“Apologize to the Boss, not to me.”
Following Daerim’s gaze back, Siwon was coming down the stairs with a jacket draped over one arm.
“At least you know you did wrong.”
At the gaze looking down at him, Seongyeom quickly averted his eyes. Just making eye contact made his face flush immediately. He felt embarrassed, worried that his falling for him at first sight might be discovered.
Siwon had a quite different atmosphere from yesterday. Though he wore a similar suit, he had a black necktie over his shirt and even wore rimless glasses, giving off an intellectual impression.
He’s seriously dangerously handsome. How does that face look like a gangster boss…!
Seongyeom’s heart seemed to thump once against the floor upon seeing Siwon, then rise up. Siwon, who had approached while checking Seongyeom’s condition, nodded with his hands in his pockets.
“I’ll accept it, your apology.”
“Th-thank you.”
“That aside, what’s all that?”
He turned his gaze to the food containers spread out on the living room table. Seongyeom gave an awkward smile and said,
“My mother told me to bring it, saying I was very indebted to you yesterday.”
“You didn’t have to do that.”
Though he said that, Siwon couldn’t take his eyes off the food containers. After examining what foods were there, he picked up and ate one of the plump-looking rolled omelets.
“How is it?”
He asked with more anticipation than when he had cooked himself. Siwon held back the laughter that was about to come out.
“It’s good.”
At his faint smile, Seongyeom’s expression also brightened. Seongyeom crouched down next to the sofa, took out portable wet wipes, and handed them to him.
“Are you coming home late today too?”
He asked carefully, wanting to converse with him more somehow. Siwon nodded while wiping his long fingers one by one.
“Yeah.”
“Where are you going?”
“You wouldn’t know even if I told you. More than that, Teacher.”
“Yes!”
Watching Seongyeom widen his eyes at Siwon’s call, Siwon suddenly felt the urge to play a mischievous prank.
“I didn’t know your preference was that way.”
“What?!”
Seongyeom’s face instantly showed a confused expression.
Could he have found out I’m gay? He, he must have found out, right? After showing such disgraceful behavior yesterday, how could I not be caught! But why does he keep approaching? You, you’re too close…!
Pushed back by Siwon slowly approaching, Seongyeom retreated step by step. Rolling his eyes while holding his heart that seemed about to burst, he eventually just bent at the waist and apologized resoundingly.
“If you were offended by yesterday’s events, I sincerely apologize!”
Even if I said it was because you’re totally my type, it would only be unpleasant to someone who’s not into this! He was looking at the feet that stopped with barely a step’s distance when he heard the sound of someone holding back laughter from above.
Only then did he straighten his back and look at Siwon, who roughly ruffled Seongyeom’s hair and said,
“I have no intention of interfering with your preferences. However.”
It was clearly a dry sneer to anyone watching, but it looked different to Seongyeom’s eyes. The beauty-limited correction filter beautified it into an endlessly warm smile.
“As the kids’ tutor and housekeeper, I hope you do your work properly.”
“Yes! Of course…!”
It’s really fortunate it’s not a dismissal!
Seongyeom eagerly nodded, forgetting that just until yesterday he had considered running away dozens more times. At that sight, Siwon smiled slightly, turned around, and headed to the entrance, then suddenly stopped.
“Oh, your room is across from mine, Teacher.”
Looking at his expression changing moment by moment, it seemed he could tell what Seongyeom was thinking without even having to listen. Siwon swallowed his smile with effort and raised only one corner of his mouth.
“You know where it is, right? You went in yesterday.”
At the mischievous prank, Seongyeom’s face turned red like a ripe tomato. Siwon finally burst out laughing and left through the entrance.
“I’m leaving Cheong and Seoldong at home. They both have exams in a few days.”
“Ah, yes! Have a good day.”
Daerim asked him to look after the kids as he passed by. Seongyeom inadvertently followed to the entrance and watched Siwon putting on his shoes.
…This makes me feel like a wife seeing off her husband going to work.
“Then, I’ll be going.”
At the truly couple-like affectionate tone, Seongyeom forgot for a moment that he was a gangster boss and his heart skipped a beat. No, that just now was too dangerous. The wedding march played in his head.
“Yes! Have a good day!”
He waved his hand enthusiastically until the entrance door completely closed, and when the door shut, Seongyeom spun around and muttered to himself.
“How did I end up getting this job? I’m so lucky.”
After giggling, he suddenly recalled a question he’d been keeping in his head.
“Ah, President!”
When he flung open the entrance door, dark clouds were rushing in over the sunset sky. Through the gaps, raindrops began to fall one or two at a time. It seemed faster to quickly ask and come back than to go in to find an umbrella. Seongyeom ran after Siwon through the rain as is.
Opening the gate, he saw him giving some instructions to Daerim.
“President, wait a moment!”
At that call, the corners of Siwon’s eyes stiffened for a moment then relaxed. He took an umbrella from Daerim and turned toward Seongyeom, who was running urgently.
“You know, President. I have something I’m curious about… Kyaa!”
Seongyeom, who had been running on his tiptoes to avoid the rain as much as possible, missed his footing and ended up burying his face in Siwon’s chest. Whether he usually exercised diligently, it hurt as if he’d hit a rock rather than a body.
“Ow ow ow…”
He seemed to smell blood from his nose. Then, Siwon’s ominously subdued voice descended to Seongyeom’s ear.
“Do you have poor memory, Teacher?”
“What?”
“I must have told you not to come outside without my permission.”
“Ah…! I, I’m sorry…!”
At the high-handed attitude unlike moments ago, Seongyeom panicked and bowed his head. Siwon sighed looking at Seongyeom, who had already forgotten the rules and was acting on his own.
“Speak.”
“Ah, well, um!”
It was a tone that seemed to find him bothersome. His heart rushed and his tongue naturally twisted. When Seongyeom even gestured frantically with his hands, Siwon raised one eyebrow.
“Well…! My parents liked you, President!”
“Hmm?”
“My parents opposed me liking the same gender, but suddenly their attitude changed overnight. I was wondering if you might know if something happened yesterday.”
My parents called you son-in-law, he couldn’t bring himself to say and waited for Siwon’s answer. Siwon also seemed to recall yesterday’s events and looked at the sky for a moment, then slowly nodded.
“There was an incident.”
“An incident? What… did I make another mistake?”
“…We did, actually.”
“What?”
The impatient question mixed with Siwon’s words. Seongyeom widened his eyes and brought his left ear close to Siwon with a serious expression, asking,
“What did we do?”
“We kissed. In front of your parents, Teacher, you and me.”
……?
It took about 1 second for the two syllables ‘kissed’ to register in Seongyeom’s head. And soon Seongyeom, who trembled sharply, covered his ears with both hands and stared at Siwon. It felt like hot breath still remained in his ear.
“No, well, wait. What…?!”
Siwon couldn’t hold back and burst into laughter watching Seongyeom fluttering like a lightning-struck rabbit. Under the umbrella, the two people stuck close together then separated, appearing at a glance like lovers playing around.
“Boss.”
The back seat car window rolled down and Teolbo called Siwon. Siwon put the umbrella in Seongyeom’s hand and added,
“I supported you to the door and you stuck your lips on me first, saying thank you. Just then the door opened, and your mother, who was waiting with a broom, saw it. She saw you bumping your lips.”
“She saw that, Mom?!”
“Yeah.”
Seongyeom’s face was colored with shock. Watching Siwon calmly nod, his mouth gradually opened. Siwon got into the back seat, then as if he’d forgotten something, rolled down the window and elaborated.
“Ah, I explained the situation to your mother but she didn’t believe me. Even though I told her it was just an employment relationship, your father kept asking me to prove it…”
Siwon shrugged his shoulders and continued in a tone suggesting it was no big deal.
“I settled it cleanly by giving them your month’s salary.”
“My, my salary?”
He felt dizzy and straightened his body.
Not only did they catch my disgraceful behavior, but even my salary…
“Then, exactly, how much…”
“21 million.”
He didn’t even have the energy to be surprised anymore. Seongyeom covered his face with both hands.
“Daerim had a bit of trouble gathering cash in the middle of the night.”
“Ahaha…”
With that money, it’s more than enough to make them father-in-law and mother-in-law. Seongyeom pitifully lamented the salary that disappeared into his parents’ pockets without him even seeing it once.
“Since it turned out that way, let’s get along well for a month, Teacher. Don’t go outside without my permission. Okay?”
“Haha… Yes, of course.”
When Seongyeom obediently stepped back like a well-behaved dog, the black sedan carrying Siwon drove away, cutting through puddles. Seongyeom squeezed his eyes shut and opened them.
My money… my 21 million won…
From now on, even if something happened, he had to work at this house for a month without budging. The breakfast Mom made this morning was a 21-million-won breakfast.
“Let’s go inside, Seongyeom-nim.”
Daerim stood beside him, holding the umbrella that was tilting as his strength waned. Seongyeom nodded and walked powerlessly past the organization members guarding the gate.
Clang—
The sound of the door closing was particularly loud. Seongyeom let his shoulders droop with a sigh.
