134340 |JJK FF|

Chapter 36

"W-where..."

Yumi jumped at his voice, not realising she was staring intensely as Jeongguk came around, gasping for breath. The rocks sank into the sand, forgotten.

"You came." She said in relief, "You finally came around,"

Jeongguk raised a shaky hand to his head, breathing heavily. He placed his other hand to his side as if attempting to get up. Yumi shook her head, "Bad idea. Lie back down,"

Jeongguk's eyes turned on her. Now that he was awake, her worry gave rise to a new emotion: annoyance.

Yumi locked her lips together before hissing. "You... moron. You were going on about how you could handle those rogues alone!"

Jeongguk tried, he really seemed to try to speak, but his sore throat closed up his voice and he began to cough. Yumi averted her eyes from his shaking fingers, "Give me a second. I'll start this fire, and you won't feel cold anymore,"

Jeongguk stared at her, then at the rocks, then back at her, looking dumbfounded. He looked around his surroundings, "Where...?"

"Where?" Yumi murmured, "I wish I knew,"

"H--" Jeongguk's voice gave away again as his face turned slightly blue. He tried to push himself up to a sitting position, one hand flying to his throat.

Yumi quietly helped him sit up, "Don't talk for now. I'll sum it up. You fell out of the ship, and I followed after you with that capsule," She pointed to the capsule that rested against the shore like a deflated balloon, "The storm was pretty bad so... so we landed here. I... I don't know where the ship is,"

The silence was the response she got. Jeongguk stared at her, slack-jawed, before trying to stand up. He fell right back, breathing out a gasp, hand resting on his injured side.

"Don't." Yumi muttered, "It was difficult getting that long leaf to behave like a makeshift bandage,"

Jeongguk looked nauseous. "We... you... really..."

Yumi waited for him to regain his wits. Soon, she gave up and helped him lean against the rock to an upright position. He soon asked, "They... are nowhere to be seen? Or heard...?"

Yumi mutely shook her head. Jeongguk stared at the sea for a moment before putting his face in his hands.

He stayed silent. Yumi hovered warily, unsure of what to say. She soon sighed, shifting as she tried to stand up, "You stay here. I'll see if there's anything for us to eat,"

Jeongguk's head snapped up. "What-- hey, no. Wait!"

"What?"

"I... no-- we should talk..."

Unbidden, her mind volunteered the past few days' memories. She bit back a groan when the look on Jeongguk's face confirmed her thoughts. Even he looked surprised at his outburst.

"Talk... talk what?" Yumi already knew.

"I... Han Yumi..."

"... since when did you remember my name? No, actually, scratch that. Since when did you call me by my name?"

"..."

Jeongguk's eyes trailed off hers to stare behind her. He swallowed as if rehearsing the words to use.

"Back in the ship..." He gave her a meaningful look.

Yumi winced. Yeah, back in the ship. Now, after having replayed their argument in both her dreams and daydreams more times than she could count on two hands, her feelings were realised.