Saeseo 1795
The water lapped at her feet, soaking her shoes, beoseon and chima. She paid it no heed nor the distant shouts of the man running towards her. The bottoms of her chima turned darker, then her baji. The lower ends of the clothing turned heavier but she had no thought but the desire that urged her on. Someone called behind her.
"For five nyang, I will hear you play. To join you amidst the sea of salt, I'm afraid all the money in the world will not entice me."
She froze. Was she dreaming? Where did the voice come from? The sea was empty before her. No, it came from behind. Slowly she turned.
"You are a dream," she said to the apparition standing before her. "I am dreaming."
"I wish it is so but I'm afraid I don't like this wet on my baji." A white flash in that dark tan face. "Are you going to keep standing there? It's cold. Come," he held out his hand. "Come, Hyangya," he said again when she did not move.
It was another illusion. She must be getting as deranged as Song-mi but why did the illusion sound so real? Her hand trembled as she reached to grasp the hand. She hesitated. The image would vanish once she touched it. She would be left with nothing but pain.
"Come," he urged. "What does your heart tell you?"
That you are real.
The words did not leave her lips as she stared at him. Real or not, she had to find out. Even if her heart was shattered once more. Her hand reached out again. Her fingers touched his. He did not vanish. The grasp of his fingers was solid. She stared at their their linked hands as he pulled her away from the sea, bringing her back to the shore. So sodden were the bottoms of her clothing that she had to make an effort to walk properly.
"You are here? You are really here?! This is not a dream?!" she babbled wildly, hands touching his face once they came to a stop on the sand. "Here. Really here," she muttered, running her hands over his arms.
"I'm sorry I took so long," he drew her closer. "I am real."
For a long moment, there was no words, only feelings, of shared warmth and presence. Real. She clutched him tightly and began to cry.
"Why are you out here?" he muttered in a mixture of joy and puzzlement. "I thought you safe and sound at the Bae residence." If he were any later, he would not have seen her at all. His heart seized at the thought that he would never see her again.
"I thought ... I heard you calling so I came out here to look for you."
"Perhaps you did. On the trip back here, I was thinking only of you. Yearning to see you again."
A distance away, Suk-kwon could not believe his eyes. He rubbed them again, certain they were playing tricks on him. No, he was really there. He thought his heart would break from the joy that filled it. He wanted to cry, shout and laugh at the same time. Slowly, he approached the fishing boat that had run aground. When he saw it turned from its original heading to head to the shore, he thought the fishermen manning it had seen what would happen and had come to stop the tragedy. Instead, a familiar figure had jumped off the boat once it was near enough and started running towards Jeong-hyang. The old man sitting at the prow waved at him as he neared.
"Haraboji," he bowed in greeting.
"Friend of yours?" the old man waved towards the couple. "I understand he was thrown off a ship in the storm more than a month ago. Or at least, that was what he told me. He was lucky he ended up on one of the islands where I lay out my fishing traps. Starved to death, he will have!"
"Where is this island, haraboji?" said Suk-kwon curiously.
"Down, south-east," the old man waved vaguely in that direction.
"But if you have fishing traps planted on those islands, wouldn't you have made daily checks?" Suk-kwon was puzzled the old man did not do so.
"And so I would have! But some ship made a mess out of my boat during that storm. Knocked a hole in it too! How can I sail in a leaky boat?! Mine was not the only ship, there were others. I have to wait for the shipwright to repair it. There is only one shipwright here so I have to wait in line!" the old man huffed before he got up and looked under the prow. "Just as well there are no rocks here," he grumbled, a little mollified that the boat was sound.
"Ahh, as to that. If there is any damage, I'm willing to pay for it," said Suk-kwon, crestfallen that the results of the collision was the cause of Yunbok's late return. "In fact, I can reimburse you for the initial damage."
"That is generous of you. I accept," the old man said, grinning before he frowned as Yunbok and Jeong-hyang approached. Both of them looked the worse for wear with skirt and lower pants totally wet.
"You rascal, you!" Suk-kwon grabbed hold of Yunbok before he could say anything and nearly crushed the breath out of him.
"Master Park, I can't breathe," gasped Yun-bok, pounding the older man's back to get him to let go and panted when he was released. "I think that really hurt." He fingered his ribs, sure a few were broken.
"Young man, I know your wife must really miss you but what is it you two were doing back there? I've never seen the like! It's inappropriate!" huffed the old man.
"It's just some foreign custom, haraboji," said Yunbok sheepishly.
"Foreign custom! Totally against the mores of this kingdom! I'd suggest you abandon it. What will this world come to if everyone adopts inappropriate ways, disregarding the principles that guide us?"
"Yes, haraboji, of course we must uphold the principles," said Suk-kwon humbly in a bid to divert him. "It is getting late," he gestured to the setting sun. "Do you want to leave the boat here while we get someone to ..."
"No, no," the old man hopped back onto the boat. "Just help me push it into the water, I can row it out and sail it back to the harbour."
"Very well. Let us meet at the pier pavilion, second watch tomorrow morning."
Suk-kwon waved to Yunbok. They set themselves to pushing the boat out to deeper water where the old man was able to to row it further out to sea. They stood watching until he brought up the sail and glided away to the pier. "You," Suk-kwon pointed a finger at Yunbok with mock severity, "are trouble. Really big trouble. But you are a sight for sore eyes."
"I'm sorry but I was stuck on that island. I didn't think I'll be able to swim to the bigger ones." Yunbok caught hold of Jeong-hyang's hand as they walked back to the town.
"What happened after you were thrown off the ship?" Suk-kwon was eager to know.
"Tried to keep myself afloat. I couldn't see anything and was disoriented so I could not figure out where the town was."
"You couldn't see the ship?"
"I went underwater. By the time I came up, I could not see where the ship was. There's no lantern aboard," Yunbok pointed out. "I thought I saw lights, somewhat, and started swimming." He forebore to mention how difficult it was, tossed about by the waves or how he ran out of strength to keep afloat.
"Something came floating my way and I caught hold of it. I think some vessel sank because it was a broken plank. I held on to that, drifted with it and ended up on the island." After what seemed like an eternity. "It's an islet, just several trees and a hut. No one was there but there was flint, some wood, sadul and fishing goggles. I found the fishing weirs that provided the food. I thought the person who set up those weirs would come along soon but..," he trailed off with a sigh.
"His delay was the result of the collision of our ship into the ships anchored at the pier." Suk-kwon grimaced at the unfortunate chain of events. "The wind was so strong that the anchor the sailors dropped had no effect in slowing down the ship."
"He told me something of it. Was anyone hurt?"
"The sailors suffered broken ribs from the restraining ropes they tied on themselves. The other ships were empty when we rammed. We were lucky," Suk-kwon said sombrely before he brightened. "You came back just in time too! I was going to have the wedding without you."
"Well, I can't blame you if you cannot wait..," began Yunbok teasingly when Jeong-hyang broke in.
"Iseul's expecting."
"Really?!" exclaimed Yunbok after a moment of stunned surprise. "At your age!" he laughed.
"There's another thing." Knowing Yunbok was gearing up to needle him, Suk-kwon leaped in with another piece of news. "P'ado awaits your return at the paper mill."
It was a moment later that he realised he was walking alone. Turning, he saw Yunbok standing dumbfounded. "Yes, we can all go home," he said, smiling at his disbelief.
"Home." Yunbok smiled at Jeong-hyang, feeling her answering squeeze of her hand as tears of happiness glittered in her eyes.
"You're going to need a bath though .. you smell of fish." She raised a hand to her nose for the odour steamed pungently off him and wondered she did not notice it immediately. His hair was a mess of tangled strands, held back with a cloth headband.
"I've to help him with his catch. It's the least I can do to thank him." Yunbok wrinkled his nose for he felt as if he had lived in dirt and fish for too long.
"What happened to your durumagi and shoes?" She looked down at his feet, noticing he was wearing jipsin that was too large for him with straw stuffed into them.
"I had to tear pieces off the durumagi so I could have some light at night. I lost the gat and shoes when I went into the sea." He tugged at the large ill-fitting cotton jeogori he was wearing. "I borrowed this since it was already in the hut, it can get very cold out there at night. He said I can keep it."
"Definitely you need a makeover," grinned Suk-kwon, rubbing his nose. "Everyone will be glad you're back. Without a doubt, Master Bae will hold a welcome feast to celebrate."
"I hope dinner isn't seafood. Raw or cooked. I'm quite sick of it," Yunbok said plaintively, rubbing his middle at the mention of a feast which conjured the most delightful vision before him.
"If it is, I'll cook something different for you later," said Jeong-hyang sympathetically. "But you'll have to bear with whatever that is already prepared."
"Don't you know what's for dinner?" he said, surprised.
"I haven't been paying attention to the kitchen lately," she said softly.
"It's been hard on you. I'm sorry," he understood what she meant. "Did..."
"Can the two of you put off your discussion till later?" They looked up to see Suk-kwon several paces away, beckoning urgently. "I left them in a panic earlier. They must be ready to call out the militia by now."
"So it is," Jeong-hyang was chagrined. "We have better hurry back and ease their worries."
They hurried up to the docks and past the marketplace. Their bedraggled emsemble drawing curious attention as they threaded their way through the evening crowd as best they could before heading east.
The gates of the Bae residence were opened. A servant stood looking down the path, a chongrong in his hand. His eyes alighted anxiously on the tall figure that appeared, then the woman behind him. He had found her in time and brought her back. He heaved a sigh of relief at the thought that a tragedy had been averted. But who was that with them? Dressed raggedly, in a cotton jeogori too large for him. His eyes widened when they came nearer. That was not a spirit with them, was it? As if reading his fear, Yunbok waved to him. At that, he turned and ran inside, shouting at the top of his voice.
"What did I do? He looked positively terrified," Yunbok grinned.
"They'll be summoning shamens, priests and what nots. You just wait and see," Suk-kwon chuckled as they turned into the open gates to see a flurry of activity at the daecheong.
Master Bae hurried down to the courtyard, anxious to see for himself this "spirit" his servant proclaimed had arrived back with Suk-kwon and Jeong-hyang. Chills floated up his spine when he saw Yunbok. He looked too real to be a ghost.
"Master Bae." Did spirits bow to people? He stared at Yunbok uncertainly.
"He is real," said Suk-kwon, thumping Yunbok on the shoulder. "No spirit." He grinned at Iseul as she came up, eyes round. On seeing that her friends were safe and sound, a huge smile lit her face.
"This is unbelievable," breathed master Bae in amazement. "I'll be interested to hear the story you have to tell!"
"Aboji! Aboji!" a voice called excitedly. "You come back, you are really back!" Pokkot nearly threw her arms around Yunbok but remembered where she was and stood looking up with bright eyes.
"So I am," smiled Yunbok, crouching down to take up one of her hands so she could touch his face.
"Why did you stay away so long?" she said, patting his face happily before she wrinkled her nose.
Yunbok laughed at that reminder. "I'll tell you that later. I have to clean up first. If I may excuse myself?" he said to master Bae who was busy throwing instructions to a servant to prepare a bath.
"Of course. We will see you at dinner," master Bae nodded, pleased that the crisis were over. "The servants will bring whatever is necessary."
Bowing politely, Yunbok removed the jipsin at the porch with relief for the sodden straw was chaffing at this feet and headed for his room. Suk-kwon drew Iseul away, a huge grin on his face as he conversed with master Bae. Jeong-hyang whispered to Pokkot who went back to her room, slightly disappointed but understanding she would have to wait a while longer.
The opened bandaji was a surprise to Yunbok when he got to his room. Looking in, he saw his clothes and other items did not seem to be disturbed. He could only suppose the last person to touch it was Jeong-hyang and that she had forgotten to close it in her distraction. Picking up clean clothes, he made his way to the small bath house at the back of the sarang to find the servants had already prepared the water. He declined the offer of help with his hair. Jeong-hyang came by to hand him the bamboo salts before vanishing elsewhere. He locked the door and set to quickly.
It was a relief to wash himself thoroughly from head to toe, ridding of the odour and dirt. He dared not stay too long in the tub to soak, tempting as it was. Knowing there was avid curiosity from the Bae household, he could not risk someone's importunate desire to peep. He dried himself off once he was satisfied with two rounds of scrubbing and rinsing. Wounding his wet hair into a semblance of a topknot and a towel around to keep it up, he returned to his room. He was very glad he did not tarry for he spotted a few servants hanging around the corners. Trying to decide whether he was a spirit, no doubt.
"Are you suppose to be here?" he smiled as he locked the door of his room behind him, depositing the dirty clothing and towels he brought along in a corner.
"You're going to need help with your hair." She removed the towel around his head once he had sat down and began to dry his hair more thoroughly. "They'll pretend I'm not here anyway," she rubbed gently. "I do believe you're darker than before." She looked at the contrast of his nape to the white of the jeogori he wore.
"There was only the islet and the ocean. There was no one out there so ..," he chuckled. "Did you change?" He turned to look at her for she was wearing a different jeogori and chima.
"The bottoms were wet and sandy. You left my clothes with fish too," she laughed before adding more seriously. "Was it terrifying?"
"Very. When I was thrown off and found I was alone out there," he embraced her, desiring her comfort and to share. "Cold, wet and dark. I didn't know what to do. I shouted, hoping one of you would answer me but I knew no one would. There was nothing out there, except the sea and the storm. I tried to see the lights the sailors saw and started swimming. I swam and swam..," he sighed when she rubbed his back.
"I swam until I could not swim any longer. That was when I thought it was the end but something came floating by and I caught hold of it. That wooden plank saved my life. I held on to it and drifted near that islet. I would not have know it was there at all but for the lightning flashes. I thought I saw trees and used whatever strength I had left to swim in that direction. I got on shore, got into the hut, hoping to find someone. No one was there."
"Perhaps it's just as well, you would have been all wet and..," she murmured. "It would have been difficult to explain why you are dressed the way you are."
"That's true," he chuckled softly, picking up the towel she dropped to the floor. "I was so cold. Fortunately there was wood, some oil, flint, matches, a couple of filled water jars and a jacket. I got a fire going and dried my wet clothes. That was a very hungry night I spent."
"And after?" She picked up the comb she had readied, touched his hair to be sure it was dry and began to untangle it, glad to be performing this task again. "Turn around."
"I went around the islet to see where I was, if there was any way I could get help. But the islet was too far away from the mainland. There was no boat but I found the fishing weirs. You can guess what I was dining off this past month," he winced when a tangled knot proved too stubborn.
"Hold still." She worked to untangle it. "You'll be pleased to know dinner is naengmyeon," she laughed as he heaved a sigh of relief. Coming his hair upwards neatly into a rope, she twisted his hair into a sangtu and inserted the donggot. Going to the bandaji, she retrieved his spare manggeon and handed it to him. "You look more presentable," she said as he put it on. "You'll need to buy another gat tomorrow."
"It's fortunate I didn't use the gatkken on the old one, otherwise I would have lost the maedeup." Feeling tired, he lay down as she cleared away the comb and towel. "I miss you." He reached for her hand when he felt her fingers on his brow. "Every night and day I wished whoever owned that hut would come back soon, that I could fly or even swim back to Chinhae because I know you will be so worried. I was also afraid you would do something foolish."
"I know," she kew what he was alluding to. "You wouldn't tell me to walk into the sea. That was my own lapse when I didn't see you at the beach. I really thought I heard you. When I didn't see you..," she lay down next to him, glad to know that his embrace was solidly reassuring, the beat of his heart was a palpable echo of hers. "How will it end for us?" she said musingly.
"Getting morbid are you?" he was not surprised she was thinking of it. "Or are you wondering if the one left that remained would have the courage to stay?"
"I know I'll try but in the end, it will be painful for those around."
"Let's not think of that," he touched her hair gently. "Only think of the present."
Silence fell. There was only the peace and joy in each other's presence. Presently, there came the voice of a servant outside the door, announcing dinner.
"Just in time, I'm getting really hungry," he said, sitting up and patting his stomach as she got up "I'm going to feel rather rude and naked without the gat," he added when she brought out his spare durumagi.
"I doubt master Bae is going to care much about that with the story you're going to tell him."
"There's nothing much to tell, he'll be disappointed," he grinned as he tied the sadae and took the jwilbuchae she handed to him. "I lost the one Young-joon gave me too," he lamented as he snapped it open.
"He'll only be too glad to give you another." She made final adjustments to his tosi. "There. You're ready."
"Gatless.," he patted his head.
"They're waiting for you, go on," she pushed him towards the door and followed him out. He made a face at her before making his way down the corridor as she watched with a joyful heart.