Friday, February 10, 2012, 3:37 AM
a.step.from.the.north.wind
Lee Jumi runs. She runs, as quickly as her legs can carry her. She strips the outer layer of her colorful green hanbok, throwing the silk garment away from her. She needed to lose the extra weight. The cold air whips across her face, but she cannot feel it. Her head’s burning, heat exuding everywhere; the cuts on her body stings, but she continues on. She can no longer feel any pain, everything was now numb. There was no time to stop, no time at all. She was not safe. Sungyeol is going to find her any second.
Jumi looks up at the night sky, hidden underneath the layers of the tall sequoia wood trees, her eyes wandering as quickly as her feet. The North Star, where was the North Star? She needed to get to the south, and without locating the North Star, she had no idea where she was going.
She was falling, Jumi was falling. A scream, somewhere in the distance runs through her ear before she finally succumbed, falling asleep to the cold, calm air. Pain surge through her as darkness envelopes her.
“AGHHH!” Lee Howon angrily throws the book aside, anger seeping through him. The palace maids scatter back, startled by Howon’s anger; this was not the first time, no, and it will surely not be the last. No one dare looks up at him. “Get out! Get out! All of you-”
The doors open and Yoorin rushes in, more palace maids following after her. “Howon,” the name ushers out of her lips. The maids all gasp, shocked at her sudden outrageousness. Everyone knew it was treason, to directly look at the royal family, much less call them by their name.
“Yoorin,” comes Howon’s reply. A deep sigh escapes him. “Yoorin,” he repeats, this time calmer. “Leave us.”
Hushed whispers scatter around the room. One by one, the palace maids exit the room. Jung Yoorin stares back at Howon with worries in her eyes. Slowly, she makes her way to him. Yoorin reaches out, contemplating whether to touch him. Her hand crumbles back at the reminder of his golden red robes. It was also treason, to touch a royal family member.
Before she retracts her hand back fully, Howon reaches out, grabbing it. His hands wrap around hers, caressing the back of her palm softly, before bring it up to his cheek. Yoorin jerks back her hand in response, but his grip was much stronger.
“Why are you mad?” Yoorin asks. She watches as he close his eyes, another deep breath escaping from Howon.
Howon doesn’t answer. Yoorin’s cold fingers press against his hot cheeks and he wonders where she was before she came here. “You always know how to keep me calm.”
Yoorin pulls back her hand, this time successfully as she hides her hands underneath her blue hanbok. She looks away, staring down at the floor, her heart beating madly. “His Majesty will be mad.”
A moment of silence passes through them, anger returning to Howon as he remembers.
“Grandfather loves you most.”
Jumi jumps up, opening her eyes as fears run through her. Her body ached with pain, yet she musters all of her strength and got up. Frightened, her eyes travel around her. It was a while before she realizes she was in a small hut. Small rays of sunlight creeping in through the small gaps; it was daytime. She was safe-for now. Sungyeol has not found her.
“You’re up.”
Jumi turns around, wrapping the thin blanket around herself. Before her, a man stands. His hair was a mess, his face covered in dirt, and his eyes barely open. It appears as though he has not had a decent bath in days.
“What is the meaning of this?”
“What?” he asks, as he makes his way towards her.
Jumi retreats, her arm wrapping itself around her shoulders tighter. The thin blanket was barely enough to cover her. “What madness is this?”
“Funny. You speak like a woman from a noble family,” he answers. His lips twirl and his brows furrow as he takes a seat across from her, lying down in the stack of hay Jumi had just woken up from. “But, you certainly, do not look like a lady from a noble family.”
Jumi looks down. Her once white silk skirt was now tarnished with dirt and blood. If one was to see her now, they would not believe she was betrothed to the crown prince, much less a lady of a noble household. At the reminder of the crown prince, she reaches down to her hidden pocket, feeling for the jade bracelet. It was the only way she could prove her identity to the crown prince. Her shoulders lighten with relief as she felt the hard jewelry still hidden in place.
“Is this Hanyang?” Jumi asks, swallowing down her saliva. Her stomach growls, reminding her she still had yet to eat. It had been almost three moons since her last meal. “Am I in Hanyang?”
“I don’t know what you’re saying,” he runs his hand through his hair. “Hanyang, here, there, isn’t it all the same?” He gets up, and just like before, Jumi retreats. “I’m hungry. I’m eating.”
Her stomach growls again; this time violently. Jumi grimaces at the loud noise it made. She keeps her eyes down, away from the man as he turns around to look at her again. He eyes her suspiciously, his hand scratching the back of his head. “Aren’t you going to eat?”
“It is okay…to eat?”
The people stare at her, whispering loudly to each other as they pass by on the streets, kicking up dirt. Jumi keeps her eyes low, only enough to follow the footsteps in front of her. She wishes she had her jangot, not used to the people staring at her.
“We’re here!” the footsteps stop.
Jumi looks up as she watches the man before her entering a public restaurant. He turns around, and with a quick movement of his head, he motions her in. Shocked, Jumi slowly make her way in, following behind him. It was exactly how her mother had told her it would be: loud, dirty-poor souls eating as though they’ve never been fed, screaming at the top of their lungs with no respect-no elegance or class. The man pulls her down into the seat beside him.
“Jihoo orabeoni!” A shrill voice screams as a girl slams herself onto the table. Her eyes sparkling with love and desires as she smiles to the man besides Jumi. “What should I get you? My-” It was only until those eyes of hers land upon Jumi that they stop sparkling, like the life in them had disappeared within seconds. “Orabeoni, who is this girl? I thought you said you only have me-”
version.
Remembering Yesterday, v.1
annyeong.
I just messed up my page. TT.TT
I know the black and white is an eyesore, but bear with me.
I'm going to change it soon. >.<
I hate you, dreamweaver.
where.to.go
home.
affies.
make.me.a.trailer.woman.
pick.me.up.
let.me.scribble.
boy.with.the.space.ship
already.gone
love&coffee
already.gone.ii
chasing.time
chasing.cinderella
a.step.from.the.north.wind
the.scarlet.letter
sing.to.me