"The rain won't fall." I dropped the bombshell; I don't know, but I seemed to like her expression when I did this.
"Why do you think so, Your Grace?" Distress became visible on her face, which I found adorable. She cared about things like this, unlike a 21st-century teen whose priorities were different.
I shifted in my seat as I got ready to lie. I began, "During this time of the year, especially the first month of the year, rain doesn't fall regularly, only once surprisingly, and brings high tempera... heat when it falls." I explained, realizing how Hana always felt whenever she made those evil comments to shatter my hope.
"Really, Your Grace?" she answered, looking sad. I'm sorry, Dong yi, but I was bored.
"Hmm hmm, but Dong yi?" I tried my hardest to look serious.
"Yes, Your Grace." She answered, looking like she was denied lunch. But why do I feel like it's my fault? It's so strange.
"But don't tell anyone I said that." I smiled persuasively at the young child.
"Yes, Your Grace." She said, no longer interested in the rites. We continued talking while the ceremony dragged.
An uproar began as a group of angry men started to rebel at the gate of the temple. I looked and saw General Shin and some other guards blocking the angry mob from approaching the gate. In curiosity, I asked her who those people were, who looked ready to barge in and disperse everything, hoping to get a very long gist.
"Those are farmers blaming the food crisis on the King; they believe the heaven has rejected the King. If he can't appease the heavens, he would have to abdicate the throne to the prince of the court and be exiled to pay for his sins." She answered as she returned her focus to the gate with a sad expression.
"The King can't make the rain, he's just a mere man." Anger and fear filled me over the obvious ignorance of these people.
"No, Your Grace, don't say that. The King represents the Sun, the son of heaven an..." Dong Yi corrected, but I stopped her.
"Dong Yi, your King is an ordinary man, like those men outside. The difference is that he has a crown on his head. Besides, he can't make the rain fall, only the heaven chooses when." I finished as I looked back at the King, who was still diligently doing the practice.
Dong Yi stared at her mistress, who did not know that every word she just said was an offense to the crown. But because she was ignorant and kind, unlike her former mistress she had served since she was ten, she would not report this part to his Majesty.
The noise outside began to grow more into a distraction until it overshadowed the prayers the high priestess was shouting. I looked afar off and saw General Shin stopping the angry men from flooding into the temple grounds.
I admired him for enthusiastically doing his duty, before I quickly looked forward to see His Majesty performing the rites relentlessly over again for the umpteenth time. It was really admirable, but I pitied him because his throne depended on something he could not control or did not even have power over, and the only way to keep it was not even guaranteed.
When he was about to repeat the ritual again, a eunuch came, bowed, and whispered into his ear, and he nodded before dropping to his knees to continue the ritual.
There! I quickly spotted it, the wrinkles of sadness that flickered on his face, and I found myself praying that a miracle happens, even if it was something not related but... anything!! I was so sure of what I saw, even if it went as quickly as it came. I mean, I could relate to this kind of situation; I had a similar occurrence in my life, which made me want to help because I knew better in situations like this.
"Faith without works is nothing," as the teacher at my Sunday school would say. And knowing what I was about to do would cause stirs and a lot of things that I would not be able to handle, I still decided to do it.
I abruptly got up and decided I would walk up to him. Although I could not tell where or when this unknown courage came from, it was there, and I could feel it.
Amidst all the stares and gasps, I couldn't care less. At least I was going to show some effort rather than let him stand alone in this unjust and ignorant tradition, even though it was a very stupid impulsive behavior.
Now, forget all those motivational nyama-nyama. I was scared like heck. The real plan was, I would try to use my uniqueness to draw attention and join the rite, then say the heavens heard the prayer and decided to think about it, and when they answered, it would rain overflowing.
Great plan, right?? I know!! I'm a genius.
As I began walking towards his direction, I could hear Dong Yi's worried voice calling out to me, asking where I was going. A few steps later, I became sure enough that I was followed, not by Dong Yi though.
With the veil over my face, I couldn't see people's expression of surprise and confusion as they stared on, thankfully they couldn't see mine of total scare.
When I came out of the crowd in front of the whole capital—because this number was too small for a whole nation, so I'm guessing the whole city stared at me.
In a twinkle of the King's eye, I realized two things: one, it was a stupid decision. What was I thinking?? Did I even think? No, I didn't! And now it was too late to back out, which is number two.
I looked at Dong Yi, who just got to my side—in front of the crowd—and gave her shoulder a squeeze before walking to where the King was. I was hoping my head would still remain on my body before and after I got to where he stood...
And it did, well, after I got to where he stood, not before. I almost went on my period when I saw myself getting acquainted with the beheader in two seconds.
You should have seen how majestic I walked out at first like I owned the place, scoffs. He had to ask them to stand down and bid me to come. Don't think it was easy the way I make it.
I got to where he was standing, and I felt like jelly inside. Not because he towered over me and was smiling like he was expecting me and I was right on time.
I bowed to him for the first time and watched satisfaction cover his face. Among the stares, surprise, and anticipation, I performed the ritual stances I had seen him do many times. Yeah, fast learner.
All eyes on me, even the noise at the entrance stopped, and everywhere became silent as everyone looked on keenly.
Soon enough, he joined me, and we both continued to perform the ritual regardless. After the fifth time, the wind just had to come in as I stood to repeat the stance for the last time—before the whole 'the heaven is thinking about it' part—and blow off my veil, exposing my unique face to every pair of naked eyes and their owners standing there.
Remember that silence that I talked about? Yeah? Well, it disappeared.
Not at once, though. It started with a couple... nah, a handful of gasps, then graduated from whisperings—loud whispers—to murmurings, and before I knew what was up, the whole place was as noisy as a poultry farm.
Geez! How would I turn this to my favor?? I guess this is the part where we just, you know, jump into the next scene, improvisation matters.
I gathered every boldness I had pumped from standing with him and turned to the whole throng. I slowly started to lift up my hands to the heavens like I was lifting up the holy communion, but really, I was buying myself time until they would decide to stone me, but the place became quiet again which, I noticed with closed my eyes as I prayed my last.
I began feeling thirsty from agitation all of a sudden, and I decided to drink the last water of my life. So I took steps to where there was a cauldron of water and drew a cupful.
I drank the first, the second, and third, but when it got to the fourth, I remembered the King might go along with me, because he gave me an open stage. I drew and gave him to drink, which he did, the fourth and the fifth.
Ha! Yes, in case they might want to burn us alive, I drew again and poured it on myself and the King, from head to toe, continuously, until I was drenched completely. Now I am thankful for that squat I did, because my ass looked amazing.
When I was sure I was ready for whatever mode of annihilation they would prefer, I sat back on the ground, waiting for death next to him, who had been watching me all this while. When he saw me sit, he followed suit. Right after, the priestess and Dong Yi saw and did the same.
Minutes later, every man that had come to witness the ritual sat on the floor like I did, with eyes closed, and all we could hear was the wind, no voice, no movement, just birds and probably insects, but no death decision was being taken, I hoped.
The wind blew chills into my bones, and the air became cold like the nightwalkers were on their way as the night drew nigh.
From trickles, it came into a flood it grew, the rain, that is. It started to drizzle and then, minutes later, it poured.
At first, I thought it was death by water, so I forced my eyes closed so as not to see what worse thing was happening to the guy next to me, but no, the voices and shouts of what sounded like celebration made me open them to see rain pouring like a flood on us.
I turned to see him still sitting with me even when everyone had gotten up out of excitement to celebrate. He turned to me and smiled as the dimples became beautiful ditches in the rain, and it got me to almost stretch my hands and touch them. Thankfully, I resisted, which didn't help either, though.
Not long after, the people began to celebrate, we heard from outside the temple, 'Finally, the heavens have sent their own to us, hail the heaven sent, hail! hail! Hail the heavens sent, hail! hail!'.
The King stood first before giving me the hand I accepted before bowing. As I looked at the people before us, I saw the priestess bow to us.
I don't know, but it made me feel like I was part of these people. I couldn't help but smile. The ride to the palace was one of joy for him, the people, and obviously me. He made me ride with him, and we sat opposite each other inside the carriage.
While I was trying to contain myself, he wasn't helpful. He kept peeking glances at me while returning the waves the citizens gave in respect and joy. Sometimes he'd look at me in total appreciation, smiling. When we passed the waving citizens, he closed the curtain of the small window and turned his attention fully to me.
"Thank you for what you've done for us, but how do I thank you enough for this favor you have done, not just for me but for my people?"
'Silence' I didn't know what to say to him, and lemme be honest, I was just trying to be cautious by thinking what to say, and before I got it together, he was done waiting.
"Ha, yes, you do not speak my words," looking like he just discovered a big truth. I wanted to say something to him, but I didn't know what to say, and at the same time, I was so nervous.
"Do you understand my words?" With curiosity and expectation very clear in his tone, I decided to take it one at a time. I nodded as he continued.
"Do you have a name?" This time I hesitated because I had seen a lot of Koreans 'Bibian-lize' my name, and I wasn't ready for my name to be 'hiroshima-ed' right now.
'Silence.' I was nervously thinking of how to say my name without biting my tongue in the process.
"You do not talk? Or you do not see me worthy of talking to?" I just stared at him, thinking, why is he impatient?
"If you cannot say it, could I give you one?" Now that's what I'm talking about. Impatient heart, be still.
Curiosity overtook me as I wondered what name he could possibly give me.
"What about... Haneul? It refers to the heaven," no way! There's a crazy lady I know that bears that name. I shook my head for no.
"Tae Yang... Refers to the sun," I disagreed again with a smile. 'I definitely do not know how to rap...
"Then what about Ga Ui, still a no?" I disagreed and looked away thinking what kind of naming battle did I just consent to. Immediately, I turned my attention when I heard him saying something I didn't get because I was not listening, obviously.
'What about that?" he said, smiling satisfied, assuming that I might have liked it.
"You like that one?" he asked enthusiastically, and I stared at him because I had no idea what he was talking about.
"I can tell you like it. From today, it would be your name as long as you stay here." he said as we arrived at the palace gates.
Ohhh boy... I thought, I was in for a drama.