“Uh? How did you know? Right, I didn’t think about my hair.”
“I knew it. We’re almost there.”
“Olive, I’m nervous.”
“Hey, I’m nervous too.”
“That’s why I prepared!”
Alice bent down again and rummaged through the shopping bag.
Where is it? After searching for a while, she finally found what she was looking for. Alice held something up in her hand.
“Numb Medication!”
“Are you getting old? What do you need Numb Medication for at our age?”
“We can take Numb Medication at our age, you know? I’m that nervous.”
“Don’t be nervous. Just stay by my side and be my talisman.”
The place where they arrived was a famous shop. It was a place frequented by celebrities and well-known entertainers.
Since the hair salon and makeup shop were in the same space, they could perfectly set up from hair to makeup.
“Hey, isn’t this super expensive?”
“The people in my family go here for official events. They told me to get my hair done here too. So I made a reservation for you as well! I said I’d take care of everything, and they’ve prepared several dresses in the VIP room that would suit us, so we can change here and head out right away.”
The shopping bag Alice brought became useless.
As they entered, numerous staff members were standing at the reception desk.
When Olive said their names, a staff member who seemed to be of a higher rank came out to guide them.
“Please leave your belongings here and change into the gowns. You can come out afterward.”
It seemed that VIPs were given separate rooms, as there were lockers prepared inside.
“Wow, what is this?”
On one side of the room, several dresses were hanging on hangers, and accessories, shoes, bags, and everything were perfectly set up for easy viewing.
“Did the manager go to the restroom?”
It seemed the staff had stepped away for a moment while setting things up. Seeing everything displayed so neatly, Alice thought that indeed, the world of the rich was different.
“Please follow me this way.”
Each of the two was assigned a hair designer as they came out in gowns.
“Um, but I’m wearing a wig right now due to circumstances. So I’m sorry if it’s a bit flat.”
“It’s okay. That’s nothing! There are people who come in without washing their hair for days! It looks like you brushed it well! The wig is in good condition. I’ll shampoo it for you first. Would you please come this way?”
“Excuse me, but could I possibly remove my makeup?”
Alice, guided to the shampoo room, called over a staff member.
“Pardon? I thought you weren’t wearing any makeup?”
Most people come to the shop bare-faced so they can get their makeup done right away. Even though it was her first time at the shop, Alice was aware of that much.
She asked the staff member because she thought it would be more comfortable to remove it beforehand.
“I have my reasons for doing things differently from others. It’s not about dressing up…”
The staff member examined Alice’s face closely, as if trying to understand her words. As Alice rubbed her face hard with her hand, the freckles that faded away made the staff member’s mouth slowly drop open.
“Oh.”
In the brief silence, Alice could read the staff member’s thoughts.
“It’s new.”
“If there’s a cleanser in the washroom, I’ll go wash it off quickly!”
“Oh! We do have it, but… I’m in charge of hair, so I’m not very familiar with makeup. I’m sorry if I offended you. Our staff can remove your makeup a bit later.”
“No, it’s fine. I’ll go wash it off right now!”
Alice stood up and headed in the direction the staff member indicated to start removing her makeup.
She tucked her glasses into the pocket of her gown.
After washing her face with the cleansing products at the sink, Alice faced the mirror and pulled her chin down, which she usually held high. As she focused her eyes and opened them wide, people passing by glanced at her once or twice.
Her skin, now revealed without a single blemish, felt oddly out of place.
‘Didn’t they say to come straight to the shampoo room?’
Feeling awkward, Alice lowered her head and made her way to the shampoo room. She found a staff member seated on one side and sat down in the chair.
She tilted her head back so her hair could fall into the sink. Slowly blinking her beautifully shaped double eyelids, she looked at the staff member.
Just as she was about to say she was back, the staff member was quicker.
“Excuse me, this is another customer’s seat. I think you might be in the wrong place.”
It’s me!
When the staff member didn’t catch her eye signal, Alice quickly took her glasses out from inside her gown and put them on.
Feeling shy, Alice lowered her long eyelashes.
