The Garden Ambush

Minseo’s alarm rang at 5:55 a.m.

She did not hit snooze. Snooze was for people with time to waste. Minseo had a CEO to orbit. Day three of Operation Twenty-Four Seven began with teeth brushing, hair tying, and one-meter practice in the mirror. She measured the distance from her nose to the mirror with her fingers. One meter was a lifestyle now.

The mansion was quiet. The staff were not up yet. Minseo was. She walked to the West Wing dining room at 6:04 a.m. and claimed her spot. One meter from the head of the table. She stood there like a statue that ate breakfast.

CEO Kang Taejoon arrived at 6:10 a.m. He looked at the spot. He looked at Minseo. He rolled to the table. Minseo shuffled left. One meter stayed one meter. Perfect.

Breakfast came. Soup again. Minseo was starting to like soup. It was warm, it was free, and it did not require chewing too much while maintaining posture. She ate slowly. She did not look at Taejoon. She only existed in his peripheral vision.

Madam Kang did not come to breakfast today. That was suspicious. Minseo did not trust suspicious. Suspicious usually meant plans. Plans usually meant trouble. Trouble meant Minseo needed to be even more present.

After breakfast, Taejoon rolled to his office. Minseo followed. One meter. The secretary opened the door. Minseo entered. One meter from the desk. She stood. The office was her new office too.

At 9:00 a.m., the secretary said Taejoon had a meeting outside the mansion. A car was waiting. Minseo’s eyes lit up. Outside meant new places to be one meter away. She followed him to the garage without being told.

The driver opened the car door. Taejoon rolled to the car. Minseo opened the other door. She did not get in. She stood one meter from the car. The driver looked confused. Taejoon looked at her.

Minseo pointed to the rule in her head. One meter. Not inside. Not touching. Just near. The driver shrugged and closed the door. The car left. Minseo watched it go.

She did not panic. Panic was for people without plans. Plan B was simple. Wait at the gate. The car would return. Taejoon would return. She would be there when he did. Twenty-four seven did not require riding in cars. It required being available.

Minseo walked back inside and sat in the lobby. One meter from the main door. She brought a book. She did not read it. She only held it. Holding a book made waiting look intentional.

Madam Kang found her there at 10:30 a.m. She was wearing gardening clothes and a smile that was not friendly. She said the garden needed help. She said Minseo should help. She said it was an order.

Minseo stood up. One meter from Madam Kang. She nodded. She followed.

The garden was big. Roses, trees, a fountain. Madam Kang handed Minseo gloves and a small shovel. The task was to weed a flower bed near the fountain. Madam Kang did not weed. She watched.

Minseo weeded. She was good at weeding. Years of rice fields had trained her hands. She pulled weeds fast. She stacked them neatly. She did not complain. She did not ask for water. She worked.

Madam Kang walked around the fountain. She stopped near the edge. She looked at Minseo. She did not speak. Minseo did not look up. Eyes down was safer. Eyes down was also one meter away.

After thirty minutes, a maid came running. The car was back. Taejoon was in the lobby. Minseo dropped the shovel. She ran. Not fast enough to be disrespectful. Fast enough to be there.

She reached the lobby in four minutes. Taejoon was rolling toward the elevator. Minseo stopped one meter away. She was a little sweaty. Her gloves were dirty. She did not hide them. Dirty hands were honest hands.

Taejoon looked at her. He looked at the gloves. He rolled to the elevator. Minseo followed. One meter. The elevator doors closed. She stayed outside. Elevators were small. Small broke the one-meter rule. She was not breaking rules.

Madam Kang arrived behind her. She was angry. Her plan had failed. Minseo had not fallen in the fountain. She had not run away. She had only weeded and returned.

Lunch was tense. Madam Kang sat at the head of the table. Taejoon sat at the other end. Minseo sat one meter from him. The food tasted like strategy.

After lunch, Madam Kang announced a guest. The other girl was back. She brought cookies. She brought a book. She brought a smile. She sat on the sofa near Taejoon.

Minseo stood one meter from the sofa. She did not sit. Chairs were for guests. She was staff, wife, and shadow. Shadows did not sit.

The other girl offered Taejoon a cookie. He did not take it. She offered him a book. He did not take it. She talked about music. He answered in nods. Minseo stood still. Her feet were fine.

Madam Kang watched the scene. She frowned. The other girl was perfect. Taejoon was cold. Minseo was present. Presence was winning.

At 4:00 p.m., the secretary said Taejoon needed quiet. The guests left. Minseo stayed. One meter.

Taejoon rolled to the window. He looked outside. Minseo looked outside too, from one meter away. The sky was clear. The garden looked normal. No one had fallen in the fountain. That was a win.

Dinner came. Soup again. Minseo was fine with soup. Soup was reliable. Madam Kang did not eat much. Taejoon ate normally. Minseo ate neatly.

After dinner, Madam Kang tried a new tactic. She said the East Wing was being cleaned. Minseo should wait in the guest room. The guest room was far. Far was a problem. Far broke twenty-four seven.

Minseo bowed. She walked to the guest room. She stayed there for exactly seven minutes. Then she walked back. The East Wing was not being cleaned. The maid at the door looked surprised. Minseo smiled. She entered her room. She changed her dress. She returned to her one-meter post outside the West Wing.

The secretary saw her. He did not stop her. The contract said East Wing. It did not say she could not stand outside West Wing. Loopholes were useful.

At 9:00 p.m., Taejoon’s light turned off. Minseo walked back to East Wing. She brushed her teeth. She made her list.

List one: Garden weeding completed. No fountain accidents.

List two: Car trip missed, but return witnessed.

List three: Other girl defeated by silence.

List four: Guest room trap escaped in seven minutes.

Minseo lay on the bed. Her feet were tired but happy. She had been one meter away for thirteen hours today. That was a record.

She thought about Madam Kang. Villain mother-in-laws were persistent. Minseo was more persistent. Persistence was free.

She thought about Taejoon. He did not smile. He did not talk. He did not send her away. That was enough.

Tomorrow would be day four.

Minseo set her alarm for 5:55 a.m. again.

The jinx bride was not tired. The jinx bride was just getting started.