Chapter 7

The king's hand was on my waist and my hand was clinging on his nape. We were staring at each other while the sound of fireworks continued. I could smell his breath and I was sure he could smell mine. None of us could let go . We were both attached like a magnet.

"I-Jun?" someone uttered at the back.

I was back on my senses. My eyes got bigger when I realized that I almost hugged the king. Not almost but I really did hug him like a boyfriend.

I pulled my hand on his nape , stood and tried to fix my handbok as if it was dirty.

I saw the king's expression. We're both shocked at what happened. Min Yun's face frowned. He examined us.

" You two went together here? " Min Yun asked.

The king and I both shrugged our heads.

" It is just a coincidence that we are here. " I answered.

I looked at the king. He looked at me too . I looked away because I couldn't handle his stare. It's like his stare is melting my body.

" Ahmmm.... I was actually waiting for you Min Yun. I thought you wouldn't come. Ji Han told me you were at the palace."

Min Yun's face looked serious. He confronted the king. " Why are you here? without a guard? You didn't even tell me."

" I am wearing my disguise clothes"

Min Yun sighed. " You wanna come with us? After this, I will escort you to the palace"

The king nodded. He looked at me again and looked in the sky.

" I like fireworks" he uttered.

"I like it too. " I said to myself.

" Let's have a drink" the king invited us.

I thought Min Yun would decline but he just nodded and looked at me.

" Let's go"

We sat on the balcony part of the restaurant to make sure we could still see the sky as well as the people who were happy eating, watching the fireworks and buying stuff for their loved ones. I smiled. I will never get tired telling everyone I missed Von. How I wished she were here to enjoy this celebration with me. Together with the king and Min Yun.

" You are smiling" the king noticed.

I tried to close my mouth. " Am I?" and pretended that I didn't smile.

"You just smiled" he smiled too.

Ugh. This feeling was so frustrating. How could I compose myself when I am in front of the king? He looked even more and more and more handsome when he smiled.

" I'm sorry" I said.

" I didn't stop you from smiling. I was just asking"

I drank my tea.

" I was just saying that I was sorry because I pretended that I didn't smile, Your Highness"

" Come often to the palace. I think I need you in my other work"

" Are you sure, Your Highness?" Min Yun asked.

" Why? Was she not allowed?"

" She doesn't work" Min Yun answered for me.

" I know. I just need her company" the king said.

Min Yun was about to say something but stopped himself.

" Is it okay?" the king stared at me.

I looked at Min Yun to get an answer but his face was just blank.

I looked at the king again. " It is my pleasure Your Highness" I bowed my head to show some respect.

" Thank you" he said then drink his alcohol.

Min Yun and His Highness were both drinking alcohol while I was drinking tea.

They finished 4 bottles of alcohol each and I could tell that they were a bit tipsy. The king keeps on murmuring something that I don't understand with Min Yun.

Min Yun was just laughing at what the king said to him.

I finished my tea and stood up to look in the sky.

I closed my eyes and felt the cold breeze in my skin. " I love this" I uttered.

How I wished that I was at home at this point of time. Reading my favorite books while sipping coffee. Hearing the nagged of Von because she was jealous I have more time with books than her. Going out and seeing each other once a month because we were both busy at work. Texting , chatting and video calling just to make sure we're both okay.

" I really missed you, Von"

" Von?" the king asked.

Did they hear what I said?

" Who is Von?" the king asked again.

" Ah , it is nothing"

I thought they would interrogate me but they went back drinking their alcohol.

I sighed.

" Min Yun, Your Highness, I think we need to go home. You're drinking too much"

"We're just celebrating" The king said.

" You shouldn't do this here"

" Why not?" Min Yun asked.

" Because people shouldn't know that His Highness is here"

"nothing happens yet. Let's just enjoy this night. Tomorrow will be another day" the king continued drinking.

***

" Ugh. You are both heavy! How could I carry you with this thin body?" I complaint.

" Min Yun , do you remember when we were children? You and I played at the lake...."

Ugh. They kept on talking about their past while I was struggling carrying them...

" Could you please help yourself? My body is already shaking" I shouted.

Finishing 20 bottles was not a good idea. I already stopped them but they refuse. I just know that they have this side. I thought Min Yun and His Highness were both serious in life.

"Oww!!!" Min Yun fell on the ground while I was still holding the king on the left.

" Min Yun, please stand up!"

" I just need to sleep here" then he laid on the ground.

" What? no!no! oh please help me with these two drunk people"

The king laid on the ground as well while I was helping Min Yun to get up.

" Your Highness!!!" I uttered in a lower voice. I felt the frustration in this situation. I could never imagine this scenario. It was far from my expectations on these guys.

"Lucky of you I did not drink alcohol. Who would have helped us when all of us drank?"

" Good night I-jun" Min Yun said.

" Good night too" the king said.

I sat on the ground out of frustration. I wanted to go home and sleep but I couldn't.

" I-jun?"

I saw light when I saw Ji Han

" Ji Han!!!" I ran to him .

" What happened here?"

" The king and Min Yun were drunk"

His eyes got bigger. "They did?"

I nodded and frowned.

" They were a burden to me. Imagine, I carried them from the restaurant up to here with this skinny body. They don't even pity me. "

" Let me help you"

"I thought I was going to sleep here with them."

He laughed. " They shouldn't drink this much"

" That's what I have said to them but they reason out that they were celebrating. I don't even have the chance to roam around the place." I looked sad.

"I'm sorry about this. "

" I have no right to go against them. "

" I need to get the king and return him to the palace before the sunrise. Can you still carry Min Yun?"

" I will try. " I said .

" Let's go"

I pulled Min Yun's hands and tried carrying him. I swear, when the morning comes, I will nag him.

***

Min Yun's Pov

"Ouch. My head hurts" I uttered and slowly opened my eyes. I'm still trying to remember what happened last night.

Ji han opened the door in my room. He was carrying a tray with soup.

" Drink this" he said.

" What happened last night?"

" You don't remember?" Ji han asked.

I shrugged.

" I-jun was upset"

" Why?"

" Because she carried you and the king trying to get you home but you laid on the ground and slept. You don't know how much frustration she had"

I held my head and pulled my head. Now I remember that the king and I both drank.

"I should say sorry to her."

" She has a fever"

" What?"

" You know how skinny she was and she carried the two of you. Luckily I passed by and saw the situation.

" Ugh. I should'nt have done this"

" She needed rest. She didn't even sleep because she took care of you the whole night. I went to the palace to deliver the king. And when I went home I saw her taking care of you".

I felt guilty . I never let myself off guard. I was known for being serious and dedicated at work. I never let anyone see my other side. That I could easily get drunk .

" I'm sorry"

" I need to prepare some food . Drink this soup , it will make your head better."

***

King's Pov

Ughhh. My head hurts.

" Owww!!!" I shouted.

" Your Highness" the court lady attended to me

" My head hurts"

The court lady assisted me to sit and let me drink hot tea.

" What happened? "

" You were drunk last night, Your Highness"

" How did I come home?"

" The guard delivers you here. I think it's Ji Han, the friend of Min Yun"

I hold my head. I am still hurting.

" Did Min Yun pass by today?"

" No , Your Highness"

I laid down on my bed again trying to grasp all the things that had happened last night.

While thinking, I remember I-jun. How we saw each other and I invited them to have a drink to celebrate. I started feeling dizzy but I didn't stop drinking. Both Min Yun and I reached our limit but we didn't stop. I-jun didn't drink alcohol. She just drank her tea.

I am starting to remember that I-jun carried me and heard her frustrated voice when I laid on the ground because I thought it was my bed .

I got up when I remembered everything. I pulled my hair because I was getting frustrated.

" I was being careless"

" Why did you say so , You Highness?"

" Tell me if Min Yun arrived in the palace. I need to talk to him"

" Yes, Your Highness"

***

I-jun/teresita's Pov

My back hurts, I feel the heat all over my body.

I growled because of the pain on my back. I wanted to shout at Min Yun and the king . They were the reason why I was here with pain but I have no right to do that. Especially to Min Yun who helped me to have my identity and shelter.

But I still can't help but to feel mad at them. Should I warn them not to drink again?

The door in my room opened. Min Yun entered carrying a tray with food.

" You need to eat your lunch" He said.

I frowned at him. I should nagged him once.

" I know. Just let it out" Min Yun expected me to be mad at him.

" We are the reason why you are sick today" He said. " I'm sorry" he continued.

" I will let the king know what happened to you"

" I am just a nobody. I have no right to complain"

" You have the right. Especially when you were hurt."

I looked at Min Yun's eyes. " Physically, emotionally if you were hurt you have the right to let it out"

He looked serious. Opposite on what I saw last night.

" I regret it. I am really sorry that I didn't think about you"

"It's okay. I will be fine"

Looking at his face makes my heart melt. How could I nag him when he already said sorry to me?

" I just need some rest. maybe tomorrow I will be fine"

" Eat this food. I cooked these"

" Thank you"

" Just tell me if you need anything"

" I'm okay . no need to worry about me. Just worry about yourself and the king. You still have hang over"

" It is nothing compared to you"

" I'm starting to be fine. You have work today"

" I decided not to go to work today . I need to take care of you"

" Ji Han will be here with me."

" I asked him to go to the market to buy some stuff"

" I can be alone. The king needs you more than me"

"He will understand"

" I promised I am not angry. Just go to the palace"

He shrugged " my decision is final".

I deeply sighed. He was so determined.

I just let him take care of me until the night came. From time to time he checked my temperature. He also made medicinal tea for my fever and pain that the doctor gave to me. He even called the doctor he knew in the palace just to check on me. I am starting to feel uneasiness because of this treatment.

While drinking my medicinal tea, someone knocked on the door.

" I will check it"

I nodded.

I heard Min Yun opened the door. I even heard him utter Your Highness.

I panicked. I didn't expect that the king would go here.

He knocked on the door of my room.

I cleared my throat and said " Come in"

" I-jun, I heard about the news" he started.

I just smiled. How could I get mad when they sincerely apologize to me?

" You don't have to come here, Your majesty. I'm just an ordinary person"

"You are not just an ordinary person. You are the cousin of Min Yun which was my royal guard. "

I sighed. " I'm okay"

" I just wanted to make sure. " His tone sounded serious. he looked really concerned. I felt special because the king visited me.

The king looked at Min Yun. " I waited in the palace"

" I'm sorry, Your Highness" he bowed.

"No, no, I just heard that you asked the royal doctor to check on your cousin. That's when I thought something might happen. "

" She got fever and pain all over her body" Min Yun said.

" I know. That is why I am here to apologize"

" Your Highness, I am okay. You don't have to do this. "

" I brought some fruits and tea . it will ease the pain"

" Thank you"

" I am sorry again on what happened last night. I promised, We promised we won't do that again".

I nodded and smiled.

" I hope it will not change your decision to be my companion"

" companion?"

" Just like what I had said last night... you can be useful to my other work. "

Ahh. I remember now. He wanted me to work with him in the palace. But I don't know what kind of work .

Just when I was about to tell something when I saw a glimpse of light on the book.

I examine the faces of the two, trying to know if they saw that light. But it seems like they didn't notice anything.

" Ahmmm. May you go out? I need to change my clothes"

" You don't need help?" Min Yun asked out of the blue.

I blushed. Min Yun just noticed I am uncomfortable.

" I am sorry. I didn't mean that way."

" It's okay. I can handle myself. thank you"

" Just let us know when you need something.

" Thank you"

When they went out, I got the book and opened it. As I read the next chapter, my eyes got bigger.