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

Chapter 27: Disappointed

Bo A kept glancing behind them.

Jung Sook peered down at her. "What's wrong?"

"There's a man following us."

Jung Sook felt her gut tighten. Until she looked behind her. Then she sighed with relief.

He might be a fortune hunter, but Soo Ho was harmless.

"It's all right. That's just Soo Ho."

"Soo Ho?" the little girl queried. She stared back at the gentleman who was keeping pace with them, but she couldn't make out his facial features at the great distance separating them.

"He's the man who stopped your father from hitting you at the market."

Bo A's face brightened. And she stopped walking.

"What are you doing?" Jung Sook asked as she too came to a halt.

"I want to speak with him. To thank him. If he hadn't come to my rescue, Appa would have beaten me. And you might not have offered to take me."

Jung Sook blinked. "That's not true! If I had seen your father hit you, I would have stepped forward to help you."

The girl gazed up at her. And smiled. "Still. I want to meet him!" Bo A declared with excitement vibrating her vocal cords.

Jung Sook sighed.

But she was still surprised when the little girl took off in Soo Ho's direction.

The teacher followed her. Slowly.

––

Soo Ho stopped walking. Abruptly.

The tiny mite was flying towards him. Her lithe, little body carried along on light feet. But Jung Sook was dragging hers. She clearly didn't wish to speak with him. His heart dipped.

And he waited for Bo A to catch him.

"Hello," she called brightly when she was still a few yards away from him.

"Hello," he responded cheerfully.

"You are Oppa Soo Ho," she stated matter-of-factly.

He bobbed his head.

"Thank you!" She now recognized him. "For saving me the other day." She stopped just short of him as she stared innocently up at the extremely tall man.

"It was my pleasure," he replied gallantly. Then he glanced in Jung Sook's direction. "Are you enjoying living with your teacher?"

The little girl nodded vigorously. "Immensely," she sighed happily. She folded her hands over her stomach. "I think last night was the first night I ever went to bed not hungry."

Jung Sook caught her words as she came to a stop several feet away from them. Soo Ho glanced up and straight into her eyes. He saw them suddenly fill with sorrow as the little girl's words echoed around her. An understanding look passed between the two adults.

He glanced back down at Bo A. "Then I am so happy you found your unnie, Jung Sook. I am sure that she will take very good care of you for the next few years."

"Me too!" the child grinned. Then she turned towards her guardian. "Unnie Jung Sook? Aren't you going to say hello to Oppa Soo Ho?"

Jung Sook's eyes collided with his again. And a frisson of warmth floated on the air between them. She could almost believe that he truly cared for her. And...maybe he did.

Or perhaps he really wanted her fortune. Maybe that was the treasure that he'd been seeking when he'd first sought her out.

But perchance, in the meantime, he really had come to like her. A little. Even if he didn't really love her with the devotion which she now craved.