When Shin Ye Hwa heard that Baek Woo Jin had gone to watch Jegal Yeon Ji’s match instead of hers,
She returned to the dormitory, embraced emotions that had plummeted to their lowest point, and soaked her pillow with tears.
She didn’t know if it was because her childhood friend, who had been like a part of her all her life, prioritized someone else over her or if there was another entirely different reason.
At the time, she couldn’t understand why she was so sad or why she cried so much.
After crying her heart out, she felt a little better inside, but she still didn’t know what those emotions filling her heart were.
If anything, they had only grown more complicated.
The next day, when she faced Baek Woo Jin and Baek Moo Hyeok, she felt so uncomfortable that she hurriedly fled the scene.
However, her aimless escape didn’t last long.
Baek Moo Hyeok caught hold of her as she was about to rush away after her match.
“O-Orabeoni (Big Brother).”
When their eyes met and she saw Baek Moo Hyeok’s usual gentle smile directed at her, she felt as if she had done something wrong and lowered her head.
Baek Moo Hyeok led her to a secluded spot where there were few people.
As they walked slowly, he asked Shin Ye Hwa,
“You did well in today’s match.”
The skills she displayed in the round of 64 were exceptional. It was surprising to see how much she had grown over the years, especially considering how she used to cry like a little child.
“Th-Thank you.”
Shin Ye Hwa barely managed to respond in a small and timid voice with her head deeply bowed.
Baek Moo Hyeok who was worried that she might run away finally released the wrist he had been holding tightly.
“It reminded me of old times.”
“Old times…?”
Curious, she lifted her head slightly and asked.
“Do you remember when you came to me, begging to be taught martial arts?”
“What…? I, I did that?”
She looked completely puzzled. She couldn’t recall such a memory.
But Baek Moo Hyeok remembered it clearly. A young child, with tears welling up in her eyes, had stormed into the training ground and stubbornly demanded to be taught martial arts.
“D-Did I really do that?”
Her mind was in turmoil, especially since she knew Baek Moo Hyeok wasn’t someone who would lie.
“When I asked why you wanted to learn martial arts, your answer struck a chord with me. That’s why I remember it so well.”
“…What did I say?”
As if he was recalling a distant memory, Baek Moo Hyeok looked up at the moon hanging in the sky.
“You said you wanted to protect Woo Jin.”
At that time, Baek Woo Jin had been the black sheep of the family.
Those who had once placed their selfish hopes on him only to grow weary and abandon him eventually returned as enemies; they were subtly hounding and disregarding that young child. At that time, Baek Moo Hyeok was still too young and he still struggled to fully assert his authority as the Young Lord.
Shin Ye Hwa, who had always been by Baek Woo Jin’s side as if they were one, must have witnessed countless times the pain that fragile child endured.
“You also said you wanted to punish those who looked down on Woo Jin.”
“Ah…!”
Shin Ye Hwa’s face flushed bright red.
Her memory began to return in faint fragments.
At that time, Baek Woo Jin had been like a delicate porcelain. He was easily wounded by the careless words of passing adults, and those wounds left scars that never fully healed.
Just as cracks began to form on the surface of porcelain, Baek Woo Jin gradually lost his strength and his heart bore more and more of those scars. It was around this time that she made a decision.
She would protect Baek Woo Jin herself.
That’s right, I remember now.
Her memory became a little more clear.
At first, she had clung to her father and begged him to teach her martial arts so she could protect Baek Woo Jin. But he refused, saying that it was too much for a girl to learn the family’s martial arts.
The next person she turned to was Baek Moo Hyeok. When she cried and pleaded with him to teach her martial arts, though he was troubled, he eventually started to teach her the basics.
While watching her punch with her tiny hands and lift her leg to kick, Baek Moo Hyeok made a decision.
“From that moment on, I decided to consider you as my younger sister, just like Woo Jin.”
“Orabeoni…”
When he thought he was the only one who cared for his younger brother, another ally appeared. From that moment on, Baek Moo Hyeok decided to regard Shin Ye Hwa as a younger sister, just like Baek Woo Jin.
“Are you confused?”
Baek Moo Hyeok gently asked as if he could see right through her heart, and Shin Ye Hwa nodded her head with tears welling up in her eyes just like back then.
“Yes…”
She couldn’t figure out where her heart was headed or what it truly desired.
“There’s a saying. Don’t lose sight of what’s precious just because it’s always there.”
People often forget the value of things they take for granted—the delicious home-cooked meals their mother made, old friends and lovers, and the items they use daily.
Because they assume these things will always be there, they fail to appreciate them until they’re gone, and only then do they realize that those were the most precious to them.
“To me, it seems like that’s the kind of relationship you and Woo Jin have.”
They took each other’s company so much for granted that they didn’t even think about the feelings involved, and the time they spent together became poisonous.
“Don’t be confused. Ye Hwa, the feelings you have for me aren’t as deep as you think.”
Shin Ye Hwa burst into tears at Baek Moo Hyeok’s firm voice.
As she listened to his words, it became harder for her to deny that her emotions weren’t what she thought they were. Gradually, the tangled feelings within her began to unravel.
“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry…!”
She felt as if she had done something terrible, and tears streamed down her face without end.
Baek Moo Hyeok handed her a handkerchief.
After she wiped her face with the handkerchief, she spoke in a voice still tinged with tears.
“But I… hic… I don’t know what to do…”
“Is it because of Yoo Hwa Yeon?”
“Yes…”
Shin Ye Hwa finally admitted it.
The person she truly loved was Baek Woo Jin.
However, despite her feelings, Baek Woo Jin already had Yoo Hwa Yeon as his fiancée.
She worried if there was any place for her to step in between them.
Baek Moo Hyeok gently patted her shoulder as if to soothe her concerns.
“That’s not something you need to worry about.”
“What…? What do you mean by that…?”
Shin Ye Hwa asked back with a bewildered expression on her face.
“It seems like the two decided to break off their engagement.”
Shin Ye Hwa was about to ask why but then closed her mouth.
Thinking back on everything, it was strange. The two of them who had been together from the moment they left the dormitory in the morning until the moment they went back…. Now, she couldn’t even recall the last time the two of them had been in the same place together
“I don’t know the reason. But isn’t one thing clear?”
—That you’ve been given a chance.
When Baek Moo Hyeok said so with a smile on his face, Shin Ye Hwa’s face which had somewhat calmed down suddenly turned bright red, like heated iron.
“You’ve realized your feelings late, so you must act as quickly as possible.”
“Bu-But… I’m not ready yet…”
When Shin Ye Hwa hesitated, Baek Moo Hyeok heightened her sense of urgency.
“Have you forgotten who Woo Jin has been getting close to lately?”
With just that one comment, it immediately downed on her.
Jegal Yeon Ji who had been spending more time with Baek Woo Jin than his childhood friend.
That deceitful woman.
She acted so innocent when she was with Baek Woo Jin, but as soon as she was in front of Shin Ye Hwa, her demeanor changed completely.
She was clearly after Baek Woo Jin and she wasn’t even subtle about it.
I won’t let that happen.
She didn’t want to lose him anymore. She didn’t want to be left behind.
After taking Baek Moo Hyeok’s advice to heart, Shin Ye Hwa returned to the dormitory and spent the entire night in thought. Finally, she made up her mind.
On the martial arts stage where neither she nor Baek Woo Jin could run or back down, she would confess her feelings.
***
Under the blazing sunlight.
Amidst a crowd of onlookers, Baek Woo Jin and Shin Ye Hwa appeared on the stage.
“Young master Baek! Stay strong!”
“Win this!”
“Shin Ye Hwa! Shin Ye Hwa! Shin Ye Hwa!”
“Fight to the death, young lady!”
The cheers split between male and female supporters, creating a sharp division.
However, the two people who had caused this division seemed to be in a world of their own. They were gazing only at each other.
Baek Woo Jin, whose cheeks and nose had turned slightly red, likely from drinking again, was looking at her with a sullen gaze as if he was not in a good mood.
She thought she knew why. For the past two days, she had kept her distance from him and kept glaring at him only to quickly avert her eyes and escape the scene as if fleeing.
She pressed her trembling lips together.
“Woo Jin-ah.”
Her soft voice reached Baek Woo Jin’s ears.
“What?”
A voice tinged with discontent came in response.
“Do you remember the reason I first started learning martial arts?”
Baek Woo Jin furrowed his brow. He thought for a moment before answering.
“Because of me.”
Though to be precise, it was because of “Baek Woo Jin”, not himself.
“You remember….”
He remembered a past that even she hadn’t remembered until she heard it from Baek Moo Hyeok.
The realization filled her with such joy that she almost burst into laughter.
“I have a lot I want to say to you.”
But I’m too embarrassed, and in this state, I can’t bring myself to speak.
So.
“Why don’t we have a conversation by clashing with all our strength?”
So that I can speak my true feelings without any hesitation.
As she said this, Shin Ye Hwa pointed her sharp crescent sword at Baek Woo Jin.
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