Her Captain, The Gamemaster

Throw Words Out

'Can we talk?'

*Soo-ah's POV*

I felt a chill down my spine that had nothing to do with standing in water at night. I gulp as I try to calm down the goosebumps that was showing on my arms.

'We always talk,' I try to say casually.

It would have worked on anyone except her and I sense sadness fill her eyes. Being back in Taishan meant she revealed herself more.

'You know what I'm talking about,'

I look away, opening my mouth to say something. Literally anything would've been ok but luck wasn't on my side and nothing came out.

Li only stared at me.

There was silence for a while before she spoke up.

'Forget it. If you don't want to tell me, that's not a problem for me,'

Although her words seem innocent enough, I knew what she actually meant. It wouldn't be a problem for her. It would be mine.

'I want to tell you. There's so much I want to tell you and ask,' I confess, thinking back to all the pain and confusion I felt in Seoul.

'Me too,'

I turn back at her but she wasn't looking at me anymore. Instead she stared up at the beautiful full moon that reflected in the waves.

Not even the moon can rival you.

'I'm assuming you had a bad day in Seoul?' she asks, her eyes not leaving the bright orb in the dark sky.

'Yeah. Horrible, actually. I'm assuming that you're worried about something?'

'Mhm,' she kept staring at the moon and the white light lit up her face, making her looker paler and clearer than she always does.

Everyone's watching me but I'm only looking at you.

'We shou-,'

'AH LI, SOO-AH,' came a voice from the main house. I turn to see Grandma's silhouette moving around from the garden lights.

'OK,' I yell back and I move to walk back.

'Let's talk later,' Li says, her eyes meeting mine for the briefest of moments.

I nod and we walk back.

We arrive back at the warm house and Grandma calls for us to go to the dining room. We are greeted with the delicious scent of thick scallion wonton soup and I inhale it deeply, smiling.

'It smells amazing, Grandma,' I compliment and she tuts at me.

'Then eat it, you stupid girl,' she says, hiding her smile behind an insult.

The dinner hour went by quickly, filled with laughs and stories. It felt so natural and it felt like home, which it was. I push the bad thoughts to the back of my head and indulge in this moment  where I'm participating in the Tang's family traditions.

After multiple bowls of the thick succulent soup, it was time for us to pack up. Even while doing the dishes, we joked and shared with each other. After about half an hour of cleaning, Grandma went to her room on the other side of the first floor and me and Li head upstairs.

The journey felt slow as all the confusion crashed back into my head.

'Soo-ah?'

I look in front of me where Li was a second ago but she wasn't there. Her voice came from a few levels above me.