Serendipity

Chapter Eleven

Hongjoong's POV

As I began recording for the new Ateez album this morning, I found myself unable to contain my joy following the walk Jennifer and I had taken just the day before. Each rap verse and vocal note flowed effortlessly, surely influenced by the burgeoning feelings I had developed for my housekeeper. With her, I felt secure and at ease, as if I were simply a regular person rather than a constantly scrutinized idol.

Upon exiting the recording booth, San remarked, "Dude, your vocals are on fire today."

I flashed a grin at him, "Thanks, man. I guess I'm just in a good mood today."

As we continued working on our tracks, I couldn't help but let my thoughts drift back to Jennifer. Something about her presence felt like a breath of fresh air in my hectic life. I secretly hoped that she felt the same way about me, but I was unsure how to broach the subject with her.

After finishing up at the studio, the team and I gathered for a meeting with our manager to discuss the album's progress and other upcoming events. As we rattled through our schedule, my excitement bubbled over.

"Guys," I interjected, "I've been thinking... What if we hire Jennifer as our new housekeeper for the entire dorm and not just my place?"

Everyone turned to me, intrigued by my suggestion. Mingi raised an eyebrow, "Are you sure? She's really nice and everything, but..."

I cut him off before he could finish his sentence. "Trust me. I think she would be great for us and keep things running smoothly."

There was a moment of silence as they all contemplated my proposition. Wooyoung finally piped up, "Well, why not? It would be nice to have someone reliable to take care of things around here."

Our manager nodded in agreement. "Alright then, let's give it a try." He jotted down a note in his planner before continuing with discussing our scheduling.

Preparing for her arrival home from her errands made us all a little nervous - it had been a while since any of us had entertained a guest in our dormitory. Yunho spent hours vacuuming and tidying up the living room while Jongho got busy in the kitchen preparing an impressive spread for everyone to enjoy.

As Jennifer entered the dorm, her eyes widened in surprise at the sight of our cleaned living area. She looked at each of us questioningly, as if to ask what had prompted our sudden urge for cleanliness. I stammered a quick explanation, my heart racing.

"Ah, Jennifer! W-we thought it would be a good idea to have you officially become our housekeeper, s-so we tried cleaning up a bit in preparation for your arrival."

Her mouth fell open as she took in my words. "Really? You all want me to be your housekeeper?"

We nodded enthusiastically, and it took only a brief moment for her warm smile to return. "I'd be honored," she replied. "Thank you for trusting me with your home."

With that settled, we invited Jennifer to join us for dinner. She looked genuinely pleased by Jongho's cooking prowess and praised his skills lavishly throughout the meal.

As we enjoyed the delicious food and spirited conversation, I couldn't help but notice how seamlessly Jennifer fit in with our group dynamics. She even shared some amusing stories about her previous clients – nothing too revealing, but just enough to keep us captivated and laughing.

After dinner was over and the dishes were washed, some of us retreated to our rooms while others lounged around in the living room chatting or playing games. Jennifer looked at the time before commenting, "I should probably head home now. But I'll be back tomorrow morning to start my new job!"

I felt a pang of disappointment knowing that she would soon leave the dorm, but I was also thrilled that she had accepted our offer. To see her around more frequently would undoubtedly be a joy.

As Jennifer prepared to leave for the night, she thanked us again for dinner and expressed her excitement about working with us more closely in the future. With a final wave goodbye, she slipped out into the night.

The next morning arrived all too quickly, and Jennifer was already awake before all of us and already cleaning up. She was so cute with her headphones in and dancing, till I saw Wooyoung sitting at the table eating cereal and laughing and joking with her.

I admired their easy banter, but couldn't help feeling a twinge of jealousy watching them laugh together. Nevertheless, I shook off the emotion and focused on the day ahead.

Our day's schedule was packed with dance practice, vocal lessons, and a photoshoot in preparation for our album release. Though Jennifer had her hands full with housekeeping tasks, she always seemed to find time to make quick appearances throughout our day to chat or offer words of encouragement.

In between dance practice sessions, Jennifer approached me to discuss a concern she had for the condition of our dormitory. "The kitchen definitely needs some organization – I can hardly find where anything is," she admitted with a chuckle. "But I'll take care of it so you guys can focus on your work."

I appreciated her initiative and let her know how grateful we were to have her on board. Diving back into practice, I felt content knowing that she was there for us.

Later that evening after practice, we all gathered in the living room to relax and enjoy another delicious meal prepared by Jongho. As we eagerly dug into the spread, Jennifer approached Yunho, holding up a green sheet mask.

"I found this while organizing the bathroom earlier," she informed him. "I thought you might like it – it has natural ingredients like aloes to soothe tired skin."

Yunho's eyes lit up at the gesture and he thanked Jennifer warmly. It struck me then just how attentive she was toward all of us and how comfortable we had become having her around.

Finishing dinner on such a high note spurred some impromptu team bonding activities. Seonghwa suggested we play some card games while Yeosang connected his phone to our Bluetooth speaker for background music.

Before I knew it, it was nearing midnight and everyone began winding down for bed. A few of us said our goodnights while Jennifer moved quietly through the dormitory, cleaning up remnants of our late-night escapades.

Curiosity got the better of me as I watched her move swiftly from room to room. It was only a day into her new job with us and she seemed so at ease, as if she had always been a part of our lives.

As she was about to step into my room Wooyoung took her hand in his and pulled her back out.

"Hey Jennifer... i was wondering, after your day today, would you like to go get dinner tonight? like a date?" he asked her.

Jennifer's eyes widened in surprise, and she look hesitated for a moment before responding.

"Uh, sure," she stammered, a nervous smile playing at her lips. "That sounds nice."

Wooyoung beamed at her response and suggested a restaurant they could visit later that evening. They exchanged a few more words before parting ways to prepare for the night ahead.

I couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy stir within my chest as I watched them interact. I reminded myself, however, that Jennifer was free to spend her time with whomever she chose, and my feelings were my own to manage.