Three Shall Come
“Vocal academy?”
“Yes. I just go there as a hobby, so I’ve only seen her a few times in passing.”
“Hmm……”
Nayeon nodded at my words and began studying me with a thoughtful gaze. Then, as if something had just occurred to her, she clapped her hands and looked at me with sparkling eyes.
“She likes you, doesn’t she?”
“What?”
The sudden, out-of-the-blue remark made me tilt my head in confusion. I hadn’t mentioned it to Nayeon, but at the vocal academy the girl had sometimes glared at me with fierce eyes. We’d never even had a proper conversation, so the idea that she liked me felt absurd.
‘Well, it’s not entirely impossible.’
Though the frequency had dropped lately, I’d received quite a few confessions since becoming a woman. I’d even heard such things from middle-aged men who should have known better. After all, when someone is pretty, it’s not unusual for people to fall for her at first sight based on looks alone. Nayeon was probably pointing that out.
Still, there was one thing that didn’t make sense. If she’d fallen for me at first sight, why would she look at me that way at the academy?
‘I really don’t get it……’
While I was lost in thought, Nayeon spoke in a small voice beside me.
“What do you think of her?”
“Me? I’m not interested at all……”
At my firm reply she let out a soft laugh. After chuckling for a moment, she stopped and looked at me.
“I knew you’d say that.”
What did she mean? At least it didn’t sound like a bad thing.
“I don’t really know much about dating.”
“Yeah? Honestly, I don’t either.”
We both laughed as we left the hotel culinary exhibition hall. Because it was winter, the sun had already set, painting the sky a deep red.
“I would’ve felt awkward coming alone, so thanks for showing me around, Yeonbi. I really appreciate it.”
After receiving Nayeon’s thanks, I got into the car. She said she had to go see her professor after the exhibition and walked off toward the school by herself. I felt a little guilty that she’d come all the way to the parking lot just to see me off.
Watching her briskly retreating figure, I let out a small chuckle and slowly drove out of the university grounds.
University…… Thanks to her, it had been a long time since I’d visited. Just as I was starting to feel a bit wistful, thinking I probably wouldn’t have any reason to go to my own alma mater again—
“Yes, unnie.”
“Yeonbi! The housekeepers I mentioned last time are ready to head over to your place. When would be a good time?”
Yeona’s call pulled me back to reality. Right, that was the whole reason I’d held the housewarming in the first place.
“I’m driving right now. I’ll call you once I get home.”
“Okay, take your time~”
Good grief, what was I spacing out for? I had way too much to do.
‘I could tell from the very first joint practice that he was half-assing it. Why are you even covering for someone like that?’
‘Hey, were you that nervous? After the first song I seriously wanted to kill you, but the second one was decent, so I figured you were just tense. Am I right?’
‘Come to practice more often. Everyone was furious after the first song, but when they saw you actually sing like a human being on the second one, they calmed down a little.’
‘Hansol. Singing in a karaoke room and singing on stage are completely different, you know? That’s why we do so many joint practices. The practice room isn’t the same as a real stage, but in the end……’
After the performance ended, he received a lifetime’s worth of scolding all at once, along with a bit of encouragement and advice. If he had messed up the second song as well, what would have happened? Just imagining it was terrifying.
Kim Hansol resolved never to be arrogant about his skills again after that performance. He began attending the vocal academy diligently, and Hyunseong was slightly surprised to see the change in his attitude.
‘You seem to be practicing properly these days. Honestly, you weren’t practicing before, were you?’
At that question, Hansol felt more embarrassment than displeasure and nodded. His mindset had changed a great deal. At the same time, he found himself developing feelings for the woman he had seen that day. He started arriving at the academy a little earlier on purpose, and when he saw her leaving, he would hesitate, unsure how to strike up a conversation. Experiencing these emotions for the first time since middle school, his head was a mess, and he even ended up consulting his club senior.
‘Just ask for her Insta handle or something. If you only see each other in passing, that’s the only way you’ll ever connect. It’s better than confessing out of nowhere and creating permanent distance.’
To follow his senior’s practical advice, he decided to head to the academy about twenty minutes earlier than usual today. He put on a coat he rarely wore, borrowed some cologne, and checked himself in the full-length mirror before leaving, steeling his resolve as he made his way there.
When he arrived, he could hear practice sounds coming from inside. Hansol froze even more, took a deep breath, and waited for her to come out.
Twenty minutes that felt like an hour passed. Finally the door opened and she slowly walked out.
“Um…… thank you, back then.”
Hansol spoke first. At his words of gratitude, she tilted her head for a moment before replying.
“No, I should be the one thanking you for paying for the food so suddenly.”
She bowed her head slightly and said she had enjoyed the meal. Seeing that she remembered the incident, Hansol felt a spark of possibility.
“Since we’ve run into each other like this…… could you maybe give me your Instagram handle……?”
He gathered his courage and asked. But she shook her head coolly, as if she was used to such requests.
“No, I don’t really use Instagram or any SNS…… I’ll be going now.”
She vanished faster than the winter wind. A cold gust swept through Hansol’s chest as well. He couldn’t bring himself to say anything more and trudged back into the practice room.
“Hello. Oh…… Hansol-ssi?”
Hyunseong was startled to see Hansol’s soul having left his body.
It was winter.
Housekeepers. For a house this large, they were essential. Cleaning alone would take all day, and even ordering delivery every time meant dealing with the mess afterward.
‘Hmm…… living together might feel a bit burdensome.’
There were two main types of housekeepers: live-in staff who stayed at the house, and commuting staff like Nayeon who came and went. For a single apartment it might not matter, but a house this size had far too many tasks, so people usually hired live-in help. Even so……
It made him uneasy.
‘Living under the same roof with complete strangers……’
The house was large enough to provide separate quarters for the staff—its design had actually accounted for live-in help from the beginning—but the idea of sharing a roof with non-family members still felt unfamiliar.
‘If I make them commute, it’ll probably be inconvenient for both me and them.’
His thoughts were tangled. Of course Yeona wouldn’t recommend anyone strange, but he couldn’t ignore the “what if” scenarios.
‘No matter how I think about it, there’s no one like Nayeon.’
That name kept coming to mind. While he was thinking about her, classical music began playing from the wall pad. Today was the day the housekeepers Yeona had recommended were coming—and Yeona herself was coming with them.
“Long time no see!”
“We saw each other just the other day, didn’t we?”
“If I don’t see you every single day, it’s a long time~”
Yeona greeted him cheekily and stepped inside. Behind her stood one woman who looked a little older than her and two who appeared slightly younger.
The three women entered through the front door and, under my guidance, sat down on the living-room sofa. Yeona and I took the single armchairs facing each other. It felt oddly like I was on a judging panel.
After brief greetings, Yeona began introducing the three women in earnest.
“These three are currently looking for work. I’ll introduce them one by one. The person sitting here is Park Sujin. She used to be the head of the bakery and confectionery section at a hotel, but left for personal reasons and has been working as a housekeeper.”
“Hello. My name is Park Sujin.”
When Yeona finished, Sujin stood up and bowed politely. Her neatly tied black hair was striking. Yeona had said they were around the same age, and thanks to her clean appearance and face, she really didn’t look much older. Not that Yeona looked old, of course—just that she carried herself with a youthful energy similar to Yeona’s.
After a moment of admiration, I stood up as well and returned the bow. Even though I was the one hiring, it felt wrong to receive a greeting from someone older while seated.
When I stood to accept the greeting, the other two housekeepers looked at me with faint surprise. Wasn’t this normal in a Confucian country?
‘What exactly is the world of chaebols like……’
Well, when you have money, everyone becomes an older brother or sister.
“And next to her is Yoo Jimin. She has about eight years of experience as a housekeeper and has worked for the households of several well-known company presidents.”
“Oh……”
This time Jimin gave off the air of someone her age. With her hair pulled up in a bun, she looked like a veteran from the very first glance. Her tidy yet practical clothes and the calluses on her hands were clear proof that she had worked hard for years. When I quietly admired her, she blushed slightly and lowered her head, then stood and bowed politely just like Sujin.
“Lastly, this is Lee Yebin. She used to work at our relative’s house, but when they moved far away she couldn’t go with them, so she left. When she heard about you, she said she wanted to come.”
Lee Yebin was the youngest of the three. She had long, wavy hair that reached her waist, lightly dyed a visible brown. Her eyes were round and her features striking. Even back when I was Choi Minho, I would have thought she was pretty. Being close in age to Jisu, her style was good, her clothes neat and stylish. The outfit wasn’t exactly practical for immediate work, but since today was more of an interview, there was no need to point it out. Despite her youth, her experience was solid, and since we were similar in age, living together should be comfortable.
After listening to the introductions and observing all three, I was satisfied. Their backgrounds and experience were impeccable. Typical of Yeona—she had brought only people I could hire without any worries.
With this feeling, I could probably offer them rooms right away. Of course, I had no intention of deciding so impulsively.
After the short introductions, Yeona smiled and spoke again.
“If you have any questions for them, feel free to ask.”
Questions. At those words, something occurred to me regarding Park Sujin, who had been the head of bakery and confectionery.
“Um…… we have an oven at home. Would you be able to bake bread in the mornings……?”
Sujin, who had looked slightly nervous at being singled out, smiled softly and nodded.
“Of course.”
At the same time, the other three began to laugh as well.
“Honestly, you’re too much.”
Yeona shook her head with a helpless smile. After that question, several more were exchanged, and then the house tour officially began.
“Then, this way, please.”
At my words, everyone stood and followed behind me.
“Ah, right.”
As I got up, an important question suddenly came to mind.
“None of you have cat allergies, do you?”
“No, we don’t. Do you have a cat?”
When Jimin finished speaking, the others nodded as well. Thank goodness.
— Meow!
“Oh my, Meonji. It’s been a while~”
“We have one cat.”
Meonji came trotting out of his room and blocked our path with his insignificant little body. Then he approached the housekeeper candidates and began sniffing them eagerly.
‘Good thing no one dislikes cats……’
Thanks to Meonji, everyone paused for a moment to watch and pet him. Whether he was a cat or a dog, who cared?
— Meow! Meow!
If he was this happy, what did it matter? In my next life, I wanted to be reborn as a rich-house cat like Meonji.
