Lessons From Romance

Finally...Alone

Luhan had finally stopped doubting himself. Perhaps after all, he'd made the right decision to come down to land's end. As always, Namjoo was just Namjoo; the person he knew in and out. She didn't seem to take Chae Yoon and Ki Chan too heavily. He envied her for taking everything on so lightly and in such a calm demeanor. Her heart was too big.

Crossing his ankles and his arms underneath his head he stared at the ceiling feeling renewed. There was at least one thing he'd learned throughout the whole time there. It was that he'd come for Namjoo, not because Chae Yoon had prodded him to. Namjoo had magnetically dragged him out. Although his feelings still needed placing he felt as if he knew where he was going now. It was somewhere farther away from Chae Yoon and closer to some place comfortable.

"Black knight," he quietly whispered aloud and smiled helplessly.

"====="

Hugging a chunk of the blanket to her chest Namjoo stared into the looming darkness. Every third beat of her heart would skip whenever she thought of how Luhan had leaned in toward her. She couldn't displace the image. Had he meant to do it or not?

Her heart was beating even faster than when Luhan had swept her hair away in his apartment. A severe smile crossed her lips and she hugged the blanket even tighter. Even if her knight in shining armor was no longer beside her she still had her black knight. She was grateful in every way.

The sun was heavily beaming down on them the next morning when they finally discovered the entrance up the mountain. Ki Chan had dumped the contents out of his backpack and stuffed it with some snacks and water bottles. Although he'd offer to carry everything they might need up there, Luhan had still stubbornly brought with him a bottle of water.

The dirt road paving their way up was covered in scattered leaves and weeds. The soil looked amazingly smooth, almost so smooth that it was difficult to spot any grain. Around them grew strange plants and mushrooms in the depths of the dark green grass. Many trees stood around them, but as they made their way up Namjoo couldn't feel any shade.

It was a steep climb and as she climbed up she could hear the dirt underneath her feet scattering to its death below. Hearing it sent tingles throughout her body. There was no chatter yet, so Namjoo listened to the rustling wind while peering up at the sky where the blinding sun was guarding the throne to give to his moon.

Sweat was slowly forming around her forehead and she browsed the hilly surroundings once more. What kind of animals inhabited the mountain? Snakes? Rodents? Owls? Squirrels?

"It's really hot out. I'm already burning up." Ki Chan commented from up front.

Chae Yoon was already slowing down behind her. She'd never been really physically active and in school her worst subject had been P.E. There was one reason why she never went hiking with Namjoo ever, she hated the exercise; the rough climb up. Chae Yoon was better in the arts and fashion.

"Can we stop and rest for a few minutes?" Chae Yoon whined, already panting. "What if I get a heat stroke out here?"

Namjoo could hear Ki Chan laughing. The corners of her lips shot up at the urge of laughing as well. Her eyes landed on silent Luhan and wondered what he was thinking. As the corners of her lips fell she recalled seeing him and Chae Yoon speak to each other more than just a few times. Sometimes Chae Yoon looked angry and upset when she spoke with Luhan and sometimes he looked upset, but would there be a reason to be angry with each other? She thought they didn't know each other.

"Lets stop here," Chae Yoon said.

Turning around Namjoo saw her leaning against a tree off to the side. Her mouth was agape as if totally drained and tired of this hike that had only gone on for five minutes.