"This cut is fierce as hell, honey piss-yourself fierce. But the black color and that puffiness? Not fierce enough. We're straightening and dyeing you today, end of story."
Dark brown strands were snipped and feathered to frame that small face and slender white neck. The bangs became soft and thin, no longer blocking those big eyes.
"Uh…"
DeeDee didn't wait for a response. Mixing dye, the stylist continued gossiping like a running faucet.
"Rock has never liked anyone. That man is obsessed with cars, period. So when he brings someone to meet his friends? Of course we get excited. Maybe he's finally getting… restless now that he's hit thirty. Big spoiled rich boy like him maybe once he gets some action, he'll finally grow up."
"I… I don't think I'm anywhere near something like that," Star muttered.
"How did you end up owing Rock anyway? And how much? Tell me I'm dying to know."
"Well… I was having problems with someone I love, so I couldn't eat or sleep. I wandered into an intersection late at night. Rock was driving back from a night out and almost hit me, but he swerved and hit a light pole instead. The car blew up… so I had to compensate him for the car."
"A car? Which one? How much?"
The buff diva frowned like listening to an alien confession.
"A red Lamborghini… fifteen million."
"What..? A red Lambo? Wait..that one? The one he just brought in to show off two weeks ago?"
"I think so, yes. Luckily Rock let me stay at his place because I had no money left."
"Typical of that family… teeth sharp as knives. It's unfair, sure, but hey at least you get to see a ridiculously handsome man every day."
The stylist slathered dye through Star's hair, massaged it in, wrapped it, rinsed, and repeated.
"Rock's just my creditor. There's nothing like that between us. I didn't have a choice I had to work to pay the debt.
And… I already have someone. A lover."
Star's voice softened. Even though they hadn't seen each other in over a month, the relationship technically wasn't over so Star couldn't claim to be single.
"You have a lover? With the way you looked before? Well, they must be a saint loving you for who you are inside. But did they ever come looking for you? Try to negotiate? Help you with anything?"
"No… never. We're just… drifting apart. I felt terrible because of the things that person does. Maybe it's normal for city people, I don't know."
"Normal how? You don't seem stubborn at all you're practically pure."
"My lover has a friend who's like… a sleep partner. But they're not dating. They're just… friends who do that. Just friends…"
Star kept repeating the explanation like someone intoxicated by hair dye fumes though the dye had no scent. The confusion since that day still knotted up inside Star every time the thought surfaced.
"What the hell! There's nothing normal about that! Sweetie, you're too pure. Crystal pure. Why does your love have to be that innocent?"
DeeDee planted both hands on those thick hips, looking exactly like a diva who'd just caught a TV heroine stumbling out of a melodrama set and into the salon.
"W–what…? What do you mean?"
"Sweetheart, why would someone who already has a lover sleep with other people unless they don't truly love them? Don't tell me you're also spending money to support that man. When you said you were broke… it's because of that 'lover,' isn't it?"
A large hand gently lifted Star's chin, forcing those downcast eyes to meet the gaze in front of them. The trembling pupils, the sheen of unshed tears no words were needed to understand.
"…Well… yes… I just helped however I could."
"Help? Help with what? Help them help themselves, you mean. You're too pure too freaking pure. So pure I want to shake you. What are you, a drama heroine? Get a grip!"
"Do I look really stupid? To city people, I mean."
Those sad, watery eyes were enough to make the big stylist pull Star into a tight hug, rubbing circles on the trembling back.
"Ayyo~ poor puppy. Don't make that face. Give me a second and I'll transform you into a poisoned apple."
"Snow White?" Star sniffed.
"No, darling~ Snow White is a heroine. You shouldn't be the heroine anymore. After all you've gone through, you should be something gorgeous and deadly. Now let me give you advice."
"What kind of advice?"
"Make Rock your man and dump that pathetic ex of yours."
"No! No, no, I can't! I don't like Rock, I'm scared."
"Scared of what? Rock doesn't let anyone get close. The fact that you're allowed this close means you're special. A guy like Rock needs someone bold, spicy, sharp someone exciting. Trust me. Rock isn't a bad person, just… love-starved. You could help him."
"I… I can't."
"If you make Rock yours, that ten-million-plus debt will become nothing. And if he falls for you? He'll give you the world. Your whole life would get better."
"I can't… he's too scary. He kicked you across the room and you're huge. What about me?"
"Hehehe… If you ever want to conquer a man, you have to be flawless. From now on, I'll train you myself teach you how to be hot, confident, irresistible. Give me your phone so we can add each other."
"I don't have money… and my phone's broken."
"Oh my god! I can't stand poor people here, take one of my phones!"
"Five phones? Do you sell them or something?"
"Are you insane? I'm rich, baby. Can't you tell from the aura? Take one."
"Then… anything cheap is fine."
"There's no 'cheap,' sweetheart; they're all the same. Take the white one it matches your hair. I'll message you on LINE. Anything happens, you come to me."
"Thank you so much. You're really kind. When I have money someday, I'll pay you back every baht."
"Aww, cute. But no need, I have plenty of money.
Just snap a few sexy pics of Rock for me as payment. Deal?"
Who… is that?
A slim figure with a tight little waist, wearing a sheer button-up left open deep enough to flash soft pink nipples with every breath. The hem was tucked into black denim that hugged every curve of those hips and long, pretty legs.
A small delicate face bright and smooth was sculpted into sharper dimension with high-end makeup. Clean, sharp liner framed big eyes, giving them a sweet but dangerous tilt.
The wild, frizzy hair that once hid his face had been straightened, brightened into icy white, trimmed to fit his features perfectly. The bangs were lifted, exposing skin that looked almost porcelain.
And those lips tiny, glossy, flushed pink looked… kissable.
"See that, Rock? Staring so hard your eyes might pop out. Your old little stray in a brand-new look. Hot enough for you~?"
DeeDee leaned in against Rock's broad shoulder, whispering into the ear of the usually merciless man who now stood frozen at the sight of Star's transformation.
Pale skin with a pink undertone, slim waist, slender legs wrapped in tight denim sexier than half the mini-skirt girls outside. Sleek hair grazing the jaw, those big round eyes lifted to meet his creditor's stare now made even sharper thanks to the contact lenses he actually bothered to wear today.