Unconditionally (BOOK 3)

The End of an Era

Wooyoung's POV:

I still haven't decided whether or not I've regretted my return to modeling. Maybe it was too early, or maybe I shouldn't of done it at all. Depending on how my upcoming meeting with Mrs. Hyun goes in about five minutes, we'll see.

She told me we needed to discuss my current appearance. There's absolutely no good way to take that when you don't have any context. I'm not sure what else they want me to do when I've lost all the weight I gained and my hair is back to plain jet black. I just can't imagine what the issue is.

This time around has felt a little different. I feel more mature and luckily not as stressed. I feel respected by the people around me, it almost seems forced at times, but I'm assuming it's because they want to show their appreciation for my return. I've been enjoying work which is nice for once. Hopefully today doesn't change that.

"Wooyoung, nice to see you." Mrs. Hyun smiled, sitting behind her desk with her hands folded underneath her chin. "Take a seat." I did as she asked but stayed quiet, feeling my nerves slowly creeping up on me. "Hopefully the email you received wasn't too misleading." I'm not necessarily sure if it was or not, but I guess I'm about to find out. "But yes, your appearance. You know you're one of our best. But I think it's time we discuss the elephant in the room." I was practically sweating at this point, I couldn't imagine where this was headed. "The company believes it would be in your best interest if you underwent surgery."

"For?" I closed my eyes, feeling the pit grow in my stomach.

"You need a rhinoplasty."

Need.

I need a nose job.

Wow.

"And if I don't want to do that?"

"You'll get less jobs." She shrugged, acting as if I'd be foolish not to mess with my face. "Once Felix came into the picture, a lot changed."

"Felix? What does Felix have to do with any of this?"

"People have admired you for you. You've always been a lovable personality that feels genuine and authentic. You were a breath of fresh air when you started out. But when Felix came into the spotlight, surgeons were getting multiple requests to make their patients look like him, not you. Never you actually. Men have wanted to look less like you. But Felix, that perfect boy, was a phenomenon, then disappeared. We need something like that back, but no one has your personality. Wooyoung, you should look at this as a good thing."

Felix. They want me to be like Felix. Of all the people in the entire world, it's my best friend's fiancé. I never felt any type of competition with him before. I'm not even sure if I do in this very moment either, but the thought is already itching my brain. Am I really not good enough? Is she saying I'm ugly? I can't even comprehend what's happening anymore.

"Can I ask how?" I asked quietly, feeling sick.

"Because we'd rather put all our efforts in you rather than find someone else. You were always a star with undeniable talent. It would be the new and improved Jung Wooyoung."

"Choi." I corrected.

"Choi Wooyoung." She then awkwardly said.

"Is there anything else besides a nose job?"

"We were thinking veneers as well."

"Because Felix has a perfect smile and I don't."

"Right." She nodded.

"That it?" I've never wanted to leave a room so badly in my life.

"That's all." She smiled. I pushed the chair back and bowed respectfully, not wanting to show much emotion. "I'll give you time to think it over, but just know your career will unfortunately be on the line if you don't go through with it."