Pygmalion

6.6

Sukyung smiled and replied, 

“No. I just work at a small export company. I’m in the accounting department, but I’m in the middle of finding another job.”

Arum asked,

“Wow, your salary must be really high. How much did you pay to get registered as a customer here?”

“Umm… A lot.”

Sukyung felt uncomfortable talking about money, so she fidgeted a little. Trying to change the subject, Sukyung asked, 

“By the way… Do you want to become an actress so badly that you’re willing to get plastic surgery?” 

“Of course! If I didn’t, why would I bother going through something so painful! I even had to break up with my boyfriend over it. He said he didn’t want me to get the surgery. And he kept talking about how the entertainment industry is a dangerous place for a girl. You know, with all the sexual favors they say you might have to do to get roles and stuff. I hated it when he talked about things like that. I know these things happen, but what can I do? I want to be an actress, so I’m willing to do whatever it takes. I’m just glad that I slept with my ex boyfriend.”

Sukyung’s face became red again. Arum’s eyes widened and asked,

“What? Are you still a virgin? You said you’re 28!”

“Well… I… I’ve just been very busy. My parents passed away when I was really young, so I had to raise my younger brother by myself. I just never got around to date anyone seriously.”

Suddenly, Sukyung wondered why she was trying so hard to make an excuse. It was especially ridiculous that she felt embarrassed in front of an 18-year-old. After all, what was wrong with being chaste until getting married? Sukyung wasn’t trying to save herself for her future husband by any means, but she didn’t think she should be embarrassed for still being a virgin. 

Arum replied,

“Well, I guess. You aren’t gonna be an actress, so I guess it doesn’t matter to you anyway. President Jin talked to me in private earlier about it too. He said that if I was still a virgin, I should take care of it as soon as possible. He said there was no way of what might happen, and I would regret it if I ended up giving away my first time to some random dude.”

Sukyung gasped in shock and stared at the young girl. Just what was Mr. Jin thinking that he would talk about something like this with her? Arum giggled again and commented,

“Wow, you must be really shocked. But why? I mean… Things like this happen all the time, right? President Jin told me that I needed to be tough if I really wanted to do this. He said it’s not a bad idea to be prepared for everything, and I agree with him. I have no intention of giving my dream up.”

Sukyung protested, 

“But… You’re still so young! Umm… Do you really want to do this that badly?”

“Yup.” 

When Arum replied firmly, Sukyung didn’t know what to say. Arum explained, 

“I really want to do this. I don’t care what I have to do to make it. I can’t act very well right now, but I’m not an idiot. If I’m given a chance, I know I can do it. And to get this chance, if I need to hump a few guys, so what? It’s no big deal. I’ve done it with my boyfriend, and it wasn’t hard at all.”

“Hump…?”

Sukyung stared at the young girl a few seconds before bursting into laughter. She laughed so hard that she began to cry. Sukyung found the girl so amusing. Hump a few guy?

Arum asked, 

“Are you shocked by what I said? Wow, you’re so naive for a 28-year-old.”

“Yeah, I agree.”

Wiping away her tears, Sukyung introduced herself,

“By the way, my name is Kim Sukyung.”

“I’m Lee Arum.”

***

“You must’ve liked getting the facial?”

Sungwoo asked Sukyung, who was getting her seatbelt. Sukyung smiled and replied, 

“Umm, well… It felt really good, but I’m more happy about exchanging phone numbers with that girl.”

“That little girl?”

Sungwoo was munching on the mint candy when he turned toward her. He raised his eyebrows, making Sukyung blush. With an embarrassed smile, she asked.

“Is it that strange?”

Sungwoo looked at her for a moment before shrugging. He replied,

“No, not really. I’ll bet she is much more mature than you.”

Sukyung felt like she should get angry, but all she could do was nod. After talking with Arum for almost an hour, Sukyung had to agree that Sungwoo was right. 

“I think so too.”

“If you do, then you should really become more mature.”

When Sungwoo nagged her, Sukyung frowned and glared at him. She argued,

“Well… I don’t think humping a few guys is what it takes to become mature.”

“Hump… what?”

Sungwoo looked at her in confusion before starting his car. Sukyung pouted and glanced at him. After talking with Arum, Sukyung felt a little more experienced now for some reason. She muttered, 

“You really shouldn’t have told that little girl to get rid of her virginity. How could you say that to a teenage girl? It was very unethical of you.”

***