Makeover Mayhem (4)
Part-time work had started, and I was sitting at the convenience store counter. Streaming brought in inconsistent income... Sure, I'd made a ton once thanks to Seonghun oppa, but that wasn't steady, so I needed to save up. That's why I was working at the bakery near the goshiwon.
"Uh... Jeong-ah, you got a text on your phone."
"Ah, yes, one sec!"
While organizing stock, my sunbae called out about a text on the phone I'd left on the counter, so I rushed over. Wondering if it was about outgoing payments or something, I checked it out.
"Seonghun oppa...? Oppa?! He's a guy?!"
"Ah... Did you see that?"
Sunbae must've glimpsed the smartphone screen first. I'd saved him as "Seonghun Oppa," so anyone could tell it was a guy.
"A guy texted you first? Did you give something to a man before your shift?"
"No? It's not like that... He's just saying he's safe, so don't worry."
"So... a guy reached out first like that? You didn't text him?"
My coworker sunbae stared at me with a blank, incredulous look, like she couldn't process it.
"So... how? Where'd you meet him?"
"Ah... Explaining this would take forever..."
"It's fine. Afternoons are slow anyway, so sit and spill."
Just like that, she dragged me to the counter for a chat. I told her about first meeting Seonghun oppa, eating gukbap together, and all his unique behaviors that set him apart from other guys.
"No way... A real-life guy spouting old-school rom-com lines? And he thanks you and smiles without you doing a thing?"
Once I finished, she gawked at me like I'd described a mythical unicorn.
"You gotta lock him down. Lock him down tight, make it work, and introduce me if it does..."
"No way."
"C'mon~ If it works out~ Even if I'm not first, second or third is fine."
No matter how polygamous this world was, I wanted to be Seonghun oppa's first. We wrapped up the light chat, and right before diving back into work, my phone pinged again.
I figured oppa had more to say, but...
"Huh? Seo-ah?"
Han Seo-ah... my same-age friend from elementary through high school. I did internet streaming; she was an SNS model. We'd parted quickly last time since she was with Seonghun oppa, but maybe I should suggest meeting briefly today.
"What? Why is she with Seonghun oppa?"
My head heated up. With oppa? Meaning... right now, just the two of them. On a date?
I hadn't even had a proper date because of the subsidy issues before. The location was nearby. My shift ended in two hours anyway. Better if I head there first instead of waiting for an invite.
I spent those two hours trembling in anxiety. The second my shift ended, I bolted to the park where Seo-ah was.
"Where's oppa?"
"He's on his way. Wait a bit."
On his way? Did this bitch leave our oppa alone? In this day and age, leaving a man by himself?! Was she begging to die by my hands today... Should I rush to the hair salon where oppa was?
"Hey, is that a celebrity over there?"
"Huh?"
I looked where Seo-ah's voice echoed from. A guy surrounded by dozens of women. He was handsome. Seonghun oppa would look just like that if he shaved and got a trim. No... focus on finding oppa first.
"Ah, Jeong-ah!"
"Yes?"
A guy ahead waved, heading our way. Wait... that voice. Seonghun oppa's voice?
"Sorry, I'm a bit late. Excuse me, gotta go—I've got people waiting."
He flashed a smile, weaving through the women toward us.
"Whoa? How's it look? Kinda weird?"
"No... you look insanely handsome."
This oppa... just a shave and haircut did this? Staring at his clean-shaven face, words slipped out unconsciously.
"Holy shit..."
Ah, shit... This feels so awkward, I'm losing my mind.
Stepping out of the hair salon, everything changed too much. Before the trim, women just whispered about me—that was it. I figured I could wander alone fine up to then.
"Oppa, oppa! I really like you, so... your number?"
"I-I have movie tickets right now! Wanna watch together?"
"If not your number, at least your name?"
Now it wasn't one or two—it was a crowd hitting on me. Fuck... my head's burning up. I need to hurry, but this'll make me late.
"Sorry... gotta go, I'm in a rush."
"Ah, no, please."
"I won't move till you give me your number!"
"A photo! Just one photo?"
"Sorry."
Even constant rejections drew more people. I'm going insane... So that's why Jeong-ah said not to wander alone. Parting the women like the Red Sea, I headed to the park Seo-ah marked.
I spotted Seo-ah—and Jeong-ah next to her too.
"Jeong-ah!"
I called to Jeong-ah like a plea for help, but she kept scanning me up and down. Couldn't see well from afar? No choice—I pushed through the women again with all my strength.
"Ah... Seonghun oppa?!"
"Yeah, help me out."
At my plea, Jeong-ah bulldozed through, grabbing my hand.
"Hey! Back off! Move!"
She shoved them aside, yanking me free.
"Oppa, let's move somewhere quiet first."
"Uh... yeah."
Then she led me by the hand to change spots. Makes sense in this mess. Seo-ah stood and followed too. Felt bad making them move because of me.
We ended up at a nearby café. Good that it quieted down, but the stares lingered.
"This is really fucked."
"Oppa... with your looks now, can't be helped."
"Yeah?"
Jeong-ah's words had Seo-ah nodding too. No... I never thought my face was that handsome. Are even beauty standards reversed here?
I sighed and sipped my ordered Americano. Glancing around, they were still talking about me. Now I get why Jeong-ah warned against guys roaming alone. My long hair and beard must've hidden it before.
"Anyway, you look like a totally different person."
"That much?"
"Like a full transformation?"
Transformation my ass... just a haircut and shave. Sure, my phone camera showed a big change, but enough for this chaos? Whatever—I'd hear them out slowly.
"At least learn some self-defense, oppa."
"Self-defense?"
Self-defense? All I knew was taekwondo forms from free elementary school classes for three months. Could that beat women? Thinking of that granny who chased me like a gas mask zombie—no way.
"At least... build some muscle."
"Think so? Really?"
"My body's not that healthy now."
Jeong-ah eyed my arm, questioning if I really needed to work out, but I figured yes. When I slept on streets penniless, I barely ate and didn't exercise much, so no real strength.
Before self-defense, build the body first.
"Gotta sign up at a nearby gym. With the male subsidy kicking in, time for health management too."
Even at 25—not old—I was sensitive about health. I'd seen plenty of homeless folks wrecked by bad food yesterday and today. To avoid that, health and safety were priorities.
I mentioned gym-going, but honestly, I'd never been, not even in high school. Back then, I was job-hunting, prioritizing work over workouts.
"Any good spots you recommend?"
"Ah... I know one."
Asking them, luckily Seo-ah handed me a flyer for her gym. Not far from the goshiwon, and she knew it...
"Any friend discount?"
"Uh... the owner knows me a bit. Want me to ask?"
"Please do."
Cheaper via connections was key for me. We kept today simple, parting ways, and planned to hit the gym together with Seo-ah next time.
Today... just a shave and trim drained so much time and energy. I needed a break.