'So embarrassing. What the hell, lmao. Why did I cry back there. I just got caught up in the moment.'
Vin Jin lay on his back staring at the ceiling.
'But... I'm still grateful. To Teacher and Baki-hyung.'
Just then he noticed a shadow at the doorway.
"What the — wh, what! Who's there!"
He scrambled back against the wall. "Stop messing around! I'm not scared at all!"
He squeezed his eyes shut and shouted, "Are you a ghost?! Say something if you're not!"
He cracked one eye open. "If you're a male ghost, get lost. If you're a female ghost, come on in."
No answer.
Vin Jin got up from the floor and walked to the door. "I'm seriously not scared, you bastard! I've got two eyes! I can see everything!"
He pulled the door open.
A girl was lying unconscious on the doorstep.
---
The next day.
"You're apologizing?! Vin Jin is apologizing?!"
The Cheonliang fam exploded.
"Did you hit your head or something? What the hell is wrong with you all of a sudden?"
Vin Jin looked at them and smiled. "I said I'm sorry for everything up until now. Can't I apologize?"
The Cheonliang fam lost it again. "Come back, Vin Jin! Come back to your usual horrible self! Apologizing? Who even are you right now?! Did the Child God possess you or something?!"
Vin Jin's patience ran out. "Ah, damn it! So what?! You wanna fight about it?!"
Then he looked down. "How many times do I have to say it. I'm apologizing from the bottom of my heart." He looked back up at them. "Anyway. I'm joining the Cheonliang fam today too."
"This guy, just walks in like he owns the place."
Vin Jin turned toward Seongji, who was cooking nearby. "I can call you that now, right? Teacher."
Seongji didn't look up. "Come taste this and tell me if it needs more salt."
"Why do I have to do that?"
"Didn't you just say you're my student?"
Vin Jin rolled his eyes. "Don't just put me to work however you feel like it! What are you even making kimchi for out of nowhere!"
Baki came in carrying a bundle of logs, took one look past Vin Jin, and stopped. "Hey, Vin Jin. Who's the girl behind you?"
The girl stepped toward Seongji, looked into the pot, and said, "That's not how you make kimchi."
---
"So you're saying she used to do chores at the shaman's house?" Wooseok asked.
Vin Jin shrugged. "Apparently."
Taebong asked, "Why did she run?"
"Taejin beat up all the servants in the house. She saw it happening and just bolted. Passed out in front of my door. It was raining so I let her sleep inside."
Jewoo thought about it. "Then Taejin's probably looking for her. Isn't this going to cause problems? Maybe we should send her back?"
"It's good, right?" the girl asked Baki, who had just picked up a piece of kimchi with his chopsticks.
"I'm a good cook," she continued. "I can clean, do laundry, run errands. I'm quick on my feet. I can do anything you ask. I'm a complete homemaker. A homemaker!"
Jewoo leaned in. "Hey, even if you say that—"
Baki chopped him on the head without a word and kept his eyes on the girl.
The girl lowered her head. "So please let me stay here. Let me join the Cheonliang fam."
She looked up at them, eyes going red. "Please don't send me back."
Baki picked up another piece of kimchi and put it in his mouth. His expression shifted slightly. "This is good. I could eat this every day." He turned to Seongji. "What do you think? Wouldn't it be great to eat food this good every day?"
Seongji picked up a piece and tried it, then smiled. "It really is good. I think it's time for me to retire from cooking."
Mary walked over to comfort the girl. Hyungjae suddenly raised a problem. "If she stays, where does she live?"
Baki answered immediately. "Where else?"
He pointed at Vin Jin. "You've got a house, don't you? Or are you trying to dodge responsibility?"
Vin Jin jumped up. "Why is it on me to take her in!"
Seongji looked at him. "So you're saying you don't have the ability to protect one girl? If you're not confident, don't worry about it. I'll figure something out and keep her here myself."
Vin Jin went quiet for a moment. He looked at the girl, then walked over to Seongji.
"She can stay at my place, fine," he said. "But I have one condition."
He stopped in front of Seongji. "Teach me how to fight."
"I don't have the strength to protect anyone yet. Teach me how to get strong enough to protect someone."
Then he turned back to the others. "I want to learn ssireum too, damn it!"
Seongji picked up a box and started walking toward the wooden house. "Then you'd better get ready. My classes are the kind that make you throw up. Because that's how I learned."
Baki watched Seongji walk into the house and his feet slowed.
'Something's off.'
He looked over at the Cheonliang fam and waved a hand. "Alright, everyone clear out."
The group picked up on the atmosphere and filtered away one by one without much fuss.
Baki walked to the door of the wooden house and knocked.
"You alright?"
Seongji's voice came from inside. "I'm fine. I'm fine, so just stay there. But don't come in."
Baki heard that, said nothing, and sat down with his back against the door.