DAYLIGHT | taehyun

09

tw // mention of sexual assault, sexual harassment

Not very often do I find myself sitting on my bed, gawking at two books on my desk and a flannel hanging around my chair.

It's also not very often you expect both of those things to be from the person you regularly fight tooth and nail with to get the highest mark in the class. Or is it just me?

What was he trying to say? What the heck are these for?

I guess the least I could do to repay his... benevolent act of letting me borrow his flannel... is to hang it neatly somewhere, definitely not with my clothes though, and get it dry cleaned.

"Hi, Mrs. Seo," I greet her as I approach her in the living room, she was wiping the coffee table when I got there, "How are you doing?"

She stops cleaning for a minute and wipes her hands on her apron before facing me with a polite smile, "I'm well, Ms. Akira, thank you for asking. May I help you with anything?"

"Um..." I hold up the hangered flannel, "Can you do me a favor?"

"Sure, dear. What may that be?"

"If it's possible, can you please get this dry-cleaned and have it brought to school by tomorrow afternoon? Preferably before 5 PM," I hand it to her, the tone in my voice becoming slightly apologetic, "But if not, it's fine, I can do it myself on the weekend."

"No problem, Kira. I work here for a reason. I'll have it to you tomorrow." Mrs. Seo's smile was consistent throughout as she takes the piece of clothing into her own hands. "If you don't mind me asking, who does this belong to?"

"Uh... Yoweon." I lie. It seems plausible, Yoweon owns more flannels than one could imagine.

Mrs. Seo chuckles, "I've had a few chances to wash some clothes of that friend of yours, she tends to forget her stuff and leave them behind... She sometimes acts like a boy but I do know that she doesn't smell like one."

Oh damn... can't say it actually belongs to the nerd, I don't want anyone in the house getting the wrong idea... especially my father.

"Never mind, dear. I won't ask any further. Have you had dinner yet?"

"No, I'm waiting for Dad."

"I'm afraid he won't be coming home for dinner tonight, Kira. He has a seven-hour operation and another major procedure with a separate patient after. You'll starve if you choose to keep waiting for him."

Unsurprised, I pursed my lips and nodded, "Oh. Okay... Would you like to join me for dinner, Mrs. Seo?"

"You're too nice, Kira. As much as I would love to, I've already had a bite with the other housekeepers. I can cook up something for you if you want."

"Thank you, Mrs. Seo, but I'll just have whatever's left in the fridge. I only need something quick, I have to get back to studying." As well as finalizing everything for the fundraising event next week.

"Very well. I'll put this away somewhere and dry-clean it first thing in the morning."

"Thank you so much, Mrs. Seo. It's past 7 PM, you should head home to your family now."

"Don't worry about me, dear. I'll finish up the rest of my chores and head off with the other ladies. Is there anything else you need help with?"

"Nothing more. Thank you again, Mrs. Seo. I'll go ahead now!"

I did find something in the fridge, some kimchi-jjigae Dad brought home three days ago and forgot about.

The irrepressible eerie feeling of empty chairs surrounding me on our sad excuse of a dining table made me lose my appetite a little. But I'd rather push through with eating than sulkily poke at my food like that would make me feel better. There are kids out there that are my age, going to great lengths just to even afford a single cup of instant ramen, I'm lucky enough to always have food on my table and to have people like Mrs. Seo work here to make my life easier.