Decisions

Not Dreams but Memories

Soo huffed and puffed as she made her way up the mountain. She was tasked with bringing the 4th prince his lunch and she couldn't fathom why he had to take his meal on top of a mountain of all places. Why couldn't he go back to the 8th prince's house and eat at a table like a normal person?

"I mean, why doesn't he eat in his room? Why make all the trouble? I knew I didn't like him...he's going all out to make things difficult for me. Gosh, I'm tired!"

As she stopped to take a break, she looked up to see the view of the 4th prince's back. He was sitting there by himself, looking out onto the horizon.

"Yesterday, he made such a commotion but now he sure looks innocent from the back...and actually lonely."

Soo laughed wryly before So turned around to look at her, and she stopped laughing immediately in shock, afraid of what he would do if he actually heard her laugh. He looked at her silently before quickly turning back around. She wrinkled her nose before approaching him. When she arrived by his side, she set the basket down with a large thud and spoke in a sarcastic voice.

"Your meal has arrived."

As she lifted the lid and set it aside, the 4th prince spoke

"Leave it there."

She forced a smile and asked rhetorically "You would like to eat alone in peace? Please do that..."

She struggled off the rocks with a huff and meant to walk away but stopped and looked back at him again. After some thought, she grimaced and stomped her foot before returning and taking a seat right where she was before.

"I have to take back the empty bowls. Why don't you eat quickly?"

She started to fix her skirts as she waited before hearing his low voice.

"About yesterday, you did not see anything. Be careful of what you say."

She rolled her eyes and spoke over her shoulder in disbelief.

"I wouldn't talk about it even if I could! I can't believe it, even though I saw it myself."

She twiddled with her fingers before adding "I have my own issues. I don't have time to go around talking about other people."

Soo grumbled under her breath before complaining.

"Every time I see you, you tell me to forget I saw you..."

He did not respond so she started to look around from where they sat and couldn't help but make small conversation.

"By the way, is it better if you eat out here? Oh, are you looking at the palace over there? That will eventually be your home. Why must you stare at it while eating?"

There was a pause before he spoke.

"If it is a home, I should have a family."

"Huh? I heard that your mother, father, and brother all live there...but now that it's come up..."

She turned around abruptly and surprised the 4th prince, who was shocked she was looking at him straight on.

"Why did you do that yesterday?"

She was referring to why he was covered in blood, injured, and pushing down the stone towers that stood in the courtyard of the 8th prince's home. His lips floundered at a loss for words, clearly uncomfortable with answering before retorting with a question of his own in a raised voice.