Diamond Dust - 14

I was genuinely happy about their offer. Although I had distanced myself from painting for a long time, working surrounded by artwork seemed like a great alternative.

But there was another reason why I couldn’t just happily accept the offer.

“Do you think the CEO… wouldn’t like me joining?”

“There’s nothing to like or dislike. You’re just helping out temporarily. The man has his ups and downs in life, so he finds it hard to trust people easily. But once you get to know him, he’s friendly toward you. He trusts his instincts a lot, probably because he’s a Golden Alpha. If he didn’t like you, he wouldn’t have let you into Phantom in the first place. And if he really didn’t like you, why would he ask the manager about you?”

“……”

Juhan seemed to think my stiff expression was due to discomfort, so he quickly corrected himself.

“Oh, I didn’t mean he was prying… It was more like he was curious if you majored in art or something like that. The conversation you had with Mr. Inwoo about the art was quite a topic among us for a while. Don’t take it the wrong way. I was there, and I can assure you, there was no malice in his questions.”

It wasn’t that I felt bad. Although I felt a little shaken, like waves nudging my feet, it wasn’t discomfort. I was clumsy at expressing my emotions in words, but I tried my best to explain that I wasn’t upset, hoping my sincerity would reach them.

“Even if you don’t work at Phantom, let’s still meet up sometimes. It seems Yuni really likes you, which is rare.”

“You just like him because he’s good-looking.”

“Every time I meet the CEO, he keeps talking about how we should hire you. He’s such a tsundere. Get used to it, Ihyun.”

That day, for the first time, I had three beers. Hearing about their not-so-light past made me feel closer and more comfortable with them than before. The vague restlessness also made me drink faster than usual.

I had to rest twice while climbing the stairs to my apartment. When I looked at the Seoul nightscape from the stairs, it no longer reminded me of squid fishing boats at the harbor.

■ ■ ■

Almond cereal, a liter of milk, a set of plain yogurt, and lastly, cranberry juice went into the basket before I headed to the checkout. I noticed that melons were already on sale.

Even though it was possible to eat watermelon in the middle of winter and tangerines in the middle of summer, melons on a green felt-covered stand were definitely seasonal, even if they were harvested a bit early.

I picked one up and brought it close to my nose; it smelled quite sweet. If I peeled it, cut it into bite-sized pieces, and put it in the refrigerator, it would be easy to serve.

Shopping wasn’t included in my duties at the teacher’s house, but if I didn’t buy these kinds of things, their eating habits would get worse. So, about once a week, I’d buy juice, milk, fruit, cereal, and bread to keep the pantry stocked. If I knew how to cook, I’d have liked to prepare simple meals, but the only things I could make were ramen and fried eggs.

The teacher said I didn’t have to shop since delivery services were so convenient nowadays, but it seemed that they appreciated the effort I put into it, as they always ate what I brought. It wasn’t difficult, and they paid generously, so I wanted to be of help in any way I could.

After picking up some sandwiches and bread from the bakery across from the checkout, I stepped outside into the strong sunlight. I shaded my eyes with my hand for a moment to adjust to the brightness before walking.

The teacher’s house was in a luxury apartment with a view of the Han River, but it was a small complex with only two buildings, so there were no shops. The large apartment complex next door had a small supermarket, but I preferred to shop at the big mart, which was a ten-minute walk away, before heading to work.

“Ihyun!”

I had just entered the alley leading from the crosswalk to the apartment when someone called my name. I turned instinctively toward the voice and saw the teacher smiling at me from the passenger seat of a sleek white SUV. I smiled back and walked toward the car, but then I noticed the Phantom CEO sitting in the driver’s seat.

Although I hadn’t done anything wrong, my heart skipped a beat.

“You don’t have to do the shopping. It looks heavy.”

“It’s not much.”

“Get in. Let’s go up together.”

While I hesitated, another car was trying to enter the alley. It didn’t seem right to decline the offer, so I got into the back seat. As soon as I closed the door, the car smoothly glided towards the Han River, where the apartment was located.

“There was a minor accident while I was on my way to work this morning. The car’s in the shop now, and they said it’ll take about a week to fix. So I’m catching a ride home with Director Ryu.”

“An… an accident?”

Hearing the panic in my voice, the teacher turned to me with a reassuring smile.

“Oh, yes. It was just a small fender bender, and I’m perfectly fine.”

“Small or big, what difference does it make? I know this one wasn’t your fault, but this is how many accidents now? Try thinking about what it’s like to get these calls every few months.”

Since I hadn’t scheduled any moving jobs today, I left earlier than usual for this side of town. I was already curious about the early departure, but now, knowing about the accident—even if there were no injuries—I couldn’t help but agree with the Phantom director’s concerns.

I tried to calm my trembling hands by pulling the eco bag I was using for groceries onto my lap and hugging it tightly.

“Yes, yes, I’m sorry. I’m a hundred times sorry for worrying you.”

“I keep telling you your driving style is too aggressive.”

“Director Ryu, let’s drop the lecture about my driving and get back to talking about Sushu, okay?”

The teacher tried to change the subject quickly, but it seemed the director was genuinely upset. His voice had an emotional tone I hadn’t heard before.

“If you don’t like being nagged, then change your driving style. If you can’t break the habit, I’ll hire a driver for you.”

“You drive yourself, too, but you want me to ride in a chauffeur-driven car? What would people say?”

“What do you care what people say? Will they take responsibility for Phantom if something happens to you?”

“Did you hear that, Ihyun? Isn’t this what they call ‘tsundere’?” the teacher asked, looking back at me in the rearview mirror. It wasn’t really a question expecting an answer.

“If you’re worried about me getting hurt, just say so. Don’t make excuses about Phantom.”

The teacher continued with light-hearted banter, trying to lift the mood. As he smoothly turned the car towards the entrance of the apartment’s underground parking, the director’s voice, which had been slightly raised, dropped back to a low tone.

“If you know that well, then please be careful.”

His voice was laced with a sigh, as if he was exhaling a breath that could disappear into thin air at any moment. Anyone could tell his concern was genuine, not just nagging.

The teacher didn’t turn around this time, but I could tell from the angle of his face that he was wearing a smile that was both apologetic and thankful.

The indifferent and cocky attitude he showed towards the man in the passenger seat, the businesslike politeness he displayed towards clients at parties, and the hostility he directed at me as an outsider—those were the sides of him I had known. I had imagined he was a playful and kind boss to the staff at Phantom, but I hadn’t expected him to be someone who could worry about someone so anxiously, almost protectively.

But of course, that’s how it is. Unless blue blood like his eyes flowed through his veins, even someone who seems indifferent to everyone else would naturally worry about those they care for deeply. That’s how it’s supposed to be.

When we got out of the underground parking lot, the air felt heavy. No one else seemed to notice, but I felt uneasy about missing the opportunity to properly greet the director.

As he stepped out of the driver’s seat and walked around to the front of the car, our eyes met for the first time, and I greeted him quietly with a “Hello.” He responded with a slight nod.

Despite what Juhan had said about him ‘digging into’ me, those pale blue eyes still seemed completely uninterested in me.

To him, I was just a temporary worker at Phantom and now a housekeeper at the teacher’s place. He wasn’t the type to go out of his way to make an effort to be friendly or offer warm words unless necessary.

I had no reason to feel bad about his indifference. In fact, I preferred it to forced politeness or small talk, which I found uncomfortable.

As soon as we arrived at the house, the two of them started discussing work at the kitchen table, and I got started on my own tasks.

To give them privacy, I began cleaning the four rooms and two bathrooms.

As I went back and forth through the rooms, I couldn’t help but overhear bits of their conversation. From what I could piece together, one of Phantom’s resident artists was planning a solo exhibition. The director had visited the artist’s studio today and seemed eager to move the exhibition date up.

His voice carried a different kind of excitement compared to the way he worried about the teacher’s wild driving habits.

If I heard correctly, the artist’s name was ‘Sushu.’ Whenever he said the word ‘Sushu,’ the sweet-sounding name contrasted oddly with his slightly husky, low voice, creating a strange, unfamiliar sensation. It was like a record with a part that suddenly skips, or like watching a big man lean down to hug and smother a poodle with kisses.

It might sound like it didn’t suit him, but rather than being off-putting, it was intriguing and fresh.

Sushu. I wondered what kind of paintings an artist with that name would create. It was probably a pseudonym, but it piqued my curiosity.

“Are you really planning to let him move in?”

I was cleaning the bathroom near the living room when I paused to scrub the tub, and through the tiles, I could faintly hear his voice. It wasn’t loud enough to catch every word, but I could get the gist of the conversation.

“It’s not certain yet, but it seems likely. It took some convincing.”

“You say he’s moving in as a housekeeper, but it’s really like having a stranger living with you.”

“Stranger? I taught him years ago.”

“Oh, ten years ago?”

“Do you have to put it that way? I wish you’d stop.”

“How can you be sure nothing will happen when you’re letting a man move in with you? Even a guy who seems fine can turn out to be dangerous.”

“Then we should kick you out first. You’re a man too, aren’t you?”

“Are you comparing me to him?”

If he’s not like me, then what exactly is he to Teacher?