one in a million ¦ twice oneshots.

EP 007 | MINA

(  MISTRESS MYOI.  )

"YN, Mistress Myoi wishes to see you." For a few more seconds, my irises were glued to the moving waves on which we sailed a large steamer, before I turned to Sana and nodded silently. "Already on my way," I murmured absently, moving away from the railing where I had been standing with other people who were strangers to me, and together we had watched the swell.

This was my first time on the high seas; and I had only Myoi Mina to thank for this trip, for whom I took the escort position for a whole six months (though I was not the only one). Sana was her faithful chambermaid, without whom she would not begin a voyage whose duration stretched over a day. Next to her was Momo, who had not served Mina for long, but seemed very confident. Otherwise, Mina had brought two of her men for safety.

I was not wrapped up in the tasks of helping Mina dress, keeping her chamber clean, or any of the other activities that Sana or Momo had to perform; instead, I made my living by Mina enjoying my company and by delivering entertainment of various kinds to her. Whether I had to read to her from one of the Chinese-translated books or provide her with information about our destination, get into the hot tub with her (which only first-class guests were allowed to enjoy), or otherwise.

My monthly salary was ¥35,809.59, which was not a small amount of money at the time, but easily earned. Especially since Mina wasn't thrifty with the money she threw at you as if it were ordinary paper and not nearly as precious. I would never say it out loud, but I took the extra money as pain money - because although Mina initially came across as really nice (and I was also convinced that she could be nice), her constant mood swings were exhausting. It was nerve-wracking to be buried under a wave of anger that I hadn't triggered.

As much as I was allowed, I hurried to arrive at Mina's room before my knuckles tapped feather-lightly against the cedar and I leaned my ear against the door, waiting, to better perceive her "come in."

It was loud and clear, her undertone impatient, yet resonating with something good-humored. Inwardly I sighed with relief, at least lowering the likelihood of the next wave of anger threatening to knock my socks off.

Without delaying it any further, I quietly pushed open the door and entered. Turning my body toward Mina, my eyes rested on her body wrapped in expensive clothes as I carefully pushed the door shut with my foot, then started moving again.

Here in the cabin, the sound of the engines was almost inaudible, only a slight vibration reminding me that deep below us in the engine room, the boilers were glowing and the turbines were rattling. Even the roar of the sea only penetrated the luxury rooms in a muffled way, only the wind howled now and then along the windows, leaving small traces and trying to make out what was happening in the rooms.

"There you are at last, YN. Sit down, sweetheart." Without hesitation, I took a seat next to Mina on the couch while her eyes roamed all over my body. Last time, I ended up winning two new outfits because Mina didn't like the way I dressed. It didn't escape me how snivelling she seemed, all bleak and dreary. Different from her usual appearance, so full of pride and joy. Probably renewed laments had bitten into her bones, just waiting to be carried to the light of truth, to be able to swim a little in the lake of pity.

Nothing new. She had already had me come over once, when she sank dramatically into her couch, lamenting how she couldn't have slept a wink, before telling me something about her horrible former love life and taking comfort in my meaningless words, muttered only to reassure her.

"Tell me something nice, sweetheart. Maybe about your childhood?" She reached for an empty glass and a wine bottle as I rummaged around in my memories. Good memories of my childhood I had plenty, suddenly they just seemed swept away; that happened every time someone asked me to share them.

"You don't mind a glass of wine, do you?" Mechanically, I shook my head as my lips twisted into a line.

"Hyunjin told me you grew up with three brothers," she let me know and I nodded in affirmation. Hyunjin was the guy who had placed the ad on this job and interviewed me. "That's right. I have an older brother and a younger brother. We grew up together in the countryside in a manor house. I got along best with my younger brother Felix. We often got into mischief together." At the thought of Felix I smiled. Since the manor house had to be sold due to debts, he had settled in the outskirts of Seoul and taken up a branch of art. Just as I had always recommended to him.

Mina held out the wine glass to me with a pointed smile. "This is the best wine from the deck, sweetheart. Now tell me more. What mischief have you been up to? Have you been caught?" She gracefully crossed her legs while not taking her eyes off me for a second - before leaning forward slightly and brushing a small strand of hair from my forehead with her free hand. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up and I paused briefly before taking a small sip of the red wine. This was something I had to get used to. Mina did not shy away from touch and could get very touchy.

Lips twisted into a slight grin, I told her about various stories; some I added a little to embellish them better, while others were entirely made up, but how would Mina know that, laughing to herself?

"Really amusing," she brought out between her not particularly ladylike laughter before taking another sip of her wine. "Darling, your lips look so dry and pale. Wait, I've got some lip gloss here, it'll look so much better." Without looking, she placed the glass on the table with such certainty that envy stirred within me. Never would I be so sure to blindly take such a risk when the wine might tip onto the papers that lay scattered queerly across the table. Mina, on the other hand, didn't care in the slightest and instead searched among empty flapper boxes and articles of clothing, looking for the cosmetic item she wanted.

"Don't stop talking, YN. Keep talking. Tell me more about yourself. Or wait- Why don't you read me something from one of those Chinese books?" She pointed at the bottom tier of the round glass table and I fished out the closest book I could grab. My eyes scanned the cover, which was kept quite minimal.

"Well there it is, the lipstick!" Before I could even open the book, Mina pushed it down and clasped my chin with her hand. "Hold still, darling," she whispered as her red-painted lips were suddenly very close to me and I could feel her breath on my skin. Obediently, I indicated a small nod, which made her grin in amusement as she turned up the lip gloss and carefully applied the cold stuff to my lips.

"Much better already," she murmured, distancing herself again from my body, which she left clad in goosebumps. Taking a deep breath, I stared back down at the book. This woman was driving me crazy; and my body was a miserable traitor. Somehow, my mistress was giving me soft knees and pink cheeks; all against my will.

"Go ahead, sweetheart," Mina reported from the side within seconds, leaning against the couch and watching me only out of the corner of her eye, so I quickly collected myself and delivered her a brief description from the book without getting any feedback. I was a little unsettled by this fact, but I tried not to show it outright, preferring to occupy my thoughts with the first page.

Looking up, I saw Mina closing her eyes with pleasure and listening only to my voice. Tiredness gradually appeared on her young face.

"You have such a pleasant voice, darling. I could listen to you read for hours. Go on." A quick wave of her hand and I found myself back reading the words out loud.

So that Mina could slowly reach the land of dreams.