162 Plain and Indecipherable Pt.3 (1/2)

Gyuri took in a sharp intake of breath as his eyes took on a questionable glean. Many thoughts raced through her mind, but what stood out to her the most was how she needed to warn the Kims.

What if he's one of the assassins from before?

Gyuri had to act fast. She shifted her leg, positioning it directly below his groin. Her best bet was to aim for his precious jewels and hope she could outrun him. As if foreseeing her next move, a hand darted out of nowhere and squeezed her nose. Gyuri yelped. She clawed at the hand in retaliation and the man laughed when he saw the outcome of his handiwork.

”Are you insane?” Gyuri cried indignantly. Tears had sprung from her eyes and her voice sounded strange and nasally. ”That bloody hurt!”

The man struggled to quell his fit of laughter. Punctuated by his random claps, he continued to guffaw, filling the room with the sound of his squeaky-glass laugh. Gyuri stared at him, bewildered. Not only was he being too loud for an intruder but there was something familiar about his childish humour. As if reliving a bad dream, she shuddered as images of being carted away on a horse flashed before her eyes. She had only heard it once, but there was no mistaking it.

”…Master Seokjin?”

At the sound of his name, the man's laughter died down. He grinned impishly. ”So, you've finally figured it out.”

Gyuri felt a rush of relief at his response. It's just Master Seokjin! But the joy of seeing him was short-lived and was soon replaced with animosity. ”It was you all this time! Why didn't you say anything? I thought you were an intruder!”

Seokjin sat cross-legged across from her and tutted, ”I was aware that you were lacking but I didn't think you'd be this incompetent. How could you not recognise the man you serve?” He scoffed. ”You really do make a poor personal maid.”

Gyuri bristled. I should've kicked him in the balls when I had the chance! ”Pardon my incompetence,” she replied tartly, ”but in my defence, you look different from how you normally do.”

”Different?” Seokjin stroked his chin as if feigning ignorance. ”Well, if by different you mean more handsome, then I guess I can forgive you.” He raked a hand through his tousled hair, and Gyuri noticed that the earring he usually wore on his left ear was missing. ”Perhaps your eyes are not defective after all.”

The audacity of this man!

”But it seems your hearing is impaired this time.” He rested his chin against his closed fist. ”I seem to recall telling you never to come in here.”

Gyuri gulped. ”I- I can explain!”

”You're fortunate I'm in a humorous mood,” Seokjin said, cutting her off. He stood up. ”Or else your punishment,” he gestured to her raw nose, ”could've been far worse.”

Before Gyuri could get a word in, Seokjin left. Gyuri followed him to the adjacent room.

Toned and narrow at the waist, Seokjin's broad back was decorated with scars. Like angry fissures ripping across his skin, the jagged lines she saw earlier were in fact raised bumps of disfigured flesh. Gyuri observed that they varied in size, some more faded than the rest. While they no longer brought Seokjin physical pain, Gyuri couldn't help but wince. They were remnants of his exile forever engraved. Gyuri reached for her own scar and felt it itch.

Seokjin glanced over his shoulder. ”Enjoying the view?”

Gyuri hurriedly averted her gaze.