Ch.90Side Story: Shirley Temple

Home, I think.

My head hurts so much.

Yesterday, I drank too much with Siho at Moment.

Was it a party celebrating my new job at the research institute? I can’t even remember clearly.

Red Eye, which I usually enjoy, plus gin and tonic, Catharsis, and more…

The mix of various alcohols resulted in a terrible hangover.

I scratched my messy hair as I got up from bed.

But…

My body should feel heavy from the hangover, so why does it feel so light?

My once-long waist feels shorter.

My arms and legs feel thinner.

I lowered my legs from the bed.

Strangely, my feet don’t touch the ground.

I jumped down and hurried to the bathroom.

Usually my thighs should reach the sink, but why is it at my navel now?

I looked in the mirror.

And then I realized the reason for the strange feeling I’d been having.

The person reflected in the mirror wasn’t me.

The black hair and red eyes were still the same.

But the chubby cheeks and bright eyes.

And the small height of about 140cm.

“This is 12-year-old me…!”

Until yesterday, I was an executive at Ilshim, and now I’ve become this young.

What on earth happened?

I can’t help but laugh hollowly.

But that laughter soon turns into a satisfied smile.

Well, I wasn’t bad-looking as a kid either.

I could have been a model.

“—.”

While observing my younger body, I hear a ringtone from the bed.

It’s Sangmun.

“What time is it now…”

There are exactly two reasons Sangmun would call in the morning:

Either the Association has raided headquarters, or I’ve overslept.

The former rarely happens.

It’s probably the latter.

As I turned on my phone,

I squeezed my eyes shut.

Sure enough, the clock already shows 10 o’clock.

“Haah…”

I sighed deeply.

A girlish voice escapes between my lips.

Startled by that voice, I grabbed my throat.

“Damn it, why is even my voice like this…”

I try to clear my throat somehow.

I practice what to say to Sangmun, attempting a gruff “Hey, it’s me” with a phlegmy, metallic voice.

But no matter how many times I repeat it, I sound like nothing more than a kid.

Finally, I answered the phone with resignation.

“Ma’am, it’s Sangmun. Since you haven’t come to work yet…”

“Ah, yes. I had something to take care of.”

“M-Ma’am…? Your voice sounds strange. Are you alright?”

“I-I caught a cold, that’s why.”

I tried to lower my voice, but it was clearly hopeless.

“The Vice Chairman has been calling for you, so you need to come quickly.”

“The Vice Chairman…?”

“Yes, she’s been looking for you all morning.”

I have to meet the Vice Chairman looking like this?

Normally, I could just say I’m sick and that would be the end of it.

But when the Vice Chairman calls, it means something’s happened.

No choice, I have to go…

“I’ll be right there.”

I was about to hang up.

But seeing the car keys lying on the floor, I had to pick up the phone again.

“Sangmun…”

“Yes, Ma’am.”

“Could you possibly come pick me up…”

I mumbled in a small voice.

Sensing the seriousness of the situation, Sangmun said he understood and hung up immediately.

“Ah, really-!”

I scratched my already messy hair vigorously.

What an embarrassment in front of my subordinate!

I pulled on the closet handle.

But today of all days, it just wouldn’t open.

I grabbed the handle with both hands and pulled hard.

Then my body flew backward, and I fell on my back.

Anxiety washes over me.

As expected, there are no clothes in the closet that fit me now.

They’re all clothes from when I was 170cm tall.

“Shit…”

<Ilshim Headquarters, Vice Chairman’s Office>

Department Head Choi Nahyun is practicing her putting with a golf club.

Waiting for her faithful subordinate who will arrive soon.

She was planning to ask her about which new putter model to buy.

“Vice Chairman, Team Leader Han is here.”

Sangmun’s voice can be heard from outside the office.

In response, she swings her putter and answers.

“Ah, tell her to come in.”

The door opens.

Nahyun closes her eyes, waiting for the sound of her subordinate’s heels.

But no matter how long she waits, she doesn’t hear the sound of heels.

Instead, there’s only the sound of something dragging across the floor.

Finding it strange, Nahyun opens her eyes.

And she stares at me blankly, golf club still in hand.

A loose dress shirt and suit pants dragging on the floor.

It looks awkward, like I’m wearing my father’s clothes.

“It’s me… Vice Chairman…”

I tried to speak clearly and deliberately.

But this damn vocal cord keeps trembling, making my pronunciation slurred.

“Team… Leader Han?”

Nahyun puts down her golf club and slowly approaches me.

I used to be taller than her, but now she looks enormous, almost a head taller.

“Are you Team Leader Han’s niece?”

“It’s me, Jeoksa!”

I thought the Vice Chairman would recognize me right away…

Feeling disappointed, I clenched my fists tightly.

But the dress shirt was too big and completely swallowed my hands.

“What’s going on… Did I read too many martial arts novels yesterday?”

“Please don’t apply your old-fashioned tastes to me, Vice Chairman…”

“No, but in those stories, when people reach a certain level, they become younger… What was it called? Reverse aging?”

I sighed deeply and pulled up my pants.

The ill-fitting belt dangles loosely.

“Judging by that temper, you must be our Jeoksa…”

“It seems there was a problem with the cocktail Siho made for me yesterday.”

“Wow- I didn’t know our new bride had such tastes. Amazing-!”

The Vice Chairman’s dialect comes out when she’s flustered.

She smiles brightly as she circles around my younger self.

“She must have added the wrong buff because she was making cocktails while drunk yesterday.”

“Really…? Does your ability still work properly?”

“Yes, I tried controlling a dummy earlier, and it works fine.”

“That’s a relief…”

Vice Chairman Nahyun stops abruptly and looks down at me.

Her dark shadow blocks the light.

“W-why are you looking at me like that, Vice Chairman…”

“Can I hug you?”

The green-eyed woman smiles mischievously.

The corners of her mouth twitch uncontrollably.

“What…? What do you mean…”

Before I could finish speaking,

The Vice Chairman slipped her hands under my armpits.

And she lifted me up.

My body rises so easily and effortlessly.

“Oh my- How cute, our Team Leader Han-.”

The Vice Chairman hugs me and spins around like an aunt would.

My face turns bright red at her behavior.

“Vice Chairman, please maintain some dignity…!”

I feel dizzy.

It’s so humiliating and frustrating.

At that moment, only one person’s face kept circling in my mind.

The woman who made me like this.

Han Siho.

Just you wait…

I won’t let this slide.

I finally escaped from the Vice Chairman’s airplane ride an hour later.

If only that had been the end, but I was forcibly dressed in children’s clothes.

A tennis skirt with suspenders, of all things.

I never wore such clothes even when I was actually young.

She even brought a strange teddy bear from somewhere.

And forcibly placed it in my clasped hands.

“Now listen carefully. That belongs to our Chairman’s granddaughter.”

Hearing that, I quickly cradled the doll carefully.

Satisfied with my response, the organization’s second-in-command smiles like a mother.

“I’m only holding it because it’s the granddaughter’s. It would be troublesome if I dropped it…”

“I know, I know. Now, tilt your head more demurely.”

“L-like this…?”

It feels like I’m back to my modeling days.

I instinctively tilt my head.

“Wow- Even when young, that gaze remains the same. Like a temperamental young lady from a wealthy family.”

Vice Chairman’s green eyes sparkle.

Unlike her usual lazy work hours, she was more dedicated to this photoshoot than anyone.

I finally escaped from her after lunchtime.

The Vice Chairman, judging that work was impossible, gave me sick leave.

Thanks to that, I got to rest comfortably for the day.

This actually worked out well.

I’m heading to Moment right now.

I was walking toward the car when I stopped abruptly.

Ah, shit.

“Sangmun… can you drive me…”

I pinched Sangmun’s shirt.

The burly man covered his mouth.

The subordinates standing behind him also turned their heads away.

The more they acted like that, the more my anger toward Siho grew.

Stressed, I habitually made a gesture as if smoking a cigarette.

Sangmun stared down at my ‘very angry’ face blankly.

He took a lemon candy from his pocket and placed it in my hand.

My brow twitched when even Sangmun, whom I trusted, did that.

The man shook his head frantically.

“I’m sorry, just… when you’re in a bad mood, isn’t something sweet the best?”

“Shut up and just drive.”

I closed my eyes with my arms crossed.

Meanwhile, the black sedan left the headquarters building.

And headed toward the familiar cocktail bar.

When the car stopped in the parking lot, I immediately kicked the door open.

And stormed into the establishment’s entrance, breathing heavily.

“Hey!”

Since it’s not open yet, only Siho and the chef are in the store.

The small bartender’s eyes widen when she sees me.

“Um… Jeoksa?”

Thanks for recognizing me right away, for once.

But that’s beside the point.

I stood proudly in front of her.

However, I soon flinched at an unexpected sight.

Siho, who had always seemed cute to me, looked somewhat sensual from this angle.

Is this how she feels when looking up at me?

“What the hell happened? I went to sleep and woke up as a child!”

“Um… just a moment…”

The small bartender looked at me carefully.

Then, as if remembering something, she clapped her hands.

“I must have made the cocktail wrong because I was drunk yesterday… The ability attached strangely.”

“This isn’t permanent, is it…?”

Siho examined my appearance up and down carefully.

Then she waved her hand reassuringly.

“Don’t worry, it will revert in a day.”

“Phew… alright.”

I jumped onto the cocktail chair.

As soon as my bottom settled, the skirt poked out over the edge of the chair.

Siho quickly approached me.

And tucked the hem of my skirt into the chair.

She looked down at me with a pleased smile.

There’s something bewitching about that gaze.

“So even Jeoksa had times like this-.”

“S-shut up and bring me a drink…”

“Driiink? You shouldn’t drink alcohol during your growth period…”

Siho muttered in a playful voice with her hands behind her back.

Seeing her like that makes my eye twitch.

“You’re really going to die…”

“Alright-.”

The small bartender’s tear mole quivers.

Soon she returns to the table to prepare for bartending.

I stared at Siho intently.

As I always feel, her bartending is truly enjoyable to watch.

Though I usually see her as cute like a child, at times like this, she’s quite cool.

The bartender’s hands dance elegantly.

She gently places the glass on the table.

She puts ice in a transparent glass.

Half an ounce (15ml) of red grenadine syrup on top.

Then she pours a cool can of ginger ale.

After floating a sweet cherry on top…

<Shirley Temple>

Grade: ★★★★

Effect: Increases energy by 30% and composure by 5.

Information: A cocktail named after a famous American child actress. It’s said that a bartender made it specially for her because she was underage and couldn’t drink alcohol.

“Here’s your cocktail, young lady-.”

Siho smiled with narrowed eyes.

Today, her face seems particularly mature to me.

I cleared my throat to actively deny that thought.

And slowly picked up the glass.

What is this?

A cocktail I’ve never seen before.

I carefully took a sip of the cocktail, red like my eyes.

And slowly savored the taste.

“How is it, young lady-?”

Siho asked me with her chin resting on her hand.

However, my expression after tasting it remained displeased.

“This is just fruit-flavored soda! Are you messing with me?”

I slammed the glass down hard on the counter.

A clear sound rings out from the empty glass.

“But- I was really worried about you…”

Look at her taking advantage of the situation just because I’ve been lenient lately.

Has she forgotten who her master is?

I placed both hands on my hips.

And looking up at Siho, I commanded.

“Lips.”

I closed my eyes, naturally expecting Siho to approach.

But no matter how long I waited, her moist lips didn’t touch mine.

Instead, Siho came out from behind the counter and sat next to me.

Her face looks uncomfortable, as if feeling guilty.

“A kiss in that form is a bit…”

As she sat down, Siho’s thighs swelled tightly.

I stared at them intently.

“Fine, so that’s how you want to play it?”

I stood up.

And brazenly sat on Siho’s lap.

Siho is startled by my sudden action.

But soon she smiles and wraps her arms around my waist.

“Now, again.”

I raised my finger.

And pointed to my lips.

Siho hesitated for a moment with her lips pursed.

Then she gently kissed my chubby cheek.

“Please be satisfied with this today, young lady.”

The bartender’s black eyes sparkle.

I stared blankly at that gleam.

My heart beats strangely.

I lowered my head to hide the sound.

I simply relax in her lap.

It’s comfortable, like a mother’s embrace.

Her chest against my back is soft too.

Intoxicated by that sensation, I murmured to myself.

“Well, this feeling isn’t bad either.”

I wonder if Siho felt like this when I hugged her.

If so…

I want to let her enjoy this feeling forever.

For a long, long time.

“Can I get up now? I need to work.”

“No. We’re going to stay like this- forever.”

I said firmly and raised my chin.

Siho’s subtle shampoo scent wafts down to my face.

I closed my eyes and breathed in that fragrance to my heart’s content.