Day 7

Lee Jun woke up to the smell of warm delicious kimbap rolls (Author Note: I am not sure Cha Eunhee knows how to make anything else). His stomach grumbled and Lee Jun sat up straight. He was back in the hostel room with his hair dry and changed into his night suit. Just as Lee Jun tried recalling what happened last night Cha Eunhee walked into the room with more rolls and juice in a jug.

“Oh the perverted demon is awake now.” She said with a smirk as she placed the food on a table beside him. “It was just a light concussion, you shouldn’t be too worried.” Cha Eunhee added seeing him touch the back of his head.

“You…did that intentionally…” Lee Jun muttered slowly under his breath. The memories of last night came rushing back to him. His face turned red in embarrassment and anger.

“You should be thankful that Ji Woo contacted me first after knocking you out and not your master. He might have killed you…” Cha Eunhee continued without paying attention to Lee Jun.

“DON”T MESS WITH ME!” Lee Jun burst out in anger. He was well over his tipping point. The last few days, the therapy session, the sword fight and now being shamed in front of Ji Woo probably his first friend in forever…

“…”Cha Eunhee stayed silent, he caught Cha Eunhee completely unaware. She had been wondering how much more would she have to push him before should incite a response. ‘Looks like I don’t have to push him anymore.’

Tears welled up in Lee Jun’s eyes as he failed holding them back.

“If you were that angry why didn’t you say anything?” Cha Eunhee asked him as she sat down beside him.

“…” Lee Jun did not utter a word as he tried to cool himself down. It was not in his nature to get upset or angry. Yet this woman frustrated him time and time again, she stirred up his memories like a jar full of mud. Even the slightest disturbances would make the water murky. After a long silence he finally asked her, “Was this some test of yours? Is this part of some therapy session?”

“Yes.” Cha Eunhee replied softly. “You are definitely prodigy to figure this much out for your age. I was hoping you would fuss a bit more, let out a few more emotions and then have me explain this was part of therapy.”

“So this will help me get better?” Lee Jun asked still wary of her.

“Yes…”

“Embarrassing me in front of Ji Woo?” Lee Jun cut her of.

“Well…I needed to bring your emotions out, it seems like you finally broke. That is what is important. To often do you hold your emotions back in you need to let the past go and look forward.” Cha Eunhee explained.

“Heh…” Lee Jun smirked with tears falling uncontrollably down his eyes. He didn’t know whether he could trust this woman or not. She had time and time repeatedly betrayed him (well it was only twice) but he didn’t feel he should trust her words.

“Was master involved in this?” He asked, wondering how long has this extreme therapy session of hers being going on for.

“No. He has no clue that you are under such intense therapy.” Cha Eunhee lied.

Lee Jun stared at her suspiously.

“I can see that you don’t trust me. However, maybe there is someone else you can trust on.” Cha Eunhee said as she looked towards the door. “Come in Ji Woo, I know you are listening…”

Lee Jun clenched his fist tightly; the last person he wanted to see now was Ji Woo.

Ji Woo entered the room her she went slightly red in the face for being caught eavesdropping.

“Ji Woo, would you like to know something interesting?” Cha Eunhee asked rhetorically. Before Ji Woo could reply, Cha Eunhee continued, “Lee Jun and you share common past.”

Both Ji Woo and Lee Jun stared at Cha Eunhee. They both were wondering what was she possibly talking about. They had never met each other before, school was definitely the first. They quickly forgot about the therapy session or what happened last night and were only interested in what Cha Eunhee had to say. Lee Jun was sure there was nothing he and Ji Woo had in common. It was impossible for one like Ji Woo to have met him during his miserable past.

Ji Woo too didn’t believe there was any remote possibility for them to share any connection historically.

“I see both of you want to know but neither of you believe that you can share anything in common?” Cha Eunhee asked them seeing their expression. “Maybe you two should talk it out with each other.” Cha Eunhee suggested as she got up.

‘What the..’ Lee Jun thought as he avoided looking at Ji Woo. He really wanted to know what it was that they shared in common.

Cha Eunhee left the two children alone and went to check on her husband.

“I am sorry.” Ji Woo spoke first. She never held back her strength. It could also be said she had not control over her monstrous strength.

“Me too..” Lee Jun said going red in the face.

“I had no idea that Cha Eunhee ajumma set you up…” Ji Woo continued with her face going red in embarrassment as she too recalled what happened last night.

“No the fault is all mine. I should have known better that she would try doing something like this after what she put me through.” Lee Jun said as he averted his gaze.

Ji Woo gave him a puzzled look having no idea what he was talking about.

“I thought my room mate was one of the other practioners of the dojang. I didn’t think you would be here…” Lee Jun said still looking away. Last night memories were impressed deep into mind. Trying to forget about it only made it worse. Soft…smooth… Lee Jun kept going red as he realized what he had touched. He tried breaking up his thoughts by talking, “I should have tried the west wing for the mens dorm.”

“There is no west wing…” Ji Woo replied slowly. She was hesitant to reveal the truth to Lee Jun.

Lee Jun looked at her slowly. ‘Then why was she here?’

“Umm…I live here…” Ji Woo slowly replied.

Lee Jun was slightly surprised. He almost didn’t hear Ji Woo since she was so soft.

“I didn’t know you were master’s daughter…” Lee Jun said slightly terrified of what he had done. If his master ever found out he might not live to see another day. Lee Jun’s scar burned slightly.

“I am not their daughter…” Ji Woo replied softly. This was clearly difficult for her to talk about.

“…”

“I was brought up by the masters and everyone here….” Ji Woo began. “My parents passed away in an accident. Since my father was a disciple of master and he had no relatives, master decided to take me in….”

Lee Jun now understood the words of the annoying ajumma. “I don’t have any parents as well…”

Ji Woo looked up slightly shocked on the relevation. “I am sorry.” She whispered.

“NO, I am sorry!” Lee Jun insisted. “I was the one who clearly made you feel unconformtable….I don’t even remember what my parents look like…also I have a wonderful mother…”

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

“…” Ji Woo was going to ask him about the lady who filled in the role of his mother when Lee Jun added, “I was adopted, she is a wonderful mother…”

Ji Woo smiled. She knew what he meant, though she was adopted by her father’s master the entire dojang felt like a big family. Never did shee feel lonely with so many dojang members. However, meeting Lee Jun was different, meeting someone similar who understood the pain of knowing you are orphan made her feel slightly better; she wasn’t alone in this world who suffered.

“I would have never guessed…” Lee Jun said as he looked at Ji Woo. “..if you had not told me.”

“I am glad…” Ji Woo replied, “..to have met you. I was always jealous of seeing children with parents…and I wondered why I had been wronged…”

Lee Jun didn’t know for sure for to comfort her as tears dripped down Ji Woo’s face.

“You must be thinking I am despicable?” Ji Woo said as she continued crying.

Lee Jun was so completely clueless what to do. He understood her well, he too knew what it felt like being jealous of those who had a roof under their head, parents to kiss them good night and to be loved unconditionally. Till he was adopted those jealous feelings resided deep within. It was a reason why he wanted to grow up quickly, so that he could take care of his mother. He wanted to express his gratitude. Ji Woo continued to sob. Lee Jun involuntarily moved in and hugged her. It was all he knew to do to console her. His mothers hugs were the best and they always cured him of his tears; so wasn’t it just the right thing to do?

Ji Woo hugged back Lee Jun tightly as she continued crying quietly. Lee Jun’s grip however began to waiver, her strength was monstrous to the point she was choking him. It wasn’t the choking so much that was bothering him…but rather the other stuff he was feeling…he couldn’t simply just ignore that. His thoughts kept going back to what he felt last night, it was definitely those. He was now sure of it! He was also sure of another thing, he was going through puberty.

The fragrance of Ji Woo’s hair felt nice. Her skin was smooth and soft. Apart from the choking, everything else definitely had a pink feeling to it. However, the choking was killing the entire moment…

“Ji Woo..” Lee Jun squeaked. “Choking me..” He said as he tapped her arm.

“Oh Sorry!” She said letting go of him completely. She recoiled back slightly embarrassed realizing what she had just done. Then there was also her heart beating so fast…what did that mean? she wondered.

The two stared into each other’s eyes and reflected on their encounter how they had met. Lee Jun was happy that Ji Woo dragged him here…he had made a good friend…before Lee Jun knew what was Ji Woo moved forward and kissed him on the lips.

It was a brief kiss, just touching of the lips nothing more.

However Lee Jun was frozen like a statue in a complete state of shock. Ji Woo ran out of the room in embarrassment.

“Ouch” she said as she crashed into Chung Il on her way out. “Sorry!” she said her face going red in embarrassment; she had no idea why she did what she did.

Chung Il got up slowly; he was devasted after what he witnessed. Chung Il knocked on the door before entering; Lee Jun however didn’t respond he was too dazed to think clearly. The one time he wanted to clearly remember something he could not. The kiss was just too brief! And it happened all so suddenly! Lee Jun scowled his first kiss was stolen from him; not that he minded it was Ji Woo…she was after all very very pretty…Lee Jun had a stupid grin on his face not realizing Chung Il sat in front of him.

“You seem to be doing better?” Chung Il asked.

“Yeah…” Lee Jun replied he still wasn’t paying attention to whom he was speaking to, ‘soft lips…’

“Why don’t we go for a walk…” Chung Il said slightly irritated; somehow he knew what Lee Jun was thinking of.

“Huh?” Lee Jun said. Before he knew it he was was walking with Chung Il on a hill trail.

The walk was definitely doing him good. Since he had to carry a heavy backpack he no longer had the luxury to think of Ji Woo or the kiss…everytime he did think of it; the world seemed to be colored in pink in his eyes. After an hour long hike, Chung Il signaled a break. They had reached the peak of the hill. The view was breath taking for Lee Jun, reality would always remain reality…

‘How did it come to this?’ Chung Il wondered as he stared at the forest in the distance.

“Master why are we here?” Lee Jun asked. Lee Jun had no clue at all why did his master suddenly decide to give him a special hell training.

Lee Jun opened his bottle of water and began drinking. The hike had him all sweating. Lee Jun spat out the water as felt a blow to his chest.

‘Why master?’ were Lee Jun’s thought’s as he watched his master standing with one leg raised facing him. Lee Jun’s body grew cold and stomach churned violently. He was soon overwhelmed by a feeling of lightness as blood rushed to his head.

The scene of his master’s kick soon disappeared and was replaced with blurs of different shades of brown and patches of greens inbetween.

Lee Jun could no longer hear his own thoughts as air rushed in from behind his ears. The air rushed through the gaps between his arms and legs, he knew this sensation all too well. He was falling…he was falling down fast…and this wasn’t a dream or virtual reality where could just wake up. This wasn’t some endless feeling of falling. What lay beneath greeting him was the cold hard ground.

This was reality…he was falling to his death.

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Authors Note:

1. And that completes the 7 days! :3

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Connect to Royal Road – Elementarem Vim next Chapter?YesNo

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