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

Chapter 29: Devastation

Over the next few days, Soo Ho appeared silently behind them as they walked to school. Each time, the little girl waited while he caught up with her. While the teacher marched on ahead. With each passing day, Jung Sook became more afraid of Soo Ho's quiet presence. He wasn't pressing his attentions upon her. But he was endearing himself to the child a little more with each moment he spent in her company. Jung Sook was afraid that when he finally gave up the game he was playing, Bo A would be crushed.

After more than a week of this nonsense, Jung Sook prepared to speak to him alone. To encourage him to stop his pursuit of her.

"Bo A," she called to the child as they reached the school, "please go inside and set these parchments out, one per desk."

The girl glanced up at her as she received the scrolls. Then she bobbed her head and ducked inside the building. Jung Sook closed the door behind her. Then she drew a deep breath for courage before turning towards Soo Ho.

She met his sad smile. "I have missed you so much," he breathed. In the tender voice of a lover. His eyes caressed her at the same time.

"Soo Ho." Her voice was stern.

His smile faded. He stood up straighter. "Yes?"

"Please...stop."

He frowned as he furrowed his brow at her. "What?"

"Stop pursuing me. I don't want to see that child hurt."

"That child? What about me? Do you want to see me hurt?" he retorted passionately.

She blinked. Then in a very soft voice, she responded, "How could you possibly be hurt?"

"How could I be hurt?" His eyes appeared to be very hurt. "I told you. I love you, Jung Sook! You think that telling me to stop pursuing you didn't wound me?!"

She stared up at him. Trying to discern if he was lying to her. She decided to place the ultimate test before him.

"There is no money, Soo Ho. If you married me, you wouldn't see one bar of silver. Am I still wounding you now?" Her voice was flat.

His face fell. "That's why you're upset with me? Because you thought I only wanted to marry you to part you from your silver?" He took a step back. "Am I such a villain? That I would profess to love a woman just to steal her fortune?"

The agony in his eyes seemed real enough.

She felt her first qualm. Yet she pressed on anyway.

"Men have only ever wanted me for what they could get out of me. Or take out on me. Why should you be any different?" she whispered brokenly.

She was breaking her own heart as she watched the pain explode in his eyes.

"You think I'm like your husband? Truly?" he gasped, horrified. His eyes broke away from hers as he stared dazedly off into space. "I will not trouble you with my presence any longer. Good day." He spun around and began to stride back down the road.

"See? I was right. The only reason you befriended me was to gain my wealth," she called out after him.

He stopped and spun towards her. And simply stared at her. And she knew that she had made a horrid mistake. But it was too late. She couldn't take back those awful words and the distrust that rode on their backs. She had wounded him far more than he had ever hurt her.

Truthfully, he had never injured her. He had rescued her. And befriended her. And taught her to fence. And wooed her tenderly. And kissed her. And offered to marry her. He had wanted to make her happy.