4 Taboo (1/2)

”Wait! I-I didn't mean it.” Suyin lifted her hands like a criminal.

Jianyu crossed his arms, chuckling. He raised his right hand, ushering the guards to disperse. Suyin glimpsed around to see if the guards would appear out of nowhere.

”Godness. You are asking for trouble aren't you?” Jianyu coolly said as Yanyu swayed her head, sighing as if there was no hope for Suyin.

”So... what the Princess just said... is it true?” Suyin questioned, scooting in closer to Jianyu. He nodded and covered his mouth with his hand so Suyin would only hear.

”Just don't try that on anyone anymore, before you really offend someone.” He stated. Suyin's eyes widened. Holy crap! What trouble has she gone into going to the past?! There will be some rules that she definitely will have to remember! If she doesn't recognize the red flags, she'll surely die for pointing at people or something similar to that!

Suyin began rubbing her chin, thinking really hard as Jianyu wordlessly observed her.

”What is she doing? Does she have a beard or something for her to be rubbing her chin?” Jianyu thought in his head, curious of what this Suyin was thinking about.

”My lady.” Areum carefully walked in, bowing to the Princess and Prince before kneeling in front of Suyin. Suyin turned to Areum, ”Yes?” She promptly answered.

”Your father has requested you to come into his study room to discuss matters. I suggest you go and not waste time.” Areum recommended. Suyin agreed. She didn't want Areum to get in trouble due to her actions again. Suyin turned towards Yanyu and Jianyu and slightly bowed, ”My apologies to the Prince and Princess, but Suyin must go now.” She announced. The siblings smiled, acknowledging her dismiss as she walked off with Areum behind her.

”Brother.” Jianyu looked at his sister, who watched Suyin's back. ”Do you think that Suyin's sick?”

Jianyu turned his head back to Suyin, who spun around and waved at them before walking out of the courtyard.

”No.” He lit up a grin seeing her walk off. ”I think she's finally comfortable with who she is now. I rather see her happy and confident than being restricted to who she really is.”

Jianyu could recognize the huge difference between her personality, but it didn't change a single thing because the Suyin in his memories was someone who always had a smile in her face only when she found an answer to her solutions. It seems like she found peace and satisfaction among herself finally, not being bothered about her family's name and reputation.

Yanyu absorbed what Jianyu said about Suyin. She was quite envious of how nonchalant she was. Was that the feeling of being comfortable?

Yanyu then recalled about what Suyin said earlier to her when she handed Yanyu the plum blossom.

”I think that living a life that is meaningful to you makes more sense when you find something you like doing, you know?”

Yanyu held the plum blossom that Suyin picked carefully in the palm of her hand, staring at it as the curves of her lips lit up. ”Maybe you're right, brother.” Near the siblings next to the pavilion, the bud of plum blossoms was slowly blooming.

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The door slid open, entering Suyin who carefully walked in as she lowered her head, looking around in silence. Piles of books laid on top of another on the table and the rows of bookshelves seemed endless. Suyin glanced around at the spacious study room, often occupied by his father and the Prince and Princess.

”Suyin?” Her father sought.

”Yes?” Suyin reached to the end of the room, seeing her father stand behind the table. His arm was tucked to the back as if a scholar was thinking deeply. Suyin was unsure of what this ”matter” would be. Was he going to ask her to do something for him? Was she going to teach?

”My child, you have grown from the last time that I noticed.” Suyin lifted an eyebrow, unsure of where this old man is going with his statement. Her father never turned around to look at his daughter. He was staring straight out through the paper window as if his mind were somewhere else. ”As a father, I want you to know that I want you to take over me someday, but it is a pity that you are a young lady.” He finally turned towards Suyin, who stood in front of him and patiently attended to him. ”My daughter. I think it is time for me to find someone for you.” He stated. Right after stating the term, ”someone” Suyin simply figured what her father was trying to do.

”Are you trying to marry me off into some noble or prosperous family?!” She questioned her father. In her gut feeling, she knew this idea wasn't a good idea.

He flinched, startled at her response.

”Suyin. How dare you talk back to your father!” He said in an angry, but soft tone. His daughter never once talked back to him. ”Ever since you stole the horse this morning, you've been acting so rebellious! Do you want a greater punishment than this!” Her father threatened. Suyin bit the bottom of her lips, trying hard to not talk back to her father. She was never like this in the past, but it was unfair for her father to just marry her off to some stranger that she most likely didn't know.

Suyin turned, walking away from her father as she slammed the door open, stomping down the corridors. Areum followed right beside her as the two headed back home.

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It was a day after the incident and Suyin was wide awake. She was seated on a stone bench, watching the sunrise under a redbud tree. She couldn't sleep because of what her father told her the day before.

”Finding someone,” Suyin uttered, leaning her head on the tree bark.

Did her parents really love and care for her? Suyin recollected memories of her father's continuous commands to do this or that his way. Her mother was never around Suyin. She would often be out ”praying” at a temple, but would actually go around town purchasing worthless items which she would bring home. Suyin in the past did not argue or complain once during those times. Suyin always found interest in medicine, but she couldn't remember the reason why. Her father and mother would make a huge deal and scene whenever Suyin always mentioned about learning medicine or even the thought of touching any herbs. She was never able to do anything she enjoyed to do in her life.

Although Suyin had a life filled with hardships in the house, there were little happy moments of Suyin. She would reminiscence that included the Princess and the Prince, but they were only moments. Suyin could feel the heaviness in herself. Her heart was bottled up and buried deep into her heart. She couldn't do what she wanted to do and followed her parent's wishes throughout her life since childhood.

”I will do what I feel is right and happy.” Suyin laid her hand on her chest, closing her eyes.

”Help! I need someone to help me, please!” A voice echoed from afar. It sounded like a little girl, crying out for help. Suyin's feet flew up and she began searching around her surroundings. It couldn't be in her courtyard or home, otherwise, Areum would have told her already. It sounded like someone outside of the house not too far from here. It was early in the morning and her parents and Areum were still asleep. Suyin slipped on her shoes and lifted her skirt, climbing on the tree to hop onto the roof.

”Anyone, please help!” The voice was still calling for help. In Suyin's mind, the people hearing this child is a coward, too busy to hear, or were such deep sleepers! She jumped down from the roof, planting her feet on the ground and dashed toward the voice.