memory flashback

I winced at the sudden pain shooting on my leg and almost fell back.

"Are you okay" Yoon asked.

"Yes, I'm okay." I lied. There's so many things in my head right now. From my encounter with the fox spirit to passing out in the middle of the forest.

"You don't look like you're okay. I found you unconscious in the middle of the forest. Not to mention your ankle is hurt."

I bit my lip.

Yoon extended his arm to reach for my hand. He did so casually without asking for permission. I guess he felt comfortable enough knowing I wouldn't overreact.

He then yanked me to my feet, bending over as he invited me to climb on his back. I hesitated for a second, but he told me, "it'll be easier for both of us. It'll take us forever to get back with you limping on one leg."

"A-are you sure?"

"Yes."

So I did. I climbed on his back and waited for a reaction. None came. Yoon was so comfortable that it made me wonder how many women had he given a ride on his back before?

A lot?

I erased the unruly thought. I can't let my mind wonder off like this.

He walked with my weight on his back for a while until we made our way out of the forest. When we got to the nearby village, I told him I can walk so he put me down. We walked side by side for but not for long. Yoon gave me his arm and I held on to him for support.

It was a few seconds of serene silence when my anxiety got the best of me.

"What if someone sees us?" I asked. "There might be people in this village who knows who we are."

I heard a soft chuckle. "You worry a lot."

"What would they think?"

"They'll either think we are a couple walking together or they'll think we are Heung and Moon's children walking together. Don't worry about it."

That didn't give me any form of relief, I was worried about gossip or people giving us side eyes. People start rumors and before you know it, mother will hear and she'll come to me prying about an immoral relationship with my stepbrother.

"Stop overthinking." He whispered.

"H-how can you tell I'm thinking?"

"I can tell when you do."

*****

We walked for a while comfortably until we got closer to our village, I noticed the difference in Yoon's body language. His easy casualness dissipated as though he suddenly remembered I'm his stepsister and we're not supposed to be seen so close like this.

Yoon paused while I noticed the clamminess on his skin.

He later pulled his arm and inserted some distance between us.

I didn't think much of it at first but Yoon dropped all the way back as soon as we turned to the corner of our road.

"Wait, where you are going?"

"I'm going back for the package of dress we left behind."

"Don't worry about it. We can come back for it tomorrow."

Yoon shook his head. "No, making your delivery on time is important to you. I'll make sure it gets to Mrs. Chang tonight."

"B-but you can't…what of the fox spirit? What if it gets to you?"

I got no response. Yoon made a gesture of cupping his ear with his hand and mouthing, I can't hear you.

Before I could say anything else, Yoon disappeared into the darkness. I couldn't stop him. I couldn't even tell him to be careful.

Shock grabbed a hold of me once I turned back around. Stepfather's silhouette stood wicked in the middle of our yard. I couldn't make him out but I knew the shape of an evil man.

"Stepfather!" My lips pursed as I tried to explain what happened but his sharp stare remained steadily focused on the distance.

It took a few seconds to realize he's not waiting for me.

So I closed my mouth and limped cautiously closer until I got real close and saw the dangerous glare in his eyes that's probably meant for Yoon.

A wave of unpleasant memories assaulted my thoughts. All the beatings Yoon endured, his screams and cries. Then a vague memory of me throwing myself in front of him when I was a child. The shock in his face when I did it and the stung of stepfather's whip when it licked my back.

H-how could I have forgotten about it?

That explains the scar on my back that itch from time to time. I've always known it was from my childhood but could never remember how I got it until now.

Yoon!

I looked back over my shoulder but all the traces of him had been gone. Relief envelope me until I turned back around and saw stepfather's gaze has shifted its focus to me. His sharp eyes scanned and scrutinized me as if he's searching for something.

I dropped my gaze and kept walking without saying anything. Stepfather allowed me to slip by in silence. He did not ask or pry why I was out so late. He didn't even ask why I was limping.