Chapter 103: Ttalajabda (Catch-Up)

I truly thought that he had just been...experimenting with me and nothing more when we were in his father's home. But he kept coming over to see me no matter how stir I was getting with him, and the moment he put his arms around me even I couldn't say anything for a while. I thought his feelings for me would be fleeting...there was no way that an epileptic orphan like me would ever have a suitor in this lifetime...so I did the only thing I could think of; I tried to keep him at the same distance that he had kept me at in the beginning. I know...I wasn't supposed to like him more than a crush...but now that I had time away from him I discovered that every look he gave me, every word he uttered and every touch he gave me was equal to thorns growing put of my heart. I thought my father and brother had raised me to be strong enough to handle any obstacle that came my way, but I was still deeply affected by my unexpected epilepsy, and Seon-Ho...for the sake of my brother who was completely clueless about the opposite sex I had dumbed myself down on purpose to make things easier for him...and myself so I could recover from that damned illness that ruined my life. I had lived that way purposely for a decade but Seon-Ho...the way he looked at me in the later years of me staying with him, the amount of attention he gave me...I really felt like I was a woman for the first time..."Where were you! Where the hell did you go! Why did you just disappear like that! Without even trying to contact me!"

But from the moment I had my first fit I knew that such luxurious that other women experienced daily wouldn't come to me so easily. I had to remind Seon-Ho of what I used to be to end this nonsense between us once and for all. "Is there anything else brother?" I could feel his rage emanating from miles away even if he was right next to me. "Yeonna..." "If there is nothing else, then I have chores to get along with and then my studies before I have to cook for my brother." "If only you put in that much effort for me." He muttered bitterly and I couldn't take it anymore. "Don't you remember? After you had just taken me in when I had lost my memories? I did everything for you to make up for it but what did you tell me? Distance was necessary and you didn't want me doing anything for you?" And with that I shut the doors of my room onto his face before I had a chance to see his face...it must have been terrible...

But why? Why did he feel hurt for me when his precious woman was here? Why was he still only focused on me as if I had anything of value to give him? I barely walked away from the door when he burst through them and took a really tight hold onto me "You...you really don't want anything from me after everything you've done and been through? Nothing at all? Not even the protection I could give you as my woman? Why do you keep denying that night ever happened?" "What...what could an epileptic orphan like me expect from anyone? I paid my debt to you by simply helping you what you deserve...that was all..." my voice wondered off and I couldn't look him in the eyes when I said words that even bought myself to tears. "Oh...really?..." he sounded like he wanted to strangle me at the moment if he could, but he still wasn't leaving my room. I tired to get along with my usual routine since I had come here and he didn't take his eyes off of me at all. It was only when Hui-Jee entered my room that he hid somewhere and finally I felt like I could breathe again. "He's back, you're old fiancé, just like he has been every single day he saw you at the party." "My goodness, you'd think he'd be able to take a hint by now." "He's been infatuated with you ever since and there are only so many times that I can keep him away from your brother..." "You're right, and avoiding him won't help matters either. I'll see him this time, hopefully for the last time as well. Can you send Hwa-Wol to help me get ready please?" "Full kiseng attire?" "I might as well give him a lasting impression of what he's missed out on due to his own cowardice."

Even though kisengs were seen alike to prostitutes, I had no qualms with either woman. Life in this nation was already extremely suffocating for women already, so who was I to complain about how they made a living in a man's world? So even though I was neither of those women, I had no problems acting like I kiseng at times if it helped me to deal with stupid distractions like this man who wouldn't stop harassing me. I had a feeling that Seon-Ho was lurking around somewhere but now that I was getting ready I couldn't exactly tell people that there was a man hovering in a ladies room and watching her. And as I made my way to the main room I could hear his heavy footsteps following me from behind the walls.

My so-called fiancé looked thinner from the last time I saw him at the party. He kept pacing around nervously and it smelt like he hadn't bathed in a while. I could only roll ay eyes at the lengths that he was going through for me right now when he was the first one to abandon us when my father was set up. I wonder just what the hell he wanted from me now and why he was acting like a lovesick person when we haven't even been in touch at all. I made my way to him and I sat down before he could even say anything. "Yeonna..." "Yeon. It's Yeon to you and everybody else who abandoned my family at that time. No one else gets to call me that." "Yeon...back then..." "I am currently on a short time limit...and I have more people to meet after this so can you please make this quick." I snapped at him , I was already melting under this thick layer of makeup and clothing that I was not used to wearing at all. "I know that I have a lot to make up for with yourself and your brother...but I hope that we can honour your father's arrangement between us?" "So that's what you've come to see me for? I haven't seen you in 15 years and now suddenly out of nowhere you decide to show up and take your rights...even though you are already married with a child and you are courting your 5th concubine at your families expense?" The look on his face was completely priceless, he looked like he was going to have a heart attack...and I could have sworn that I heard someone laughing in the background. "No! No Yeon...that was a mistake...that marriage...it was arranged by my parents...I can leave them for you, I promise you that I can!"

My disgust in him just grew deeper and deeper "I knew it, no man can be truly faithful in the world. But why? Why would you leave your family for an epileptic lowborn orphan like me? It's not like there's any guarantee that I can bear children with my condition." "Yes we can! I...I am willing to pay any amount of amount...not only for child-bearing treatments, but to also rid you of your epilepsy." I couldn't take his lies anymore, so I made a gesture to one of the servants who had brought in the his family that I had already found since I had a feeling that his persistent stalking wouldn't come to an end unless it came to a final meeting like this. I already had people talking about me left right and centre and I didn't need this kind reputation as well in case Seon-Ho...any man courted me via my brother.

Upon this revelation he looked like he was going to pass out just as my brother came storming with with Seon-Ho who couldn't look happier if you gave him hundreds of gold coins. My brother gave me a furious look and I gave him one in return that told him to just shut up and enjoy the show. "Thanks for the heads up" he hissed at me "Well, you've been all over the place recently so what do you expect from me?" I whispered back in replay but he still wasn't happy with me I could tell