I dragged myself up lazily and checked my phone. It was almost noon.
"Time to get ready..."
If I wanted to make it to the salon, I needed to start preparing now.
I even pulled out the conditioner I rarely used and special long-lasting scented soap. After showering, my skin carried a fragrant aroma.
I hesitated over underwear choices before getting dressed. Normally I'd pick something plain... but this time I selected slightly lingerie and stood before the mirror.
"Like... like this..."
Seeing my reflection looking seductive suddenly gave me courage.
Any man would lose control seeing me like this, right?
Si-hyun is a man too - he'd definitely react! Then we'd naturally start dating!
"Heh... hehe..."
I wasted too much time lost in fantasy. Checking the clock, I hurried to get dressed.
When I looked in the mirror again, something felt off - my face looked too young for these clothes.
"Need... need to fix it with makeup..."
I urgently searched online for mature makeup tutorials, but the results discouraged me.
The internet only showed youthful makeup guides - no methods for looking older.
Finally, I applied makeup based on my own understanding to match the outfit.
The result did look more coordinated.
Only one step remained: going to the salon.
Preparing took so long that I rushed through final preparations.
I wore the high heels directly to get used to them on the way to the salon.
I felt people's stares on the street, but had no time to care.
The salon stylist greeted me warmly:
"Oh, going on a date?"
A date? With Si-hyun?
Though it's just dinner together, that counts as a date, right?
"Yes."
"What hairstyle would you like?"
"Um... I want to look more mature."
The stylist smiled and showed me a catalog. I chose the expensive nourishing treatment and an S-curl perm.
The styling took a long time.
"You look truly beautiful."
My reflection did appear much more mature than before leaving home.
This should captivate Si-hyun, right?
Seeing the appointment time approaching, I quickly paid and left the salon.
"Thank you, please come again."
Next time...
If things go well with Si-hyun, I'll definitely return!
I usually just tie my hair up or leave it down, never considered this style before.
Maintaining it myself seemed difficult and troublesome. Spending money at the salon proved worthwhile.
My steps felt light walking home.
The first time wearing a miniskirt. The first time with this hairstyle. The first time trying this makeup style.
I hoped my transformed self would win Si-hyun's favor.
After reaching home, I rested briefly while waiting for our meeting time.
Though just a simple dinner, I'd made such a production of it... but my heart burned with desire to show Si-hyun my best self.
If we could stop by a motel after eating...
"Hehehe..."
How wonderful if my dream scenarios could become reality?
These indecent thoughts stirred excitement within me.
No time for wild fantasies now. I took deep breaths to calm down and checked the time -
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Less than five minutes until our meeting.
"Time... time to go!"
After checking my appearance in the hallway mirror, I pushed the door open and stepped out.
Si-hyun was already waiting downstairs.
But what was this situation?
Unlike usual, he had dressed up so handsomely?
My heart raced wildly the moment I saw him.
Too handsome.
His already striking looks combined with a new hairstyle and fashionable outfit I rarely saw him wear, it felt almost unfair.
My mind went blank. Faced with such a dazzling Si-hyun, could I even act normal?
What reaction should I have?
All the lines I had prepared vanished from my memory.
As I slowly approached Si-hyun, I realized he looked even more impactful up close than from afar.
He remained silent.
I suddenly grew afraid.
Could he think I was disgusting?
"Si-Si-hyun? You, you look so handsome today!"
I mustered the courage to speak.
Today's Si-hyun reminded me of his days as a print model.
But unlike back then, now that I understood my own feelings, he seemed even more captivating.
"Yeah, thanks." His overly indifferent response stung my heart.
I had dressed up carefully, yet received no comment. I grew increasingly uneasy.
I thought I looked decent... Could it not match Si-hyun's taste?
I really wanted to hear him say I looked nice...
"Shall we go?"
Even after getting in the car, Si-hyun still said nothing about my appearance.
My heart ached faintly.
Was it because I was a fake woman that he acted this way?
-
Before I knew it, we arrived at an Italian pasta restaurant.
Choosing this kind of place didn't seem like Si-hyun's style, but judging by his outfit today, he must have planned to come here from the start.
When we entered the restaurant, Si-hyun naturally requested the reserved seat.
We were guided to a small private room.
It was a place with great ambiance. The dimly lit room had soft lighting, and through the window, we could see the garden outside.
"This.. this place is really nice."
"Right? What do you want to eat?"
I just ordered a regular cream pasta, but Si-hyun added steak to his pasta order.
"Want some alcohol?"
Alcohol, drinking. Absolutely not.
Images of me acting foolishly after drinking immediately flashed through my mind.
"Ah, no thanks."
After ordering, silence fell again.
I didn't know how to start a conversation.
Should I speak first? Too difficult for someone with social anxiety.
I gathered my courage again.
If Si-hyun wasn't going to talk, I decided to ask myself.
"H-how do I look today?"
Crap! Too direct?
But since I had put effort into my appearance, wanting praise was natural.
"Uh, uh? Ah... Very beautiful."
Si-hyun stammered his reply, seeming somewhat flustered.
Just hearing those words transformed my earlier anxiety into happiness.
"Hehe."
I couldn't help but giggle foolishly in delight.
After a moment, I felt a bit embarrassed.
But thanks to this, Si-hyun's previously expressionless face gradually softened.
"Si-hyun looks especially handsome today too."
"Yeah?"
"But why did you pick this restaurant?"
"Didn't I mention it before? You said recently you've started enjoying Western food more. So I chose this."
Ah... I had indeed said something like that. He even remembered such an offhand comment.
I felt both embarrassed and happy about Si-hyun's thoughtfulness.
"I-I see."
As the atmosphere gradually eased, our ordered dishes began arriving.
We started slowly enjoying the food.
Honestly, eating pasta with a fork was quite challenging.
I tried to learn how to elegantly twirl pasta but always failed, so I gave up.
In the end, I ended up slurping the spaghetti like instant noodles, which worked somewhat better.
Only after a while did I suddenly realize Si-hyun was sitting across from me.
Intense shame washed over me. Would he find it strange to eat spaghetti this way?
I felt so embarrassed I wanted the ground to swallow me whole.
When I stole a glance at Si-hyun, I found him watching me with an inexplicably pleased expression.
"Haha..."
"Is it good?"
"Yes, anything with cheese tastes wonderful these days."
"I'm relieved to see you enjoying it."
"Really?"
"Would you like to try mine?"
Different food!
"Yes!"
Si-hyun had ordered slightly spicy seafood pasta, completely different from my cream-based spaghetti.
This time, since I was being watched, I carefully twirled a perfect bite-sized portion using my spoon and fork.
"W-would you like to try mine?"
"No need."
"Here."
Si-hyun cut a small piece of his steak and offered it to me.
What's happening? Is this feeding me?
Shouldn't I be the one doing this!?
I accepted the steak piece Si-hyun offered me.
It was delicious.
Strangely, it tasted better than any steak I'd had before.
I forked a piece of my cut steak and offered it to Si-hyun.
"Ah~"
As I pushed through my embarrassment to extend the fork, Si-hyun's eyebrows twitched slightly before he accepted it.
"Hehe."
I couldn't help giggling foolishly.
Dinner became quite lively after that.
Perhaps because I'd become aware of my feelings, even this ordinary shared meal felt exceptionally joyful and happy.
-
-
"I'm full."
Although my appetite had shrunk since becoming a girl, and despite having steak too, I hadn't expected to be unable to finish a single portion of pasta.
"Don't force yourself if you can't finish."
"What a waste."
Seeing me like this, Si-hyun laughed, making me feel somewhat shy.
We ended up sharing the remaining pasta before leaving the restaurant, deciding to rest awhile in the adjacent garden.
"That was truly delicious."
"Really? I'm glad I put thought into choosing this place."
"I'd like to come here again."
"Sure."
When Si-hyun said this with a smile, he seemed to glow.
Standing under the garden's dim streetlight, his expression looked like he'd resolved something.
"Si-yeon."
"Yes?"
After taking a deep breath, Si-hyun's expression turned unusually serious.
"Sigh, Si-yeon."
"Yes, what is it?"
Si-hyun looked more solemn than ever before.
The atmosphere was so perfect now, should I confess first?
But the gap between us felt intimidating.
Yet these overwhelming feelings were becoming impossible to contain.
Watching Si-hyun hesitate made me strangely anxious.
"Si-hyun!"
"Ah, yes?"
"I... I like you!"
I must be crazy. I actually said it.
"Jeong Si-yeon as a woman! Likes Seong Si-hyun as a man!"
Once it started pouring out, I couldn't stop.
After saying everything, shame made my cheeks burn hot.
"S-so please... please go out with me!"
I'd completely lost control.
Bowing my head, I grew afraid.
He probably wouldn't accept someone like me, an incomplete woman.
Ah, why did I have to impulsively confess?
The garden atmosphere was just too perfect.
Having dinner together had been truly blissful.
This was the first time I'd clearly recognized my own feelings.
So I couldn't control these surging emotions at all.
I wanted to dig a hole and hide.
My legs felt weak, as if all strength had left them.
Si-hyun still hadn't responded.
It really wasn't going to work after all.
I turned to flee this place.
"I'm sorry."
Just as I was about to leave, he suddenly pulled me into a tight embrace.
"Si... Si-hyun?"
"Sorry I couldn't answer you sooner."
"Actually... I like you too."
Just hearing those words was enough.
-
A/N; want more? Check out my for upcoming chapter [up to 43+ advanced chapters] ??