OPEN YOUR EYES (BLIND I) - MUSIQ SERIES PART 2

71. HAPPINESS

Once Heejin and Axel arrived at the Gyeongbokgung palace, Heejin realised it had not been a good idea. There were hundreds of people there and it was impossible that none of them knew Axel since he was part of one of the top K-pop groups at that moment, so she was afraid of what people would say if they saw them.

"Heejin," Axel turned to her once they were inside, sensing something was off. "Hey, Heejin, relax."

"There's just too many people here and-"

"Heejin," Axel gently put his hands on her arms to turn her to him. "It's all okay. If they recognise us, then what? I know you are worried about my fans but, seriously, don't worry about them. We can pretend we are here to promote Korean culture and post some pictures online tagging the Ministry of Culture. They cannot say anything if we look like we came here to work. Just please don't be nervous. We came here to have fun and spend some time together."

"But..."

"I know this can be frightening, but let's not end like last year. We are friends and friends deserve to hang out sometimes. Just like you can hang out with Hikaru, I want to be able to hang out with you too. We've known each other for longer, so it should make even more sense."

He seemed to hit the jackpot by saying that. As Hikaru's fans had been really sweet with her Heejin had no problem being seen in public with him, but it did not make sense that she could do it with him and not with Axel. If ones were able to accept that they were friends, why not the others?

"Come on, my lady, let's take a walk around the palace," Axel told her with a smile. "Although there are certainly some people around, there aren't that many today."

Albeit still nervous, Heejin took a deep breath and walked with Axel through the palace, trying to not make eye-contact with anyone so that they would not look at them either. Funnily, however, Axel seemed to be attracting the attention from those who did not even know him just because of how he looked, so he lightly tipped his hat to try to cover his face more.

"You can try to hide who you are but your prince-like looks keep turning heads," Heejin joked. "I bet people don't get to see such a handsome scholar walking around the palace that much."

"Well, just like the shop owner said, this scholar already has his eyes set on a noblewoman, so they can look all they want," he said.

"And who might that noblewoman be? The daughter of official Jo?" she made up the name just to tease him. "I heard she is a very beautiful and elegant woman. A rather good choice."

"No, it is actually the daughter of official Jang. She even knows about music and has been abroad."

"That corrupted young woman? People say she even cut her hair after coming back from abroad. How inadequate for a noble lady like her! She should just find a good man to marry and have a child. You even have the same surname. Are you perhaps from the same clan?"

"No, we are from different clans. And, about her being inadequate, I like women who are intelligent and daring."

After he said that, they both burst out laughing at their short skit. It was like the clothes and the palace had taken over them and they felt the need to act like they were part of the Joseon era.

"Let's see the throne room," Heejin pointed to it. "No one is there now."

They could only watch it from the outside, but they were still marvelled at how astonishing it was. Every little detail from the roof, the tiles, the throne... they could not believe that once was how Korea was like.

"I'm glad I did not pick the king's clothes," Axel admitted suddenly.

"Why so?" Heejin asked confused.