Ha-yeon started working as a model secretly without informing her family and friends when she received a phone call from her aunt early in the morning on a weekend a year ago.

Her aunt was a photographer, taking pictures mostly for magazines. She didn’t often shoot with famous actors or models, but her assignments were occasional and not very lucrative because of her rather conservative and modest values. Being offered a long-term contract from a magazine would be considered lucky.

One day, Ha-yeon got a phone call from her aunt. That day a high school girl model who had been scheduled for a shoot was unable to make it due to injuries on her shoulder and face.

Until then, Ha-yeon herself, was like every other teenager out there who dreamt much and spent her time listening to stories of other people. Rather, she was just thinking to herself about such stories could ever be true.

“So, I mean, Ha-yeon, can you help out your aunt? There is a model and her looks are very similar to yours. I really can’t postpone the photo shoot today, and I don’t have time to audition for a replacement… . Help your aunt just this once.”

Ha-yeon paused at her aunt’s words.

“Aunt. What about my family? You know what they are like.” Ha-yeon, who was mortified, turned and refused.

After her biological mother died, a stepmother came in. Her father and stepmom hated her staying in touch with her aunt. Because of that, every time Ha-yeon met with her aunt under the pretense of seeing her friends. If she startedworking as a model, the family will immediately realize that she was meeting her aunt.

“I know. I know… . Ha-yeon. Just save your aunt once. Anyway, you won’t get noticed if you only work once. And because it’s not a famous magazine, it doesn’t attract many people. It’s okay because it’s a side profile image and you’ll be wearing thick makeup. Anyway, it will be taken from a distance. Would your aunt ask you to do this if your face was identifiable? Right?’

“But still… .”

“It’s because there’s really no one else but you. Just save your aunt once. Uh, hey. Huh?”

It was the first time her aunt was pleading profusely. Above all, she was interested in what her aunt was doing, so she agreed. That was how she started working as a magazine model.

Her income was less than expected, but it gave her enough pocket money to not have to ask her parents for any.

As long as the face was not clearly discernable, her aunt would give such jobs to her. When the back, side, and front views of her face appeared, the photos were in black and white and adequately far away enough to be indistinguishable. Or it was a face among so many models that she didn’t particularly standout.

After work, her aunt put down the camera and smiled widely at Ha-yeon. “You did well today.”

Since there wasn’t much editing or re-shoots needed, work ended earlier than usual.

“Shall we go to dinner together?”

“Huh.” Ha-yeon nodded. To her, her aunt was the only one she was comfortable with, except for two close friends.

“Okay. Go. Let’s go eat pasta.”

Her aunt likes to eat pasta and drink beer very much, especially on the days that Ha-yeon was working. It should be said that it felt like a reward for completing a hard day’s work smoothly.

No

Her aunt smiled widely and stretched open her arms like a girl. Even in early spring, her aunt would wear only a white short-sleeved T-shirt and ripped jeans, and didn’t look her age. She was refreshing and beautiful.

Because of her lively energy, Ha-yeon felt she wanted to be like her aunt.

“I want to live like you when I get older.”

“Oh, why would you?”

“I really mean it.”

At Ha-yeon’s words, her aunt smiled and stroked her hair. “Okay. Go on, grow up and be like your aunt. But your aunt wants to go back to your age. If I can change it, I want to change it.”

“No. I don’t want you to change it.” When Ha-yeon spoke firmly, her aunt laughed with a peculiar sound of laughter.

Ha-yeon sat down with her aunt at a pasta shop that she often visited. Without looking at the menu, her aunt ordered,

‘I’d like one rose pasta, one shrimp cream risotto, one bottle of beer, and a glass of strawberry-ade.’

These were Ha-yeon’s favorite foods.

“Ha-yeon, what are you going to do when you grow up?” Her aunt asked abruptly.

“Well… . I haven’t thought about it yet.” Ha-yeon replied indifferently, stirring the strawberry-ade that came out first with a straw.

Because of her good academic performance, her father told her that he would like her to have a go at medical school and work a little harder.

With a frown on her face, her stepmother gave a typical answer, ‘It would be better to follow your father’s will’.

Ha-yeon didn’t like both their comments, but she replied, saying, ‘I’ll think about it.’

“Do you want to do anything?”

“Huh.”

“Really? I can’t believe you don’t have anything in mind.”

“No.”

There was something she wanted to do that was different from what she was told. However, she was not sure if she could go that way, or if she had the talent to succeed. She didn’t have the confidence to face the immense opposition from her family.

“So why don’t you continue working as a model?” When the words she was thinking of came out her aunt’s mouth, Ha-yeon slowly raised her head.

The aunt was staring at her with her chin upturned. It wasn’t a smiling face as usual, but a serious expression. “Because the real you and who you become in front of the camera are very different. In your aunt’s personal opinion, you very photogenic. Your look changes with your moods and expressions. You look elegant, and sometimes even regal. Of course you aren’t aware of it.”

“… … .”

“If you don’t really want to do anything, I think it would still be nice to continue working as a model. Think about it. If you do, your aunt will support you.”

Ha-yeon’s heart shook with those words. Could she do it? She wanted to do it… . Ha-yeon thought that way, but didn’t express it out loud.

“Huh. Thanks.”

Instead, Ha-yeon replied formally, ‘Thank you. Well, that is such an inadequate word,’ and smiled.