Chapter 3: "You want to take her place"

“Miss!”

I woke up to a series of loud knocks on my bedroom door. What’s going on this early in the morning?

“Just a second!” I rubbed my eyes and quickly fixed my bed before getting up.

“What is it? Do you need something?” I asked, eyeing the head maid from head to toe. She was fully dressed, not in her usual uniform, and holding a suitcase.

“Miss, you know how to cook, right? I’m really sorry, but my daughter and I need to leave right away,” she said, her voice sad but laced with worry.

“Huh? Why? Where are you going?” I asked frantically, questions spilling out one after another.

“My husband is sick. There’s no one who can take care of him back home, so we have to go.”

“I see... Please take care on your way. Don’t worry, I’ll be fine here. I hope your husband gets better soon,” I replied softly.

“What about Marie?” I added.

“Oh, she’s gone, Miss. She resigned the other day.”

“What?”

“Yes. Anyway, we really have to go now, or we’ll miss the ship.”

“Alright. Please take care,” I said, even though I wanted to stop them. But I could tell they were in a hurry, and I understood.

I knew what it felt like to lose a parent—I’d been there. So I couldn’t blame them for leaving.

It’s not like I’d have much to worry about anyway. I just needed to take care of myself. I went back to my room, washed my face, and combed my hair.

When I went downstairs, I headed straight for the refrigerator. What do we even have here? I took out five sausages and three eggs.

After cracking the eggs, I added a bit of milk and some seasonings. I going to make scrambled eggs.

When I finished frying, I also made fried rice. I set the table even though I knew I’d be eating alone.

I was about to take my first bite when I noticed Ace standing there, looking straight at me while drying his wet hair.

“What did you cook?” he asked coldly. From his tone alone, I could already tell—he knew we were the only ones left in the house.

I looked at him from head to toe, not realizing he had already said something else to me.

“Are you done staring?” he said sarcastically.

“Ah—uhm—this. Eggs and sausages. If you don’t want rice, there’s bread in the fridge,” I stammered.

“Why are you always so grumpy? You’ve really changed a lot,” I muttered.

“So?” he said flatly. I looked back at him, annoyed.

“What do you want me to do?” he continued, his voice dripping with that same irritating tone. If only you weren’t so good-looking, I’d have hit you by now, I thought.

“Does Auntie even know what you’ve been doing here?” I asked.

“Ask her yourself,” he shot back.

“Fine, I will. I’ll also tell her about that girl—” I didn’t get to finish because he cut me off sharply.

“Why do you always bring up Andrea? Has she ever done anything to you? No, right?”

“I’m being serious,” I said.

“So am I,” Ace replied firmly.

“Is that so? Fine, I’ll tell her later.”

“You know, with the way you’re acting right now, anyone would think you’re jealous. But that’s impossible, right? You just got here yesterday. And besides, it’s been years since we last saw each other. So don’t go thinking I’m still the same friend you used to know.”

“Unless… you want to take her place.”

I spat out the coffee I was drinking. Good thing I wasn’t facing him directly, or else he’d be drenched again.

“What are you talking about?” I stood up from my chair and reached for the tissue in the middle of the table.

While wiping my mouth, I noticed his eyes had shifted somewhere else. I followed his gaze and—oh, crap! I was still in my sleepwear. Shim, seriously, how could you forget something like that again?!

“Eat your food and stop staring to such things… You’re so annoying!” I snapped. I heard him laugh

“Call me when you’re done,” I shouted while climbing up the stairs. I went straight to my room and rushed to take a shower. I put on a hoodie and leggings afterward.

My hoodie was oversized, so it went perfectly with the leggings—just enough to cover my butt.

After a few minutes, I heard a knock on the door.

“Clean up downstairs,” he called out from the other side.

I opened the door slightly and replied, “Yeah, I’ll take care of it.”

As we headed down the stairs, my phone suddenly rang. When I checked, it was Aunt Rose. I had to answer this time—she’d already called me several times last night.

“Hello, Auntie,” I greeted, continuing to walk toward the kitchen. Ace, for some reason, followed me—like he was curious about what his mom would say.

Since I needed to finish washing the dishes, I turned up the phone’s volume so I could still hear her even without holding it close to my ear. I wedged it on top of an empty pitcher.

“Shim, are you two doing okay there? You’re eating properly, right?” Aunt Rose asked worriedly on the other line.

“Yes, Auntie, we’re fine. Why do you ask?” I answered with a smile, even though she couldn’t see it.

“That’s good. I was just worried. The head maid told me they already left the house.”

“I’ve been calling you since last night, but you weren’t answering, so I got anxious.”

“Oh, don’t worry, Auntie. I’m used to doing household chores,” I said reassuringly.

“I see... Well then, please take care of Chase for me, alright? You know he’s hopeless with housework. I’m counting on you, okay?”

I turned slightly and looked behind me. Ace was still there, glued to his phone—probably on a video call with his friends.

“Yes, Auntie, don’t worry. I’ll take care of everything,” I assured her.

“Alright… thank you, dear.”

After she gave her reminders, the call ended.

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