~ a lily among thorns~

"what family do you come from?"

After the morning's commotion, all the Hwarangs were called in to the dining hall for breakfast. Grabbing her tray of food, Nari skipped over to the table where all her roommates were seated. She wedged herself in between Seonu and Ji-Dwi, settling her breakfast on the table. She looked at her meal, and then at everyone else's.

"How come I didn't get any meat?" she complained.

The men ignored her, continuing to eat their meals. Nari rolled her eyes and turned to Ji-Dwi.

"Who's that?" she asked pointing behind him, and when he turned to look, she grabbed his piece of meat and shoved it in her bowl.

"Yah! Give it--"

Before Ji-Dwi could threaten her anymore, a young-looking Hwarang bounced onto the chair opposite Nari.

"Mouse!" he called, a curious smile plastered across his face.

Ban-Ryu rolled his eyes at the word, making Nari scowl.

"What? I'm more popular than you..." she grumbled under her breath, giving Ban-Ryu a sulky glance.

Ban-Ryu shifted his eyes uncomfortably, and then continued to eat, pretending not to notice the whining. Nari turned her focus back to the Hwarang in front of her, grinning happily.

"That's me," she beamed proudly, leaning forward.

"I'm Hansung," the playful man said in reply. "Let's be friends."

Nari nodded, and then went back to eating her meal. She looked down to grab her piece of meat but it was nowhere to be seen.

'Where did it go...?'

She turned to Ji-Dwi in confusion, only to catch him tossing it into his mouth.

"Yah! I was looking forward to--"

"Mouse!" Hansung interrupted again.

After a moment of hesitation, Nari turned to face him once more. She was met with an inquisitive stare from the young Hwarang.

"Why do you have blonde hair?" he asked abruptly.

"Because I come from the West," Nari replied, pride lining every word.

Hansung 'ooohhed' and continued to eat. A beautiful looking Hwarang sitting next to him was next to speak.

"May I ask what skin treatment you use on your face," he questioned. "It's not easy to become that beautiful like myself."

Nari stared at him with wide eyes, her food dropping from her grip. The Hwarang, called Yeo-wool, smirked.

"What? Have you never seen a beautiful man before?" he asked.

A smug grin quickly formed on Nari's face, and she cupped her cheeks in her hands. Her face was lit up with delight at the small compliment.

"Do you really think my face is smooth," she inquired, blushing at the question.

Yeo-wool was about to answer but the sharp words of Ji-Dwi halted his reply.

"Yah! Stop filling his head with compliments! He already has a big enough ego!" Ji-Dwi cut in, struck with un-belief at the amount of attention this Western boy was receiving.

Nari scowled and went back to eating, along with the rest of the table. It was quiet for a bit, only the slight murmur of men talking in the background meeting the ears of the Hwarangs. Ji-Dwi smiled with satisfaction and went to place a serving of rice in his mouth.

"Mouse!"

Ji-Dwi nearly threw his food across the table. He turned to Hansung, who had spoken up, and went to jump at him. However, Nari quickly barged into his side, pushing him back into his seat.

"Yes Hansung?" she asked, happy with this new form of attention.

Ji-Dwi looked on dumbfounded at the blonde Hwarang who had just violently shoved him down.

'No apology?' he gasped in his mind, an awestruck smile creeping over his face. 'This is unbelievable.'

Hansung leaned in closer to Nari, rubbing his chin.

"What family do you come from? My father has studied the West...he knows all the noble families there. He must know yours?"

Nari's heart stopped as all the men at the table placed down their utensils and looked at her in curiosity.

'What do I say?! What do I say?!' she panicked internally, a sweat beginning to bead across her forehead.

"Ahh...well..." she stuttered, laughing nervously as every eye seemed to stare deep into her soul.

Her face flushed five different shades of red as she began to freak out.

"Well?" Suho urged, confused at her uneasy reaction.

Suddenly, Nari clutched her stomach "in pain", groaning in apparent agony. She leant her head onto Ji-Dwi's shoulder, squeezing her eyes shut.

"I think there was something bad in my food," she moaned, her words muffled by Ji-Dwi's clothing.

Ji-Dwi slowly pushed her off his side with his finger. In return, Nari stumbled to her feet, still grabbing her abdomen. All the Hwarangs stared at her in shock and confusion.

"I'm going to go see the physician," she announced, and hobbled to the left.

"The physician's that way," Ji-Dwi stated, pointing in the opposite direction.

"Oh..." Nari mumbled, and turned to her right, limping out the door.

All the Hwarangs stared after her, not knowing what had just happened. Hansung frowned and picked at his food.

"Funny...there was nothing wrong with my meal," he puzzled, before shrugging and continuing to eat.