A Deal Between Witches
Dr. Ma Yeojeong explained it all in a calm, measured voice. "We perform hypnotherapy while the subject is asleep, planting the idea that testicles are simply unnecessary. In other words, we instill the belief that by removing what is unneeded, one can become someone worthy of complete love. That means we don't require anything like a Magic Word. We simply guide them to reach the decision on their own. Does that make sense?"
Changhee, elegantly made up and dressed in modest, tasteful clothes, gave a tiny nod that only I could catch. She nodded again in the same subtle way as Yeojeong continued, describing how the process would help with decisions that were difficult to make alone and then permanently eliminate any lingering anxiety so that no scars of regret would remain.
Watching her, I smiled with deep satisfaction inside. The thought that I could finally make Changhee completely mine filled me with quiet pleasure. My childhood tendency to claim whatever I wanted until I felt satisfied was revealing itself once more. The only thing I had never imagined was that the thing I would want to claim was a person—and that person would be Changhee.
I sent Changhee out to wait first, then asked Ma Yeojeong about the Magic Word. She knew I was aware it was being used on Jeongsook's husband, and she probably assumed I had an interest myself, so she answered without hesitation.
"The Magic Word can only be used for a limited time. During that period the subject tends to act somewhat like a sleepwalker. But after a certain point… well, let's use Jeongsook's husband as an example. His case is exceptionally responsive to the therapy. I believe that in about two months he will behave exactly as Jeongsook wishes even without the trigger word."
"Is that really possible? I've only ever seen this sort of thing in movies, so…"
"Most people have the same reaction. Looking purely at the hypnotic state, it's not inaccurate to say it resembles sleepwalking. But thanks to advances in sleep hypnotherapy, we can now perform continuous mind control during sleep and reshape thoughts themselves to a significant degree. We induce physical and mental changes through hormones while also creating psychological shifts, which is why the results are so satisfying."
Ma Yeojeong straightened her shoulders as if proudly displaying her accomplishment. Seeing her take genuine pride in the casual transformation of a human being left me feeling uneasy. Still, I had to acknowledge that her skill was formidable.
"To be honest, a case like Mr. Kim Han-cheol surprised even me. Among all the people I've treated, this is the first time I've seen such clear results in such a short period. I had told Jeongsook to expect a year, but it seems my prediction has been proven wrong. Hehe…"
She offered a touch of humility, as though she had read my discomfort. I had already heard the full story about her and her husband from Jeongsook months earlier, so even her modest tone could not ease the queasiness in my stomach. She was a terrifying woman who had turned her own unfaithful husband into her personal test subject.
"For Lee Changhee, however, I don't believe we need to go that far. Since we only need to steady a heart that keeps wavering, I'm confident the process will be much simpler and quicker."
Ma Yeojeong smiled brightly, radiating confidence, and I returned the smile.
"By the way… this might be a rather personal question, but…"
"Please, go ahead. I'll answer anything I can. Both Jeongsook and I owe you a great deal, and we've shared secrets. There's no need to be so formal. Hehe…"
"All right. Then I'll speak to you as a friend. Changhee's makeup technique and sense of style are truly impressive. I wanted to ask whether she might be interested in external activities."
"External activities? Are you asking if she's considering finding a job?"
"It's not about shopping or casual outings, so yes, that's essentially what I mean. I believe there will certainly be times when Changhee herself wants to show her true self to more people. It's a fairly common desire…"
"I did tell her she could work at my company if she wanted office life. We haven't had a serious discussion yet because there are still some matters to settle, but I think the time to talk properly will come soon. Is that something I should be handling as well?"
Ma Yeojeong waved her hand lightly.
"That's not what I meant. I heard there are other sides to Changhee, and I thought that if she ever felt the desire to express them, I might be able to help. Or perhaps I would be the one receiving assistance."
"Ah, so there's something we could help each other with. Hehe…"
She said nothing more, but I instinctively sensed it was connected to her own husband. She must have learned through Jeongsook that I already knew about him. Jeongsook was close enough to call her "Unni," yet she maintained a certain distance with me; this was the first time we had exchanged such personal conversation.
"If that's the case, why don't we meet separately sometime and speak openly? To repay you for helping us, I'd gladly do anything I can for you or Jeongsook."
This time I smiled first. She looked startled to hear the word "Unni" from my lips, then smiled in return and offered her hand. I took it firmly and shook it. The gesture felt exactly like striking a bargain between witches.
On the way home we filed our marriage registration. I couldn't bear to wait until the one-year anniversary of living together; my heart was in too much of a hurry. We had already discussed it a few days earlier because I wanted to put Changhee's mind at ease even a little.
Yet Changhee's expression was not particularly bright. When I asked whether she disliked it or felt troubled, she offered a delicate smile and said she was happy. I pressed further, wondering if the hypnotherapy was bothering her.
"I trust you, Unni. It's not that I haven't done what you wanted because I doubted you. It's just… even now, some lingering attachment remains because I used to be a man."
When I imagined how I myself might have hesitated if I had reached this age without childhood surgery and suddenly had to choose one of two genders, I could understand his heart to some degree.
"I'm also worried whether I can become the Changhee—the Changnyeo—who never disappoints Unni. The fear that I might not be good enough in your eyes is one of the reasons I keep hesitating about the surgery."
"I told you not to think that way. Once we finish the official registration the day after tomorrow, you'll understand how much I love you and how sincere I am. I'm the one who worries whether I can be the Unni and husband who never disappoints you. But nothing worth having comes without effort, right? Let's work on this together."
I reached out to find his hand. His hand met mine, closing around it.
"Actually… I made up my mind earlier while waiting for you in the hospital hallway. I'll go through with the surgery."
Startled, I tore my eyes from the road ahead and stared at him. He was smiling at me. I quickly looked forward again.
"Are you serious? You don't need the hypnotherapy?"
"No, I don't. I'll get the breast augmentation as you want, then we'll set a date for the full surgery. But… I have one request."
"A request? What is it? If it's something I can grant, I'll give you anything."
My voice rose with the excitement of a delighted child. If he was truly going to become my woman who would do whatever I asked, there was no request I wouldn't fulfill.
"My parents… please meet them with me. I don't have the confidence to face them alone."
"Of course. Even if you had said you wanted to meet them by yourself, I was going to insist on coming along. Don't worry. If there's scolding, we'll be scolded together. If there's hitting, I'll take the blows for you. Haha…"
I squeezed his hand tightly. He squeezed back. It was the moment when the strength of our newly legal marriage fused together.
A week later, Changhee invited his parents to the apartment where we lived and introduced me to them.
I wore a neat brown two-piece suit with pants rather than a skirt. He had already called them a few days earlier to give a rough explanation of the situation, but since we had received no real response, the tension I felt was considerable.
Changhee, beautifully made up and wearing a brown wig that fell to her shoulders along with a modest dress that matched my outfit, greeted his parents and guided them into the living room. The drinks were already prepared, so she stood beside me, introduced me first, and then revealed her true identity.
His parents nearly fainted on the spot. I worried they might collapse from a heart attack, but fortunately it did not go that far.
Sitting demurely at my side, Changhee gave a more detailed account of what she had told them over the phone. She honestly confessed that she had known she possessed a strong feminine side and had given up on marriage, but a woman had accepted her as a man and even promised to marry her, which led to the decision to wed. She also admitted that while she did not know what changes the future might bring, she would not undergo gender reassignment surgery to become a woman.
To ease the shock, both parents drank two glasses of whiskey in quick succession and let out several heavy sighs that seemed to empty the room. Watching them, Changhee repeatedly apologized and shed just as many tears.
Perhaps realizing it was fortunate that I still wanted to marry her despite knowing everything, his father suddenly grabbed my hand and thanked me. His mother could only cry like Changhee, unable to speak.
I calmly stated that I was more masculine than Changhee and openly declared my conviction that I intended to embrace her and live with her from now on. It was an utterly absurd and surreal situation, yet his parents offered not a single strange word to either of us. They simply asked me to take good care of their unworthy son and left early.