Chapter 42
He had merely asked, and hadn’t even heard an answer, yet his heart beat improperly. Yun-seo moistened his lips with his tongue and exhaled a trembling breath.
“If you truly like me, I can wait. Without leaving… I’ll stay here… and wait until you’ve settled your affairs.”
If the young So Yun-seo before he left home, before coming of age, had heard these words, he would have fainted and flailed about asking if he’d gone mad. But the current So Yun-seo had spent unforgettable time with the man before him, and had come to yearn for him.
If he could be with Hwi, he would gladly live as a fugitive forever. Of course, he couldn’t burden him, so living here permanently would be impossible, but if Hwi would just promise to shed his obligations and go with him, he could wait as long as needed.
Hwi’s fingers curled and tightly grasped Yun-seo’s hand. Yun-seo looked up in surprise, and Hwi’s eyelids opened slowly. His pitch-black pupils focused directly on Yun-seo.
Now he felt he could almost understand what lay in those eyes that had once seemed as dark and deep as an abyss. It was an emotion resembling sorrow. Yun-seo was captivated by the sad yet joyful ecstasy of believing that he and Hwi carried something similar, and therefore could only connect.
Hwi closed his eyes and opened them again as if nodding.
Even after his eyelids closed again, their clasped hands didn’t separate. Yun-seo firmly held Hwi’s hand and smiled with the face of a young man completely immersed in his first love, not knowing what to do.
* * *
“Mmm…”
Yun-seo tossed in his sleep, frowning when something warm blocked his movement. He tried to push it away because it was stuffy, but it wouldn’t budge. As soon as he irritably lifted his eyelids, he met a pair of eyes looking clearly at him.
After blinking dazedly for a moment and understanding the situation, he rose in alarm and backed away. Yun-seo tried to steady himself by planting his hand on the floor, but unfortunately, his palm flailed in empty air beyond the bed, and just as his body began to tilt backward, a firm arm supported his back.
“You’re trying to cause accidents as soon as you wake up.”
Hwi, who clicked his tongue, no longer showed signs of illness. Glad to see the Hwi he knew had returned, Yun-seo examined his face and tentatively reached out to place his hand on Hwi’s forehead.
“Your fever has completely subsided.”
“…”
“You were sick for two full days. Did you know?”
He had planned to call a doctor immediately if Hwi didn’t recover today, so this was fortunate. Under Hwi’s steady gaze, Yun-seo withdrew his hand, quickly wiped the corner of his mouth, and tidied his disheveled hair.
“But why am I here…”
“Why are you suffering on the floor?”
“You think I wanted to suffer? It’s all because you were groaning and moaning.”
When Yun-seo snapped back in embarrassment, Hwi chuckled. Joining in with a silly laugh, Yun-seo moved away from the bed, removed the cloth covering the table, and brought out the bowl underneath.
“You must be very hungry? It’s cooled a bit, but should be just right for eating.”
Hwi obediently accepted the bowl of porridge and spoon Yun-seo offered, and slowly emptied it. Yun-seo watched him with a satisfied expression, like a parent observing a child’s first steps, then quickly adopted a worried face.
“Are you feeling better? Are you sure we don’t need to call a doctor?”
“Yes. You must have had a hard time.”
“What hard time? You’re the one who suffered, being so ill.”
It had been torturous to watch a robust man collapse suddenly and be unable to help. Though people inevitably fall ill in life, it was an experience he never wanted to go through again.
“Did you… handle your business well?”
“Mm.”
“May I ask… what you went for?”
Even as he asked, he didn’t expect a proper answer. If it was merchant guild business, it would be useless for him to know, and if it was something else, it might be difficult to disclose.
“An urgent problem arose that I had to personally oversee, so I had no choice but to leave promptly. I thought three days would be enough, but it took longer, making you wait. You must have been anxious. I’m sorry.”
Though he didn’t reveal the specific details of the matter, for a man of few words, this was as good as a sincere explanation.
Was he really hiding something from him? The persistent question lingered, but Yun-seo ignored it and deliberately shrugged nonchalantly, as if he hadn’t been anxious at all.
“You said a gentleman doesn’t break his word. So I knew you would come and waited.”
“You believed in me?”
“Of course.”
Hwi put down the bowl and reached out to gently arrange Yun-seo’s disheveled hair. The look in his eyes as he surveyed Yun-seo’s face while touching his hair tickled his skin softly. Clear affection was directed at him. Having similar feelings himself, he couldn’t mistake it. His chest tightened, and joy rose painfully.
“How have you been?”
While Yun-seo recounted what he had done during his stay here, Hwi continuously caressed not only his hair but also his ears and cheeks. Yun-seo realized Hwi must remember the words he had blurted out while Hwi was sick. If so, did these actions signify acceptance?
Unsure how to react to these natural touches that seemed as if they had always been this way, Yun-seo could only offer awkward, shy smiles.
After playing with Yun-seo’s ears for a while, kneading the soft earlobe and tracing the delicate ear shell with his fingertips as if they were toys, Hwi rose from his seat.
“It’s time to leave now.”
“Already? Without resting more?”
“Shouldn’t we go before you become too attached to this place?”
He wasn’t wrong. With the people who had been kind to him still lingering in his mind, if they weren’t going to stay here, it seemed better to leave promptly.
“Are you sure you’re alright?”
“Though I was sick, I’m still stronger than you.”
Hwi lightly pushed Yun-seo’s forehead with his index finger. Seeing him make such a teasing remark confirmed he had fully recovered. Yun-seo rubbed his forehead and nodded.
“Then I’ll trust you and prepare. But you absolutely must not overexert yourself, alright?”
“I won’t.”
While Hwi washed and prepared to leave, Yun-seo went to bid farewell to Eun-gang, Hyeon-song, and Hyeongseo. Upon hearing he was leaving, Eun-gang and Hyeon-song were very reluctant to let him go, and Hyeongseo shed tears freely.
“Don’t cry. If fate allows, won’t we meet again?”
“But you said you’re going far, very far away.”
“Human affairs are unpredictable.”
“Then don’t forget us and you must, someday you must come back. It’s a promise!”
“Yes, a promise.”
It had been a great blessing to meet such good people by chance and spend unforgettable time with them. Yun-seo hugged Hyeongseo tightly before releasing him. As he wiped the tears wetting the child’s cheeks, he heard someone approaching from behind.
“I’m indebted to you. Thank you for taking care of this child while I was away.”
Hwi offered what appeared to be a heavy pouch to Hyeon-song. After hesitating, Hyeon-song accepted it readily.
“Though we didn’t act expecting compensation, I won’t refuse and will use it for our comrades. I only hope that someday there will be something we can do for both of you.”
Hyeon-song and Eun-gang returned a respectful bow, and Yun-seo also bowed deeply to them.
After exchanging farewells repeatedly, the path of departure left his heart feeling empty and regretful, like leaving behind family members. As they exited the village, Yun-seo kept looking back until he could no longer see them, then firmly gripped the reins and looked ahead with mature eyes.
The horses, which had been galloping quickly, gradually slowed their pace. Weeping willows that nearly touched the water surrounded a pond, in full bloom with pale white flowers.
The white flowers glowing in the soft moonlight and the spring night scenery reflected on the water’s surface created a mysterious atmosphere. The pavilion guarding the center of the pond, reached by a path extending from the shore, seemed like it could house an immortal.
Though a village was visible not far beyond the pond, Hwi dismounted without going further. When Hwi extended his hand, Yun-seo gripped it tightly and descended.
Even after reaching the ground, Hwi didn’t release their joined hands. Though it wasn’t the first time he had held Hwi’s hand, his heart strings trembled, forcing Yun-seo to secretly exhale a long breath.
As they walked around the pond’s perimeter, they eventually reached the path leading to the pavilion. Without speaking, as if their hearts were in sync, they turned their steps in that direction.
Entering the pavilion, Yun-seo leaned on the railing and looked down. Seeing his flickering shadow cast upon the water’s surface, he felt elated, as if he had melted into the night’s scenery.
“The landscape is truly beautiful.”
“It’s well-known among painters. There must be hundreds of works using this place as a backdrop.”
“I see. Understandably so. The atmosphere is unique—it would inspire one to pick up a brush.”
Unlike Yun-seo, who constantly looked around taking in the spectacular view, Hwi sat on the railing and played with Yun-seo’s fingers. Realizing that this man subtly enjoyed touching him in various ways, Yun-seo found it strangely amusing.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
