Through Time

VIII

It was already 9:00 AM, I think. Since I don't have a watch. I finally woke up from my sleep. As usual, I'll dream about me going back to the future, but when I wake up, I'm actually still at Hwarang.

And like everyday, I'd go to the shower, then groom myself at our bedroom. But this time, my roommates aren't here. I tried looking outside but no one is there either, and I tried knocking on the other bedroom where hyung Hyun-Baek and his group sleeps but there was no response.

This time I knocked on the bedroom next of ours, I don't really know who owns it though.

*Knock, Knock* I knocked lightly, to be not rude.

Still, there was no answer.

*Eh? What now? I'm brought back in time, now everyone has disappeared?*

Suddenly, I felt someone tapping my back. When I turned around though, no one was there.

"H-hyu-ng?" I stuttered. I kept staring at the direction where I felt the tap but still, nobody was there.

Feeling so annoyed about their sudden disappearance, I sat on the floor of the hallway. 

I noticed this piece of paper.

"Hey hyung. Come outside. "

At the back it was written

"-The one who tapped your back." I suddenly shivered and felt cold in my body. In short, I'm scared.

When I opened the door that leads outside the sleeping quarters..

"Saengil Chukhahamnida!" 

I saw them all, my hyungs, shout that. But was it directed to me?

Suddenly, Min-ji hyung approached me.

"Here's a rice cake. Happy Birthday!" He said to me and gave me a smile.

"Is it my birthday?!" I asked in curiosity, I didn't even know what date it was.

"Of course, Taehyung. It's your birthday. Today's December 30. You must've forgotten, since you were busy." He replied.

"Oh.." I nodded, then awkwardly laughed, I felt shy since nearly all of the Hwarangs are outside of the sleeping quarters, waiting for me to accept the rice cake that Min-Ji's offering me.

"Thank you, hyung, and everyone!" and I gladly accepted the cake. Suddenly, they all chanted, "Eat - the - cake! Eat - the - cake!" And which I had no choice but to eat the cake in front of them all.

I ate it all in one piece and it was indeed, embarrasing.

Suddenly, someone with a familiar voice shouted,

"WHAT'S THE COMMOTION? YOU ALL MUST BE IN THE UNITY HALL NOW!"

It was Seo-Joon, the Hwarang Headmaster. 

Jun-nam quickly went to the Headmaster to explain it was my birthday, and fortunately, he understood.

"I see. Then follow me, if you don't want any punishments. This is breaking our rules, you see. But since it's his birthday, I'll let this pass."

We all walked to the Unity Hall, it's the place where the headmaster, or the assistant headmaster announces and teaches stuff.

Third Person POV

Tae-Suk, along with Min-Ji sat in the lowest level, since the hall had stair-like seats. Meanwhile, The other Hyungs sat at the top of the stairs, thinking they would avoid the Headmaster's questions. Kuk-jung on the other hand, sat on the same row as Tae-Suk and Min-ji, but someone already got the seat next to them so he had no choice but to sit alone with other fellow knights.

"Since it's Tae-Suk's birthday today, Happy Birthday to him." The headmaster announced, they all sang Happy Birthday once again. For the first time, Seo-Joon was actually smiling.

"Anyway, going back to the topic. In order to gain the favour of the people of the Capital, the Queen has decided to host a free mass medical check-up for everyone. Now, what does this have anything to do to you, you ask? Well, you're going to find good doctors and nurses to join the check-ups. But of course, they won't serve for free, you'll all be given 50 silver bars to give to them in exchange for their service. If they refuse to accept the payment, let them be. And also, if they refuse to serve, let them be as well." He announced.

"Do you understand?" 

They all nodded their heads, as they thought this would be another long and boring day.

"You'll be given until tomorrow evening to find good doctors in the capital. If you fail to do so, you'll probably going to clean the courtyard." He added.

"What?!" Some Hwarangs asked in surprise.

"Do you object the Queen's order?" He asked them, with a smirk on his face. 

"Of course not!" They shouted.

Market

The Hwarangs weren't the only one who's finding good doctors though. The Imperial Guards of the Silla Army were also putting up posters in town, which reads:

"To all men and women in the capital of Silla, Her Majesty the Queen has decided to host a free medical program for everyone in the capital. It will last for a day.

Doctors are needed. 50 silver bars are given to each volunteer. You can refuse the payment if you wish. If you are interested, ask a Hwarang or an Imperial Guard."

After the Guards posted it on the board, everyone nearby became curious of what was written. Since there were a lot of doctors in the capital, there could be many volunteers. The thing is, not all doctors have their service free from charge.

Coincidentally, Ji-Ahn and her servant was walking around. The new post in the board caught her attention. She quickly went to it and read the note.

"Doctors?" She thought.

"Why, Aggishi, are you interested?, but you are not a doctor though, perhaps you know someone?" Her servant, Chae-Soo, asked.

"I have learned medicine before even opening the bookstore. My abbeoji wanted me to become a doctor but I insisted on opening the bookstore." She replied.

"Oh. I see. Should we go see a Hwarang, aggishi?" Her servant asked.

Fortunately, she saw a group of Hwarangs walking around.

Ji-Ahn, with her head down as she was shy, quickly approached them and politely said.

"I am interested in volunteering in the medical program that the Queen has set up."

"Are you..

Ji-Ahn ssi?"