Daffodil's Sunshine

Chapter 9 - Blue's Insufferable Commands

Knock knock.

"Irene, could you open the door please?" Mari requested as she continued to sweep the kitchen.

"Sure," Irene complained, begrudgingly getting up from the couch. She wrapped her long blanket over her broad shoulders, trudging along as her sleepiness slowly washed away.

Irene opened the door. "Good after-"

She slammed it closed immediately after she saw the person behind the door.

"Irene, what are you doing?" Mari demanded.

"Jonathan said he'd make me get a job once he came back."

"And?"

"I don't want to get a job. I'm too lazy."

Mari rubbed her forehead. "Just open the door, Irene."

The young girl whimpered, carefully opening the door while hiding behind it.

"Irene, there's no point in hiding. You already know very well why I'm here."

Jonathan's voice may have sounded carefree, but he could be just as demanding and strict as Mari whenever necessary. His dark brown hair was neatly combed and his blue eyes were like the patterns on chinese ceramics, charming at best, ugly at worst. He was dressed in a fine navy suit, with white dress shirt underneath and a matching puff tie tied around his neck. Very fancy and proper, but that didn't make Irene forget the time he got chocolate ganache all over the kitchen's walls while making a birthday cake for Casper.

"Good afternoon, Jonathan," Mari welcomed. "I hope you decided to ignore your uncle once more."

"Did you expect anything less from me?" Jonathan retaliated, raising an eyebrow. "You know very well what our relationship with him is."

"He's no longer my father, and he is no longer your uncle. I know that," Mari proclaimed, staring right into Jonathan's warm blue eyes.

Irene yawned, interrupting their conversation. "I sure am tired. My poor, fatigued body must fall asleep more. If you excuse me-"

"Not so fast, young lady."

Irene froze.

"I didn't forget what I told you last time. Let's discuss this here and now." Jonathan sat at the kitchen table. He gestured at the seat in front of him, urging the green eyed girl to sit down.

She sat down on the kitchen table, sighing to herself. Mari took a seat right after.

"So, as we all know, Irene is more than capable of handling a job at her age," Jonathan declared. "Something simple would be best suited for her now, as it's obvious she prefers to have her education as her top priority."

Jonathan turned to Mari. "What are your thoughts?"

Mari scratched her chin in thought. "Considering how well she is at cleaning, and how terrible she is at speaking with people, I think she would be best suited as a busser."

Irene fidgeted with the tablecloth, desperately hoping this conversation would be over soon. "Where could I get a job as a busser though?

"Maybe in a nearby restaurant?" Jonathan suggested.

Mari grinned. "Remember the restaurant Areum worked at?"

Irene perked up. "What about it?"

"They're actually looking for employees right now. You see, Areum was taking on more jobs than she was supposed to due to lack of employees, and as a result of her leaving, they've been scrambling even more. So I'm sure that as long as you're a decent worker, you'd get paid a decent amount."