In the Middle of the Night [BANG CHAN FF] ✔️

20. Red tulips

For a long period of time, specifically the whole winter, princess Yona was in a much worse state than she has ever been. She barely participated in lectures, her grades have never been lower, she lost her appetite again, and she barely had any sleep. All of that resulted in Yona fainting almost every day, and anticipating any news from the border would stress her out so much that she had panic attacks. The king wasn't in the castle so the prince had to take all responsibilities and protect the family and Yona could only hold onto her father's promise that he'll bring back everyone alive. She didn't tell anyone that she was in love with Bang Chan, not even her mother who thought that her daughter cried because her father was out there fighting. The princess kept her forbidden love to herself which was, at times, very hard and almost unbearable.

And when, at the end of January, news that the enemy attacked arrived, no one could sleep a wink. People tried to have hope but it was hard suppressing the dark thoughts.

Yona stopped going to school. She couldn't sleep, drink or eat - she only cried and thought about Bang Chan. She would hug her pillow and cry herself to sleep due to exhaustion. She didn't leave her bed. She was in a dark place, once again. She thought about him constantly, fearing that if she didn't she would forget him. She replayed all their shared moments over and over again, yet it only made her cry more.

News about the situation at the border calming down arrived in the middle of February. It was great news but everyone was still restless as there was no news about the soldiers returning any time soon. The situation at the north border would often get tense and each day was stressful for everyone. Yona had to continue going to school or her absence would seriously affect her grades. 

"Before we start with our practical program, you will need to write an essay on one flower family and specifically on one genus of your choice," Miss Claire, Yona's horticulture teacher announced and took notes on who will cover which flower family. It was already the beginning of March, and soldiers were still at the border, but the girls had to continue their lectures and had a month to write their essays before their practical program begins.

For her horticulture essay, Yona went to Flores, the flower town, at the end of March to search for helpful material in their library. Her mother organized for a maid to go with her since her other classmates had been busy with their work. The train ride to Flores felt the same as it did last year: Yona was quiet and depressed, yet for a different reason. In front of her wasn't Chan who was sitting but a castle maid who ate her food and would often say a word or two to break the heavy silence. Two young women booked rooms in the same hotel Yona stayed in a year ago. Everything about this trip hurt the princess yet she forced herself to relive those memories, just to have even a fragment of Chan in her mind, to remember those pleasant times and forget the bad. But, it only had the opposite effect...

"Your Highness should take rest for today," the maid said as she helped Yona get ready for bed, "It was a long trip so you must be exhausted, princess," she talked as she unbraided Yona's hair and reached to loosen her corset. Yona slightly winced as if she was stung and covered her face with her palms. "A-are you alright, Your Highness?" the maid panicked.