"Am Vi... Hye Jin. " I corrected with a smile approving our Games of Lies episode 1.

"Why do you stay here and not in the city, among people, like normal people do? " I sat opposite him in the water.

"I hate noise. ” his eyes still closed against me like I was the distraction.

"What? But where there's life there's noise. " I joked but by the silence, I think he doesn't follow so I just cleared my throat along with the awkwardness and continued.

"How long have you lived here? "I asked.

'Silence'

"Yeong Su ah, it's rude to be quiet when asked a question. " I tried to stir him up like those girls in k-dramas does when they wanted to get attention from those self centered males but the reaction I got was different.

He swiftly opened his eyes and stared me down, which did scare the 'bell out of ella' and I had to swallow the bile flavored mint leaves that was stuck in my throat before I looked away, so much for a conversation.

What were those expressions for?

The eyes of surprise, the can-you-shut-up brows position and the other that looked like pain. Did I do something triggering again?

I turned to him and saw him looking like before, I saw wrinkles under his eyes, but he slept yesterday. His lips gave it out that this guy was sad by the way his sad emotions gushed out; it made me see an opportunity to try again this time, subtly after all, Eve learned seduction from a snake. So, I held his face coming closer to him,

"Yeong Su, what is wrong? Why are you sad? What happened? " I asked as my other hand slid up from his arm to his fore arm then rested on his broad shoulder.

" I.. " he trailed off still staring at me but I pressed harder,

"I know you don't know me but I want to help.. Just tell me, what is wrong? " I looked into his eyes, making sure care was written all-over my face...

He looked at her with emotions that twirled in his heart before finding the way to his eyes. That voice, those words is exactly the way she'd to say it when she was alive. She died all because of him, it’s all his fault, he should have been there for her, she wouldn't have died of he was there. Why does this strange woman reminds him of her? But can never be her, no one can ever replace her, ever!

Suddenly like being pulled out of a trance, he pulled my hands away from his face and diverted his eyes before he walked away.

"Yeong... " I reached out for him.

"Be on time for dinner." he said as he walked away from my reach and picked up his shirt, leaving me behind with my troubled mind.

Few hours later

It’s been hours and she wasn't back, was she angry with him? First, he almost strangled her then he... He's not used to having anyone around since she got missing and was found dead right here in the jungle.

This change he has been trying to adjust to but it has not been easy. He'll wait until dinner is set before going to find her. One hour after dinner's been set and she's not back.

She not coming back, is she? Was he too harsh? How could he not have apologize for almost killing someone or even being rude? She would draw his ears whenever he was rude and when she was pissed off by his rudeness, she would make him cook dinner.

He's not going to sit here and wait to be swallowed by guilt before going to find her before the wolves do. He covers the food, picks up his sword and cloak and leaves to bring her back.

I wasn't sure if I could face him after his gift of embarrassment he gave me earlier. I mean, I only wanted to know why did he go from “yeah yeah whatever” to “who the hell are you?” and maybe try my charms to know where needed sharpening. Yo! I didn't care ok? Maybe not as much as I made it seem...

"Well, I was trying to be human with a little bit of Marilyn Monroe, it doesn't work on him, I guess." I whined as I sat down after my legs cried out of tiredness. I knew the way back but I wasn't just ready for it yet, the whole awkward moments and all.

"I didn't even do anything wrong, I just asked what happened and he just had to... I almost died of embarrassment. " I angrily defended but after thinking it through I finally decided to go back.

First, I went to pick clothes from the line before I walked straight without a second thought, only to stop half way before him like a deer caught in the head lights.

Now I should have stayed back even if I knew there was no avoiding this. But girl, win or lose, I will walk with my chin higher than Everest.

"Am sorry." he whispered as I walked past him. I turned to him confused, did he just apologize?

"What? " I feigned not to have heard him,

"Am sorry. " he apologized a little louder again with guilt written on his face while satisfaction and wild card victory danced on mine.

I came closer taking his hand into mine,

"Am sorry too, I shouldn't have sneaked up on you and asked sensitive questions, am sorry." I apologized to level the ground of accusations my conscience was rattling.

"I'm not used to company or conversations. " he revealed looking at his feet.

"I'll try to be quiet." I cooed like a pleased lover.

He slightly nods and I went for a hug but he stopped me "No hugging.” he stated yet I did it anyway with bits of courage and charm I had.

The amount of sleep I have been losing these days combined could be up to a year, that is with tonight's included. I sat up to see Yeong Su asleep with his face to the ceiling.

I remembered our the evening together brought a satisfaction and little smile to me charging my morale too. I didn't see him turn until he spoke,

"Can't sleep again? " startling me. I jerked and saw his eyes turn from me back to the ceiling.

"You? " I asked composing myself,

"You woke me. " he said turning to face the wall.

"Sorry, Yeong Su? " I turned to face him.

"Nng... "

"Can I huh, join you over there? " I tried my luck and waited for him to reacted negatively but he turned and looked at me before making space for me which I took no time to occupy gratefully.

"Thanks" I appreciated while adjusting for comfort.

With his back turned to me, I looked at every scar guessing where he got them and when curiosity was about to kill me, I turned completely facing him,

"Yeong Su, this is from a fight..." I said as I touched the scar at his lower back by his left side and I could felt his body tense under my fingers.

".. And this is from a lover's quarrel" touching to the one opposite.

"And this one, hmm... this would be from a... " Enjoying the tension my fingers caused,

"Battle between the barbarians and our soldiers" he completed, after some minutes, lightening the mode..

"What about this one? "I pointed another.

"From the battle after the surprise attack from the Ming Empire" he quietly answered.

"And this?" this particular scar ran from along his spine, and it looked like the most recent of all I have seen.

"Wolf attack on the mountain. " he answered after a long pause.

"Wolf attack, ok... Wait?! On this mountain?! How long was it?! What happened?! How far is it from here?! " my heart raced so fast with my brain dancing with fear as I inquired.

I knew he perceived the fear behind my questions that was why he chose to stay quiet.

"Yeong Su say something!" I urged and pushed but he remained quiet so I had no choice but to stay silent.

When he felt I'd given up, he opened his eyes and looked at me from the left sides of his eyes, I guess he was waiting for my next reaction,

"It was a night like this, I... " if he was trying to taunted me it was working.

"Huh? At night?! Yeong Su... " I restlessly pulled closer to him,

"Your swordsmanship, its good right?” Still drawing closer till I bumped into him, I stopped as I could feel the heat from my breath on his back and the fear that evaporated from them.

After minutes of calm and quietness, "They can smell fear from miles away" he continued but when no reaction was given, he listened for her breath and realized she was asleep. Her warm breath against his cold back warmed his heart enough for him to release a smile.

Since she went missing until her death and burial, he hasn't smiled this genuinely.

But he did today being her birth and death anniversary. He stand to walk where the items were kept, takes them all and silently excuses himself.

Later that night.

I woke up to an empty space and rumpled sheets, even without a clock hanging on the wall, I could still tell was the earliest hour of the morning but he was nowhere in the house. I stood up and walked out in search of him including around the house but to no avail.

Was he serious about the wolf attack? What if he comes back fatally wounded with his blood leading them here or was he already wounded? I saw his sword near the bed, has he gone to report back to his partner? I became worried.

How would I get out of this forest without his help? Who would find me? If this was a known place, people would pass by a lot, but I hadn't seen anyone..

I went back for his sword I had seen by the bed and the lamp that was set on the table and decided to find a way out. It was my chance to escape, by hook and by crook, I must make my way back to the village.

Should I start with the route he always followed in the day, or when he went hunting? But the wolves story didn't sound fake.

I wasn't going to sit here while an opportunity to run stared at my face. I didn't care as long as it took me back to the palace, I would take that chance to run even if I get lost, it was better than staying with a man waiting orders to kill me

I chose a fork path that looked abandoned and ran without looking back. I ran with my heart on my sleeves not caring if I would stumble or fall into a ditch.

I had been running for a couple of minutes almost losing hope until, I saw a faint light ahead and my adrenaline pushed me further.

I stopped running and walked closer and saw a man on his knees in front of a tomb stone sobbing silently and I stopped to observe this person.

I could percieved burning incense, saw some fruits and a familiar object, but what drew my attention was the tomb stone in front of the silently sobbing man. So, I moved closer to properly see the name on stone and it read, 'Hwang Yeong Suk'.

"Yeong Suk, Yeong Su... Is it Yeong Su's sister, Wife, girlfriend or child? It's a feminine name, though.

Yeong... Su... Geez? It's him!" I realized the person in front of me was the person I was trying to run away from and blood drained from my face.

He didn't go reporting but came to mourning the dead but why hold someone captive when... Is it for revenge to the King? Because, obviously I didn't know this guy.

The Queen found someone with resentment against the King to abduct me? Anger and frustration flowed like a river into my heart.

Let's see who plays this game better! You call it Baduk, we call it Chess.

I knelt beside him and taking his face in my hands so he would see me, but he wouldn't stop crying which reminded of Min Soo and my eyes began to water as I wiped tears from his face.

"Noona has heard you already, She asked me to tell you she loves you so much and wants you to be happy." I imagined holding Min Soo, my little gift and I found myself crying along with him pulling him into a hugged which he received wholesomely.

"She thinks of you every day, she misses you and she's sorry she couldn't say goodbye. She wants you to be happy. " I said as I hugged him, hoping Min Soo had someone to hold him like this too.

I saw him finally calm just sitting in the lake, I had led him there some moments ago. I took the scooping bowl and scooped water, poured it on him still absent minded.

After I had rinsed his hair which I just have to admit was really too long for a man, I moved to his shoulders, back, waist and arms, touching and counting his scars, before walking in front of him to scoop water I would wash him with.

I proceeded to wash his face but he held my hands getting my attention to his still absent minded and red eyes as a result of long hours of crying which made me to notice the tears mixing with the water on his face.

Maybe this time my charm would work... I hugged him and pat his back as I consoled him not minding the questions arising in my mind. I was surprised and not surprised that he hugged me closer.

With his face buried in my shoulder, he sobbed audibly with his body shaking. I felt tired and overwhelmed after releasing him from my embrace, so I took a look at his face and noticed he was no longer crying.

Finally, I poured water on him and washed away the sweats before I rose to pick his clothes that I kept at the bank.

"Don't go." he said suddenly holding my hand and looking at me with tears falling from his eyes.

"Am not going, I want to get your clothes since its getting cold." I whispered assuring him as I smiled charmingly.

I sighted the hut a few feet away with Yeong Su by my side holding my hand, the lamp and sword was held on the other. when we got in, I kept the lamp on the table and led him to bed where I returned his sword after he laid down.

I walked to the other side of the bed to lie down beside him while noticing his eyes follow my every move till I laid by his side.

"Are you cold?" I questioned seeing he shivered due the mountain breeze blowing into the room.

He slightly nods with his eyes fixed on me, so I stood up to get blanket but he preferred to be cold than me leaving his sight. So, I decided to lay back on the bed, face to face with him.

As the minutes went by, I became numb to the surrounding except the man before me whose sleeping breath played like music to my ears, because I had successfully began to win the heart of my abductor.