Return (✔)

I knew...

"Mi-yeon ssi!!" Hee-joon shouted from behind startled her.
"Yo... your highness?? What is it?" Mi-yeon faced him.
He took a few seconds of panting hardly. He tried to catch his breathe before smiling.
"Your highness... d..did you... chased me from the infirmacy??" Mi-yeon asked widened her eyes.
"Err... hehe...yes... I just wanted to ask if you're okay.." Hee-joon placed a sweet smile on his face.
"Seriously?? You chased me till here just to ask that.. I'm okay... but still, you shouldn't do that, your highness.." Mi-yeon tried to say it in strict voice.
Hee-joon didn't leave his smile, he even smiled wider.
"It's up to me if i want to chase you or anything.. and,, you don't need to call me 'your highness'.. we both know the truth, there's no one here anyway.." Hee-joon said whispering at the last sentence.
"Always cautious... your highness..." Mi-yeon lowered her voice then she sighed.

"I should go now, I need to explain everything to Sang-chul.. See you later, your highness.." She bowed.
"Wait.. Mi-yeon ssi..." Hee-joon grabbed her arm.
Mi-yeon quickly pulled her arm away and looked around. She sighed in relief seeing no one was around.
"Cautious,, remember..." Mi-yeon whispered.
"Sorry..." Hee-joon still just smile innocently.
"What is it,, your highness??" Mi-yeon asked in rush.
"You knew something, right?" Hee-joon smirked.
"Something what? What did you mean?" Mi-yeon asked confusedly.
"About the guys who are trying to kill you.. I knew that you actually knew something.." Hee-joon asked.
Mi-yeon looked around once again.
"I'll tell you about that later, your highness... please excused me.." Mi-yeon leaved right away after she said that.
Hee-joon just stared at her from behind, never stop smiling.
"I knew you won't disappointed me.." He muttered.

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"I told you.. we're not anything special, trust me..." Mi-yeon said.
"So, How did you end up being alone together with him?? Going out of the palace without Anyone knowing, just to after him? You put yourself in danger!!" Sang-chul glared.
"It's just that we're... huh... I really don't know what else to say.. You'll still suspecting me..." Mi-yeon pouted.
"I'm just worried, okay.. you're my responsibility now.. So please listen to me.. I don't want you being too close with him anymore cause you might be in danger.. like earlier." Sang-chul demanded
"Earlier?? You meant that?? Let me make it clear, those guys were after me. Not Hee-joon.. He had nothing to do with this.." Mi-yeon beamed.
"Just do as i said. Do not disobey me, I'm just trying to protect you.." Sang-chul replied.
"I never asked you to protect me.. You know why i decided to work in this palace, it's because i want to be independent. I don't want to keep troubling you and your family.." Mi-yeon stood up.

"You've never troubled us.. you're like one of our family, we never thought you as a stranger.." Sang-chul said.
"So, is that why you keep protecting me? Cause I'm one of your family? Or because your father ask you to..?" Mi-yeon asked. But Sang-chul didn't reply, he just looked down.
Mi-yeon rolls her eyes and gritted her teeth. her eyes already seemed teary.
"No, right?? You're not protecting me because of that. You're protecting me because you still like me, don't you??" Mi-yeon said almost shout.
Sang-chul took a deep breathe and faced Mi-yeon.
"Yes.. I still like you.." Sang-chul replied.
"Sang-chul ah,, it has been years now.. I told you to just think of me as a sister.. I can understand for the past years, we're still young and know nothing about feeling.. but now?? Sang-chul we're adult now. There's no reason to like each other... I hope you understand.." Mi-yeon said before turning away to leave.
But she stopped after a few steps. She just looked at the person in front of her who's also freezing as she did.

"I... In-hye ah..." Mi-yeon spoke out.
Sang-chul who heard it quickly turned to. He widened his eyes as he saw In-hye who just staring at the both of them with her pity eyes.
Eun-mi was standing beside In-hye also felt the tense atmosphere.
'She heard everything..' Mi-yeon thought.
"I..I'm sorry... I need to go..." Mi-yeon finally spoke out. It's not that she's trying to run away from the situation. She just want them to settle down their feelings on their own.
If she stayed, thing could be worse.
For now, she had more important matter to be settle.
She walked passed In-hye and glanced at her before walking away. Eun-mi chased her from behind. There's no way she want to stay at that awkward situation anymore.
"You heard it?" Sang-chul asked. She just nodded slightly.
In-hye looked down, she didn't dare to look at Sang-chul at all.
"I'm sorry you need to hear all of that.." Sang-chul apologised.