Gyeongbokgung Palace

(05: 11pm)

"Jin Yeong, gwiyeopda."

"Geumanhae." Stop.

"Gwiyeopdaaaaa."

I quickly bounced away when he lunged for me, laughing my butt off.

Seriously, he looked unbelievably handsome wearing traditional clothes. Princely, even. With tousled silver white hair, silky black and blue hanbok, he looked like a blue-blooded warrior.

Okay, so I felt like such a delicate princess wearing a beautiful pink hanbok, right? But I also somewhat felt such a commoner being around Jin Yeong right now. He had no idea how many girls practically swooned when they laid their eyes on him.

That's why I'm teasing him – it's a way to get rid of the nerves.

He shook his head in amusement at me.

"You really look like you came out of a historical fantasy drama," I said a-matter-of-factly. Mocking a serious face, I leaned closer to him and added, "Tell me, Jin Yeong. Are you a five hundred-year-old vampire who's pretending to be a mortal but you dyed your hair white as a symbol of your true age?"

His lips turned up, making me smile triumphantly.

We've been walking around here in Gyeongbokgung for a couple of hours now. It was super gigantic inside. It could honestly be a whole amusement park in here. When we found out we could wear hanboks (traditional clothing) while walking around, we immediately went for it.

Okay, so maybe I had to force Jin Yeong to agree to it. And maybe I made a deal to treat him dinner tonight. But hey! We got free entrance fees because we were wearing traditional clothes.

All thanks to me!

"It's a form of rebellion against my abeoji."

My head whipped to him. "Mwo?" What?

"He likes tradition," continued Jin Yeong, his face solemn all of a sudden. "He's strict when it comes to rules, and he doesn't like change." He paused to reach up a hand to touch a strand of his silver white hair. "This is my way of pissing him off."

I sighed. "I know what you mean. My papa's super protective. I had to make tons of promises before he allowed me to go here on my own."

"But he gave in."

I flashed him a smug smile. "I can be very persuasive, as you well know."

He smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "I hope I could be like that."

"Why can't you?"

"Abeoji . . ." He shook his head. "He doesn't listen. His word is law."

"That sucks."

"You know," he started, hesitating a little.

I kept quiet, refusing pry. I'd let him open up to me on his own.

I couldn't even believe that he was opening up to me already, but I was glad.

Hmm. It must be because I accidentally (I swear it was an accident) saw him half-naked earlier when he was changing in the clothing shop. He was stuck with a pin so I had to help him out. Thanks to that pin, I saw his abs.

Up. Close.

And they were godly.

Do you have any idea how much control it took for me not to spazz in front of him? It's like trying not to drool over a yummy vanilla ice cream when the weather's super hot.

Anyway, I think it formed some sorta unbreakable bond between us and made us comfortable with each other. I mean, it's not all the time you meet someone who will help you out with a pin while you're half-naked and not jump your bones.

"When I was shipped off to boarding school in the States," he continued, "I couldn't wait to get back to Seoul. I wanted to be the heir to the family business. I was very eager and proud then. It didn't make sense to me how my brother was automatically the heir just because he was born first. I badly wanted to prove myself." He swallowed and looked down. "I studied hard. And when I proved to Abeoji that I could handle the power, I was sent back to Seoul. But . . ."

He laughed humorlessly. I frowned, looking into his eyes. Behind his easy-going facade, I saw a mixture of disappointment and anger there. He masked it well.

He shrugged. "I couldn't take it, after all. The things I heard – the things I found out – the things I witnessed . . ." he trailed off, shaking his head.

My frown deepened in worry. He looked really sad. I wanted to tell him to stop, but I got the feeling that he needed to let this out instead of keeping it bottled up inside.

All I could do right now was listen.

"You have no idea," he said quietly, looking away. "If that's what it takes to keep the family business going, then I didn't want any part of it . . . But the thing is, turning my back on my family is easier said than done. In the end, I couldn't leave. They're still my blood."

"So you stayed," I stated.

He nodded, his eyes staring off to space as we walked side by side.

"I promised myself that if ever I have to do anything, I'll do it my way."

"Same outcome, but different approach," I concluded.

"Exactly."

"Your father must be frustrated." I knew mine would be.

"More so than you can imagine," he smirked. "Especially after he saw my new hair."

I wanted to make him feel better, even if it was only for a little bit.

"I bet he threw you a congratulatory party," I joked.

"With cakes and samgyeopsal, too," he added.

I laughed. Impressive. He caught on pretty quick.

"With Papa," I started, "family always comes first – as long as it doesn't interfere with the family business, then my siblings and I are good."

"I realized later on that I should be thankful that I'm not the oldest, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to handle the pressure."

"How old are you?" I asked, out of curiosity. "I'm twenty."

"Born in '96?"

I nodded.

"I'm a year older than you," he replied, looking at me weird. "You should be more polite."

I snorted at that. "Uh-huh, should I call you 'oppa' now?"

"Oh," he answered seriously.

I raised an eyebrow, then cleared my throat to humor him.

"Oppa~"

Playfully trying to be cute, I leaned my face closer the way puppies do. Yup, I was imitating a puppy. I've officially lost my mind.

Jin Yeong looked at me with a straight face, before looking away and releasing a smile.

"Gwiyeo," he mumbled.

My heart pounded so hard against my chest at that moment, it freaked me out.

Whyyyyy?

"Stop saying that," I couldn't help but say. "I might end up falling for you."

His eyes instantly found mine.

Holy mother of – What did I just say?!

I grinned quickly in an attempt to play it cool.

"Kidding!"

I forced myself to laugh, while I picked up my pace. When I was far away enough from him, I clutched my chest and took deep breaths. Why did I feel nervous all of a sudden? Weirdo.

"Chill out, Yuki," I muttered to myself, biting my lip.

Without warning, an arm went around my shoulders and a camera was in front of my face. Jin Yeong was holding up his phone in front of us.

"Don't move," he whispered.

"What are you –"

"Kimchi~"

I automatically smiled.

He was about to pull back his hand when I stopped him by holding his arm up.

"We can't not have a wacky shot," I told him, like it was the most reasonable thing ever.

"Ah, geurae?" Ah, is that so?

"Geurae."

He chuckled.

I could feel his breath tickle my ear. It sent tingles down my spine. He was so close, like that time last night. He was warm, too. He was the perfect blanket to the cold weather in Seoul.

It felt nice.

"Hana – dul – se!"

I scrunched up my face at the last second, with my eyes closed and my lips pursed. When I opened my eyes, the phone was gone and Jin Yeong was checking out the photos.

"Lemme see!" I demanded, pulling my hand out.

"Shiro," he muttered, chuckling at his phone.

I only looked at him suspiciously. When he raised his head, he grinned at me. I had to keep myself together and pretend I didn't just get blinded by his dazzling smile.

"Gaja." Let's go.

I sighed, letting it go. "Eodie?" Where?

"You'll see."

_____________

Can you guess where Jin Yeong is taking Yuki? ;)

Gotta say, I love that selfie/selcam part. Gah! Haha! How about you?