Jae Shin waited silently with Yoon Hee while the other boys took care of business. He couldn't help but notice how the moonlight turned her smooth skin to pearl. His fingers itched to touch her, to kiss her, to feel her body pressed against his.
"I-" They both began and abruptly stopped, grinning awkwardly.
Jae Shin took a step towards her and she fidgeted with the string of her hat, staring at the ground. "What I want to say-"
Yong Ha, still being supported by Sun Joon, came around the corner, singing a bawdy song at the top of his lungs.
Jae Shin laughed until he saw the look on Sun Joon's face. Sun Joon was gaping at Yoon Hee as if he'd never seen such a creature in his life.
Yoon Hee didn't seem to notice. She just giggled at Yong Ha and led the way back to the dormitory. The three roommates helped get a still-singing Yong Ha into his bed before heading to their own room.
Jae Shin surreptitiously watched Sun Joon, a growing sense of dread filling his gut with sourness. The Noron continued to cast bewildered glances at an unsuspecting Yoon Hee. But he couldn't confront Sun Joon. What if Sun Joon's odd behavior was due to something totally unrelated? He'd be practically giving Yoon Hee's secret away!
The three of them lay in their usual configuration with Yoon Hee in the middle. Both men lay facing her, watching each other with narrowed eyes, while Yoon Hee drifted easily off to sleep.
***
After a horribly restless night, Jae Shin stormed into Yong Ha's room. His old friend was standing half-naked in front of his closet, trying to decide what to wear.
"What the hell happened last night?"
Yong Ha gave him a lazy smile and returned his attention to his massive array of colorful robes. "Good morning to you too, sunshine."
"Talk," Jae Shin growled.
"What? We drank, we laughed, I dreamed about the waitress," Yong Ha elaborated before glancing at his glowering friend. "Why? Did I do something stupid?"
A shrug. "I'm not sure. That's what I'm trying to find out."
Yong Ha selected an orange and yellow robe and held it up to his body. "How about this?"
Jae Shin sighed, his shoulders relaxing. Maybe he was overreacting. Anything to do with Yoon Hee made him act like a fool. "I'm not going to help you dress, peacock."
He turned to leave.
"Uh oh," Yong Ha snapped his fingers, whirling towards Jae Shin. "I may have spilled Yoon Shik's secret to Lee Sun Joon. Oops."
Vibrating with anger, Jae Shin turned and tackled his friend.
***
Sun Joon found Yoon Shik amongst the library shelves. He felt like such a fool! How had he never realized that Yoon Shik was so different? Now that Yong Ha had opened his eyes, he couldn't seem to imagine seeing his roommate as anything other than a full-blown woman.
A beautiful woman.
She turned as he approached and gave him a wide smile. His heart gave an awkward lurch. "Good morning, Kim Yoon Shik," he croaked.
"Good morning to you, Lee Sun Joon," she mimicked him with a wry smile. "Let's study for the theory test together."
His jaws felt glued shut, so he just stared dumbly at her gorgeous, wide eyes and perfect pink lips. He wanted to speak with her, to tell her to abandon this foolish game and leave Sunkyunkwan before she was discovered. But, in reality, he didn't want her to leave.
But I can ask to court her! Like a regular man and woman. Maybe we can marry! I'll become an official and she can tend my house and raise my children.
The image of Yoon Shik holding his son shimmered through Sun Joon's addled brain. He smiled dreamily.
"Are you okay?" She asked in confusion, grasping his arm and causing fission of awareness to race through his body.
"Y-yes, that would be nice," he stammered. I'm such a coward! No, I'll speak with her before we study, he promised himself.
He was rewarded with a brilliant smile that nearly melted his resolve. "Okay, let's meet here after dinner."
***
Jae Shin chewed a piece of grass impatiently while waiting outside of Yoon Hee's Analects class. He had been trying desperately to get her alone all day but had yet to be successful. She had a full schedule of classes today. Well, he did too, but he was too anxious to pay attention to droning old crones.
"Hey, Soron!"
He didn't turn, knowing only one person possessed such a rancor-filled voice.
In Soo, flanked by Go Bong and Byung Choon, strode up to him. In Soo thrust his face inches from Jae Shin's nose. "Seems like you're never around when the Red Messenger appears. Why is that?"
Jae Shin huffed a loud, bored sigh and looked right into In Soo's eyes. "Don't you think it's time for you to leave the Red Messenger to the proper authorities. You wouldn't want to get your ass kicked-again."
A red flush stole over In Soo's already mottled face and he clenched his fist next to Jae Shin's cheek. "Maybe I'll go ask Kim Yoon Shik about the Red Messenger. If you won't give me answers, I'm sure he will."
Students began filing out of the Analects building, so In Soo took one moment to savor the rage filling Jae Shin's eyes before whirling away quickly and disappearing in the crowd.
