Improvement Part 2

'But first, I need a haircut' 

Checking the map again, he spotted a high-end barbershop just a short walk away. 

Through the busy streets, Terrence kept his head low and moved quickly. 

'Celen Parlor' 

The barbershop had gold writing on the glass and soft lights inside. A bell jingled as he stepped through the door, and the cool air carried the scent of cologne and shaving cream. 

A man behind the counter looked up. "Do you have an appointment?" 

"No." 

The man nodded toward an open chair. "You're lucky. Someone just canceled." 

'Bullshit,' Terrence muttered to himself. 

Place was way too empty. Shops like this didn't need crowds. They made money by charging way too much for their service that could be done by others for way less. 

The chair felt surprisingly comfortable as he sat down. 

A woman with pink hair walked over, holding scissors.

"You can check our catalog." She handed him a glossy magazine. 

Flipping it open, he skimmed through the pages. Each style looked good, clean, and way too perfect. The models had flawless haircuts and posed like they were in fashion ads. 

He closed the magazine and handed it back. 

"Surprise me, and I'll give you a hundred percent tip." 

Her eyes lit up like she just saw a stack of cash. Money talked, and with a reward like that on the table, she would make sure he walked out happy. 

"I'll make you really handsome. Girls will chase you," she said with a wink, then started massaging his shoulders.

"Good, I have a dinner appointment tonight," 

"A woman?" she asked with a mischievous grin. "She must be pretty important if you're spending this much just to look good." 

No answer. 

It wasn't like he could just announce that he would be having dinner with her aunt. 

Noticing his silence, the woman didn't press further.

She didn't rush. First, she circled around him, checking his jawline and head shape like a sculptor sizing up a block of stone. 

Her fingers lightly tilted his chin, then moved his head side to side. 

She stared at his reflection, trying to imagine what would suit him best. 

Not too flashy—clean, sharp, and something that would work well with his black hair. Maybe a low fade. 

"I got it" 

Snip by snip, she worked fast on the sides, cutting off the longer strands. Then she switched to the razor, trimming the sides down even closer until only a short layer of hair was left. 

Next, her attention moved to the middle, shaping it with slow, steady cuts, layering it just enough to give volume without it looking puffy. 

Once the cut was done, she leaned him back and took care of his stubble. In just a few swipes, the short facial hair was gone. 

Then came the rinse. Warm water, gentle hands. 

She massaged in shampoo, then a treatment cream that smelled faintly of mint. While that sat in, she applied a cool gel mask on his face. 

"You'll thank me later," she assured him. 

After a few minutes, she wiped it off, washed his hair again, and dried it carefully. 

Finally, styling spray misted over his hair as she lifted sections to make him look cooler. 

"Done!"

She spun the chair slowly, like she was revealing a newly released product. 

"Well?" she asked, leaning on the armrest with a smirk. "Still want that dinner, or heading straight to the hotel?" 

Terrence stared at his reflection. For a second, he didn't say anything. 

"I actually look—" 

"Hot?" she cut in. "Yes. You're welcome." 

He raised an eyebrow. "That's a bit too much, don't you think?" 

"I've been doing this for four years," she said, flipping a comb between her fingers. "If you walked out of here looking average, I'd quit on the spot." 

He chuckled, shaking his head. "Well, I'm satisfied with it, "

She grinned and leaned against the counter. "Told you. These hands don't miss." 

"How much is it?" 

Standing up, he brushed the loose hair off his shirt 

She grabbed a towel and gave his back a quick swipe. "Normally? $200 for the package. But since you promised that tip…" 

"No problem," From his wallet, five crisp bills slipped into his hand. 

Her eyes widened slightly. "Well, someone's feeling generous." 

"You earned it." He handed them over without blinking. 

She took the cash and guided him toward the door, full of smiles. 

"This could really help my savings," she remarked, half-joking, half serious. 

Terrence gave her a side look before stepping out. 

"Nah, you should enjoy life. Buy something you've wanted for a while. If you've got the cash, maybe travel a bit this year—go see some places." 

Surprise flickered in her eyes as she leaned on the doorframe. "Are you hitting on me?" 

He shook his head, but there was a serious look in his eyes. 

It wasn't the kind that asked for sympathy. It felt more like pity, and it was aimed at her. 

"Learn to enjoy and appreciate life more. You only live once." He waved his hand and walked away.

Her playful smile faded as she watched his back. 

'Maybe I should actually travel this year... take a break and loosen up a bit,' 

Her eyes dropped to the cash in her hand. 'Yeah… why not?' 

For some reason, she had a feeling she would regret it if she didn't follow his advice. 

'I should invite Alice too; she's been too busy at that restaurant.'