“It looks like it’s going to rain.”

Gyuri stared at Pho from across the storage house, where Pho was gazing outside the window. With the sky a melancholy grey, Gyuri couldn’t help but feel unsettled. She knew she should be used to drab weather, having grown up in the UK, but something about the dark clouds didn’t seem right to her.

Their presence was like an ominous sign.

“At last, the drought is finally over,” Gyuri heard Pho say as she sauntered over to help with unpacking the basket of food. “It’s a shame we might get caught in the rain,” she added while setting some vegetables aside. “Maybe we should return early before the rain falls?” Pho glanced at Gyuri after a few moments had passed and she hadn’t replied. “Gyuri?”

“Hm?” Gyuri turned toward her.

Noticing the somewhat dazed look on her friend’s face, Pho queried, “Is something bothering you?”

Gyuri shook her head. “Erm, no- no…” She fixed her gaze on her hands as she started organising the bowls.

Pho was unconvinced. “You don’t have to worry about those thugs returning,” she reassured.

Gyuri flinched at the mention of them.

“The imperial guards,” Pho continued, “they took care of them already.” Pho watched Gyuri shuffle on her feet. “We’re safe here,” she reiterated. “So, there’s no need to be anxious.”

“I- I just can’t help feeling uneasy…” Gyuri eventually confessed.

Pho observed how Gyuri refused to look up.

“It was scary, Pho.” Gyuri shuddered as she suddenly envisioned a sharp sword pointed at her. “I was lucky I didn’t get hurt but Chim Chim he…” She looked up and Pho finally saw the dark shadows under her eyes. “What if more of them come back?” Her voice was small. “What if they come back and try to hurt us again?”

“They won’t,” Pho confidently answered. “Not when the imperial guards are around.”

Gyuri searched the storage house but found no sign of Jimin or Zeren. Apart from a few peasants, the storage house was practically deserted.

Pho cleared . “Even if the imperial guards aren’t here today, we’ll be fine.” She picked up one of the bowls and started filling it with broth. “And besides, you could have stayed at the household today if you weren’t up for it. Madam Zhou would have understood.”

Again, Gyuri shuffled on her feet. With thoughts of Namjoon suddenly floating into her head, her cheeks burned. “I- I would’ve stayed if I could…” she murmured. “But I didn’t want to let people down,” she hastily explained. “Not when they depend on the soup kitchen for their daily meal.”

Pho hummed doubtfully as she eyed Gyuri’s flushed expression. But instead of pursuing it further, she replied, “Well, there’s no point in us worrying about what might or might not happen.” As if on cue, the door opened, and more peasants entered the storage house. Pho gestured to them. “We have mouths to feed.”

Following Pho’s lead, Gyuri readied a bowl of stew and served it to the newcomers. But while she watched her hands serve the stew, her mind wandered to the deepest part of her thoughts.

Everything feels surreal.

Only yesterday, she had escaped death by the skin of her teeth. If it weren’t for Jimin and Zeren, Gyuri may not even be in the storage house at all.

Chim Chim… Zeren… where are you?

Gyuri glanced over her shoulder and out the window as if expecting the pair to make an entrance. She knew it was unlikely that they would, but part of her wished that they did. After all, ever since they had rescued her from the burly man, they had been coming to the soup kitchen almost every day. And after weeks of being by her side, Gyuri had gotten used to their presence. Not having to deal with Zeren’s flirtatious advances or hearing Jimin’s curt responses almost felt foreign to her— it was like a part of her was missing.

“Do not ever scare me like that again.”

A pang of guilt overwhelmed Gyuri as she suddenly recalled Jimin’s words. His bruised face peppered with cuts were painful to look at. Blotches of red stained his turquoise uniform like flicks from a paintbrush. And knowing that it was her who was the reason for his injuries made the knots in her stomach constrict.

It’s my fault.

“Little Madam?”

Hearing someone address her, Gyuri looked up and found a peasant waiting.

“Sorry,” she mumbled, before serving him his portion.

Uneventfully, the hours spent at the storage house passed by, and Gyuri soon realised that Pho was right: even without Jimin and Zeren, things would be fine. In fact, it almost unsettled her how everything seemed to go on as normal as if the previous day hadn’t happened at all. If it weren’t for the bruise she found on her neck, Gyuri may have deceived herself into thinking that yesterday was all a dream.

“There weren’t many people again today,” Pho observed as she cradled the pot of scraps.

Gyuri let out a sound of acknowledgement as she locked the door behind them. Having little else left to do, the pair had decided to pack up early.

“I guess it’s a good thing,” Gyuri replied with her back turned. “We might be able to make it before it starts pouring down with rain—” She suddenly froze upon spotting the pot of scraps. Her voice was edgy. “Are you… going past the dumping ground?”

“Well, yes, of course,” Pho answered, unaware of Gyuri’s worries. “I have to throw these away before we—” Pho stopped when she noticed Gyuri’s expression. “Oh. Would you rather not go?”

“N-no,” Gyuri bravely replied. “It’s okay. I’ll- I’ll go with you.”

“Are you sure?” Pho stared at Gyuri sceptically and noticed how her hands were quivering. “You don’t have to.”

Gyuri forced herself to smile. “I- I think I’ll be fine.”

With a slight shrug, Pho marched ahead as Gyuri trailed slowly behind. Gyuri had hoped that Pho would be more insistent on her not coming but Pho hardly ever contested Gyuri’s words. After all, Gyuri hardly ever showed her vulnerable side to anyone. She knew it wasn’t Pho’s fault that she couldn’t see through Gyuri’s brave pretence. Ever since she arrived at Saim, Gyuri had been concealing her feelings, unknowingly mastering the art of deception. It was times like these she wished her dad and brother had encouraged her to be more open with her emotions.

Begrudgingly, Gyuri stared down at her feet. I want to go back home…

As the pair continued ambling down the dirt path, the anxiety that churned in Gyuri’s stomach grew stronger. Cold sweat collected on her palms, making them clammy, while her heart drummed against her chest.

She took a deep breath.

With each building they passed by, memories of her dreaded encounter with the burly men resurfaced. Their wicked smiles and pungent scent were ingrained in her mind while the bruise on her neck suddenly tingled at the memory of having nearly been strangled.

Gyuri placed her hand at the base of as her breathing shallowed.

Despite knowing that there was nothing there, her airways tightened as if she was still trapped within the beefy man’s grasp. All too vividly, she remembered the choking sensation and how she almost saw stars because of the lack of oxygen. His repulsive scent: a mixture of alcohol and body odour, attacked her nostrils almost making her gag.

Gyuri trained her eyes on Pho’s back so as not to suddenly black out. She reached out to her.

“Heavens be damned!” The lass jumped as Gyuri suddenly grabbed onto her shoulder. “You scared me, Gyuri!”

“Sorry,” Gyuri panted as she tried to regain her balance.

Pho sighed as she picked up the bones that she had accidentally dropped. When she faced Gyuri again, she frowned. “Are you sure you’re alright?” She took a step closer. “You’re very pale.”

Gyuri grinned wryly. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“Seriously, Gyuri,” Pho’s tone was firm. “You need to tell me if you’re not feeling well.” She glanced around the floor to see if she had missed any bones. “With the plague at large, the last thing I want to learn is one of my friends suddenly falling victim to it.”

“You don’t have to worry,” Gyuri reassured, her strength finally returning. “I’m fine… I- I just want to return as soon as possible.” Gyuri caught a glimpse of the stone trough and she involuntarily shuddered. They were almost where she and Jimin were attacked.

“Are you definitely sure?”

“…Yes,” Gyuri hesitantly responded. But just as Pho was about to continue walking, she blurted, “But…”

Pho turned around again.

“…there is something I wanna ask you.”

Pho nodded to show that she was listening.

With reluctance making her voice seem small, Gyuri asked, “How do you- how do you cope with it all?”

Pho was befuddled. “Cope with what?”

“Living here.”

“I