화랑 - a tale of curiosity [ON HOLD]

🌸chapter three🌸

Ji-ae was currently in her room, creating a piece of artwork with the sewing kit that was at the bottom of the trunk she had from two years ago. She made it her task to finish the work that her mother's delicate hand has already started. However, she was shaking away from her thoughts when a knock sounded at her door. She placed her sewing down and made her way over to the door, opening it to see Sammaekjong standing in front of her.

"Enjoy your little stroll?" He inquired, instantly making her narrow her eyes at the young male and cross her arms over her chest.

"Have you been following me all morning?" She asked back, making Sam 'tsk' at her, shifting his weight to the other side with the action of him also crossing his arms.

"I had to make sure you were alive." He bluntly stated, making Ji-ae give a curt nod in understanding. "You saw my face, remember?" He then circled his own face as he used a sarcastic tone. 

"Couldn't forget it, even if I wanted to." Ji-ae mused, standing aside to let him in, but he shook his head.

"Seeing as you're in one piece, I need your help." He said, making Ji-ae frown. However, without further explanation, Sam took her by the wrist and led her out of the room - quickly ushering her to lock her door-   before leading her out of the Inn and back into the city.

"Where are you taking me?" She said as they came to a halt. He ignored her question and then began pulling her along again. "Sam--" She was cut off when he turned on his heel and placed his hand over her mouth. She stared wide eyed as he held her around the waist and had their noses a few millimeters from touching.

"Don't call me that out here. You never know who's around you." He said, looking around him to see that nobody was actually there. That fact made Ji-ae scoff, however, she understood. His gaze was intense as he slowly removed his hand from her mouth and the back of her waist and set her up straight again.

"Then what do I call you?" She asked, stopping Sam's progression resulting in her walking straight into the back of him. Ji-ae released a short gasp, realizing what she had ran into. However, Sam didn't seem fazed by it but instead brought a hand to his chin like he was thinking.

"What do we call me?" He asked, pondering for awhile until Ji-ae spoke up.

"Ji-Dwi?" He narrowed his eyes at her, making her continue on. "It's from where I was born. One of the market men's name was 'Ji-Dwi'." She reasoned, making Sam narrow his eyes in question.

"Ji-Dwi?" After a few moments he nodded in agreement and repeated it. "Ji-Dwi."

"Okay, we get it." Ji-ae patted his shoulder and continued walking ahead. But she stopped and realised that she didn't know where she was heading. "Where are we going?"

"Okta." He simply said, making Ji-ae frown once more.

"Okta?" Sam then follows up behind her and leads her away. He did nothing but hum in response. "Why?"

"You ask so many questions." He drawled, making Ji-ae widen her eyes a fraction.

"Because you never tell me anything." She retorted. He sighed and spoke as they both walked along the dust road.

"I couldn't sleep." Ji-ae squinted her eyes and laughed. Sam turned around and then gave her a puzzled look. "What?" He asked the girl, making her roll her eyes,

"You can't sleep, so you want to go to a club?" She pondered out loud, making Sam squint his eyes,

"It's not the club I want. It's the story telling girl." Sam said, instantly making Ji-ae understands who he was talking about. There is only one girl which has the capability to drag a man out in the middle of the night for her stories. "She helps me sleep. Her stories soothe me."