Awaiting The Dawn

38: A Moment Of Peace

{Warning: This chapter includes mentions of violence—basically Kum-ji}

Hisa's hands were chilly.

Yoon had known that for a while now. He'd known since the day they met, when she tried smoothing his forehead with her thumb.

And when she gripped his hands like a lifeline while having a flood, hers weren't warm. It left him with nail marks, but those faded away in less than an hour.

In some fit of irrational guilt and stupid fear, Yoon was the one to wrap her cold hands after she passed out. If he hadn't stopped her, Hisa could have gotten hurt.

She put her hands on his cheeks, looking very amused when Yoon finally had the guts to look at her after what he considered to be a dumb argument.

Each time, her hand felt the same.

Cool to the touch, but not freezing.

A lot of what came to mind happened all in one day, but it might as well have been months ago with so much going on in a short period of time. Ever since they stepped foot in Awa, Yoon could hardly catch a break.

Those hands were always cold in a nice, refreshing sort of way. Except this time.

As she held his hand, eyes closed as she did a divination, Yoon wondered if she'd get sick. The idiot only brought a cloak to cover herself, and she didn't bother covering her hands and ears.

They were on elevated ground, right next to the water, in the middle of the night!

Hisa was supposed to take care of herself! How many times does he need to remind her?

Once she was done, Yoon was definitely going to throw his backup blanket at Hisa and shoo her away before the winds pick up.

Right after he had that thought, Hisa's grip momentarily tried to detach itself, before gripping tighter to his hand.

Of course whatever she saw wouldn't be good.

That was why Yoon never liked it when she did divinations. It was basically throwing herself into mental torture.

Would she start crying? Pass out? He had no idea. Her hand was seriously cold.

She started gasping for air, her breathing going out of control.

When Hisa opened her eyes, there weren't any tears. Wide eyes, staring at his hand. She squeezed it once, then let go to hug her knees.

She was...shaking.

Yoon wrapped her in a blanket without a second thought, counting her erratic breathing.

Last time this happened, Yona took the lead. Their mistake was not knowing Hisa wouldn't respond well to touch.

To keep her from flinching back, Yoon had to settle with words. At least for now.

"Hey, it's okay." He tried to hide his own agitation, but some of it probably spilled out. "Just try to breathe. Can you do that?"

She just shrank further.

So soothing words won't cut it. Not if Yoon can't get the shake out of his own voice. And he won't get anywhere if he's not calm, so he has to do that first.

He waited to count of six hundred, enough time to let Hisa get some control of her breathing and Yoon to plan out what to say.

"If you don't go ahead with your plan, no one but us will know. And I won't tell them anything." As he talked, Yoon was deciding between staring at the ground or letting himself watch Hisa's movements.