Rehearsal (1)
The next morning.
I woke to the alarm the way I always did, stared at the ceiling for a while, and finally pushed myself upright. All sorts of useless thoughts had kept me from falling asleep the night before, but once I'd slept and gotten up, the work waiting for me was exactly the same. Wash, tie my hair back, put on the maid uniform. By now even this routine had grown uncomfortably familiar.
"Not that I got used to it because I wanted to..."
I gave my clothes one last careless straightening in the mirror and left the room.
When I went downstairs, Yujin was there.
"Starting today, there is something additional I must teach you, Sia."
"What's that?"
"I understand you will be attending the party the madam is hosting next week."
"Ah..."
"It would be a problem if you addressed the young master as 'hey' or 'you' there, or used profanity, the way you do now."
"As if I'd do that at an event like that... haha..."
"It is precisely the 'as if' that gets people into trouble. From today on, Sia, you will address the young master as Joohyuk."
"What? You want me to call that guy Joohyuk, all proper?"
"Yes. Profanity is also forbidden."
"..."
I stopped dead where I stood.
Damn it... why did I agree to go with him...
"I will take that as understood, and we will begin today."
"Um... it's such an old habit. What happens if I can't fix it...?"
"You will be attending as the young master's girlfriend. If you speak the way you usually do, his parents may find it strange."
"...I'll try my best not to."
I had met Joohyuk's parents only about twice, back when we were kids. His mother cherished her son to no end, but his father was a man who expected a great deal of him.
Haa... if I get on their bad side, I'm the one who's going to suffer...
"Try it once, right here."
"Joohyuk."
"...Would you try once more?"
"Joo... hyuk."
"Why are you making such a displeased face?"
"I'm not. I've been calling him 'hey' since we were kids, and now you want me to say his name all politely out of nowhere, and my mouth just won't fu—"
Yujin's eyebrow moved.
"...My mouth just doesn't want to open."
"You just did it again."
"Did what?"
"Used profanity."
"...Ah."
"Haa... For now, begin the work you have today."
"Understood."
I went back up to the second floor and knocked on Joohyuk's door.
Tap, tap.
The room was quiet. When I opened the door and stepped inside, Joohyuk was still off in dreamland.
Some of us are half dead from getting up at the crack of dawn, and look at you, sleeping like a rock.
"Hey! Get up!"
"Mmm... just a little longer..."
"I said get up! Not hey— Joohyuk..."
At that, Joohyuk blinked at me in confusion.
"What did you say?"
"Haah... get up. Joohyuk."
"Did you eat something weird this morning?"
"Shut up. It's not like I'm doing this because I enjoy it. Anyway, get up."
I yanked the curtains open, fighting the wave of embarrassment rolling over me.
"I'm going down to help with breakfast. See you in a bit."
"Yeah. Sure..."
I fled the room and headed for the kitchen downstairs.
"Oh my. Sia, why is your face so red?"
"What? Ah... it's nothing. Haha..."
Of all the things... I never thought I'd be the one saying his name all politely... ugh!
Grumbling to myself, I helped Yura finish getting breakfast ready.
"Here you are. The young master's meal, and yours, Sia. Go and enjoy it!"
"Thank you. Please enjoy your meal too."
I wheeled the cart up to Joohyuk's room on the second floor.
Tap, tap.
"Come in."
"Brought food. Let's eat."
"But seriously, what was that earlier?"
"I'm in the middle of Speech Correction, because of the party next week."
"Hmm. So that's what it was."
I set the food out on the table in front of the sofa and sat down. Joohyuk started eating without another word. I'd been sure he would tease me about what had just happened, but he was unexpectedly quiet, and since saying anything more would only embarrass me, I just ate what was in front of me.
A little later, he set his water glass down and called me.
"Sia. Could you get me some water?"
I looked at the water bottle sitting directly in front of him. Close enough that he could reach it if he just stretched out a hand.
"...It's right there."
"I know. But you're my Dedicated Maid."
A curse nearly jumped out of my mouth. I remembered what Yujin had said and barely managed to swallow it.
"...Understood. Joohyuk."
I deliberately bore down on those last syllables as I poured, and Joohyuk smiled.
"Thanks."
"You done?"
"Yeah. Could I get a napkin, too?"
This time I looked at the napkin right beside his hand.
This bastard.
I picked it up and held it out without a word.
"Here."
"Thanks."
"...Why do you keep smiling?"
"No reason."
Something was off. He'd been perfectly normal until a moment ago, but ever since he'd heard about the speech correction, his expression had turned strangely delighted.
Don't tell me...
"Hey, you're doing this on purp—"
Joohyuk looked at me. I clamped my mouth shut exactly as it was.
"...Joohyuk."
"Yes, Sia."
"Are you doing this on purpose right now?"
"Doing what?"
Doing what, my ass. You're grinning, you bastard.
I chewed down the words I couldn't bring myself to say, along with the food.
The moment the meal was over, I cleared the dishes and hurried out of the room.
"Haa... I seriously have to do this at the party too. I'm gonna lose it."
Still grumbling, I headed for the kitchen.
"Did you enjoy the meal?"
"Ah... yes."
"Leave the dishes there. I'll take care of the cleanup. You can move on to your other work, Sia."
"Understood. Thank you."
When I stepped into the hallway, Yujin was looking straight at me.
God, she scared me. Why is she just standing there like that...
"Sia. You may clean the second floor. And should you happen to see the young master, mind your speech."
"Understood..."
I gathered the cleaning supplies, went up to the second floor, and started in. I was dusting and wiping my way through the hall when Joohyuk opened his door and came out.
"You're cleaning."
"Can't you tell by looking?"
"That way of talking isn't allowed either, is it?"
"...Can't you tell by looking?"
"Pfft—"
A small laugh slipped out of him.
That bastard's enjoying this. Ugh!
I ignored Joohyuk, who was clearly holding in his laughter, and tried to get back to cleaning, but he walked over to the windowsill and looked at me.
"Sia. There's still dust here."
"Where?"
I wiped the spot he pointed to again.
"There. Happy?"
"A little to the side, too."
"...Here?"
"No. Not there. A little to the right."
"Is it good now?"
"Yeah. It's clean."
I set the cloth down and stared at him.
"Are you messing with me right now?"
"You?"
"...Ah."
Joohyuk smiled.
"Joohyuk."
"Yeah."
"Are you really that bored today?"
"A little?"
"Then go read a book or something."
"Don't want to. This is more fun."
"You cra—"
I clenched my teeth.
"...Why would a person act like this?"
Joohyuk finally burst out laughing.
"Would you mind not laughing? I don't actually have to go to the party with you."
"Sorry, sorry. But you sound so awkward. It's freaking hilarious."
I know that, you lunatic! And I have to keep this up until the party's over... fuck...
I glared at him, and only then did he seem to read the room. He cleared his throat and went back into his room.
"Haa... I really want to hit someone."
"Hit whom?"
"Aaah! You scared me! Yujin...?"
"I came to see whether the cleaning was going well. But... what you just said..."
"Ah! No, it's nothing. Nothing at all. Hahaha..."
Yujin studied me carefully.
"Haa... Yujin. Can't I just swear once, properly, to get it out of my system?"
"You may not."
"Just once. Please?"
Yujin shook her head, firm.
"...This is so suffocating. Haa..."
Just then, laughter drifted out from behind Joohyuk's door.
"Puhaha!"
"I can hear you laughing!"
"Sia?"
Crap...
"Joohyuk. I can hear you laughing."
"Even so, that was more natural than a moment ago."
"What was?"
"The way you address the young master."
Only then did I realize I had called him Joohyuk just now without even thinking.
"...I did, didn't I."
"However."
Yujin paused for a moment.
"The rest of your speech still appears to have a great many problems."
"But I didn't even swear."
"Correcting the form of address and the profanity is not the end of it. To anyone else listening, the two of you need to sound like a couple."
Ah. Now that I think about it, she's right.
"Try speaking as if you were asking the young master for something."
"Joohyuk. Do this."
"..."
"What?"
"A little more gently."
"...Joohyuk. Could you do this for me?"
"Somewhat better."
Just then the door opened.
"What should I do for you?"
"You stay in there."
"Sia."
"...Joohyuk, stay in there a moment."
"Pfft."
"Oh, come on..."
Yujin, who had been watching me, called Joohyuk to a stop.
"Young master."
"Yeah?"
"Would you help for a moment?"
"...With what?"
"We are going to practice conversation, so that Sia will not make a mistake at the party."
Joohyuk looked at me and smiled.
I had a really, really bad feeling about this.
We went into his room, sat down on the sofa, and started.
"Speak as if you have arrived at the party."
"Sia, you look really pretty today."
"Ugh, what kind of bullsh—"
"..."
"Thanks. Joohyuk..."
"I will pretend I did not hear the first part."
This time the conversation started on a different subject.
"Sia, is the food all right?"
"Yeah. It's good, though?"
"..."
Yujin looked at me.
"What?"
"You are attending as the young master's girlfriend."
"A girlfriend isn't allowed to say the food tastes good?"
"That is not what I meant..."
Yujin pressed a hand to her forehead.
"Sia, you take the young master's role. I will take yours."
"...You want me to play Joohyuk?"
"Yes. Simply ask the way the young master ordinarily would."
I thought for a moment, then looked at Yujin.
"Sia, does the food taste good?"
"Yes! It's delicious. It tastes even better because I'm eating it with you, Joohyuk!"
"..."
I stared blankly at the Yujin in front of me.
"...Who are you?"
"Ahem. This is the manner in which you should speak."
Joohyuk, who had been watching the two of us closely, finally burst out laughing.
"Puhahaha! God, this is freaking hilarious."
"Would you stop laughing already! I'm losing my— no. Ah, I'm gonna lose my mind!"
Yujin let out a small sigh.
"Let us stop here for today. Next time, I recommend practical training."
"And what exactly is practical training...?"
"Go out, the way you did before."
"What? You want me to go on a date with that guy?"
Yujin glared at me.
"Ah... no. You want me to go on a date... with Joohyuk?"
"Yes."
"Then how about we set a penalty for every mistake?"
"What kind of penalty?"
"You grant me one request."
"Are you cra—"
I shut my mouth.
Joohyuk said it with a smile.
"That's already one."
"We haven't even started yet!"
Yujin looked at the two of us for a moment, then sighed.
"If it serves as motivation, then do so. However, you must not deliberately induce mistakes."
"But Yujin, is it all right if we do it a few days from now?"
"That is fine. I will step out and see to other work, then."
Once Yujin had left the room, I turned to Joohyuk.
"Why a few days from now?"
"The movie we said we'd see opens that day."
"Oh, seriously?"
"Yeah. If we're going out anyway, we might as well see a movie too."
"Look at you. Thoughtful."
"Anyway, I'm looking forward to that day. Every time you slip up, that's another Wish Coupon for me. Got it?"
"...Can't you just cut me a little slack?"
"Can't waste an opportunity this good."
I glared at him, and Joohyuk only smiled.