base first~?"
Her voice was still sweet, but her face was terrifying. The brush taps on my face were gentle, but the pressure felt forceful. To escape the fear, I resorted to reality denial. I squeezed my eyes shut.
"Yes! Way more comfy with your eyes closed, right? Keep 'em shut~"
... Seemed like I'd just fueled her enthusiasm. Unfamiliar sensations kept washing over my face. Sometimes soft taps, sometimes smooth strokes downward. Eyes closed, I surrendered completely to her touch.
After a while, Im Nana's voice rang out.
"There, done!"
"All done?"
I cracked my eyes open. And there in the mirror: my familiar yet unfamiliar face. Whoa, I'd always been pretty, but this felt... cleaner, more polished?
"What do you think? Like it?"
"Whoa... My skin feels totally different. But it doesn't look that changed..."
"Huh? Of course—I've only done the base makeup so far~"
"...?"
Not done yet? She said it was done!
"B-but you just said it was done..."
"Ah, that meant the base was done. Now we go into full color makeup!"
So that unease earlier wasn't wrong. Nearly an hour already, and how much longer?
"Took a bit, huh? This isn't everyday makeup—it's like what idols do for broadcasts."
"They're different?"
"Yeah, daily makeup's for going out, but this shines under bright lights like here—super pretty."
Hmm, some pro world I didn't know about. She seemed set on finishing strong anyway. I closed my eyes again.
"... Keep going."
"Hehe, you like it too, right Areum?"
"N-no, not exactly... Wait, no, it's not that I don't like it..."
"Got it, got it. Onward? Your skin takes makeup so well—it's fun for me~"
Takes makeup well? Like some people suit it and others don't?
During the full color makeup, I peeked at the mirror now and then. My face growing stranger by the minute. But weirdly alluring too... Was makeup really some kind of magic?
"Whoa. Nana, aren't my eyes too big now?"
"Haha~ Did eyes first, that's why! It'll balance with the jawline finish—gonna be stunning!"
"S-still..."
"Hey! Trust me, okay?"
Fine, she was a beauty YouTuber pro. She'd make me prettier than I imagined. Prettier... Yeah, pretty? Ugh. I'd just gotten used to this face. At first, I jumped every time I saw the mirror... I'd known makeup was inevitable someday, but this was too sudden. This would be the end, right? Could one day clear all that karma? I'd teased her more than once or twice, by my count.
Another hour passed, and finally, Im Nana let out a satisfied shout.
"Done! Open your eyes!"
"Phew..."
I took a deep breath, then cautiously opened them. My reflection left me speechless. Like a total stranger sitting there. Smoother skin gleaming under the lights. Eyes deepened with subtle shading, lips plump and vibrant. Not overdone, but maximizing my features—like a disguise more than makeup.
"Gasp..."
"See? Perfect, right?! My instincts were spot on!"
My voice trembled. A beauty I'd never seen before. Used to pretty, but this was next level—words failed me.
"You're seriously gorgeous, Areum!"
"Whoa, it is pretty... Totally transformed..."
"Right? Oh, right! Gotta take pics!"
Im Nana grabbed a camera and snapped away passionately. Every angle—up, down, front, sides, turning me this way and that. Even adjusted the lights.
"Ta-da! Wanna see? Shots came out amazing!"
Seeing myself in photos—not the mirror—felt fresh. She really was a pro.
"Whew! Pics done—onto round two?"
"Huh...? Round two?"
Wait, round two? First I'd heard of it. Some mix-up?
"Video call. Steak. Ahhn. Haaah~"
"....."
"Hurry and wipe it off like I showed you last time. Cleanser and stuff's on the shelf."
"... Okay."
Ughhh... I was starting to hate my past self. How the hell did I think I could handle that crap?!
'Karma's on future me to deal with!'
... Past me, you smiling idiot... I shuffled wearily to the bathroom.
A fresh glance in the mirror: makeup too good to ruin. But to end this quick...
Took a bit to remove the makeup, but Im Nana was grinning, prepping the next one.
"All off..."
Exhaustion sapped my voice. I staggered back to the vanity.
Please finish quick...
"Yup! Look this way this time!"
"Huh? Then I can't see the mirror..."
"No prob! I'm doing it anyway!"
She positioned me away from the mirror and started. No mirror made me uneasy... But after seeing her skills, the anxiety eased a tad. The creepy vibe lingered, though.
An hour later, second makeup done, she whisked me to a small room without a peek.
"Here! Clothes I prepped—you have to wear 'em and come out! No choice!"
"Clothes? Uh... okay."
"Have to! See ya~"
Thud. Door shut, leaving me alone. What room was this? Just a bed—guest room? Nice, separate guest room in an apartment.
Why insist on these clothes? My eyes landed on the bed.
And I froze in shock.
"... What the hell is this?"
On the bed: pink-and-black coordinated shirt and skirt. Fine so far. I'd never planned skirts, but if forced, I was prepared. Cute design too—could endure doll-dressing vibes.
But the frills and ribbons on the shirt. And the number of ribbons. Easily over ten. Princess style? More like... Sigh, how to put it? I'd seen niche Japanese fashion like this...
"Lolita...? No, more like..."
Right, landmine. Lolita fashion landmine! Aaaargh! Im Nana wanted me in this?!
I yanked the door—
Click. Click.
W-what?! Locked!
"Nana! What is this outfit?! No way!!!"
"Hehe, finally realized? Super cute, right?"
"Cute my ass...! Yeah it's cute, but wearing it's another story! Ugh! Why's the door lock from outside?!?!"
"Eahahaha! When we renovated, the remodelers goofed and put the handle on backward in this room!"
"Aaaargh! False imprisonment! This is kidnapping!!!"
"Hehe, hurry and change, Areum~"
"Uwaaaaaah!!!"
I collapsed right there.
Ughhh... Makeup I could stomach, but not that outfit! To escape this room, did I really have to don the suspiciously ribbon-heavy pink getup...? My karma... was deeper than I thought.