The Reluctant Manny

Episode Six

Jin and Minji worked as a team to get the twins fed and squared away for Minji to finally get to work. It was an amazing feat, as both twins had a terrible penchant for smearing their food all over the table and their faces, completely negating their bath from earlier.

With the boys once again clean and set off to play, Minji finally brushed her frazzled hair back with her hands and looked at Jin with apprehension clearly expressed on her face.

"Are you sure? Really, I can just take one-"

"Minji, go. I can handle these two." Jin inwardly doubted his own words, but hoped it didn't show on the outside.

"I'll come out and check-"

"You left me all the info I need. I can do this! I helped raise my brother, I can surely handle these two." Jin tried to push confidence into his smile.

Minji, still feeling twinges of doubt, slowly turned towards her office. With one last nervous glance over her shoulder, and a small wave from Jin, she let out a sigh and stepped through the door.

Taehyung looked up and then back down to the tablet, continuing to sketch. "Is everything okay?"

Minji slowly leaned her head to the side and shrugged. "I just experienced a mess I would rather not re-live."

"I smelled it," smirked Taehyung.

Minji blushed. "I'm so sorry. It's just-"

"It's okay...boss? Can I call you noona? Or would you prefer something else? We haven't really established that." Taehyung pulled in his bottom lip and seemed to be concentrating on thoughts in his own head.

Minji laughed a bit, welcoming the distraction from the embarrassment that had happened upstairs. "Whatever you want, Taehyung-ssi."

Taehyung's face brightened as he smiled widely. "Noona it is! I never had one, so I hope you don't mind."

Minji felt it was a bit too familiar of a title, considering how little they knew each other, but if it made him smile like that, how could she deny him? "Alright," she said.

"And please, call me Tae. Makes me feel old when you add honorifics to the end. Also, since you're older, it makes me feel weird," his voiced trailed off and he quickly diverted his eyes back to the tablet under his hands.

Minji nodded and looked at her computer. She needed to get to the next chapter. It was where the new manny was finally going to meet the children and...

Minji's eyes grew wide.

"Tae," she said, sitting upright and looking across the desk to her assistant. "Ever heard the term, life imitating art?"

Taehyung leaned back in his seat and stretched his arms up behind his head. "Yes," he grunted.

"Do you realize my comic is about a manny?"

"Yes," said Taehyung slowly, trying to figure out where this odd conversation was headed.

"What if, my art imitates life?" Minji quickly stood up and paced the floor, her thumb nail being nibbled into oblivion as she walked.

"Huh?" Taehyung knew he was not an ignorant person, but he was not able to follow this woman's line of thinking at all.

Minji walked over towards him and stopped, looking at him intently. "What if, my comic imitated my life? I need some help with the twins or I'll never make it to the deadlines in time, even with you helping. What if I hired a nanny?!"

Taehyung's lips formed a small "o" and he relaxed, finally understanding what she was talking about.

"I need to look for some applicants. Do you think I should put out an ad? Maybe call a nanny service and see if they have anyone? Maybe-"