Choi Y/n POV:
Something's up with Bossman lately. He seems disturbed about something. I walked by his room once and saw him crouching on the floor by himself. He slept on the floor sometimes too because he got drunk and just collapsed. At times when I went to his room to send him his breakfast, I saw him lying on the bed and his pillow was wet. He eyes were wet too. Had he been crying? He's always in his room nowadays too.
I'm kinda...concerned. What's happening to him? I realized his alcohol consumption is increasing too. He would have bad hangovers and sometimes acted really cold towards me.
I didn't say anything to him though. I'm just a maid after all, and my opinion has no significance to him. I do express my concerns to YeongHan oppa though. I'm kinda worried by the sudden change of behaviour. Although I only know him for a month or so, something tells me he's not like this. This is not who he is.
~~~~
"Here...Take this upstairs to Mr Stephen's room" YeongHan Oppa handed me a tray of freshly made English Breakfast. The aroma of the food is just mouth-watering. "I want some too..." I pouted cutely at YeongHan Oppa. "Of course I made some for you cutie...But send this to Mr Stephen's room first, and then we'll eat together" He pinched my nose playfully. "Haha...okay." I took the tray and walked to the stairs. I quickened my pace because I know Bossman hates late breakfast and he'll get cranky if I don't send it up on time.
I knocked the door a couple of times. "Mr Stephen I'm coming in okay?" I said. I twisted the doorknob and opened the door. What I saw after that was expected, but not what I hoped for. He's on the bed lying down on his stomach. His hair is all messy.
I placed the tray of food on the side table. Usually he'll immediately wake up, this is because he's a light sleeper, but for some reason he continues to sleep. "Uhm M-Mr Stephen?" I tapped his shoulder lightly. He must've gotten drunk again yesterday. I tapped him a couple more times but he's not moving. I went to the other side of the bed to get a closer look at him. What I saw traumatized me. His left hand hangs down the bed, clutching an empty bottle of sleeping pills. My eyes widen at the sight. "No! You can't just..." I took the empty bottle and threw to the side.
I parked myself on his bed, and tried my best to turn his body to face me. "No...You can't die... Please...P-please wake up. Please don't die..." I look at his pale face and for some reason, I can't help but fondled his cheeks.
~Flashback~
"But uhm... I'm older than you too aren't I? Why don't you call me Oppa?"
~End Flashback~
I shook his body more violently because I want him to wake up. "O-oppa...Please wake up..." I shook him again. I don't know why I said that, but I just did. I just hoped that it would help him wake up. Why am I so foolish...
Then something caught my attention, his lips curled up into a smirk. Afterwards his eyes fluttered open consecutively. His eyes than landed on me.
"Finally..." His grin grew wider.
What the hell just happened? Here I am at the verge of a breakdown and there he is grinning!? What's up with this dude?
"What the hell? What's that for?" I asked. He burst out laughing and dramatically wiped his non-existent tears. His head was still at my lap. This guy is too much.
"You finally called me Oppa!" He said cheerfully and continued laughing. "Wait what?? Why would you even do that? I thought you were dead you JACKASS!" Then realization hit me. I called my boss a Jackass!
Whatever he deserved it. But then if he fires me I'll have nowhere to go. "U-uhm I mean-" he cut me off by saying "It's okay...I deserved it" he chuckled. "But I swear to got it was worth it!" He burst out laughing again.
I wiped my teary eyes. Why'd he gotta be so cruel?
"Why do you have to do that? You're so mean..." I said half whining. "Because I've been dying to hear those four letter word come out from your mouth and directed towards me" he said grinning widely. "But why do you have to go to that extent?" I asked in shock.
"I don't know" he shrugged nonchalantly. I pouted and fiddled with my finger. "C'mon... don't cry." He wiped the tears that was collecting underneath my eyes with his thumb. "I was really scared...Please don't do that again. I was afraid that I wasn't able to pay back the gratitude of saving me that time." I said letting out soft sniffles.
"You idiot! Should've checked whether I'm breathing before jumping to conclusion. Oh my god should've seen your face" he chuckled again. "How can I not jump to conclusion when you've been acting so weird lately? You get drunk and then get bad hangovers. Your eyes and pillows have been constantly wet which I assume was because you were crying. You started acting really cold towards me too... So how can I not jump to conclusion?" My gaze towards him deepens which I should've thought was far from appropriate.
"That's called Oscar worthy acting my dear. I just wanted to prep myself for today so that my 'suicide' will not look so sudden. I never thought you would actually care." He said, eyes squinting when he comes to his last sentence. My eyes widen at what he said. "Y-you're my boss... of course I care. You were the one who saved me, it would only make sense if I cared" I said, unsure whether it's the whole truth. The truth is I feel an emotional connection with him, but I'm not really sure what it is. I mean I couldn't be liking him right? I like YeongHan Oppa. That's right...I like only YeongHan Oppa.
"You're starting to fall for me aren't you my little brat?" He gives me the most charming smirk ever. I would've been swooned if I haven't forgotten my motive, "N-no! That's nonsense..." I said as my cheeks heats up. I immediately got off the bed and adjusted my maid attire. I don't want him to notice my flushed cheeks. "It's okay...I always give such effect on people" he said as he pointed to my cheeks. For some reason my blush deepens. Oh my god why? It's putting me in a more vulnerable position.
"U-uhm enjoy your breakfast Bossman..." I bowed, turned my back and made my way out of his room. "
"I'm lonely..." He said just as I was a step away from the door. I halted as I heard him say that. "Pardon?" I asked, as I look at him who was acting like a child. He gave an exaggerating pout and lowered his head. "Can you accompany me while I eat?" He asked.
What should I say? I can't possibly object can I? But I have other things to do though. "U-uhm I have other things to do downstairs. If I stay I won't be able to finish all the cleaning downstairs." I said coming up with an excuse. Truthfully I just wanted to get out because the awkward atmosphere is too suffocating. Plus YeongHan Oppa is waiting to eat with me.
"Please? Grace can do the rest of the cleaning" he asked and I looked down and began to fiddle with my finger. "Pretty please?" he asked again. I reluctantly nodded at his sudden request. "Yay!" he playfully said. I looked at him curiously. How can a 25-years-old mafia/gangleader, turn into this adorable little boy?
Without me even realizing, a soft smile crept on my lips as I witnessed his adorable nature. Jheez... this guy, is it necessary to be so cute? I walked to his bed and set his breakfast on the coffee table. "Come and eat Bossman".
He dragged his feet lazily to the coffee table area, resembling the walking dead. He slumped on the sofa with a thud. I just stood there as he wolfed down on his breakfast as though he had not eaten for days.
Am I like a bodyguard or something? Doesn't he have that already?
Then I noticed that he stopped his deed and look up to see me standing. "Why are you standing there? Sit" He said in strict tone. It's funny how he changes his mood and tone so easily. Though sometimes it freaks me out, I'm starting to get used to it anyways. I made my way to the seat opposite him. As I was about to take a seat, he voiced out. "Not there. Here" He patted on the seat next to him. My eyes widen at his bold gesture. "U-uhm must I?" I asked just to make sure.
He nodded while munching on the bacon that was arranged neatly on the plate. I reluctantly made my way to the seat beside him. I ensure that there's at least a 50 cm distance between me and him. I sat there quietly while fiddling with my finger. I bit my lips as I pondered on my purpose of being here because he's not even talking to me. He kept quiet too.
When will he be done? I'm pretty sure YeongHan Oppa is waiting for me. "Why are you so quiet? C'mon...talk to me" he said. I was unsure of what to talk about so I just came up with some random shit. "How's the food?" I asked, attempting to open up a conversation.
"It's amazing as usual. You know...I never regretted hiring a chef like YeongHan Hyung(How a younger male should address an older male). I'm a person that is picky in every single thing. This makes it really hard for me to get a good chef for myself. In the past, a chef that I hired would not last any longer than a week and that annoys the hell out of me. When YeongHan Hyung came, everything turned for the better. I swear that guy can cook. He's been working for me for 5 years now. That would've been a miracle for any of my previous chefs" I giggled at how he humorously tells me a story about his chefs. For a second, I didn't see him as a boss. But a friend. A person that I could be warm and caring towards.
I smiled at how cheerful he was talking about YeongHan Oppa's delicious cooking. He was chirping away until I saw bacon grease at the corner of his lips. I don't know why but I immediately took a tissue and wiped it.
For a moment he was startled, but afterwards he giggled playfully knowing that there was grease at the corner of his lips. "Sorry...I'm not really the neatest person when I eat" He used his thumb to wipe the corner of his lips.
In the middle of silence, my stomach growled unexpectedly and it was really loud. My eyes widen as it happens all of a sudden. My eyes shifted to Bossman who was looking at my stomach and that back to my face. He then laughed a little bit too loud. The blush on my cheeks deepens by a few shades. I cupped my stomach out of embarrassment. Looking at him laugh made me laugh too, although it doesn't totally extinguish my embarrassment. He's going to make me remember this. I thought as I mentally facepalmed myself.
"Forgive me...I should've offered you" he said and afterwards covered his mouth to contain his laughter. Mean! He cuts a large piece of his pancake and offered it to me. My eyes widen at the kind gesture, "U-uhm...It's okay that's your breakfast Bossman" I kindly rejected.
"Hey could you do me a favor? Can you say "Bun" but in slow-motion and ensure you open your mouth wide." I furrowed my eyebrows to his weird request but compelled anyways. Just as I open my mouth wide from saying 'bun' in slow-motion, he shoved the pancake into my mouth. I almost gagged as he did that. That asshole...
"That'll teach you to listen to instructions and just accept what I give you" He said to me with a mischievous grin.
I chew on the big chunk of pancake hesitantly and afterwards swallow them. "Good girl" he patted my head while grinning again.
For a moment our eyes locked. It was as though I was gazing right through his eyes and into his soul. His eyes, they're brown and soft. Vividly reflecting innocence, totally in contrast with who he actually is. I think his eyes are so deep it would take me a lifetime to get across it. I'm lost in it. He too, I could see, was staring deeply into the windows of my soul. For a moment I felt not a care for the world. I felt warm in his presence.
The moment broke when he suddenly looked away and cleared his throat. It was as though I broke from a trance when he did that. I just realized what I did and it's not something good.
I immediately stood up. "I-i'll get going" with that, I left the room without another word. What just happened? That's so weird. I was walking slowly as I was reflecting on what just happened in Bossman's room. Whatever happened, I don't think it's something appropriate between an employer and an employee.
I should stop being so close to him.
Plus I'm not the only maid. Grace can help him with sending his food and cleaning his room. I'll settle the rest. Maybe I should sort this out with Grace later on. I finally stepped into the kitchen after a slow stroll from Bossman's room. A beautiful smile from YeongHan Oppa greeted me.
"Finally you're back. What took you so long?" He rested his hand on my shoulder. Should I tell him? He doesn't have to know right? I don't even know the state of our relationship... Ugh!!!