Mountain Rose

11. Beauty and the Beast

"What kind of person am I? Am I a good person? Or a bad person? There are many ways to judge."

August D, People

I was quiet as I walked behind Lady Hong and Yoongi, keeping my head down as I peered up from time to time to watch them converse in low tones.

Clasping my hands in front of me, I felt horribly inadequate, a far cry from the girl I had been this morning, and the brief time I had spent listening to Yoongi teach me.

It was hard to not feel that way, what with the fact that I was surrounded by splendour and riches as we walked through the immaculate hallways towards the dining hall.

I had never felt so out of place, and it was still so strange how a single flower could have been the reason I ended up here, dressed in silk. But at the same time, I understood the power I held; no way was I ever going to be in such a situation if I were to remain in the village, no matter how independent I had thought myself to be. Even if I were to be an apprentice as a gisaeng, there was no way the other villagers would think I was respectable enough.

But this was a different story. One I would very much love to tell to an audience of wide-eyed children, although I wasn't sure I could even live long enough to do that, or long enough to escape this place.

I glanced at the various hallways as we passed, watching as the servants went about their daily errands curiously.

Well, at least if I had to endure such a painful parting with my family, I'm blessed enough by the heavens to be granted comfort and luxury.

I clasped my hands together in front of my hanbok, feeling the fabric rustle against my skin, and it reminded me of the costume I would wear whenever it was my turn to charm the noblemen while Hoseok carried out his little mischief.

Before I could even miss all those adventures with my brothers, the thought of Namjoon came to my mind suddenly, disarming me, and my breath caught.

Namjoon.

I wonder if he knows I am gone.

I wonder if Hoseok told him the truth about my disappearance.

I wonder if he even cares.

I huffed, shooing the thought away. He likes me, of course he would care.

I tried to imagine him standing before me, as he had that evening when he gave me the hairpin, with that dimple whenever he smiled at me, or that good natured pout whenever I threw an insult at him, or that shy glance that I always pretended not to see whenever he thought I wasn't looking.

I reached up to my head, feeling it tucked safely in my hair. Along with Hoseok's fishing bait, the hair pin was the only thing that reminded me of how carefree my life had been just days prior, and now, it was the only thing I had holding me and Namjoon together.

I'm sorry I didn't appreciate you sooner, I thought to myself. You only wanted to reveal your feelings, but I kept pushing you away.

Now that I'm away from you, I've come to realize that I was wrong for that.

If someday I were to return to you, would you accept me again?

Or would you rescue me before I can do that?

As I looked up at Yoongi's back profile, his towering, hulking body with the furry back of his head free for me to gaze upon, I was curious about one thing: what would he do, if Namjoon and my brothers decided to come for me and bring me home, promises be damned?