I subtly steal a glance at a man who caused my room temperature to drop. His sharp eyes bore a hole at me, I suddenly feel pain in my stomach double. His all black outfit can make people mistake him as a grim reaper. Hopefully, he didn’t come here to collect my soul.

Of all people on this ship, why did this guy visit me?

“So what did Hongjoong misunderstand?” Seonghwa sits on a stool with his back straight and exudes an unnecessary intimidating aura to scare me.

“Uh...nothing.” I responded. How can I explain such an embarrassing story to him?

He scoffs and folds his arms, “Whatever, it’s not like I want to know what’s going on between you two.”

I blink at him. What does he think is going on between Hongjoong and me? Judging from his disgusted expression, it’s not something good.

After his remark, we both fall into uncomfortable silence.

I play with the helm of my shirt while staring at the ceiling. While he continues to pressure me with his dark aura.

“How are you feeling?” He asks. His tone is surprisingly softer than usual.

I instantly snap my head at him, did he just ask me...nicely? I was too shocked to answer him so he raised his brow at me in annoyance.

“Um, fine.” I answer. Seonghwa definitely acts weird today. Even though he still appears cold, he’s less hostile. Did he get hit in the head?

“Fine? Said a person lying unconscious for a full day.” He snickers, peering at my pitiful state.

“Then I’m not fine at all.” I grimace, maybe the kraken didn’t hit him hard enough.

“Said someone who was so stupid to barge inside a battle zone.” Seonghwa scoffs again.

I shift uncomfortably on my bed. Perhaps what I saw earlier was my own illusion, he’s still being savage as always.

“But you saved Jongho. I’d say it was brave of you.” Seonghwa speaks and looks elsewhere but me.

Eyes wide, I was dumbstruck. He just complimented me. It was a compliment, right?

“Stop staring at me, it’s annoying.” He grumbles.

“Woah, I didn’t expect the notorious quartermaster to compliment me. I feel so honored.” I cover my mouth to stifle giggles.

Seonghwa’s expression turns dark. He knew it’s a bad decision to come here alone. Who would stop him from murdering this girl?

I immediately stop giggling when I notice him taking something out of his waist strap, silver light flickering into my eyes. Seonghwa dark eyes gaze over me. Now I clearly see the life-threatening object in his hand.

I scream and throw my pillow at him. It bounced off his head and fell to the ground.

“What the hell are you doing?!” Seonghwa growls. His eyes flash dangerously as well as the dagger in his hand.

“Don’t stab me!” I cry. Just because I , he planned to stab me. You are no fun, Seonghwa.

He startles and glances at the dagger in his grip. He must’ve looked like a killer. Seonghwa clears his throat and lower his hand.

“I’m not stooping so low to stab a weak girl. I’m here to return it to you.” He grumbles as he hands me the familiar dagger. It’s San’s dagger.

“Who the heck would know that.” I mumble grumpily, my heart still racing crazily.

I receive the cold metal in my hands. “Um...thanks. Can you place it on my nightstand?”

Seonghwa scoffs at my request but he does what I said.

“By the way, can you pick up my pillow?”

He rolls his eyes but picks up the pillow on the floor. And he intentionally tosses it at my face. I scowl at him and clumsily put a pillow below my head.

Seonghwa sighs at the scene, he suddenly gets up and harshly lifts my head to place down the pillow. Then he drops my head down.

“Ahh, my neck..” I groan and glare at him. Is he helping me or killing me?

“I deserve a big thank you, don’t you think?” A corner of his mouth lifts up as if he’s satisfied to see me suffer.

“Thanks...” my . Of course, I don’t have a gut to say the last part.

I massage my neck and then suddenly recall about my life savior.

“Oh right!! How is San!? He was hit by that kraken.” I remember him shielding me from getting smashed by a tentacle.

“He’s fine.” Seonghwa answers.

“But his back was directly hit.” A single hit can break a strong wooden floor. How on earth is he doing fine?

“I said he’s fine.” Seonghwa repeats, beginning to get annoyed.

“But-”

“Don’t worry about him. He’s tougher than you think.” He cut me off.

Seonghwa stares at a pouting girl. He isn’t surprised at San’s insane endurance but a miracle that Star survives the attack. Besides, he’s curious why the kraken aimed at her.

“Have you seen Kraken before?” Seonghwa abruptly changes the topic.

“No.” I shook my head.

“What’s about other sea monsters?”

“No.”

“Sea witch?”

“No, why?” Why did he suddenly ask me these questions?

“It’s about the Kraken. It attacked you.”

“Well, apparently.” I point at my belly.

“No, it only attacked you after you lost consciousness.”

“What do you mean?!” Goosebumps rise on my back. That freaking squid still wanted to smash me after I was unconscious. How presumptuous!

“That’s what I’m trying to figure out.”

I gasp inwardly. Is it because I called it a minor character? But an enormous creature shouldn’t be so narrow-minded.

"Then will it come back?"

“If it does, we'll have to sacrifice the person who it follows.” He says nonchalantly. He notices Star's shocked face and he lets out deep chuckles. However, he quickly recompose himself.

“That’s all I have for you, I’m leaving.” Seonghwa stands up. He actually wants to explore her background but the sick girl’s complexion is getting paler. He doesn’t want his crew to blame him for making her condition worse. “Don’t get hurt again.”

My mouth hangs open. He really acts out of character today.

“It wastes our medicine.” He finished his sentence and turned around to leave.

I stick out my tongue at him behind his back. Then I remember another important mission to complete.

“Wait Seonghwa.” I call him before he opens the door.

“Who allows you to call me by my name?” He turns around and scrunches up his handsome face.

“Hongjoong.” He didn’t allow me but let me borrow his name.

“That guy,” Seonghwa sneers. Someone gonna get in trouble but as long as it’s not me then I’m good.

“Well, Seonghwa, do you want to know about your future love life?” I smile at him. Imagine the heartless Seonghwa joins into the fight that would be entertaining.

He squints his eyes at me. “Nonsense.” but his hand leaves the doorknob.

---

The pirates avoid their captain like a plague. Hongjoong appears to be particularly moody today. Dark clouds gather above his head as he stomps inside his quarter.

They thought the kraken must’ve triggered him badly. However, inside Hongjoong’s head, the scene with Star replay over and over again.

“She definitely said that to tick me off.” Hongjoong mumbles as he closes his quarter’s door. “She has no idea who she’s playing with.” He grins evilly, planning to visit her again after he finishes his work.

Then he spots an intruder lingering outside his cabin’s door.

“Who allows you to come inside my room?” Hongjoong snarls at the intruder. A petite figure startles and turns around.

Hongjoong takes large strides and stops in front of Aurora. She fidget her fingers nervously while staring at the ground.

He recalls Star’s prediction. Did she really mean this girl in front of him?

“Lift your face.” He demanded. She reluctantly raises her head but refuses to meet his eyes.

Hongjoong admits that Aurora is indeed beautiful. He notices how his crews are enchanted by her beauty.

But so what?

“Answer me.” Hongjoong lower his voice.

Aurora pales and quickly answers him.“The surgeon is looking for you.”

Hongjoong nods, “Leave.”

Aurora instantly leaves her spot and quickly walks toward the door.

“Wait,” Hongjoong calls her. She halts in her tracks but doesn’t turn around. “Don’t snoop around my ship. Next time there won’t be a warning.”

Aurora doesn’t reply to him but exits right away.

Hongjoong sighs. Why do women always act secretive? He really doesn’t understand them, especially Star. His gut feeling tells him that she's hiding something. But everytime he looks into her aquamarine eyes, his conscience believes her just like that, except her latest prediction.

Hongjoong feels like his fever returns. Perhaps he should go see Yeosang.

---

A loud thud woke me up from a nap. The room now lightens up with several candles as darkness looming outside.

“Aurora?” I see her standing beside my bed, looking startled.

“You awake.” She let out a small smile.

“Um, yes.”

She nods and heads to her bed.

I notice her hand clasp together and slightly shaking as if she’s in pain.

“What happened to your hands?”

“Nothing.” She unclasps her hands and gives me a reassuring smile.

“You-”

Our conversation was cut off when someone bangs on our door. Then it bursts open and several colorful heads barge inside the room.

“Starrrrr!!!” A thunderous voice roars, making my ears split.

“I’m so worried about you!!” Mingi is the fastest one to secure a stool next to my bed.

Yunho comes in second and stands next to Mingi. Followed by Wooyoung who blatantly sits on my bed which almost sits on my legs. I have to move my legs away unwillingly. And Jongho comes in last.

“We’re so worried about you.” Jongho revised Mingi’s sentence.

“But I’m the most worried.” Mingi pouts. I chuckle at him. His tough appearance may be able to deceive people, but he’s full of aegyo and the only member that acts cute around me.

“Why are you laughing?” Mingi asks.

“She thinks you’re an idiot.” Wooyoung speaks, earning Mingi’s glare.

“You shut up.” He growls at Wooyoung and turns to beam at me. “Star will never think that. Oh! shooting Star do you feel pain? Stomachache? Headache? Tell me! I’m calling Yeosang!”

“Mingi, I’m fine.” I reassure him.

Mingi opens his mouth to speak but stops by Yunho’s large hand clamping his mouth.

“We weren’t allowed to visit you but we sneak in.” Yunho says, smiling apologetically at me.

“And you’re too noisy.” Yunho scolds Mingi but the latter guy just shrugs while struggling out of Yunho’s grasp.

“I told you it’s a bad idea to bring this guy.” Wooyoung sighs.

Mingi growls at both of them.

Jongho watches his friends and sighs like an old man. He turns to Star and sees her giggle. Her face now back to healthy shade unlike her pale face when she was hit by the kraken. He feels a pang of guilt that he is the cause of her injury. He saunters toward her and leans down.

“Star, thank you for saving me.” Jongho says in a soft tone.

I nod and smile at him. He returns me with a shy smile and his face starts to show a hint of red hue.

“Wow, you’re the first woman to make Jongho shy.” Wooyoung teases.

“Shut up.” Jongho glares at Wooyoung.

“Our Jongho’s certainly shy.” Wooyoung cooed. Jongho's face turns into deep red, either from anger or bashfulness.

Mingi looks between his two best friends and frowns.

I nudge Wooyoung with my leg to stop him from bullying Jongho. Wooyoung raises his brow at me. “Stop hitting my .”

“You’re invading my space.” I scowl at him.

The other three nod their heads as they also agree with me. Wooyoung reluctantly gets up. But his feet hit something on the ground.

“Isn’t this San’s best dagger?” Wooyoung grabs a fallen dagger on the floor. “You must take care of it more than your life.”

Weird, I saw Seonghwa already placed it on my nightstand.

Mingi snatches the dagger out of Wooyoung's grasp. “I didn't take a good look last time.”

“Aren’t you guys afraid he’s gonna walk in here?” I say. Last time he almost cut them in half by his stare for touching his precious dagger. When Mingi heard me, he immediately put it on the nightstand.

“Nah, he’s on watch.” Wooyoung says. He switched job with San as he was bored out of his mind on the crow’s nest.

“Is he really fine?” How could he still manage to function well? While I can barely sit down.

“That guy never feels pain. And he earns another title, Kraken slayer.” Wooyoung answered me.

“Hey, that should be me. It escaped after I severed its eye with my amazing skill” Mingi protests.

“But San severed its tentacles. You should witness his swordsmanship once in a lifetime. That was insane.” Wooyoung turns to me.

“But the kraken fled because of me! And Star you should witness my shooting skills many times in this lifetime.” Mingi doesn’t yield back.

“Tsk! Do you really want to test my patience?” Wooyoung challenges him.

“Oh! Do you even have patience in the first place?” Mingi taunts back.

“You idiots cut it out” Jongho sighs. These two are bickering again. “You are disturbing her.”

Instead, their ears pick up laughter from the girl. They both stop bickering and stare at Star. Her eyes turn into crescent moon as she laughs. But her face then twists in pain.

“Hahaha!! Ouch! You guys don’t make me laugh. My stomach hurts.” I hold my belly while trying to stifle laughter.

“You’re lucky that San saved you.” Wooyoung chuckles. He thought they would lose her already. But she’s safe and sounds and laughs heartily in front of them.

“Yea,” My laughter dies down. If San didn’t save me, I would die tragically. The thought made me shiver. I take a mental note to properly thank him this time.

The others glare at Wooyoung for reminding Star of the tragic event as they see her crestfallen expression. Wooyoung playful grin falters and glances at Star apologetically.

“None of you injure, right?” I scan the boys and don’t see any bandage on them.

They shake their heads. “We’re tough.”

“That’s a relief, you guys are fine.”

When they heard me, they were taken aback. Mingi awkwardly scratches his neck the same as Yunho who scratches his cheek. While Wooyoung and Jongho completely blank out.

“What? Did I say something wrong?” I panic at their reaction.

“Nono, but it’s just that no one really cares whether we're dead, no, they probably wish us dead.” Yunho answers, a bitter smile showing on his face. “You’re the first one that cares.”

“Oh,” I shift my eyes among the members. They all look bashful. Am I being too obvious? I need to tone down my passion.

Before the atmosphere gets more awkward, the door opens.

“Why are you thugs bothering my patient?” Yeosang strides inside. His hands carry a tray that contains medicine.

He signals Mingi to get up and he takes over the stool.

“How are you?” Yeosang asks me, gently.

“Yeosang, I’m also hurt.” Wooyoung pats on his . “Star kicked me.”

“Get lost.” Yeosang coldly ignores him.

“We won’t bother you anymore. Take a good rest.” Jongho takes it as a clue to leave “Get well soon, Star.” They obediently exit the room.

Yeosang and I are now left inside the room. I turn to look at Aurora but her bed is empty. When did she leave the room? Poor girl, she was probably annoyed by our loudness.

Yeosang gently helps me sit up which makes me groan at the terrible pain.

“I bring your favorite juice.” The green terror greets me as I receive a bowl from him.

“Haha, not funny Yeosang.” I laugh dryly.

“Yup, it’s not funny to see you get hurt all the time either.” Yeosang still smiles but his voice hardens.

I pout at him and drink the bitter substance in one go.

He pats my head. “I mean it Star.” He intently stares into my eyes with his brown orbs.

“It’s not like I love getting hurt.” I mumble. Yeosang sighs and helps me lie down.

“Pardon me,” He proceeds to lift up my shirt, I quickly grab his hand. “Wh..What are you doing?”

“I need to inspect your bruise and apply ointment.” He says innocently.

“But..” No! I can’t show my bruise abs in front of him. I would rather get swallowed by a kraken.

“Star, I already see it. ” He understands her shyness but he can’t refuse to heal her.

Heat flush to my face. This is embarrassing but it’s a medical treatment, I shouldn’t act whiny.

He wiggles his hand to free from my grasp.

“Yeosang, you have to take responsibility.” I cry, covering my blushing face.

“What!?” Yeosang now turns to be the fluster one. “I don’t think some people will allow me.” He chuckles, staring at the shy girl.

Yeosang shakes his head to concentrate. He slowly lifts up her shirt, revealing a large purple bruise. His eyes saddened at the sight. He heard the story from his crew and can only curse at the kraken inside his mind. This is the second time that she saved his friend. But how many times is she going to risk her life to save them?

Her bravery, kindness and optimism are her charm. Even though they have known each other for a short period of time, he is starting to get fond of her.

“Oh, Yeosang” I call him while he’s applying ointment on my bruise.

“Hmm,” Yeosang snaps out of his trance.

“Do you want to know about your future love life?” I say the line to my 3rd victim.

He averts his gaze to meet mine. His whole face gradually turns scarlet. 

// Finally the update!! For ppl who guessed Seonghwa it's a win for you.  ＼(★^∀^★)／

And Happy belated Birthday to our beloved Mingi. I wanted to upload on his bd but I couldn't finish it TT 

As always, thanks for reading, voting, commenting and subscribing. You guys are my motivation. I hope all of you are doing well. Fighting!!