Chung-ha in Joseon

Chapter 6

Tae-min's eyes slowly opened, quickly adjusting to the light. That was the only thing he could see, white. He holds his hand up, and it looked as if it was glowing. He got up and looked around. Only the color white was around him. And then... "Chung-ha?" he walks up to her, her image gradually getting larger and larger.

"What are you doing here," he asked, "It's because you want me here...you're dreaming."
"Yes, sadly, but what I want to ask is why are you wearing my clothes?"  "You want me to wear your clothes; it must be a male thing. Like how a male feels knowing he's protecting women from the cold when giving her their cloak."
"You think of me as prideful?" He questioned, "I think of all men prideful."

"Seems like you," they chuckled. Then Tae-min just stared at her, and she did back.

"Would you like me to give it back?" she asked coyly, slowly untying the strings on the side to where she can lift the top layer off smoothly.
"You may keep it. I do not want to see you bare until you are ready."

"The words you say Tae-min, you do not mean, you want to see me bare," She walked closer, untying the long underskirt that comes before the underwear. Even if Tae-min were to lie, Chung-ha could sense everything in his head. It is his imagination, after all.

Each piece Chung-ha took off one by one, avoiding eye-contact. And there he saw her, bare. Tae-min was amazed in the eyes but tried not to show it, even though Chung-ha already knew what is running through his head. Tae-min acts out of impulse, quickly grabbing her and bringing her chest to his, taking in her body. Tae-min steps back and tumbles, she followed; still kissing him passionately. He was so quick to lose control, lifting her waist and shifting her to where he was on top now.

Chung-ha used her hand to push his chest to make their lips stop touching. "Do you love me?" she asked, "Greatly." but before he could glue his lips to hers again, she said, "Then why lie to me? Why haven't you told me you are a royal?"

Everything felt still and lifeless, Tae-min faced went from eager to guilty. Tae-min showed no emotion. He was putting himself through agony without realizing it.

"Your Majesty!" Tae-min heard Bo-seon voice echoed like it was distance..."Not right now, Bo-seon."

"Your Majesty!" He repeated.

Tae-min woke up with a huge gasp of air. He looked around and noticed he was inside his Chamber, it's funny how he thought Chung-ha would be there, but all he saw was Bo-seon and servants.

Tae-min now looked annoyed, "You could have just given me five more minutes!?" He cried out, falling back down into his bed. "But sir, it's an emergency...the three girls are to be arriving today."

"TODAY?" Tae-min exclaimed...

~'~'~

"Sometimes I may even have dessert, like the small molasses cakes. I like to have green tea on the side as well." Today makes the last day as Chung-ha being Won-young's mentor; they've done it for a week now. Won-young had to be self-taught before she left the south. Chung-ha heard a village down there is dirty and dangerous. And ghost towns, but people make due.

It was early in the morning, around 10, and the customers usually come at noon; the social class was varied. Chung-ha did warn Won-young that older men would be her customers most of the time. Won-young said it was nothing new to her.
"You know, you've been the talk of a few Kisaeng's lately," Won-young said, standing up and fixing the lower part of her hanbok. "Why is that?" Chung-ha questioned.
"Because of your suitor, Lee Tae-min, is it?"
"He is not my suitor," Chung-ha reassured, sounding sterner than she intended. Won-young looked down, "But it's said he only has eyes for you, other ladies tried to go for him as well since it's said he's wealthy. And that this one time, he was seen handing money to a homeless commoner family. It's as if he just has money to throw away," Chung-ha didn't reply. It was Won-young talking to herself at this point.
"It's also said he's a really private person, doesn't like to talk about himself much." She continued.
"I don't blame him for that." Chung-ha responds, "But wouldn't that mean he has something to hide?" Won-young asked.