When a butterfly starts to flap its wings (6)

My eyes met with those of my reflection in the mirror. Numerous emotions were contained in that gaze.

A pinch of regret for coming to the shop unnecessarily. A pinch of helplessness, not knowing what to do anymore.

And a pinch of satisfaction that the visible appearance seemed prettier than expected.

Let’s admit it.

…It’s not bad at all.

I’m wearing a dress right now. A dress as black as a winter night.

It was a tulle chiffon dress with black swan feathers modestly decorating the neckline.

Even without looking at the price tag, I could tell. That it was an incredibly expensive dress.

As I fiddled with the rough tulle using my index finger, my thoughts twisted like a pretzel.

Have I ever worn a dress in my right mind?

There’s no way.

I’ve never even worn a skirt.

Complicated thoughts circulated in my head at this first-time dress appearance.

Then they paused at one point.

Right now, should I…

Laugh? Or cry?

“Oh my, doesn’t the dress look so pretty on you? We’ll enjoy styling you.”

The manager with glasses approached, accompanied by the staff.

As soon as she arrived, she lowered her glasses to the bridge of her nose and checked my hair and skin condition with her naked eye.

“How much did you apply before coming?”

She meant to ask if I had put on makeup.

“Just sunscreen…”

“J-just sunscreen? But there’s not a single blemish visible on your skin? I’m so jealous.”

Then questions from the junior stylists poured out in succession.

If my skin was sensitive, if I preferred styles with pearls, if I usually drew thin eyebrows.

I answered vaguely while reading the room.

And then, like a busy marketplace, three people crowded around and started working on my hair and makeup.

The youngest stylist hesitated before making a timid request.

“Um… There’s something I’ve always wanted to do whenever I see Yujin-nim. If it’s not too rude, can I fulfill my wish?”

“Me too, me too!”

…What is it? This is really unsettling.

“Let me hear what it is first…”

“Can I touch your cheek just once?!”

“…S-sure, go ahead.”

The stylists even applied hand sanitizer thoroughly before touching my cheeks.

It was a careful touch, as if they were worried about damaging my skin.

The stylists who touched my cheeks as preciously as a golden toad let out exclamations.

“Wow, insane! It’s like pudding!”

“It’s squishy like slime.”

“Isn’t this level of skin worthy of being preserved in a skin museum?”

I choked on the water I was drinking at those horrifying words and started coughing.

The manager who was watching scolded the juniors with an irritated voice.

“Hey, aren’t you focusing?”

“We-we’re sorry!”

The manager glanced at the juniors who had gone to get equipment,

Then shyly touched my cheek.

“Oh my, it really is soft?”

“……”

I seriously doubted whether it was okay to entrust myself to such a foolish manager.

However, she was indeed competent.

As the expert’s meticulous touch reached me, small parts of my face began to change.

Pearls sparkled around my eyes like ripples reflected on water, and my closed lips were moistly colored as if dyed with peach blossom water.

I silently marveled while looking in the mirror.

…Is this really my face?

Everyone praised my appearance as if admiring a work of art.

“Han Yujin-nim must feel great just breathing. I’m so jealous.”

“I thought shadow makeup would suit the black dress, but the pearl version is a perfect match too, isn’t it?”

“You look like the protagonist of a teen movie!”

I didn’t know what to do with myself as unexpected praise poured in.

My face was already flushed hot, feeling like steam might rise at any moment.

That’s when.

“Yujin-ssi, are you done?”

“Ah, yes.”

The sound of high heels clicking against the marble surface grew closer.

Min Doyeon, who had changed into party attire and received makeup like me, walked in gently.

I prided myself on looking quite mature right now, but she was even more so.

Something like an artist with a story.

“Hmm…”

Our gazes,

Our gazes mixed in the mirror.

From top to bottom. The gaze that had been scanning me stopped at my pupils.

I can’t read what emotion it is. Far from reading the emotion, I feel like I might be sucked in right away by that gaze.

My throat went dry as she stared without blinking an eye.

“…You’re pretty.”

“Thank you.”

Min Doyeon put her hand on my shoulder. I felt a soft touch.

Then she asked.

“Why is your expression like that?”

“…What’s wrong with my expression?”

“You’re not smiling. As if you’re sad.”

Sad? Me?

Wondering what she meant, I looked in the mirror.

My expression was stiff.

“Just… It’s my first time wearing clothes like this.”

Hearing my words, Min Doyeon put her hand to her mouth and smiled faintly.

“And?”

“…Pardon?”

“How do you feel about your first experience?”

I was about to say my chest feels sore, but I forced a smile and answered.

“I’m not sure yet…”

I trailed off.

Then the soft hand left my shoulder. This time I felt a touch on my chin.

Left, right.

Min Doyeon held my face and slowly turned it. She gazed endlessly at the mirror as if taking in my face.

Then she leaned her body slightly and whispered in my ear. Her warm breath brushed past my cheek.

“You’re just pretty, that’s all.”

And then.

I felt a heavy sensation on my neck.

It was a necklace.

A violet diamond sparkled brilliantly.

The size was even enormous.

How many carats is it?

No, before that…

When did she put it around my neck?

The manager who saw the necklace covered her mouth and opened her eyes wide like a rabbit.

“Isn’t this from Chopard?!”

“That’s right. Rubellite diamond. 123 carats.”

Crazy, I can’t help but laugh.

Really! This is too much, too much.

What’s with 123 carats?

At this scale, I can’t even grasp it at all.

I tapped the necklace with the large diamond attached and asked.

“How much is something like this?”

It must be about 100 million won, right?

However, the answer was shocking.

No, it was billion-shocking.

Min Doyeon crossed her arms and said.

“1.6 billion won.”

“…What?”

Si-sixteen billion?!

Not 16 billion mesos, but 16 billion won?!

That’s the price of a nearly new apartment in Gangnam!

Bamboo spear…

No, I need to normalize!

So am I wearing an apartment around my neck right now?

With that thought, my neck felt as heavy as a thousand pounds.

I closed my eyes tightly and carefully held out the necklace as if holding a fragile baby.

“T-t-take this back! Quickly!”

“No, I can’t do that.”

Min Doyeon shook her head firmly with a confident look in her eyes.

“Then the necklace would feel sad. Because its owner doesn’t recognize it.”

“…”

…Is that so?

Like someone easily swayed, I had already given in completely.

And then,

Min Doyeon touched her ear and said to the manager.

“Please pierce Yujin-ssi’s ears too.”

“What?!”

Min Doyeon opened her hand.

In her outstretched hand, expensive cubic zirconia drop earrings were visible.

“I-I hate pain…”

“These days, the technology is so good that it doesn’t hurt at all. Just a slight prick.”

Even a prick is scary!

And what was scariest of all,

More than getting my ears pierced, was the fact that I myself was changing.

At an uncontrollable, rapid pace.

Seeing my expression, Min Doyeon smiled softly as if coaxing and soothing me.

“The worry you’re having right now. Try changing it just once.”

…Change my thoughts?

“Try flipping your thoughts like a coin. It might not be regression but progress, not destruction but completion, not corruption but awakening.”

Min Doyeon gently placed the drop earrings on the vanity.

“But I won’t force you. I don’t want to see you agonizing.”

“…”

The truly ironic thing was,

Contrary to Min Doyeon’s words, my worries only deepened.

I stared blankly at the earrings placed on the vanity.

---

7 PM.

Han Sejun, who had arrived at the banquet hall first, was waiting for Moon Jaehyun.

“Sejun-ah!”

“Oh, you came?”

Han Sejun slapped Moon Jaehyun’s side and said,

“Hey, can you see? We’re the only ones dressed shabbily. Are they looking down on us?”

“Wow, you’re right.”

Seeing only people in fancy clothes wherever he looked, Han Sejun’s mood shrank considerably.

A staff member at the concierge approached Han Sejun and spoke.

“Are you a party guest?”

“Ah, well…”

“Could you show me your invitation?”

“Well, it’s not my invitation, it’s my sister’s…”

The staff member saw the name and exclaimed, “Oh my!”

“You’re Han Yujin-ssi’s brother, right? I was a big fan of ‘Human Life’!”

“Oh, oh, thank you.”

“And the person next to you is…?”

Moon Jaehyun took out an invitation from his pocket. Seeing this, Han Sejun asked with surprised eyes.

“What? You had a party invitation?”

“Yeah. I got one in the mail too.”

“Tsk, what’s going on?”

The staff handed welcome gifts to both of them and ushered them into the banquet hall.

As they entered the party venue, a spacious and splendid space like a palace greeted the two.

There was a banquet hall,

Hold’em tables,

And rooms.

Han Sejun spoke with an excited voice.

“Wow, Cha Jaehee looks amazing in person. Kang Yohan and Daesuhyuk are here too. It seems like they’ve gathered all the hot people in Korea!”

Just then, a familiar voice called out to Han Sejun.

“Hey, Han Yujin’s brother!”

When he turned around, it was PD Kim Hwachang.

Han Sejun’s mouth corners rose at the familiar face.

“Oh, PD-nim! It’s been a while!”

“Where did your sister go?”

“I don’t know either. She nagged me to come early, but who knows where she’s wandering around, really.”

Kim Hwachang smiled warmly.

“I’ll introduce you to some people, so don’t just stand there like a scarecrow and follow me.”

The two followed Kim Hwachang down the stairs.

Long banquet tables were lined up like tubes.

Kim Hwachang greeted a man with a ponytail.

It was Director Go Sangbin, who had received the Jury Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival.

“Hey, Sangbin. This is Han Yujin’s brother and editor.”

“Hello, I’m Han Sejun.”

“I’m Moon Jaehyun!”

Go Sangbin, holding a champagne glass, asked Han Sejun.

“Where’s Han Yujin-ssi? Actually, I came to this party because I had something to tell Han Yujin-ssi.”

“She’ll be here soon. Our noona is more of a klutz than you’d think, so she’s probably late trying to find her way.”

“Haha. Is that so?”

Just then.

“Hey, you little shit! Han Sejun!”

A resonant and beautiful voice engulfed the party hall.

The guests stopped their conversations and looked at the woman at the top of the stairs.

An elegant dress like a black swan. Jewelry shining in violet. Cubic zirconia drop earrings that sparkled even when still.

However, the gazes mixed with sudden emotions converged on one place.

Her ideal appearance, as addictive as sweet sugar.

Emerald eyes that made one lose their senses glimmered in the center of the banquet hall.

Even Kang Yohan and Jung Suhyuk, who had been looking up, couldn’t easily take their eyes off.

“Wow, I didn’t notice when we were practicing together, but she’s really surreal.”

Kang Yohan craned his neck to admire Han Yujin’s appearance.

Jung Suhyuk jabbed Kang Yohan’s side with his champagne glass.

“Sunbae, your eyes are rolling.”

“I think it’s you whose eyes are rolling?”

“I’m not interested in vicious women.”

And then,

Han Yujin came down the stairs with quick steps, holding the hem of her dress.

Her hair fluttered like waves behind her smooth, angular shoulders.

“Han Sejun, you crazy bastard! I told you to come in with me from outside!”

“Oh, uh… sorry.”

“Why is your expression like that? Are you sick somewhere?”

Han Sejun couldn’t speak and just opened and closed his mouth.

Moon Jaehyun, who was behind him, stuttered with his lip muscles stiffened as if he had seen an angel.

“N-n-noona… I didn’t believe in the saying about feasting one’s eyes? But seeing noona today, I think I’m feasting.”

“Thanks, Jaehyun-ah.”

Kim Hwachang handed a champagne glass to Han Yujin with a hollow laugh.

“The worker bee has become the queen bee.”

Han Yujin blinked her eyes happily upon seeing Kim Hwachang.

“Oh, ahjussi!”

“I’m not an ahjussi.”

“Then, agassi?”

“That’s even worse.”

“Then what are you?”

“Hey, you punk. Is this how you treat your benefactor who even set up a 24-person tent for you?”

“Ah, sorry.”

Kim Hwachang checked the surrounding gazes and patted Han Yujin’s shoulder.

“Hey, Han Yujin.”

“Yes?”

“Um… you know.”

“Yes?”

Han Yujin tilted her head with an appetizer in her mouth.

Kim Hwachang held out a champagne glass.

“Shall we make a toast?”

“Don’t do a toast speech. It’s cringeworthy.”

“This girl, really!”

Han Yujin clinked her half-empty champagne glass.

The sound of glass clinking was crisp.

Kim Hwachang, who had downed his champagne, spoke softly.

“Everyone around is looking at you. Men and women, young and old, without exception.”

At those words, Han Yujin turned her head.

“…It’s true.”

Kim Hwachang smiled faintly while looking at Han Yujin.

“Do you know how I feel right now? I feel like I’m going crazy because I’m so cool. I’m so proud of the fact that I was the first to recognize that novice Han Yujin.”

“Stop flattering me.”

“No, really. I swear.”

Kim Hwachang put down his glass and said,

“You’re the prom queen of today’s party, Yujin-ah.”