The boy places three shiny coins in Ahn's palms. Three thousand Vetos. Ahn stares at the fortune in her hand. While he had given her the initial two thousand Vetos before, she thought he wanted to kill her.

She closes her fist and pockets the coins.

The boy lifts his hands over his head and stretches. "This has been tiring." He adjusts his sword hanging on his waist. "Perhaps I have to write to you. Where should I send the letters?"

Ahn gives her the address of her house, which is used as a front. The only purpose it serves is to accommodate the letters sent to Ahn. She doesn't give people her address often, but the times she does, that's the address. Areum, Beomgyu, and Taehyun also have their own houses for the same purpose.

The four never give their real address. It is too risky.

"Don't come visit me," she tells him. If he does, her lie will collapse. "There are a lot of traps. You will die."

"I will keep that in mind," he says. "When do we meet next?"

Ahn has no place she has to visit since she killed her employer, except her girlfriend's house. "The night after tomorrow. Same place and time."

He nods. "See you then." Ahn watches him walk away. His sword is swinging from his waist. His shirt sparkles in the night.

She picks up her sword, still lying on the ground- forgotten. Ahn places it back in its case and heads out.

The moment she turns around the corner, her cheek scratches against the gravel. There is a weight on her back. Pain blooms and spreads throughout her body, making her head ache.

"Oh, no!" a very familiar voice exclaimed. "Ahn, are you okay? What are you doing here?"

Ahn's back is relieved of the weight on it. With the force Areum fell on her, she hopes she hasn't cracked a bone. "What are you doing here?" she asks through gritted teeth.

Areum helps Ahn to her feet. "I will explain everything later. But now, come with me."

Ahn let Areum lead her out of the alley and into a corner. Areum pushes Ahn against the wall and places a hand on her lips.

"Before we make out, I hope you remember I have a girlfriend," Ahn says.

Areum is hiding in the darkness beside her. "You have a girlfriend?"

"Didn't I tell you?" Ahn's brow creases. She has told someone.

"You didn't."

"I must have told Taehyun then." She shrugs. Ahn remembers telling someone, if it isn't Areum, it is Taehyun. If it was Beomgyu, he would have constantly asked if she was at Yujin's house every time she came home. He doesn't care about her whereabouts, but he loves annoying her. Ethier Ahn annoys Beomgyu, or he annoys her. Taehyun doesn't approve of their little game, but Areum finds it so entertaining she makes him sit beside her and watch.

"And when were you going to tell me?" Areum points an accusatory finger at the younger.

"I forgot I hadn't told you."

"How dare you forget me?"

"Stop fretting," Ahn says. "You are forgettable." Areum slaps her shoulder. "More urgently, who are we hiding her from?"

"San."

Ahn sucked in a sharp breath. "What did you do?"

Areum scratches the bridge of her nose. "I'm in trouble."

The loose titles on the roof shifts. Areum clutches Ahn's arm and presses herself against the wall more forcefully.

"Don't make noise," she says. Ahn barely hears her.

Ahn slows her breathing; afraid someone will hear her. She can hear her heart pounding. Why is Areum hiding from him?

Ahn loses track of time as they stand there, monitoring their breaths. The world falls into silence again. No whispers, no rustles, no footsteps. And they are still hiding in the shadows.

Areum cranes her neck towards the roof. Her irises move, trying to find a silhouette or shadow. None reflect on her cornea. Ahn is searching the street. It holds no evidence of life.

"Let's leave," Ahn whispers. The older nods.

"We are going to my front."

They can't go back home. San still is after Areum. He will not stop until he finds her and possibly kills her.

Areum is knees deep in trouble. San is incredibly loyal to his brothers. Ahn prays Areum hasn't obtruded from one of them. She can try to get Areum out of trouble, as long as San isn't chasing her because she messed with his family.

It's been a while since she has met people from the street which the army did not enter. The rampant crime makes one's stomach digest murder.

Ahn takes a step forward. No arrows pierced her skin. She takes another step. Her blood doesn't spill. Areum follows her.

San is not here. Ahn thinks. If not, he would have shot her and Areum.

San is a skilled archer. Ahn has seen him hitting goons with stones on the street where the royal men did not enter. He taught her too.

Will he remember me? Ahn remembers him, in clothes which were always too big for him, with bruised knees, and dirty hands, and his long-tangled hair, playing with her in front of their houses while their mothers were scavenging for scraps and food.

Areum and Ahn leave the street and turn towards Areum's front. They keep walking, closely examining their surroundings for any disturbance. Their hands are gripping their weapons.

"What did you do?" Ahn asks.

"A few hours ago, Beomgyu and I went to an inn. Kang Yeosang was there too. He didn't buy anything; he was sitting there for a while then the owner came and took Yeosang with him. We were done with our drinks, so I told Beomgyu to go home and followed Yeosang. I was curious. And San saw me."

"So you ran?"

"Yes."

"How long has he been following you?"

"A while, I'm not sure."

They reach Areum's front. There already is someone standing in front of the door, with an arrow knocked in its bow. San lifts his bow.

"Stay behind me," Ahn says. Her plan relies on nothing but San's memory.

"He can still see me."

"Shut up."

Ahn walks towards him and stops at a safe distance, and removes her sword.

"What are you doing?" Areum whisper-asks.

"Ensuring you don't die tonight," Ahn replies, not taking her eyes off San's. She can't let him see her distracted. Ahn refuses to die by losing in a fight. It's catty for her pride.

"I can do that myself."

"Shut up," she says. "Can we help you?" she asks San.

"Yes," he says. "If you wish to live, stop blocking your friend."

"Oh, I'm afraid we have reached our impasse already." A muscle clenches in San's jaw.

"Oh stop it," Areum says. She sidesteps in front of Ahn and walks towards San until they were at an arm's length. "Yes, I was following Yeosang. Twist it in any way you want."

"No." Ahn marches in the battlefield.

"Shut up Ahn. Do you even have a plan? Not everything is a game!"

"Then why is someone going to win and someone to lose?" Ahn mutters under her breath.

"What?" Areum asks.

"Then why is someone going to win and someone to lose?" she repeats a little louder.

"Remove your mask and speak."

Ahn knows the risk of removing her mask, but she has to do it. "Then why is someone going to win and someone to lose?"

San blinks in confusion. His alert demeanour breaks. "Ahn?" he says. "You are alive."

♡

a/n , who is san? more questions with no answers surely. 

thank you for reading, vote if you want to know who san is! 

💙