Dad often forgot to throw away the expired milk they bought from the supermarket even if mom always reminded him to, so I had to cover him for his forgetfulness and threw the milk for him at occasions.

Luckily, just like any other day, dad forgot to throw away the expired milk again. I found this out just as I woke up at five in the morning before everyone else and fumbled for the milk carton from inside the fridge.

The smell of the milk was revolting as expected when I opened the cap and tried to smell it, and I was pretty sure the taste would be just as bad—maybe worse. So, I began to have my doubts just as I imagined consuming it. It smelled so bad and I didn’t think I would last for long until the stomach ache would consume me and I’d never leave the bathroom, probably for a week or two—who knows. It had more disadvantages for me than I’d asked for, but this was the only plan I had to avoid going.

“There’s no turning back, Lee Yoon. This is your last chance,” I muttered to myself while gulping at sight of the expired milk I was cradling with both hands.

Was I really doing this? I had second thoughts like this.

Still, I lifted the opening of the milk carton to my lips and when I began drinking the contents what I only remembered happening was me pinching my nose to avoid knowing what it really tasted like and not finishing off the entire thing. I was so disgusted at the texture of expired milk in my mouth—it actually somewhat felt like tasting expired soy and something else I didn’t want to imagine—that I almost hurled over the sink the contents of my stomach, but I forced myself not to and swallowed them back. Then I got some coffee fix and some water to get the sour taste off my mouth and then brushed my teeth before forcing myself back to sleep.

I prayed to the gods to actually allow me to be sick.

But I think I didn’t pray that hard at all.

I woke up to mom’s constant cry for me to get ready. It was only twelve in the afternoon. Usually I slept in until late at three in the afternoon on Sundays and it would still be fine, but mom was just a stubborn cow. She’d do whatever she wanted even if I didn’t have her consent.

She asked me to get out of bed and take a shower and while doing this I was sulking under the shower head because I still didn’t feel any signs that I was going to be sick.

“Was the milk really expired?” I was pretty sure the taste said it all. It wouldn’t have been that disgusting if it wasn’t expired!

When I was out and about, she told me to dress up because we were going to pamper ourselves. Mom wasn’t really the kind of woman to go the extra mile to keep her skin clear by going to the spa, but there we were, at the spa in the afternoon. I slept the entire time. It just felt so good to have someone sooth away the cramps in your muscles left by the stress at work and so I couldn’t help but give in.

We got home around two in the afternoon, still having enough time for her to allow me to get a warm bath again and be beautified in front of the mirror. I could fix my own makeup because I did it as part of my daily routine for work, but I wasn’t as good as mom when it came to putting some mascara or drawing some complicated eyeliner thing around my eyes.

I was quite jittery at this point. I wasn’t sure whether it had something to do with mom’s plan following through or it was the expired milk finally deciding itself to take action, but nonetheless I couldn’t stop from profusely sweating.

“You’re not usually sweating this bad.” Mom noticed. “Should I turn the AC a bit higher?” I nodded thoughtlessly, my body and mind only asking for some relief from the odd feeling.

She turned the air-conditioning in my room to a lower temperature and for some time it did make me a bit comfortable. But when mom was already done with my makeup and hair which she pinned up stylishly to the back of my head while leaving a cute braid at one side, I couldn’t help but feel anxiety overwhelm me even if I wanted to praise her for making me pretty.

“You’re frowning. Is something wrong?” she asked, noticing the frown on my face.

I forced my lips to tilt up and shook my head to take away her worry. “It’s nothing.”

I wanted to tell her everything was wrong, but I just couldn’t refuse my mom. She’d helped me get over the fact that I haven’t found my soul mate for the past four years and constantly assured me he was just somewhere out there also waiting for me like I do to him, so I couldn’t just really dissuade her.

“Then shall we fit you in your dress then?” I nodded, feeling dread takeover.

This wasn’t according to plan. All of this.

Mom had helped me get into my dress, the whole time begging me to close my eyes and not peek no matter what she did that I found weird, so I wasn’t really sure what to expect when I was brought in front of the mirror and was asked to look at myself.

“Open your eyes, Yoonie,” she said, her voice gentle and proud with her work.

I slowly opened my eyes, aware of my mother’s muffled squealing, and took my time before trailing them to the girl at the mirror. I wasn’t really looking forward to anything but my eyes widened at my reflection; it was as if I was looking at another person. She was, to say, one of the most elegant looking young ladies I’d ever seen and the dress was just a breath-taking piece of fine clothing. A modern hanbok with a soft lace jeogori that conservatively blurred the sokchima and chima underneath and also covered the entire length of my arms to my wrist. The chima from the waist was the colour of midnight blue gradually fading into a lighter shade as it travelled down the entire length, some flower designs embroidered on it.

“Mom,” my voice became unsteady at the surprise. “This is just—“

How could I still say no to what she wanted me to do? My mother had done too much for a party that I didn’t have my heart in to.

She stood behind me and wrapped her arms around my waist, her chin on my shoulder, her gaze proudly looking at the girl in the mirror. “Isn’t my daughter beautiful?”

I looked at the proud smile she had at her reflection in the mirror and then I turned my gaze to my own reflection and smiled. I’d never called myself beautiful, but in this world I guess there were always exceptions.

“She is.”

Her smile widened and I couldn’t help but love how her eyes also tilted up to happy crescents. I hadn’t seen her this happy for such a long time since I had not found my soul mate.

So, I decided, once and for all I’d do this for her.

It wouldn’t hurt to try going to this party I avoided for the past two years, right?

That was why two hours later, I found myself lost in the middle of a huge function room inside the royal palace. Th