In one of the meeting rooms at the topmost floor of Ilhwa Group’s Head Office, one of the branch managers was giving his report on their company’s performance this year. Naturally, Kang Minhoo, the chairman of Ilhwa Group, sat at the head of the long table.
“Compared to last year, Ilhwa Group’s sales have increased by around 20% this year. Ilhwa Electronics, Ilhwa Construction, Ilhwa Distribution, and even our affiliates that have been behind their rival companies in terms of performance have all recorded higher sales compared to our competitors.”
Hearing this, all of the major shareholders and board members in the room could not erase the smiles on their faces. Even Chairman Kang Minhoo had a pleased look. After all, he was well aware of the praises that he would receive soon.
“I’m sure all of our board members are already aware about the reason but everything is thanks to Food God Minhyuk, who happened to be our very own Chairman Kang Minhoo’s son.”
Kang Minhoo was delighted, his heart thumping like crazy.
The increase in their sales? Of course, that was a good thing. However, that was not what made him feel delighted. When Minhyuk started suffering from eating addiction and disappeared from the chaebol[1] community, plenty of rumors about Minhoo finding someone else to fill in the position of successor started to circulate. However, Kang Minhoo did his best and endured for the sake of his son.
And now, his son had done it.
‘I’m so proud.’
Kang Minhoo was not being proud of himself nor what he did. Instead, he was proud of his son. And the board members and shareholders?
“Kang Minhyuk is like the chairman! He’s already helping the company even though he hasn’t started running it yet.”
“Kang Minhyuk is a very talented person. He will definitely lead our company to a brighter future.”
“Hahahahahahaha!”
The meeting room was filled with smiles. And Kang Minhoo, who usually never said much in these meetings, opened his mouth, “You know…”
“Yes, chairman!”
“Yes, sir!”
“Yes, sir!”
“My son gave me this on my birthday.”
It has started again! Again! The story of how Chairman Kang Minhoo’s son bought him a suit!
“I wonder where he bought it? The texture of the cloth is quite nice to the touch. Huh? I think he asked an Italian designer to make this. Ah, you know what? That rascal has a very good eye for fashion. Just look at this suit…”
The board members and shareholders had a premonition that they would have to stay inside the meeting room for five straight hours the moment the chairman started his story about how his son bought him a suit. To prevent this, one of the board members hurriedly called out, “Chairman.”
“Yes?”
“Will your son attend the first birthday party of the granddaughter of Daehan Group’s chairman?”
Daehan Group’s Chairman Eom Jin-Woong and Kang Minhoo clashed not too long ago. It was Eom Jin-Woong’s side that issued the order to release news about Minhyuk’s eating addiction and take that opportunity to grab ahold of Ilhwa’s weakness. However, it became a blessing in disguise. Minhyuk was able to overcome that disaster by himself and turned it into his, and Ilhwa’s fortune.
However, even if they were bitter enemies, Kang Minhoo had to endure. This was the case for all chaebols. As long as there were big happenings and events, they had to attend. As such, Kang Minhoo had to attend this birthday party.
Kang Minhoo could only smile bitterly in answer. He could not give a definite answer to that question. His son, Minhyuk, was not yet completely cured. Although he had improved by a lot, they still did not know what would happen if Minhyuk went to a place where a feast was laid out in front of him.
Knowing the implication of that smile, the people in the room either coughed in embarrassment or smiled bitterly.
***
Death, or Jung Ji-Hoon, was someone that lived almost his entire life with a huge burn mark on his face. But thanks to Minhyuk introducing him to a top class burn treatment specialist, his face had been cured to the point that no one would know that it once existed if they saw him from afar.
After coming out of his capsule, Ji-Hoon looked at the mirror and smiled at his reflection. Because of the trauma caused by people calling him ‘monster’ after seeing his burn marks before, Ji-Hoon was still awkward around people and still had a hard time interacting with anyone in reality. It was also because of that trauma that his hair remained long and tangled. Despite his unkempt appearance, Ji-Hoon felt happy, and of course, grateful to Minhyuk.
Ji-Hoon’s phone rang just when he was about to get some breakfast. The name displayed on the phone was none other than Minhyuk.
“I, I should answer the phone, right?” Ji-Hoon stuttered. He still felt awkward answering phone calls.
[What are you doing?]
“I was just about to eat.”
[What, what are you going to eat?!!!]
“Uhm, I’m just going to heat up some leftover spicy braised chicken and eat it together with some green onion kimchi?”
[Kyaaah!!!]
A smile bloomed on Ji-Hoon’s face. Who would ever imagine that the Beyond the Heavens’ King was someone that found joy in such a small, mundane meal? At this point? Everyone. But that was Minhyuk’s charm.
[Hey.]
“Huh? What’s the matter?” Ji-Hoon finally asked about Minhyuk’s reason for calling. Minhyuk was his benefactor so whatever it was that he wanted to do, Ji-Hoon would do his best to fulfill it.
[Would you like to go out with me and play?]
“Huh…?”
…Except for this. Just like mentioned before, Ji-Hoon still felt awkward when dealing with people. That included going outside of the comfort of his own home. Even though he had already received treatment for his burn marks, he still had to hype himself out to go out once every two weeks. And that was even an outing at night too.
“Oh… uhm…”
[Come on! Let’s play!!!]
“Don’t you have other people to go with? Are they busy…?” Ji-Hoon had to wonder if Minhyuk’s other friends were busy playing the game since he had to call a loner like him for an outing like this.
But then, Minhyuk said…
[Others? I didn’t contact them, though? I want to hang out with you. Come on, I can only go out once a month to play… play with me…]
“…”
Ji-Hoon’s smile widened at Minhyuk’s words. Minhyuk could only go out once a month to play yet he chose to hang out with him on that day? There was no greater pleasure than this to a friend. Just like him, Minhyuk rarely went outside. To think that it was him that Minhyuk contacted when he was allowed to go out for the first time.
Hence, Ji-Hoon decided to be brave for once, “Alright.”
[Woohooo! Then, I’ll meet you at your house!]
Then, the line was cut off. The moment the phone call ended, regret washed over Ji-Hoon, “Wh, what should I do?! How does one hang out?!!!”
Ji-Hoon had never gone outside for leisure in his entire life. If he was not panicking, then he would also realize that the same was true for Minhyuk. However, Ji-Hoon was panicking, restlessly moving around his house.
“Right, in that drama that I watched before, they dried their hair before going out!”
It was something that was trivial but Ji-Hoon slowly recalled these mundane and ordinary things that people did when preparing to go out. The first thing that he did was to dry his hair. Then, he spent time pondering over the thirty colognes that he bought and never tried on before. He even called for a men’s stylist to his home and finally chose a newly bought casual suit to wear. Ji-Hoon carefully left his house after receiving Minhyuk’s call and hearing that he was already waiting for him outside.
‘When was the last time I went out of my house with the sun still up?’
Ji-Hoon could no longer remember. But that did not matter. The crippling fear that was threatening to devour him was what was important. What would he do if Minhyuk was disappointed after seeing his gloomy, dark, and timid appearance? What if Minhyuk decided to distance himself after this? Even though Ji-Hoon wanted to stretch his shoulders out and be confident, his head still could not help but bow down from the anxiety.
When he finally took a step outside, Minhyuk was there to greet him, “Yo! My friend!!!”
“Oh, yeah… hi?”
“Oh, your outfit slays, huh?”
“Wh, what slay? You, you can’t kill people in real… life?”
“What I mean is that your outfit is great.”
“A… aha! So, it’s a new slang? Hahaha! I, I, I, I know that! I also know that!” Ji-Hoon talked loudly, trying to hide how intimidated he was in this new experience. He talked so loudly that he looked like he was angry. Which, at this point, made Ji-Hoon realize that he made a mistake. However, Minhyuk did not care at all.
“It’s been a long time since the two of us last went outside, huh?”
“That, that’s right.”
The two of them had similar situations. Ji-Hoon fidgeted. He felt like he wanted to go back inside. But before he could do so, Minhyuk’s arms were already slung over his shoulders.
“Let’s go!”
“Where are we going?”
“We’ll roam around and play in the streets of Seoul. But before that…” Minhyuk looked at Ji-Hoon and continued, “Should we get a haircut?”
Ji-Hoon’s hair was long enough to reach his chests, covering his face completely. And since he did not care for it properly, the strands were tangled and the ends dry.
Find the original at "pawread dot com".
“O, okay…” Ji-Hoon answered, his body gripped with anxiety as the two of them headed to a salon.
***
Ji-Hoon still had his head bowed down even when they arrived at the salon. He was even startled when the hair stylist touched his hair gently and carefully, “Ah. I’m, I’m sorry.”
“It’s alright,” The hair stylist smiled.
This was all still strange and scary to Ji-Hoon. His mind went into overdrive, thinking that others would point fingers and whisper about him. His anxiety reached an all time high. When the hair stylist left for a moment, Minhyuk, who was sitting next to him, said, “Ji-Hoon.”
“H, huh…?”
“You’re already cool enough.”
“Eh?”
‘So suddenly?’
“You’re a very considerate guy, someone that will come running when I ask for help. You’re a very cool guy and you are not short of anything. Also…” Minhyuk sounded embarrassed which made Ji-Hoon turn his head to look at him, “…you’re a very precious friend of mine. I wish both you and I can go out confidently in the world.”
This was also the reason why Minhyuk went with Ji-Hoon for his very first outing. Ji-Hoon smiled, “Right…”
Then, the hair stylist appeared and asked Ji-Hoon, “How would you like me to do your hair?”
“Please do what looks best on me.”
“Hmmm. I think you will look good with brown hair and a 7:3 part, of course we will perm the part to fix it. Would you be okay with that?”
“Yes.”
The hair stylist then began to work on Ji-Hoon’s hair with his scissors. The face hidden behind a curtain of hair was now slowly being revealed the more his hair got styled and cut.
‘Right. You and I can also live a normal and ordinary life.’
Ji-Hoon did not want to live the life of a loner anymore. He wanted to change. He wanted to go to karaoke with friends, singing and drinking through the night. He also wanted to experience those struggles in one’s love life and cry with those very same friends.
Yes, a normal and ordinary life. That was what Ji-Hoon wanted to have.
Snip, snip—
Just like how his hair was being cut off, Ji-Hoon also began to let go of his thoughts and shackles from his previous way of living. He kept his eyes closed and looked forward to a future that was different from before.
As his hair, which was quite long earlier, reached the tip of his nose, the staff of the salon began to flock around Ji-Hoon. They whispered amongst themselves as they looked at Ji-Hoon, careful not to alert the man on the chair.
“…That’s the guy from earlier, right?”
“Y, yes.”
“Amazing…”
After finishing the haircut, the hair stylist dyed Ji-Hoon’s hair and permed it. However, Ji-Hoon still did not open his eyes. Even after the perm had set in and they had to wash his hair, Ji-Hoon still did not open his eyes.
“We’re going to wash your hair.”
“Minhyuk, please hold my hand…”
“…”
Minhyuk quietly held Ji-Hoon’s hand and guided him to the washing area until he went back to his seat and dried his hair.
“Sir, I’m very sorry… but can I put a bit of make-up on your face? Your face is very easy to put make-up on.”
“Ah. Yes, it’s alright.”
“Hiyaa~ The hair stylist is giving us some service~” Minhyuk’s voice floated in Ji-Hoon’s ears as he felt the hair stylist put wax on his hair and shape it with the hair dryer, his nervousness spiking. This was his very first time stepping out in the world in a very long time, but he was glad and thankful that Minhyuk was accompanying him.
“All done. Phew~ I’ve never felt so happy doing hair and make-up like this.”
But Ji-Hoon still did not open his eyes. Then, Minhyuk said, “Wait. Don’t open your eyes yet.”
“Oh. Okay.”
Ji-Hoon felt Minhyuk guiding him to stand up and go somewhere. After taking a few steps, Minhyuk said, “We’re standing in front of a full-body mirror. Okay, you can open your eyes now.”
Ji-Hoon’s body trembled at Minhyuk’s words. The surroundings turned quiet as they waited for him to open his eyes. This was Ji-Hoon’s first step towards a normal and ordinary life. A new life, a change for someone that was called a ‘monster’. Then, Ji-Hoon slowly opened his eyes. Ji-Hoon was left speechless when he saw his figure reflected in the mirror.
A tall stature standing at 180 centimeters, wearing a casual suit and stylish loafers. That was the figure that was reflected in the mirror. When he looked up, what greeted him were his soft and wavy brown hair which covered a part of his big and round eyes that were framed by his double eyelids. His white skin shone, highlighting his straight nose and sharp jawline.
“Waaaaaaaaaaaah!”
“You’re really handsome!!!”
“Wow! I really had a hard time trying to hold it in!!!”
“Oh my god!!! You’re really cool!!!”
“You’re really handsome, do you know that?”
The hair stylists that were struggling to hold it in during Ji-Hoon’s transformation all cheered loudly. For the first time in his life, Ji-Hoon let out a bright, wide smile, one that was not like his awkward smile from before, as a drop of tear trickled down his cheek.
Then, Minhyuk spoke with a beaming smile, “Congratulations on finally taking a step in living a new life.”
1. 재벌, refers to business conglomerates as well as the people running said businesses. ☜
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