Lately I was confused with myself. I felt sorry for other people and begged
her to live with me. I didn't get any of that. If I needed a maid, I could ask
someone from my house but I had asked Aoey to move in with me for that.
It was stupid. Why did I do that? It had been a week since Aoey moved in
with me. I also didn't go home during that entire period.. It took me a while
to adjust, but I was already comfortable with it. We talked and consulted,
even when sometimes I didn't understand her.
"Do you know that you can mix fabric softener with water to clean the
floor? And the floor will be free of dust."
"Oh really? That is awesome."
I acted surprised. I didn't care what made my floor dust-free, I would have
liked to pay to have someone do it for me. But... well, she had started a
conversation. The soft eyes were now cleaning the floor with great skill. I
admired her for being so diligent and trying to be helpful all the time. Aoey
got a job at a convenience store. After that, she would come home and clean
my house. She did everything and I was never lazy.
"Will you have time to go to school?"
"If I study at an open university, I will have time."
"Why don't you try an entrance exam at a public university?"
"I'm not that smart. I don't think I can compete with other people. I can
study anywhere. It doesn't matter."
"We have such a different idea. My family pressured me so much when I
was in school that I should join government colleges. It is the first step of
your career. My dad even tried to bribe me with a Patek Phillip watch as a
reward if I entered."
"Is that the name of a magician?"
"I just said it's a watch. It is a watch brand."
The famous luxury watch did not seem to influence some people. If Patek
Philip was a magician, Lee Min Ho was a boy band singer. Did she even
know Lee Min Ho?
"You're smart. You don't have to study much. In fact, you don't have to
work and you can live comfortably. You're perfect... beautiful, rich and
smart,"
Aoey said and looked me in the eyes as if she wanted me to know that she
meant it. But every time I looked into her eyes, I felt so shy. I had to walk
away.
"You don't wear glasses anymore."
"I'm cleaning. I do not need them."
"Do you use it when you're at work?"
"Sometimes."
"You have to put them on."
"Because?"
"I don't know, but you should put them on."
I looked at her directly despite feeling weak. I needed to tell her to do what
I asked and she nodded her head.
"Okay, I'll put them on."
"You should wear your hair up
and not put on makeup."
Aoey smiled after I made so many requests. I knew it was a lot to ask. I
didn't understand why her makeup bothered me.
"No, I won't."
"Good."
I was worried about her... She was so naive and beautiful. people could hurt
her.
"I think my salary from the convenience store is not enough. I should find
more work."
"Aren't you working too hard? You are so small."
"There will be something I can do."
After Aoey finished cleaning, we sat next to each other and watched TV
together. That was another activity that I felt comfortable with. We talk
about Korean actors and series. We shared many interests and it made me
realize the meaning of intimacy. There was a knock on the door. I grabbed a
remote control and paused, leaving the actor's face
with his mouth wide open. Aoey got up and opened the door. I saw my
Great brother, who was now in his school uniform. He seemed surprised to
see a stranger answer the door.
"Is this room number 1725?"
Great, I took a few steps back to double check the number. I looked at him
and called.
"Come in, I'm here."
Great stuck his head out and saw me. He seemed so surprised to see that I
had a visitor or a friend.
"I didn't realize you had friends,"
Great pointed at Aoey with a surprised look on his face.
"My name is Aoey."
The soft eyes that didn't wear glasses smiled at my brother. That left him
stunned.
"Great, you're being rude. Don't stare at her,"
I said. He smiled and nodded sheepishly.
"Hello,"
Great said.
"You two look alike, Great and Gen."
The soft eyes looked at my brother for a considerable time.
"If you were a man, you would look like this."
"Why are you here?"
I cut off their conversation, annoyed with both of them. Great was carrying
a student bag, sat next to me and made a face.
"I miss you."
"Come on."
"That's true. Mom said you won't be coming home for a week. I thought
you had a boyfriend and that you should be here with your boyfriend. I
wanted to see what kind of man can win your heart. It turned out to be a
woman. Oh! Why did you hit me?"
I hit him in the face for not knowing me. He should know me better than
this. I was not an "easy" person. I opened the door to everyone but no one
has ever-invaded-me yet.
"Is that what you thought when you saw a woman?"
"It's still weird. I didn't know you had friends"
"Why not?"
"You're not a good friend. Oh! You hit me again."
I hit him on the head so hard that the sound was like a drum. Aoey saw
everything and laughed out loud.
"You two are so cute."
Aoey looked at her watch.
"Oops, I have to go, Gen. I cleaned everything already, you can make a
mess again. I'll clean it again later. Bye bye!"
"Okay."
I responded and looked into the soft eyes as she was leaving.
"Don't forget your glasses!"
I remembered. Aoey walked back and smiled at me with her whole face.
"OK."
Once my brother saw she was gone, he stood up excitedly and was about to
say something when Aoey ran in. She entered clumsily and overturned. My
brother was quick to support her but...
"Let go!"
The scream and force brought silence to the room. Great was as stunned as I
was by the loud noise and fierce rejection. I had never seen her like this.
"Sorry, in my rush I forgot my cell phone."
"You must hurry."
Aoey grabbed her phone and looked at me before leaving. I shrugged telling her to go to work. Once the door was completely closed, when Great and I were sure she wouldn't come back. My brother broke the silence.
