Chapter 8: Yoo Ji-Min Returns

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A week had passed and Saku couldn’t be happier… Ji-Hoon had settled the fan-girls’ attacks and both of her jobs were paying her an acceptable amount. She was slowly making her way back onto her feet and she felt proud. Tsuyoi had left a little while ago but promised to visit again with a bouquet of red roses for Saku before his departure… much to Kim Ji-Hoon’s displeasure she put them in a vase on the table, but he voiced nothing…

-Saku was humming a song by Baddobōizu while preparing to cook dinner for when Ji-Hoon arrived home from practice

-Hyun-Woo was helping Seo-Hyun with her homework

-Honjaui was bothering Saku for table food

- The house was in order and clean: A job well done by Saku

“Hm… I have to start looking for an apartment soon… now that I’ve saved up a generous amount of money from both jobs I can actually afford one…”

-As Saku continued to cook, she heard a knock from the front door

-Setting the stove on low, Saku cautiously made her way to the front door

“Ji-Hoon isn’t supposed to be back until 8… it is only 7:30 right now…”

-Opening the door, Saku greeted a middle-aged woman with a smile

The woman had medium length hair with a mixture of reds and browns styled in a bob. Her hazel eyes were full of exhaustion but also held a touch of curiosity and surprise. She observed Saku’s appearance before offering a shy smile…

-The woman shuffled her feet slightly

“I don’t believe I am at the wrong house, but I do not recall a woman living in this home.”

-Saku blushed, looking down at her slightly formal attire which she wore for an interview for an apartment that she hadn’t changed out of yet

-Saku bowed slightly in respect to the woman

“Um… well, it all depends on who you are looking for…”

“A young man… and two children…?”

-Saku’s eyes widened

“You… you wouldn’t happen to be Kim Ji-Hoon’s aunt, would you?”

-Yoo Ji-Min nodded slightly with a smile

“So I am at the right house.”

-Saku bowed again

“Please come in! Ji-Hoon will be back soon…”

-As Yoo Ji-Min made her way inside, Saku called to the children while she made her way back to the kitchen

“Kids, there is someone here to see you!!”

-The two children immediately jumped up with squeals of excitement at the arrival of their mother

-Saku smiled as she saw Ji-Min make her way over to the kitchen

“How was your trip, Miss Yoo Ji-Min?”

“… Lovely to an extent…”

-Saku felt her face burning up as Ji-Min continued to observe her as she cooked

Saku was currently dressed in a black skirt that ended at her knees, black flats, and a white peasant blouse. Her hair was pulled back into a neat ponytail and her black and silver choker hugged her neck

-Saku cleared her throat

“That’s… great…”

-There was an awkward silence as both women observed the other

-The awkward silence finally ended with Kim Ji-Hoon’s arrival

“Saku, I’m back!”

-Saku didn’t move and it was then that Ji-Hoon entered the kitchen to find his aunt waiting for him

“Yoo Ji-Min, when did you get back?!”

-Ji-Min smirked

“A little while ago… Nephew…”

 

While Saku continued her duties in the kitchen, Yoo Ji-Min had pulled Kim Ji-Hoon into the living room for a chat…

-Ji-Hoon let out an exhausted sigh before answering his aunt’s question

“I needed a babysitter because the kids were getting too hard to control. Saku Hana was in need of help… she was searching for a place to live and I decided to let her live here if she would help me with the kids… she and I had… a little confrontation… which is how we know each other and she helped me with the kids before…”

-Ji-Min chanced a glance at Saku and looked back at Ji-Hoon

“She’s a good one… what’s her backstory?”

“Imo!!”

“You can’t blame me for wanting to know how such a lovely girl got tied in with you.”

“She was having issues… and I was kinda rude to her friend who asked me out and-”

“Kinda, or were you just an a*s to the girl?”

“… A*****e-like… so Saku confronted me and we got into a fight which ended with her getting hounded by my crazy fan-girls… after a while, I intervened… and then she started getting into all these accidents… I mean, losing her job and fainting from exhaustion… a car accident… fan girl attacks… and then she lost her house… she was staying in the park when I stepped in…”

-Yoo Ji-Min glanced over at Saku again

-Saku was just finishing up dinner and setting up the dinner table

“Miss Yoo Ji-Min, will you be staying for dinner?”

“Uh… I really don’t want to intrude, and you don’t have to be so formal Saku.”

“You wouldn’t be intruding! I’d be grateful if you ate with us.”

-Ji-Min sighed and smiled

“I guess I’ll stay, would you like some help?”

“Iie, I’m fine, you just relax. I’m almost finished anyway.”

-Yoo Ji-Min chuckled but then she turned back to her nephew

“Does she have any family to take her in? Out of the country even?”

-Ji-Hoon shook his head

“Her parents died when she was young… and she spoke of no other family… she does have a friend in college though…”

-Ji-Min glanced at Saku again

“She is a very good one… not like the other girls that fawn over you… she’s got a good head on those shoulders…”

-Kim Ji-Hoon looked over at Saku and couldn’t help but smile as he watched her set up for dinner

“… Yeah, she does.”

-Yoo Ji-Min watched her nephew with amusement in her eyes

 

“You’ve never looked at anyone like that before… It is nice to see you smiling like that… Now you just gotta drop that stubbornness personality of yours and admit it to her… before you lose her…”

 

-Saku called from where she stood

“Dinner is ready everyone!!”

-Yoo Ji-Min smiled and stood, ruffling Ji-Hoon’s hair in the process

“She sounds like your housewife!”

-Ji-Hoon blushed at the comment and watched his aunt walk away laughing

Author's Note

Imo = Aunt

Iie = No