KACE
The rest of the night, each moment I folded the clothes... I couldn't stop thinking about it... How the fuck could Jalen just let this creepy asshole touch him... and allow it?! Ugh!
"Whoa, Kace, relax!" I suddenly heard Annie scream at me.
I heard myself exhale bitterly numerous times before I found myself looking at Annie, who stuck my inhaler in my mouth while I was unaware.
As I heard the slight spray, I couldn't help but tense before I took a deep breath.
"Jesus, this is the third time I've had to use this on you in the last two hours! Could you honestly pull yourself together, please?!"
"How, how, Annie?! Damn it, how?! She's just letting this shit happen. Ugh, why?"
I exhaled again and dropped the shirt I was folding from my shaky hand.
"Wh-What did I do wrong by going up to him and teaching him a lesson..."
"I..." she hesitated, running a hand up and down her sleeved arm. "...I think you may have just shocked her... and me... Even I've never heard you get so miffed..."
I sighed. "I know. I'm sorry, my love, I promise it was all in my head..."
She shook her head.
"No. No. I understand. You were just protecting her. That is our job as Lady Jalen's butlers. But another one of our jobs is to stay out of her personal affairs. We have no right to intrude. But... the both of us broke that rule yesterday, for good reason. Let's be sure to be prepared for whatever punishment we may receive from the family."
I sighed and retreated from the laundry room, her following.
"Boy, we really did it this time..." I mumbled, stepping into Jalen's room. We whispered as we noticed her still, sleeping figure in her bed.
"It's okay. Let's not worry just yet. We have some time alone," she murmured, curling up onto the air mattress. "Let's not worry about changing into our casual clothing until the morning."
"Fair point. I am quite tired. And these clothes are snug enough."
I laid beside her, and she wrapped her arms around me and gently stroked my hair.
"Good night, Kace..."
"Good night," I replied, before turning my head at Jalen, fast asleep on the bed. I frowned as I saw her tremble in her sleep.
Well, I sure did it.
Damn it.
The last thing I ever remembered seeing was her shaking body in bed.
***
I must've dozed off, because when I looked again, a dim light shone through the window. Annie still held me close to her as she slept, and I only had the strength to glance at my watch.
It was 5:45 AM, and only about sunrise.
I groaned a bit and tried to get back to bed.
Fifteen minutes later, my watch began to vibrate incessantly, as did Annie's.
Ah, yes. Six o'clock was when we started our morning duties, as usual.
But it's a Monday... can't it just wait another five minutes...
I shook my head again, forcing myself up.
No. I need to work. As much as I dislike it.
"Ugh, Annie..." I whispered, nudging her weakly.
She shifted and looked at her watch before trying to sleep through it.
"Geez... six o'clock on a Monday..."
"Come on, you lazy bum, we got ready for school way earlier than this. Get up."
I pressed a button on our watches and forced Annie to her feet.
"Mmmh, annyeonghaseyo..." she mumbled.
"We aren't even in Korea anymore, Jar-head. Let's get to work! And by god, do not wake Lady Jalen up. I know you can be clumsy without your glasses!" I forced my formality, in case Jalen was actually awake.
"Fiiiiine." She emphasized, groggily grabbing some casual clothing and slipping her glasses on. "Can we work in our casual clothes today..?"
"I suppose. We do need to wash these things. Could you hand me my, uh..." I snapped my fingers at her rummaging through the suitcase.
She tossed me a pair of clean underwear and my casual attire.
"Uh. Thanks. I only needed the clothes, but whatever."
"Ooh, could I try those on, then?"
I slapped her arm, making her laugh, but more forceful before she exhaled a small "ow".
"Pervert. Get outta here."
She flashed a smirk and I shook my head as she hit the showers.
Wait a moment...
I banged on the door.
"Hey, you dumbass! How am I supposed to change?!"
***
Well, that was an eventful early Monday morning.
By the time seven o'clock hit, I was preparing breakfast. All I saw was porridge and eggs and bacon laying around, but I guess I'd make do.
But man, Annie was kind of a dummy sometimes, but working in my casual attire... man. I felt like I was walking on thin air! I even wore my sandals in the house, which I can never do back in the Jeongs' house.
America truly was freeing for me.
However...
I squinted my eyes at the thought.
It harbors some terrible memories of mine.
"Hey, Kace, the water's boiling!"
"I got it, I got it."
As I turned the heat down, I watched in slight awe as she minced some mushrooms and onions nearby while some rice cooked... wait a moment.
"Where'd you get all that food?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah... I didn't tell you, I went shopping a while ago and accidentally left the groceries in the garage..."
"What?!"
"Oh, god, not out there, it's hot! I left them in the small fridge that Jalen's grandfather plugged in. Had to take out the beer, though."
"What?!" I yelled again.
"What's wrong with you?"
"When he realizes you tampered with his liquor, he's gonna kill-"
"Would you relax for once," she interrupted. "I put them back in there as soon as I took the groceries out. He's not gonna notice."
"Well... if you insist..."
I frowned again. Last time I moved his liquor... oh boy.
***
"You touched my whiskey?!"
"My apologies, sir, I just wanted to rearrange the fridge-"
Slap.
And I fell to the floor.
"Next time you touch it, this is gonna be what hits you!" He yelled, waving his bottle of beer at me.
***
Ugh... I'm not doing something that risky again. That's the day I had learned of Jeong-ssi's alcohol addiction.
And since then, all I'd heard was his wife complaining about how he drinks too much... and his words... they would hurt... more than an actual punch to the gut...
"Hey, Kace, breathe." Annie urged as she noticed me beginning to shake.
Right... this works me up more than anything.
As I forced my lungs to take in some air for once, I then realized that what I was raving about... I needed to talk to her about it. Maybe then I could finally get this off my mind for good.
Yes... I'd make Jalen a nice breakfast... and maybe I can get her to talk to me... I hope she's calmer today.
After some time, I had a nice and large tray of porridge, rice, eggs, and bacon. As much as I wanted to go against my diet and down everything at once, I didn't want my cholesterol levels to get any worse... though maybe they've gotten better. Haven't gotten my blood tested in years...
I shook my head again and picked up the tray, bringing it upstairs.
No, Kace, this has nothing to do with your diet. This has to do with Jalen. This is for her, not you.
As I reached her door and walked in slowly, mumbling an "excuse me", I noticed her looking right at me.
"I... thought you'd want to see me."
I stepped forward and handed her the tray.
"Here."
"What's all this for?"
"Just take a bite. Don't question it. This is something I've wanted to do."
She anxiously smiled and took an assortment of the food into her chopsticks.
"The porridge looks like it's happy to see me."
I couldn't help but smile, along with the little "illustration" in the porridge made of eggs and bacon. I knew she would like that addition.
"It is. Heh."
I twiddled my thumbs a bit.
Just ask her.
"You know, the thing about this food, Lady Jalen... uh..."
As soon as I got her attention, I suddenly felt my throat clench.
"I... made it... to..." I hesitated as I spoke, over and over.
"To..?"
Why is it so hard to talk to a girl... even if she is the one I have sworn to serve and protect...
"To... uh... apologize," I forced it. "I'm... sorry if I came on too strong. I know... your private affairs are not my business," I looked away.
"Oh... you don't need to apologize... to be honest, I was just a little shocked."
Annie was right...
"Y-Yeah, I even shocked myself..." I replied, scratching the back of my head. "I'll... see you later. Enjoy..."
As I stepped outside, before mentally chastising myself for not asking what I wanted to, I found myself running into Annie.
"Kace," she remarked, her arms crossed.
"Oh, sorry. I didn't see you..."
"Come with me," she replied, holding up a finger.
Ah geez.
"Kace..." she then whispered with a smirk once we were in private. "Do you understand what that was?"
"What? Oh, yeah... I brought Jalen her breakfast, as I should. It's my... duty and all-"
"You're in love!"
"What?!" I gasped. "Don't make such a preposterous claim."
She raised her eyebrow.
What is going through her head?!
"I saw how you acted around her. You've been way off lately, too. I can even tell with the vocabulary you're using now. You're trying to hide something."
"Ugh... what kind of person do you think I am? Listen to me. We were sent here to attend to Jalen, as her butlers. We're not allowed to physically do anything to her, and that includes falling 'in love' or whatever. I'm just following orders, Annie. And you know for a fact that the one I love is you."
She smirked again.
"And Jalen."
"Would you hush up about that?! That can't possibly be the case!"
"Hmm. Say what you want, Greenie. But you know for a fact that there's a fine line in being a butler and being in love, which you know for a fact you're gonna cross eventually," she muttered. "Being a butler means protecting her as the family requests, and not getting involved in her personal affairs. Being in love means sacrificing any rule and your position for her sake... which one do you find yourself leaning towards?"
With that, she left.
As she stepped away, I almost couldn't believe her. But then again... I couldn't stop myself from wanting to check up on her after breakfast.
And there she was, lying in her bed. The small tray was now on the ground. As I picked it up, I noticed her begin to shiver.
Ugh, that asshole's traumatized her...
I frowned and slowly pulled her covers over her.
"Rest now, Lady Jalen." I assured, leaving the room to place the dishes in the sink.
After some time of Annie and myself cleaning the house, I heard a knock at the door. A bad feeling in my gut told me that this was probably the one person I didn't want to deal with.
And lo and behold when I opened the door...
I gazed in fury at her trashy boyfriend, but was oddly satisfied by the injury that still remained visible above one of his eyebrows, which now furrowed at the sight of me.
"Oh, it's... you."
"I thought I told you not to come back," I replied, growling.
"Right, but I was wondering if Jalen was around so I could give her this-"
I cut him off.
"I'm gonna stop you right there," I began to yell. "After yesterday, it's very unlikely that she'll ever trust the likes of you again. And no one in this house ever will. I have informed the family of your disturbing behavior, and no one in the house even trusts you here anymore."
That was a bit of a lie... I hadn't informed them yet, as that would break the sort of "NDA" I had with Jalen herself.
"What-"
"Now, I'm gonna give you ten seconds, and I'd better not see you try any bullshit. I'm going to call the police."
"Oh, really? What for?"
"Trespassing on private property. Don't fucking test me. I will put your ass in jail if I have to."
"Why do you care so much? I'm Jalen's boyfriend, she would trust me."
"Yeah? Well, now, you're Jalen's nothing."
"But-"
"Jalen's nothing!" I shouted again, slamming the door in his face and picking up my phone. It was satisfying, seeing him rushing away.
"Ugh!" I groaned, stomping into the kitchen, the noise from my sandals unsettling me. "Can you even believe the audacity of-"
I paused when I saw Annie smugly grinning at me, her arms crossed.
"-that... guy?"
"Sooooo..." she droned, walking up to me with that same smug grin plastered on her face. What was she up to?
"...you gonna tell me when you two get hitched?"
"What?!" I gasped.
"It's obvious! You like her! Ooh, I knew it..!"
I gasped again and put a hand over her mouth.
"As I said... will you hush up about that theory?! I don't even think of her in that way! Never once have I! I am here to serve Jalen as her butler only!" I whispered fiercely.
As I took my hand away, she only scoffed.
"Sure you are."
"I'm being serious, you stupid Jar-head."
I could only stare as she walked away, waving her hand at me.
"Okay... whatever."
"Get back here, I'm not finished with you yet!"
Oh well. No stopping her now. I sulked a little as I walked upstairs. I needed to get my medicine.
But... I had to... pass by Jalen without waking her up..?
My feet stopped dead in their tracks, glued to the steps. As much as I wanted to, I couldn't... move...
I turned around and ran back downstairs to the couch, covering my face.
What's wrong with me?
As I tried to still my heart and my breath, I could only piece together one conclusion.
What if... I am in love with Jalen?
—-
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hey, everyone! It's been a hot minute since I updated, but I'm back. And while you may or may not be in the c*rona quarantine, perfect time to catch up here, eh?
Next update will be in a few days. Make sure to keep an eye out for it! Also, the book is now 1/3 of the way complete! Hooray!