Chung-ha in Joseon

Chapter 12

"Just bend over," Jong-in said. He had led Chung-ha to the fisherman's house. He bent her over a barrel and began to lift her hanbok skirt.
"Could I get some privacy," Jong-in said; apparently, the two men were standing at the door trying to peak through the window. The deep-voiced man said, "Meet us at the boat when you're done." They both walked away, and after a minute, Jong-in straightens her hanbok skirt.

Though Chung-ha was confused, he didn't do anything. "I'll wait a few minutes to leave; then, you can be on your own." He said, Jong-in handed her a bag tied around with blue ribbon; it's the same bag Chung-ha kept her money in. All the money she saved up these past few years, she initially brought the money for her and Tae-min; wasn't any need to leave it behind.

What she couldn't understand is why he was helping her. "I'm guessing Tae-min isn't coming?" Chung-ha said it in a way that was hopeful and even smiled slightly. But Jong-in could see her smile fade as she looked down in despair.

"He lied...I feel like a fool. I don't know what to believe anymore," Chung-ha mumbled to herself as she walked to the other side of the room. Jong-in didn't say anything; it wasn't his place; after all, he was helping the enemy's side.

"May I ask for a favor?" Chung-ha said, and Jong-in nodded. "That dagger on the left side of your belt, kill me with it,"

"I shall not."
"Why, why work for bad people yet not do bad things!"  Chung-ha yelled. She was desperate.
"That's something I wouldn't be able to forgive myself of,"

"But this is?" Chung-ha questioned, and Jong-in just stared at her for a moment. Then walked up to her with his dagger in hand.

Jong-in freed her hands from the rope and said, "A few miles southeast, there's a commoner slave village. They might help you out."
He began to walk off back to the dock, "How do you know?" Chung-ha asked.

"Because I used to live there,"

~~~

Chung-ha walked in the direction she was told. It was an hour past midnight.
Jong-in gave her a lantern so that she'll be able to see it. She couldn't stay in the fisherman's house because people were supposed to arrive there the next day; apparently, people owned the place.

Chung-ha was starting to tire out, although if she were with Tae-min, she would've had more of a reason to keep going, not to stop moving. If she was running away with him, she might've not felt the pain rising in her feet. Chung-ha kept walking alongside the river, which soon ended. She continued to walk, only seeing trees.
Chung-ha soon stopped and rested herself against a tree, She was a tad cold, but the lantern was warm. Before she knew it, her eyes slowly began to close.

~~

Chung-ha woke up to her lying on the bag of coins. She tends to move in her sleep. As if her sore neck wasn't bad enough, the bugs were eating her up through the night. She let out a sigh before continuing in the direction she was going before. The birds chirped; Chung-ha's mind drifted to what she thought life would be like if he were a bird, to be free; able to roam anywhere she pleased.

Then her mind drifted to dancing. When she found out about Tae-min's true identity, the first thing she thought was getting an opportunity to become a palace keiseng. But even then, the concubine's son couldn't marry a palace dancer. When he visited, she showed him one of the dances she learned since he promised not to tell anyone. And Tae-min just stared as if she was so fascinating and exotic.

It was cloudy, and although she survived one night without shelter, she doesn't think she could survive a storm without one.
After a while, she overheard females giggling. She steadily walked closer. From what Chung-ha could see, they were wearing commoner clothing, there were four of them, and they were all middle-aged. They were hanging clothes on a clothing line and talking amongst themselves.