My Forbidden Fruit - Choi Beomgyu

Chapter 6

Choi Beomgyu's POV

The morning after the dramatic events of my supposed kidnapping and the unexpected closeness I'd shared with Kang Hana, I found myself waking up unusually early. There was a sense of anticipation in the air, a desire to see her again and ensure she was okay. Concern for her well-being had settled in the back of my mind, and I couldn't shake it off. 

As I reluctantly rose from my bed, I couldn't help but reflect on how my life had taken a sudden and intriguing turn ever since Hana had entered the picture. Before her arrival, my days were filled with endless meetings and royal responsibilities. But now, her presence had added a new dimension to my existence, one that I couldn't ignore. 

Determined to attend to my princely duties efficiently, I dressed quickly. However, a nagging thought lingered in the back of my mind, urging me to complete my tasks swiftly in the hopes of catching even a brief glimpse of Kang Hana.

I donned a formal suit, knowing that I had a meeting scheduled with my parents. It was a day I often dreaded. Let me clarify, I loved my parents a lot, but their towering expectations always weighed on me like a heavy burden. While I cherished the thought of becoming king someday, the responsibilities that came with it were daunting. Whenever I made a mistake, the look of disappointment in their eyes was something I found hard to bear. 

As I navigated the palace's grand hallways, the sound of grunting caught my attention. I paused and followed the noise until I reached the gym. To my astonishment, I swung the door open to find Hana performing push-ups. 

"Are you out of your mind, Hana?" I exclaimed, utterly baffled. 

Hana replied almost casually, "Why would I be? I'm just exercising." 

"But you're injured! Especially in your shoulder. How on earth are you doing push-ups?" 

My surprise now outweighed my concern. Shouldn't her wound be causing her pain? I scoffed as I took in the sight, her shoulder wound still visible beneath the bandages I had applied. 

"Choi, this is just a scratch compared to everything I've faced before, so thank you for your concern, but don't you have a meeting to attend to?," she said, getting up and approaching me. 

Without hesitation, I reached out and lightly touched Hana's shoulder, feeling her initially tense up before she relaxed. 

"I don't want to go, Hana," I admitted, my eyes seeking some form of support from her. 

This was one of the rare times I had addressed Hana by her name without the usual addition of 'Princess' or her surname. It sent a strange flutter through my stomach, like a whole zoo was set loose inside me. My fingers gently traced over her hand, and my gaze wandered over the tiny scars that adorned her skin, some fading while others remained dark and prominent. 

"Why?" Hana's question emerged with a hint of breathlessness. 

Before I could answer, Hana's phone buzzed, signalling an incoming call. She glanced at her phone and took a step back, indicating that she needed to take the call. I caught a glimpse of her phone's screen just before she answered, noticing the name 'Kim Dohwa.' It was undoubtedly a male name, and for some inexplicable reason, it ignited a sense of annoyance in me. 

"Kim Dohwa? Who's that?" I asked, my curiosity piqued. 

"Dohwa-yah, what happened?", Hana asked, ignoring my question.

I couldn't help but scoff as I heard Hana address him so casually. She hadn't even given me a "Beomgyu-ah" yet. Faintly, I could hear the voice on the other end of the call.