Chapter 23

It took Shin three whole days to regain his consciousness and stay awake long enough to carry a conversation. During his convalescence, Yoon-Yi never left his side, except for when she went to eat or when the healers came to dress his wound. He had to drink his medicine three times a day and Yoon-Yi was always there to help him. To her surprise but also delight, he never complained about her presence.

Yoon-Yi never suspected just how much gratification her being there gave Shin during those hard times. His face was almost always devoid of all emotion when she was around, but his eyes betrayed him constantly. For some reason though, she never saw it. Perhaps it was her mind filled with thoughts of guilt and remorse or she never thought it would be possible for him to look at her differently.

Nevertheless, he did. Every time he saw her, his face would brighten up and his eyes would never leave her face. They would follow her every move and feature without getting tired. Her voice sounded like music to his ears. For the sole purpose of hearing her speak, he would do something that would make her scold him. Then, he would smile to himself, thinking just how silly he had become.

On the third day Shin was strong enough to lean his back against the wall. The Head monk provided him with a soft pillow, making it possible for him to sit propped up. He had just taken his medicine and was grimacing because of its bitterness.

"How come this thing never gets any better?!" he grumbled, scrunching up his face in disgust. "After all this time I thought it might start tasting better."

"You are like a child, whining because the medicine tastes bitter. Honestly, how old are you?" Yoon-Yi huffed, pushing a bowl of water into his hands. Despite her show of annoyance, she could not hide the smile that was forming on her lips.

Shin smiled into his bowl and almost choked when he saw Jun-Ho appearing in the doorframe. He was wearing a smug grin on his face and was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed.

"Jun-Ho! When did you get here?" Yoon-Yi cried out in surprise, just then noticing the young man standing behind her. She blushed despite herself and quickly looked away.

"Oh, just now. Don't mind me. Carry on with what you were doing." He replied, a teasing glint in his eyes and the shadow of a smirk on his lips.

"I will leave you two alone to talk." Yoon-Yi said hastily. "I need to wash these and help the healers make the medicine for later." She picked up a pile of bandages and left the room in a hurry.

Her flushed expression made Jun-Ho chuckle. Then looking down at Shin he was happy to see an improvement in his appearance. The pallor of Shin's face was closer to normal and his eyes looked alive, albeit slightly annoyed.

"So, when are you going to tell her?" Jun-Ho said, sitting down with his legs crossed. He was eying Shin attentively.

"What are you talking about?"

"That you like her, you fool! It is as obvious as daylight that you like Yoon-Yi."

"I…" Shin stopped and gaped at Jun-Ho.

"Oh, you can't be that dimwit as to not have realized by now! Even a blind man can see it!" Jun-Ho cried out in a mixture of exasperation and amazement.

"I don't. I mean, I don't… dislike her." Shin said defensively, withdrawing slightly in the face of Jun-Ho's fiery gaze.

"Heavens, I wonder how she has not seen it, when it is so obvious." Jun-Ho said amusedly, shaking his head slowly. "Maybe she's just as blind as you are."

Shin remained quiet, looking somewhere over Jun-Ho's shoulder. He was thinking seriously, mulling over the other man's words.

"I don't think she likes me, not in that way at least." He finally said after a while. "She is always snappish with me, to the point that it gets scary. I don't think a normal girl acts this way when she likes a man." He finished with an earnest look.

"Yes, well, Yoon-Yi is not a normal girl." Jun-Ho laughed. A moment later his face became slightly more serious. "I think she also feels guilty, Shin. She never said it out loud, nor did she show any sign of grief, but she has been crying. Jung-Hee overheard her several times when she thinks no one is around."

"But it's not her fault. How can it be her fault that someone is after her?" Shin asked in disbelief.

He had never thought about what Yoon-Yi might be feeling regarding the situation. She always looked so composed and unaffected, that it was nearly impossible to know what she was thinking.

"You should talk to her, Shin. Otherwise, she will keep on punishing herself for what happened to you." Jun-Ho said calmly, getting up to leave. He stopped in the doorway and gave Shin another earnest look. "Did you know she barely slept while you were unconscious? She convinced the monks to let her stay here with you. She tended to your fever and gave you medicine, ignoring the fact that she was hungry or tired. Talk to her, Shin." And with that he left the room.

After Jun-Ho was gone, Shin kept thinking about what he had said. All that while he enjoyed her company and care, but he never once stopped to think about her. Suddenly he felt disturbed at the thought of Yoon-Yi doing all that for him. He was worried about her not taking proper care of herself. Then a different thought crept inside his mind, making his stomach tighten.

'Stupid fool! Here I was, feeling happy about her care and attention, when all this time she was feeling guilty. How stupid I have been to even entertain the idea that maybe… just maybe she also…'

Shin shook his head forcefully, the movement making his muscle tense up. His back protested and he let out a small wince.

***

Later that day Yoon-Yi was standing in the temple courtyard, looking up at the bright sky. It was another beautiful day with almost no clouds. The wind was gentle, and spring felt nearly ready to give way to summer.

For some unknown reason even to herself, she hesitated to go back to Shin's room.

"I am glad to find you here." a voice spoke from behind her.

Yoon-Yi whirled around and found herself face to face with the Head monk. The man was smiling kindly at her, and she returned a timid one in return.

"Thank you very much for all your help." She found herself saying before she could stop herself. After the words left her mouth, she realized how long she had been holding them in for.

"We are here upon this earth to help each other. Every life is important, and we must do what we can to save it. Those are the teachings we are taught."

The man spoke airily, waiving his thanks towards the sky. She understood that no further words needed to be said on the subject.

"You mentioned earlier that you are glad to see me. Is there something for me to do?"

"Some time ago, a man came to this temple looking for shelter. He had been wounded, just like your young friend. We did everything we could to save him, but he could not make it. He died a day after he arrived, but he left something here. Sensing his end drawing near, he called for me and gave me this." the Head monk stopped and pulled out a letter from his sleeve. "He said it was for Kim Jong-Seo, from his brother. Also, he wanted to apologize to his master Kim for not being able to protect his daughter."

"Daughter?"

"Yes. Apparently, they had been attacked and he lost her around the forest near the river. He said her name was Kim Yoon-Yi and if she ever came here, to tell her that he apologizes for failing in his mission."

The Head monk stopped talking and set his beady eyes upon Yoon-Yi's face. The news made her take a step backwards.

'There is no way… Does that mean Kim Jong-Seo's real niece has the same name as me? That is just too much of a coincidence.'

"I considered speaking directly to young sir Jun-Ho, as he is Kim Jong-Seo's son, but considering who the bearer of this message was, I thought it would be best to tell you first."

"Are you giving me this, because you think I am that servant's mistress?" Yoon-Yi asked in a faded voice, staring at the white envelope.

"What is meant for us, usually has a way of returning at the proper time. This is the time for you to take this letter and deliver it to its rightful owner." The Head monk said simply.

Yoon-Yi reached out and took the letter. She noticed her hand was trembling slightly and she willed herself to stop feeling nervous. After all, this was her chance to understand what had happened to Kim Jong-Seo's niece. Also, a way to perhaps understand why she herself had been attacked so many times. Maybe that letter held some answers.

As if reading her thoughts, the Head monk smiled and nodded slowly. He was just about to turn and leave when Yoon-Yi stopped him. The words left her mouth before she could stop them.

"Sir, do you believe that souls can travel through different times?"

For a moment she thought the monk would laugh at her silliness, but to her surprise he did not. Instead, he gazed at her earnestly and spoke in a pensive tone.

"If it is meant for them to do so, then yes, the souls can travel, seeking their rightful time and place. If you find yourself here, then you were meant to be here."

"I see." She said flabbergasted, not expecting that kind of answer. "Thank you." she added quickly, tilting her head, and clutching the letter to her chest.