The lime angel:
My heart almost jumped out of my chest. 'What?'
Mi Nyeo squinted her eyebrows in imploring gaze and smiled nervously.
'Hyungnim, I promised to take care of two children from the kindergarten for a few days because their mother has to travel abroad urgently. She said she'll be back no later than this Sunday. Is it ok if they stay at the dorm?', she lowered her voice, blinking innocently.
I took a deep breath. 'Of course it's ok.', I derided. 'We are already seven without your aunt, what's two more? The house is enormous! Ah wait, I have an idea. Why don't you drag THE WHOLE Seoul to live here?'
Mi Nyeo frowned and put on her coat.
'Then I'll go to a hotel with them. Just drive me to the airport please, as I said I'll meet her in ten minutes and I won't be able to make it using the bus.'
Aish… she's REALLY going to do that. I put off the quarrel till we got in the car. Two more trouble-makers around me… I can't survive in this madhouse… How could I come up with the ridiculous idea to get married at all? No, no… she'll definitely eradicate my soul unless I make her children!
'Why did she call exactly you? You're a teacher, not a nanny.', I mumbled, lighting the engine.
'I don't know. Maybe she has no-one to ask for help. Hyungnim, the kids are awesome! You'll definitely love them. The little girl Mi Na is so cute, and her younger brother Jang Sun is the most obedient boy in the group. Don't worry, they won't make any troubles.'
'Tch. How wouldn't I love them… ', I rolled my eyes. 'And where are they going to sleep?'
'Hmmm', she scratched her hair. 'We'll make up something.'
I exhaled and parked the car near the airport.
The white angel:
I saw Mrs. Lee and the children waiting for me next to the coffee machine outside the building and hurried towards them. Hyungnim remained in the car.
'Mi Nyeo, dear, thank you so much for your help! I was so desperate and didn't know what to do. So I took the children and was about to leave with them to China but Jang Sun told me to call you. They are well instructed how to behave but if any of them makes a trouble, call me immediately and I'll scold them. Here's a bag with their personal belongings and some money. ', she handed the bag to me.
'Don't worry, onnie. They are good kids, who have never caused troubles. I'm used to dealing with children and I guarantee I won't have any problems. Just take your time to do your job in China. I'll look after them as long as needed.'
'What would I do without you?', she sobbed. 'Do you remember what I told you about their medicine? Every day after lunch. And if you go out, don't forget their scarves, hats and gloves.'
'Yeah, I know. We often go for a walk with the kids. They are well acquainted with the order and their obligations.'
'Ok, I have to leave now. I will be back before Sunday and will call you often, so keep your phone on, please. Thank you again from my whole heart!' She turned to the kids: 'Mi Na, Jang Sun, behave well and don't bother your teacher – she's in vacation, such as you. Your favorite games are in the bag. And don't forget to clean your teeth regularly. Bye.', She kissed both of them and headed to the airport.
Each of the kids took one of my hands and kept skipping joyfully on the way to the car.
'Teacher noona, we'll have a lot of fun, won't we?', Jang Sun grinned.
'Shut up, stupid. Omma warned us not to bother teacher onnie.', hissed Mi Na.
'It's ok. We will play a lot together, but you should be quiet and not bother the rest.', I smiled.
'Who are you living with, noona?'
'Ah, we are a lot of people there: Jeremy – he loves children a lot despite being a child himself; Shin Woo hyung – he's always helpful and generous; my twin brother Mi Nam – you'd better not mess up with him /*because he's more childish than you and the madhouse will be complete*/; Manager Ma and coordinator Wang – they're going to have a baby; and Tae Kyung hyung, who's behind the wheel.', I helped them get in the car.
'Let's go, hyungnim.'He turned the car around, keeping a constant look at the side mirrors towards the back seat with his peripheral eyesight.
For a few minutes nobody dared spit out a single word. Then Mi Na asked:
'Tae Kyung oppa, are you teacher's boyfriend?'I made her a sign to be quiet. Hyungnim frowned and ran the vehicle faster.
The lime angel:
The beginning of hell… I already feel the mighty flames burning deeply into my throat. What else do I have to go through till I get to the ninth circle? When am I supposed to find eternal rest? I began seeing everyone around me as a little red long-tailed prototype of the devil with two curved horns on the head. Mi Nyeo… if it was destiny that brought us together, why is it trying to separate me from you now? Is it all a kind of test? If so, I won't ever give up… even though I feel my strength weakening and slowly abandoning my entire being. I won't… as long as I can clearly see the light in the end of the long red corridor of hell's castle. The light of your shiny face, my angel… Nothing have I ever desired to see more than that light, even if it's blinding my eyes. Did you hear that, long-tailed monster? Take all of me but I won't ever give up from her!
Aish… I must be going crazy. Why do I sound like Dante Alighieri, talking to the devil? I shook my head and forced the car to the dorm.
On coming home, 'Wow! What have you been doing in the countryside to appear with two children now? You're really quick!', manager Ma chuckled idiotically.
My patience reached its limit as I noticed Jeremy coming downstairs, followed by Shin Woo and Mi Nam. I went to the kitchen to grab a bottle of water and sat on a chair, putting on my earplugs.
White angel's evil twin:
The outer door clashed and Jeremy shot off down the stairs, banging the door over my face. This brought more to my dizziness from the party but I managed to compose myself in a while. Shin Woo quietly walked out of his room with trails of bewilderment on his face.
'Whoaa, who are these kids?', Jeremy wondered.
'They are from the kindergarten and will stay here for a few days, as their mom is busy.', sis explained.
'That's great! We can play computer games together and go to the park. Hello, sweeties. I'm Jeremy. How old are you?'
'I'm Mi Na and I'm 6 years old. My brother Jang Sun is 5.', the girl answered.
'I'm Shin Woo. You can sleep in my room. I will move in to Jeremy and Mi Nam.'
'Thank you, Shin Woo hyung', sis grinned contently.
'Teacher onnie, why do you call them hyung instead of oppa?'
'B-because… I got used to calling them this way.', My Nyeo stuttered. 'Kids, you can watch TV while I'm making the lunch.', she turned the TV on and went to the kitchen.
'Hey, guuuuuuuys! Turn off the stupid TV and let's do something funny.', I took place between both of them while no-one was watching at me and whispered: 'Do you know how to play hide-and-seek?'
They hopped in joy and yelled simultaneously 'Yes!'
'Great! But if anyone asks you who suggested playing, don't tell it was me!' They zipped their mouths. 'Then I'm hiding first and you have to find me. You're NOT allowed to go on the terrace, in the kitchen and out of the house, only in the rooms. Now count to ten and start searching, ok?', they nodded.
The white angel:
Walking into the kitchen, I saw hyungnim sitting alone, listening to music with his eyes closed. I touched his hand. 'I'm sorry, hyungnim!'
He clutched my hand harshly and pulled me into a tight embrace without saying anything.
I found myself sitting on his lap. 'H-hyungnim, someone may come in and see us.'
'I don't care. I'm so fed up with conforming to everyone.', his voice sounded weak and exhausted.
'B-but the children are in the living room. What should I say when they ask why… '
'You're right.', he loosened his hold with a refrained sigh and we stood up. 'Let's make something for lunch. I'm hungry.'
I felt really flattered by his wish to help me with the cooking.
'Hyungnim, how was the New Year party? Did you have a good time?', I questioned.
'I don't want to talk about that. Don't remind me. Thanks noona I managed to slip away earlier.'
'I watched on the TV the interview with Yoo He Yi. It's good you cleared up the situation but she must be mad at what you said and may make things worse. You know her…'
'Don't worry, pig-rabbit. She WON'T say anything against you. I'm 100% sure.'
'I am not worried about me, but about you and oppa. Why are you so sure of that?', I wondered.
'Because… she's afraid of me.', he smirked with a secret delight and started cutting the vegetables.
The blue angel:
I browsed in the Internet from my phone, keeping an eye on the children who were running up and down the staircase. There were plenty of messages, greeting 'Happy New Year!' and one from her.
'I caught flu and don't feel very well. I promise to contact you as soon as I get better. Enjoy your free time!'
I left out a sigh of relief. Apparently, she's not disappointed with me. I hope she'll recover soon so that we could meet each other again.
Go Mi Nam jumped down the stairs, taking five steps instead of one at a time. He looked around like a criminal hiding from the police.
'Shin Woo hyung, have you seen them? Where did they go?', he could hardly take a breath.
'You mean the children? They climbed upstairs with Jeremy.', I said calmly.
'Aish… why is this punk helping them? He's out of the game!', Mi Nam sat on the floor in front of me and his eyes kept flickering here and there cautiously.
'Mi Nam-a, what were you doing on the balcony with Yoo He Yi and Tae Kyung yesterday?', I asked without lifting my glance from the phone.
'H-how do you know?', he stammered perplexed.
'Reporter Kim asked me some questions… He's suspicious of the three of you getting involved into a love triangle. Is there a piece of truth in all this?'
'Of course not!', he roared. 'We were just taking pictures together.'
'Taking pictures on the balcony? It's quite strange. Then shall I ask Tae Kyung about it?', I smiled derisively.
'Don't! Well, I'm dating her but she doesn't want it to be known. We've just gone out twice, it's nothing serious. Tae Kyung was standing there by himself when the reporters came and started shooting. I don't think he would like to date He Yi even now when he broke up with sis.'
'What do you mean? How come Tae Kyung has broken up with Mi Neyo? This can't be true!', I startled.
'But it is. I heard their conversation before she left for the countryside. He said he couldn't stand it anymore…'
White angel's evil brother:
Two resonant voices drifted from above. I quickly hid behind the wall that separated the kitchen from the living room.
'Shin Woo hyung, have you seen Mi Nam hyung?', the boy asked.
'No, I haven't. Check in his room.'
They turned back upstairs and I calmed down.
'So, what do you think? Is it good?', I heard Tae Kyung' voice from the kitchen.
'Hyungnim, I didn't know you're such a great cook! The meal tastes awesome!', sis kept praising him as if this selfish jerk lacked confidence. Why is she so blind?
'Really? I just improvised.' Aish… such a peacock!
'The kids will absolutely love it! Hyungnim, how do you manage to be so good at everything?'
What? Everything? What was that he couldn't actually stand? No, no… she's totally out of her mind because of that idiot. I'll speak to her...
