Prologue
Near Sinchon Station, in front of an eye clinic. Park Min-jae (27) checked the appointment text with a nervous expression.
"Double eyelid surgery consultation - 10 AM"
His eyes were typical monolids. He had heard all his life that his eyes looked small, sleepy, and expressionless.
Chapter 1 - Complex
Min-jae was a UX designer at an IT company. He did creative work, but heard the same thing at every meeting.
"Min-jae, are you tired? Your eyes look sleepy..."
"No, they're always like this..."
He had repeated the same answer hundreds of times. He wasn't actually tired, and he wasn't disinterested. His monolid eyes just made him look that way.
One day at a company dinner, a senior jokingly said:
"Min-jae, if you made your eyes bigger, you'd be a completely different person."
It was a joke, but it stuck deep in Min-jae's heart.
Chapter 2 - Research
From that night, Min-jae started researching double eyelid surgery. Non-incision, incision, natural adhesion... so many methods.
YouTube review videos, plastic surgery community reviews, hospital ratings. He gathered hundreds of pieces of information over a month.
"So many men get double eyelid surgery too..."
Looking at reviews, there were many male patients. People who got it done in the military, before job hunting. And most were satisfied.
Chapter 3 - Surgery
He got double eyelid surgery at a famous eye clinic in Gangnam. A natural in-out line.
"There will be some swelling, but it should go down a lot in about a week."
The surgery was over in 30 minutes. It was simpler than he thought. But the week waiting for the swelling to go down felt long.
He recovered at home, using remote work as an excuse. He checked in the mirror every day as the swelling went down.
Two weeks later, he finally saw his completed double eyelids.
"Is this... me?"
Chapter 4 - Reactions
First day back at work. Min-jae entered the company nervously.
"Min-jae, long time no see! Oh, something's different?"
"You must have rested well. Your face looks brighter!"
No one directly said his eyes looked different. The natural line wasn't obvious.
The biggest change was in Min-jae himself. He wasn't afraid to make eye contact anymore. He could look at people confidently.
Chapter 5 - Ha-yeon
Min-jae first met her at a cafe near the office. Lee Ha-yeon (26), a marketer at another company in the same building.
Their order lines overlapped, and conversation started naturally.
"I'll have an Americano too!" Ha-yeon said with a smile.
"We have the same taste."
The old Min-jae would have answered while avoiding eye contact. But now it was different. He smiled naturally while looking into Ha-yeon's eyes.
"Next time, coffee's on me."
Chapter 6 - Date
A week later, Min-jae and Ha-yeon's first date. They walked together through Seongsu-dong's cafe street.
"Min-jae, your eyes are really kind. You have a trustworthy look."
At Ha-yeon's words, Min-jae paused. It was the first time he'd received a compliment about his eyes.
"Thank you. Actually, I... used to have a complex about my eyes."
"Really? It doesn't seem like it now at all."
Chapter 7 - Worry
As the relationship deepened, Min-jae fell into worry. Should he tell her about the surgery?
"If I say I had plastic surgery, will she be disappointed? Will she think I'm fake?"
One day, Ha-yeon met Min-jae without makeup.
"I don't actually have double eyelids. I draw them with eyeliner."
Min-jae was surprised. And he realized. Ha-yeon had her own worries too.
Chapter 8 - Truth
"Ha-yeon, I actually got double eyelid surgery."
Min-jae said on a bench at Han River Park. Ha-yeon wasn't surprised.
"I know."
"Huh? You knew?"
"The surgery scar is slightly visible. But so what? I like that you look more confident now."
Min-jae let out a sigh of relief. He had been foolish to hide it.
Chapter 9 - Family
Min-jae told his parents the truth too.
"Dad, Mom, I got double eyelid surgery."
His father looked at his son expressionlessly and said.
"I had complexes when I was young too. I understand."
His mother smiled and examined Min-jae's face.
"It's so natural I didn't notice. It turned out well."
Chapter 10 - Confidence
One year after double eyelid surgery. Min-jae's life had changed a lot.
He could make eye contact with the audience during presentations. He could greet strangers first.
"Min-jae, your presentation was really good. I could feel confidence in your eyes."
Min-jae smiled at his senior's praise. Double eyelids didn't change everything. But the experience of overcoming his complex gave him confidence.
Epilogue - Looking Into Each Other's Eyes
Two years later, Min-jae proposed to Ha-yeon.
"Ha-yeon, marry me."
He said while looking into Ha-yeon's eyes. Without trembling, confidently.
"Yes, I love your eyes the most too."
Double eyelid surgery gave Min-jae more than just a change in appearance. It taught him how to love himself, how to look at the world confidently.
"I didn't need double eyelids. I needed confidence."
Min-jae smiled and held Ha-yeon's hand.
- The End -