We started travelling at night. I thought I wouldn't sleep because I told myself not to do that because I know Min Yun might feel uncomfortable if I am going to lean my back to him. But I was not able to control myself and found myself deeply sleeping while Min Yun is driving the horse.
I found myself in the morning lying in a small tent. I got up and open the tent where I was sleeping. I saw Min Yun sipping his tea under the tree. I went out the tent and walked towards him.
"Min Yun!" I shouted.
He stopped sipping his tea and stared at me.
"Good morning" he smiled.
"You are in a good mood today."
"Im just trying to feel the breeze of the air while sipping my tea. It is a rare experience since I was too busy."
"Or are you excited to go to Shibuya?"
"Sort of. I badly want to catch who is behind all of this."
"Me too."
"Do you want some tea?"
I shrugged and sat beside him. "I just want to sit here." I closed my eyes and do the inhale and exhale thing.
"Min Yun..."
"Hmm?"
"I am sorry about last night."
"What about last night?"
"I slept in you."
"You are not that heavy."
"Did you sleep last night?"
"Yes but in the tent."
"Where is your tent?" I looked around.
"I already packed it. Later after eating breakfast we will travel again."
"How long will it take?"
"It depends on how fast we travel. But we can't travel straight without sleeping and eating. "
"I hope no one will notice I was gone. It will be a burden to the king to lie to them."
"He can handle himself. "
"Yeah, we are here because we wanted to help him."
"Captain, the breakfast is ready." the soldier interrupted our conversation.
"Let's eat."
We went to the table and started eating. They prepared eggs and vegetable for breakfast.
"We need to eat a lot." the soldier said.
"Yeah..." the other soldier answered.
I smiled then focus on eating. I need to eat a lot to be more strong.
"You should eat slowly." Min Yun said then gave me a glass of water.
I was about to spit the food in my mouth but luckily I was able to stopped it.
I drank the water Min Yun gave to me and gulped it until the last drop.
"I'm sorry, I didn't notice. "
He just smiled then continued eating.
After our breakfast, we started packing our things to get ready for our next travel.
***
Min Yun's pov
"Captain..."
I was busy packing the things we have when my soldier called me.
"Yes?"
He pouted his lips towards the direction of I-jun.
"She is the only woman who came with us. Aren't she feel awkward?"
"Why would she?"
"Because we are all men here?"
"Is her presence bother all of you?"
He shrugged. "No, but I just don't have the answer as to why she joined to us. Is she a soldier from another town? Because I have never seen her before. "
I secretly laughed. If they will know that she is the Queen, for sure they will be shock.
"She is a trustworthy person, that's why."
The soldier nodded.
"I do hope I could get along with her."
I smiled then the soldier left.
I looked at I-jun. She is as pretty as the flowers in the garden. She is the reason why I am motivated to do my work. Before my goal is to protect the king at all cost. But now I changed my mind and I like to take care and protect her more than the king.
I couldn't help but to smile. I feel peaceful and happy since yesterday. This is the time that I-jun and I have the moment. I want to utilize it properly. Actually, I am more excited not to reach Shibuya right away because of I-jun.
"Min Yun!" she shouted.
I looked at her then smile. This girl does not only make me smile but it makes my heart flutter. How I wish I am the king and she is the queen. Maybe I am the happiest man alive if that will happen.
****
I-jun/Teresita's POV
We started travelling again, the sun is a bit too bright and I felt uncomfortable.
"Are you okay? You seem uncomfortable." Min Yun noticed my movement.
"Ha? I..I'm okay."
"Does the weather today make you hot?" he asked me again.
"Not too much." I pretended but actually it is too much.
"Just tell me whatever you need and we will stop."
"Okay, thank you."
I tried not to move so that Min Yun won't misunderstand my action.
All day, we rode in our horse. Sometimes I feel pity for the horses since we didn't stop over in some places. I could feel that the horse is not good.
And I am right because the soldier who is in front of me, his horse collapsed.
"Are you okay?" Min Yun rushly get down our horse and attended the soldier and the horse.
"Please help the horse." Min Yun said. The soldiers starting to help the horse.
I went down the horse to help them too.
"Luckily it was just a bruise." Min Yun said and started to medicate the soldier who was involved in the accident.
I was there to assist Min Yun.
"It was just a small wound. Nothing to worry."
"I guess we need to end our travel here. It is getting darker too. "
"I can help put up the tent." I volunteered.
"Let my soldiers do that." Min Yun said.
"So what should I do?"
"Just stay beside me"
That statement made my body stiffed. Again.
I tried to act calm for him not to notice it. Luckily he was busy attending his soldier. I was just there sitting in a big rock since Min Yun didn't allow me to do the work. I felt like I am useless right now.
"You can go to your tent." Min Yun walked towards me and said that.
I frowned. "Would you let me help you?" I asked.
"What do you mean?"
"I feel like I am useless now. You didn't even let me help you. What if the soldiers think that I am useless and a burden?"
He frowned too. "And who tell you that you are useless and burden?"
"Me!" I exclaimed.
He laughed.
His laughter makes me frowned even more.
"I am serious."
"You judge yourself."
"I am not judging myself. I just feel it."
"Okay, okay. Let me clear this with you. You are not a burden or useless. We just know that you are too precious to help us. "
"What?"
He pointed out his 10 soldiers who were busy doing their stuffs.
"They know who you are."
My eyes widen. "I thought..."
He leaned closer to me to whisper to my ear. "They are my trusted people. I am sure they will not betray me."
That whisper gave chills to my body. Any moment I might collapsed.
He stood up straight and bowed. "Your Highness, your tent is ready." then he pointed out the direction using his hand.
I pouted. I hate this kind of treatment.
"I am not tired yet."
"Hungry?"
I shrugged.
While in the middle of silence, we heard a growl in my stomach.
I bit my lower lip. Min Yun laughed.
"I see." Min Yun said then still laughing.
"You are so mean." I said.
"I'm sorry."
I just gave him a dare look.
"Let me prepare some food for you."
"Wait, I will come with you. Just let me help."
"Okay."
Then we went to our table where some of the things were put.
This time I helped them prepared our dinner.
"Let me, Your highness." the other soldier said.
"I have hands. " I said with a strict voice.
I saw Min Yun just laughing.
I took a deep breathe and go up in the chair.
I clapped my hands to get their attention.
They all look at me and that makes me shy.
"Everyone, I want you to listen." I started.
"Don't treat me differently. I also how to work. I am here because I want to help."
"Yes, Your Highness." they bowed their heads.
"Stop! Please don't do that. I am not in the palace so please treat me like an ordinary person. "
"You know we can't do that" said the other soldier.
"That's an order." I told him with fierce look.
The soldier bowed his head and agreed. I laugh silently and stared at Min Yun who was about to laugh too.
"Let's eat, I'm hungry." I said.
We started eating and talking like an ordinary people. If you look at us, it seems like we have no problem at all.
After eating, Min Yun told his soldiers to take a rest because we will travel earlier than this day.
When the soldiers went inside their tents, Min Yun and I stayed outside.
"You should take a rest too."
"I am not sleepy yet."
"Why? we had a long day."
I sat on the chair in front of Min Yun's. "I don't know."
"Tomorrow will be another day, we will cross the river."
"River?"
"Correction, rivers."
"What?"
"I told you Shibuya town is far away. We have to take a lot of efforts before we arrived at the place. "
I know. That's why I prepared myself for this. It's been 2 days since we left out the palace. I was wondering what the king is doing? Do the ministers bother him?
"You became silent." Min Yun noticed.
"Ah... it's nothing. "
"Do you want tea? It will help you sleep."
"I think I need tea."
Min Yun prepared tea for us. After minutes he handed me my tea.
"Thank you." I sipped it already even though I know it is very hot.
I continued sipping my tea while doing star gazing, though I couldn't see any stars. The sky is dark and I couldn't see anything. What if the rain will come?
And just what I thought, the rain came very hard. I didn't know what happen. I was about to go to my tent but Min Yun pulled my hand and we went to his tent. Maybe he didn't even think that he held me. Maybe adrenaline rush since his aim is to protect me since I am the queen.
The rain poured heavily and in no time, our tent might be damaged.
"How about the other things?"
"I'm sure my soldiers get the things. "
I nodded and didn't talk. The tent is for 1 person only and I couldn't even imagine being squeeze in a tent with someone especially with a guy!
"I'm sorry if I let you here. I was supposed to put you in your tent but I don't know why I pulled your hand."
"It's okay, no worries. Let's just wait for the rain to stop."
"I doubt it will stop."
"Huh? why?"
"It was very dark outside and I couldn't see stars or moon. "
"Is it okay with you if I stay in your tent?"
"Of course, you can have my pillow."
"No, no. I can sleep without a pillow
"
"I won't allow you to just sleep feeling uncomfortable."
"No no, I can---- ahhhh" I stopped what I was saying when a loud thunderstorm occured.
This is one of the things I hate--- the sound of thunderstorm. Since I was young, it made me anxious and stress that I couldn't sleep all night. I feel like it is a monster roaring at you and ready to eat you whole.
Min Yun's pov
"ahhhhhh" I-jun shouted and to my shock she hugged me. I know she didn't notice what she did since she looked like a human who is afraid of thunderstorm.
I hugged her back and patted her back. This position made me warmth and tickles his skin.
She didn't let go of me. She kept hugging me like a pillow. Maybe the hug lasted for 1 minute. When she noticed that there is no thunderstorm already, she slowly removing herself from the hug.
"I'm sorry." she said.
"How many times you say that ? Everytime you make moves?"
"Huh?"
I looked at her red lips. It was so tempting that I couldn't even stopped myself. I was like a vampire ready to suck blood from my prey.
But she is married to the king, I shouldn't betray my bestfriend.
But on the other hand, it was just a fake wedding. I-jun just help the king to protect and save him.
What if l kiss her now? Would that change I-jun's perspective towards me?