Chapter 14
Chapter 14
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: My Daily Life
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[Si-eun]
When I opened my eyes, it was already morning.
The bright light streaming in through the window made me squint. The room I'd lived in before didn't have any windows. Every morning when I woke up, it really hit me that I was freeloading in someone else's house.
As I tried to turn my head, something brushed against my forehead.
When I picked it up with my hand to check, the culprit was none other than a damp towel.
Only now did yesterday's events come flooding back.
Hwi-min, who had grabbed my staggering shoulder because of the fever, followed me to my room and placed the towel on my forehead. He'd even told me not to do any housekeeping until I recovered.
I'd asked him why he was looking out for me like that.
Hwi-min had calmly shared his past. He'd grown up without much when he was young, too. Seeing me reminded him of his younger self.
I see. It made a bit of sense. Even though he'd said he wasn't interested in other people—and truly didn't seem to be—his attitude toward me was subtly different. Now I knew why.
I picked up the thermometer from beside the bed and slipped it into my mouth.
I waited for it to measure my temperature. My condition was much better than yesterday. The pounding heat in my head was gone, and so was the heavy, sluggish feeling in my body. I might have already fully recovered.
Finally, the thermometer beeped with a monotonous sound.
I took it out and checked the screen: 37.2 degrees. That was just a low-grade fever.
Normally, it would've taken me two days to get over something like this. Maybe it was because I hadn't pushed myself and had gotten plenty of deep sleep. Well, I felt just a tiny bit grateful to Hwi-min.
Should I get up?
I'm someone who loves sleeping in in the mornings, so I usually roll around until my brain fully boots up. But right now, I'm a paid housekeeper. I need to get up and get to work.
Hwi-min had told me to rest while I was sick. Meaning, now that I'm better, it's time to start working.
With that thought, I pushed myself up from the bed.
But in that instant, yesterday's words flashed through my mind.
"It's the first time anyone's ever taken care of me when I was this sick..."
"I'm really happy..."
The moment I recalled them, I dove back under the covers.
And kicked at the blanket furiously—thud thud thud.
I'm insane...
Insane insane insane...
I'd spouted something so pointless.
It was true that it was the first time anyone had taken care of me when I was sick, and that it had made me—just a tiny bit—happy.
But to say it out loud myself...
I pulled the blanket all the way over my head and let out a meaningless groan, "Ughhh..." The endless wave of embarrassment was making my mind go blank.
Sometimes I lose my senses. Right before falling asleep, right after waking up, and when I've had alcohol. I know that full well. I know it, and yet I still let my mouth run.
Yesterday must've been the fever messing with my head.
Still, I couldn't quit over something like this. There's no part-time gig this sweet anywhere in the world.
I took a deep breath to clear my mind completely.
Yesterday, nothing happened. I didn't say anything. I repeated that to myself over and over, then finally dragged myself out of bed again.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ After finishing my shower and drying my hair in my room, it was already 10:30.
It's Friday, so both Hwi-min and I only have afternoon classes. Good thing I hadn't skipped any. Of course, he probably wouldn't worry even if he slept through them.
When I opened the closet, a certain memory popped into my head.
"It's Friday, huh."
I muttered to myself as I eyed the flashy outfit hanging on the rack.
Come to think of it, we'd agreed I'd wear the maid outfit once a week. Since I'd made that declaration on a Friday, today was the day for the maid outfit.
I'd declared it boldly at the time, but looking back now, I regretted it a little.
It was supposed to be revenge for making me wear it. But what kind of revenge is this? (Probably) just doing a favor for Hwi-min, who has a maid outfit fetish.
Anyway, I'd committed to it, so I had to follow through. I got dressed in the maid outfit and left my room.
The first place I head every morning is, of course, Hwi-min's room. He's the type who might sleep for hours—or even days—if I don't wake him. But since he stays up late, I don't force him awake. Instead, I usually nudge him to get up on his own.
I quietly opened the door so he wouldn't hear and stepped inside. The room was dim. Looking toward the window, I saw opaque curtains drawn all the way. A clear sign of his resolve to sleep in late.
Normally, I'd crack the curtains open a bit and leave. But today, for some reason, my eyes went to Hwi-min.
The blanket had slipped down a little. He wouldn't catch a cold like that, would he? Well, not like I—who'd already had one—had any room to talk.
His messy bedhead was all mussed up into a bird's nest. Shifting my gaze a bit, his face came into view. If he just kept his mouth shut, he might actually have a pretty decent face.
Looking at that face stirred up some weird feelings in me. Yesterday, even though I'd told him I didn't need it, he'd stuck by me and tried to help. And that wasn't all. He'd even helped move furniture into my room and handed over the menu decisions to me.
I couldn't shake the feeling that he was doing things for me, whether I realized it or not.
...Though I had no idea what he actually thought.
Well, no ulterior motives, that's for sure. He doesn't seem interested in me or any other girl. A guy who finds even short outings annoying wouldn't harbor those kinds of feelings. He's probably just seeing his younger self in me.
But no matter how I thought about it, it annoyed me. I didn't know exactly why, but it just did.
I yanked the curtains open hard enough for him to hear. Hwi-min mumbled in his sleep, "Mm..."
I huffed back with a "Hmph," then slipped out of his room.
Time to cook.
I can confidently say Hwi-min is the least complaining person in the world. He'll eat whatever I make without a peep. Of course, part of that might be my great cooking skills, but he doesn't even voice his preferences. Well, except for one thing: instant ramen.
But ramen isn't good for you. Besides, if he were just going to boil ramen, he wouldn't have hired me. It's my job to make proper meals. Plus... I have to eat it too. Might as well make it delicious.
The fridge was stocked with ingredients we'd bought. After a moment's thought, I decided on soft tofu stew and pulled out what I needed.
"...Morning."
By the time the stew was simmering, Hwi-min showed up, rubbing his eyes.
"Morning."
He blinked blankly at my greeting, then stretched and asked with a serious face.
"What's this? Why are you cooking?"
"Because you're paying me to."
"Didn't I say you could rest if you're sick?"
"I checked my temperature, and it's fine now. Plus, I'm full of energy. Since that's the case, I figured I'd make something tastier than porridge."
"Mm, well, if that's how it is."
Hwi-min smoothed down his bird's nest hair and nodded.
These days, we could have normal conversations. At first, he couldn't even make eye contact with me. He's adapted fast. He still starts sentences with "mm" sometimes, though. And occasionally he says cool things, or pushes forward strongly like yesterday...
No.
I shook my head vigorously. I'd decided to forget about yesterday. What was I even thinking?
Just then, Hwi-min walked a few steps closer and spoke up.
"You really wore the maid outfit again."
Only noticing now? His reaction was totally different from the first time. Guess it's no revenge after all.
I cleared my throat a few times and replied curtly.
"I said I would. For my master who likes maid outfits."
"I don't like maid outfits, and I'm not your master."
With that, he turned away, apparently done talking.
If he showered now, the food would be ready by the time he finished. Then we could eat, clean up, and head to school right on time. That's what I thought.
"Still, though."
Hwi-min glanced back with a hint of amusement in his voice.
"Seeing you in a maid outfit cooking for me... it makes me really happy."
"Guh...!"
He tossed out that line, let out a small chuckle, and headed into the shower.
He wasn't saying stuff like that yesterday. I'd totally become his plaything. My face felt like it was burning with embarrassment. I wanted to run back to my room and kick the blanket again.
He's so infuriating. Truly infuriating.
I wouldn't feel satisfied until I got revenge.
With that resolve, I opened the fridge and pulled out a few green chilies, slicing them up. I dumped them all into the soft tofu stew and stirred vigorously.
Perfect. That'll make it spicy. Even someone as emotionally flat as Hwi-min couldn't handle this. I could feel my lips curving up in anticipation of his reaction.
This was my daily life these days. When I first started working as a housekeeper in a single guy's house, I was worried. But now, it felt pretty routine. I could handle cooking, cleaning, and laundry without a hitch.
And... it was starting to feel just a little enjoyable.
...No, no.
I was thinking weird things again. Enjoyable? This is just a job I took for the money. Not enjoyable at all. Not one bit. Not even a little.
Repeating that to myself, I turned off the gas.