Sun Joon found Yoon Shik in the library, completely absorbed in a thick tome titled The History of Silk Textiles. He grabbed a random book off of a shelf and sat down gingerly across from his roommate, trying his best not to jar his aching head. Why did I drink so much last night?
He cleared his throat and Yoon Shik looked up at him in surprise. "Lee Sun Joon! How are you feeling this morning?" She added the last bit with a snicker that earned a reproachful glare from her hungover roommate.
"I am feeling annoyed that you did not return last night. Where were you?" Sun Joon asked, folding his arms over his chest.
Yoon Shik quickly looked down at her book, fingering the pages. "Gul Oh had too much to drink as well, so I escorted him to our room. But, I found that my room was full. So we slept in Yong Ha's room." To her relief, he voice was steady-completely believable.
Still, she earned a frown from Sun Joon. "Next time, tell Yong Ha to sleep in his own room."
She smirked at him. "And why didn't you tell him that?"
Another deep frown. "Let's not speak of this matter anymore."
Yoon Shik shrugged and continued reading her book. Her galloping pulse was slowing. If she could fool Sun Joon, she should be able to mislead Yong Ha and Gul Oh. Her guise was still firmly in place.
Her eyes unfocused on the page and she could see Jae Shin's bare chest beneath her fingertips. His gently bronzed skin was a magnificent landscape of ridges and hollows that begged to be explored. She had nearly ruined everything by indulging in her fantasies.
I need to be more careful, she thought desperately. I am a scholar. I am a man.
***
Jae Shin vacated Yong Ha's room shortly after Yoon Shik retreated. His side burned like fire and ached like a deep bruise but he couldn't afford for anyone else to find out about his injury. It was regrettable that Yoon Shik now had suspicions about him, but that couldn't be helped at this point. Yoon Shik had her own secrets, so he felt confident she wouldn't probe too overtly. She would try-due to her curious nature-but she wouldn't endanger him, that he was sure of.
He made his way to his father's house, bathed, and redressed his wound. When he lay down that night, he imagined he felt Yoon Shik's hands on him. The incessant burning from his side was replaced by a different kind of discomfort.
Sleep didn't come for a long time.
***
Why didn't he sleep in our room last night? Yoon Shik picked at her breakfast and worried.
"Hey, Daemul! Food usually functions better in your stomach than on your plate," Yong Ha remarked, glancing at her messy but untouched tray.
"I'm just not very hungry. But you're right. I have to eat!" She immediately ate a large spoonful of rice to avoid further suspicion.
She dutifully ate her meal, her mind solely focused on Jae Shin. Where had that horrible gash come from? The wound is straight, not jagged…It must be from a sword! She nearly gagged and quickly washed down her bite of pajeon with a swallow of water.
A sword? When would Jae Shin have a chance to be cut by a sword?
"Senior," she turned to Yong Ha. "Is Jae Shin a good fighter?"
Yong Ha crunched happily through a piece of pickled radish before replying. "Why, of course he is. He's Sungkyunkwan's crazy horse!" At her furrowed brow, Yong Ha continued. "Gul Oh's father forced him to study all manner of martial arts when he was young. At 16, he began regularly beating his instructors. He may look like a lazy oaf, but he's a fierce warrior."
"So, it would take a highly trained fighter to beat him?"
Yong Ha set down his chopsticks and smoothed his fuschia robes. "One? It would take dozens!"
She mulled this over. Why would dozens of fighters be attacking Jae Shin with swords?
"Why are you so interested in Gul Oh's fighting skill?" Yong Ha asked, eyes dancing with merriment while effectively pinning her down.
"I-" She tried to think fast. "I…I want to learn how to fight. And, of course, I want to learn from…the best!"
Yong Ha gave her a slow smile. "Well, then Gul Oh's your man."
***
Sun Joon sat three spots down from Yoon Shik and Yong Ha, shamefully eavesdropping. So Yoon Shik wants to learn how to fight? He could teach the baby-faced guy as well as Jae Shin, he thought mulishly.
He snuck a peak at Yoon Shik. Why did he have such large, expressive eyes and plump, pink lips? He is the girliest man I've ever seen! That's why my blood pumps fast when I'm near him.
Yes, of course, that's why.
