Chapter 92 - Challenge [2]

Hearing the loud sound, Oh Sookyung turned his head towards his door. His door was slammed push harshly, and as it came in contact with the wall, a loud sound was produced. 

Moon Jiwoo stomped into the room, and closing the door behind her, she approached him. Her eyes stared at him intensely the entire time.

Sookyung, who was removing his shirt at the moment, was caught by shock at her actions, and raising one of his eyebrows, he questioned, "What are you doing?"

Silently, Jiwoo gripped on to his wrist, and clutching it tightly, she pushed his back against the wall. Placing her hand on the wall, she cornered him.

The end of Sookyung's lips curved up slightly, and a twinkle appeared in his eyes as he commented, "Shin Daerin, you are really daring to do this."

"Oh Sookyung, are you an idiot?" she questioned. In that voice of hers, anger could be perceived.

"Not exactly if I am compared to you," he replied teasingly.

"Who the fuċk told you to duel just because of my sake? Did I tell you to do that? Since when did you start making such decisions? Should I beat some senses within you? I don't want you to take me into consideration! 

Oh Sookyung, I can manage myself well, so back out from that damned duel. Being impulsive doesn't suit you," Jiwoo spoke out in one breath, and her tone indicated how angry she was.

Sookyung folded his arms across his ċhėst and said, "Aren't you getting too ahead of yourself? Who said that it is because of you? Attacking from the back is quite a shameless act for a King, and even not befitting. I am just doing this to be cool. That's all. Don't overthink."

Moon Jiwoo scoffed that and retorted, "Since when did you think about being honorable or shameless? You are best when you are a calculating coward. What the hell had happened to you?"

"Calculating coward? Wow! Is that how you look at me in your heart? Any way, don't worry. Believe in me. Taking out the current king would not be a big deal to me, Shin Daerin," Sookyung stated, "I have got tricks up my sleeve. I would not go to a battle where I would die."

Raising one of her eyebrows, Jiwoo asked, "You sure?"

Oh Sookyung nodded his head.

"Then, I will believe in you. But if you nearly die in that duel, I will barge in order to rescue you. That's why, don't be scared," Jiwoo said, "But it doesn't make sense for you to do something like that for me. You are not a good person. What motive do you have behind this?"

Sookyung chuckled and spoke out, "What type of person am I inside your heart? I am just doing this is because you're too interesting to die."

Moon Jiwoo's eyes widened at his words as she stared at him with astonishment. Taking a step back, she lowered her hand— which was holding the wall previously.

Jiwoo could feel her cheeks warming up, and unable to face Sookyung that moment, she turned to look the other way. Sookyung's words managed to give birth to joy within her, and she could vaguely feel her heart increasing its beating rate.

Extending his hand towards Jiwoo, Sookyung patted the top of her head and expressed, "You are someone precious to me, and that's why, I want to protect you as much you as protected me."

Jiwoo coughed and said, "Finally you learned how to be grateful."

Dealing with such situations was difficult for Moon Jiwoo for she did not face them often, and hearing such sweet words from Sookyung did not happen regularly.

"Daerin, are you blushing right now? Your cheeks, ears, and now even your neck is red. Are you embarrassed? Touched? You're really cute now," he spoke out.

Turning her head to glare at him, she retorted, "Shut up, and get dressed! I will be leaving."

With that, Moon Jiwoo was about to walk out of the room when Sookyung grabbed on to her hand and pulled her back. His actions caught her by surprise, and as her back hit against the wall, Jiwoo stared at the man questioningly.

"Shouldn't you be returning this favour to me? I don't mind if you pay me with your body," Sookyung suggested.

"Are you looking to get beaten up? Didn't you say that you did it because I am precious to you? So stop asking for something in return," Jiwoo voiced out.

"You are really not abashed while saying that," Sookyung said, "Then let me at least take this from you."

When Jiwoo raised one of her eyebrows at his words, he moved his face closer to hers and planted his lips upon her forehead softly. At the contact, Jiwoo could feel her heart skip a beat, and her breath was stuck.

As the realization dawned upon her, Jiwoo's raised her leg and kicked the man before her at his knee on reflex. Her action caused Sookyung to stumble backwards.

"I expected that reaction," Sookyung voiced out.

"What the hell, you pervert! I thought you stopped with that!" Jiwoo exclaimed— her cheeks flushed red.

"I wanted to, but, Shin Daerin, you are cute to the point that I am unable to resist you," he said.

"Stop calling me cute! That is weird coming from you, and the next time you dare to do something like that again, King or not, I swear I will be burying you alive, Oh Sookyung," she threatened.

"As long as you can dig me back again, I am fine with it, Moon Jiwoo," he responded.

Scoffing at the man before her, Jiwoo knew that it would not be beneficial to her if she continued to argue with him, and turning her back on him, she walked out of the room after a one last glare at the man.

Before leaving the room, she said, "You should train now instead of wasting time, Oh Sookyung."

°°°

Moon Jiwoo fell back on the couch, and in her hand was a cup filled with cold coffee. Lifting the cup, she took a sip out of it, and at the bitter taste, Jiwoo smiled softly.

Her nerves were unable to cool down due to how panicked she was, and Sookyung was relatively calm. Due to that, it felt as if she was the one who was going on a duel rather than her. Maybe things would have been better if she went on a duel.

Raising her head, Jiwoo stared at Sookyung who came out of the washroom. A towel was ground his neck, and his wet hair indicated how he had taken a bath.

"Sookyung, don't you think that it would be better if I duel with the King in your place? I can wear a mask in order to conceal my identity," Jiwoo spoke out, "That actually sounds more promising."

"Should I be upset that you hold no trust in me or be happy that you are worried to the extent you are able to make such a sacrifice for me?" Sookyung raised one of his eyebrows.

"Stop with that nonsense, Oh Sookyung," she said, "I am trying to be serious now. I should actually go in your place."

"I will truly be locking you up if you do that. That will be totally absurd, and since I am a man, how can I let you fight my battles?" Sookyung stated.

"I should consider locking you up instead of you doing that, and can you stop mentioning how that has a connection to you being a man? You always did it, so at this point, it doesn't even bother me," Jiwoo said.

"If you keep this up, Shin Daerin, I will start to think that you have feelings for me," Sookyung spoke out, "You would not want that happening."

Scrunching up her nose, Jiwoo's eyes instantly showed the disgust she felt, and she expressed, "What feelings? I feel like a mother caring for her child. Can't you differentiate such emotions?"

"Are you really taking me to be your son? I don't know whether or not to be happy at that," Sookyung responded.

Walking over to Moon Jiwoo, Sookyung plopped down on the couch beside her, and raising his hand, he wrapped it around her shoulder.

"Of course you should be happy. Not anyone can be my son. You should really be grateful for me because of how well I treat you, Oh Sookyung," Jiwoo stated.

"But Shin Daerin, that's not the type of relationship I want from you. I am sure at this point, you understood what type of feelings I have towards you. Won't you be accepting them?" Sookyung voiced out.

"Please stop," Jiwoo replied, "Even if I am irresistible, it would be quite disturbing if you have such feelings towards me, and quit flirting. It is disgusting coming from you."

Sookyung chuckled at her words, and extending his hand towards her, he ruffled her hair while wearing a soft smile on his face.