Ch.180Mom, I Love You (3)

“Hmm, not bad. Can you make your expression a bit more mischievous?”

“That’s my specialty.”

“Hahaha! It really is your specialty, amazing, just amazing. That’s exactly the expression I was thinking of.”

Having escaped from my villainous father and overly affectionate mother, I was now working as a model at the wedding shop I had visited previously.

At first, I thought I’d only be modeling wedding dresses, but after following along with a few requests, I found myself modeling other types of clothing as well.

Even today, most of the outfits weren’t wedding dresses but rather ordinary casual clothes and formal wear.

After seeing my first wedding dress modeling photos, the shop owner’s acquaintances—owners of clothing stores, boutiques, and school uniform shops—contacted me for modeling jobs. Today I was here for modeling work requested by those shop owners.

For just regular modeling jobs, there was no reason to squeeze Hamin in as a groom beside me, so I visited the store alone for today’s appointment.

Hamin is probably studying hard for his supplementary lessons right now.

Yes, you focus on your studies. I’ll secure at least some funds for whatever the future might hold.

“Boss, it’s break time. Have some snacks and drinks while you rest.”

“Oh, thanks. Shall we take a short break, Do-young?”

“Do-young, you said you liked Zero Lime, right? The boss heard that yesterday and immediately bought a bottle, keeping it cold in the refrigerator.”

“Wow, everyone’s so thoughtful here. As expected of a place full of artists. Ladies, come join us too.”

“Yes, girls. Most of our customers have appointments in the afternoon, so let’s all take a short break before then.”

“We’d love to!”

Perhaps it was because the place was filled with employees passionate about their work.

Not long after starting my part-time job at this wedding shop, I quickly became comfortable enough to chat easily with both the owner and the staff.

“Oh, did you really cry so much during the wedding that the ceremony had to pause, Bride Mi-so? That’s wonderful news.”

“Well, they were tears of joy. I think our teacher was overwhelmed by the dresses in this shop. She’s probably enjoying her honeymoon right now, crying her eyes out.”

“Come on, it’s not like she’s wearing the dress on her honeymoon.”

“But she’s probably crying in bed.”

“Haha, the way you say that, Do-young, you might end up crying at your own wedding too.”

“No way. Men only cry three times in their lives.”

“Huh? Why bring that up here?”

“…Oh.”

Right, that’s right.

I’m a woman right now.

“I forgot my current situation.”

“Hahaha, what’s that about? There are other things to forget! You were just modeling women’s clothes until a moment ago!”

“Sometimes when I talk with you, Do-young, it feels like I’m chatting with a close male friend. Is that how you charm all the guys around you?”

“Hey! You all have no filter when talking to a 100% pure virgin!”

“But when you blush and react like that, you really do seem like a complete innocent.”

“It’s fascinating, and just as entertaining.”

“Ah, I think I get it. You’re good at teasing others, but weak when it comes to being teased yourself. A glass cannon, right? That’s another thing you have in common with Joon-sook.”

“I’m… like Mom?”

“Why are you surprised? It’s natural for daughters to resemble their mothers.”

“…No, it’s nothing.”

While the real Ban Do-young might have brushed off such a comment easily,

for me, it wasn’t something I could just laugh away.

Being told our personalities were similar meant

that my true inner self resembled Ban Do-young’s mother.

If it’s natural for daughters to resemble their mothers,

then resembling the mother’s personality also means resembling the daughter’s personality,

which led to the conclusion that the real Ban Do-young and I weren’t that different.

There had been hints all along.

That the real Ban Do-young and my personalities were similar.

The fact that I, without any memories of living as Ban Do-young, could quickly get along with everyone around me probably meant that, aside from memories, there wasn’t much difference between me and the real Ban Do-young.

If only my memories had changed,

am I really the Ban Do-young I know myself to be?

…

Am I really not the real Ban Do-young?

“Ugh. Having philosophical identity crises at this point is impossible for Ban Do-young’s born-to-be-blockhead brain…”

Trying to use my brain after not using it since the final exams, I clutched my head as a headache came on.

“W-what’s wrong all of a sudden?”

“Whew… I was just seriously contemplating ‘who am I’ after hearing what the teacher said.”

“All that from being told you resemble your mom?”

“Do you dislike being told you resemble your mother that much?”

“P-puberty…!”

I’d given Teacher Jung and the other staff members a strange misunderstanding.

“N-now that you mention resemblance, the more I look at Do-young, doesn’t she look exactly like the legendary bride?”

Sensing the awkward atmosphere, the staff member quickly changed the subject.

“Y-yes, that’s right. I recognized she was Joon-sook’s daughter the moment I saw her face. Genetics are truly amazing.”

“D-did you think so too, boss? That’s why when I see Do-young wearing clothes and striking poses now, I sometimes can’t help but feel like the legendary bride is standing there as our model. Especially when she wore that form-fitting gray dress earlier, I really thought the legendary bride had returned to the shop!”

“Hahaha, you’re going too far, our youngest. After the break, the next outfit is a school uniform. At this rate, you’ll mistake Do-young in a school uniform for Joon-sook too?”

“Hahaha, come on. Even I wouldn’t go that far! The legendary bride in a school uniform? That’s too difficult to imagine! I can’t picture it at all!”

“Haha, right? I’ve known Joon-sook since her twenties, but I can’t imagine her in a school uniform either! Hahaha!”

“…Is this age-shaming?”

The atmosphere grew even more awkward.

“Yes, that’ll be 3,500 won in total.”

“Ah, yes. Here’s 5,000 won and 500 won, so please give me 2,000 won back without coins.”

“Oh, that makes it easier for us too. Thank you, student. See you next time!”

“Ha, student….”

No student enjoys being called “student.”

If you ever see someone in a school uniform whose lips turn red and who bites them shyly upon being called “student,” observe them carefully.

“S-see? I’m still… not that old, right?”

They might be a parent with at least a high school-aged child making a bold attempt.

“Phew… Good thing I came somewhere far from home.”

Not satisfied with just wearing Do-young’s uniform in front of the mirror, Joon-sook boldly ventured out into the streets in that outfit.

However, no matter how much a mother and daughter resemble each other, she couldn’t fool the eyes of those who had known Do-young’s family for a long time.

Joon-sook deliberately sought out a market far from both home and school.

At a station or store near home or school,

there was a risk of running into students finishing supplementary classes or Do-young’s friends passing by.

The most concerning individuals were definitely Sa-hyang and Hye-rang.

As Do-young’s best friends since elementary school, she couldn’t fool their eyes.

“It’s fine, there aren’t any cafes or clothing stores that young students would like around here. Unless Sa-hyang and Hye-rang suddenly develop an interest in ssanghwa tea and start frequenting the teahouses in this area.”

Fortunately, Joon-sook knew Do-young’s friends well.

She had already figured they wouldn’t visit a market street frequented by elderly people.

It was fortunate she was a mother who took great interest in her children.

‘Oh my, are you running errands for your parents at the market? What a good daughter! I haven’t seen that school uniform around here before. Do you live far away?’

‘Here, student, take this as a bonus. Seeing such a pretty young lady has put me in a good mood.’

‘Come again, student. Next time, I’ll introduce you to my handsome grandson!’

As she shopped for necessary ingredients and walked through the market, she began to gain confidence.

Whether at the vegetable stand, fish market, or fresh produce store, none of the owners questioned Joon-sook’s school uniform.

“I was a bit worried at first, but… considering what the shop owner said earlier… maybe I do look age-appropriate after all? Hehe.”

With growing confidence, the corners of her mouth turned up.

With upturned lips, her steps became more lively.

With lively steps, she began to hum a tune.

“Vroom vroom vroom~ A tiny little car, a little car has appeared~”

Even her humming carried nostalgia from her childhood.

Any concerns about accidentally meeting one of Do-young’s acquaintances had completely vanished as Joon-sook, drunk on happiness, strolled through the market humming childhood tunes.

“Vroom vroom vroom~ When you smell the flower’s scent, the little car gets stronger-“

“Do-young!”

“Eek!”

-Honk honk!

Just then, a car horn sounded as if hitting the back of Joon-sook’s head as she was leaving the market.

Startled by the cheerful voice calling Do-young’s name, Joon-sook stiffly turned her body slowly to face the source of the voice.

“Do-young! It is you, right? What a coincidence meeting you here!”

“W-who are you?”

“Really! Are you pretending not to know me just because we haven’t met in a while? Mom feels hurt!”

“M-mom…?”

The mysterious girl who had mistaken her for Do-young,

sitting behind the wheel of a yellow Kia Ray.

Suddenly, this girl was calling herself “mom” and greeting Joon-sook enthusiastically.