Chapter 18
Chapter 18
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: Makeup Makeover and Fire Show
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Kim Na-yeon, I never pegged you for having such bold drive.
Was it the alcohol, or had she just been holding back her real personality because things felt awkward at first?
Either way, she definitely seemed straightforward and refreshing.
Without any hesitation, she pulled various items from her pouch and sat down to my left. Lee Si-hyun was on my right, Kim Na-yeon on my left.
Somehow, both of their faces radiated this odd sense of anticipation.
"Come here for a sec. Close your eyes."
"Uh, no... Do we really have to do this now?"
"That's why we're doing it now, isn't it?"
"Who does makeup in a barbecue joint!"
"Hey, guys. Save me, please."
I pleaded with my classmates for help, but they thoroughly crushed my expectations.
"Why not give it a try?"
"You little..."
"Come on, sunbae. You came expecting to get messy tonight anyway, right? Might as well go all out."
I couldn't keep up with this level of social energy.
Where on earth did this friendliness come from?
My face must really hold people back a lot. I never imagined Kim Na-yeon was the type to stick this close.
"Fine, fine, just let go. Seriously... why insist on makeup?"
"Because I want to see it? Your bare face looks this good without even basic stuff—who knows how pretty it'll be with full makeup."
If it were my little sister pulling this, I'd put my foot down hard. But pushing away a junior who's finally warming up to me felt wrong.
...Fine. I'll sacrifice once.
This untimely commotion at the barbecue place drew stares from all around. I figured it'd happen, but way more people are asking for handshakes than I thought.
Then even other female juniors joined in. "Try this on," "How about that?"—they were like a full styling team.
My classmates' expressions watching this were strange.
Hey, this is your fault for not stopping it.
How much time passed? The juniors were high-fiving each other.
"This is a masterpiece!"
"Perfect!"
"Wow, seriously, you could be an actor at this point."
"You're overreacting."
"Overreacting? No way, sunbae. This is no exaggeration. You have to see the results."
Looking at the mirror they shoved in my face... yeah, I got why they were freaking out.
Huh... My face doesn't even look like my face anymore.
I knew girls use makeup to deceive, but isn't this a bit much?
I'm worried random guys might confess left and right.
"Whoa... Shit, if I didn't know you were a guy, I'd have fallen for you."
"Ew. Don't even think about it, please."
"I won't, I won't. You perv."
"I knew women's makeup was a scam... but is it because the base is already so good? This is insane."
Han Tae-hoon was gushing, while Yoo Han-gyeol was scrutinizing my face closely. Gross, you guys.
"Hey, stop staring. It's creepy."
"Normally you'd say you're embarrassed, right?"
"What's there to be embarrassed about with you guys looking? It's just creepy. Especially you, Yoo Han-gyeol. Don't eyeball me like you're judging a celebrity's face."
"Got it, got it. Never thought I'd live to see the day. How'd the macho man turn into this?"
"Shut up."
"Sunbae, you won't get street-cast at this rate, will you?"
Si-hyun stared at my face for a moment before chiming in.
"No way street-casting happens anymore... What era do you think it is?"
"Why not? I hear modeling and agency scouts still approach standout people sometimes."
"Even so, no one's crazy enough to street-cast a mutant."
"You never know. There's no such thing as 'never' in this world."
"Right, right! Man, we might see you in movies, dramas, or magazines later."
"Absolutely not."
"Why?"
"I'm already dying from the stares as it is—live with them forever? Ugh... nightmare."
"Heh, too stimulating for a shut-in?"
"Yeah, pretty much."
"Still, you look good, man. Stop holing up in your room and come out more."
"Too much for an asocial guy like me."
"You're insulting asocials right now, dude. Real asocials don't even show up to events like this."
"...Am I?"
"Yeah. You're not asocial or social—you're in-between. Not asocial, at least."
"Hey, honestly, I wouldn't be at an event like this without you guys."
"Exactly why you're not asocial. Which asocial shows up just because they know someone?"
"Uh, well."
I had nothing to say. Is that true? Have I unwittingly become one of those social types who steals the asocial label from actual asocials?
No, but I still don't feel social...
"And no asocial would put on a fire show at a place like this."
"Right, the fire show!"
Right on cue, Kim Na-yeon—who'd been bragging about her makeup job to the juniors—lit up.
Not just her. Lee Si-hyun next to me, my classmates, even Nam Soo-yeon over there... everyone was brimming with expectation.
"...Wow, the pressure is insane."
Suddenly, I really didn't want to do it.
"A real man follows through once he says he will."
"Not a real man anymore, are you?"
"Screw you. Twenty-four years as a man means that crap won't fly now."
"Name one real man who does full makeup like this."
"Guys wear makeup these days."
"Argh, damn it. You never let up. Fine, I'll rather die than back down. Okay, okay. Fire show it is."
"There you go."
"First, let's head outside. Can't do it indoors or we'll be in trouble. Everyone's drunk and eaten enough anyway... Right, prez?"
"Yeah! Everyone eat well?"
""Yes!""
"Alright, let's go. I'll put on a hot show in an open lot."
"Ooh... See? He knows how to run the show once it's on. Right, Han-gyeol?"
"Totally."
"I'll bet the house he crashes when he gets home."
"Bet what?"
"Dunno."
"You're just spouting nonsense, Heo Ji-hoon."
"Why? It's fun."
"Calling these clowns classmates... Let's go. I'll blow your minds with that fire show you wanted."
"Hey, can you show your wings too?"
"Unless you're paying for the shirt, no wings."
"Damn."
* * *
And so, everyone at the club gathering marched through the bustling streets to a nearby park just to see my fire show.
Si-hyun had drunk quite a bit, her steps wobbly, so I was holding her up as we walked.
Why'd she chug like that if she can't handle her liquor?
"Hehe, fire show, fire show."
Seeing her giggling like it was the funniest thing made her seem kinda cute. She's usually so composed, so this side was even cuter.
On the way to the park, I got a call from my little sister.
"What."
-Where are you?
"Heading to a nearby park."
-Huh? Why the park?
"The crew wants a fire show, so I'm gonna give 'em a good one."
-You do the weirdest shit...
"Wanna come watch? Better than fireworks."
-...Should I?
"As expected, you can't resist fireworks either?"
-Yeah. Be there soon.
"Coming alone?"
-Yeah. Not advertising that my sister's your sister everywhere.
"Got it."
"Who's that?"
"My little sis."
"Oh..."
"Did I mention her to you, Si-hyun junior?"
"Nope."
"She goes to Korea University too. But when I said fire show, she wanted to come..."
"What's her major?"
"Business. Anyway, we'll start once she gets here."
The juniors plopped down in the middle of the park.
There was a wide open space, but to avoid any embers hitting the grass, we decided on near the central fountain.
Felt like a circus performer. Not bad, though.
My life doesn't have much of this, so it was fun just for the novelty.
Mentally exhausting aside, of course.
I'll probably crash dead on the floor when I get home tonight. Good thing tomorrow's Saturday.
Anyway, I sent sis the exact spot, and she showed up quick.
"Hi."
"You made it?"
"Yup. So, when's the fire show?"
"Was waiting for you."
"What's gotten into you? Doing stuff like this."
"Dunno. Just happened."
"Crazy world."
"Whoa, Yoon Seo-hyun has a sister like this? Hi, I'm Han Tae-hoon, Seo-hyun's classmate."
"Nice to meet you. My sister's been in your debt a lot, huh? She's told me all about you—said you're great friends who helped her a ton with department life."
"Ooh... Did Yoon Seo-hyun really say that? Nah, debt? We've benefited from her more."
My classmates and juniors started chatting up my sister.
Whatever. I gauged how much firepower to use. Can't have embers flying everywhere... Yeah, straight up into the air.
They call this a breath, right?
"Alright, enough chit-chat... I'll do it once, so watch closely."
As I thought about unleashing flames, power boiled up inside me automatically.
A scorching heat filling my gut.
Without hesitation, I shot the blaze skyward.
Kwaaaaa!
The massive pillar of fire shooting up left everyone's eyes wide.
Is this even just flames? It was a full-on fire pillar piercing the clouds.
Not just the juniors—nearby park-goers stared too.
Uh... I figured it'd draw eyes, but I might've overdone it.