How should I explain this?
To say that we were in-laws according to the original novel… the protagonist children were still young, and Baek Woojin’s actual role wasn’t that significant in the story, so it was hard to explain.
Moreover, the relationship between Hyeol and Kkotsu in the original… even though I hadn’t finished reading it all, it was obviously a story heading toward a tragic ending.
And I had recently remembered the novel’s title, which was worryingly <Flowers Stained with Blood>. I could understand why my sister had named the protagonists Gwak Hyeol and Kkotsu.
That’s why I wanted to play it as safe as possible.
“So… Woojin-ssi and I are…”
When I felt that the gaze listening intently to my story was somehow burning hot, I hesitated before speaking.
“Well… a little… should I say we have a special relationship…?”
“A special relationship?”
“Yes, so… thanks to Hyeol and Kkotsu, I guess, we do have a special relationship…”
I couldn’t bring myself to continue. Both in the original novel and now, Chae Seungyeon was someone who didn’t exist in this world…
Of course, Chae Seungyeon’s body didn’t die, and I’m living in this body after possessing it.
“A special relationship…”
Baek Woojin murmured quietly, as if slowly savoring my words.
“…I see. As long as we weren’t competitors or in an uncomfortable relationship, that’s enough.”
Despite my vague answer, Baek Woojin expressed satisfaction.
“Yes… it’s not that kind of relationship…”
“That’s enough.”
Surprisingly, Baek Woojin moved on coolly. I thought he would want to know detailed content about the novel after asking the question…
“Chae Seungyeon-ssi.”
“……!”
That’s when it happened. Baek Woojin called my name while slyly taking my hand. Rather than wondering why this person was suddenly acting this way, I was surprised that his hand was warmer than the mug containing cocoa.
“Wow… Woojin-ssi’s hand is really warm….”
“Chae Seungyeon-ssi’s hand is cold.”
“Is it…?”
I brought both hands together and fidgeted with them. Then he took my hand again. Perhaps because my hand was too small, it nestled softly inside Baek Woojin’s large hand.
“No, Woojin-ssi’s hand is really warm….”
Baek Woojin’s palm was no different from a warm heater. As I wiggled my fingers inside it for a moment, I heard a soft chuckling sound from above my head.
“It’s because it’s you.”
“Huh…?”
Startled, I looked up and met those black eyes directly.
For a moment, I couldn’t tear my gaze away from those eyes. The pupils sparkling under the light seemed melancholy, yet somehow mysterious.
“…….”
How long did we stay like that? At some point, his long eyelashes and distinct eye shape became clearer and clearer, and his breath was getting closer. The moment I became aware of a pleasant scent somewhere, I snapped back to my senses. Baek Woojin’s body was leaning toward me.
“Uh… Woo, Woojin… ssi…?”
Belatedly coming to my senses, I tried to pull my hand away and dodge, but my captured hand wouldn’t budge.
Click.
Just then, there was the sound of the veranda door opening. It wasn’t just me who was startled – Baek Woojin was also surprised and turned his head.
“Ah… Papa…?”
The person who appeared after opening the veranda door was Kkotsu.
“Kkotsu…?”
Kkotsu stared blankly at the two of us, then suddenly made a tearful face. When Baek Woojin jumped up from his seat, Kkotsu’s dampened pants became visible.
“Pee, pee… Pa, Papa… I, I….”
Toward Kkotsu who was stammering, I ran over before Baek Woojin and hugged the child.
“Shh, it’s okay. Did our Kkotsu have a scary dream?”
“Yes, yes….”
“It’s okay, teacher will wash you.”
When I picked up Kkotsu, Baek Woojin silently walked over and opened the bathroom door wide.
“I’ll clean up Kkotsu’s room. Call me if you need anything.”
“Yes… I will.”
After the bathroom door closed and while I was running warm water in the bathtub, I let out a deep sigh.
I’m not sure, but if we had stayed like that, it would have been dangerous….
“Kkotsu, are you cold? Should we take off your clothes first?”
“What, what were you… doing with Papa…?”
“…Huh?”
Just as I was about to remove the child’s wet clothes, Kkotsu asked with a flushed face.
“Huh? What, what… did you… do…?”
“Ah… well…. With Kkotsu’s papa… I mean, um, we just… talked….”
When I stammered my words, Kkotsu looked puzzled.
“Just… talking, but why… why is your face like that…?”
“What?”
When Kkotsu pointed at my face, I was startled and checked the mirror hanging on the wall.
Gasp….
My face had a rosy flush on both cheeks, just like Kkotsu’s.
*
Fortunately, Kkotsu recovered enough the next day to be sent to kindergarten. I had gotten used to sending him off on the school bus with Hyeol, and now I could send him to kindergarten safely without Baek Woojin driving him there.
And before I knew it, it was the weekend.
Rustle.
I got up early in the morning and carefully changed clothes so as not to wake Hyeol. After touching Hyeol’s head as he slept soundly under the covers, I quietly slipped out of the guest room.
“Ah, it’s a bit chilly at this hour….”
From today, I would officially start working as Baek Woojin’s housekeeper.
While Baek Woojin hadn’t specifically instructed me what to do, since I was also a housekeeper in this house, I thought I should at least do basic cleaning like the other ajummas.
So on weekends when the children don’t go to kindergarten, I decided to set 8 AM as my wake-up time to start work.
“Am I being too presumptuous…?”
Just in case, I had carefully examined the employment contract I received from Baek Woojin. Since no specific hours were set, I asked him briefly, and Baek Woojin said I could work at whatever time was comfortable for me.
So I decided on 6 AM on weekdays and 8 AM on weekends as wake-up times. I wanted to get up early and at least make breakfast for the children.
I was nervous since this was my first time doing this kind of work. It was a really good opportunity, and I wanted to do well. So I thought about it thoroughly and tried to learn about the job properly….
Actually, to tell the truth now, after Baek Woojin handed over the employment contract, in less than a day, he was pressuring me to work for him. It wasn’t direct, but he would throw away job advertisement newspapers I brought or attach words like “the worst” when I asked about other work-related matters.
He would also ask frequently whether I had heard from the young master who said he could find me a job, or from Eunseong-ssi who wanted me to work at his office.
Thanks to that, I eventually signed the employment contract Baek Woojin gave me.
Anyway, now that both my job and accommodation were solved at once, I felt somewhat relieved. It was something I was grateful to Baek Woojin for in many ways.
Click.
The first thing I did was look for cleaning supplies. I had never done proper cleaning in my life, but I thought if I at least held the tools, I could do something.
I went into the storage room piled with miscellaneous items and looked for cleaning supplies. And I pulled out a fluffy feather duster from the corner.
“It was like this in school too – ventilate first, then dust….”
I knew the proper order of cleaning. I went to the living room and first threw open the veranda windows wide. As soon as I opened them, cold winter wind blew in.
Ding dong.
And at that moment, the doorbell rang.
“Who could it be at this hour…?”
Startled, I checked the intercom screen and saw a middle-aged woman in the same outfit as the ajumma who always comes to Baek Woojin’s house standing outside the door.
[Hello? I’m here as the weekend housekeeper.]
Weekend housekeeper…?
Didn’t Baek Woojin say he wouldn’t hire more housekeepers instead of employing me?
Feeling bewildered, I wanted to ask Baek Woojin immediately, but worried about the ajumma shivering outside in this cold weather, I quickly opened the door first.
“Oh my, it’s so cold…. Oh my? You’re someone I haven’t met before. Hello?”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
