1681

Scroll 21

Little Choi glanced at Joy, who is lying on the table, burying her head in her arms. She has been in that position for the past few hours, and have not been drinking or eating since this morning. Worrying, Little Choi brought a plate of rice cake and placed it before Joy.

"Eat something." She said. "You will faint if you continue like this."

With her head still buried in her arms, Joy shook her head. Those who have experienced getting stood up by someone would empathize Joy. Who would have the mood to eat or drink at this moment? All that is left within you is pain and sorrow.

Little Choi understood Joy. What Joy needs now is a shoulder to lean on, so she dragged a chair from nearby and sat next to Joy. "If you want to cry, just cry." Little Choi whispered, loud enough for only Joy to hear. 

Joy got up, sat up straight and looked at Little Choi. She sniffled and leaned on Little Choi as tears trickled down her cheeks. "I haven't even sung him that birthday song. Did he know how much efforts I put in? How could he forget? Even if he is busy, at least send someone to tell me...why make me wait like a fool?" Joy began babbling. Comforting her, Little Choi patted her and listened to her babbling quietly.

They stayed in that position for another hour. Despite feeling pain in her left shoulder, Little Choi tried not to move. She looked at Joy. Seeing how she has calmed down, Little Choi decided that it's the perfect moment.  Since morning, she has been finding the right time to ask that question, and now it's that right time. "His Majesty have been requesting to see you since this morning, are you really not going to see him?"

Hearing this, Joy debated whether to continue avoiding him or not. Truthfully speaking, she hates the situation that she is in. Having been hurt by that someone yet still misses him...wants to see him yet she also wants to avoid him...

Getting up, she looked to her right. On another small table lies a small box, which contains the cream cake that she made. She thought back to how much trouble she went through to find that perfect box to fit her cream cake in. She had wanted him to experience how modern people celebrate birthdays yet he...

She has made her decision. Joy turned to Little Choi. "I will go to meet him." She said.

Joy slowly made her way out. She stepped out of her quarters and saw the King pacing up and down. She stopped. Grasping the handle of the cake box tightly, she took a deep breath before continuing walking.

The King turned as soon as he heard someone coming down the small flight of stairs. Finally, the person that he had been waiting for appeared before him. Since this morning, despite receiving her rejection of seeing her for zillion times, he decided to wait outside her quarters patiently.

"Why are you avoiding me?" He asked as soon as the person that he is waiting for stands in front of him. Joy looked up at him, straight in his eyes. She does not like his tone of speech. It's as though someone owed him something. Plus, who is the one that starts avoiding her first?

"Look, yesterday I didn't mean to stood you up. I..." The King stopped talking midway. He is at loss of words. He had no idea how to explain whatever happened last night to her. Truth to be told, even he is confused about what happened last night. For some reason, he seemed to remember nothing from last night. All he remembered was that he drank a lot of liquor during the banquet. Whatever happened after the banquet ended, he can't seem to remember. When he woke up this morning, he was surprised to find himself in one of the empty quarters near the back of the palace.