"Pucker up."

I dabbed a little of the deep red tint onto the inner part of Naeun's lips. Using a cotton-tipped applicator, I spread the color out before applying the final layer of clear gloss. Taking a step back, I admired my work of art. "There. All done."

Naeun's hand reached for the silver mirror. "Omo, gradient lips! Unnie, you made me look so beautiful! And my fat lips look so much thinner now, like those actresses on TV."

I shook my head, "You already are beautiful, and you should be proud of your full lips. You can wear any lip color and it would look great."

"Jincha?" she smiled up at me before turning her attention back to the mirror. "Wow. I need to take a selca!"

As I watched Naeun take multiple selca shots of herself, I can't help but feel a little bit satisfied.

Okay, that was an understatement.

I felt extremely satisfied. As a freelance makeup artist, I came to believe that cosmetics should be primarily used not to hide flaws but to bring out the best in someone.

"I haven't seen her so happy like that," a voice called out from the doorway. I turned around and found myself facing the girl's mom, but before I could say anything, my phone began to ring.

"Excuse me," I slid into the hallway and brought my phone to my ear, not bothering to check who it was.

"Seohyunnie?"

The voice was all too familiar. I felt myself sway a little, "Sica-unnie?"

"I'm at Lotte Department Store downtown. Can you come? I think I'm in danger."

----

Lotte Department Store was only a few blocks away from Son Naeun's residence. If I caught a bus, I could reach the mall in five minutes tops. But judging from the long stand-still queue of vehicles that lined the road, it'd take me at least thirty minutes to get to my destination.

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