Sunoo
Once I darted my eyes to the boy in front of me, I can't help but smile nervously and felt the familiar sensation of insecurities. Why not? The boy who caused all of the insecurities I'm feeling, with blonde hair and a lithe body, pointed nose, and was called sunshine by everyone. The sunshine of the house knows us for being sassy and not afraid to speak his mind.
He was still nineteen if you ask, while his face is soft and almost piercing-like. A smattering of freckles lay across his cheeks, -it's almost visible- only adding to the fairy-foxy impression. Foxy-like eyes blink at me as if imitating my action, almost as if in frustration. He’s piercing. It’s kind of infuriating. I closed my eyes and sighed softly, the boy in front of me do the same. Why he's imitating me? Because it's me.
I stared at my reflection once again. Why I'm feeling so insecure about myself?
Because they can't like me as what I am! They only like me because I have this angelic-fairy-like face. Everyone thinks of me as innocent and fragile which is true but that doesn't count! I'm not weak! And I can prove that right now! Do they think I'm still a five-year-old child that needed care and protection? I'm already a grown-up adult now with so much experience in life. I'm already done in my elementary but not in college yet and now I have to prove to them that I can live on my own without their help. I'm still nineteen but my thoughts are already twenty-five and matured enough. I'm not like the other young adults who always idle around while playing on their mobile phones or so flirting with someone else.
As I said, I'm a grown boy now.
I squeezed the flier on my hands while glaring at myself through the mirror. Suddenly, the door swung open and one guy with girl-like features enters. He looked like a girl with his long hair but the fact that he's a guy is visible. Another guy just went in worry while looking at the guy who just went in.
"Ya! I told you already, working in that kind of place is dangerous!" The boy said but the other one only rolled his eyes before placing the flier on the sink to wash his hands.
I quickly looked away, not wanting to be noticed that I was staring at them. I stared at myself again and I noticed my hair is getting a bit longer. I pushed my bangs to the side but it only went its way through my eyes. I huffed out the air before folding the flier and hid it inside my shoulder bag. My eyes landed on the flier the pretty guy just placed and notice that it was the same paper as mine. Wait, he wanted to apply in there too?
"Can you listen to me just this once? Going there is suicidal! My mom work in that house already before!"
I secretly looked at them while zipping up my bag. I start to doubt why this boy is so worried about his boyfriend going to that place and working there. I saw the pretty guy's face turn to his boyfriend with a sour look.
"I'm committing suicide. I'm sick of you! I'm sick of all of you!" He suddenly shouted causing me to slightly jump in shock. "You only cared for me, love me because of my face! Not just who I am! Can't you see that I want to live alone without you all! Why can't you understand that!"
I nodded for some reason. This guy is just the same as me. Tired of those people who only love us because we have the face not because this is us. I huffed in annoyance and decided to walk past them to get out of the bathroom. As I passed them I heard what they arguing one last time.
"Ren...please don't be like this."
"Let me be Min! I'm begging you..."
Another sighed again once I was finally outside of the tension. I walked back to where I leave before and took the fliers. The line is still long and hasn't moved forward yet. I sat where I was seating before and read the article on my hands. They hiring maids and if we want to apply just line up here. There's no age limit but it's too obvious that they only hiring young adults like my age or much younger than me. This is the perfect job for the kids like me. For the kids who wanted to experience what adults do.
My head furrowed when I read the last sentence on the edge of the paper.
'No pretty faces if you're not a girl.'
Seriously? What kind of work are they capable of doing so? But the good thing about this job is how high the workers' salary was. It's almost half of a million. I think the owner is very much rich--I yelp in pain when someone suddenly yanked my arm and force me to get up. I found myself being taken away from the line and towards the near cafe inside of this mall. I wince again when he pushed me down on the bench before standing in front of me. I blink in shock. That was fast.
"Aren't you crazy Sunie? Instead of studying," he said while glaring at me. "here you are."
I blinked again before finally realizing that I've been pulled away from the longest line in my life and now, I was face to face with this jerk again. Did I look upon him while him? Looking down on me with both hands on his waist like an angry mother. I smiled at him because I know my smile is his weakness.
"No. That won't be useful to me now Sunie." Jinki said with pouty lips, instead I'm the one who has the right to pout.
"Where's the word Hyung Jinki?" I asked cutely and coo in his sullen reaction.
Jinki isn't a treat for me. For me, he's the only one who accepted me as who am I. He loves me wholeheartedly not because of my face but my personality. For me, we're not boyfriends but more like brothers, but Jinki is saying otherwise. He's one year younger than me but he acted like my older brother. He only glared at me but instead of getting upset about it, I found it adorable. I hate someone glaring at me but when it's Jinki, I only laugh it off and coo him.
"Do I need to respect you while you can't respect me? I won't call you Hyung!" He hissed before looking away but not seconds ago, he looked back at me again. Noticing the flier I was holding. He suddenly snatched it from my hands. I cursed silently for not taking my guard up.
"Are you going to apply as a maid? You already out of your mind." He said sound upset. "Is this the reason why you skipped school? The hyungs will probably spank you in the butt."
"I don't care. I want to prove the hyungs and to you that I can handle myself and I can live without your care."
"Seriously? Is that how orphans behave? For me, no..for us...you're still a child! Our child--"
Before Jinki finished that silly words again, I quickly stop him from waving my both hands in front of him. "Really? Stop being dramatic! I'm older than you, so how can I be your child?"
"You're delicate, innocent and...thin-small--"
I stopped him again. I know he's bigger than me, taller than me, his hands were much bigger than mine and I'm just like Jin Hyung. Very delicate and small but that doesn't mean they have to keep babying us.
"I know all the boys in the dorm are looking at me just like you look at me. But really...stop acting weird. That's gross." I said in disgust and he only ruffled my hair as if trying to kid me again. Damn this giant.
I hit his hand away from my head. "We cared so much for you Sunie."
I hissed that line. Why. Whenever I heard that it sounds so familiar as if someone keeps saying that to me before. Not just one but I guess...I don't know. I know that's familiar but I don't think it's important to remember. "I know and I appreciate that but can you stop? And you know the boys only cared for me because of my features and only you the one who cared about me." I heartedly said, sounding serious this time.
"I'm sorry Sunie if I upset you but I don't think I will let you work as a maid. Who knows what kind of owners they are? What if they're a bad person and they'll hurt you? Oh my goodness! I'm so worried about you!"
"It's fine," I assured him, standing and walking to him. I held his hands. "I can't lend on you anymore. I want to lend myself. I want to provide my own will, work hard for it. Prove anyone that I can live with my own. I hope you can understand what I mean."
Jinki sadly smiled and hug me. I can't help but smile too. I know he only worried about me but I need to do it. I had to do it to survive in my poverty. I can't let them be or Jinki spend money for me because I know at the end they'll use it to take advantage of me. My sister Chaewon experience that already and she told me not to accept anyone's money perhaps if it's an emergency.
"Yeah...I know but I'm worried too Hyung. I have a bad feeling about this." He slightly pulled me but did not break the hug and showed me the flier he took from me. "Few people are scared whenever they see these fliers and you think this poster is kind of old?"
"Kind of?" I replied, not sure. Jinki flip the paper and we noticed something on the back. The back was drawn with paper bags with small two dots to where the eyes could be and numbers on top. From below on the drawing, there's something written like...' Don't show your face.'
I and Jinki looked at each other. I feel sudden chills run down in my entire body. I shivered and snatched back the poster. This sure is creepy but maybe they did this on purpose just for...fun? You know, we are kids after all.
"I'm scared for you." He whispered in my ear and I could feel his warm breath against my skin. I pulled him away before tucking the paper inside of my bag.
"Don't be. It's just a drawing. It's nothing." I tried to lighten the mood but the chills are still in my body and Jinki doesn't look so convincing at all. His eyes still screaming in worry. I smiled at him and tap his shoulder. "For now...I need to line up."
Jinki didn't bother me after that and that's good. My head furrowed and annoyance is eating me. Until now the line hasn't moved forward yet. How long does this line stay like this? I noticed the people were begun to argue among themselves, bad-mouthing the conductor of how slow whoever they were. I checked the flier again, read every detail until I notice the telephone number. In the end, I decided to go home.
Once I arrive home, Jin swung the door with a strong force. I almost got hit but I manage to dodge. Jin went outside with displeased flustered on his face. From behind him, there's Taekyeon Hyung and tried to grab Jin but he only runs away. Taekyeon immediately followed him from behind while calling his name. I watched them in surprise. What was that? I know Taekyeon has feelings for Jin but Hyung doesn't like him. 90's love...
I sighed and turned around to go inside. I hurriedly run to my room, grabbing my phone and the flier. I copied the number and began dialing. After, maybe five rings they finally answered my calls.
I waited for the response but I could only hear it static and scrapping against the metal. I checked the phone but it hasn't ended yet. I put it back on my ear and just in time the person on the other line spoke.
"Yes?" The voice from the other line asked that gives me the sudden chills down my spine. His voice is harsh and a bit horse like he just finish crying?
I didn't reply quickly. I'm still caught up in his voice. Why the voice is kind of familiar? Like I heard it before but I can't remember when.
I was about to answer but a sudden loud thud from the other line paused me. I waited for about minutes before someone finally spoke from the other line but this time, it was a girl.
"Sorry for the disturbance. Yes? What is that?"
My head furrowed, disturbance? Do I disturb her or the one who answered the call? And why is she answering the phone now? Where's that voice go? What's the loud noise earlier? What happened? I want to ask those questions but I have no right to ask. I called this number because I don't want to fill in that line again.
"Uhm...I...I want...to apply as a maid? I can't find any jobs that..." I don't know what to answer and I kind of a little bit nervous. "...and also...to provide my tuition."
"Oh! How youthful. You hadn't fill in the line?"
"I fill but the line is--" I was cut when I heard her laugh from the other line. She's laughing like crazy.
"You called us and that's the wise decision! You aren't toys so...meet me tomorrow. I'll send you the address." And the call ended with a static. I pulled the phone from my ear and stared at the screen. What was that?
My phone vibrated from my hand and I look down at the screen. She just send the address.
-
My conductor was creepily smiling at me. She was just around 30's maybe and firmly as she spoke with the waiters asking our orders, laughing and chatting about a topic I didn't care for. She seemed to flirt with the waiter and it's obvious that the waiter likes it. She was a pretty woman indeed; slim, short, thin brown hair that stopped at her chin, dark eyes, and a deep burgundy swab of thick lipstick on her small lips. She smelled profusely of cigarette smoke. But the weird thing is that she's wearing a skirt and button-up shirt. One last flirty word and she finally turn her attention to my bio. She holds it.
"You're still in your second year of college. You live in Australia and since your new parents adopted you, they bring you here with them? How interesting. Aren't you Korean too?" She said while reading my bio. "So, what are you capable of?"
That caught me off guard. I don't know much about interviews but let's just answer her questions wisely. "I-I...can cook? I can bake--" I stop when she suddenly laughed at me.
"Sorry but we already have a cook and the masters don't like cookies or cakes. They hate sweets."
I nodded. "Sorry...but I can clean--"
"Can you pick up dirt or make the mansion look miserable?"
I was taken aback by her unexpected question. What kind of question is that? And how can I answer it? I looked at her but she only looking at me like she was waiting for me to answer her question. She looked impatient. "Sorry?" That's the only word I can say.
"Masters doesn't like how you act in front of me. If we asked you a question you must say it fast!" She immediately paused, sighing before wearing her cheery smile. "Now...tell me...what is your real name?"
What? Is she asking my full name? Didn't I write it down on my bio already? She didn't read it? Just when I realized that her iris is not in the exact place where it should be. The left iris was slightly jetted on the edge of her eyes while the right iris is on the other side. Is she blind? But it doesn't look like it. Maybe her vision is a bit blurry.
"Lee Sunoo." I answered politely but did not mention my real name. I don't trust this woman. She's freaking me out. I noticed, she suddenly flinch as if she was shocked. Her smile goes even wider than it will rip the edges of her mouth.
"What a wonderful name you have, Lee Sunoo. I bet you hate being called by your real name."
I was stunned for a minute. How did she know what I was thinking? Did she read it? She suddenly crumpled my bio before throwing it in the near bin. The fuck is that? I spend money on that!
"Anyway...you hired. Come on, follow me. You'll be starting by tomorrow and forget about your freedom and your life here."
I looked at her in question. What the fuck is she saying? Before I could answer, she stood up and just when I saw how tall she is. She's taller than me or Jinki. She's maybe, seven feet tall? I yelp when she suddenly grabs my arm before dragging me outside, towards her car. She opened the door and throw me inside. Wait, where is she taking me?
"Where are you taking me?!" I asked in a panic, my heart start to race in fear. She put the key into ignition as she began to drive fast. The further she drove, the more I wished I had put my seatbelt on. My hands are trembling while searching for a seatbelt but I'll quickly hold onto the dashboard as she would be dangerously close to one side or the other, and every time a car would honk at her for her lack of driving skills, she would scream and cuss and honk back. I looked at her in fear and I could see the face of a creepy woman in the movies. She would drive with a wide smile that almost broke his cheek skin and his cheekbones. As his eyes widened that they almost popped out. I squeezed the strap of my bag, hoping to be safe and make it alive.
Before I knew it, we were already outside of the city; cruising the silent streets with rocky paths and wide fields. I sat there in silence, not once asking the same question. I suddenly felt scared because of this woman. I remember what Jinki said, I can't help but clench my hands. What if Jinki is right? What if they were right? Working whatever it was is like bringing myself in my own grave? Is this a suicide?
I notice a tree with a signboard linked on it, from the board there was Gensaeng Town written on it. Gensaeng? Why I didn't hear it before? But I know a little thing about the town called Gensaeng Town on the Internet.
The car ride out to the sleepy little town of Gensaeng. It's long and bumpy, too jarring for me to be calm. It’s tucked in the valley of two small mountains and fairly isolated, a small community of roughly fifty people; farmers, mostly, but their numbers have been dwindling lately. From the rumors, it is the murder that kept increasing in the two towns.
The woman will cuss again, spitting the ground and saying bad things about rocky paths. I sighed and stared out the window. I can see the mountains with small villages in them. Sheep running alongside in the greenery grass and cows standing in rest position, others were eating.
It's noon when we arrive at the house. I'm not quite sure if this is the right idea. Maybe I take back my words from Jinki and then go find another job?
I stared at the mansion in uneasy feeling. Two to three stories of dark stone and brick surrounded the mansion. It was old. Very old mansion. It looked like it was made in the late 70s. The windows were huge and they each held curtains the color of red velvet. Although the house looked nice, the yard spoke otherwise. Dozens of paper junks and bottled of an old expensive beer scattered the driveway, smashed glass visible from right under the passenger window. Where am I? What is this place and why here?
I was about to open my mouth to take back this job but she stop the car with a jerk. She turned to me with a smile before opening her door. "You must follow me."
Before I could even speak, she grab my arm and drag me outside through the driver's door. I tried to struggle from her tight grip but she's only digging her nails through my flesh. I hissed in pain. The fuck is wrong with this woman?
We went through the back door instead of on the entrance. She opened the door and I was shocked to find three people in the kitchen, wiping the dirt or more like keeping the whole kitchen, even more, looking miserable. But the real reason I was shocked is why are they wearing a paper bag with two small holes on it with numbers on the top. They wearing simple white polo without a collar that is tucked in their pants. An ankle-length short with big two belts around their waist. There's a belt strap up to their shoulder down to their abdomen like jumper pants but in a different way of style. They aren't wearing any shoes and I can see cuts and bruise on their skin. They were all dirty and haven't taken a shower in years even the paper bag they wearing is all dirty and drains blood all over it. One thing I noticed, they are all thin and malnourished. Something like they hadn't eaten properly or didn't eat in years.
"Now...would you call the whole maids, number five?" The woman said as she pulled me in the middle of the kitchen and made me stand there uneasy.
The number five bowed before walking away. I jump in shock when the woman suddenly took my bag. I was too caught off guard that I haven't gotten my bag back and let the woman give it to one of the maids. Telling them to get rid of it off. The heck?! The maid who have my bag politely obeyed what the woman said. I open my mouth to ask the woman to give my bag back but the strong stench causes me to gag instead. It's so horrible, the smell of rotten flesh and drain blood. I quickly covered my mouth. That's all I could smell. I'd often try not to breathe through my nose to block the smell but it didn't work, it's too strong. The smell suffocated me, enveloping me in a cloud that choked me. I hated the stench, and now that I will be more like living with it every day, I wouldn't doubt that I would lose all sense of smell which I don't want to happen.
One of the maids came in, holding a dead rat. They just throw it somewhere in the house instead of in the bin. The maids are making the whole house smelly and dirty. It's seemed like the alternate of cleaning the house. I swallowed uneasily and watched as nine maids with paper bags in the head gathered in the kitchen. Behind the woman, staying as close to each other as possible. I don't know what are they looking but it's obvious that they all looking at me. Somehow I'm glad that they all wearing a mask if not, it will be embarrassing if I saw their reaction. My ears perked once I heard a little gasp from one of the maids.
Why are they gasping for?