화랑 - a tale of curiosity [ON HOLD]

🌸chapter twenty-eight🌸

Since Ji-ae was given the bad news of her father's passing, she didn't really know what to think of herself. She kept questioning whether or not if she should even be feeling any ounce of remorse for the man - that she was so sure at one point - wanted to be dead. These feelings anf thoughts are what clouded her mind, but she only allowed herself to see it, even though Hansung knew, as well Sam.

Wandering the Hwarang House now seemed like it was her first home, being the artist allowed her to venture here, there and anywhere, claiming she wanted to see the scenery.

Ji-ae was currently sat on top of one of the rooftop of the decorative, traditional buildings. Drawing that of what she could see of Silla, that was laid out before her. She found it rather peaceful up there with the gently breeze and the buzz of voices coming from the Hwarang's roaming the grounds beneath her, as she hummed a gentle lullaby to nobody, but herself.

As she observed everything and had drawn all of her scenery onto the paper, see just watched the people passing below her, but she grew curious when she saw that of a familiar figure, sheepishly walking around and looking as though they are hiding from someone.

Ji-ae squinted her eyes. "What are you  doing, Ah Ro?" Ji-ae quizzically asked herself, soon finding her way off of the rooftop and back down to the ground.

As Ji-ae makes her way to the building she saw Ah Ro enter, she found a group of Hwarang's watching Sun Woo as he stood at the bottom of the building. Ji-ae chortled to herself, walking towards Sun Woo, making herself known to him.

"You know you're being watched, right?" She asked him, soon walking off and then looking back to see Sun Woo quickly turning to see who was staring, He saw around ten Hwarang's all quickly diverting their gaze elsewhere, in avoidance of meeting his own.

Upon entering the building, she instantly found her way to Ah Ro's room, making the said girl jump out of her skin. "Ah. You scared me." Ah Ro said, placing a hand over her jumping heart.

"Why so jumpy?" Ji-ae mused, instantly knowing it was something to do with Sun Woo. "Perhaps, a particular Hwarang has got you running scared?" Ji-ae teases only making Ah Ro raise a teasing hand to the older one.

"It's not funny." Ah Ro said, commenting on the teasing smile plastered on Ji-ae's face. "He is scary sometimes."

"And?" Ji-ae responded with. "He's your brother, shouldn't you be made to feel protected?"

"Being scared of him is completely different."

"But it means that other people must be scared of him to, am I wrong?" JI-ae mused, gaining a defeated sigh in response. "Anyways," Ji-ae said, taking a seat on one of the cushions lay out on the floor. "Your brother will be arriving any minute."

"What?!" Ah Ro exclaimed, pulling down on her cheeks. "What do you mean?"

Ji-ae cleared her throat from the food she was eating a second before.  "Before I  came in here. He seemed to be compltemplating whther to do the same."

"Oh, no." Ah Ro commented. "Is he still out there?" She asked, turning to Ji-ae who just shrugged. Ah Ro frowned, and then debated whether or not to go see if Sun Woo was still out there,

She debated for another second before heading towards the door for her too open it on Sun Woo. She screamed slightly, making Ji-ae chortle a little. Ah Ro slammed the door shut again, placing her back to the door.

"Excuse me?" They heard Sun Woo shouted through the doors. "Have we not met before?"

"I think he entered the building." Ji-ae commented, making Ah Ro huff out at her.

Ah Ro then quickly tip-toed away, making her way silently to the other side as Ji-ae peacefully watched the scene unfold. She watched as Ah Ro muttered things to herself to then only see Sun Woo appear behind her through the other door. Ah Ro whipped around to come face to face with her older brother and then contort her expression in worry. Sun Woo stepped through the doors, closing them behind him and then whipping around to see Ah Ro still gasping at his entrance. He came a few steps closer to Ah Ro, placing his hands on his hips to then lower himself down to her level.

"Am I hallucinating?" Was all he asked, evidently making Ah Ro shake with mild fear.

"You are hallucinating." Ah Ro confirmed. "I am a ghost." Ji-ae laughed at her comment and resumed to watching the scene before her.

"A ghost cannot be this stupid. What is your deal?" Sun Woo seriously asked, meeting Ji-ae's gaze for a second.

"I came here as the physician."

"You have lost your mind." Sun Woo mused, chortling to himself. "Did you not see this place is crawling with men?" Sun Woo commented, making Ji-ae clear her throat, but Sun Woo raised his hand to her. "Not now." Was all he said making Ji-ae 'tsk' at him.

"How rude." She commnted, only to see the sibling's starting again.

"If you are so concerned, you can just protect me." Ah Ro said, her patience now running thin. "Is it better outside?" She asked, only to not let him answer. "I got abducted-" Ji-ae cleared her throat. Ah Ro rolled her eyes and sighed, "We got abducted, while just walking down the street. Why is it more dangerous in here?" Ah Ro said, her point very clear. "At least you are here. How am I safe walking around without you? Should I walk around alone?"

"Did you forget that I nearly took your brother's head of with an arrow?" Ji-ae chimed, only to realise that her internal voice was spoken aloud.

"What?" Ah Ro questioned Ji-ae making Sun Woo shake his head.

"Nothing." He said, turning Ah Ro away from Ji-ae. "She said nothing, this is our argument." He finished on, making her furrow her brows. Sun Woo then straightened up, folding his arms across his chestm sighing as he did. Ah Ro then had no problem in doing the exact same as him, making him knithis brows together,

"You know only 200 characters." Ah Ro stated. "What will you do about 'Tao Te Ching'? Hm?" She asked him, making him drop his lips into a straight line. "Do you have a better than I?"

Sun Woo seemed to weigh up Ah Ro's valid point but still disagreed. "Still, no." He said, turning his head to the side.

Ah Ro then 'tsked' at her older brother and shook her head, unimpressed with his attitude to the whole situation.

"You're going to have a study session?" Ji-ae asked. "Am I right?"

Ah Ro had a wide smile plasrtered on her face in response where as Sun Woo just shared a confused ecpression between the two girls. "I will never understand how women communicate just by mere eye contact."