I woke up with a smile on my face. I stretch my arms and yawn. The tea really helped me to have a good sleep.
Exactly when I stood up out of the bed, there was someone knocking on the door.
" Min Yun?"
" You just woke up?" he asked.
His aura today was completely different from yesterday. He looked fresh and happy.
" You look happy." I said.
" I think having a day off is not that bad. I just realized I need to relax. "
" I'm glad you accepted His Highness's offer."
" Shouldn't you come with me? Isn't an order coming from the king?" he smiled.
I smiled too. " Oh! I almost forgot", then laughed.
Seeing Min Yun smile makes my heart flutter. He never showed his smile just to anyone. It seemed like his smile was quite expensive. He should know that his smile is so beautiful.
"Just wait for a while. I'm gonna change."
" Take your time. I will be just waiting here."
I nodded and headed to my room.
I wore a blue floral hanbok. I matched my outfit with a sunflower clip. I put a slight make up on my face and a lipstick ( the traditional make up and lipstick that the ancient people used).
"Done." I said to myself and got out of the room.
***
Min Yun's pov
When the door opened, I was fascinated by the woman who just got out of the room. Her blue floral hanbok and accessories matched her beauty.
I remembered again the woman who looked exactly like her. Her beauty and the way she dressed herself.
" Do I look bad?" I-jun asked with hesitation.
"No,no. I was just amazed by your beauty."
I-jun laughed. " I thought I had dirt on my face. You didn't even react if my hanbok is good to me or not.
" I was just speechless." I reason out.
" So where will we be heading?" she asked.
" I don't have breakfast yet, let's eat in the market." I suggested.
I-jun just agreed then we headed to the market. Good thing it is still morning. The market was not crowded.
" What do you want to eat?" I asked.
" I want boiled chicken and rice soup."
" Hmmm. I like it too."
" Two servings of rice soup and 2 servings of boiled chicken." I told the waiter.
After getting our order, the waiter went to the kitchen.
" I just felt the hunger." I-jun stated while holding her tummy.
" Me too. I think our order would be a great combo."
I never even realized that I was acting like a teen right now. When I woke up a while ago, I never felt as peaceful as before. When someone died, I never had a good sleep. It kept haunting me like I was the murderer. But just last night, when I laid on my bed, I automatically fell asleep. Maybe the tea I drank really helped me have a good sleep. If I just knew that tea in the first place, I would have it everyday.
" The order is here ." the waiter announced.
" Wow." I-jun was so amazed at the food that was served to us.
We started eating and sipping the soup. It was really delicious.
" I will surely eat this again." she said.
"We can go back here, together with Ji han."
" How about the king? I'm sure he will like it. "
I nodded, " I'll ask him."
" Does he experience eating this kind of food?"
I nodded again , " we have loved the market foods since we were kids."
"By the way, after eating where should we go next? "
" Do you want to buy dresses or accessories? I'll treat you"
She shrugged, " no,no. You bought too much for me before. It is enough for me."
" Just say yes. "
She smiled.
"I hope you will keep smiling. I like your smile."
I was astonished at what she said to me. I never even notice that I keep smiling today. I don't know what is in me, but all I know was that I really had a great night.
" I should drink tea often. It makes me relax."
" We can do that this evening."
After eating, we roamed around the market. I-jun was looking for a nice dress, she even bought a snack even though we just ate. I couldn't help but laugh. She has a big appetite.
While I-jun was busy looking for hair accessories , I noticed something again. The accessory that I had seen when I passed by the market.
I held it. I caressed it with my finger. The memory I had went back. The pain went back.
" Are you going to buy it?" asked the old lady.
The old lady who asked me the other day.
"Oh! You just came here last time. Are you going to buy it now?"
I nodded, "Yes. "
"Your lover will surely like it."
I painfully smiled. How I wished I could give it to my lover again.
" Min Yun!"
I looked in the direction of I-jun. She was smiling and waving her hand in the air.
" She's beautiful" said the old lady.
I looked at her. She thought I-jun was my lover.
I wanted to correct it but at the same time I don't want to correct it.
"Thanks" I said then gave me the money.
I walked towards I-jun who was happily choosing accessories.
" You have so many unique accessories here," she said.
"I-jun..." I called her.
"Hmm?" she looked at me.
I stared at her face for a while. I like her pale skin, red lips, thick eyebrows, pointed nose and black hair. Who would have thought that this lady doesn't belong here?
" Is my face dirty?" she looked uncomfortable.
I didn't respond and put the hair clip I bought from the old lady.
" It suits you."
She touched the hair clip I put on the side of her hair then smiled. " Thank you."
" Ahhh. Just go on choosing the items you want. " I felt the awkwardness between us. I just don't even know why I did this.
She smiled again and again. " Right." then went back to what she was doing before.
I couldn't help but to stare at her. Looking at her right now is like looking at a kid who is happy and excited buying her own stuff.
I was so distracted by her looks that I didn't even notice she was already calling me.
***
I-jun/teresita's pov
While choosing some items that I possibly buy, I noticed that Min Yun kept staring at me. I asked him if I had dirt on my face but he didn't respond. I looked on the displayed mirror and looked in my face. There was no dirt. Then why did Min Yun keep staring at me? It makes me awkward because I'm not used to it. Ji han was my companion before. Min Yun was so busy with his work. This moment was quite awkward because his mood changed. His smile, his aura, his beauty. Ugh! I shouldn't be thinking about this. What if he has a lover? what if he loves someone else? I shook my head at the thought.
" Min Yun!" I called him. I bought something for him too. Even though I used his money to pay.
I pulled his right hand so that I could put the bracelet I bought. It was a black bead bracelet. I asked the seller if it has a meaning to it and she said if I give it to someone, he would have a brighter and stronger future.
"It suits you." I mimicked what he said to me a while ago. " I hope you will have a brighter and stronger future."
He smiled. " I like it. Thank you."
" Thank you too. " I point to the hair clip he gave to me.
We both laughed . Even though there was an awkward moment, we still managed to enjoy our market tour.
After how many hours of buying something we decided to go to a restaurant to have tea.
" I think my feet are swollen" I joked.
But Min Yun took it seriously. He bowed down and removed my shoes.
I was so shocked at what he did. His position right now was like proposing to me to marry him.
I felt really awkward about what he did.
" I was just joking. " I said shyly.
" No, it's really swollen." he showed me my foot.
"Ha?"
" Don't move, I will just get medicine."
" No, you don't have to do this."
" Just wait. "
Ugh! I shouldn't have said that joke. What has gotten into me?
Some people at the restaurant were staring at me. I felt ashamed of myself. I just added the worries of Min Yun.
After a while, Min Yun went back with a pack of ice. He bowed down to reach my foot and put an ice pack on my swollen foot.
" I hope this will ease the pain."
"I'm sorry, I was really joking."
" But it is visible." he insisted.
"I'm sorry," I repeated.
" Let's just stay for a while here. If your feet are okay, we can go back to the palace."
"No!" I exclaimed.
Min Yun looked confused.
" Let's enjoy the remaining time. I want you to do the things on your day off."
" I can request another day off."
I shrugged. "Let's just finish the day. Please." I pleaded. I wanted to enjoy this moment not for Min Yun to worry about my feet.
" Are you really sure?" he looked hesitant.
"I am really sure." I firmly said.
" Okay, let's just rest for a while then we can go to our next place to visit. "
I repeatedly nodded. Min Yun applied another pack of ice on the other foot. After doing that he sat on his chair and the waiter already served the tea.
"You know what, I don't like drinking tea in my world. I just learned how to drink it here. I prefer coffee."
"Coffee?"
" Yes, it is a beverage prepared from roasted coffee beans."
"I'm sorry I don't get it . " Min Yun said.
"It's okay, in the future you will know that."
He smiled weakly. " Do we really have our future?"
I stopped sipping my tea and looked at his face.
" You know that there will be no future." he continued.
I don't know how to respond. It was awkward for me knowing that I don't even know the end of the story.
"I'm still curious on what will happen next." he said.
" The book lit up the other day."
He listened to me intently.
" I read chapter 7 of the book and it mentioned the name of Kim Shin-A."
He was a bit shocked by what I said.
" Kim Man Shik's daughter?"
I nodded then continued, "she will do everything just to let the king fall in love with her."
" So that Kim Man Shik's power will rule over the palace. "
" Do you know her?"
" I know her and she was open to her feelings on His Highness before. I didn't know that up until now she was still planning to win the heart of the king."
" How about her personality?" I wanted to make sure that she will not hold any grudges to me whatever will happen.
" She was a quiet person. She doesn't want violence. "
Hmmm. Maybe she will not hold any grudges to me whatever the things I will do?
"Why are you asking?"
"I'm just curious. "
" If the king will know about it, he will surely get angry".
" Yeah , I guess so. "
After the small talk and finished our tea, we decided to just walk around outside the market. Min Yun told me he wanted me to see the flower garden in the town.
I was a bit excited because it was my first time to see plenty of flowers. I told you before I am not a nature lover. I always put myself in reading and admiring the fictional characters that I almost forgot that there are beautiful places in the world.
"Woooowww." I exclaimed. I never ever have experience seeing this beautiful scenery in my whole life. The different colors of the flowers were swayed by the strong wind.
" You like it?" Min Yun asked.
" How could you ask that I like it? I really love it. I should have known this place in the beginning."
" I know you will like it. "
" Did Ji han go here? He should see this one."
"We had explored different spots in this town. We even visited some places in other towns."
" Can we go next time? I'm sure it will be a blast."
" Next time we had our day off , we will go to my favorite spot.
While talking, I went down to touch the flowers. It even smells so good. I felt like I didn't wanna go home. I just wanted to stay here and feel the breeze and feed my eyes with these beautiful flowers.
"Here"
I looked at Min Yun and he was already holding a bunch of flowers. He offered it to me.
"Just keep it." he said and continued walking.
I looked at him while he was walking and diverted my attention in a bunch of flowers he gave me. I smelled it and it was so good.
I followed the direction of Min Yun while happily holding the flowers.
After a while Min Yun stopped and we sat on the grass.
" I have never seen beautiful flowers in my life" I said.
"You never went out of your house?"
" I go out, but I always go to the library. I prefer reading books than going to different places."
"Do you want to go back home?" he asked out of the blue.
I wasn't able to respond because I couldn't get the answer.
"Why not stay here?" he continued.
I looked at him. He was busy looking at the sky.
" I don't know. Even if I have no parents, my best friend is possibly waiting for me."
"You miss her?"
" Very much. That is the reason why I want to go back home. "
"What if you don't want to go back home? Like you want to stay in our world?"
" As much as I want to, I can't. "
" Because of your best friend?"
"Because it's not my world." I answered.
He sighed. " It's our world but an imaginary one, right?"
"Do you always think about that? "
" That we are just fictional characters? yes" I could see the sadness in his eyes.
" I never had the intention to say that you are not real. But I need to show my identity and I need to be myself "
" You are still lucky ,it's not the king who discovered it"
" Yeah. I'm glad I said it first to you. "