In silence you and Jungkook sat while the small fire heated your backs. You both had taken shelter in a shallow cave for the night but haven’t spoken since the uncomfortable kissing incident that morning.

Why was it getting more and more complicated and difficult to fathom the longer you were with him?

You couldn’t even find the time to think and accept the past events but every new day had additional preposterous situations that continued to occur. Maybe this was why Grandma Soyi had warned you over and over again not to go to Mt. JingShen. But none of this would even happen if Jungkook wasn’t around. Right? There wouldn’t be a man to cause all this ruin to your image if he wasn’t there.

As much as you tried to convince yourself how great it would have been without Jungkook, you were secretly relieved he was there. Truth is, he had saved you from every single encounter and blaming him made you feel guilty; and that was the last thing you needed to feel.

Jungkook was lost in thought as he stared into space. The stars glistened against the dark blue-black ombre sky. The weak warm evening wind felt nice against his skin. This weather was a reminder that the lantern festival was coming up. Soon the winds would die down and the weather will begin to warm up for spring.

A cough from you brought Jungkook back to the memory of your eyes gazing into his. 

“I,” Jungkook began to say.

“Don’t talk about it, I understand,” You cut him off uninterested. You knew he had good intentions for kissing you. Yes, as always, the reason was that it was to save you. Nothing else, so why do you need to listen to his explanation again? It wasn’t like he had any interest in you. It would only make you feel uncomfortable. You then added, “By this point I’ll be dying alone without any suitors. I’ve shamed my grandmother, and I’ve accepted my fate. Don’t worry I won’t ruin your image. After this we will be strangers.”

You heard Jungkook quietly let out a sarcastic noise at your comment as if he thought you were ridiculous. What?! Why would he even react that way? What you said was true! Who would want to marry you now? You’ve basically been violated by Jungkook, you were no longer pure and untainted. It didn’t matter if no one knew. The fact that it happened was enough to make you unworthy.

“You’re a woman? I thought you were a man.”

You eyed Jungkook in repugnance. What kind of response was that?! If you had powers or knew the work of sorcerers and had laser eyes he would have died from a laser blast of abhorrence. Jungkook continued talking, “I was going to say, I think we need to start taking le