Chapter 17

Today, Haji was having a very busy time.

“Just need to clean this room and I’m done.”

She planned to start cleaning as soon as the room’s owner arrived. From the precious Saturday morning, Haji began a thorough cleaning. She wiped, swept, and mopped every piece of furniture from the kitchen to the rooms.

Due to the nature of her job, cleanliness was essential, so she had a bit of an obsession with it.

“If I didn’t know, it would be one thing. But now that I know, what can I do?”

After discovering last night that Seojin’s room was dirty, she checked the cleanliness of the other rooms and furniture. As expected, they were all the same. Dusty or yellowing.

Haji placed the vacuum cleaner in front of Seojin’s room and plopped down on the living room sofa.

“Phew, my back is stiff.”

She couldn’t remember the last time she had a proper rest. Since she woke up, she had been so focused on cleaning that she hadn’t given her body a proper break.

Focusing on one thing and ignoring everything else was both Haji’s strength and weakness.

“When will Sunbae arrive?”

He said he’d come today when she asked via message.

Lying on the sofa, Haji looked at the setting evening sun through the veranda window. The red sunset made her eyes feel warm, or so she imagined. It also made her body feel languid.

She was being gently pulled into the spring warmth.

Sunbae will be here soon.

Haji’s eyelids, which had been staring blankly at the sunset, gradually grew heavy.

***

Seojin, who opened the door and entered, felt something was off as he changed into slippers.

The air felt different.

Reacting keenly, Seojin looked around. He saw a cute little foot sticking out of the wide sofa.

Seojin’s slippers cautiously moved toward it. Trying to make as little noise as possible as he got closer.

As Haji’s form became clearer, the sharpness in Seojin’s tired eyes softened.

What should I do with you?

Seojin slowly scanned the sleeping Haji lying on the sofa.

She looked like she had fought a battle alone, wearing an apron, holding a rag in one hand, and with something black smeared on the tip of her nose, breathing quietly.

Something came to mind.

“Is she Cinderella today?”

The character from the fairy tale who rides the pumpkin carriage after being mistreated.

Anyone seeing this would think he was Cinderella’s stepmother or sister.

How can she be so defenseless?

I came running because of just one line in your message.

Seojin sat down in front of the sofa, intending to scrutinize her face closely.

The air was filled with the scent of Ahn Haji.

***

Haji’s eyelashes twitched. She wanted to sleep more, but she felt she had to wake up. Her animal instincts told her so.

“Umm.”

Not wanting to open her heavy eyes, she twisted and turned. Even stretching her body didn’t shake off the drowsiness.

Then, she heard a faint hissing sound, like air escaping.

Reacting to the sound, Haji managed to lift her heavy eyelids.

Blink, blink, her vision was blurry as she slowly opened her eyes. As her pupils gradually focused, shapes began to emerge.

“Sunbae?”

“Yeah.”

Calling out to Seojin with a sleepy voice, Haji frowned. She looked like she hadn’t fully woken up.

Why is Sunbae in my room?

Is this a dream?

She thought it was a dream. The air around her felt so warm, and Seojin’s expression was too gentle.

“Relax your frown.”

“Hmph.”

Haji made a strange noise in response to Seojin’s words, pouting.

Even in dreams, he acts all high and mighty.

Seojin suppressed a smile, trying to keep his mouth shut.

“You don’t have the right to say that, Sunbae.”

Haji started to mumble. Small but clear enough to be heard.

“Why?”

“Sunbae, you’re really dirty.”

“…That’s the first time anyone’s said that to me.”

Despite the blunt remark, Seojin’s expression remained amused. As if just talking to her was enjoyable.

“Of course. No one’s ever been in your room.”

“So only you know?”

“Probably. I’m the only one who’s seen your room.”

She felt a strange sense of pride. Knowing something about him that no one else did.

“Hmm, I like that.”

Seojin tilted his head to align his gaze with Haji, who was lying down. This made Haji feel as if they were lying together.

“Still, it’s disappointing. Calling me dirty as soon as I arrive.”

“But your room was really dirty.”

“That’s true.”

Seojin admitted more easily than she thought.

Haji, who had been worried that dream-Seojin might react seriously like in reality, felt relieved.

His eyes looking at her felt strangely warm.

“Sunbae.”

Haji reached out her hand. Toward him.

Hesitating, her movement froze before touching him, halted by a sudden cold breeze that stole the warmth from her face.

Wind? Oh? This isn’t a dream?

Haji’s eyes slowly widened. Looking toward the source of the breeze, she finally noticed her surroundings. The slightly open veranda window.

And the person in front of her.

“Is it really you,, Sunbae?”

Realizing it wasn’t a dream, Haji jerked back, widening the distance between her and Seojin.

“What is it?”

“What?”

“Why….”

Haji blinked, unsure of what to say. Asking why he was here was pointless since it was his house, and asking if it wasn’t a dream would make her seem foolish.

She might have already seemed foolish.

“I was just lying down for a bit….”

“Do you have a stepmother or sisters in this house that I don’t know about?”

“Pardon?”

What is he talking about?

Seojin rubbed Haji’s nose with his thumb. Haji closed her eyes tightly in response.

“Was someone nagging you to clean?”

Tap, tap, his long, thick fingers tapped her flushed cheek.

Only after Seojin’s hand left her face did Haji open her eyes.

“That’s not it. I saw it was dirty yesterday.”

“I’m not good at cleaning.”

Originally, Seojin had cleaning services after moving in, but he stopped using them after Haji first came to the house.

“What did you want to ask?”

That was why Seojin had come early. Because Ahn Haji had said she had something she was curious about.

“Ah, that….”

Haji straightened her back and looked toward the veranda. After staring blankly for a moment, she turned back to Seojin.

“I don’t know if it’s done yet.”

“What is?”

“I was going to ask when you came, but since you seemed late, I went ahead.”

Seojin raised an eyebrow, urging her to get to the point.

“Is it okay to wash the bedding? Actually, I did it with mine….”

Haji asked cautiously. She had already started the laundry, so it was too late to stop. She tried to change the order of her words, since she had done Seojin’s laundry first and then hers, but made it seem like she did both together.

“That’s fine.”

Haji let out a sigh of relief. Thankfully, he didn’t seem to mind her handling his belongings.

“But.”

Seojin’s eyebrow raised.

“Is that it?”

“Pardon?”

“What you wanted to ask.”

Leaning his arm on the sofa and resting his chin, Seojin looked up at Haji. Despite this, Haji didn’t feel like he was looking up at her. It felt like his question held the answer.

Haji hesitated for a moment. She couldn’t understand his intention, so she decided to be honest.

“Yes, that’s it….”

“…Okay.”

Seojin gave a short reply, closing his eyes briefly. His eyes looked slightly red. Blood vessels were visible.

He must be tired from the business trip, right?

Seeing this, Haji felt anxious.

“I started the laundry before you arrived, so it should be done now. Just need to put it in the dryer…!”

Haji, trying to get up from the sofa, found her knees suddenly heavy. The pressure prevented her from standing.

“What are you doing?”

“I’ll take it out.”

Using Haji’s knee as support, Seojin stood up.

“I can do it….”

“You’re tired.”

But you look more tired, Sunbae.

Haji, about to speak, closed her mouth.

Her heart felt ticklish, making it hard to voice her thoughts. Saying it out loud would make it even more ticklish.

“Let’s go together. There’s a lot of bedding.”

Watching Seojin’s back, Haji quietly stood up. Even though the dryer was right next to them, there was a lot to move.

Haji followed closely behind Seojin as he went to the veranda. He blocked the entrance.

“Wait here.”

Haji blinked at being stopped at the entrance.

“Are you doing it alone?”

“It’s faster if I do it alone.”

Haji pouted at Seojin’s easy refusal.

“Do as you wish.”

Haji watched the drum washing machine. As expected, it had stopped. It had been long enough for the laundry to be done.

“Looks like it’s done.”

At Haji’s words, Seojin turned, pressing his dry eyes with one hand, and bent to open the washing machine door.

“Sunbae!”

Startled by the sudden situation unfolding before her eyes, Haji shouted.