GATEWAY 🝔 LEE JENO

🝔 1.3

Problems are never too big 

We just overthink about it

Jeno's hands were hovering above his thighs not knowing where to place them. He was seated behind the girl on her horse. . . awkwardly. 

It was trotting so it wasn't difficult to stay stable on its back. However, Jeno has never ridden horseback before so he was a little anxious that he might fall off.

Like she knew exactly what he was thinking she spoke out. "You can hold my cape for safety" he was taken aback by how she commented at an exact impeccable time. "Uh-Thank you" he politely responded before gently gripping onto the sides of the cape and looking ahead.

Flickering his sight down he noticed how the horse was smooth, shiny and well maintained. The girl now and again rubbed and stroked its shoulder and mane. "What's its name?" he questioned out of curiosity, a little hesitation running through his question. 

"Roman" she immediately responded out in a loving tone while gazing at her horse intently. "He's really handsome" Hearing him praise her horse sent a swarm of exhilaration up her body. The girl swerved around a little and faced Jeno.

"I know, right. I fell in love with him as soon as I saw him." she smiled lightly at Jeno with her pearly whites. Her whole characteristic and aura took a turn. The threatening and cautious behaviour she had displayed during the beginning of their encounter had faded away into a more open and cheerful person. This slightly weirded Jeno out, but he did not ponder on it too much as something else caught his attention.

Her smile

Small wrinkles formed on the sides of her eyes. It was so entrancing to look at. He couldn't deny how she has a pretty smile. It was like she had a dual personality. After a few seconds, he just averted his gaze, still plastered with his emotionless expression taking a big gulp as his throat felt strangely dry. Staring up ahead he enjoyed the slow forest ride until her voice drew his attention away from the countless trees in front of them. 

"Hey, I'm sorry about attacking you before. I'm not a violent person and have never hurt anyone but seeing you in all black made me misunderstand you as an assassin. I was just defending myself" she confessed truthfully while still looking forward.

By her sudden apology, Jeno felt his muscles tense up at the awkward tension in the air. He was not expecting that from her. However, his mind drifted off the uncommon term she used that she used. 

Assassin?

"You really think assassins are real?" he muttered in a judging tone but the girl heard him. She let out an airy chuckle while shaking her head at his ridiculous question. "You didn't know?" she spoke sarcastically. But her face fell apart when she twisted her head back to see his serious expression. Her features morphed into astonished ones after realising that he wasn't actually joking. "Wow someone had a happy childhood" she snapped her head back, directing her horse towards the left.

"Well if they are real then what made you change your mind that I really am not one?" Jeno raised his eyebrow awaiting an answer. "If you were actually an assassin, you would've already killed me by now and not hesitated" she bluntly spoke in a flat tone.

She was right. There would've been no better time than now. Her back was facing him and she was busy paying attention to her horse. All her vital points where not shielded and open to be attacked. He could easily end her life effortlessly yet he didn't. Well of course he didn't because he isn't an assassin.

On top of that, the girl knows that he was definitely not one. The fear in his eyes when her dagger was at his throat, the child-like confusion he displayed while looking around the forest. She knew he wasn't daring enough to kill anyone. He surely couldn't be one.

Jeno shook his head while scoffing lightly. He found her interesting

But more than that, he found her strange due to her absurd thoughts and behaviour. He has never seen in any human before.

First, she was feeding wild deers which is an abnormal thing to do. Secondly, she owns a bow and arrow and questioned if he was an assassin. Lastly, she has a horse with her. Never has he seen anyone in Seoul riding horses into a forest without those neon jackets. There are rules and regulations like wearing a helmet and safety jackets. But she followed none of them.

He gazed at the back of her head which then directed down towards her bow and arrow. It has such detailed carvings. It was obvious that it's handmade and quite an expensive type of wood. Then a thought popped in his head.

Is she a hunter? That's illegal . . . No! She was feeding the deers. I doubt she would hurt them

"We're nearly there" she interrupted his train of thought. "What's your name?" Jeno suddenly blurted out unconsciously.  "My name?" she twisted her head. Her eyes fell on his. Narrowing her sight to him she made a thin line with her lips before looking back front. "I'm not telling you. I barely know you. So call me whatever you want" she replied, shrugging her shoulders not giving a care in the world.

Frowning Jeno nodded understanding where she was coming from. However he found one of her comments amusing. She doesn't know who he is. Hard to believe as his face is scattered around on the adverts and TV's around Korea from such a young age as he is a very well known model.

"Fine, I'm going to call you . . " he rubbed his jaw thinking before clicking his finger. "Merida. Your bow and arrow and the colour of your dress remind me of her" Jeno said remembering his older sister's favourite movie.

"Who is Merida? Your girlfriend. It's not loyal to call another girl by your girlfriends name" she tutted her head. Lips parting and pupils dilating he bored his sight onto her before bursting into uncontrollable laughter. "No, she is a cartoon character from a movie" he inquired. She had no clue. Scrunching up her nose she tried to figure out what he was saying. Unable to understand a word she sighed.

Mobie, movi? - she thought to herself at the unknown term.

Their conversation came to an end when Roman took the last step out of the forest. Jeno immediately jumped off before brushing his clothes off and thanking her. "Hey, is it ok if I can borrow your phone? I need to make a call" he asked hoping she would help out further.

"Fone? Movi? You speak really strange, you know that? Anyway, don't enter the forest again if you don't know your way around. Also, you should work on your outfit, maybe something less dark so that people don't misunderstand you as an assassin" Jeno's mouth fell agape and he stared at her utterly speechless. With that said she galloping off into an open road without another word.

"What a strange girl" he tutted his head. Jeno was about to walk when he felt his knee still aching. Groaning out in pain he clenched his fists in irritation transforming his knuckles into a paler tone. Taking a deep breath he moved his knee cap around slowly in both directions before walking off as if it did not bother him the slightest.