Ecstacy of Love (vsoo)

7. Is it wrong to like someone.

Edited

Jisoo's POV

The entire week had passed, and I still hadn’t uncovered a single clue about my mission. I was stuck, trapped in a sea of uncertainty. I had no leads, no answers, nothing. Gunju hadn’t aroused any suspicion in me, nor had the current War Minister. I hadn’t even seen him in person yet. He was either too busy or simply didn’t care to show himself.

I couldn’t tell which one it was—whether he trusted Gunju completely, or whether he just didn’t have the time to deal with it all.

As I stood in the bathroom, my mind weighed down by these thoughts, I found solace in the rhythm of my actions. The camp was quieter today, as it was a weekend off. Everyone had finished their baths and were already off doing their own thing, leaving me in peace for a few moments.

I untied the band from my hair, allowing it to cascade down past my shoulders and to my waist. My long, dark hair felt soft and silky, like a reminder of a simpler time—before everything had become so complicated.

I began applying some herbs to my hair, my mind drifting. I hummed a soft tune, the same one I always did when I missed my mother. The familiar melody always brought a sense of comfort, though it couldn’t chase away the ache I felt in my chest. Her voice, so gentle and soothing, used to lull me to sleep when I was a child. She would sing it to me, her voice like a lullaby that made everything feel safe and warm.

But that was long ago.

I closed my eyes as memories of my family flooded my mind. I thought of my taetae, the boy I had grown up with, always by my side. I missed him deeply, and the absence of his presence in my life now was a constant weight on my heart. I remembered his laughter, his smile that was as bright as the sun. He had been so happy that one birthday when he was turning five. My mother had sung for him, just like she used to sing for me.

And now, the thought that he might be alone, struggling without me, tore me apart. I couldn’t help but wonder: was he still alive? Was he okay?

I let out a soft sob as my fingers ran through the water, causing ripples. A lone tear slid down my cheek, falling silently into the tub.

I missed him more than I could ever put into words. My heart ached at the thought of what he might have gone through, what he might be going through now. Had someone taken him? Was he in pain? My mind spiraled with these thoughts, my emotions threatening to overwhelm me.

I quickly wiped my eyes, trying to regain control. But the pain was too real, too raw.

Shaking it off, I grabbed the herbal soap and lathered it over my body. The warm water soothed my tense muscles as I carefully scrubbed myself clean. I didn’t want to let the tears overtake me. Not now. Not when there was still so much to do.

Once I was done, I stepped out of the tub and wrapped myself in a towel. The bathroom was silent, the only sound the gentle drips of water falling from my hair.

But inside, I was far from peaceful.

After drying my body and hair, I grabbed the dark-colored male hanbok. The green and black combination didn’t feel right—it wasn’t what I wanted to wear. I longed for something beautiful, something that would reflect who I was before all this mess started.

"I hate this... I want to wear a beautiful hanbok," I pouted, staring at the plain outfit. It was a reminder of how much my life had changed, of how much I had to hide just to stay safe.

I sighed, running my fingers through my hair as I thought about my next steps.

"Did I take the wrong step?" I murmured to myself. "If my appa was the War Minister, where should I start looking for clues? Of course, in the military camp."