Divorced // bang yongguk (#26)

십

YiYeong

I gave him a weird look as he continued to stare like it is the first time that we are ever meeting each other and this is definitely not the first time that we have encountered. The first one was at the traffic light where he saved me from an oncoming car and he flashed a middle finger at the driver even though it is technically my fault for crossing the road when it is at the red light, then we met again last night when he came over to take his toddler back home.

During the two times that we have ever met each other, we have not maintained eye contact for that long before and I am getting a little uncomfortable from his stares even though he's a very attractive man himself.

"Would you mind if you could stop staring at me for a moment? I'm getting a little uncomfortable." I told my honest opinion of a man staring at me as if I am some trashcan, there is the only reason why he is staring at me like that.

"I..." He paused, trying to find his words. "I couldn't thank you enough for taking care of Sehyun on my behalf for the past two days, you have been a great help."

"That is nothing, he is a pitiful kid and I feel bad that he is always left alone or being mistreated by other people like that."

"About the babysitter, thanks for advising me. You're right, not every babysitter knows to do her job well and to build a bond with the children that they are taking care of, she is a perfect example of that." He took out his notepad and a pen. "I would like to hire you instead, as a babysitter. Would it be okay, if I were to get your contact number?"

My eyes doubled in size over what he had just said. "I... What?" I couldn't believe what I just heard. He wants me to be a babysitter for his children? "Emm... Mr Bang, sorry but I can't take up this job because I'm not a babysitter. I have no experience with babysitting at all."

Even though I have attended some classes in childhood education, I have never taken care of any child in my life. Sehyun was the first child that I ever carried in my arms and had him sleep in my arms.

"You took care of Sehyun, didn't I? And you managed to have him take a nap right on time, his nap time is around this timing. He rarely gets his naps these days."

This is getting more and more ridiculous by the minute. "Mr Bang." I held up both of my hands. "As far as I can remember, I took care of Sehyun just because he is there alone and there is no one available in your family to take care of him. It is a onetime thing and I have never expected that I would take care of him again today but it happened so I soothed him to sleep."

"For what happened yesterday, I would take full responsibility for that. It is my fault that I wasn't available to take care of Sehyun and my other two
children were busy with their own stuff as well."

"Then what about your wife? Isn't she supposed to be taking care of them if you are not available?"

His facial expression became darker and I could sense that something bad happened between him and his wife, now I feel bad about asking him such a sensitive subject. I guess that things weren't good with Mrs Bang and that Sehyun yearns for his mother to come back to his side.

He clears his throat and I could see that sadness in his eyes as he looks at me, as if part of his memories is playing in his mind at the same time. "I'm a single father for the past one year and that's why my family is like that, I couldn't have enough time to take care of them and they have gone astray because of me. My older two children are always fighting with each other because I neglected him and I don't want the same thing to happen to Sehyun."

On a normal basis, I would just advise him to just find for another babysitter who would take care of his children while he is at work or to find a childcare centre for his youngest child but he would be really reluctant since something like that had already happened and his trust in babysitters is not that high anymore.

But I can't tell him that, he has trust in me that I will do a better job at being a babysitter and that I had experience taking care of Sehyun for the past two days. He trusts me that I will take care of his children well and that I wouldn't run away, he knows where I live and he will track me down if I were ever to run away with Sehyun.

"You are the first one that Sehyun doesn't cry upon seeing you, he is normally very shy and he would cry if he is in someone's arms. You are able to carry him in his arms and call you his second mother, this means that he has already trusted you to take care of him." He continued, glancing over to Sehyun every now and then.

"Sehyun would never want to have someone else other than you to take care of him, you already have a place in his heart even though it has been a short time since you have met him."

"It is because I don't hold any ulterior motives, I treat everyone in the best way that I could." I walked over to the couch where Sehyun is sleeping at, staring at his sleeping face. "Sehyun is just a regular boy and I don't have any intention of being his second mother."

"At least he would be happy that you are taking care of him. I'll pay you a hefty sum for taking care of him if you are still unemployed, you will be paid the same amount as you are working for a real company. Food will be provided and I will give you a weekly allowance to spend on the kids, transport would be provided as well with you driving the kids around. What should I give you to make you work for me?"

If I could bring smiles to Sehyun every day and have him grow into a better person, I wouldn't mind taking care of him until I have found a real job. "Until you could find a teaching job for me, I will take care of your children."

He seems a lot relieved already. "What should I call you by?"