“I like hide-and-seek.”

Finally, Seo Hoo opened his mouth. I couldn’t be happier with his reluctant response and sullen face.

“Great! Then I’ll be the seeker, and Seo Hoo, you hide really well, okay?”

“Okay.”

Only then did the corners of Seo Hoo’s mouth twitch. It meant he liked the idea.

“I’ll count to 30.”

“Okay.”

Ji Soo started counting slowly with her face buried against the wall and eyes closed. After counting to 30, Ji Soo called out loudly.

“Seo Hoo, now I’m coming to find you!”

Ji Soo slowly looked around. Only a heavy silence flowed.

“Seo Hoo! Where are you?”

She went through the kitchen, the small room, and up to the master bedroom. This room was probably Joo Hyuk’s. The spacious room, larger than her entire house, with its clean and minimalist interior caught her eye.

The Executive Director must be a neat person.

She found herself staring blankly at the spacious room. Just then, the curtain rustled slightly.

“Where could Seo Hoo be? I can’t find him.”

Seo Hoo, hiding behind the curtain, must have gotten excited, as the curtain’s movement intensified. She deliberately lingered around slowly before pulling the curtain open. At that moment, Seo Hoo, who had been crouching, froze with surprised eyes.

“Found you! Seo Hoo!”

Seo Hoo’s face gradually stiffened before he burst into loud tears.

“Why did you find me so quickly! You’re mean!”

“Ah…!”

Did I find him too quickly? Ji Soo laughed awkwardly in embarrassment.

“Then I’ll be the seeker again. Seo Hoo, you go hide.”

Only then did Seo Hoo stop crying abruptly and quickly run out of the room. Now, Ji Soo decided to count slowly and find him with difficulty.

“Seo Hoo, now I’m coming to find you!”

She walked deliberately slowly. As she looked around wondering where he might be hiding this time, she saw Seo Hoo’s soles peeking out from under the sofa where he was crouching. The sight made her laugh. She thought he’d hidden somewhere difficult, but he ended up in a place where he was completely visible.

“I can’t find Seo Hoo anywhere. He must have hidden really well. No matter how much I look, I can’t find him. What should I do?”

A faint giggle could be heard.

“Seo Hoo!”

Ji Soo deliberately walked towards the opposite side of the sofa where Seo Hoo was hiding while calling out. She spent a long time calling Seo Hoo’s name near the kitchen area. Seo Hoo, who had snuck up behind her, smacked her back shouting “Wa!”

“Oh my, you startled me.”

When she reacted exaggeratedly, Seo Hoo burst into laughter.

“I guess I have to be the seeker again.”

“Okay.”

The hide-and-seek game continued for over two hours. By this point, Ji Soo was getting hungry and tired. The stamina of a 5-year-old boy was truly remarkable.

“Seo Hoo, aren’t you hungry?”

“I’m not hungry.”

“I guess it’s just me who’s hungry.”

“Hurry and hide! I’m going to count!”

“Okay, okay. I’ll hide again.”

For the hundredth time.

This time, wondering where to hide, she thought of the walk-in closet in Joo Hyuk’s room. The D-shaped walk-in closet was not only large but also full of clothes, making it perfect for hiding. Seo Hoo probably wouldn’t think to look there.

Ji Soo settled under the neatly arranged clothes hangers, curling up as much as possible. This should take him some time to find. She planned to lie down and rest in the meantime. After being dragged around by the energetic Seo Hoo for 2 hours without rest, playing hide-and-seek, she had reached her limit.

By the way, it’s really cozy here. Just like being in mom’s arms.

Ji Soo smiled bitterly, recalling the face of her mother in her 30s.

Just then, Seo Hoo’s voice could be heard from in front of Joo Hyuk’s room.

“Elder sister! Where are you? Where did you hide?”

Seo Hoo came running up to the walk-in closet, his footsteps thumping. Ji Soo’s heart started pounding as she held her breath. Seo Hoo opened the closet door wide but failed to find Ji Soo, who had perfectly hidden her body under the clothes hangers.

“Elder sister!”

Seo Hoo grumbled as he left Joo Hyuk’s room.

I should come out after a little while. By the way, when is the Executive Director coming? He said he’d be back soon, but isn’t he too late? Ji Soo’s eyelids fluttered as she thought about various things.

Hurry up and come back, Executive Director. I’m hungry and sleepy. Besides, it’s too cozy here.

Ji Soo’s eyelids soon closed tightly.

***

As Joo Hyuk entered the house, he sensed something strange. The dark house was filled with an eerie silence. He thought Seo Hoo might be asleep and Ji Soo might have gone home, but Ji Soo’s shoes were still at the entrance.

“Min Seo Hoo!”

After turning on the living room light, he looked around. He saw Seo Hoo’s small body lying on the large sofa.

“Min Seo Hoo! Seo Hoo!”

He turned over Seo Hoo, who was lying face down, to check his condition first. He was just in a deep sleep, breathing heavily. Joo Hyuk carried Seo Hoo and placed him on the bed in the small room.

Then where’s Han Ji Soo?

“Han Ji Soo!”

Joo Hyuk called Ji Soo’s name softly, but there was no response. He busily turned his head, searching for Ji Soo. Where on earth could she be hiding in this spacious house? He couldn’t tell if she had left the child alone and gone somewhere.

After thoroughly searching the house, he finally flung open the door of the walk-in closet. He didn’t think she would be here, but if not here, there was no other place for Ji Soo to hide.

“Han Ji Soo?”

Ji Soo wasn’t visible, but he could hear faint breathing sounds.

Could it be…?

When he pushed aside the clothes hangers, he saw Ji Soo’s small body curled up and asleep.

Is she dead?

She looked exactly like that, with no movement at all. Joo Hyuk lowered his posture. Her face, curled up like a newborn, was incredibly peaceful. When he placed his finger under her nostrils, she was definitely breathing.

What is this all about?

He couldn’t help but chuckle seeing Ji Soo sleeping so deeply, unaware of his presence. Joo Hyuk slowly rubbed his brow with his index finger. Finally deciding not to wake Ji Soo, he lifted her up. She was sleeping so deeply that she didn’t even realize her body was being lifted.

Ji Soo smelled of flowers. If someone asked what kind of flowers, he couldn’t answer precisely, but the strong scent entering his nostrils involuntarily narrowed his brow.

He laid Ji Soo on the bed. Even then, she didn’t stir, sleeping exactly as she had been placed.

What on earth was she doing to fall asleep separately from the child? He thought they must have been playing hide-and-seek, and Seo Hoo fell asleep without finding Ji Soo. But still. Falling asleep in the walk-in closet was something else.

Joo Hyuk recalled Ji Soo’s profile. Her educational background was good, but for her first job at a relatively late age, she didn’t have any special qualifications. Although she reportedly scored high in the interview and test, it was something to keep an eye on. It would be impressive if she could hold out until removing the contract worker label.

By the way, there’s someone sleeping comfortably in her boss’s house where she came to work.

Impressive, this woman Han Ji Soo.

Joo Hyuk looked down at Ji Soo’s face for a long time before leaving the room.

***

Ji Soo, who woke up in the early morning, shivered at the eerie atmosphere.

Where is this…?

Frowning as she looked around, Ji Soo soon found the answer. This was Joo Hyuk’s room. She could tell right away, having been in and out dozens of times while playing hide-and-seek.

But why am I asleep on the Executive Director’s bed? Why? How?

As she traced her memories, her mouth gradually opened. She had fallen asleep while hiding in the walk-in closet. The person who moved her to the bed was obviously Joo Hyuk. Ji Soo’s handbag was placed on the bedside table. Ji Soo got out of bed with her handbag. Checking the clock, it was 6 AM. If she left now, she could easily catch the first train.

Was it because she hadn’t slept well for the past few days? Even so, how could she sleep so deeply in the Executive Director’s house? It was ridiculous even to herself.

As Ji Soo was crossing the living room on tiptoes quietly, it happened.

“There are new toiletries in the bathroom in the room, feel free to use them.”

Startled, Ji Soo froze on the spot. Only then did she notice Joo Hyuk sitting upright on the sofa. He had already showered and was properly dressed in a suit. By the way, the glow on his face from early morning was really unfair.

“I’m, I’m sorry, Executive Director! Yesterday, I fell asleep while playing hide-and-seek with Seo Hoo.”

“You seem to sleep well anywhere.”

“No! That’s not it, actually, the only time I’ve slept somewhere other than home was on a school trip. But… why… did I do that?”

“How would I know? I thought Han Ji Soo was dead and was surprised.”

Only then did Joo Hyuk get up from the sofa and adjust his clothes.

“Wash up quickly and come out. I’ll give you a ride to work.”

“No, I’ll just go on my own.”

“Then you’ll be late. Isn’t the secretarial office start time 7:30 AM? As a new employee, you should arrive first.”

“I’ll just wash my face and brush my teeth quickly and come out, Executive Director.”

Ji Soo dashed towards the bathroom. She brushed her teeth and washed her face as quickly as possible. Knowing that Joo Hyuk was waiting for her made her move faster.

She rushed out of the bathroom before properly wiping the water from her face.

Joo Hyuk’s gaze was delicate as he scrutinized Ji Soo’s clear face.

“Did you wash properly? How are you so fast?”

“Yes! Executive Director! I washed swiftly. Because I only have one face.”

What on earth is she saying? Joo Hyuk slightly frowned and left the house.

“Let’s talk on the way. Hurry up.”