“What are you doing here?” I spit out the moment I see him enter the laundry room. I was just about to bring the second basin of dirty clothes for washing outside.

Without a word, he bows his head. I wouldn’t know if he did it out of shame for what happened yesterday or because of the fact that he arrived late.

He hesitates for a moment before answering in a soft voice, “I-I’m here to help out with laundry.”

I huff in an exaggerated manner, wanting to make him aware that I'm annoyed and angry to see his face again. I then ask, "Have you finished organizing the infirmary?"

"Yes."

I scoff and cross my arms before me, “Look at me, then.”

Silently, Jun raises his head and there is this hint of a pout on his face. I wanted to roll my eyes at his pathetic way of making me want to feel sorry for him or something along those lines.

“Tell me why you’re here again,” I utter in a stern manner.

“Why do I feel like I’m one of the kids,” He mumbles under his breath and I heard him loud and clear.

My anger almost gets the best of me when I ask, "Are you trying to speak behind my back, mister?"

"N-No," he stutters, "that is not what I mea-"

"Since you're acting like a kid, then I'll treat you like them. Have I made myself clear?"

I can see his inner turmoil as he tries to answer and at the same time stops himself due to his pride. Oh yes, I know a guy like that. Almost all who don't me would always find me a test of their pride.

"Have I made myself clear?" I repeat in a more stern voice.

I hear him huff under his breath and after a while, he relents, "Yes, Miss Ari. I heard you loud and clear."

I raise an amused eyebrow at him. "Good." A smirk grows on my face. "Then what are you doing just standing there? The clothes aren't going to wash by themselves. Help me carry all these loads." I bend to pick up the basin then pause when I remember what else I need to say. "Oh, and speaking of the laundry load, we got a lot for today. You ready, hotshot?"

I notice him swallow a lump down his throat.

After that, Jun does not make any comments as we worked together throughout the rest of the morning and even the afternoon, which came off as a huge surprise for me. Hotshot always had something to say, but now he was just a silent man the whole time.

Maybe this was his way of apologizing? Or maybe he is still mad and is just trying to tame his anger through being silent or I don't know…mindfulness exercises?

I scoff under my breath, "Who would have thought that this man was progressive?"

"D-Did you say anything, Miss Ari?" Jun asks, pausing in his work as he scrubs the colored clothing with laundry detergent and water.

"O-Oh, uh, no, no," I stutter like a total idiot as he caught me off guard. I bring the back of my hand to my forehead and wipe the sweat off of it. "I was just testing to see if I could make as much progress as you, you know? I mean," I point towards all his finished basins with clothes that are ready for hanging, "you're almost done with six basins and I've only done four."

"I had to be fast, Miss Ari. Look at the horizon," he juts his head to the side, "the sun's setting already."

I follow where he was referring to and find that he's right. It's almost evening. The color of the sky is turning into a warmer hue of orange and slowly the sun looks like it's sinking into the water.

I hum in acknowledgment. "We can still hang the clothes to dry overnight. I don't think it will rain."

"Should we also hang the bedsheets?"

"Oh, yeah. Definitely those first."

To be frank, I can't really tell if he is feeling any kind of remorse over what happened. I’ve been watching him since this morning and I know that he’s been quiet, but not even a simple ‘Sorry’ came from him.

Is he acting like the douche I claim him to be? Or do I just have high expectations?

Maybe I was too mean…or a bit mean…or generally mean. I scolded him like a child and he would have felt embarrassed. Like, come on, I gave him a freaking time-out!

But no, I had the right to scold him like a child. He was even acting worse than one. I never encountered a child who would tear down a whole room until this hunk of a man.

Still…

I sneak a glance at him working hard as he scrubs.

What should I say? Should I even say anything? I don't know–

"I'm sorry."

The words he uttered stopped my train of thought. I couldn’t help myself. I stop in the middle of scrubbing and look up at him. His gaze is on me. There is something in his eyes that is trying to portray a certain kind of sincerity – one that is not clouded by lingering doubt.

“You sounded genuine,” I comment quietly.

He heard me and replies, “I was.”

He really is like a child. Because even if any of the kids can do something that could really piss the heck out of me, I always find it in my heart to forgive them countless times when they are sincere in their apologies. Looking at Jun now, he is like a child. Not in a physical way, but on how lost he is. In some way or another, this is a new life for him since he must have been on the brink of death judging by his bullet wound.

But – and I stand by this – I shall not relent as quickly as I do with the kids. He still is an adult and has slowly grown to be someone the kids look up to. 

I decide to not make another remark regarding his apology. Instead, I tell him something that might make Sunja scold me if ever she were to find out, “She likes you, you know.”

Silently, Jun raises an eyebrow in confusion.

“Sunja,” I continue. “She told me that she likes playing with you. All the kids do.”

“...Really?” It seemed like he couldn’t believe what I was saying.

“She keeps telling me to be patient with you because she finds you to be a quote-unquote, nice man. To be frank, I wouldn’t know if it changed now, but I expect you to say sorry. I don’t need your genuine apology. She does.” I finish there hoping that my words sink into him. Maybe they brought some kind of effect on Jun because it’s clear he doesn’t have anything to add or reply.

Internally, I give myself a pat on the back for being dramatic in my own way. So you better reflect damn hard on your actions, mister!!! If I followed my way, I would have definitely shouted those words out. If ever Jun suddenly burst out crying out of guilt, I know I would feel a teensy amount of happiness.

Instead, he merely cleared his throat softly and then said, “Thank you for telling me. I appreciate it.”

Damn it. I expected something more dramatic. I grunt then mutter, “Don’t mention it. Now shut up, hotshot, and go back to work.”

—---------

It’s nearing dinner time and I haven’t found where Sunja is. The rest of the kids were gathered by my co-workers, but she was nowhere to be seen. I asked Yejin to check the different rooms in case she might think that she was still playing hide and seek with the other kids. I took the initiative to check outside. Though, I hope she is not outside on her own since it gets really dark and chilly at the beach.

I’ve checked the library in case she’s still engrossed in this new chapter book she’s been challenging herself to read, but even that place is empty. I made sure to check my room because she likes hanging out there during her free time. Yet even there, I couldn’t find her.

I continue walking down the corridor, and stop by the closed door that leads to the hammock Sunja and I like to spend our time together on. And when she has something to say, she tells me everything about it when we’re on that hammock.

Just as my hand hovers over the doorknob, I hear hushed disembodied voices speaking on the other side. I pause for a while and gingerly place my ear against the door

“-iss Ari told you?!” A shrill voice exclaimed.

That definitely was Sunja’s voice. Relief floods through my system as I finally know where she is. Though, when a voice replies to her, I freeze for a moment.

“W-Was that supposed to be a secret?”

And the second voice that stuttered was definitely Jun’s. At least they’re together.

Wait a minute.

Why are they together?

I rest my hand on the knob and slowly turn it, praying silently that it won’t make a creaking sound. Even as I accomplish doing that, I continue to pray that the door wouldn’t make a sound as I pull it open…just a bit for me to see what’s going on.

I peek through the small opening and find Sunja sitting on the hammock while Jun sits on the ground to maintain the same eye level as her. He has a hand wrapped around one area of the hammock that he is slowly pushing and pulling to rock Sunja as she sits on it.

“I told Miss Ari that it was a secret.” Sunja tucks her arms to herself and huffs in annoyance, “I am never going to tell her my secrets anymore!” She frowns deeply and looks away from him.

Oops. My big mouth is going to cost me extra snacks from the pantry to bribe Sunja into telling me her secrets again.

“Please don’t get mad at Miss Ari,” Jun tells her. “She told me so that I know how much you care for me. And I care for you, too, Sunja.”

I watched how Sunja’s frown slowly disappeared. Her arms started to loosen until she placed her hands on her lap. She faces him again and says, “We all care for you, Mister Jun. You are our friend.”

Her words cause Jun to break off into a small smile. Even I find myself smiling a little at what she said. I swear, that girl has the patience of a saint. And here I am acting like the devil sometimes…just not around the kids.

“...You’re very kind, Sunja. Thank you,” Jun whispers. “I’ll make sure that I will always take care of you, okay? Are you afraid of me?”

“Just don’t shout like that again, okay?” She points a stern finger at him. It almost makes me laugh on the spot. I swear that kid acts so cute when I’m not ready. In the hands of a little child, Jun, who clearly can tower her over a good number of feet, cannot do anything but nod vehemently in understanding.

“I-I promise, Sunja,” he stammers, “I promise that I won’t raise my voice again.”

“Raise…?” Sunja grew confused with his choice of words.

“I won’t make my voice loud again,” he immediately clarifies.

“And you won’t shout at Miss Ari again?”

It looked like he got taken aback at the mention of my name. I, too, didn’t expect her to suddenly bring up my name. Well, I am curious about what he has to say. 

Silence falls between them. Sunja is still eagerly waiting for his answer.

Finally, he says, “Especially her. I won’t shout at Miss Ari ever again.”

Sunja brings her pinky near his face. “Pinky promise!”

Jun stops swinging the hammock and raises his hand. He tucks his other fingers to leave his pinky to stand out. “I promise, Sunja.” He wraps his pinky around hers and she does the same, sealing the promise.

“Would you like to sit beside me later?” She asks him excitedly. Their pinkies are still entwined together.

“Later?”

“For dinner!” She informs him as if it’s the most obvious thing in the world.

“Oh! At the dining hall? Will…will that be okay with you?”

She nods fast and pulls her pinky away. “I want you to meet my other friends so that you can play with everyone!” She throws her arms to her sides to emphasize her point.

Jun breathes out a soft and deep laugh. “Then, it would be an honor to sit with you.”

“Honor?” Sunja murmurs, boggled with what the word means. I take it as a cue to open the door and act surprised to find them there. Both jump a bit in shock to see me suddenly barge in.

“Ah! That’s where the two of you are! Come on, it’s dinner time already.”

“Yey!” Sunja jumps out of the hammock and lands on her two feet. “Miss Ari, Mister Jun is going to sit with me!”

“Oh, is that so?” I cross my arms before me. I may have said that in such an unnatural way because I can see Jun throw me an unsure look through my peripheral vision. Thankfully, Sunja does not suspect a thing.

“Mhm!” She faces him. “Come on, Mister Jun! Let’s have dinner already!”

Jun stands from sitting on the ground and before he could reply, I beat him to it, “Mister Jun will catch up with you, okay? Sunja, you need to go now because Miss Yejin has been looking everywhere for you.”

“Okay! I’ll leave a chair beside me for you, Mister Jun.” And with that, she runs out of the area. I hope she’s heading straight to the dining hall now.

I gaze at Jun, standing quietly by my side. I eye him from head to toe then shift my gaze to the now-empty hammock. “You stole my spot,” I utter in a pointed tone, referring to Sunja and I’s special place here.

“S-Sunja led me here after I apologized to her,” he explained.

My eyes soften at his words. Slowly, realization dawned on me. “…she trusts you, then,” I admit in a murmur.

“I hope that someday, you'll be able to trust me, too, Miss Ari.” He takes a step closer to me. “What happened at the infirmary will never happen again.” He then raises his pinky in front of my face. “That’s my promise.”

And before I can show any reaction, he walks back inside the corridor, following Sunja to the dining hall.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

I hope you enjoyed this chapter ♡

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