Soo Ho shocked her. Twice. The next morning.
First, by appearing behind them once again. She hadn't scared him away. Not even with all those vitriolic words that she'd spewed at him yesterday.
Second, by returning Bo A to her. Immediately.
The little girl, upon spotting him, ran back to join him for their short walk to the school. Pausing, Jung Sook turned around to watch their encounter. Uncertain what to do.
But, as it turned out, she wasn't required to do anything.
She studied his face as Soo Ho bent to smile at the girl. He said a few words to her. Jung Sook could tell from the little girl's change in posture and the sudden falling of her face that the young man had told her that she couldn't walk with him. A moment later, she was ambling back towards Jung Sook. But Bo A's head was hanging down, and she kept darting little glances back towards Soo Ho.
Each of which tugged at Jung Sook's heart. The little girl was clearly already quite attached to the kind gentleman.
Finally, the child caught up with her. And sighed. Loudly.
"What's wrong, Bo A?"
"Oppa Soo Ho said that I may not walk with him anymore. He's on the king's business, doing some undercover work, and must not be seen walking with me."
Jung Sook quirked a surprised brow and turned to gaze back at their faithful protector. He was hanging back about a quarter mile from them. Keeping a respectful distance between himself and the teacher.
She was impressed that he hadn't blamed her for his refusal to walk with Bo A.
"It is good of you, Bo A, to show your respect for Oppa Soo Ho by obeying his instruction. You are helping him mightily in his quest right now."
"I am?" the little girl asked, surprised.
Jung Sook bobbed her head. "Absolutely. What a good girl you are."
The child beamed up at her. But a few moments later, she sighed again. "Still, I am going to miss chatting with Oppa Soo Ho. He's so nice."
Seeking to distract the disappointed girl, her guardian changed the subject. "Bo A? Do you know what your name means?"
She shook her head.
"No? Your mother never told you? She gave you a most excellent name."
Those wide, guileless eyes were peering up at her in astonishment once again. "She did?"
"Yes. Your name fits you perfectly." Jung Sook smiled down at the girl.
"It does?"
"Mm-hmm. Your name is who you are. A beautiful treasure."
"A beautiful treasure?"
"Yes. That's what Bo A means. Beautiful treasure."
"I'm a treasure?" the wee girl asked in a tiny voice.
"You are absolutely a treasure, Bo A!" Jung Sook stopped to tap the child on the tip of her nose. Affectionately. "You have made me much richer since you came to stay with me."
Even to Soo Ho, who was still quite a distance from them, it appeared that the sun had just risen in the little girl's countenance. She beamed up at her guardian with utter joy lighting up her features. She turned towards Jung Sook and threw her arms around her, squeezing her tight.
"I do love you, Unnie Jung Sook!" she cried out.
So loudly that Soo Ho heard her. As her hands came up to surround the little girl and hug her close, Jung Sook glanced back at the man walking behind them. Her eyes struck his as the child's words of love tugged at both of their hearts. And he smiled at her.
Shocking her again.
YOU ARE READING
The Innocent: A Sequel to Hwarang: The Saga of the Sooks Book #3
FanfictieHeartbroken over the loss of his heart's first love, Kim Soo Ho runs into a plain woman out on the street. Before he had experienced the events of the past few months, such a drab widow would never have captured his interest. Nor would she have g...
