“Great. Just great.” Jaejoong talked to himself while driving. The day was ruined; in fact his plan was ruined. “Min is growing stubborn these day.” He then pulled his car into the garage and got some grocery bags out of his compartment. Maybe his strategy pissed Changmin off but he hoped that it will do otherwise to his maid.

He quickly went inside and walked straight to the kitchen that he declared off limits to the poor girl. He was desperate, desperate to see YooMi. He will take care of the maknae after he received the oh so precious forgiveness of Mi Young. Yes, he finally remembered or Changmin finally made him remember her. And that time, he will use the same strategy again only a little bit better. Stubborn Jae. He couldn’t really pass in the world of gangsters. He was actually using the method that was a complete failure. There was a hint of sarcasm and cruelty there. It was like Mi Young was one step lower than Changmin.

He got his apron and swayed it into his body and begun to look for his trusted knife. He was planning to cook his special crab soup with steamed lobster that perfectly goes with his special and one-of-a-kind secret original sauce. It was something to be proud of. He never cooked for Kiyomi and he was doing it for Mi Young’s golden forgiveness. He found it absurd and crazy but he just reminded himself that he was doing it for his lovely niece who he hasn’t seen in a while. But then, a thought came to his mind that practically brushed off his plan of cooking the soup for her. She was from the peaceful province of Jeju, not to mention that she lives on a place where there was plenty of seafood and that was suffering from scarcity of meat of any kind. Thanks to Mr. Lee for that information. To make the long story short, he changed his mind even before he could crack the meat out of the crab. He smirked as if it was part of the recipe and took the seafood and stuffed them inside the refrigerator and took out the meat. He smiled when he saw the fresh lettuce inside his ever trusty refrigerator and a container full of mouth watering kimchi.

“Samgyupsal.” He mumbled. “Not bad.” And pulled his sleeve up and started making his magic into the kitchen.

On the other part, Mi Young looked at him with a pout on her lips. Her boss was acting weird again and even talking to himself. She thought that it was just the effect of missing his one true love but she can’t help but to be scared sometimes.

She sighed and went back to cleaning the foyer until it was sparkling clean. She was so busy and she was enjoying it. At least she wasn’t able to face Jaejoong and all his PMS. She cooks her food in the small kitchen at the back of the house and ate there alone and satisfied.

After two hours, her stomach started to rumble like a hungry pig and the smell that was coming out from the kitchen wasn’t helping her at all. She looked at her watch and sighed. It was a quarter before lunch time and she haven’t cooked anything yet.

She straightened her back and her sore muscles made some incredible cracking sound. She was tired and by what Jaejoong was cooking, she couldn’t help but to drool and wished that she could get even a tiny bite of it. But of course it will never happen, at least that what she thought. Jaejoong would never ever give her a piece of it without hearing a truckload of bitter words coming out from his mouth. She couldn’t believe that a guy with such handsome features, an angel to be exact, have a mouth that was worst than of the devil. She wasn’t talking about his breath of course. She found out herself that the guy has the freshest breath ever and she discovered it the scariest way ever too. She still wasn’t over the trauma of losing the ity of her eyes.

She gently massaged her stomach and tried to satisfy herself with the smell but realized at the end that it was only making her hungrier so she decided to come to her room where it was free from all the mouth watering smell. She just turned her back and took her first step when Jaejoong called her that made her body stiffened and froze right then there.

“Hey.” He said softly but it sure sent some serious shiver to her.

She remained standing wither back at her boss. She didn’t dare to move, not even flinch.

“Hey.” He repeated in a much deeper tone but he received nothing. 

Mi Young started to sweat and she badly wanted to run away from the monster behind her.

He took a good amount of air before he opened his mouth to speak.

“I’m going to say this just once so listen carefully.”

She swallowed hard.

He was pissed but he was fighting the urge to yell at her and reminded his self that he was doing all of that for YooMi.

“Go to the kitchen. Now.” He hissed and walked away.

She frowned. It was a command. But why? Was he trying to kill her with those food? She slowly turned her back like a robot and took her step to the kitchen where she was banned. She was really taking her time, afraid that there was some kind of bomb that was planted that will explode the moment she steps into that kitchen.

‘Relax Mi Young.’ She reminded herself silently. ‘That monster will not kill you. Don't worry. Your poor body will be discovered soon if that happens. Oh dear Lord, help this poor little soul. I’m gonna enter now…

“Yah!” The yell instantly made her jump.

“What took you so long?” He said the moment her head popped out from the pane.

“Ah…” she stuttered and that didn’t surprise her at all. She was avoiding his deadly stares and by doing that, she caught a glimpse of the meat that was sizzling at the grill at the top of the preparing table with matching lettuce leaves and some ingredients that made water more.

She swallowed a huge amount of saliva just to control her growling stomach. She was sure that Jaejoong was only doing it just to scorn her more. She had to admit it, he was successful. Her stomach just declared war over her and it was rampaging like crazy. Too much that it reach Jaejoong’s ears which made him smirked.

Jaejoong then took a piece of meat that was grilling and a lettuce leaf and together with some spices; he slowly wrapped it and place it inside his mouth. Poor Mi Young, the more that Jaejoong chew the tasty meat, the more her stomach roars.

She bit her lower lips and looked down, trying to think of different things that was not food related. Wallah! She thought of her Omma and it quickly sent smile on her face while staring on the floor. But Jaejoong was really a devil and will do everything to make her suffer. At least that was inside her mind.

“Sit down.” She heard her say but remained examining the gray marble tiles on the floor.

“Mi Young.” He repeated but she was drowned to her thoughts. Jaejoong wanted to  throw some meat to her to bring her thoughts back to Seoul but he will look too rude and he will not surely get what he wanted so he commanded his patient to extent some more.

“Mi Young. Join me.” He said deeply.

Mi Young on the other hand could perfectly hear him but her brain refused to accept that her boss was actually inviting her to eat with him. She thought her mind was playing some kind of tricks on her or she was hallucinating because of hunger. She blinked and slowly looked up. Somehow, a part of her was praying that Jaejoong was really serious about inviting her to eat with him. She prepared herself to see a frowning monster but instead, a pleasant looking guy with such warm eyes smiled before her and pointed at the chair in front of her. She swore her legs felt like jelly at that point. Will she believe him? What if I was just a trap? Her feet stepped back like they had mind of their own.

Jaejoong noticed that she was reluctant to come and accept his invitation. He couldn’t blame her for it. He had been rude. Suddenly, his plan changed the last minute. That lunch will not be for apologizing anymore but to get to know her maid as well. She works with him so it was nothing but right to know some facts about her and hopefully, a rapport will be established and the bickering will be put into end,

“Come on.” He said calmly. “Join me for lunch. I prepared this for us.”

“Huh?” she frowned. She wasn’t so sure of what she heard. It was really the effect of being hungry?

“I’ll count. The offer will expire after three.” He warned and even before he could start counting, Mi young had already placed herself on the chair and looked at the food intently like she was going to start a fight.

“Go and eat.” He handed her the chopsticks and she swallowed hard before digging on the meat.

She took a big piece and wrapped it inside a huge lettuce and just like what Jaejoong did, she put a lot of spices and the size was sure big. Jaejoong couldn’t help but imagine if it will fit inside but to his surprised, it did.

“Y-yah.” He said, unbelieving. “Careful. It might get stuck in your throat.”

“Warpdjsjdj ruf.” She said and Jaejoong frowned with disgust. “Yah! Where’s your manners. Don't talk when your mouth is stuffed with food.” He never seen such sight.

She narrowed her eyes and quickly chewed the food and drank a whole glass of juice. It sure made her satisfied that she released a loud burp. She totally forgot her manners and heck she cared. Jaejoong owed him a lot with what he said.

“Is this your way of saying sorry?”

He was slightly taken aback. Same words used by two different person but Mi Young made them sound more… acceptable and less frightening. Unlike Changmin who rejected his offer, the girl accepted it like gold. She was eating non stop and Jaejoong couldn’t help but stare. He stopped eating not because he was disgusted and lost his appetite but he was quite amused by the way she accepted things and embrace them like a child, to think that he haven’t said any word of apology, at least not yet.

“Kimchi?” he pushed the bowl towards her and it was welcomed warmly. Jaejoong then waited for her reaction towards the kimchi since almost everyone hates his kimchi because of its spiciness, well… Changmin called it Kimchi from hell since Jae just adores spicy food.

“Thank you.” she murmured and took a huge piece of the kimchi, chewed it slowly and then....smile

“Bwoh?” he said. He didn’t get the reaction that he wanted. She was eating it like any ordinary kimchi. He took his chopsticks and took a bite of it to check if it was really his kimchi. It still tasted the same, hot...sizzling hot but how come Mi Young wasn’t affected at all?

“Why?” she asked, forgetting that Jaejoong was her boss.

“It’s spicy.”

“It’s delicious.”

“Are you trying to get even with me?” he then asked with his brows boxing with each other.

“Huh? Why would I do that?” No matter how harsh the words that were thrown at her, it never cross her mind to get even. She was not that type of person.

“The kimchi is spicy.”

“I know.”

“You know?”

She nodded.

“And that is your reaction?” he couldn’t believe that the girl actually owned a tongue that can stand the spiciest chili in the world just like him.

Mi Young, having a brain that of a size of a bird thought that Jaejoong wanted some reaction about his food to make him content and to know that it was good so she smiled hugely and clapped her hands together and said…

“Wow! Sir! Your Kimchi is good!!!”

“Huh?”

“It’s so spicy!!! I love it!!!” she even took a big bite and chewed it like it tasted like cake.

Jaejoong examined her face, no sweat, no teary eyes, no anything that would give signs that she was over taken by the spiciness. He even ready the water besid ehim... just in case.

“Are you mocking me?” he hissed.

“Wae?” her yes widened. Mocking Jaejoong didn’t even cross her mind. “W-why would I mock you?”

“That kimchi is ten times spicier than the usual.”

Mi Young just smiled and took another bite.

“Don't worry. I have the tongue of the devil.”

“Bwoh?”

“So you have a sister.” Jaejoong crossed his arms. He had finished his meal while Mi Young was still salvaging the remaining meat on the grill. For her, having left over is a sin.

“Hmm.” She nodded without looking at him. “She’s in Jeju studying.”

“Studying?” he actually couldn’t believe it. Based on what Mr. Lee had told him, Mi Young was the youngest so it was surprising to know that she was the one working while her older sister was studying?

Mi Young then understood Jaejoong’s expression. It was as if she had some kind of telepathic power.

“Unnie is smart. She got some scholarship at a university so I decided to help her by working here.”

“Why don't you study too?” Jaejoong was really hooked surprisingly to her story.

“Unnie said school is just for smart kids. I don't belong there.” She answered casually like it was okay for her not to enter school.

“You finished high school?” His brows furrowed.

“No. I barely finished elementary then I started working at the market. I earn good enough money back then so it was okay not to study.”

He suddenly felt guilty. Sometimes his mouth can be such a brat.

“I'm sorry.” Words that sincerely came out of his mouth. Words that made Mi Young stopped eating.

“W-what for?”

“For saying those harsh words.”

She wanted to laugh because Jaejoong seriously looked like a fool when he said those words but she tried her best to suppress it because he might get angry again.

“Tsk. Why  bother to apologize? This meal is more than enough.”

“Huh?”

“Yah… I was so hungry that time and all I wanna do was to eat and there you are like an angel sending some food from above.” She showed her goofy smile.

“A-an angel?” he said.

‘This girl just calls me an angel. Seriously? Is she drunk?’

“Yeah. But sometimes you act like a monster.”

“Bwoh?! M-monster?”

Mi young instantly covered after she realized what she just said.

“Mianhe.” She bowed with embarrassment.

“A monster?”

The girl wanted to smack her head for not thinking. But she had to go on with it. It was said and done. There was no way to take it back.

“Is that really what you think about me?” Jaejoong was lost and didn’t know how to react on that. No one ever called him a monster. No one even dared or to think about it and there was Mi Young, his maid of few weeks just called him a monster.

“No.” she said defensively. "Because that’s what you are showing.”

“Seriously?” he pointed his self and took a bite of kimchi to somehow relax his self.

“Honestly, thinking about you everyday really complicates my life.”

"Eh? Why are you thinking about me?" could it be?

“Yeah. Early in the morning, your face hunts me and those were the moments where I tried to plan on how to avoid you.”

‘Phew that was close. I thought he was thinking of something else. Note to myself. Never show my self again to this girl.’

“Ah.” He faked a laugh and straightened his back. “You don't have to do it now.”

“You mean not to think about you or you will not get angry again?”

‘This girl has something to say.’ He hissed secretly again.

“Both.”

“Okay.” She said and continued munching.

“Now how will I say sorry to Changmin?” He mumbled to himself but Mi Young clearly heard it and being the talkative girl that day, she could help but to ask.

“Say sorry to Changmin?”

“Huh? You heard me?” he said while his palm was under his chin and in deep thoughts.

“Clearly.”

“Oh well.”

“It has something to do with me right?” the tone of her voice changed. It lacked enthusiasm all of a sudden.

And Jaejoong was slightly taken by surprised. He didn’t know how to answer Mi Young with that.

“I’m sorry.” He heard her say. “I’m sorry for causing so much trouble. I didn’t mean to be stubborn or anything. It’s just that, I’m enjoying your kitchen and I love to cook but I never did any of those things that you accused me of.” She confessed with her head down, staring at the remaining food at her plate. She silently dropped her chopsticks and wiped her lips. That lunch was officially over for her.

Somehow Jaejoong felt a little bit of guilt. He was the one who over reacted and things get worse with words that came out of his mouth.

“We’ll get along again just like before.” He found himself comforting the girl which was weird. He was suppose to hate her and that lunch was just a time for him to say sorry but when he glanced at the clock on the wall, an hour already passed just by talking to the girl. Both of them didn’t even realize that it took them that long.

“I will tell him-“

“No.” Jaejoong gently cut her off. “Don't tell him anything. I’ll be alright soon.”

She just nodded and started to gather the dishes all together to put them into the sink and wash. Of course, she never forget to ask for Jaejoong’s permission since she was about to use his kitchen.

“Yeah.” He nodded in his seat as he looked for the girl’s smile. It faded away when Changmin was mixed to the conversation.

“H-hey.” He cant help but to get her attention as she started to wash the dish with her back facing him.

“Sir?” he turned to face him and Jaejoong suddenly stepped back like some kind of wind pushed him back.

“A-ah… what’s with the sudden silence? You are quite chatty a while ago.” He tried.

“Because there was nothing left to talk about.” She smiled a little and went back to washing.

Jaejoong guessed that Mi Young was back to her old self again, back to being his maid.

“What if I command you to talk to me?”

He frowned with his own word. He couldn’t believe that he actually said those.

And once again, Mi Young faced him.

“You wouldn’t do that. You hate me right?”

“I wouldn’t ask for an apology if I hate you.”

“Makes sense.” She nodded.

“I’m serious.”

“Me too.”

“Mi Young I command you to talk to me.” He hissed desperately, the reason? He couldn’t tell either.

She rolled her eyes at him.

“Yes sir. I want to thank you for that wonderful lunch and I’m gladly giving you my forgiveness so you don't have to stoop down to my level and tell me to talk to you because honestly, it won’t work.” Jaejoong wasn’t sure if it was a mock or whatever. She seemed serious about it though.

He sighed and stood. “I'm bored okay. I just need someone to talk to.”

“I'm a maid not a call center agent.”

“What?”

That did it. Mi Young then wiped her hands and took a step towards him.

“Look Sir Jaejoong. I know I’m dumb but I’m not stupid to fall on your trap again. I had enough humiliation. You said sorry. You got my forgiveness, done.”

“Eh?”

She took a deep breath and looked at him intently.

“I wont give you the chance to step on me again. I maybe your maid but once is enough.”

“I-I just need a friend.” He then said that made her so shocked.

“A- a friend?” she repeated, trying to digest every word.

“Yes.”

And she burst out laughing.

“Yah… what is so funny?” he asked.

“Me? You want me to be your friend?” 

“Yes.” He nodded.

“Are you drugged?” The choice of word was callous.

“I don't do drugs.”

“Then maybe you are running out of friends.”

“I have plenty of them.”

“So why are you asking me to be one.”

“The more the merrier.”

“Rubbish.” She turned serious and went back to washing again, and that time, she didn’t bother to look back even if Jaejoong was still talking to her. Rude but that was the only way to preserve her dignity.

“Huh?”

No response. She was so concentrated like she was perfecting the art of washing the dishes.

“I’m changing the rules.”

“Which one?  This house has hundreds of it.” She replied without turning.

“Rule no. 54.”

“I’m sorry. I’m not good at memorizing anything.”

“You are now allowed to use my kitchen.”

“Gee…. superb.”

“And you will now cook for me.”

“Huh?” that made her face him. Jaejoong then expected a smiling Mi Young but instead…

“Another workload?”

“Yah! I’m still the boss here.” He glared. “I have the last say in this house.”

“Yes sir.”

“But still….” He purposely hanged his statement.”

“But still what?”

“You are not allowed to enter my bedroom.”

“In your dreams!” She couldn’t help but yell and covered afterwards.

“Bwoh?”

“Don't worry. I wont even think about it.” Her heard founded crazily and sent a good amount of blood to her cheeks.

‘Oh dear… of course not. I will never enter that room again I’ve already lost the ity of my eyes…  What’s next my ears? I won’t take such risk! What is this guy thinking. He probably had gone mad.’

Jaejoong will surely turn mad if he only could hear what was going through her head.

**********************************************************************

Finally schools out and that means I’m free from Theses….. Exams….. Etc for the rest of my life…. Well except for my board exam coming this August but it’s still to far to think about it or maybe not… I may take masters study in the future…

So I’m back to writing and I miss doing it. I was in the middle of my defense and all I could think was this fic… thinking of ways to improve it… gladly I pass that excruciating time of my life as a student…. I realized that this fic actually went under a semi hiatus… sorry for keeping you waiting… I will now update as often as I could since I’m free!!! Yah!!!! Free from school stuff!!!

I miss you all.. please send some love….

Comments… suggestions and violent reactions are loved….

Silent readers…. Please comment even just for once…. It will surely be appreciated….

Love yah all!!!

aejae22

BY FATE

Jaejoong suddenly felt his cheeks burned and his heart flicked.

“Y-you’re thinking about me?”

“Of course.” She said bluntly. It was amazing that she could actually say those kinds of words to him. It was as if Jaejoong mixed something to her food that gave her the boldness but in fact Jae put nothing.

“Everyday, I think about facing you without worrying that you might get angry again. Because honestly. It’s very tiring when you boss is always hot under his sleeves.

Sometimes you just need to distance yourself from people. If they care, they’ll notice. If they don’t, you know where you stand