Eun’s diary

What a gorgeous day! I spent the entire day fishing and I’ve caught absolutely nothing, probably the kids upstream scared all the fish off. But it doesn’t matter, I enjoyed doing absolutely nothing – napping under the tree, closing my eyes and listening to all the rich sounds nature has to offer. If I could invent something, that’d be a device that can capture sound, so I can bring this sound back with me and whenever my mood is down, I can just listen to it again and feel better all over again! How nice would that be? Should I ask Jimong about it? He’s come up with all sorts of strange and crazy things like the air-plane that can carry people up to the sky and fly like a bird – I’m sure he can make me that device if I just ask him!

I also spent some time splashing around with the kids from the temple, orphans mostly. They had a wrestling competition in water and I joined them. I lost of course, how could I win over a dozen kids? So I gave them money to buy snacks in the market as their treat. Such lovely angels.

The sun is setting already but Soondeok’s still not back. She’s already gone when I woke up this morning, left a note saying I won’t have to worry about her even if she comes back late so I suppose I have nothing to worry about. But why can’t I sit still? The maid will bring in my dinner soon, will Soondeok have dinner with me? Should I leave some food for her? The head monk talked to me yesterday, telling me that it’s important to mind my character…I suppose mum has sent him a letter beforehand and told him to lecture me. What can I do? I simply stood there and listened until my ears felt numb. Why do old people always talk so much? At last he bowed to release me but then he halted me and reminded me that this is the temple and told me not to do anything ‘inappropriate’ with my wife. Heck! Who did he take me for? I reassured him that I will never do such a thing but he said, ‘Young man like yourself cannot contain that urge so easily, don’t be so full of yourself. Humility is a character you must learn.’ Then left. I was afraid he’ll give me another set of lectures so I hid in our room as fast as I could.  Thank goodness the head monk has gone on a trip today so I won’t have to move around the temple trying to stay away from him. Oh, I think the food is here!

-------------Later that evening--------------

The moon is high up, the wolves are howling, the crickets are conducting an orchestra – and I’m here in my room all alone. Soondeok is still not back…should I go out and look for her? But she told me not to worry about her returning late...However this is getting ridiculous! Maybe I should wait outside…but what difference would that make? How about asking the monks for a searching party? Everyone’s asleep by now…oh gosh! What should I do?

What if she was kidnapped in the middle of the night and the kidnapper left the note only so that I won’t go out and find them this morning? What if they’re hurting her now? Or worse? No…this won’t do, I can’t just keep writing, I need to do something! I’m going to wait outside until she returns, I will give her a good scolding when she comes back! Definitely will!

That’s why I hate marrying someone who thinks she can beat men! I hate Soondeok now more than anything! For keeping me up, for making me feel uneasy. If I had married Haesoo, I would’ve never had to worry because she’ll just stay at home all the time!

‘Soondeok! Soondeok ah!!! Where are you? Soondeok ah!’

‘My prince…is everything alright?’

‘Oh, I’m sorry for waking you up…’

‘We monks are very sensitive to sounds, but it’s alright – it would seem your wife has not return.’

‘She told me she’ll go hunting today and left a note telling me not to worry about her even if she returns late…but this is getting crazy! What if something happens to her?’

‘I’ll send a searching party right away, your highness.’

‘Help! Help!’

‘Oh, little boy, what brings you here?’

‘I’ve come with this letter…my mother…my mother is…’

‘There there, little boy don’t cry. Let me read the letter…oh.’

‘Wait, isn’t this my wife’s writing? Little man, who wrote this?’

‘A lady, a beautiful lady …mother is sick, really sick…she’s with mother right now…please we have to help her! She said I can get help if I send her letter here…’

(Eun sighed, knowing that at least his wife is safe)

‘It says you and your mother is living in a cave right now, you mean the cave next to the waterfall?’

‘Yes sir…mother and I live there…’

‘Look, little man, I will call other monks to help your mother now – I will take them to the cave myself. In the mean time, you should take this man with you as you return, he’s been worried about his wife whom I believe is the lady with your mother right now. Understand?’

‘Yes sir! Thank you sir! Hyung! Please come with me, hurry!’

(Boy pulling Eun by the hand)

Eun’s diary

It’s still night time – tonight sure will be a long one. Turns out Soondeok found a woman in labour when she was hunting but no one was there to help them so she tried to deliver the baby herself, but the condition got complicated and she sent the woman’s son to the temple to fetch us. I’ve never seen her looking so worried in my life, she was holding the woman’s hand as we carried her down the mountain back to the temple. Soondeok is now with that woman who’s still screaming from labour…I’m sure no one in this temple can get any sleep tonight. I told Soondeok to come into the room and rest while letting other women take care of her, but she won’t listen, such a stubborn girl! I haven’t found the time to scold her, come to think of it…I couldn’t bring myself to. I’ve planned to give her a good scolding when I see her in the cave, but the second I saw her kneeling helplessly beside that woman, I couldn’t bring myself to. It was the first time I saw her crying…even when I spoke harsh words to her she didn’t cry…but tonight, I saw her sob. Wait, is that a cry I hear? Yes! Yes! Finally, it’s out!!!! I’ll be back in a moment.

---------------------Later----------------------

‘Soondeok ah…eat something, you haven’t eaten all day…’

(Soondeok shook her head and pushed the tray away)

‘Here, I’ll feed you…ah…’

‘Why are you doing this to me? Never mind… It’s getting late…let’s sleep…’

‘Soondeok ah…it’s going to be alright…she’ll survive the night, and the baby is saved because of you! Think about it!’

‘She could’ve died because of me! Because I thought I could help…I don’t want to think about it anymore…please just sleep…’

‘Is that how you treat your husband? Telling me to shut up when I’ve been worried sick about you all night long! You know how torturing those moments had been for me?’

‘Liar. You’d love to see me gone forever, wouldn’t you? From the first day we got married, you’ve been wanting to drive me away. Forget it, I don’t want to speak of it anymore…good night…’

(Grabs Soondeok by her shoulder)

‘Listen to me you woman! I don’t like this marriage at all, but I made a vow and I will keep my vow! Don’t you dare do this to me again, understand? Stop being so full of yourself! Stop thinking you can beat every man you meet because you can’t! Stop thinking you can protect everyone with the little strength you have, because you can’t! Stop making me like you, because you can’t!’

‘So…that’s your answer? I know I’m not your first love…yet I thought you’d at least give me a chance to become your last…but it would seem you have locked that door as well…’

‘Is it my fault? You can’t force love on anyone!’

‘Time! Time…was all I wanted…’

(Wiping away tears)

‘I’ve…looked into the law concerning a divorce, it says that if any woman fails to bring forth a child in 3 years after marriage, the husband can automatically file a divorce. My prince, just let us live together for 3 years...just three years, for the sake of our parents. Then file a divorce as you see fit, I won’t hold on to you, I promise. Night…’

(Soondeok blows off the candle)