The Innocent: A Sequel to Hwarang: The Saga of the Sooks Book #3

Chapter 13: Correlations

Over the next two weeks, Soo Ho continued to walk her to school each morning. And he returned to her field most nights and spent an hour fencing with her. Except for the nights during which he couldn't escape from the hwarang house. But those occasions seemed to coincide perfectly with the evenings that her arms were too sore to lift a sword. She progressed quickly, impressing him mightily.

"You remind me of Ban Ryu," he breathed out one night as he tried to catch his breath.

"What do you mean?" she asked, furrowing her brow at him.

"You wear me out. He's my fencing partner quite often, and he's quite wicked with a sword. So are you. Let me put it this way: I'm glad that we're friends."

She chuckled. "I think that you are just being kind. You are a heavily-muscled man whose strength could outdo my own any day."

"That might be true. But you are quicker than I and lighter on your feet too. And you have this amazing ability to focus. Nothing distracts you from your goal. If you continue to practice, I bet you'll rival any man among the hwarang one day."

She stared at him, trying to discern his motives. No man had ever before spoken to her with such respect vibrating his voice. She was at a loss. She had no idea how to respond to his gracious words.

So she bristled. "Are you going to talk all night, or are we going to fence?" She lunged towards him.

He instantly parried with ease. And she frowned.

"I think you were too generous with me," she declared matter-of-factly.

"Not at all. You gave me that one."

It was true. She had. She sighed.

"How did you see through me so easily?"

"Ban Ryu has done the same thing from time to time."

"He has?" She was genuinely surprised. Such generosity seemed out of character for his friend. At least, based on the stories which she'd heard of him. "But why?"

"Because I am easily discouraged. When I'm fencing with him anyway. A couple of times, I simply gave up and laid on the ground. Exhausted. He hates it when I do that. So, sometimes, he lets up. I tell him not to. But he doesn't always listen to me."

He sat down in the field for a moment and propped his elbow up on his knee. "He really isn't the person I thought he was for so long."

She dropped down to her knees before sitting back. She stationed her hand on the ground behind her and leaned back. "What do you mean?"

"I thought he was terribly cold. Full of vile hatred. And a complete snob."

"Wasn't he?"

He shook his head. "No. Now I realize that was all a cover."

"For what?"

"Fear. He was crippled by fear. Now that he is no longer under Minister Park's thumb, Ban Ryu is a completely different person. He is extremely gentle with my sister. Very considerate of her feelings. And he has become a loyal friend to me, and the king, and Seon Woo.

"I've discovered that Ban Ryu has several soft spots. Though he still tries to act like he's impervious to attack. It's not true." He shook his head as he picked a blade of grass and began to chew on it.

She studied his handsome face. "You really care about him, don't you?"

He stopped chewing and stared at her for a moment. "Don't tell him that."

She laughed. "Oh, to the contrary! The very first time I meet him, I'm going to tell him that you love him dearly."

An expression of great alarm colored his face crimson. "You can't! You would totally ruin the vibe between us!"

"The vibe? What vibe?"

"I'm too passionate. And he's too cold. We balance each other out. And I tease him mercilessly about adoring my sister, and he pushes back, insisting that he can't break her heart again. Which, of course, he can't. Because he knows that I would end him if he hurt her again."

Jung Sook shook her head. "You are ridiculous, sir. Why don't you just tell him how you really feel?"

He grinned. And her heart lurched.

She berated it and turned her attention to the many blades of grass under her hand. She dared not look up into those compelling, chocolate eyes again either. For she had recently discovered a new problem. She genuinely liked this man. She'd found herself in a unique situation. Never before had she taken a liking to any male.

But that had all changed in the last few weeks. Soo Ho was adorable. And she was very afraid that if she wasn't careful, her liking for him could easily turn into something deeper. And those were waters into which she never wanted to wade. For she knew that if she did, she would most likely drown in them.

She made the mistake of glancing up into those deep, dark eyes of his. And she wondered if it was already too late. For she certainly felt like she was drowning in their obsidian depths. But she found them such a pleasant place to lose herself. For when she looked into his eyes of late, she always felt as if he took an immense amount of pleasure in her presence.

This was another novel feeling. One which she had discovered she quite liked. She desired to experience it often. The tiny thrill that zinged her each time their eyes collided was...well, it was a little addicting. She'd found that she had no desire to give it up. And she fervently prayed that he would never cease to look at her in that manner.

The man was downright dangerous.