---
Chapter 1: Welcome to True Beauty
A woman pushed a baby stroller with a cheerful smile as the baby inside giggled happily. A little girl, around seven years old, walked beside her, beaming at her baby sibling.
Two other women approached, laughing together. One had sleek black hair, and the other had soft blonde curls. They smiled warmly at the woman with the stroller.
The blonde-haired woman leaned in and looked at the baby. Her expression shifted slightly. She adjusted her hair and forced a smile.
"This is your second child?" she asked.
The woman with the stroller nodded proudly. "Yes."
The woman with black hair peered at the baby and smiled. "He's a sturdy-looking fellow."
The mother chuckled gently. "She's a girl."
Both women blinked in surprise, then laughed awkwardly. They turned to the older girl beside her.
The blonde-haired woman gently touched the girl's shoulder. "But Hee-Kyung is so pretty..."
The other woman softly touched Hee-Kyung's cheek. "How are you so pretty, Hee-Kyung?" she cooed. Hee-Kyung smiled shyly.
"She's going to run for Miss Korea, right?" they giggled.
Then, they glanced back at the baby, whose chubby cheeks were dotted with red spots. The baby giggled cheerfully.
---
Ever since Ju-Kyoung was little, she could sense it—the way people looked at her. She knew. She wasn't considered pretty.
"General! You did it, Grandpa!" The children cheered from the chairs around the table.
Eight-year-old Ju-Kyoung sat quietly, watching the others play and listening to the adults' conversation. Her black hair was tied back, her round glasses magnifying her black eyes. Her face had little red spots. She clutched her teddy bear tightly.
All the adults gathered on the far side of the large dining table. The air was crisp and fresh, surrounded by trees and a gentle breeze.
A man glanced at Ju-Kyoung, then at the other adults, then back at her.
"How is it that Ju-Kyoung only takes after her mother's side?" he muttered.
Hee-Kyung's eyes widened. Their mother came to sit beside Ju-Kyoung.
An older woman with ash-colored hair looked at Ju-Kyoung. "She'd be better off with Hee-Kyung's eyes. Consider plastic surgery—come on," she said bluntly.
Ju-Kyoung said nothing, tightening her grip on her teddy bear.
"Don't say that!" Hee-Kyung cried. "She doesn't look like our family? Father, that's too cruel!"
The adults chuckled. The mother leaned toward Ju-Kyoung.
"Your grades are all that matter. Got it?"
Ju-Kyoung gave no reply.
---
Later, in the living room, Ju-Kyoung watched anime with wide eyes. Her favorite scene came on—a girl transformed magically into a stunning fairy. Ju-Kyoung's imagination lit up.
Inspired, she rushed to the park wearing a tangled pink wig and an oversized pink dress. Her large round glasses sat crookedly on her face, her lips painted a bright pink. She hoped to be seen as magical, transformed.
Instead, laughter erupted.
"What the heck?" a kid laughed.
"What is that?" another mocked.
"She must think she's a fairy or something!"
Tears welled up in Ju-Kyoung's eyes.
"Now turn into an ugly monster!" the children shouted as they sprayed her with water guns.
Ju-Kyoung ran, soaked and sobbing.
She returned home and stumbled into the living room, tears streaming down her face. Her eyes met the TV that had inspired her, and she angrily switched it off.
Sinking to the floor, she reached for her pink teddy bear—then paused. Her eyes shifted to a darker teddy with creepy drawings on it. She picked it up instead.
Behind it was a book.
She read the title aloud: "Cursed Mask." A man wearing a mask stared at himself in a mirror on the cover, his face full of despair.
Ju-Kyoung stared at it, whispering: "That's me…"
She realized something then. She wasn't the fairy-tale heroine in romance comics. She was more like the girl in horror comics—the one cursed by the mask.
---
WELCOME TO MY NOVEL: TRUE BEAUTY ♡
A girl with glasses dashed down the street, clutching a book: Cursed Mask. Her black ponytail bounced as she ran, her oversized school uniform fluttering. She adjusted her large glasses, which hid much of her face and the red spots on her skin.
She reached the school just as the bell rang.
"Today's lesson ends here. I hope you all understood," the teacher said.
"Yes!" the students replied in unison.
The bell rang again. Cheers broke out.
"Homework due tomorrow!" the teacher added before exiting the classroom.
Chaos ensued. Students rushed to their groups. Some girls opened their lockers, revealing mirrors and makeup kits. A blonde girl huffed at her reflection.
"Oh no, my hair is a mess," she groaned.
"That's what you get for sleeping in class," her friend with black hair teased, applying lipstick.
A girl sat quietly, adjusting her glasses and reading her book. Ju-Kyoung.
She noticed another girl sitting in front of her, also with red spots. Ju-Kyoung smiled and offered her the novel.
"Would you like to read this?"
"I'm not sure," the girl replied and turned away.
Ju-Kyoung tried again. "Would you like to listen?" she asked, offering one side of her earpiece.
"I'm not sure," the girl said again, returning to her seat.
Ju-Kyoung just smiled and kept reading.
Meanwhile, at the mirror station...
"Sam-mi, I want to try your lip tint," the blonde girl said sweetly to the class beauty.
"Using her lip tint won't help you," a boy nearby muttered.
The blonde girl glared. "I'm not doing it for you, am I?"
Sam-mi chuckled.
Then, they noticed Ju-Kyoung bobbing her head to music.
"Hey, look at Ju-Kyoung," the blonde girl said, pointing.
Sam-mi turned. "What is she doing? How ridiculous."
"Hey—dumpling!" Sam-mi called.
No response.
"Hey, dumpling!" another girl echoed.
Still no response. Ju-Kyoung kept swaying.
Someone hurled an eraser. "Hey, dumpling!"
Startled, Ju-Kyoung stood up, removing her earpiece. "Did you call me?"
Sam-mi folded her arms. "Who else would I be talking to?"
Ju-Kyoung blinked. "You want me to run an errand?"
"Two meat buns and one fries," Sam-mi replied smugly.
Ju-Kyoung nodded and ran out.
"She's a professional," a student joked.
"A dumpling courier!" another added.
Ju-Kyoung froze. Her fists clenched. She turned back, walked into the class, and glared at Sam-mi.
"Two meat and one fries, right?" she snapped.
Everyone fell silent.
Sam-mi blinked. "Hmm."
Ju-Kyoung nodded and left.
---
At the cafeteria, Ju-Kyoung stood in line. Someone cut in front of her. She tapped the guy.
"It's my turn."
He ignored her. The cashier served them anyway.
Finally, Ju-Kyoung got to the counter.
"Two meat and—"
"Fries?" the cashier finished with a smile.
"Yes," Ju-Kyoung replied softly.
As she walked back, music blasting through her headphones, she passed a restaurant. Her steps slowed. Her eyes searched the inside.
"Is Hyun-Bin not here yet?" she whispered.
Just then, a boy with brown hair and a flour sack approached. From behind, he gently removed her earpiece.
"Hey. Girl," he said calmly.
Ju-Kyoung turned. Her heart skipped. "Hyun-Bin…" she breathed.
He placed the earpiece in his ear. "Wait. Is this Crush?"
Ju-Kyoung grinned. "I knew you'd get it."
"Of course. Classic." He smiled. "You and I have the same taste in music."
Hyun-Bin closed his eyes, nodding to the beat.
Ju-Kyoung's heart raced. Calm down, heart. Stop acting up.
Hyun-Bin was lost in the music, his brown hair swaying. Her heart pounded louder.
Stop acting up! she thought again.
"Stop acting up!" she suddenly blurted aloud.
Hyun-Bin pulled out the earpiece. "Sorry, what did you say?"
Ju-Kyoung froze, embarrassed. "Nothing."
She turned and walked away quickly.
"Bye!" she called out, adjusting her glasses.
Let me never remember today again… she thought.
---