𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐧 !

「 𝟎 𝟏 𝟖 」

"Great brother, I could not possibly—"

"It is an order." He firmly insists, pouting with his bottom lip pushed out. "So, say it again."

Sighing, you could only hope his actions were influenced by the alcohol and his drowsiness. Still though, you are so used to calling him by formal names that calling him by his given name felt unnatural—disrespectful. Like you were crossing a strict line drawn between the both of you. 

"Y-Yi Zaha." You start, awkwardly clearing your throat. He beams in response, waiting for you to continue speak.

"You must sleep, I will watch over you."

Next thing Yi Zaha knows is that he's dragged to his room and knocks out the moment his head touches the pillow. 

━━━━┅━━━┅━━━━

Here he is, as an errand boy, wiping the tables clean quietly while immersed in his own thoughts. His life was so simple, and so innocent.  He never complained, because he knew he was lucky to be living under a roof with warm food and nice clothes. 

"Zaha, get me a bowl of noodle soup."

Its the hyung he often serves, the usual happy smile on his face as he walks through the door. He wears cleaner clothes than he usually does and if you squint, you could almost tell they're brand new and expensive. 

"Are you going somewhere, hyung? You're wearing some nice clothes."

The conversation flows well before the older man inevitably notices that Yi Zaha had never even once called his name during their talk. He frowns, crossing his arms.

"Zaha, you don't remember my name? I'm a bit sad."

"What was your name again?" The errand boy asks with a twinge of guilt. Maybe he was too tired to remember it well, maybe he was just having a bad day. 

"––––"

His voice comes out as a blur, like a sound drowning amongst a crowd of other voices. Why can't he remember? 

'What did he say?' 

"Oh, right. I remember now." Zaha smiles, scratching his cheek meekly.

"Thanks for the meal." the hyung stands up, smile reaching his eyes.

"You haven't answered my question hyung! Are you seeing a woman with those nice clothes?"

"Of course not. I have to start a new beginning now." A smile so refreshing, so kind and so gentle appears on his lips. 

"You're not gonna have sword fights anymore? You need to take revenge against Jo I-gyeol."

"What use is there in revenge when you're already dead? Thanks anyway. I'm off." He leaves through the door with a confident voice, figure fading as he gets further and further away. 

"G𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒍𝒖𝒄𝒌 𝒐𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒏𝒆𝒘 𝒃𝒆𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈!"

"Yeah."

Everything fades into white as his pleasant dream comes into a bittersweet end.