Chapter 8
Hair Salon
The car stopped at their first destination — the hair salon.
It wasn't a luxurious place. The shop took up just a third of a shared building that also housed a café and a fitness center. Modest in design, but clean and welcoming.
After paying the driver, the three siblings stepped out of the car and walked toward the entrance.
Eve, skipping forward with her usual energy, suddenly asked a question.
"Uhh, should I call you 'sister' now? Also, what name should I use? Sister Lucy? Sister Lucia?"
Lucius had already prepared for this moment. With a determined look, he replied confidently:
"You can call me Sister Lucy. Oh, and for Sister Sophia, let's go with Lucia — it's close to my original name, so it still feels familiar."
As always, Eve responded with her trademark brightness.
"Alright then, Sister Lucy! Let's go!"
With cheerful steps, she reached the salon's automatic door first and entered with a radiant smile, followed shortly by Sophia and Lucius, who walked in with calm composure.
The moment they entered, they caught everyone's attention — especially the last two.
Lucius and Sister Sophia both exuded a composed elegance. Lucius, in particular, stood out in a gorgeous dress that flowed perfectly around her form. Although Sophia and Eve wore slightly older-style outfits, their beauty elevated the designs.
After all, there's truth to the saying — "The right material makes even old fabric shine."
Knowing the salon well, Sister Sophia led the way to the front desk.
"Excuse me," she said to the receptionist. "I'd like to make a reservation for my sister."
The receptionist asked for the client's name and what service plan they'd like to use.
"Her name is Lucia. We'll go with Plan B — as for the styling, she'll decide after discussing it with the hairdresser."
"Is Hairdresser Sinta available, by any chance?"
The receptionist checked and smiled.
"Yes, Miss Sinta is available and ready now."
With the reservation confirmed, the receptionist politely asked Lucius to follow her to the washing area.
Before he could leave, Eve stopped him with a wide grin and a twinkle in her eye.
"Sister Lucy, don't cut your hair short, okay? It'd be such a waste to lose something so beautiful! Oh, and this is my request, by the way~"
She winked, giggled, and quickly joined Sophia in the guest waiting area.
Lucius let out a long sigh but obeyed, following the receptionist to a salon chair near the hair-washing station.
'I'm getting nervous… I haven't even picked what style I want yet. I should do that now while I wait.'
He pulled out his phone and started scrolling through reference images, searching for hairstyles that felt suitable.
As a gamer and fantasy manga reader — with a side interest in anime — Lucius browsed through his collection of female characters for inspiration.
After a bit of back-and-forth, he narrowed his options down to three styles:
1. A wolf cut blended with layered elements — known as a Hershey cut.
2. A long layered cut with classic front bangs.
3. A C-curl style with long hair and curtain bangs.
Just as he finished choosing, the hairdresser approached.
Lucius didn't notice her at first. His tense expression, more stoic than usual, made him look a little cold.
A gentle voice broke the silence.
"Hi! You must be Miss Lucia. Nice to meet you — I'm Sinta, your hairdresser today. Shall we begin?"
Lucius looked up and nodded politely.
"Nice to meet you too. Actually… before we begin, could I ask your opinion on something?"
He showed her the three photos he had saved on his phone.
"Which of these hairstyles do you think would suit me best?"
Sinta studied the images carefully before smiling warmly.
"Don't worry, Miss Lucia. With your features, any of these would look lovely."
"Let me explain the vibe each style gives off so you can choose more easily."
"This wolf cut has a bold yet feminine flair — confident but not overbearing. The long layered style enhances your natural head shape and facial symmetry, giving a refined, gentle vibe. The C-curl with curtain bangs feels playful and a little flirty."
Lucius nodded slowly, taking it all in.
"Which one do you personally think fits me best?"
Sinta paused for a moment, analyzing Lucius's composed posture and subtle intensity.
"Honestly… I'd say the wolf cut. It matches your vibe best — calm, a bit reserved, but strong."
Lucius was satisfied with the answer.
"Alright. Please go with that. I'll leave it in your care, Miss Sinta."
Though polite, Lucius remained somewhat stiff — he hadn't quite relaxed around women yet, especially strangers. His smile was small, his expression composed.
The whole process took a couple of hours — from the haircut and washing, to the final styling.
Lucius stared at his reflection in the salon mirror, quietly stunned by how drastically the new haircut changed his appearance.
'Wow... this is me?'
He tilted his head left and right, inspecting every angle. The haircut brought out unexpected qualities in his face — soft but bold, unfamiliar yet strikingly natural.
The most eye-catching detail was the subtle difference in hair color on the left side, now accentuated by the layered styling. His bangs were parted to the sides, gently framing his face, while the waves added a calm flow to the shape — not frizzy or overly curly, but more like the steady ripple of a quiet, powerful river.
Lucius felt an odd sense of pride. He hadn't expected to like it this much.
He stood up and bowed slightly toward the hairdresser.
"Thank you so much, Miss Sinta."
With a composed stride, he headed toward the guest waiting area, where Eve and Sister Sophia had been waiting. Both of them perked up the moment they saw him.
Eve's eyes widened.
"Sister Sophia! Look at Sister Lucia! That haircut is sooo cool — and gorgeous! She totally nailed it!"
Lucius smiled at the compliment — a genuine, glowing smile that washed away all his nervous tension.
Hairdresser Sinta, catching a glimpse of that smile for the first time, was momentarily stunned. She blushed deeply.
---
From another's POV:
Lucia smiled with an effortless grace. Her soft lips curved upward, blush rising on her cheeks, and her crescent-shaped eyes shimmered like moonlight. It was a radiant, breathtaking smile — the kind that warmed hearts and stole breath. Everyone nearby smiled instinctively. Some blushed. It was like watching a goddess descend and bless the room with her presence.
---
Back to Lucius's POV:
Realizing that everyone was now staring, Lucius's smile froze. His face turned bright red. He lowered his head, cheeks flushed, and quickly stepped toward his sisters, trying to hide behind them — which, considering his height, didn't work very well.
"Sister Sophia… Let's pay and head out. I'm really hungry, so let's have lunch at the next place."
Noticing Lucius's discomfort, Sister Sophia gave him a gentle smile and led the way to the cashier.
As they walked, a familiar voice called out.
"Hi Sophia! Hi Eve!" It was Sinta, smiling curiously. "So Miss Lucia is with you two today? Is this a girls' day out? I haven't seen your brother Lucius — is he waiting outside?"
Sophia stopped and replied naturally, a smooth lie at the ready.
"Lucius just left for Europe yesterday, actually. Lucia here is our cousin — she's visiting from our father's side. She's a bit shy since she only moved here a few years ago from Europe."
Sinta looked pleasantly surprised.
"Really? Her Bahasa is really good, though! Do you all usually speak English at home?"
Then she added with an admiring gaze:
"Sorry if I'm being blunt, but… Lucia is absolutely beautiful. Like, angel-tier beautiful!"
Eve jumped into the conversation with enthusiasm.
"I know, right!? The first time I saw her, I literally called her an angel too!"
Lucius — or rather, Lucia, for now — stood there completely red. Her ears, neck, and cheeks all flushed like an overripe tomato. She lowered her head, overwhelmed.
With a strained smile, she managed a polite response.
"Haha… Th-thank you…"
She subtly tugged at Sister Sophia's sleeve — a clear SOS signal to wrap up the conversation.
Sophia, ever reliable, caught on instantly.
"Thanks again, Sinta, but we have other plans and it's already lunchtime. You did an amazing job today. Hope to see you again!"
Lucia and Eve both waved their goodbyes, and Sinta smiled warmly in return.
"No worries! Have a great day, girls! Hope fate brings us together again!"
After settling the bill, the siblings stepped outside, where a second taxi — already arranged — had just pulled up to take them to their next destination: a large mall in the heart of the city.
Finally in the open air again, Lucia exhaled deeply, the stress of the last thirty minutes melting off her shoulders.
"Sister Sophia… Eve… I nearly ran away in there. The pressure was unreal. Is this really what girls experience when surrounded by strangers? That was intense…"
Sophia and Eve chuckled, walking beside her.
Eve spoke first.
"Well, Sister Lucy, it's not usually that intense. It's actually rare to get that kind of attention — especially from other girls. Most of the time, the uncomfortable moments come from boys at school. PE class is the worst, honestly."
Sophia added with a knowing smile.
"I think what happened today was special. It's the combination of your amazing appearance, that elegant dress, and — most importantly — the way you smiled just now. It left people stunned. Honestly, Lucia, you're a bit intimidating in a beautiful way, so I doubt anyone will dare to approach you easily."
Hearing that, Lucia smiled faintly — no longer out of pressure, but gratitude. Her heart calmed.
Despite all the pressure and unfamiliarity, she felt a small yet growing sense of confidence.
'Yes… One step at a time. I can do this.'