Let’s Go Receive the Award (2)

Let’s Go Receive the Award (2)

 

In fact, the only difference between a ponytail and twin tails is whether the hair is tied on one side or both sides.

Despite the small difference, there’s one reason why many women are reluctant to wear twin tails.

It’s because it seems like they’re “trying to act cute in a way that doesn’t suit their age.”

“Listen carefully, Ha-eun? Twin tails are a unique hairstyle that can only be worn by elementary school students… at most, up to middle or high school students.”

I hid behind a pillar, wary of Han A-rin who was saying strange things in front of me.

If I came out now, she might do something cruel like changing my hair into twin tails…!

So, for the sake of my social face (non-existent) and pride (also non-existent), I was going to refuse unconditionally.

However, Chae-a, Yuna, and Seo-a beside me were showing interest and their eyes were shining.

“It sounds fun! Like a broom!”

“I like it because it’s cute.”

“Myam…!”

Of course, if we’re being strict, only Yuna wanted to do it because it was cute…

Anyway, since everyone seemed to want to do it, it became awkward to keep saying I didn’t like it.

‘No… absolutely not!’

Thinking I might die of embarrassment, I hugged the pillar tightly.

Seeing this, Han A-rin seemed to realize it wouldn’t work, so she whispered a magic spell in my ear.

“If you do twin tails, I’ll teach you the cleaning magic.”

“…!”

At the mention of teaching me the cleaning magic, which was my goal and dream, I had no choice but to give up and let go of the pillar.

To be honest, I knew that my behavior was no different from Chae-a, who follows along when tempted with food…!

Even so, I didn’t know when I’d have another chance if I didn’t learn from this opportunity.

‘Of course, Han A-rin isn’t a bad person. She’ll probably teach me properly someday.’

Still, I didn’t want to wait any longer, so I had no choice but to take the bait Han A-rin had thrown.

*

Twintails is a hairstyle where you tie your hair on both sides to make it dangle.

As it’s a hairstyle that emphasizes cuteness, it really suits young children well.

The problem was that it was quite a damaging hairstyle for an adult like me to wear…

I felt my face getting hot, almost burning, as I chewed on my lips.

Sure, I could somehow accept a ponytail tied to one side for the sake of comfort.

But I knew that twintails were a hairstyle done solely for cuteness.

‘I’m embarrassed.’

As I was crouching down, trembling, thinking my mind was going hazy.

Chae-a, with her hair in twintails, shook her head from side to side and said to me.

“Woah, Ha-eun, is this right? When I do this, it’s like a fan…!”

At those words, I glanced over and saw Chae-a’s hair spinning around.

Actually, it looked more like cute Chae-a shaking her hair rather than a fan.

But since Chae-a said so, I just nodded, thinking that must be it.

‘I’m glad everyone’s excited…’

Just as I was giving up on everything, feeling like a limp piece of seaweed.

I heard a scream-like cheer from beside me, and felt someone approaching me with big steps.

Wondering what it was, I looked to the side and saw Seo-rin happily taking pictures of me with her phone.

“What’s this? Why is Ha-eun’s twin-tail so cute? Oh really, isn’t it the cutest thing in the world? Oh of course, Chae-a and Yuna and Seo-a are also incredibly cute, my big sister heart can’t take it.”

My mind becomes a bit hazy due to her speaking so fast that it almost sounds like she’s rapping towards the end.

As I sit there blankly with a dazed expression.

Han A-rin looks at me like that, chuckles, and then pokes my cheek while saying.

“You can undo the twin-tails after receiving the award. Let’s be patient for a little while, okay?”

“Yes…”

“I wonder who Ha-eun takes after to be this pretty.”

I couldn’t understand the connection between being patient and being pretty.

As I was lying there listlessly, thinking it doesn’t matter anymore what happens.

I noticed Yuna and Seo-a holding hands tightly and running towards me.

Wondering why, I glanced at them.

Yuna gently patted my head with her palm, comforting me.

“Ha-eun is cute.”

As I was blankly staring at the twitching ears in front of me, blinking my eyes.

It seemed like it was about time, as Han A-rin told us, “Let’s go.”

‘I don’t want to show such an embarrassing appearance to others, but…’

Since we made a promise, I decided to try my best to endure it and started walking.

* * *

Perhaps because it was hosted by the central government this time.

Unlike the presentation that was no different from a first birthday party, there was a somewhat more solemn atmosphere.

Because of that, even Chae-a, who would usually giggle and proudly wander around, was looking around in a very tense state.

Ha-eun seemed quite nervous too, her tail standing straight up as she tightly held my hand and trembled.

Seeing the two of them like this, I thought it would be good for me, as the adult, to calm them down.

While (I was also extremely nervous) I tried my best to act like I wasn’t, patting their backs reassuringly.

“It’s okay! Just trust me!”

For the first time in a while, I pronounced it correctly.

Just as I was feeling proud, thinking this was also evidence of my growth.

A man who appeared to be a government official approached me and greeted me.

“So, Ha-eun? I’m the… person in charge of today’s event.”

Perhaps knowing that I wouldn’t understand even if he stated his position and title.

The man, who just vaguely said he was in charge here, smiled kindly and.

Like an adult who’s awkward with children but trying his best, he continued speaking to me.

“We’ll have a rehearsal soon. After you walk in the direction I show you, receive the award, then turn around and bow…”

As I listened to him calmly explaining what to do.

I tried hard to remember it so I wouldn’t make any mistakes.

While I was listening intently, Seo-a, who had been sleeping hugging my tail, woke up and said something to us.

“Myam… nyam?”

Not understanding what she meant, I looked blankly at Chae-a.

Chae-a, still looking tense, told me.

“Seo-a says she wants to go too…”

At those words, I opened my eyes wide and felt conflicted.

Well, at the previous presentation that felt like a first birthday party, there was an atmosphere where various mistakes and spontaneous actions were allowed.

This time, however, there was an atmosphere where none of that was allowed at all.

So I was about to tell Seo-a it wasn’t possible, but.

Unexpectedly, the person in charge not only allowed it but went a step further.

“Really? Then how about all of you go out together to receive it?”

“… Yes?”

Is that possible? Wasn’t this supposed to be a very strict and difficult place?

I blinked my eyes in surprise, and after contacting someone, the person in charge told me.

“Then let’s have everyone go up together. I’ll tell you again how to do it, so listen carefully, okay?”

I’m not sure if this is really okay, but since they said it was, I nodded, deciding to follow along for now.

*

After hearing various precautions, we immediately proceeded with the rehearsal.

In fact, the rehearsal was just used to check if everything was flowing well, so we didn’t do anything in earnest.

But for Chae-a, Yuna, and Seo-a, it seemed to be an amazing experience, as they were all excited, unlike before.

“Wow, Chae-a, it’s fun…!”

“That’s right. I was so nervous earlier, but now my heart is pounding.”

“Yay. Good…!”

By the way, Seo-a had learned ‘good and don’t like’ from reading storybooks.

I rarely saw her use ‘don’t like,’ and she mostly used ‘good’ as a characteristic.

Anyway, just as I was breathing a sigh of relief because the response seemed better than expected, I heard that it was about to start soon.

‘Somehow, I feel nervous.’

It wasn’t a grand gathering of people, but rather a small celebration with a few relevant officials from the central government.

Although there weren’t an overwhelming number of people, I still couldn’t help feeling nervous and took a deep breath.

‘At least Chae-a, Yuna, and Seo-a are here.’

Just as I was trying to endure the tension, we heard a voice calling us.

“Shall we go?!”

Chae-a, who seemed to have enjoyed her earlier experience, suggested to me in a very cheerful voice.

I nodded and started walking.

*

After that, things went more smoothly than expected.

Unlike the previous presentation, everyone maintained proper etiquette while conversing, and the proceedings were normal.

There wasn’t much to do besides going up to receive the award and bowing politely.

‘According to Han A-rin, even this much was done with a lot of consideration for us.’

Honestly, I wasn’t sure what to think about that, and I was wondering why I had done my hair in twin tails.

At that moment, Han A-rin, holding a box in her arms, said,

“We can start heading back now.”

“…?”

Since it felt like nothing much had happened,

I tilted my head in confusion, but then decided not to think too deeply about it and nodded.

‘I wonder what they gave us?’

Perhaps because I was told it was okay to look forward to it, I became quite curious.

As I stared intently at the box Han A-rin was holding, she smiled brightly and said to me,

“I’ll show you this as soon as we get outside.”

I nodded in understanding and was following behind Han A-rin when I heard murmuring sounds coming from outside.

Curious, I peeked my face out and saw a large crowd of people gathered.

Wondering why so many were gathered, I looked around and noticed a rather shocking banner.

[(Congratulations) Ha-eun’s Award Ceremony (Celebration)]

On that banner, not much different from ones I’d seen before.

I could recognize who those people… no, dragons gathered there were.