My Master (4)
"So, what's next on the lesson plan?"
"Get lost! Nothing left. Class dismissed!"
"But there's still so much I haven't learned yet?"
"Fuck!"
"Why do you keep swearing~? It hurts my feelings!"
She acts all prickly on the surface, but when she flashes that beaming smile and starts teasing, she reluctantly spills her trade secrets bit by bit. Today was no different.
"Argh, seriously! You're such a clingy pest. Hold on!"
With a sigh like she had no choice, the teacher got up from her chair and pulled a book from the shelf, handing it to me.
"Study this."
"Oh! Thank you."
The books she gave weren't just any books. They were ones she'd studied herself, crammed full of her personal annotations. To a student like me, those notes were pure gold—practically a cheat sheet.
This was how our lessons worked: I'd study the book on my own first, then she'd teach me the practical applications hands-on. Thanks to that, my progress was flying, leaving her screaming in frustration.
"Go! Now."
"Already? Can I stick around a bit longer? Just watching you work is super helpful."
"How much of my livelihood do you need to steal before you're satisfied?!"
"All of it! Teach me everything!"
"Why are you so shamelessly bold about it?!"
The company had told her to teach me, and she'd agreed, so I had every right to learn boldly. Our back-and-forth dragged on—her shooing me out, me refusing to budge. In the end, I won. What could she do with me planted firmly on her ass—er, her chair?
Thanks to that, I squeezed a few more tips out of her today. After massaging her slumped shoulders by way of apology, I headed out and texted Ahyun.
Ahyun was devouring the tips I brought back like a baby bird gobbling food from its mother. Academy lessons inevitably had gaps, but these nuggets from a real-world producer were like rain in a drought—she couldn't resist.
Feeling a mix of guilt and gratitude, she was eagerly soaking up every bit I fed her. The track I'd polished today even had her touch on it. Truth be told, the teacher wasn't just raising me—she was grooming Lee Ahyeon as an extra disciple too.
'Ahyun and I are one body, so forgive me, teach!'
"So cute."
"Who's cute?"
Suddenly!
"Gah!"
I'd been so wrapped up in texting Ahyun that I hadn't noticed someone sneaking up. Luckily, it was someone I knew.
"Sunbae?"
"Hi there!"
Diamond from Red Witch waved cheerfully with one hand. As an idol, you can't help but respect them. They made it possible for idols to thrive overseas, and their dominance in the music scene was legendary.
Plus, while we were abroad, they'd made a flashy comeback and devoured the charts.
"Dating someone?"
"Uh, n-no."
"Pfft~ Stuttering like that just screams you're lying. It's fiiiine~ Totally nooormal~ All guys your age sneak around dating. I did too back in the day. Sooo... is she pretty?"
"...Yeah."
She'd already caught me grinning at my phone, so denying it to the end would've been pointless.
"Hee hee hee! Thought sooo. What kinda girl snags a handsome guy like you? An idol?"
"Nah, just a friend I already knew..."
"Started as a flirt and turned into thiiiis?"
"Yeah."
"Maaan, lucky~ When will I find my perfect guyyy~?"
"You could have anyone if you wanted."
"My standards are sky-high."
Diamond from Red Witch was every guy's dream. If she beckoned, men would swarm like live fish at market.
Yet here she was, single. Surprising.
"What's your type like?"
"Heh heh heh, curious about my ideal guy?"
"Yeah."
She grinned slyly. Her beauty made even that look innocent.
But her answer was a bombshell.
"My type? A pervy guy."
"...A pervy guy?"
From a face like a refined noble lady...
"Yup. Don't need anything else. Ugly? Fat? Fine. Just has to wreck me in bed."
"That's... not easy to find."
Did guys like that even exist anymore? A rare type indeed.
"Right? Where are they these days? All herbivores. Herbivores! I hate grass-munchers most in the world. I've dieted on grass my whole life—gotta deal with herbivores in bed too?!"
Your type is standing right here.
"If you know any pervy guys, hook me up. Dirty personality, ugly, broke—doesn't matter."
"...Dunno if I know anyone like that."
On Earth, guys talk girls and sex when they gather—unavoidable. But here, I'd never heard guys do the same. Or if they did, it was met with 'Ugh, again?' or 'Boring' vibes.
They weren't anti-women—Jeki confessed to girls he liked. Just worn out from constant flirting.
"Pleeease? Pretty pleeease? Unnie's at marriage age now. Wanna settle down, have kids..."
"That's all? Nothing else matters?"
"Nope, nothing."
"Even for Red Witch's Diamond?"
"Turns out, yeah."
"Seems too easy a condition."
"That's all I need. We'd live great. And it's not easy—never met one in my life."
Wow...
Then, with a mischievous smile that didn't suit her, she pounced.
"How about you? Fresh and frisky?"
"Not frisky at all."
I shut her down firmly.
Sunday morning dawned—the day I'd promised Silvia to show me something. Since she wanted me far from Seoul, it thankfully(?) wasn't a date invite.
'Never wanted her love anyway.'
I knew how much Bianca suffered under Silvia's smothering affection. I'd stonewalled her date requests hard.
"We're here."
"Good work. Thank you."
She'd sent a car, so the trip was comfy. Taxi would've cost a fortune.
"Ooh, fancy."
A stylish villa in a serene spot. After city life, it felt instantly healing.
'Trip wouldn't suck.'
Barbecue party here would be epic. I'd borrow it from Silvia later. I rang the bell and entered.
Click!
The door opened automatically. Stepping awkwardly inside, the first thing I saw was a dazzling chandelier—and two maids standing under it...?
"Welcome home, Master!!"
"Welcome home, Master."
"What the hell are you two doing?"
Silvia and Melissa were in full maid outfits. No way Melissa would do this willingly—Silvia's doing, obviously.
"We'll serve you with utmost devotion today for your perfect rest, Master."
"Why make it so awkward?"
Melissa nailed a crisp 90-degree bow, like she'd rehearsed. I still thought it was a joke and chuckled.
"This what you wanted to show me?"
I shot Silvia a look. She'd begged to handle Melissa's duties, yet here she was after a month, bold as ever. Epic fail.
"Enough joking—let's go inside and talk."
As I tried leading the maid-clad duo in—
Thud!
"!?"
Melissa dropped to her knees, crawling forward to grab my foot.
"W-what're you doing?"
"Allow me to remove your shoes, Master."
"Jokes later. And doesn't your knee hurt? That hit hard."
"Please, Master, don't refuse my service. I promise to do my absolute best."
"Sil—er, Bianca! Stop her!"
"Play along, Master? We prepared so hard."
"Play along for what?"
"You'll enjoy it."
Not one bit.
But she'd probably cry if I took off my own shoes, so I lifted my foot slightly. She deftly removed them.
'Feels weird.'
She did the other foot expertly, then knee-walked back, bowing deeply. Silvia watched smugly, no intervention in sight.
Melissa wouldn't look up till I passed, so I stepped over her and went in. I eyed Silvia: 'What's the plan?'
'Heh heh heh!'
She just laughed and led me somewhere.
"Dinner time."
"Please enjoy. We prepared it all just for you, Master."
The dining room smelled divine. No clue how far this maid schtick would go, but good food was good food—I couldn't refuse.
"Fine, let's eat and chat. Where's this joke headed?"
But even this exceeded expectations. I sat alone at the table; they stood on either side, chopsticks ready, feeding me bites.
"...This is insane."
Comfortable? Sure. But my mind was screaming.
Silvia grinned nonstop; Melissa stayed silent, fully immersed in maid mode.
'She looks a bit worn out...?'
Why resurface after a month of no contact?
"How've you been?"
Flinch!
Melissa dropped the meat from her chopsticks at my question.