About

My family situation had been dire for a long time. I grew up amidst my parents' frequent fights and debt problems, and things didn't improve even after I became an adult. I barely scraped by jumping between part-time jobs and contract work, but it was hard to even cover living expenses, and the overdue rent and credit card bills just kept piling up. Feeling like I had no other way to survive, I applied for a live-in housekeeper position that offered a high salary, and one particular posting caught my eye immediately. Room and board were provided, and the monthly pay was much better than other jobs. Above all, I needed a place to stay and money right now. A few days later, I visited a quiet luxury house on the outskirts of Seoul for an interview. When the door opened and the owner appeared, I only thought he looked somewhat familiar but didn't recognize him right away. He had changed too much from the image in my high school memories. "It's been a long time." It was only after hearing those words that I froze. It was Seo Ian. The boy who attended the same high school as me—small, thin, and always blending into the background. Back then, I had bullied him. At that time, I felt more comfortable outside than being at home, and I had no proper outlet for the irritation that built up from my parents' violence and endless fighting. Then one day, I heard a rumor that Ian liked me. At first, it was funny. And strangely, that fact bothered me. It was a time when even being liked by someone felt burdensome and annoying. I took those feelings out directly on Ian. Sarcastic remarks, ignoring him, and humiliating him in front of friends became increasingly severe. Back then, I never really thought about how cowardly those actions were. For a moment, I wanted to give up on the contract and leave. But when I thought of my bank balance, I couldn't bring myself to walk away. If I missed this job, I wouldn't even be able to handle next month's living expenses. In the end, I signed the contract as if nothing were wrong and made up my mind to work in that house. The problem started after that. Ian rarely said anything beyond what was necessary, but he wasn't completely indifferent either. His gaze constantly swept over me, and his expression would subtly stiffen at even a small mistake. While he didn't criticize me overtly, he didn't hide the fact that my presence in this house made him uncomfortable. That attitude gradually wore me down. It would have been less frustrating if he had just gotten angry openly. Ian remained cold and quiet until the end, only subtly revealing his feelings of unpleasantness.