Episode 2 : Please Dady Hire Me

He scanned me from head to toe, not even trying to hide it. The way his eyes lingered made me cross my legs unconsciously—I suddenly felt so self-aware.

Out of the corner of my eye, I snuck a peek at his face.

Messy hair that looked like it hadn’t seen a comb all day. Thick brows, soft but narrow gray eyes, and—wait—a tiny mole just under his left eye. His nose was slim but sharp, and his lips were thin with a visible cupid’s bow that made his upper lip look heart-shaped.

His face was… proportionate. Not too sharp, but you could definitely see the jawline. His expression was unreadable, though. Eyes intense but hollow—no emotions, just blank.

And then his voice sliced through the silence.

“What the hell are you still doing there?”

I flinched. His voice was cold—but weirdly calming? Ugh. What am I even thinking?

I gave my head a tiny shake to snap myself out of it and hurried over to where he and Lorenzo were standing near a door. I offered an awkward little smile and scratched my neck like some guilty schoolgirl.

He opened the door and walked in first. I didn’t move yet, just kind of froze. But then someone gave me a gentle push from behind.

I spun around—Lorenzo. He was frowning.

“He doesn’t like airheads. So get it together,” he muttered as he walked past me.

I rolled my eyes behind his back and followed him in. Sorry, but this whole place is kinda overwhelming, okay? And the people? Even more stressful. Tss.

Another room. Because why not. Honestly, I wouldn’t be shocked if Lorenzo turned out to be part of a secret cult or something.

As soon as I stepped in, I noticed a black table at the center with two chairs—one on each side. Papers were stacked neatly on top, and instead of a regular table lamp, there were two lit candles giving off moody vibes.

The walls were decorated with calligraphy and art pieces, and there was even a fake deer head mounted above, which somehow looked like it was watching me. Creepy.

To my left was a long black couch, a solo armchair, and a coffee table with a white ceramic vase and three lit candles beside it. The rug beneath? Looked like cheetah print. And on the right side of the room was a legit Baroque fireplace. Like… rich gothic mansion vibes.

The lighting in here? Dim and dramatic. I gulped.

Lorenzo sat down on the couch like it was nothing. Meanwhile, I just stood there, super awkward.

“Please have a seat,” Ryoushin said calmly.

He sat next to Lorenzo, leaving me feeling like a third wheel at a mafia meeting. I hesitantly walked over and sat on the solo chair, legs clamped tightly together, sitting super straight like a nervous job applicant. My eyes dropped to the checkered porcelain tiles on the floor.

“G-Good evening,” I said, breaking the awkward silence. I tried to smile a little, hoping to make a good impression.

Ryoushin didn’t even bother with pleasantries.

“Lorenzo told me you're the daughter of one of his dad’s workers in Hacienda Vizconde. After your father died, you dropped out of school and started looking for work. Is that true, Ms. Castillo?”

I nearly winced. That was so not true. I shot Lorenzo a side glance and he winked at me.

Cool. Just stacking lies on top of lies now.

But he did say I should just nod and agree, so…

“Y-Yes, sir.”

“How old are you?”

Okay, wow. Straight to the point.

“I’m eighteen.” I kept it respectful, even if I was slightly weirded out.

“Who were your parents?”

“Armando Castillo and Geneva Castillo.”

Sorry, Kuya Armando. May you rest in peace. Even if I just borrowed your name for this fake backstory. I lowkey pinched my leg as punishment.

“Drop the sir. I’m not ancient,” Ryoushin said flatly.

I forced a smile and looked at the wall behind him to avoid making eye contact.

“Where are your things?”

That made me glance at Lorenzo again. Uh-oh. What now?

“Oh, right,” Lorenzo jumped in. “I forgot to mention—her house caught fire last Wednesday. She barely made it out with just her clothes and—”

“—my wallet!” I jumped in, waving my sunflower-print wallet like it was a trophy. My smile widened like I was trying to win a pageant.

Ryoushin sighed and stood up.

I quickly set my wallet on my lap and watched as he walked over to the table with the papers. Lorenzo stood too and gestured for me to follow.

I leaned in and whispered, “Do you think he’ll hire me?”

“Convince him more,” he whispered back.

We both stiffened when Ryoushin suddenly looked our way. I flashed another over-eager smile.

“S-Sir, so… did I pass the vibe check?” I blurted out nervously.

He didn’t look up from the papers.

“Can you do all household chores?”

“Yes! I can clean, do laundry, organize literally everything—” I paused. “But I can’t cook.”

Lorenzo actually stumbled beside me. He wasn’t even moving. How did he trip over thin air?

Then Ryoushin slammed the papers shut and I nearly jumped. Crap. That… didn’t sound like a good sign.

“Ms. Castillo,” he said, “you do realize the first requirement for a maid is to be a decent cook. At least know how to cook.”

I pressed my lips together.

“You’re not qualified.”

Ouch.

Time to pull out my secret weapon: fake tears.

I looked up dramatically, one hand over my chest, the other hovering near my mouth like I was holding in a sob.

Tears welled up in my eyes like clockwork.

“S-Sir, please... I really need this job. I have nowhere else to go. I’m all alone. Please don’t turn me away…”

I whipped out Lorenzo’s handkerchief and blew my nose so loud both of them flinched.

“I swear I’ll work hard! I’ll do my best—I just wanted to be honest about the cooking thing. That’s all. Please?”

I added some bonus sobs for dramatic effect.

Lorenzo awkwardly patted my back like he was trying to burp a baby. I glared at him through teary eyes. Bro, calm down before you snap my spine.

“Alright. Alright. Just stop crying!” Ryoushin snapped, brows furrowed.

I cried harder and launched myself toward him, grabbing his hand.

“Thank you! Thank you so much!” I beamed up at him through watery eyes.

And then I noticed it.

The hand I was holding?

My snot-covered handkerchief was… sitting right on top of it.