I Told You I Really Transformed?
After we finished our coffee.
"Alright, now let's go transform!"
We headed out to the street to go shopping.
'Yikes, people are staring...'
I glanced around and clicked my tongue. Stares were flying at us from every direction as we walked down the street. Entirely because of Yu-bam and Han Sae-byeok.
Truthfully, I was fairly accustomed to people staring. More precisely, I had been forced to get used to it. Because Ah-reum and Seong-ju hyung, who I hung out with every day, were so conspicuous.
But today the attention was even more intense than usual.
'Well, I'd stare too, if I were them.'
For one thing, Bam nuna stood out blatantly. It wasn't just because she was beautiful. Bam nuna's very existence was aggro, plain and simple.
The pale skin unique to a half-white mixed race, natural red-brown hair, the high nose bridge and deep-set eye sockets different from East Asians, and enormous breasts. The foreigner + huge boobs combo had a hard time not drawing attention.
Han Sae-byeok was no slouch when it came to attracting eyes either. She always had a fierce expression, like she was perpetually angry, but apart from that, she was definitely a beauty. Though the main reason she stood out wasn't her face but her clothes.
Maybe because she was in Fashion Design, Han Sae-byeok wore daily outfits that you'd normally only see in Hongdae.
Breaking down Han Sae-byeok's look today gave something like this.
A black t-shirt printed with hip graphics and bold English lettering. Notably, it was a one-shoulder style that bared one shoulder.
On her coolly exposed shoulder, a thorn-vine tattoo starting from the nape of her neck was etched. The cross necklace resting on her chest was a point of emphasis too.
Her bottoms were short shorts in a partially ripped black denim style, combined with slightly sheer black stockings to bring out a unique feel.
So naturally, she stood out.
I felt the stinging stares of people around us gawking at the two women. I also saw a few guys fail to keep their eyes in check and get pinched by their girlfriends.
The funny thing was, there were rare cases of the opposite, too.
'Why is the girl in that couple getting pinched? Did the girl let her eyes wander toward Han Sae-byeok?'
It was possible. Since her style was so boyish, she had the kind of look that would be popular with women.
Then, I suddenly made eye contact with Han Sae-byeok. Had I been staring too openly? As I flinched in surprise, she narrowed her eyes and asked.
"...You got something to say?"
"Oh, uh, no. It's just, I thought you dress well. Rock-chic style, right?"
"You know that? I thought you didn't know clothes."
Han Sae-byeok looked me up and down as if she hadn't expected it. A look that said, someone who dresses like that actually knows the term.
Truthfully, people who aren't interested in fashion often don't know the names of looks. Rock-chic isn't that mainstream a fashion style either.
I smiled awkwardly and nodded.
"I know a bit about women's clothing."
"Not men's...?"
Han Sae-byeok's brow furrowed. Doubt crept into her narrowed eyes, and it seemed like she was getting the wrong idea, so I spoke hastily.
"I mainly draw female characters, so I naturally picked it up."
"...So you mainly draw female characters."
...Why did it feel like the misunderstanding was deepening? I wanted to make some excuse, but Han Sae-byeok turned her head away as if she had lost interest. I felt wronged somehow. But I couldn't exactly explain that I was Trickster Kkangcheol either.
Just then, Bam nuna grabbed my arm and said.
"Cheoljjin, we're here. Let's hurry in!"
"Huh? This isn't a clothing store, though?"
The person who answered my question was Han Sae-byeok. She furrowed her brow and pointed at my head.
"We're starting with the hair. I seriously hate looking at that mop of yours."
"......"
Telling someone to their face that you hate looking at them is way too harsh, seriously.
*
The hair salon the two of them took me to was completely different from the one I usually went to.
The interior was incredibly stylish. On one side, a waiting area was nicely set up, and inside a little pen, three puppies toddled around. The scent of freshly brewed drip coffee wafted faintly.
When I checked the prices, wondering just how high-end this salon was, my eyes flew wide open.
'Fifty thousand won just for a basic cut?!'
And the cut was the mild part. The price for an iron perm went over 200,000 won. It wasn't that I didn't have money, but since I'd been getting 12,000 won cuts at the local neighborhood salon all my life, the sense of disparity was enormous.
"Ah, where is Cheoljjin going?"
"Why are you trying to leave?"
Bam nuna and Han Sae-byeok grabbed me. I had unconsciously stepped backward, so they had to catch me.
I lowered my voice to a whisper.
"This place is way too expensive. The prices are insane!"
At my words, Bam nuna chuckled.
"A good salon normally costs about this much. Cheoljjin is Korean, but you know less than I do!"
"No, but I feel like you'd only get these prices in Cheongdam-dong..."
"Don't worry, I'm paying."
"That's not the issue..."
"Stop with the useless talk and get in."
Han Sae-byeok clicked her tongue as if annoyed and pushed my back.
"You can sit right over here."
Amidst my flustered protests, an employee guided me to a chair and I ended up sitting.
"How would you like it done? Do you have a style in mind?"
"Well, I don't really know much about hair. Just neat..."
I was giving a vague answer when Han Sae-byeok cut in.
"Don't listen to him. Just find a style that suits him well, Unni. Ah, and since it's summer, something clean-cut."
"Oh my, Sae-byeok, is he your boyfriend?"
"He's not."
Han Sae-byeok replied instantly with a chilly expression. At that, the hairstylist laughed merrily. Seeing her laugh even at that expression, her nerves must have been no joke.
"Got it. Then can I do as I please?"
"Yes."
Um, what about my opinion?
I made a dumbfounded expression, but Han Sae-byeok paid no mind and returned to where Bam nuna was.
Soon the hairstylist looked over my hair and said.
"When was the last time you went to a salon?"
"I think it's been a little over a month."
"Oh my, your hair must grow really fast. Let's see. What style would suit you~."
The hairstylist fiddled with my hair this way and that with excited energy. I spoke up, feeling unnecessarily anxious.
"Um, please don't do anything too flashy; just make it neat."
"Really? I think trying some color would be nice too."
"That's a little..."
"Hmm, you've never properly styled yourself, have you? What a waste. You're good-looking, so I feel like just about any style would suit you."
"Haha..."
I appreciated the compliment, but I wanted to avoid anything flashy. Of course, I did have the desire to style myself too, but when it actually came down to doing it, it felt burdensome, I guess. And I wasn't confident I could maintain it.
"I can't handle anything complicated in terms of upkeep."
"Okay. Then I'll give you a style that's clean and easy to manage. If you like it, you can try bolder styles later."
"Yep."
I nodded for now, but I wasn't sure there'd be a next time. It was just too expensive.
But there seemed to be a reason for the high price. The hairstylist snipped with extraordinary skill as she spoke.
"Sir, your hair texture is a bit coarse and thick. And you have a ton of volume. If you don't manage it, it gets shaggy fast and puffs up on top, you know? Especially the sides puff up a lot, so it's good to definitely get a down perm."
"Yep."
"A down perm in the back too. People with somewhat long necks look better with a bit of length in the back. If you go with an undercut for no reason, from behind it can look like a bell-end cut."
"Ah..."
The back of my head was something I'd never paid attention to. The way she tirelessly informed me about the characteristics of my hair even while making deft scissor cuts was reassuring.
"If you ever get a down perm at another salon, make sure to tell them not to press the sides down too tightly."
"Why's that?"
"Because you have slight cheekbones, so if it's pressed too flat, it looks sunken in. So don't go for a two-block or anything like that for no reason, it's better to keep the side lines alive."
She gave advice even considering that I might go to other salons. At this point, it wasn't just cutting hair, it was consulting.
I got to hear various other pieces of advice too. Like using treatment products because my hair texture is coarse, or about this year's trending men's hairstyles. Also which products were good for hold and creating curls.
After the simple cut, she even tidied up my eyebrows. So high-end salons do this kind of thing too.
"Wow, I couldn't tell because they were hidden, but your eyebrows are really thick."
"Is that a good thing?"
"You bet. People who barely have any even get eyebrow tattoos. However, sir, since your eyebrows are thick and grow long, you have to tidy them up regularly. Otherwise, they look like Shin-chan eyebrows."
"It looks difficult..."
"Eheheh. You get used to it as you do it."
After finishing the eyebrow grooming, they proceeded with the side and back down perm. Then, bored, I glanced toward the waiting area and saw an unexpected sight.
"Ahaheh. It tickles."
"So cute..."
Bam nuna and Han Sae-byeok were playing with the puppy. But Han Sae-byeok's expression was a little different from usual. The face that had always seemed cold had softened, just like when she looked at Ah-reum. She must like cute things.
Ppiik~.
The perm finished.
"I'll wash your hair now."
Maybe because it was an expensive salon, even the shampoo was different. Not only was it more meticulous than my usual place, but they also applied a nutrient treatment.
At the final stage, even a massage.
"Eughh..."
"Feels good, right?"
"Yes... ngh."
I accidentally let a sound slip through my teeth. It was because, for some reason, goosebumps rose at the touch massaging my scalp. It was probably just my imagination that it felt strangely suggestive.
After washing my hair, they blow-dried it and I learned how to style it.
"Since it's your first time, I did a safe, classic style. It's called a slick dandy cut. When you're feeling lazy, you can just roughly tousle it and dry it, so it's easy to maintain."
"It feels like my bangs are parting too much..."
"That's the point. You can see your eyebrows peeking through the hair, right? It's just because you're not used to it. It looks good, so just do as you're told!"
The hairstylist nuna said firmly. Knowing that I was completely ignorant, she was force-feeding me the information.
Soon, the hairstylist nuna who finished the blow-dry let out a sigh and said.
"I seriously saved a life. No, why were you walking around looking like such a mess with this face? Make sure to thank Bam-i and Sae-byeok!"
"Yes, yes."
...Why was she angry? When she first started the cut, she was incredibly warm and friendly, but now she was talking as if I had committed a grave sin.
Anyway, my reflection in the mirror looked quite stylish even to my own eyes. Was it true that a guy's looks depended on his hair, after all? To think I'd naturally have the thought that I looked handsome while looking at myself. Even my confidence rose for no reason.
"Do you like it?"
"Yes, a lot!"
"Hehe. Who did it, of course it's obvious. Oh right, I'll show you a few more styling tips. Your forehead line is nice, so an up-do would suit you well too. You can push it all up like this, or just lift one side for a side-part feel..."
Lastly, the hairstylist nuna gave advice. Honestly, I couldn't understand more than half of it, but I still diligently etched it into my mind. Because seeing how much a person could change, I felt like I should live with at least some degree of grooming.
"Here, I'll give you this wax and spray as a gift."
"Huh? Uh, is this normally given out?"
"Obviously not. I'm giving it to you because it's a shame for you to walk around unstyled. Well, it's also a bribe to get you to come back."
The nuna winked. Should I say she had strong professional pride? She was a person with really great sociability.
"I'm Director Haneul. See you next time."
She looked young, but she was the director.
"Yes, thank you. I'll come again."
Not empty words, I really would have to come again. At first I thought it was way too expensive, but it was worth the price. It wasn't like I didn't have money, and indulging in a bit of luxury at the salon seemed fine.
*
Kang Cheol-jin, who had become a completely different person after the grooming.
As if his own appearance felt awkward, he fidgeted with the ends of his bangs and approached the waiting area where his companions were.
Woof woof.
"Woaaah. So cute!"
"I want to take him home..."
The two of them had been absorbed in playing with the puppy for over an hour.
'When she's like this, she looks a bit less scary.'
Kang Cheol-jin was surprised by this unfamiliar side of Han Sae-byeok, while also letting out a chuckle.
"Bam nuna, Sae-byeok sunbae."
"Ah, Cheoljjin. You're done... Whoaa?"
Yu-bam's eyes flew wide open. Kang Cheol-jin's appearance had changed so much. He had recently lost a lot of weight and reached 89kg. And with his hair now tidied up, his sharp, well-defined features were properly revealed.
"Is this really Cheoljjin? I couldn't recognize you!"
"Haha..."
Kang Cheol-jin laughed awkwardly.
Yu-bam's teal eyes sparkled as she continuously marveled. It might have seemed like she was making an excessive fuss, but anyone who had seen Kang Cheol-jin before the haircut would have done the same.
Meanwhile, Han Sae-byeok couldn't tear her eyes away from the puppy even after Kang Cheol-jin came over.
"Sae-byeok, Sae-byeok! Look at Cheoljjin! He got completely handsome! He looks like an actor!"
"Injeolmi is so cute..."
"Sae-byeoook! I'm telling you Cheoljjin transformed!"
Only after Yu-bam grabbed her shoulders and shook her did Han Sae-byeok turn her head with a frown.
"How much could he have really chang... ed..."
As she turned to look at Kang Cheol-jin, her words trailed off and her eyes widened with astonishment.
Han Sae-byeok stared at him in a daze.
"...Eul oppa?"