Page 39 of Gumiho Kiss
She stepped into the trees’ shade, then hesitated, her careless words coming back to bite her.The last time she’d been here, she’d lost her bead at the hands of a goblin.Maybe venturing into the woods again wasn’t the best idea.
Mr.Park strolled past and called over his shoulder, “Not frightened, are you?”
Chin Sun glared daggers at the back of his head before hurrying to catch up.“Just trying to remember which way to go.There’s an old path here somewhere....”She scanned the area, eyes homing in on a spot where the undergrowth wasn’t as thick.“Ah, there it is.”
She motioned for him to follow, and soon they found themselves in a clearing, completely hidden from the forest’s entrance.The space seemed smaller than she remembered, but perhaps that was simply because she was an adult now instead of a child.Still, it should suit her purposes.
“Here we are.What do you think?”
The bodyguard cast his gaze about the perimeter, but the only other creatures around were a few magpies and pheasants watching from the tree line.Hardly worth noticing in human form, and since Chin Sun’s fox form was inaccessible, it was better not to dwell on meals she couldn’t have.
Mr.Park grabbed the sword he’d strapped to his back and gave it to her.A hwando that had seen many battles, judging by the cracks along the blade.It was more curved and not as comfortable in her grip as her own, but it would do.Still ...
“This sword looks like it’s taken quite a beating in your care.You should get it replaced.”
The bodyguard didn’t answer and instead took a few steps back before unsheathing his second sword, which hung from his waist.He held it parallel to the ground, gaze never leaving hers.The curiosity she’d glimpsed a flicker of when they’d first met had returned, but this time, it burned brightly in his eyes.
“First, I want to know how much training you’ve already had,” he said.“You’re obviously comfortable with a blade.”
Chin Sun faltered, nearly dropping the sword before she steadied herself.Maybe sheshoulddrop it.Or would that seem even more suspicious?
“Wh-what makes you say that?”She fumbled again, trying to look like she had no idea what she was doing.
Mr.Park raised his eyebrows.
She sighed, giving up the act.“Yeh, I admit it.When I was young, Kim Min Joon taught me how to fight.This”—she gestured around the clearing—“was our place.”
“Kim Min ...you mean that inspector?”There was a hardness in his voice that hadn’t been there before, as if he disapproved.Hehadbeen rather rude to Min Joon earlier, though she couldn’t think of why he would dislike her childhood friend.
“Yeh, the inspector,” she replied.“I know it’s not something he should have done, but I begged him to.I ...I just wanted to be able to defend myself.”
Mr.Park didn’t respond and instead lifted his sword.He nodded for her to do the same, so she made a weak attempt to block him when he swung his hwando toward her.
He knocked the sword out of her hand.She glowered at him like she was offended, but he just gave her an innocent look and gestured for her to retrieve it.
She picked up the sword and attacked again, this time with a little more speed than before.Mr.Park parried, then stepped back and lowered his sword.He let out a small sigh that almost sounded disappointed.
What was that about?
She almost called him out for it, but before she could, he asked, “Defend yourself from whom?”
“What?”
“You said you begged Inspector Kim to teach you how to fight so you could defend yourself.”
“Oh.”Chin Sun swallowed.“From ...the other children.”She kept her tone completely flat, as if she were recounting someone else’s history rather than her own.It was better that way.If she kept her distance from it, it couldn’t hurt her anymore.
“Of course your parents didn’t want you.Why would they?”“You’re nothing special.Your aunt and uncle must be so disappointed.”“I bet your parents wanted a boy, so they got rid of you.”
The taunts had started as early as she could remember.The hitting and shoving soon after that.Always when Aunt wasn’t looking, and once Sang Mi was walking, that happened more and more.Not that Chin Sun blamed Aunt.She couldn’t have kept an eye on Chin Sun every second they were out in public; she’d had to take care of the whole household, not just her orphaned niece.
Mr.Park’s expression softened.“Because you didn’t have parents?”
Chin Sun looked away.“Does it matter?Min Joon helped me for as long as he could.Once my uncle found out what we were doing, he told Min Joon’s parents and they moved to the other side of the city to keep us apart.”
Her cheeks tinged.She hadn’t intended for it to sound so dramatic.Like childhood sweethearts separated, only for fate to bring them together again years later.
“I didn’t mean it like that.Our relationship never went beyond friendship, I assure you.Min Joon is only?—”
