This chapter is at the request of one special reader. Thank you for making me stop and pay attention to this blooming romance.
I hope all of you will enjoy this story, please don't forget to leave your comments.
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Struck by the Cupid's Arrow
Chapter 24 Part 3 Double date
Go Jin Ah and Deo Gi were exactly where they wanted to be with their love lives. One of them was engaged to her long time boyfriend and another one just started dating. Both seemingly unusual pairings, content with their choices. Not in her wildest dreams, would Deo Gi have imagined that she'd become attracted to a warrior. Seemed like the High Doctor's experience taught her something – to look beyond the blood and the killing. She always admired life, but soldiers were trained to fight to the death. Deok Man, Dae Man and the rest of the Woodalchi were not just warriors, they were all protectors. All of them took after the Daejang, his fierce spirit and strength rubbed off on his men who would give their lives in order to ensure those they cared about were safe.
The girls were sitting on the parapet, legs dangling, eating sweet peaches, sticky juice dripping down the chins and fingers. They were giggling, wiping each other's faces, and having the best time of their lives. Deo Gi forgot when she felt happy last time or when she giggled! The tall boyfriend of hers was cute and cheerful. He was a bit slow and not witty, but she was smart enough for both of them. He had a mean swing and handled his weapons with artistry. It was very exciting to walk next to a man who was always ready to stand guard and never to worry that somebody might dare to take advantage of her. She would even say what she felt toward him was called sexy, but the sensations in her stomach and her chest were not easily named.
They were now at the stage of dating when they started holding hands, seat closely, and Deok Man even put his arm around her shoulder, while she rested her head on his. They have not kissed yet. Deo Gi was not sure when it was appropriate and whether it would make her into an "easy" woman if she rushed into this. So she consulted the two women who already had done this – Eun Soo and Go Jin Ah.
Eun Soo was not much of help, as she basically explained that there were no rules, but even if there were, Deo Gi and Deok Man have been dating long enough to move to kissing. When – was totally up to them, "You would know," she insisted, believing that each couple had a moment when it felt right for both of them. Deo Gi did not like this vague answer. Go Jin Ah was even worse, than the doctor. She refused to discuss it with her mentor and friend, who was older, because she felt uncomfortable. Both her and Dae Man were shy, and they took it really slow, getting engaged just before the High Doctor returned, they finally started planning their wedding recently. Go Jin Ah only mentioned that kissing is very pleasant, "Once you start, you would not want to stop," and, of course, giggled, hiding her blushing face in her palms.
Tonight they were waiting for their men; the couples were supposed to go on a double date because Deo Gi still felt a bit bashful to be seen alone with her boyfriend in public.
The young men were chatting as well, having left the compound together, with their armor off, they both felt a bit funny to be civilians, just going out for an evening with their ladies. Deok Man had to deal with the same conundrum – when should they kiss. "I don't want to offend her, what if is she thinks I'm rushing? But I like her and it is really hard not to touch her, because she is so pretty. You know how after a great fighting bout, your heart is pounding and you feel exhilarated and alive, that's how it is when we seat close." Dae Man nodded, a more experienced one of the two, he wanted to impart advice, but really had nothing to say. It took him forever to kiss Jin Ah and he was not necessary proud of the fact that he waited so long. Also, Deo Gi was older and more serious, who knows how she would react. "You should ask the General," he suggested.
"Are you crazy?" Deok Man was astonished that it would even cross his friend's mind.
"Who else do you know who is married? He will know about kissing for sure. Don't you remember they kissed at the wedding? It looked like they had a lot of practice."
"Stupid!" Deok Man hit the back of his friend's head, to which Dae Man responded with a smack of his own, "You are an idiot, who is afraid to kiss"; then a friendly punch was returned, "Oh, ye? At least I'm not waiting for 2 years!" and after that a jump from Dae Man to get a good headlock…. They got in a scuffle, both not willing to be the first one to let go. After a few minutes of boyish stupidity, they stopped, looking at each other in awe and then quickly started fixing their robes and hair, helping one another.
"What has gotten into you?"
"What about you?"
"Sorry."
"Yes, I did not mean it, either."
The quick reconciliation brought their high spirits back.
The ladies put on demure faces and stood up as the two gentlemen approached. All four of them maintained timid appearance, with the engaged couple at least feeling comfortable to hold hands a little, while Deok Man and Deo Gi strolled beside each other, stealing glances. Dae Man stuttered, which he always did when anxious, "We were thinking of picking up some snacks and going on a picnic; the weather is nice."
"Sure," everybody agreed, and having a goal, the foursome marched with more energy toward the stalls of the market to pick up food and drinks to go. The girls managed to separate and stopped by the carts displaying hair decorations and pretty ribbons. Dae Man and Deok Man came up behind, looking with curiosity. Deok Man had an advantage because of his height with a better vantage point, noticing the items women liked. "Let's get those," he whispered to Dae Man, who agreed, nodding. The men got paid regularly, but did not need to spend anything on themselves, having everything provided at the barracks. "You ladies go ahead, we will catch up." As the girls smiled and hurried to the next stall, quickly having figured out what their men were up to, they hid behind a cart and watched how Woodalchi awkwardly pointed to the ribbons and hairpins, asking the merchant to wrap them separately as gifts.
The men gallantly carried the parcels with the food, with the women strolling beside them. The handsome couples were a pleasant sight and people gave them smiles as they walked by. All of them put a sincere effort to appear proper, especially because the message that the guys always had to remember they represented the Woodalchi wherever they went, was drilled into their heads by the Assistant General and the General. Every time they did something stupid, both boys instinctively looked around as if their commanders could see their misbehavior, just like little kids magically believe in their parental omnipresence. After they crossed the bridge and onto the dirt road toward their final destination, the men visibly relaxed and Deok Man even took his girlfriend's hand, which she tried to pull away, quickly giving up to the strength of his firm grip.
The field of wild flowers, as far as the eye could see all the way to the horizon, prostrated in front of them. Light blue skies with patches of clouds gave a promise of a warm weather for a nice picnic. The women immediately forgot their companions and ran into the expanse of the flowers and tall grasses, followed by the men, playing like little children, all cares gone. Afterwards, they settled for a picnic, chatting, but mainly being quiet, enjoying the untouched beauty of the nature around them and the freedom to be more comfortable with each other when strangers were not looking. The boys presented the ladies with their gifts, who played being surprised nicely, making the guys excited. The double date was moving along smoothly and the four of them now laying on the ground, watched the skies with the slowly drifting clouds and occasional bird in their view. The idyllic weather changed too quickly for them to avoid the upcoming thunderstorm, and hurriedly they managed to pick up the leftovers from the picnic and searched for the nearest shelter, locating patches of trees to the sides.
The rain announced itself starting out lightly, and the boys, turning in opposite directions pulled the women along hoping to reach the trees, before it broke out in full force. Deo Gi and Deok Man ran really fast, with the rain stepping on their hills, catching up to them, pulling on their hair with its wet fingers, dripping water behind their collars and splashing into their faces; but they were faster, they outsmarted the prankster, holding hands and dashing, feet flying, they landed under a wide tree. And Deok Man did the only thing he could think of at the moment to protect Deo Gi, he pushed her to the trunk, pressing with his tall body against hers and managing to give cover, lifted his arms above the woman, like an umbrella, standing between her and a sneaky watery wind, that tried to get to her clothes and make sure to drench her. Her face stuck to his robe, and although she could not hear the sound, she felt the vibrations of the heart, throbbing in his chest. She could feel how fast his pulse was rushing and imagined his hard breathing, which should calm soon after they had finally stopped running. But his heart did not slow a bit, it kept speeding and she felt her own chest bumping from inside gaining speed. She looked up to see him watching her, rain playing on his head with the droplets sliding down his nose to his lips, and down, jumping onto her face, aiming for her mouth and making her lick the fresh water, very thirsty all of a sudden to taste the lips it touched before.
For her, there was no sound, all this time it was always quiet, she could only imagine what it was like for him right now to hear the rain and the wind, rustling of the tall grasses and the leaves, and the hum of the world alive around them. He could hear his heart and probably hers, he could hear her breathing, and milliards of other sounds she did not know about. But for her the vibrations of his heart were the loudest sound in the world her body received; in silence, his heart was so loud and his eyes were loud, looking so intently at her that she could not look away, and then he slowly got closer and closer till their noses almost touched and she closed her eyes, shutting down another sense, allowing touch to guide her, her lips searched for his and found satisfaction of his fresh with the rain kiss. Suddenly, she heard a beautiful sound originating from within, she could not name it, as she never heard a sound before, but it was the sound of happiness. For the first time in her life, she kept her eyes shut to see something better, paying attention to these strange sensations within her. He tapped her shoulder, making her open her eyes and said slowly, so that she could read, "You taste like peaches."