Don't Leave Me
Namgoong Juhee opened her eyes to an unfamiliar ceiling.
At least it was a relief that it wasn't some medieval-style canopy or a sleek modern one.
It was the familiar wooden ceiling of the Central Plains. Mixed with the scent of medicinal herbs.
Huh? But why is this a relief? Waking up in the modern world would be great, right? See my parents, hang out with friends.
"Hee-ya!"
Just as Namgoong Juhee's questions were starting to spiral, a tear-choked voice came from beside her. She whipped her head around.
There was Yi Hayeon, as expected…
"Yeon-ah, is that you?"
Her eyes were puffy and bloodshot, snot streaming from her reddened nose.
She hadn't slept a wink—her once-delicate lips were cracked in places, split at the corners.
What Ice Flower Yi Hayeon? Now she was just an ugly girl with a nasty personality.
Namgoong Juhee smirked at the thought.
"Yeon-ah, why are you crying like that? I'm alive, aren't I?"
"But… Hee-ya. Your eye!!"
The familiar chill in Hayeon's words.
The old Namgoong Juhee would have gone, Aha! Yeon-ah's a modern person too! and geeked out.
But her lower abdomen still ached dully, and her mind was only half-clear. She hadn't been out for too long, it seemed. End-of-period body condition.
Namgoong Juhee calmly reached for her right eye.
Now she understood why Hayeon had screamed.
No sensation on her face.
Not just the skin—touching her eye yielded only a rough, crumbly something. And her vision felt narrower, somehow.
Guess taking on twenty-five Peak realm masters at once was too much, after all.
Namgoong Juhee grinned with just that impression.
"Why the fuss? It's just one eye."
"Hee-ya!"
"Hey, maybe it's for the best? This face caused so much hassle. Guys always yapping about devouring me—exhausting. Now that won't—"
Namgoong Juhee couldn't finish.
Hayeon's tightly pressed lips looked too pained.
"Why would you say that?"
Hayeon's icy tone made Namgoong Juhee realize anew.
She really is the Ice Flower.
Just a slight drop in pitch, and that voice was frigid. The contrast hit harder because Hayeon was always so bright.
"Uh… calm down first."
"Do I look calm right now?"
Hayeon bit her lip, tears plopping down.
"Hee-ya! Don't you get it? You nearly died! Your right arm bone was pulverized, and your ribs had pierced your lung!"
Hayeon had a lot pent up.
She'd gone searching for Namgoong Juhee at Chasing Fragrance Inn, only to find her half-mangled.
Namgoong Juhee's body was crushed beyond recognition—miraculous she'd clung to life. Lungs filling with blood, dantian qi depleted like a flickering lantern on the verge of snuffing out, breathing barely there.
If Hwangbo Un hadn't generously given his inner core from his pocket, if Hayeon hadn't melted it in her mouth and forced it into Namgoong Juhee's body, she would've died for sure.
Even now, with her body mostly healed, the right eye refused to recover. No need to say how grave the injury was.
"Hm… but I survived. Pain that doesn't kill you only makes you stronger. Don't you know?"
Hayeon's fist clenched at that instant.
Anyone would snap hearing that from someone who'd barely cheated death.
If Namgoong Juhee were in top shape, Hayeon would've shown her the skills of an Eonha Merchant Group sub-branch head right then.
"…Do you know how worried I was?"
"Sorry you wasted the worry. Someone as perfect as me—ow!"
Hayeon's finger jabbed Namgoong Juhee's right side.
Her body lurched forward.
A weird mix of pain and itch—she'd never felt anything like it.
"Listen."
"Yep."
Hayeon sighed deeply and explained the situation.
"The Merchant Group Leader… Yi Hwasu will probably lay low for a while."
"Hwasu… like a weekend warrior. Got it. Go on."
"Lost two of the Eight Pal Younggeol guardians and Cheolgeumgeom, plus needs to regain the branch heads' trust. Probably quiet for about half a year."
Namgoong Juhee inwardly relaxed.
If the leader came charging for a deathmatch right away, they'd be screwed.
She'd probably end up buried somewhere with Hayeon. Not in a sunny spot, given Yi Hwasu's nasty vibe.
"Yeah? That's a relief."
"Right?"
"In half a year, I'll power up and take down that old—"
"And I'm leaving you starting now."
"Huh?"
Namgoong Juhee shot Hayeon a don't joke look.
Trembling hands, resolute eyes.
…She's serious.
Namgoong Juhee feigned gravity.
"Why? Gimme a reason."
"…Affection's worn thin. You charge in recklessly once or twice, fine. Stay longer, I'll get dragged in and die too."
"Again?"
"Your face was my type, but now—kyaa!"
Juhee trapped Hayeon's head in her armpit and squeezed hard.
Hayeon's face flushed beet red.
Was it the choke cutting blood flow, or the soft jiggle against her cheek? Only she knew.
"Gah! Let…! Let go!"
"You rotten bitch! Can't tell the truth?"
"Why are you doing this!"
"I hate lies most in the world."
A lie of a life saying that.
No persuasiveness, but it moved Hayeon. Juhee's bluntness seemed genuine, unfeigned.
Tears streaming, Hayeon spilled her heart.
"I'm scared."
"Scared? Nothing scarier than you in this—keep talking."
"If even you die, Hee-ya, I'll be left alone."
Namgoong Juhee's chest grew damp.
Tears, snot… what a mess. Still, she patted Hayeon's head.
"I believed money solved everything. As a kid, everything I dreamed of needed cash: warm home, a meal, soft bed. All cost money."
"True. I still think that."
"…But meeting the guardian changed my mind. Felt like a dad. With him, cold streets or empty dumplings didn't matter. Though he didn't feel the same."
Hayeon snorted and continued.
"The guardian was money in the end. Money… with wealth, everything's solved."
"Right?"
"…That's what I thought. If not for you, Hee-ya."
Hayeon grinned at Namgoong Juhee.
Juhee thought again.
Where's the Ice Flower? She's an ice block.
"You saved me twice, no strings. How could I spout such nonsense?"
"Hm… yeah."
"That's why I'm more afraid. Lose a Hee-ya like this, I won't have the will to live… So, for my sake, won't you let me go?"
Ah… everything good, but the conclusion's twisted.
Namgoong Juhee scowled and squeezed Hayeon's neck again.
"Aaa! Hee-ya! It hurts! Stop! Stop!"
"Forgave you once, now more bullshit?"
"Aaaah! Head! My head's splitting! Hee-ya! Stop!"
Namgoong Juhee held the choke a while, until Hayeon's flailing slowed.
Not killing her.
Just waiting for her heart to calm. Couldn't talk with all the sobbing.
Harsh and thoughtless method.
Her uterine lining was shedding, mind fuzzing again. Period over.
"Giving up in fear first—nothing dumber. Know that?"
Her who'd treated the world like a game and ditched all ties out of fear.
Hayeon didn't know, just sniffled in realization against her.
"If I'm precious now, keep me close and protect me. If you push till I leave, what's the point?"
"…Still."
"Think I'd just vanish if you said 'get lost'? I don't listen to others. Even parents."
"Shouldn't you listen to parents?"
"Talking back again."
Namgoong Juhee flung the blanket open.
A smooth naked body lay beneath the single layer.
Scarred and wounded in places, but those graceful curves remained.
Hayeon's face flushed unwittingly. "Hee… Hee-ya! What are you doing?!"
"What it looks like."
"That's not…"
"Enough. Get in here."
Namgoong Juhee pulled Hayeon under the blanket.
No strong resistance—she didn't hate it.
Thump. Thump.
Juhee hugged her tight; a small heartbeat tickled Hayeon's ear, filling her head with tangled thoughts.
Is it time now? She likes girls—true? Not ready yet… but not hating it. Suddenly stripping a girl in bed. Indecent! Indecent and… exciting. Hee-ya will lead, right? What if I'm clumsy and disappoint her?
She didn't know Namgoong Juhee was already snoring away.