I run, yes, I do. I run to the place where I can seek for safety. I run. I don’t care even if the servants are all over the palace. I just do not want to come to the party. I do not want to meet the other princesses and princess that are so annoying, okay, though they are my cousins actually. I just want to play with my own company. I run to the bushes along the palace garden. I sit there on my knees, do not even pay attention to the dirty ground. Calming down my breath, I take a glance at some servants who pass me by. Fuh.

    “What are you doing here?”

    I fall backward when hearing someone talks to me. I find a couple of curious slanted eyes look at me. A boy that looks like the same age with me sits on the other side of the bush, hugging his knees. He looks odd. The boy wears a hanbok that looks so old and dirty. I somehow see that kind of blue and white hanbok in the Sungkyukwan. In the Bukchon, sometimes I see some of Sungkyukwan scholars wear this similar hanbok too. I usually get out from the palace with my maid whose house is in Bukchon, of course we get out from the gate with that strict rule, tch. They always want me to be safe, urggh. I remember she says Bukchon is the village where the people provide food and clothes for us, the kingdom families. I hum after clearing my throat and chin up, while looking at the boy from the corner of my eyes.

     “You,” I point with my chin, “You, the norm, what are you doing in the palace?”

     “I… just… am… lost.” He speaks, that feels like so slow.

     “Lost?” I widen my eyes. “Are you from Sungkyukwan?”

     “Yes, I study there.” He replies.

     “Hm… you must be clever then.” I clap. “Then, how about you help me get out from this place?” I smile. “I’ll give you some money.”

     “I am lost, and I don’t know how I can be here.” He utters. “Where is it this place actually?”

     “It’s the palace. The kingdom of Joseon.” I explain. “So, you don’t remember a single thing how you can be here?”

      He nods. “I remember I studied in my room, and when I woke up I have been here. Then you come.” He elaborates. “But…,” he pauses for a while, “… if you talk about the way out from this palace, I know where it is.” He grins.

     “Really?”

     “Yes, but who are you?” He asks while furrowing his brows.

     “I am…,” I stop to think something out, “… just a daughter of a servant here. I am lost too.”

     He mouths an “O” before signaling me to follow him. I trail behind him. He walks to the other side of the garden and keeps walking until I see a small hole on the stone fence. How can’t I find that hole?

     “This. We can get out from here.” He points the hole with his index finger. “Let’s go.” He grabs my wrist.

      I nod, before I follow him getting out from the quiet garden to meet a road with people walk in hurry to run their business.

     “Oh, thank you.” I cheer. “What is your name?” I ask the boy who now stands next to me.

     “Kim Minseok.” He answers.

      “Sarang…,”

     Slowly that young boy’s face fades out from my vision as I open my eyes for hearing someone calls my name