Hi again. Thank you for the reviews :) no name, glad you're here too ;) kimmy, ehem haha let's see what happens here ;D lala li na, happy to know you're smiling bacause of this story, they will soon ;)

I don't own POTW.

Ch. 6 Can you talk to me?

'Don't cry, you'll soon get better. Umma will tell you something, it's a magical word that can send away the pain'

'Really? What is it, umma?'

'You want to know?'

He sniffed smiling, wrapped inside memory of his past. He could see his mother smiling warmly at him. She brushed his hair while whispering the magical word. He felt warmth radiated through his body and the pain was no longer there. He fluttered eyes. Although it was blurry but he could see her. She was hugging him, he could feel it. "Umma," Soon after sleepiness took him again.

Jeong Hyang gulped. She heard his mumble. In fact she didn't sleep all night. How could she sleep? She had hugged him in her arms the whole night. His fever had broken and finally he fell asleep around dawn. It was the reason she didn't sleep.

Now as light fell on them she felt embarrassed. 'What on earth are you thinking?' She shook head mentally and was reminded of his mumble. 'Is he awake?' He seemed to be still asleep and she blew out sigh of relief. It would be more awkward if he find out their current position. Her eyes went wide a little at the thought. 'Better get up now' She held gaze up at anything but his face or body. He had managed to roll his body during his sleep and as much as it embarrassed her but she held him still. She slowly lifted arm. He made sound in throat caused her to cast gaze down. This was the first time she see his sleeping face, he was smiling a little and his face color was back to normal. It made her relieved. Her hand moved involuntarily reaching his cheek. When he leaned slightly against her palm she felt something in her chest. She inhaled and thought to get up but once again her body and brain was lost in connection.

Her gaze moved to his small mouth and she found herself taking deep breath. Soon she was torn between two things; rightness and desire. She knew that it was absurd, that she couldn't hold the feeling but it grew bigger and bigger every minute, every second. As her body completely ignored her brain, her head leaned down closer to his face. Her desire won out.

Her gaze locked to his lips. She bit inside of her bottom lip, heartbeat increased. She couldn't think of anything else, only those lips. His breath tickled her skin. It was only mere inch when he let out small groan. She leaned back abruptly but before she could move away he suddenly shifted his body throwing an arm over her. She had to move hands up over mouth before the scream could escape her mouth. He was hugging her. It made blood rush up to her face. 'Nonononono…what to do? what to do now?' She dared to take a look at his face. Luckily his eyes were still closed. Suddenly she has panic attack, and her heart was uncontrollably pounding inside her chest. 'Oh my goodness,'

"It's warm." He mumbled and fluttered eyes. Still under sleepiness he pulled corners of lips up as he found Jeong Hyang right before him. "Hey,"

She couldn't move. He was smiling at her, as weird as it was. They locked eyes for a moment, processing their current position and state. It was him who freaked out first.

He pushed body up away from her. He got more freaked when found he was half-naked. He quickly put blanket up over his chest. Now Jeong Hyang was up to. "W-W-Why...we…what we…" Too surprised, not shocked but surprised surely, he couldn't work a sentence out.

"Look, I…" She started but sudden knock on door stopped her. They exchanged gaze.

"Jeong Hyang, are you up?"

"Mother,"

He watched as her eyes went wide. He got panicked as well. It would be a problem if someone found him. Before he could think something she took his shoulder and pushed him back under blanket. He didn't have time to argue since she also laid body down beside him. He then heard footsteps approaching. He couldn't decide which one makes him panicked, the other person in the room or her body lying beside him. Half-naked! 'Oh dear god'

"You're still asleep?"

"I…I'm just up now." She tried to sound normal yawning. She drew blanket up while stretching arm out so her mother won't notice another person underneath.

"Great. A guest will come early this morning and I need you to welcome them. They're supposed to be here at night, but…"

She cast gaze down when he sneezed. She quickly covered it with fake cough. He looked up at her offering apologetic look.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes!" She answered, too quick and loud causing her mother knitted her brows. "I mean yes, I'm fine, perfectly fine."

"You shouldn't sleep naked or you'll catch cold."

The comment made her blush a little. "Yes, I will." Her mother gave nod before heading outside. She breathed out sigh of relief. She looked down when he stifled a laugh. "What's funny?" He revealed himself but kept blanket over chest.

"I just wonder if this is the feeling of being caught." He chuckled but earned him a pinch from her. "Hey,"

"You almost get us caught."

"Almost." He said and quickly took her hand before it could reach his arm. She pulled hand off. "Just kidding, I'm sorry." He licked his lips. "So, uh, I'm…here."

"You had high fever last night. I couldn't call doctor so I decided you stay here." She kept gaze down while keeping blanket to cover her upper body.

"Oh, thanks, I mean thank you." He said and she gave light nod. After that they sat in awkward silence, didn't know what to do and hoping the other person will take lead. He stole glance at her. It made him smile that she had nursed him, by hugging him all night. "I had dream, about my mother."

She looked back at him. He pressed lips together showing distant look. She wondered why he has sad look.

"She'd always hold me when I was sick. She told me there was magical word to ease my pain and she would whisper it in my ear." He looked back at her. She gave small smile. "She died eight years ago."

"I'm sorry." Now she knew why he mumbled earlier.

"It's okay." He looked up taking deep breath. "I thought it was her," He brought gaze back to her. "It's you. Thank you."

She gave weak nod and cast gaze down. Now she couldn't look at him in the eye without recalling her own desire. She had thought to kiss him earlier. She had thought to cross the boundary. She drew knees up and palmed her head.

"Are you okay?" He asked and she shook head still palming head. "Jeong Hyang, what's wrong?"

'I wanted to kiss you, to feel you. How could I say it?' She kept head still in palm. She felt his hand on her upper arm. She drew long deep breath and forced head up. "I…"

"Miss, are you ready? Mother will be soon here to check on you."

Eun Ae's voice pushed her thought away. She has serious trouble now. "Oh no,"

"What?"

"Hurry, we need to dress now. You can wear my clothes." She pushed body up but he pulled her back.

"Wait, what? Why do you mean?" He asked in confusion.

"We don't have time, my mother will soon be here." She grabbed her jeogori and just put it over chest while looking for something for him.

He, however, still sat on mattress with question marks flying around his head, not to mention her milky back caught his eyes. It reminded him of their moment last night and soon he was in another dimension. Suddenly something hit his face snapping him out.

"Hurry,"

He looked down and found red sheer jeogori and blue chima. "Again?"

...

Jeong Hyang pressed her lips while picking gayageum strings. In front of her the painter was in gisaeng dress accompanying a guest. She had no choice but dress him as gisaeng. The disguise was successful so far, no one noticed it but there was problem. He would send glance and smile toward her now and then, also the guest seemed to take a like on him, for his dismay.

"Who's she again? I don't remember her face. I'm sure never saw her before."

Her mother's doubtful statement caused her stop for a moment, eyes went wide. She put hands back on playing. "Y-You must forget it, she's new. She entered a few months ago." She gave smile nervously. She brought gaze back to him. When their gaze met she gave subtle nod toward her mother.

"Really? Am I that old now? I couldn't remember her face."

"Uh, you must be tired, mother." She was relieved when her mother shrugged and seemed to let it go. She sighed in relief inwardly.

Yun Bok was trying to pull away from the guest. Honestly all he wanted to do was punch the man, he was really a jerk. He was doing fine with disguising as gisaeng, put his shy smile, but it seemed the man want more. "Your hand, sir." He said with his female voice while pushing the hand off of his thigh. 'I wish could break his fingers' He put smile on.

"You're really shy, I love shy girl."

He rolled eyes mentally. When the man leaned to hug him he held arm out. The man hissed in pain when his elbow nudged his side. "Ops, I'm sorry, didn't mean to hurt you."

"It's fine. I see you like it tough, huh?"

'He's supposed to back off!' Groaning inwardly he just pulled corner of lips up. The man shifted closer toward him. Clearing his throat, in lady way, he moved away. His eyes met Jeong Hyang's and she pressed lips together. 'I'll kill this man' He said with his gaze.

Jeong Hyang couldn't help small smile at his subtle glare and shook head slightly, fingers still on strings. 'Just entertain him'

He dropped his jaw at her calm look. 'He's a jerk!' Actually he wanted to say out loud. Once again she shook head. He was about to protest but she broke their gaze. She had stopped playing.

"I will take my leave."

He didn't bother to hide his surprise, jaw dropped down. 'Are you leaving me alone!?'

She gave nod toward her gayageum. 'I'm here for playing gayageum'

'You can't leave me alone here, with this perv!' He gave nod, unsubtly, toward the man beside him. The man put arm around his back with grin which he wanted badly to wipe it. He brought gaze back to Jeong Hyang who now tried her best not to laugh. 'Don't leave me here' He pushed lower lip out a little.

'Good luck'

"Je…" He closed mouth immediately. He could only watch hopelessly as the geumgi left the room together with the owner leaving him and three other gisaengs accompanying the guests.

"By the way, I wonder how old you are, you're really pretty. If you need anything just tell me I'll give you whatever you want."

The man's voice got his attention back. He put fake smile on but grimacing in disgust inwardly. The man put other hand over his thigh and squeezing a little. 'That's it!' "Oh, thank you sir. Actually I have something for you too."

"For me?"

He nodded smiling from ear to ear. After glancing around he sent quick punch, it landed right on his face. The man froze before falling backward. 'Yeah, that's my present' He rubbed his knuckles and then put fake worried face. "Sir, are you alright? Sir?" The man lay still, unconscious. "Looks like he drank too much. He needs some sleep." He offered to others. Wasting no time he excused himself.

Outside the room he blew breath in relief. "I really hate nobles." He decided to go to Jeong Hyang's room but halted in tracks. His eyes bulged out when he spotted his father walking together with gibang owner toward his direction. He quickly covered face with sleeve and spun on heel. 'Why is father here?'

"You there, wait."

'I'll be surely dead now' He stopped but keeping face behind his jeogori sleeve. "Yes, ma'am?"

"Why are you leaving? What's wrong with your face?"

"I, uh, need to use restroom." He answered the old lady. "Looks like I have cold." He let out fake sneeze.

"You could infect other guests. Just stay inside your room, don't leave until you're getting better."

"Yes, ma'am." He then hurried to Jeong Hyang's room. Luckily his father didn't notice him. He was disappointed to find the room was empty. He then changed to his own clothes and left her room.

He walked past gibang gate. He kept gat low to hide his face. He was startled when suddenly someone grabbed his arm. "What the…" It was his brother. "Hyung,"

Young Bok released his brother's arm. "I knew you must be here. You made me worried to sick Yun Boka, you didn't come back last night. What were you doing here?"

"I'll explain it but not now and here, I saw father inside."

"That's why I'm here. I went to house and mother told me he has meeting with traders here." He said and Yun Bok gave sheepish smile. "We better go now." He pulled his brother with him. "Lucky you, I told teacher you had cold, but you better come to afternoon class."

"You're the best hyung!" He threw himself to hug his brother.

"Let me go." He tried to free himself as other patrons threw glances toward them. "Don't make weird scene here. Let's go." Yun Bok grinned and they left to Dohwaseo.

"Wow, you painted this?"

"How could you do that? It's in gibang, right?"

"Whoa, you're really brilliant. You changed my image of you, now I respect you Mr. Feminist."

Yun Bok curled lips up in snarl at the tease before grinning again. "Yup, it's in gibang." He wriggled brows pleased with his classmates' appreciation. They were in dorm after class.

"Could you give it to me?"

"Give it to you? No way." He replied his friend who had teased him. He rolled the paper and put it back into holder. He ignored his friend's annoyed look.

"By the way, you haven't told us about the geumgi. How is it going with her?"

Young Bok who was reading without joining the conversation now turned gaze to look at his brother. He saw Yun Bok's shy grin. He had suspected something between Yun Bok and the geumgi. 'Nah, that's impossible. How can he?' He shook head and put attention back to book he was reading. But once again he was interrupted. Their other classmate jogged up toward them.

"Yun Bok, there you are. Someone's looking for you."

"Who?" Yun Bok asked, brows furrowed slightly.

"Don't know, she's waiting outside. By the way, she's pretty."

'Jeong Hyang?' He couldn't help smile of excitement. He put shoes on ignoring teasing from his classmates. He was too eager to meet Jeong Hyang that he missed his brother's perplexed look. He found her standing at other side of road, jangot covering her head. "Hey,"

Jeong Hyang turned around at the greeting. "I'm sorry to show up at sudden. You didn't come last night and I worried a little, you know about your cold."

He didn't bother to hide his happy feeling. "I couldn't sneak out last night." He rolled eyes slightly and she giggled. "But as you see," He stretched arms out. "Never better." He smiled and she returned it with relief. "Anyway, you have something after this?" She shook head. "Brilliant. Let's go then."

"Go? Where?"

"You know the place." He wriggled brows starting to walk.

She followed him. "Our secret place?"

"Our secret place," He glanced at her. "I like that." She cast gave aside but he caught her smile.

Moment later, they were sitting on the grass admiring view from hill top. He plucked grass playing with it in hands. "I'm sorry for leaving without telling you."

"Actually I wondered what happened after I left." She giggled when he started groaning.

"I couldn't believe you just left me there. That man needs to be taught how to keep hands for himself." He said and she started to laugh. "He annoyed me, and I punched him."

"You did?" She asked in disbelief. He gave nod grinning. She shook head laughing louder. They were lucky the guest was drunk and had no memory otherwise her mother would find out about him.

"I saw my father at gibang so I left."

"I think I know your father, he visits couple of times before." She saw he pulled lips into thin line. "Aren't you afraid he will catch you visiting gibang?"

He let out small laugh. "I bet he would ground me for week." He turned gaze to her. "Actually," He pursed lips pausing. "He's my step-father."

"Your step-father?" She asked and he gave light nod moving gaze back ahead. "So, you're not blood-related to your brother?"

He shook head. "But to me he's like my real brother." He stretched legs out inhaling. "It's my father's dream, we become Royal painter."

"But he knows…" She trailed off casting gaze down. She was surprised a little when he lay down using her lap as pillow.

"I love painting, and he gave me the chance. I could learn, do painting, get friends," He inhaled before looking up at her. "And meet you."

She held gaze at him. "Are you happy?" The question just came out at sudden but she wanted to know. He moved gaze away, didn't answer her. "What are you going to do after become Royal painter?"

He watched as a hawk spread its wings flying to the high sky. He couldn't help a smile when she passed hand over his head. "Honestly, I don't know." He pushed body up. "Actually it doesn't matter what I'd become, if my brother could pass the exam," He shrugged slightly. "That's it."

"Of course it does." She shifted to face him. "You're talented, and have passion. I could see it." He looked at her smiling instead. "Why are you smiling?"

"Now tell me about you." He decided to change the topic. He didn't want to concern her with his life. "Are you going to live there for the rest of your life?"

It was her turn to move gaze away. "I have no other choice. Once you're in it's difficult to get out."

He couldn't argue, sadly. As he saw her slightly dark face he slapped head mentally for asking such stupid question. "Give me your hand."

"My hand?" She looked at him in confusion but then held hand out. He took her hand taking look at it. "What are you doing?"

"Ssh," He put finger over mouth. "I need to concentrate." He narrowed eyes a little. "Ah, I see." He nodded head.

"What did you see?" She leaned closer to look at her palm. He once again shushed her.

"Your lucky star will show up this year." He put serious tone. "Oh, and you'll meet someone who will change your life."

"Really?" She lifted eyebrows skeptically.

"Let me see." He closed eyes. "He's very kind person, a gentleman, oh and very charming. Oh my, he also loves painting! Very talented one,"

At now she got that he was kidding. She pulled hand off and pushed his shoulder. "Don't flatter yourself." He laughed louder. "Besides, I never said like charming man."

"That's new." He quickly changed tone to serious. He decided to continue the play. "So, what kind of man do you like?"

"You want to know my preference?" She giggled when he gave nod wriggling. "Well, a person who…" She couldn't continue as those eyes of his stared at her.

"Who what?" He waited offering small smile.

"Someone…" She forced air into her tightened throat. 'Someone like you' Her mind completed the sentence. Couldn't hold gaze longer at him, she pushed body up.

He got confused when she stood up abruptly. "Where are you going?" He caught her wrist. When she kept avoiding his gaze he stepped to her front. "Hey, what's wrong?"

She thought to tell lie and continue their time together, but part of her just couldn't. 'You can't keep lying to yourself. You like this person' She took deep breath lifting her free hand up to hold his cheek. "You asked before if I like handsome man," He gave light nod and she shook head. "No, I don't." His brows grew closer. "I don't like a gentleman either," She took step closer. "I like someone who could see and accept me for who I am." Another step. "And that person is now standing right before me."

Upon hearing the words he loosened his grip, releasing her hand. 'Did she…did she just say…?' He must admit the relief and happiness it brought into him. He wanted to scream happily, or maybe grab her into a hug. However, there was thing that holds him. Reality.

When he remained quiet she felt fear slowly take her. "I'm sorry, I…"

"Come tomorrow," He cut in. "Tomorrow is my exam. I want you to be there and I will tell you." He offered smile and she nodded. Although she tried her best but he could see a little disappointment in her eyes.

"We should get back now." She said after a long breath. She put jangot over shoulders and spun around. She was surprised when he took her hand holding it.

"Let's go."

The next morning, Jeong Hyang woke up earlier than usual. Actually she couldn't sleep well. She blamed the painter for that. Still she wouldn't deny the excitement for the day. She dressed up while humming. She had never done it before. Pleased with her dress she took jeonmo tying it tightly before leaving her room. She shut door and turned around. However she stopped in tracks as her mother stood before her.

"Where are you going?"

"I-I…"

"You might think that I didn't realize it, but I do. Are you seeing someone lately?"

Her breath was caught inside her tightened throat. She couldn't move neither make something out.

Uh-oh ;p

Thank you for reading, until next :)