A Pleasant Dinner Meeting
The meeting at a restaurant good for conversation went smoother than expected. That was because President Nam Jaa broke the stiff atmosphere first. Her image through the media was rather cold, but in a face-to-face setting, that feeling was nowhere to be found, making me wonder if she was a different person.
In a business meeting, if the business talk goes well, more personal stories usually follow. President Nam Jaa seemed to already know a lot about Hong Nabi, so she asked Changhee various questions. What kind of work she had done, when she got married, how the marriage was going—extremely personal but not overly probing questions.
Changhee answered almost honestly. It was possible because there were no questions about his identity or gender identity. She also asked me appropriate questions, so the atmosphere didn't sour.
"Your voice surgery would make you much prettier... Maybe your husband is against it because it would be too much if your voice became pretty too?"
She smiled at the corner of her mouth while looking back and forth between me and Changhee.
"I wasn't thinking about it because Sohyeon doesn't particularly dislike this voice. Since Sohyeon's voice is also androgynous, we don't find it strange at all."
Changhee answered brightly with a smiling face.
"I think this voice is sexy, so I didn't feel the need to fix it. It doesn't quite match the face, which makes it rather charming, I suppose..."
I answered that way. It might sound like a flimsy excuse to some ears. But that was the truth. Depending on how you listened, Changhee's voice was androgynous yet feminine, giving off a sexy vibe. In a way, it was a more feminine voice than mine. It was strange that we'd never seriously talked about the voice before, but I thought maybe that was the reason.
"No, I was actually saying that because I was a bit envious. Actually, there are many women with voices like President Kim's, so it's not strange, but I envy the slightly husky charm in the tone, haha... It's a shame that even at this age, there are still so many things to envy, hohoho..."
Because of those words, we laughed again. Thanks to the premonition that things would really go well, I could laugh even more joyfully.
After President Nam Jaa left, the remaining four of us moved to Six Nine. Changhee and Hong Nabi, who couldn't talk comfortably with the president around, had time to get closer in a much more relaxed mood, and naturally, stories from my and Suyeon's past came up. The two of them looked at us with strange eyes and teased us. Seeing Changhee laughing brightly and chattering merrily after a long time made me happy. I even felt sorry for not creating such times sooner.
"It might be the first time I've seen you chatting and laughing so happily."
On the way home, when I said that, he said he was sorry.
"What are you sorry for? That sounds like something I should be saying..."
"No. If it weren't for you, Unni, I feel like I encountered a world I wouldn't have experienced today, and it was really enjoyable. Even when you had me investigate cosmetics, I worked excitedly without knowing it would become such a big deal, but thinking that I'm now part of such a big project as one of the pillars, I must have gotten excited on my own. Thank you so much, Unni."
Just by holding my hand tightly, I could feel how grateful he was. I also held his hand tightly. I hoped it conveyed how much I loved him.
"Should I... get my voice fixed?"
"No, I like it just the way it is now. I mean it. I know you're worried because of what President Nam said earlier, but I really like that voice right now. It's not someone else's; it's Changhee's voice, so I like it."
He was just blinking, as if he couldn't believe my words.
"I was thinking quietly earlier too, and I wonder if I fell for you more because of that voice. It's like your own charm point, huhu... Are you envious of Hong Nabi's voice? You don't need to think that at all. The only thing you're losing to that person is height, haha..."
At my words, he poked my shoulder repeatedly. According to him, Hong Nabi, who is 175cm with a matching chest and figure, has more parts that can draw people's attention, but officially 169cm Changhee could proudly say that because she shines as a 'woman' by my side, who is taller. She might feel disappointed that she's not self-luminous, but thinking that she becomes a more radiant 'woman' because of me, I could feel a thrilling ecstasy. Changhee, the 'woman' completed by me. She was a perfect one-of-a-kind artwork in the world shaped by my selfishness.
25. When I received Kim Minjun's call, the employees were hurrying to leave work. Unless there was something special, it was our company's tradition(?) to have an early dinner together on Friday evenings and then part ways. At that time too, after finishing the meal together, everyone was bustling about, patting their faces or applying lipstick or mousse, making plans to enjoy Friday night somewhere.
"How's your schedule today?"
"I don't have any special plans, but it can't be too late."
"Ah, that's something you can handle yourself, but won't you go to Itaewon with me? Aren't you curious about Gukhwa?"
"You said you'd take good care of her, so I believe she's doing well."
"That's true. I'm someone who really keeps my promises, huhu... But you know, compared to how enthusiastically you stepped up for your friend at first, I feel like you've been lacking sincerity lately. It's not even been a month yet, but isn't it too early for your heart to change? Maybe you've given up on your friend now?"
I was at a loss for words.
"Now tell me honestly. You have something going on with Gukhwa, right? It's not about your friend, is it? Huhu..."
Ah, this ghost... For the past few days, I'd been so busy that I hadn't paid attention, and it had twisted his imagination in a strange direction.
"It's really about the friend issue. If it were between me and Gukhwa, could Gukhwa have acted so nonchalantly when she saw me? No matter how heavy the makeup, she would have recognized me long ago and run away."
"Is that so? I thought the heavy makeup was to hide so no one would recognize her, but was that overthinking? Anyway... Since there was no contact, I called first. Let's meet up, and we'll wrap it up by midnight."
I looked at the clock. It had just passed seven. The time I had planned to go to the crossdresser cafe Kinky with Changhee after a long time was ten o'clock. I was thinking of meeting Kim Minjun next time when suddenly I became curious about how Gukhwa was doing. When I asked if it wasn't too early to go to Cinderella, he said he'd already spoken to the madam and Gukhwa, so not to worry. True to someone who knew the ins and outs of bar life, he'd already made arrangements. In the end, I promised to go to Cinderella by eight o'clock.
I called Changhee. I told her something urgent came up so I'd be late, to go to Kinky first and have fun. Since we could go next time, to take care of business and come home. Wanting to give Changhee a chance to fully unwind after a long time, recognizing her contribution to the collaboration with Zaya under President Nam Jaa, I pushed further.
"Be careful of the wolves. Got it?"
"Oh my, you're still worried about me, hoho..."
"Of course. I won't let anyone who touches you get away with it, huhu..."
"Isn't that something you should be saying to me? It sounds like a warning not to have wandering eyes, hoho..."
"You got it. Have fun, but don't forget you're a married woman."
"Of course! Hohoho..."
Hearing the sound of happiness dripping, my once-shriveled heart expanded again. Why had it shriveled? Probably because of the frustration or guilt of still having to hide the truth about his brother. However, I still didn't know how to bring it up, and couldn't decide if I should or shouldn't. I sometimes thought that if I could hide it forever, that would be the right thing to do.
I shook my head vigorously and quickly called Delma. It was on the way to Cinderella. This time too, I planned to do heavy makeup and give off a bar girl vibe. Just as I wasn't sure about Gukhwa, it seemed better to continue the game on the premise that he didn't know who I was either.
The interior, mixed with the sound of dance instruction on stage and music, was noisy. Guided by the waiter, I entered the private room in the back. Unlike the hall with the stage, the private room was bright. It was an opportunity to scrutinize Gukhwa in a bright place. Since I had some doubts about whether Gukhwa was really Changhee's brother, I had expectations that I could confirm it for sure this time.
When I entered, Kim Minjun, Gukhwa, and the madam were chatting. They stopped talking when they saw me and greeted me warmly. I greeted back and sat across from Kim Minjun. The madam sat next to me and offered a drink. I held out my glass and looked back and forth between him and Gukhwa.