I Am Dead, Am I? (HWARANG X Male Reader)

XV : Acquaintances

Y/N POV

I wiped my hands on the apron, eyes darting around the gambling den. The familiar clatter of coins, murmur of gamblers, and occasional bursts of laughter felt like second nature by now. Uncle Jongki's establishment was chaotic but in a way I had grown used to. Today, though, my mind was elsewhere-focused on the looming Hwarang selection and everything that came with it.

As I moved toward the quieter restaurant side of the den, my attention landed on two familiar faces: Ah-Ro and Lady Seoyeon. They were seated at a low table, deep in conversation. Ah-Ro's gestures were animated, while Seoyeon remained calm and composed, as she always did.

For a moment, I hesitated. Should I approach? This might be a chance to learn something about the Hwarang selection, and I needed all the information I could get. Pushing aside my uncertainty, I plastered on a casual smile and walked over.

"Good noon, ladies. Can I get you anything else?" I asked, trying to keep my tone light.

Ah-Ro looked up, surprised at first, but quickly smiled. "Y/N! I didn't know you were also serving? I thought Gayoung was the only one doing that."

"Just helping out my cousin, the den has been quite crowded" I said, placing a fresh pot of tea on their table. "How's your afternoon going?"

Seoyeon gave me a polite nod while Ah-Ro leaned back, the weariness in her voice seeping through. "We're just catching up."

There was something in the way she said it that made me curious. I leaned in slightly, trying to sound casual. "Catching up with your brother, perhaps?"

Ah-Ro's smile faltered, just for a moment, before she nodded. "Yeah... my brother."

I knew the truth, though. Ah-Ro didn't have a real brother. The "brother" she spoke of was Moo-myung, who had taken on the identity of her dead sibling, Makmun. The lie made my stomach twist-so dangerous, yet necessary for them.

"Sometimes people keep secrets to protect the ones they care about," I said softly, almost without thinking. "Maybe your brother is just trying to survive."

That made Ah-Ro freeze. Her eyes narrowed, suspicion flickering in her gaze. "What do you mean by that, Y/N? Do you know something about my brother?"

Before I could answer, Ah-Ro's hand shot out and grabbed my arm. Her tone became more probing, her expression more serious. "Y/N... do you know where your family comes from? Your lineage?"

Her words hit me like a bucket of cold water. My family? What family? My heart pounded in my chest as I tried to keep my face neutral. I'd done my best to stay unnoticed, to keep my past-or lack thereof-hidden. And here she was, asking about it directly.

"My family?" I repeated, my mind scrambling for an answer. I couldn't afford to let her get too close to the truth. "Why are you asking me that?"

Her grip tightened on my arm. "It's just... you seem different. Like you don't really belong here. I've noticed it, and others have too. I was just wondering-"

"Ah-Ro, that's enough." Seoyeon's voice cut through the tension like a blade, sharp and commanding. "You're asking unrelated questions."

Ah-Ro blinked, as if realizing she'd overstepped, and quickly let go of my arm. "Sorry," she muttered, looking away.

I forced a smile, though my insides were churning. "It's fine. I just don't talk about my family much." I tried to sound casual, even though I could feel Ah-Ro's eyes still on me. "Let's leave it at that."