[Kyung-seok asks Mi-rae for a talk after class, the day after he had seen his mother and Mi-rae at the bar.]
How do you know that woman?
Mi-rae[keeping her first real meet-up with Hye-sung years ago a secret] I met her for the first time at the perfume sampling event that day. Our Teaching Assistant was there, too. He introduced me to her, saying she was our alumna.
You had a drink with someone whom you met for the first time that day?
Mi-rae
Well… It happened that way by accident after the event.
Mi-rae
Yes. She left right after that as well.
[Kyung-seok sighs.]
Mi-rae
Are you okay? I was worried.
Why would you be? It’s none of your business. Don’t tell the others about this.
Mi-rae
I won’t. Why would I tell such a thing to others?
(getting angry) You asked me not to tell the others that we went to the same school, but you revealed it first.
Mi-rae
Well, that’s because it was my problem. It didn’t harm you either.
Are you the type who changes words like that, too? I hate those who don’t keep their promises.
Mi-rae
I also hate those who vent their anger on others.
[Upon Hye-sung’s request, Mi-rae invites Kyung-seok for a drink to convince him to make amends with his mother. Kyung-seok keeps looking at Mi-rae.]
Mi-rae
What?
Mi-rae
For what?
For getting mad at you for meeting that person even though it wasn’t your fault.
[Mi-rae does not reply, though she is pleased to hear Kyung-seok’s apology.]
Mi-rae
I have a pretty big heart.
[Mi-rae forces herself to drink more liquor, which Kyung-seok notices.]
Mi-rae
Don’t get mad at me, okay? (beat) Do you really have no interest in talking to your mom?
Is that why you asked me to go for a drink? When you said “a big heart,” I guess you meant you’re very nosy.
Mi-rae
I know it’s nothing compared to your situation … but I couldn’t see my dad for a while either. He was against me getting plastic surgery, so I did it secretly after telling him I was going to study abroad. And then I saw him for the first time at the entrance ceremony … but he got mad and left. When family members hate each other, it’s usually out of disappointment. (teary-eyed) He must have had a really hard time. Much more than me.
Mi-rae
With what?
With your plastic surgery.
Mi-rae
I wouldn’t say I’m satisfied…
Mi-rae
It’s too obvious that I did it. (beat) You made fun of me, too.
(taken aback) I did? When?
Mi-rae
Forget it.
No, tell me. I won’t let you go until you tell me. Tell me when I did that.
Mi-rae
That time … at the bus stop. You laughed at me. You probably don’t remember, but for me—
I do. I clearly remember it, but I never made fun of you. It wasn’t your face. It was your feet.
[Mi-rae glances at her feet. Kyung-seok chuckles softly.]
Your feet were funny. I’ve never seen anyone else dance like that. That’s why I asked you at the orientation. It seemed like you. In middle school, I only remember laughing once, and it was because of you.
[In her attempt to know and expose Mi-rae’s past, Soo-a invites one of Mi-rae’s schoolmate in middle school, Park Young-chul, to the school festival. Soo-a brings Mi-rae to Young-chul’s table. Mi-rae has been apprehensive since seeing Young-chul arrive in their department’s food kiosk, knowing he could reveal her ugly past to the others.]
Mi-rae
You should go.
YCYoung-chul
You can’t tell a customer to go.
Mi-rae
I said, go.
YCYoung-chul
What’s wrong? This is nice. It’s nice to see Kang Orc again.
Mi-rae
[raises her voice] Hey.
YCYoung-chul’s friends
Is she that “Kang Orc”?
YCYoung-chul
[to his friends] She’s that “Kang Orc.”
Mi-rae
(loudly) HEY!
[Virtually all in the kiosk turns to check on Young-chul’s table. Kyung-seok nears the table.]
Mi-rae
Come with me.
YCYoung-chul
I’m just bringing up old times. Does that piss you off?
(feigning concern) Young-chul…
Mi-rae
I said, come with me.
YCYoung-chul
(snickers) Oh, I’m scared. Kang Mi-rae, do you think you’re something now because you’re pretty?
[Mi-rae stares at Young-chul with intense dislike. Young-chul’s smirk fades.]
Mi-rae
That’s right. I realized after I changed that you were nothing.
YCYoung-chul
(taken aback) What?
Mi-rae
You haven’t changed a bit. You still look down on people and harass them based on their appearance. Remember this every time you think of the name “Kang Orc”: to me, you’re just a piece of trash.
[Soo-a “apologizes” to Mi-rae for inviting Young-chul to the school festival.]
I shouldn’t have asked them to come. I don’t even know them very well. They came to where I work part-time, so I invited them to the festival. I didn’t know he was like that. I’m sorry.
Mi-rae
It’s not your fault.
That’s not true. I’m really sorry. This wouldn’t have happened if it weren’t for me.
Mi-rae
That’s okay. Don’t worry about it.
No, I will. I want to be better to you. The truth is, I was a little prejudiced about plastic surgery. “Do they want to be prettier that badly? Isn’t it just vanity?” But I understand now that some people are really desperate, that some appearances are painful to have.
Gangnam Beauty · 23 quotes
