Serendipity

Chapter Eight

Jennifer's POV

That evening, after coming back from Ateez's enthralling showcase for their latest album and much-awaited comeback, I found myself completely drained. Deciding to freshen up, I took a revitalizing shower and changed into cozy pajamas, preparing myself for a good night's sleep. However, my mind was incessantly preoccupied with thoughts of Hongjoong - his captivating face, infectious laughter, and undeniable talent. My feelings for him were undeniable, but the reality of our situation as housekeeper and friend dawned upon me. Sadly, he didn't perceive me in the romantic sense that I couldn't help but view him in.

My alarm clock blared the next morning, jarring me from my dreams. Groggily, I silenced the obnoxious sound and reluctantly dragged myself out of bed. As I went downstairs to prepare breakfast for Ateez and myself, I couldn't help but remember what happened last night - the electrifying performance at the showcase and my growing admiration for Hongjoong.

The guys were still asleep, leaving me free to contemplate my feelings in peace. My heart fluttered as I cooked the scrambled eggs and prepared their plates, each one with their favorite breakfast sides. Despite my rapidly multiplying butterflies, I connected with the comforting familiarity of our daily routine.

Finally, the guys emerged, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. They expressed their gratitude for the breakfast, expressing how much they loved my cooking. In turn, I complimented their spellbinding performance from the night before. They chatted excitedly about their upcoming promotions and schedule.

When Hongjoong walked in with his bedhead and a goofy smile on his face, I couldn't help but blush.

 "Jennifer! Oh my gosh, your cooking just saved me," he proclaimed emphatically as he dug into his breakfast.

His grin was contagious; a dazzling spectrum of emotions played back and forth across his eyes like a canvas illuminated by lanterns at nightfall. The mirage of his laughter woke rivers inside me that had long run dry, and I found myself laughing along with him until both our stomachs ached with joy.

Throughout that day, Hongjoong was a whirlwind by my side—raising tornadoes of spontaneity that danced through every corner of my life like summer lightning come alive. He stayed behind during breaks in promotion schedules to help me clean up around the house, trying to hold a broom without breaking anything or staring so intently as we folded laundry together that it seemed as though he were fiercely playing Tetris with the clothes.

I didn't quite know what to make of his attentions; usually, I offered Hongjoong and the others as much privacy and freedom as I possibly could. There was always a certain level of professional distance between us due to our roles, but Hongjoong's sudden approachability was hard to ignore.

As the day progressed, the rest of Ateez joined Hongjoong in his newly found eagerness to help me with the house chores, much to my bemusement. Mingi and Wooyoung teamed up for vacuuming and dusting around the house, while Yunho and Seonghwa took on the feat of sorting and organizing their most recent shipment of fan gifts and letters. San teased Yeosang into helping him set the table for lunch, while Jongho followed me around like an overly enthusiastic puppy with a spatula in hand, insisting on helping cook our meal.

Despite my concerns about crossing some invisible boundary that I had drawn between us – the supposed lines between housekeeper and friend – I found myself swept away in a torrent of laughter as we all stood together in the kitchen, attempting to simultaneously fold dumplings while wrestling against each other's playful nudges. The situation was quite far from ideal from a professional perspective; yet, here we were – happy though smudged with flour, cheeks glowing warm from the excitement.

The kitchen was a battleground strewn with misplaced ingredients and splashes of soy sauce along countertops, but even that held a kind of artistic beauty when seen through the lens of friendship. We worked as one entity, strings of laughter dancing through the air like a melodic symphony as our movements molded into an intricate dance.