22-17

EP.17 1. (Pre-Livestock Female University Student Lee Sol-ah) - Smile for Me (17)

I wore the dress that Oppa had prepared for me at the wedding venue. It was exactly the dress I had always wanted. An off-the-shoulder design that emphasized my chest, with a full, layered skirt that fluttered beautifully when I twirled. I had always wanted to wear such a dress if I were to get married, and Oppa had chosen it perfectly.

"I think Oppa and I really match well."

"Huh?"

"I didn't tell you what kind of dress I wanted, but you picked one that fits my taste perfectly."

Oppa's face turned red from the compliment.

"I didn't expect to receive such a compliment from Sol-ah."

"Hehe, today is the last day I can give compliments."

After today, I won't be able to compliment my master.

I didn't say anything, just smiled at Oppa.

"Sol-ah..."

Oppa seemed to understand my unspoken thoughts and slightly frowned. He hugged me silently.

"Don't worry. That won't happen."

"No, how can I, as a livestock, dare to do that?"

"I promised to make you happy, and I will keep that promise."

Oppa hugged me tighter.

"I want to be Oppa even after we're married. I hope Sol-ah can remain Sol-ah even after marriage."

Oppa has always been kind. He was kind today, and he will be kind tomorrow and the day after. Oppa will always be kind.

Oppa, I have many wishes. Even as a livestock, I want to be human Sol-ah for you. I want to cook for you, sit with you and have pleasant conversations, praise you when you do well, and receive praise when I do well. I want to have a son who looks like you and a daughter who looks like me. I want to live happily like that.

But is that possible? Will the world accept it?

What if Oppa's love fades? All that will be left is the master and the livestock. If resentment builds up, I'll be discarded by the master. Then I'll be used as a sex object by some wealthy pervert and discarded again.

That's why I can't behave like Sol-ah for Oppa. I'm now Mimi.

Mimi is the name Oppa gave me. I will live as Mimi for the rest of my life. I vow to be loyal forever. So, even if your love fades, please don't discard me.

...I thought this to myself as I hugged Oppa.

My inner thoughts didn't convey anything, so Oppa hugged me warmly.

Oppa and I took photos together. It's not common for women becoming livestock to take photos. The wedding itself is a ceremony where the groom shows off his new possession.

Is there a need to take happy photos with a possession? Of course not.

But thanks to Oppa's strong insistence, we took photos.

"Smile a bit more...good."

Click. Click.

"Oppa."

"Why?"

"What will you use these photos for?"

I suddenly wondered why these photos were necessary.

"Of course, we'll hang them in our home."

"Will you show them to your parents?"

"No, I mean the home where you and I will live."

"Won't there be a problem if you hang photos with a livestock?"

Oppa hugged me at that moment. The photographer didn't miss it.

"Oh, that natural pose is great!"

Click. Click.

"The sound of the camera fills the air."

The bridal waiting room for livestock is made of transparent glass, allowing guests to observe the bride like an exhibit. Even before the wedding, these women are treated as livestock.

Fortunately, thanks to Oppa's influence, I could use a bridal waiting room with human rights, where I could sit in my dress and take photos with friends.

Jeong-mi arrived first. She wore a modest guest outfit and did her makeup for me. I know she doesn't usually wear makeup, but she made an effort for my last day.

"Girl, today is my day, but you're so well-dressed. What am I supposed to do?"

"Huh?"

"I'm just joking. It's the first time I've seen you in makeup, so I was surprised."

Jeong-mi's face turned slightly red from my compliment, but her expression soon turned sour.

"You're making jokes on a day like today?"

"It's a happy day, a wedding. The culmination of love."

"You...you..."

Jeong-mi's eyes welled up with tears.

"Today...Sol-ah...you're...becoming...like that..."

"We've talked about this. I've found a good husband who will take care of me even after marriage."

"But...ah..."

Jeong-mi noticed the barcode on my left arm.

"Sol-ah...your arm...the barcode...how did it happen? You're not a livestock yet..."

"I submitted the paperwork to give up my rights three days ago. That's where I received my livestock grade and got the barcode."

"Aaah...Sol-ah...Sol-ah..."

"I'm still an S-grade livestock. Even if Oppa discards me, I might be sold to a wealthy person. I won't have to worry about living expenses."

"How can you say that so casually?!"

"It's inevitable. Losing my rights, becoming a livestock."

I smiled as I spoke, while Jeong-mi was on the verge of tears.

"I'm asking you to smile for me. I want to remember my friends at their best, especially you, Jeong-mi. Your smiling face is lovely."

"Sol-ah...such...such..."

"Don't cry. I want you to smile for me on this happy day. It will make me happier."

I won't cry; I will smile. Today is my day, the day I can be most beautiful as a woman.

"Yes! I'll smile! I can smile for Sol-ah's sake!"

Jeong-mi started smiling, her eyes still tearful. That bittersweet feeling wasn't bad.

I realized she was trying so hard for me. I'm glad I have a friend like her.

"Thank you, Jeong-mi."

I hugged Jeong-mi. Her tears were palpable even through the thick bridal makeup.

"Why are you crying? I told you not to."

"I'm not crying! I'm smiling!"

"You're not keeping your word. Do you want to win against me like that?"

"Originally...I'm smarter...ah...sorry! That wasn't what I meant."

It was a joke we used to make as friends, but now it wasn't funny anymore, and Jeong-mi's words were cut off.

"You've proven it, haven't you? I guess I lost."

"Aaah...Sol-ah...no...that's not it...!"

Jeong-mi eventually burst into tears.

"Why are you crying? You won, didn't you? You've always tried to win against me."

"That's not it...that's not it...!"

I hugged her tightly again.

"Thank you, Jeong-mi. You made my last day happy because you came and smiled for me."

"No...no...I couldn't even smile for you..."

"You smiled enough."

We hugged for a while until other friends pulled us apart.

It wasn't much different with other friends. The bridal waiting room became a sea of tears.

I tried to accept them calmly so they wouldn't feel too sad.

At my request, they smiled for me. We took photos with their phones, not for me, but so they could remember my last appearance.

Meanwhile...

"Dad..."

Dad entered the bridal waiting room. Friends greeted him somberly, as if they were at a funeral.

"Let's meet at the wedding. There will be a group photo, so don't forget."

"Sniff...sniff..."

"Okay...Sol-ah..."

Friends who had been forcing smiles eventually left, crying again.

Only Dad and I were left in the waiting room. There was silence.

Dad's stern expression. I know why he looks like that.

"Why is that?"

"What do you mean, Dad?"

"You threw away all your belongings."

"Sol-ah is gone now. There's no chance of her coming back. Since my things have no meaning, I got rid of them."

Slap.

Dad slapped my cheek for the first time in my life. It hurt.

"I must have raised you wrong."

"Dad didn't do anything wrong. I'm the one who grew up wrong."

"Sol-ah!!"

"You're a daughter who didn't meet expectations! You don't have to hold onto me like that!"

"That's not it!!"

"Look at this!!"

I showed Dad the barcode on my left arm.

"Now I'm a livestock! A livestock with a barcode! Why do you still have hopes for a daughter who is now a livestock? Just give up! Just like you abandoned Min-ho, you can abandon me too!"

I spoke words that didn't come from my heart, piercing Dad's emotions without changing my expression.

"I never abandoned you!!"

"You signed the papers, didn't you?"

"That...that...!!"

Dad couldn't continue speaking. He seemed to want to say something but was too excited to articulate his thoughts.

"Dad, please forget about this worthless daughter. That way, you and Mom will be at peace."

Dad's eyes wavered for a moment, matching the moment when I suppressed my tears.

"If that's what you think, I'll prove that you're wrong."

"Dad...!"

"I'll come back. I'll prove that what you said is wrong."

Dad turned and left the waiting room quickly.

I wanted to call out to him, but I couldn't.

Dad's expression was determined, a look he always had when he was about to accomplish something he had never failed to do.

I have to give up. I have to give up on Sol-ah.

Why are you giving me hope now?

Why...why...

I covered my face with both hands and started crying again, unaware that my makeup was smearing.