"For the last time, I don’t need a maid!” Yunho, also known as U-know, yelled for the umpteenth time.

“Come on, bro. You got all this money, you should start living like you do,” Junsu, or Xiah replied, taking a small stroll around Yunho’s house to collect dust about the many tables and other things in his home on his index finger. “Besides, you can’t even keep this place clean, you can hardly cook for yourself, and you’re rather careless,” he added.

Yunho rolled his eyes; of all the people he got flack from about his home, he really didn’t need to hear it from Junsu.

“Come on, Yunho, you can’t knock it until you try it. Besides, she needs the work. She’s really nice, she’ll do whatever you say without back-talking, or any fuss. She’ll be good for you, Jung,” Micky stated. He didn’t like to be referred to by his real name, Yoochun. Guess there was no helping that.

“Help me out here, Hero.” Jaejoong looked up from whatever he was doing at the sound of his stage name.

“What do you expect me to do about it? She’s already here, she’s already hired. She needs the work, might as well keep her around for a little.” Damn, they talk about me like I’m not even here!

Oh, I’m Ally Mizushima, by the way. And yes, it is just Ally. Korean born half-blood; yes, I’m half Korean, half Japanese, interesting combination, right?

“Max, what do you think?” Changmin looked up; he was rather distracted as well.

“Your place is filthy, man,” he snickered. Well, good to know that I already know everyone’s name.

Yunho turned to be shaken violently by Hero, who was grasping Yunho’s arms tightly and shook him about like a ragdoll. I tried to look away, minding my own business. I couldn’t help but chuckle; Yunho’s facial expression was completely priceless.

“Just listen to us, man! Take the girl! She’ll clean your place, she’ll cook for you, she’ll do your damn chores, and she’ll even massage you for God’s sake! Just give her a job and somewhere to stay! That’s all she needs!” Hero certainly knew how to persuade, not that anyone could really say no to him. Not only was he crazy, but he was crazy cute.

“God, fine! Just let me go!” Yunho yelled, feeling rather light headed and dizzy once Hero let him go.

“You,” he said, turning to look at me, instantly capturing my attention with the deep snap in his voice, “you a good cook?”

“What did I just say, you idiot!” Hero complained, slapping Yunho upside the head before muttering other profanity-filled insults.

I rolled my eyes at him. I will admit, I do have an attitude, it will not be adjusted, and people must adapt to me, I will not adapt to them. I laughed gently, shaking my head as I looked back away from him. Usually, I was a very well behaved girl. But this guy just seemed like a snotty rich kid who thinks he’s the badass of the century. One thing’s for sure, I’ll straighten that up real quick.

“Of course I can cook, I’m a maid after all,” I replied in a very uppity manner. Hell, I had to be at least 3 or 4 years older than these guys. What the hell was I doing working for a kid?

“Make something, as soon as possible, if you would,” he ordered before turning his head to head to the main room with the rest of the group, where as I headed to the kitchen.

“Hey, I’m sorry about him, he’s a little… stressed, I guess you could say. He’ll warm up to you,” Hero said, setting his hand gently on my shoulder.

Oh, he was so cute! His eyes were so soft, looking at me with utter kindness. Why couldn’t I work for this guy instead of being stuck with that know-it-all, snotty, sonova— “Just a little advice, he loves a girl who can give superb massages,” he hinted with a slight wink as he slightly bent over to whisperingly share this tasty little morsel of information with me.

“I’m sure I can use it to my advantage, Hero. Thank you,” I said and turned to the refrigerator, which held weeks and weeks worth of food. Does this guy even know how to live? I looked through all of it, half the food was expired, extremely old and rotten, and of no use.

I grabbed my purse before heading to the door, a little envelope with some bills in it clutched tightly in my hand; it was money I had strictly saved for the market. “I’m heading to the market to get some things, I’ll be back soon,” I called out.

Hero and Max both looked at Yunho. “What?” he asked.

“You’re going to let her pay for your groceries? Have you no manners?” Hero asked, slapping him on the back of the head.

“Okay, okay! I’m going!” he called back to them before standing from the couch, proceeding to make his way towards me.

He reached into his back pocket as he approached, pulling out his wallet and he wouldn’t dare make eye-contact with me. He reached for my hand, which rested limply by my side, and I was most fortunate that I didn’t react as he grabbed it, setting a rather large bill in my hand before manually closing my fingers around it.

“Buy whatever you need, I don’t expect change,” he said. Damn, this kid was starting to lighten up already.

I bowed my head gently to him before turning to head out the door, pulling the heavy wood closed behind me and left down the set of stairs and onto the street to head towards the market. I shook my head and smiled, thinking about how my life would be living with this man.

My life in England was completely different from this. It took a while for me to understand the customs before going into business, and it was definitely hard for me to get around without a job. I was glad that I had at least made one friend in my early years of life when I lived in Korea; Jung-hye was always there for me, even as toddlers.

I had received letters from her periodically while I was away in London, until I got a cell phone at least. She texted me constantly, asking me how beautiful London was and such, and I would tell her the same thing every day. It was great, no doubt, she should have visited sometime.

I laughed at myself as I continued walking towards the market. I remember when she would call me and I would begin to speak to her in English. Though she knew a bit of English, she would always get mad and remind me that just because I lived in London, didn’t mean everyone I knew spoke English. I remember the look on her face when I showed up at her door in tattered clothes looking for somewhere to stay. I remember her reaction when I told her I was back for good. I remember how sympathetic she felt when I told her my father had died.

Jung-hye was the best friend I ever had, the best friend I will ever have. If she ever knew that I signed up to be a maid… I paused to laugh for a moment, interrupting my thoughts of my best friend, but she would for sure lecture me in the longest, most brutal way possible for getting such a job. Though, I do think that she would forget all when I told her who I was being a maid for.

Damn, how far away was this market, anyway? I knew I hadn’t been walking for long, but my feet were already starting to hurt. And with how much I would be carrying back, there was no doubt I was going to be extremely sore tonight.

I could imagine the conversation that was going on back at Jung’s place, bickering amongst the guys about a number of things, one of them probably being me. There was no doubt in my mind that Yunho was throwing a temper tantrum about having to keep me around.

But I was already hired. My six-month payment was already given to me, and it could just as easily be taken away. Though, I knew Hero would at least try his best to give me a chance.

I was very absentminded as I walked up and down each aisles, my eyes and hands picking up what I needed, but my brain not really comprehending most of it. I was glad I was able to be like this. There were a lot of things I could be thinking about, a lot of things I could be doing, and sometimes I found it creepy that my eyes and hands could work together with such minimal usage of my brain. Though, sometimes it was really irritating that I could be doing something important, and give great mind to other very insignificant things.

I looked at my watch, I had only been here for about twenty minutes and I was ready to check out. I had only bought things for tonight, and a couple more days, I would no doubt be back to the market when I had some easier way to transport things back.

“Are you finished? Or do you still have more things to pick up?”

I sighed at the sound of Micky’s sweet voice against my ear. I smiled and turned to look at him. He was a tad taller than me, but not too much, and I could at least look into his eyes without struggle.

“Well, I was finished since I didn’t have an easier way to get this stuff back to Master’s place. But if you don’t mind giving me a ride, I have some more things to pick up.”

I smiled as he smiled at me. “That’s what I’m here for,” he commented.

Having just met Micky today, and surprisingly not mobbing him like every other fan girl out there, I felt rather close to the boy. They were all kind, very friendly and welcoming towards me. The fact that they trusted me was something beyond belief, but it made me happy nonetheless.

I couldn’t help but lean forward, my forehead making contact with Micky’s shoulder and he gave me a one-armed hug, the other was currently occupied with some of the things I had picked up.

“Thanks, Micky,” I uttered against his shoulder. A deep chuckle erupted from his chest and it vibrated against my cheek, which was now pressed against his collar.

“Don’t worry about it, Ally,” he replied. I was slightly shocked when he took one of my hands, swinging our arms back and forth as we walked through the market. His hand was so warm, I was so comfortable with him and I had a impish smile on my face the entire trip.

It felt as though it didn’t last long as we began piling bags of groceries into the trunk of his car. I felt somewhat bad that he had to waste so much time with me in such a boring place, and then drive a commoner home. I ended up not using Yunho’s money. Instead, I used the money aforementioned that I had set aside.

I sat in the passenger’s seat of Micky’s car, holding the crisp bill in my pale hands and I looked over it intently. I could feel Micky’s eyes shift to look over at me and he tensed when he saw the bill.

“You didn’t use Jung’s money?” he asked me and I immediately shoved it away, looking out the window.

“I didn’t want to waste his money,” I replied shyly. Micky sighed deeply as he continued to watch the road. He inhaled a breath, as if he were going to speak, but let it out sharply in a sigh.

“You don’t have to worry about wasting Jung’s money, Ally. He’s got a lot of it, a few bills spent on groceries isn’t going to hurt him. You need the money; you’re working for a reason. I don’t want you spending the money you earn on something he can pay for, it’s not right,” Micky admitted and looked over to me. I was still looking out the window. I guess he was right. I felt like I was taking too much advantage of Jung. I was allowed to eat his food, use his appliances, and sleep in his bed. Not necessarily his bed, but a bed in his house, under his roof, that he paid for with his own money.

I was surprised that I conversed so much with Micky. And yes, this is so much. I don’t speak to very many people. Jung-hye took forever to get me to talk to her, and she was the friendliest person I’d ever met. Micky, however, he was too kind to ignore. Him, and the rest of them besides Jung, seemed to be kind and gentle people, the kind of people I would gladly get along with, and it seemed as though that’s the way it was going to be.

“He does too much for me already and I’ve only been there for a grand total of an hour. I get to eat his food, sleep in his bed, watch his TV, live under his roof. I think the least I can do is pay for groceries,” I replied.

Micky seemed to be a little irritated with my persistency and, what could be perceived as stubbornness. I don’t blame him for thinking that, it kind of was.

“So what did you guys talk about while I was gone and before you showed?” I asked. I was a little curious. Conversations with a group of guys tend to wander if a woman has just left the house. I couldn’t contain my inquiry. I felt it was a must-know.

“Nothing really, Jae was defending your case about staying with Jung. He seemed to work it out quite well. He has a thing for persuasion,” Micky stated with a slight laugh before pulling up to Yunho’s property.

I was slow to get out. However much I loved to cook, it was different now. I was being paid to do it; I had to call him Master. I wasn’t commanded to call him that, but to me it just seemed right. I wasn’t familiar at all with any of them, not that any girl really was. It was different, cooking for people I don’t even really know.

I moved to the trunk, which was already popped and Micky was pulling bags of groceries out. I put my hands on top of his, stopping him from going any farther and took the bags from his hands. “You don’t need to work. I got this,” I said.

He looked at me with soft brown eyes, looking for a reassurance and when I didn’t give it to him right away, he leaned back down to grab more bags.

“Micky,” I complained, looking at him with a gentle stare, my jaw slightly ajar.

“You’re a maid, not a slave Mizushima. You’re not treated like trash, you’re treated with respect and gratitude for the things you do. The least I can do is help you, even if you’re not mine,” Micky said, his face drawing closer to mine.

It was times like this I was happy I was able to control my blushing reaction. If that were not the case, I would certainly be blushing a dark crimson color, and Micky would no doubt tease me about it to no end, no matter if we just met today.

“Besides, I’m looking forward to dinner. I see you bought fresh fish. Your fish must be delicious,” he complimented, winking suggestively at me. I smiled back, I knew for a fact now he was just playing, and being uncannily cute while doing so.

We wasted a lot of time in the driveway, so I pushed my strength and carried the rest of the bags up to the door, but was greeted halfway by none-other-than Master himself.

“Here, let me help you with that.” His smooth voice made my insides melt as he lifted the heavy bags away from my already aching arms. He smiled serenely at me. It was gentle and calm, nothing compared to what I was dealing with earlier. He must be under Jae’s very close surveillance.

“Thanks,” I uttered shyly, not making eye contact with him. I assumed his eyes where the same melted milk chocolate color Micky’s were. Though I couldn’t imagine they’d be as warm or as welcoming as his.

I could hear the trunk of Micky’s car slam before feeling his presence behind me and I paused for a moment, looking over my shoulder to meet his smile before he encouraged me to go inside, gently pushing me along with his hand occupied with bags of food. We ambled into the kitchen and there was hardly any counter space to set the rest of it down on.

I set the groceries down on the floor, tapping my foot with my arms crossed as I debated whether to clean out the fridge first, or cook first. I could hear the noises the boy’s stomachs were making and decided it would probably be better for all of them if I cooked first.

The sun was going down, leaving a gleaming orange color to cover the kitchen, and blinding me partially before I went to close them. I shoved my hands in my pockets, feeling a sheet of paper and hearing a crinkling noise before I remembered that I still held onto Jung’s money.

I walked into the main room, noticing the boys were getting low on drinks and was going to head back to the kitchen before Yunho noticed me. “Ally,” he called.

I bit the inside of my cheek; my eyes clenched shut tightly as I turned to look at him. “Yes, Master?” I asked, bowing respectfully.

I was unsure of how to react to this man. He acted cold to me, I never got a good look at his eyes to see what was really going on, and something in my gut told me he had foul intentions. Then again, I was proven to never trust my gut, especially with Jung-hye.

“Come here for a second,” he asked, motioning for me to approach with his finger and patted the cushion on the couch next to him for me to take a seat, which I immediately did. His bill was still clutched tightly in my right hand and I didn’t dare look at him. I looked at Micky for support, who did nothing but smile sweetly at me.

I felt fingers on my jaw and was tempted to scream, but let Yunho turn my face to look at him.

This was my first chance to get a good look at his eyes, and they were softer than ever.