day five: the babysitter, for g_odalisque13
Title: The Babysitter
Recipient: g_odalisque13
Fandom/Pairing: APink; Chorong/Eunji
Rating: G
Warnings: None
Summary: Chorong had always felt something uncomfortable about Eunji.
Chorong squeezed into the train at 6:10, commuters pushing at her elbow and Mother's voice in her ear. She juggled the phone over to the other side so she could make room for her bag. "It's okay, Mother," she said, "the babysitter is at home now."
Even through the bad connection she could hear her mother's sharp intake of breath. It's okay? Chorong might have said she'd left Haera in the house alone with a burglar.
Chorong knew that her mother thought it was atrocious that she could pay another woman to raise her child. No, not raise! The babysitter was only there in the two or three hours between Haera finishing school and Chorong finishing work. She was necessary.
Chorong had originally called to tell Mother she'd been promoted at work, but she hung up without saying anything about it. Mother would rather hear her say that she quit her job and found a husband. But Chorong had no mind for that. She couldn't imagine any man would want to marry a woman who already had a child, and besides, there was no man that Chorong wanted to marry. She was so used to just her and Haera - together they were full and complete, there was no room for another person.
Except...
Chorong's head felt light as she stepped off the train.
Except... the babysitter. The woman who fit in between the time Haera finished school and Chorong finished work - she had become normal too. Perhaps she had become too normal. Mother's apprehensions lingered at the back of Chorong's mind.
Just as Chorong reached her front door she heard singing. She felt her heart twist in her chest as she paused on the doorstep and listened harder. Eunji was singing with Haera, but Eunji's voice was clearer, floating through the air and walls with a note that was at once joyful and sad. "I want us to live together for 100 years..."
Chorong did not dare interrupt it. She waited silently outside until they were quiet.
When she opened the door, she saw Eunji on the ground with her guitar. She stood up smiling, and Haera hid her face in Eunji's skirt.
"Your mum is home," Eunji said cheerfully, and patted Haera's head. "Go give her a kiss."
Haera stumbled over shyly and Chorong knelt down so they were facing. Haera kept her head down, so Chorong touched her cheek.
Haera always acted strange around this time. If she was happy to see her mother, it was masked by her misery at having to say goodbye to Eunji. She sometimes even cried when Eunji left, and with a tight throat Chorong wondered why Haera never cried when she said goodbye in the mornings.
"Haera was good today," Eunji said softly. "She was doing drawings all afternoon quietly, and then we played some music together. Haera - go get your drawings so you can show your mum."
The little girl nodded, and ran to her room.
When she was alone with Eunji, Chorong smoothed her skirt down awkwardly. She felt strange in her office clothes, like she somehow didn't belong here in this warm and domestic place. Eunji was wearing a long floral skirt that was so pretty and homely - ah, no wonder Haera loves her so much! Chorong was disturbed her own thoughts, so she said quickly:
"Will you stay for dinner?"
"I'd like to. But I have an evening class tonight, so I better be going."
"But aren't you hungry? don't you want something before your class?"
Eunji laughed loudly. "You're always worrying about me. You're such a mum."
Haera came skipping into the room, her sadness at Eunji's leaving was now replaced with excitement at showing her pictures. Eunji kissed her head. "I'm off now, darling. Don't forget to explain all the details in the drawings, just like you explained to me."
Haera nodded, and took the drawings over to Chorong as Eunji left. The drawing she held up had three figures. The one in the middle was wearing a red dress.
"Ah, that's you!" Chorong said, and Haera became excited.
"Yes, that one is me! I put you on the other side." She pointed at the drawing where there was a long figure in grey.
"Oh... I'm the grey one."
Haera nodded. Chorong could not match her excitement.
"And the other person? Who is that?"
Haera looked at her with surprise. "You don't know it?"
Chorong could see it now. The bright colours and flowers in her skirt. "Of course, that's Eunji."
* * *
Chorong put the drawing on the fridge. After Haera had gone to bed, she looked at it for a while, a strange tide of thoughts flooding her mind. Being a single parent was challenging for all sorts of reasons, finding time and finding money, but she wondered if Haera ever suffered because of it. She had been successful in keeping them both afloat, but what if Haera was missing the presence of a second parent, that all other families seemed to take for granted?
When she put Haera to bed, she had combed out the plait in her hair. It was not the same one she had tied when she had done it in the morning. "Why did your hair change?"
"Eunji changed it for me. I like the way she ties it better."
"Ah, of course..."
Haera turned around to look up at her. "Can Eunji stay with us all the time?"
Chorong drew her breath, but then she smiled. "Go to sleep."
* * *
Haera's drawing had put Chorong in a strange mood. There was something she liked about it, even though at first she had been conscious of how Haera had put her to the side in grey. But it somehow felt harmonious, and so what if Haera was happy? So what if Haera loved her too? Chorong knew she had no reason to be jealous.
The house was so quiet and dark when Haera was asleep. For this reason, Chorong often went to bed early herself, but tonight she wasn't tired, but she was lonely. She picked up her phone and scrolled listlessly through the contacts, until she landed on Eunji's name and picture. She paused. Would it seem weird to do this?
It didn't matter. She pressed call.
Her heart thudded heavily in her chest and she held the receiver to her face as she waited for an answer. Before long she heard Eunji's cheerful voice on the other end.
"Oh, Chorong, what's up? Did I forget something?"
"Ah, no," Chorong stuttered awkwardly, then laughed. "I was actually calling to ask if you would like to go out tomorrow. I was planning on taking Haera to the park, and I wondered... ah, I mean, would you like to come too? Of course you don't have to... it's not like you would want to work on a Saturday, but I..."
She was cut off by Eunji's laughter. "Unnie, why do you sound so nervous? I would love to come and see you. I'll meet you tomorrow morning."
* * *
Chorong usually spent the weekend alone with her daughter, but it didn't bother her that Haera was pleased that Eunji was joining them for their outing. It was refreshing to have the company of another adult, since Chorong's only friends were from work.
They went to Seoul Forest, where the trees were yellow with autumn and the paths were bustling with people; families and children. Chorong and Eunji stood together on the steps, as Haera fed the deer in the enclosure.
"To tell you the truth," Chorong said. "Inviting you here was more for my sake than for Haera's."
"Oh really?" Eunji gave a half smile.
Chorong looked down self consciously at her skirt and shoes, which were her prettiest lace ups that she only wore twice a year. "I wanted you to see me not wearing office clothes for once," she said.
Eunji laughed. "That's fair enough. Come to think of it, we never see each other much. I'm only really there when you aren't."
* * *
They headed for home when the sun was low in the sky.
"I'm glad that you asked me to come today," Eunji said. She added, quietly so that Haera couldn't hear, "to be honest, I used to think you didn't like me."
Chorong was startled. "I always liked you." Was that true? She had always felt something uncomfortable about Eunji, but it wasn't dislike. At least she didn't think so.
"Yes, I came to realise that you are just the quiet type. We never really talked before anyway."
They had talked harmoniously throughout the day. Eunji was studying music at a university and she revealed to Chorong that it was her goal to become a school teacher.
"It makes sense. I can tell you have a natural way with children."
"Do you think so?"
"I'd say it's a talent." She stopped short of revealing that she sometimes felt awkward talking to her own daughter, and she sometimes wished Haera would just hurry and grow up so that they could have a normal conversation.
Eunji stayed with them when they made dinner. Chorong had not suggested it, but somehow it felt natural for her to stay. She was asking Haera what should they cook and Haera seemed enthusiastic about joining in. Eunji noticed the drawing that Chorong had put on the fridge.
"It's cute, right?" she said, and patted Haera on the head as she laughed.
Eunji ended up staying after dinner too, reading stories to Haera in the living room. Chorong listened to them, smiling at the way Eunji put expressions in her voice. Really, she was so charming...
After Haera was put to bed, Eunji and Chorong were alone again. There was a moment of silence, before Chorong said suddenly:
"I was promoted at work. I haven't told anyone yet."
"Congratulations. That's such good news."
Chorong looked at her feet. "I don't know if it's a good thing. The new job will be more demanding and I might have to spend more time at the office. I'm worried Haera won't know me anymore. Will she forget who I am?"
Eunji laughed. "Forget you? She adores you, she talks about you all the time. You work because you have to. Haera will understand when she's older."
Chorong suddenly felt embarrassed. She kept her eyes on the floor. As she was contemplating this, Eunji spoke again.
"To be honest, I'd steal your life if I could. You have a nice house, a good job, a beautiful daughter and you did everything on your own. Me... I'm like a fallen leaf blowing in the wind. I liked being free, but since I started working for you I thought, wouldn't it be better to live like this? Don't be offended. I guess what I'm saying is I really look up to you."
Chorong raised her eyes to meet Eunji, but now Eunji was the one looking embarrassed. She realised that this confession had made them equals, and she continued looking at Eunji with an excited fascination, but she did not say anything.
The silence unnerved Eunji. "Ah, it's weird me talking like this. Should I go home?"
Chorong stood up and held out her hand. Eunji looked at it for a second, and then she took it.
"I'd prefer if you stayed."
Recipient: g_odalisque13
Fandom/Pairing: APink; Chorong/Eunji
Rating: G
Warnings: None
Summary: Chorong had always felt something uncomfortable about Eunji.
Chorong squeezed into the train at 6:10, commuters pushing at her elbow and Mother's voice in her ear. She juggled the phone over to the other side so she could make room for her bag. "It's okay, Mother," she said, "the babysitter is at home now."
Even through the bad connection she could hear her mother's sharp intake of breath. It's okay? Chorong might have said she'd left Haera in the house alone with a burglar.
Chorong knew that her mother thought it was atrocious that she could pay another woman to raise her child. No, not raise! The babysitter was only there in the two or three hours between Haera finishing school and Chorong finishing work. She was necessary.
Chorong had originally called to tell Mother she'd been promoted at work, but she hung up without saying anything about it. Mother would rather hear her say that she quit her job and found a husband. But Chorong had no mind for that. She couldn't imagine any man would want to marry a woman who already had a child, and besides, there was no man that Chorong wanted to marry. She was so used to just her and Haera - together they were full and complete, there was no room for another person.
Except...
Chorong's head felt light as she stepped off the train.
Except... the babysitter. The woman who fit in between the time Haera finished school and Chorong finished work - she had become normal too. Perhaps she had become too normal. Mother's apprehensions lingered at the back of Chorong's mind.
Just as Chorong reached her front door she heard singing. She felt her heart twist in her chest as she paused on the doorstep and listened harder. Eunji was singing with Haera, but Eunji's voice was clearer, floating through the air and walls with a note that was at once joyful and sad. "I want us to live together for 100 years..."
Chorong did not dare interrupt it. She waited silently outside until they were quiet.
When she opened the door, she saw Eunji on the ground with her guitar. She stood up smiling, and Haera hid her face in Eunji's skirt.
"Your mum is home," Eunji said cheerfully, and patted Haera's head. "Go give her a kiss."
Haera stumbled over shyly and Chorong knelt down so they were facing. Haera kept her head down, so Chorong touched her cheek.
Haera always acted strange around this time. If she was happy to see her mother, it was masked by her misery at having to say goodbye to Eunji. She sometimes even cried when Eunji left, and with a tight throat Chorong wondered why Haera never cried when she said goodbye in the mornings.
"Haera was good today," Eunji said softly. "She was doing drawings all afternoon quietly, and then we played some music together. Haera - go get your drawings so you can show your mum."
The little girl nodded, and ran to her room.
When she was alone with Eunji, Chorong smoothed her skirt down awkwardly. She felt strange in her office clothes, like she somehow didn't belong here in this warm and domestic place. Eunji was wearing a long floral skirt that was so pretty and homely - ah, no wonder Haera loves her so much! Chorong was disturbed her own thoughts, so she said quickly:
"Will you stay for dinner?"
"I'd like to. But I have an evening class tonight, so I better be going."
"But aren't you hungry? don't you want something before your class?"
Eunji laughed loudly. "You're always worrying about me. You're such a mum."
Haera came skipping into the room, her sadness at Eunji's leaving was now replaced with excitement at showing her pictures. Eunji kissed her head. "I'm off now, darling. Don't forget to explain all the details in the drawings, just like you explained to me."
Haera nodded, and took the drawings over to Chorong as Eunji left. The drawing she held up had three figures. The one in the middle was wearing a red dress.
"Ah, that's you!" Chorong said, and Haera became excited.
"Yes, that one is me! I put you on the other side." She pointed at the drawing where there was a long figure in grey.
"Oh... I'm the grey one."
Haera nodded. Chorong could not match her excitement.
"And the other person? Who is that?"
Haera looked at her with surprise. "You don't know it?"
Chorong could see it now. The bright colours and flowers in her skirt. "Of course, that's Eunji."
* * *
Chorong put the drawing on the fridge. After Haera had gone to bed, she looked at it for a while, a strange tide of thoughts flooding her mind. Being a single parent was challenging for all sorts of reasons, finding time and finding money, but she wondered if Haera ever suffered because of it. She had been successful in keeping them both afloat, but what if Haera was missing the presence of a second parent, that all other families seemed to take for granted?
When she put Haera to bed, she had combed out the plait in her hair. It was not the same one she had tied when she had done it in the morning. "Why did your hair change?"
"Eunji changed it for me. I like the way she ties it better."
"Ah, of course..."
Haera turned around to look up at her. "Can Eunji stay with us all the time?"
Chorong drew her breath, but then she smiled. "Go to sleep."
* * *
Haera's drawing had put Chorong in a strange mood. There was something she liked about it, even though at first she had been conscious of how Haera had put her to the side in grey. But it somehow felt harmonious, and so what if Haera was happy? So what if Haera loved her too? Chorong knew she had no reason to be jealous.
The house was so quiet and dark when Haera was asleep. For this reason, Chorong often went to bed early herself, but tonight she wasn't tired, but she was lonely. She picked up her phone and scrolled listlessly through the contacts, until she landed on Eunji's name and picture. She paused. Would it seem weird to do this?
It didn't matter. She pressed call.
Her heart thudded heavily in her chest and she held the receiver to her face as she waited for an answer. Before long she heard Eunji's cheerful voice on the other end.
"Oh, Chorong, what's up? Did I forget something?"
"Ah, no," Chorong stuttered awkwardly, then laughed. "I was actually calling to ask if you would like to go out tomorrow. I was planning on taking Haera to the park, and I wondered... ah, I mean, would you like to come too? Of course you don't have to... it's not like you would want to work on a Saturday, but I..."
She was cut off by Eunji's laughter. "Unnie, why do you sound so nervous? I would love to come and see you. I'll meet you tomorrow morning."
* * *
Chorong usually spent the weekend alone with her daughter, but it didn't bother her that Haera was pleased that Eunji was joining them for their outing. It was refreshing to have the company of another adult, since Chorong's only friends were from work.
They went to Seoul Forest, where the trees were yellow with autumn and the paths were bustling with people; families and children. Chorong and Eunji stood together on the steps, as Haera fed the deer in the enclosure.
"To tell you the truth," Chorong said. "Inviting you here was more for my sake than for Haera's."
"Oh really?" Eunji gave a half smile.
Chorong looked down self consciously at her skirt and shoes, which were her prettiest lace ups that she only wore twice a year. "I wanted you to see me not wearing office clothes for once," she said.
Eunji laughed. "That's fair enough. Come to think of it, we never see each other much. I'm only really there when you aren't."
* * *
They headed for home when the sun was low in the sky.
"I'm glad that you asked me to come today," Eunji said. She added, quietly so that Haera couldn't hear, "to be honest, I used to think you didn't like me."
Chorong was startled. "I always liked you." Was that true? She had always felt something uncomfortable about Eunji, but it wasn't dislike. At least she didn't think so.
"Yes, I came to realise that you are just the quiet type. We never really talked before anyway."
They had talked harmoniously throughout the day. Eunji was studying music at a university and she revealed to Chorong that it was her goal to become a school teacher.
"It makes sense. I can tell you have a natural way with children."
"Do you think so?"
"I'd say it's a talent." She stopped short of revealing that she sometimes felt awkward talking to her own daughter, and she sometimes wished Haera would just hurry and grow up so that they could have a normal conversation.
Eunji stayed with them when they made dinner. Chorong had not suggested it, but somehow it felt natural for her to stay. She was asking Haera what should they cook and Haera seemed enthusiastic about joining in. Eunji noticed the drawing that Chorong had put on the fridge.
"It's cute, right?" she said, and patted Haera on the head as she laughed.
Eunji ended up staying after dinner too, reading stories to Haera in the living room. Chorong listened to them, smiling at the way Eunji put expressions in her voice. Really, she was so charming...
After Haera was put to bed, Eunji and Chorong were alone again. There was a moment of silence, before Chorong said suddenly:
"I was promoted at work. I haven't told anyone yet."
"Congratulations. That's such good news."
Chorong looked at her feet. "I don't know if it's a good thing. The new job will be more demanding and I might have to spend more time at the office. I'm worried Haera won't know me anymore. Will she forget who I am?"
Eunji laughed. "Forget you? She adores you, she talks about you all the time. You work because you have to. Haera will understand when she's older."
Chorong suddenly felt embarrassed. She kept her eyes on the floor. As she was contemplating this, Eunji spoke again.
"To be honest, I'd steal your life if I could. You have a nice house, a good job, a beautiful daughter and you did everything on your own. Me... I'm like a fallen leaf blowing in the wind. I liked being free, but since I started working for you I thought, wouldn't it be better to live like this? Don't be offended. I guess what I'm saying is I really look up to you."
Chorong raised her eyes to meet Eunji, but now Eunji was the one looking embarrassed. She realised that this confession had made them equals, and she continued looking at Eunji with an excited fascination, but she did not say anything.
The silence unnerved Eunji. "Ah, it's weird me talking like this. Should I go home?"
Chorong stood up and held out her hand. Eunji looked at it for a second, and then she took it.
"I'd prefer if you stayed."