Monday, January 15th, 2024.

7 am.

Another day of work starting, I get out of my car without forgetting my bag, and I close the door. I take my phone out to check what time it is, and I make my way up to the gate to ring the bell.

In only a few seconds, the door opens, so I push it and enter the front yard. I move over and walk up to the two stairs to face the front door of the house.

I knock on the door and wait for someone to respond.

I arrive ten minutes early as usual. Despite working for the head of the house for over five months, he has never shown any dissatisfaction with my punctuality, so I prefer to maintain this routine.

"Good morning," Mister Jeon greets me in a suit and tie and lets me in. "Good morning. How are you doing?" I take my shoes off, and he smiles at me. "I'm doing amazing, and you?"

"Same," I drop my bag on one of the chairs around the dining table on my right, and I take my coat off, but notice his nineteen year old son, Jungkook, walk down the stairs.

I hope he is heading to school today rather than taking a day off. His presence makes it difficult for me to concentrate on my work.

"Hello," a bright and joyful smile grows on his face as he greets me. "Hello. Did you sleep well?"

"Yeah, and you?" he heads over to the kitchen side, and his father follows him, so I do the same, smelling some food come from it. "I did too," I direct my attention towards the induction plate. "Are you already cooking?" I address Mister Jeon, and he nods, stirring into the pot. "Yes, I wanted to save you a task."

"That's sweet of you. Thank you," I show some gratitude since I usually am the one cooking breakfast for everyone to make he does not have to do anything before going to his tiring work.

He grins, and Jungkook comes closer while drinking some orange juice. "I'm coming back from school at two today, so I'll be home earlier," he warns me, and I look into his eyes. "Oh, amazing. I can't wait."

Hearing the sarcasm through my voice, his plump lips curl up faintly. "That doesn't sound sincere at all, but it's okay. I'll take it," he sips on his cold drink and moves away, so I decide to set up the table.

I grab three plates, spoons, and pairs of chopsticks, and I step towards the table but feel Jungkook following me closely. He puts his drink down and gets hold of the utensils to help me.

"Did you have a good weekend?" he breaks the silence between us as I placed the dishes down in front of our usual seats. "Well, I spent time cleaning my house, taking care of a friend's baby who never quit crying, and my kitten got sick. So my weekend wasn't so fun," I answer, feeling happy that he still asks this same question after so many months.

"I told you, you should've stayed here and spent some time with me instead," he never gives up on trying, making me chuckle but set my eyes on him. "To do what? I was busy, so I can't just have fun doing nothing."

"We could have played games. I don't know," he shrugs and makes eye contact. "You deserve a break as well."

"I'm twenty-six, Jungkook. My gaming phase had to stop as soon as I moved out and started working," I reluctantly accept reality. Sometimes, I wish I could return to being nineteen, life seemed less complicated then. "So many people still continue playing games at that age, that doesn't mean anything," he sits down in front of one of the dishes and takes a sip, fixing his attention on me and nothing else. "Yeah, I know, but I don't feel the same way about gaming anymore."

"I might be able to drag you back into it, you don't know that," he smiles and drops his eyes to my lips. "Sure, if you wanna convince yourself."

"Yeah, I do," he says, showing confidence, always sounding cocky unless he is demanding. I scoff at him and walk back to his dad to make sure he does not need some help but see him turn around. "Jungkook, go and wake up your brother, please," he tells him to do, and this one listens.

Despite his little brother being seven, they both get along very well and rarely fight.

•••

2:30 pm.

Feeling the heat of my body, I stop what I am doing. Then, I stop the vacuum cleaner to take my zip-up hoodie off. I put it down on Mister Jeon's king sized bed in the middle of the room, and I go back to cleaning.

However, just as I am about to turn the vacuum back on, the sound of the door opening downstairs warns me of Jungkook's presence.

Regardless, I do not interrupt my task to go and check up on him. I turn the vacuum back on and finish what I started.

With only the living room left to take care of, I should be done in less than two hours, allowing me time for a shower before cooking dinner.

I focus on the floor, ensuring there is no dust left anywhere to maintain Mister Jeon's room in perfect cleanliness.

"Y/n!" Jungkook screams my name, getting my head to turn in his direction. I straighten up and stop the vacuum cleaner again to listen to him, who is leaning over the door frame.

"Did you clean my room yet?" he runs his fingers through his brown hair, and I nod. "I did. Why?"

"Did you happen to see a science book somewhere?" he asks, expecting me to recall such a small detail. "A science book? I don't know, I just remember seeing a blue and green book on your desk, but I can't tell whether-"

"That's my science book, dammit," he sighs, acting as if I have made a mistake. I question him before he can walk away. "What's the problem with that book?"

"I fucking forgot to put it in my bag like a moron this morning, so my teacher pissed me off and left a note in my diary," he explains. "Oh. Well, it's not the first time you forget something. I'll make you a list of items to remember taking based on your schedule."

"Yes, please. That'd be useful," he agrees, resting his body on the door frame, and his eyes go down to my top. "Aren't you cold?" he mentions my flimsy fabric. "I'm freaking sweating, are you kidding?"

He scoffs, finding humor in the situation, wearing his hoodie and seeming oblivious to my discomfort. "You're always hot, girl."

I hold back from throwing something at him and control myself. "I've been doing tasks since you left the house, how the hell do you want me to not be hot?"

He lowers his eyes to my body again, smiles, and steps back to leave. However, I speak to make something clear. "And don't call me 'girl' again."

"You want me to call you bro?" he grins, despite how unfunny this is, and I fake a laugh to make it obvious this is lame.

"I'm joking, young woman," he replies and goes away without closing the door, so I yell at him to do it, and he obeys. At least, he listens and does as told.

•••

3:50 pm.

After being done with my task and taking a shower, I step out of the bathroom and put my clothes and towel in the laundry basket that I use in this guest room, and now, I get out. I move towards the kitchen and notice the front door open.

I do not leave this room right away since I know that Minjun is here, and I watch the two brothers come in. As soon as he sees me, he smiles and shows a lot of joy. "Y/n!" he hurries to take his shoes and coat off to hand it to Jungkook, and he runs to me.

The same way I did it this morning, I take him in my arms to hug him. He always loves when I do this. I drop a kiss on the crown of his head. "How was your day at school?"

"It was great. We did some math today, so I'm happy," he says some words that I would never let out my mouth, and I chuckle.

"You sometimes make me doubt we're real brothers," Jungkook passes by us to drop Minjun's bag on a chair next to us. "Why?!" the little one gazes up at him, never letting go of me but making me feel like a mother he loves to get some comfort from. "Because I hate math. I loath them with my whole existence."

"That's because you're a dummy," he jokes with him and giggles, offending the nineteen year old boy. Jungkook stares down at him, frozen on his spot. "I'm gonna tell dad you cursed."

"I didn't even do it," he turns his head to ignore him and rests it on my chest, but Jungkook walks behind him and slaps the back of his head. "Stop clinging to her."

"Stop being mean to him," I pat the area he slapped, but he glares at me. "I'm not mean. You are."

"I am? How even?" I feel a chortle escape my mouth, and while his endearing little brother is remaining in my embrace, he crosses his arms and stares down at my lips. "You only hug, kiss, and show affection to him, never to me."

"Can you remind me how old you are?" I point out what explains the difference treatment, and his pouty expression does not disappear. "And? Just because I'm nineteen doesn't mean I don't deserve as much affection."

"Stop pretending not to know, Jungkook," I tell him to not feign ignorance about this matter. I know that he has never received any mother's love in his life, but he is nineteen. He is way too old for me to hug or kiss him like I do it with his brother. This would for sure cause some tension or misunderstanding. "I don't know," he responds and leaves, seeming more upset than expected.

I noticed not long ago that he seems jealous of the affection I give to his little brother, but at first, I thought he was just joking. Now, it is obvious he is not.

I do not say anything more but focus on Minjun. "Do you have some homework?" I comb his fluffy hair.

"Yes," he raises his head up. "While you do them, I'll cook dinner. So if you need some help, tell me. Alright?"

"Alright," he nods and moves back, releasing his clasp around me to get hold of his bag. "Can I stay and do them on the kitchen counter?" he asks as I walked away, and I agree. "Sure. As long as you don't get distracted by anything."

"I won't, I promise," he comes up to me and sits down on one of the stools to be near.

30 minutes later...

"Jungkook," Minjun asks for his attention, still working while his big brother is having a snack and watching a livestream. "What?" he brings his headphones down.

"When can I see Meow again?" he mentions a name I already heard multiple times but could never put a face on. "I told you already, you won't see him again.

"Why?" he pouts at this answer. "Because. He belonged to her, and I broke up with her, so no Meow anymore."

"And what about a new kitten? I want a kitten for my birthday," he reveals that it was actually not a nickname he gave to a human. "Ask dad for one, but don't have high hopes. He probably won't agree."

"But why?" he never ceases questioning him, making me believe he is done with his homework. "Because he's barely home, and pets require a lot of attention and care."

"But I'll be here to give them all that," he does not understand as a child, and I smile, uncontrollably. "Oh, so you're gonna clean their litter full of poop and pee, but also clean after them if they don't do all that in it, or if they throw up-"

"You can do it," he quickly finds a solution to the problem, getting his brother to scoff. "Ain't no way I'm doing that. That's the exact reason why I don't want a pet."

"Fine, I'lll do it like it's my baby," he states but does not mean it for sure. He will change his mind as soon as he faces all of that. "Sure, buddy."

"Don't you have a pet, y/n?" the little one brings my attention to him, so I lower the heat of the induction plate and turn around. "I do. He's not bigger than my hand."

"Oh! Could I see him one day, please?" he shows some excitement, even though he has not gotten any answers yet. I cannot even say no. "Yes, I'll come here with him if your dad allows it."

"I bet you got hundreds of pictures of him in your phone," Jungkook puts some chips in his mouth, starring again, and I smile without answering. I take my phone out of my pocket and open the gallery while heading towards them.

"Here," I place my phone in front of them. "You can look at them, but you," I point my finger at Jungkook. "You don't touch my screen with those greasy fingers."

He grins and dares to go against my words by approaching his index from it. "What if I do?"

"I'll make you regret it," I push the phone towards the innocent one so that he can check how my kitten looks, Jungkook still looking at me. "I don't think you'd be able to make me regret anything."

"Uh, you think so?" I cross my arms and smile with amusement. "Yeah, I do," he licks his fingers but goes off the stool to walk up to me.

I do not move but watch him stare and come closer, and he stops right next to me to clean his hands.

"Could you help me with my homework before going back home?" he asks, now being more respectful. "What's the subject?" I turn around to check the food and stir into it. "I had to write an essay in English, so I'd like you to take a look and tell me what you think, please," he adds the one word to make me agree, giving me a softer look.

"I will," I nod my head. "But only if you behave."

His eyes light up, gazing into both of mine. He licks his lips. "Fine. I'll behave. I always do anyway."

"You always do," I mumble through a chrotle. "That makes me so much more trustful, Jungkook."

He laughs and directs his body towards mine, remaining close. As he is not getting any attention from me since I need to finish cooking the meal, he lays one hand on the kitchen counter and inches closer. "You called me a good boy the other day, so why do you believe I won't behave?"

I bring my eyes up to him, some astonishment running through me. "I never called you that."

"You did. I know it wasn't just my head. You did it," he tells a lie that I will never believe. "It was in your head because I could clearly remember it if I had called you that. You've never done anything good enough for me to call you that."

"But you do think I am, don't you?" he persists on the matter as if it were important, tilting his head cutely. "Sometimes you are, but sometimes."

"Well, I'm fine with that," He displays a strange sense of satisfaction, and I smile while shaking my head.

"Your kitty is so cute, y/n," Minjun puts an end to this conversation, and I look at him. "You think so ? He'll be happy to know you said that about him."

"What's his name?" he puts my phone down, his features exuding a lot of joy. "Kohi."

"That's pretty," he beams and glances at his brother. "I'll call our kitten Meow Meow when we have it."

"Meow Meow?" he does not seem to like it. "You think I'm gonna call that name all the time?"

"Yes, it's pretty," he does not let his brother's opinion change his. "Dad won't say yes anyway, so stop seeing yourself with a pet. Okay?"

He does not complain or express frustration loudly, as some children might do. He only pouts and closes his book.

He is such a sweetheart that it must be difficult not to always give in to him.

•••

7:20 pm.

"Thank you so much for being here again," Mister Jeon shows his gratitude as he just came back from his long day at work. "No problem," I smile and peek at Jungkook, who asked for my attention. "You don't have time for the essay I wrote?" he reminds me of what I forgot about.

"I'm coming," I keep my promise and follow him towards his bedroom upstairs. As soon as we reach it, he opens the door and lets me in first, then closes it behind us.