20 SUDDEN COLLISION

That evening Jieun wore a dress of her own design made by Granny Susan. Because all the women in that world always look elegant by wearing a dress, then Jieun design some jumpsuit that allows her to be a little rugged but still remain beautiful.

Fortunately, her request was entertained by her grandmother and the villagers were also interested in her clothes until Granny Susan started selling the clothes in the store.

A wide-leg jumpsuit with sleeves till her elbow is Jieun choice to wear for today. The jumpsuit is in emerald colour just trying to maintain the concept of going to the forest today. She also wore socks and flat shoes to make it easier for her to walk. Although in this world, there is no rule that a woman cannot wear pants or t-shirt, but she does not want to look too foreign there.

After getting ready, Jieun walked out of the village and through a small road towards the forest. On the sides of the road there are beautiful stones decorated by the villagers. In her left and right also have cherry blossom trees planted by the villagers and continue to reach the forest. So even though she walked quite a distance, but she did not feel tired at all because of such a beautiful scenery.

Once in front of the forest, Jieun took a few breaths before entering through the existing path. Granny Susan told her that the villagers had cut down trees and weeds in the area that her mother are used to go to for her research. Therefore, the area did not look scared to her because she already knew where she had to go by walking to the existing path only.

It took Jieun quite a long time to walk in before she found a small river. Near the river there is a large tree and next to it is her mother's grave. She then approached the area while observing her surroundings. The area is very beautiful with green trees and forest flowers here and there. Very reconciling. She could imagine how happy her mother was to be there.

Facing her mother's grave, though not the real one Jieun saw the presence of withered flowers on it. She knew that people in the village always visited and cleaned her mother's grave there.

Somehow she felt a little sad when thinking about her mother at that time. In the real world, every year she and her father would visit her mother's grave, but she never once cried for her mother.

Jieun lost her mother at the age of 12 and their shared memory is not much added to the sickness she suffered when she was young. Even her mother's face was not so well remembered except for the picture that her father always showed to her.

But, in here she seemed to be able to feel the presence of her mother. With the story that she always hears from granny and the villagers about her mother who always protective towards her. Also, her unconditional love that present only for her made Jieun start to shed tears. It is because she doesn't remember it at all.

Suddenly she felt very guilty about her mother even though it wasn't her who wanted it to happen. She just thought that she should have tried harder to get to know her mother better.

Jieun then sits next to the grave while her hands pick up the dried leaves that cover her mother's name on the tombstone.

"Shin Aera rest in peace. You will always be loved." Jieun read the writing on the tombstone. Her tears began to drip.

"We are going through a very distant past, but I promise I'll remember you more after this. I'm sorry mom. For everything." Jieun then started a sobbing as she can't hold back the feeling that started to arise from her heart at the time.

"I hope I remember the whole time we were together here. But I... I don't remember anything even a small thing while you..." Jieun seemed unable to finish her talk.

"While you… Worked so hard to protect and making me not feel so lonely here. You are leaving me a very good big family. But... How ungrateful I am. I don't remember you any better. I'm sorry." Jieun express her feelings. She knew that she was able to live well and adjust to everything there definitely thanks to her mother. Otherwise, she probably lives in a mess right now.

Jieun calm down her feeling before talking again. "You must have been scared before because you came here alone. I was scared too, but you saved me from it. I can't imagine how you felt then. "

Jieun remember that her mother worked at the palace as a physician then said, "I heard from granny that you work as a physician. You know what, I'm studying medicine in college now to be a doctor someday. Looks like I'm following in your footsteps." Jieun smiled when she found their resemblance. While in the real world her father said that her mother worked as a normal office worker.

"Mom... Does dad really know nothing?" Jieun asking in that quiet atmosphere.

"I actually have a lot of questions to ask you. Why are we ended here? How you get to work in the castle? What kind of relationship that you have with the royal? What should I do here? What is my fate that I need to avoid or face on? And… Most importantly, why did you die so suddenly? " As she posed the question, Jieun's face turned serious as if she was thinking of something.

"Dad says you suddenly die in your sleep probably cause by fatigue and heart attack. Are those really the truth? Or there's more story into it? " Jieun contemplating her mother's grave as if asking for an explanation. Her heart was really curious. Her mother is too young to die at that time.

Jieun finally stands when she realized that it quite a long time she spending time there. She was worried that Ayana would come to find her there later. As she swept her clothes with her hand to get rid of the dirt, she heard something coming from the direction of the forest on the other side. It sounded like an animal was crying.

Because Jieun still remembers Ayana advise, she did not wander there because she might get lost. Jieun try very hard to ignore her curious heart from wanting to go and see where the sound came from.

But only just a few steps she back away from there to get back to the village she finally succumbed to her will and started to crossed the small river and peered into the roadless forest signifying no one had ever gone to the area.

Jieun thinking hard before making a decision, "I'm not going to get lost right? I just have to remember to find this river again. Not that I want to go that far. Just look and then come back. " She tried to appease her own heart before daring herself to go deeper into the forest.

"Kruuuuuuu ... Kruuuuuuu ... Kruuuuuuuuuu ..."

The longer she make a step inside the forest the louder the sound is heard. Slowly she walked at the time because she also concern if there was a wild animal. But according to the sound that she heard it sounds like a bird. Out of the blue…

"Ouch!" Jieun let out a small scream when her foot tripped over something until she fell to the ground. She saw her slightly injured hand caused by a small rock in the ground.

At that time, the sound of crying was no longer heard. Jieun search on what she tripped over earlier. Her heart was beating fast when she saw some black object near her feet now moving near her. Apparently, whatever she tripped on before is alive.

"Kru… Kru… .Kruk!" The sound of crying is back but turned a bit scary now and Jieun raised her face to look up when she saw the black object was then floating in the air.

Apparently the one that she was violated was the wings of a giant bird which she had never seen before. Seeing the bird's angry eyes, Jieun knew she had to run away from there to save herself.

The bird began to flutter its large wings making the wind around them turned stormy. The bird's feet also scratched the ground as if preparing itself to attack her.

"Arghh!"

With a scream Jieun immediately got up and ran fast trying to escape from the bird. She no longer thought about where she should run as long as she was not eaten by the bird. In her heart she began to curse herself for not listening to Ayana's advice that asking her to not wander there.

Even though she has run already far away Jieun could still hear the sound of the trees swaying and the sound of a broken tree from behind her may have been due to being hit by the bird as it chased her. With such a large bird it is not impossible that such a thing could happen.

Jieun, who was starting to get tired now started running slowly and now tried to examine the forest area to find a place that would allow her to hide. As she changed her course, suddenly,

"Ah!"

"Ouch!"

Once again Jieun fell and bumped into something. Only this time she fell down several times on the hill in the forest. Luckily for her the hill was not too high, but her body still felt pain from the impact.

In the pain, Jieun quickly opened her eyes because her memory was still on the giant bird earlier. At that moment she could see someone she seemed to know was also sitting in pain in front of her.

Apparently the one she bumped into earlier was the man she had met when she got lost in the palace before. That's why she heard as if a human voice when she fell earlier. But she was also relieved because it wasn't a wild animal that she bumped into this time.

"You!" The two of them said simultaneously.

The man also looked shocked to see the girl who had previously entered his room before. Now is the girl doing a trick by following him into the woods or is that just a coincidence? Because he was always come to the forest but he never found another human in it. Moreover, what does such a girl do in such a deep forest?

"What are you doing here? Are you stalking me again or did you want to get something from me now? " That man accuses her directly this time.

"Shh…" Jieun put her index finger in front of her mouth like asking the man to be a little quiet. She worried that the giant bird had managed to track her down.

She could see that the man was watching her with a full question mark.

"This forest is not yours to begin with. I can be here any time if I want. And why would I stalk you anyway? And how many times did I tell you that I'm not a thief? " Jieun saying in half whisper but still sounded angry by the accusation.

"What if I said this forest is mine?" The man sounded somehow arrogant.

"What? Is this forest also belong to the royal? If so, this forest still a part of the nature that's been given by the God who is greater than the King. And I didn't see any writing or banner here that said no one should enter this forest. Which is means anyone can be here." Jieun doesn't want to lose to the man.

"This is a very thick forest. Full of wild and venomous beasts. A girl like you shouldn't be here. Seeing you here in front of me just like the situation before of course made me suspected you. Your actions now are also very suspicious. I already decided not to believe in you since I met you that day. Also, you heard me clearly before, that I said you better not appear before me again. " The man said again.

"I never told you to trust me either. You were the one who had no evidence and accused me recklessly. You were also the one who let me go that day. Speaking of which, I can also accuse you. Maybe you were the one who stalk me in the first place. Why are you here anyway? While never, even in my dreams, I want to meet you ever again. " Jieun questioning the man back.

The man is smirking now seemed to be deliberately trying to provoke Jieun and it turned out to be effective as Jieun started to feel more angry.

"It's true that I want to know more about you, but only because I feel you are a threat to Dream Land. Who knows with which enemy you are cooperating. Because your behavior is certainly not done by the people who live here. Should I drag you to the palace and interrogate you again? This time I will make sure you will answer all my questions willingly without you daring questioning me back. " The man threatened.

"Kruuuuuuuuu…. Kruuuuuuuuu..... "

Before Jieun had time to reply to the man's words, the sound that had disappeared before came back again. Hearing it alone she knew that the bird was still angry. Without much thinking Jieun pulled the man's arm and dragged him running together to find a place to seek refuge.