29 These forbidden desires for you

I am still alive. I have been stabbed by an assassin. Yet, I didn't die. I am also back in my time. Oh, the familiar scent of the hospital! I never thought that I would become this happy after smelling it. My shoulder hurts a lot. This pain is welcomed. But, I am glad. I am back. Finally... What is this?

"Li Jun? Kang Si An?" I poke his head. "Why are you holding my hand? Let go."

He sits up suddenly and blinks his vivid green eyes. "Oh, you are awake."

"What are you doing here?" I narrow my eyes on him. I wake up after facing death and I see him first. Just my luck!

"You!" He points at me. "Who stabbed you? How did you... No, why did you come to the set? Were you trying props and then, fell on a dagger?"

I realize one thing. There is a huge difference between Li Jun and Kang Si An. Li Jun would never say things like this. Though they have the same face, Li Jun is more handsome. It must be because he is always carrying a real sword and he would never say that I got stabbed because I fell on a dagger.

"I don't remember." It's not like I can say that I was stabbed by an assassin when I time-traveled to the past. "My head hurts... Oh! It's amnesia. Who are you?"

Kang Si An clicks his tongue. "It's too late to pretend that."

"I don't remember how I got stabbed," I tell him calmly. "How long has it been?"

"Since when?" He is typing something on his phone.

"Since... we met... No, since I signed the contract." I scratch my head. I never spent days in the future or the past.

"Two weeks?" He frowns at me. "Your parents and brother are on their way. They will arrive within an hour."

Two weeks. I spend less than two weeks in the past. It means that I will be traveling back in time. Kang Si An is also not surprised to see me. Then, I must have met him in the last two weeks.

"Did we meet with the director?" I ask him hesitantly.

He stares at me strangely. "Don't dare to pretend that you forgot. Because of you... I... that was so embarrassing."

"What did I do?" What did my future self do?

"You were... " He covers his face. "I don't want to remember."

Is his face turning red? He looks like Li Jun now.

"Kang Si An, I have a request." I sigh. Why I am comparing him with Li Jun? Two bodies. Two different times. One soul. Screw it! I hate them both.

"What do you want?" He balks, looking angry. This guy is having mood swings.

"In case, I am not here when my parents come, tell them that I met my Aunt Yoori. She is alive and well. I am traveling around. I will do my best to come back home safe and sound."

I wonder if I should call, but I can already feel it coming. Did time send me back here to heal and prepare for what is coming? I know that my future self will replace me in the last two weeks. This is not my correct time. Then, when is?

"What?" He looks confused. "Where are you going? Until the next five months and two weeks, you can't leave me to travel."

This guy!

"Kang Si An, look behind you."

When he looks behind, I let myself go.

***

Kwon Yoori looks down at her small bosoms sadly. She is sure that they are getting smaller because she binds them tightly every day. She doesn't want to pretend to be a man anymore. However, the life of a woman is worse here. She binds her chest reluctantly and puts on the clothes. Today, she has to attend the 'old fashioned no fun royal party' on the occasion of the fat emperor's birthday. She just hopes that she doesn't meet any woman or any prince. She will be going back to the borders soon. She likes it better there than here.

One can see a sword that is coming to kill. But, she has to be always vigilant here. She has to pretend that she is a 28 years old unmarried man when she is only a 20 something woman. Her cunning stepmothers are daily plotting to kill him. Yu Chen's father keeps visiting his young concubines to make more children. He doesn't care whether one or two of his children live or die.

The royal party is as boring as it can get. She has to keep a permanent polite smile to deal with people. She doesn't see the fifth prince around. Relaxed because that creepy devil is nowhere in sight, she lets down her guard a bit. A few women come to flirt with her. For fun, she also flirts back. She is both proud and ashamed to see that her flirting words can make these girls blush so easily. She wants to date a man. A real man.

Kwon Yoori currently doesn't have that luxury.

Tipsy after a few glasses of royal wine, she walks to the garden to get some air. The moon is full tonight. One week later, she will return and live her wayward dangerous life again. She is also trying to look for the time crystal. It's been three years since she came to these barbaric times. After a few more years, she might be able to heal naturally and go back home.

But, Kyuri said that she didn't reappear after giving the notebook to her mother. The timekeepers will try to capture her again.

"What are you thinking with such a serious face?"

The voice snaps her out of her thoughts. She looks back. It's the damned fifth prince.

"The moon is beautiful tonight." He traces the scar on her cheek. "Are you thinking about that wildflower picked from the battlefield?"

Why does he always talking about Kyuri like this? She stands up and walks backward, keeping distance between them. "Even if I am, it got nothing to do with you."

"My friend Li Jun is depressed. You are depressed." He steps closer to her. She notices that he looks slightly drunk today. "You must be lonely."

"Don't suggest women." She feels tired already.

He smiles and leans closer. She can smell the alcohol on his breath now. She is about to push him away when he grabs her hands and pulls her closer. She opens her mouth to yell. He places his hand on her waist. His tastes traces of wine in her mouth. "Mmm... "

Shocked beyond words, she finds the strength to push him away. "You drunkard! I am a man."

"Yes, you are." He chuckles. "But, General Yu, I can't help it. As a man, I have these forbidden desires for you. On this beautiful night, please become mine."