Teleportation still made my brain feel dizzy, but at least, this time, I didn't fall flat on my face. Just wobbled a bit and clutched Uncle Kone's robe before I embarrassed myself.
"We're back?" I blinked, looking around the familiar street with its noisy cars, greasy air, and bright beautiful lights. Earth
"Yes, imp," Uncle Kone said, grinning. "Welcome back to the land of the mortals."
I took a deep breath, right here, there are no guards, no politics, no Liva. And most importantly… no criticism, I could be myself here
We turned a corner, and there it was, Mr. Joon's restaurant. The neon signs flickered even when there was no need for it. The restaurant filled us with the scent of human food that smelt amazing
I didn't even wait for Kone to open the door. I ran in like I owned the place, arms wide. "MR. JOON! YOUR PRINCESS HAS ARRIVED!"
The man behind the counter didn't even flinch. He just wiped his hands on a towel, looked at me with his usual smile and said, "Oh no."
"Oh, hush," I said, jumping into one of the booths by the window. "You missed me and you know it."
"I missed the peace and quiet," he grumbled, but I caught the ghost of a smile on his lips. "Kone, You brought her again?
"She's hungry," Uncle Kone said simply, sliding into the seat across from me.
"HUNGRY is an understatement," I said, placing both hands dramatically over my belly. "Starved. Betrayed. Emotionally drained. And neglected."
Mr. Joon shook his head and Chuckled "Drama Queen, Do you want to talk about it" He asked
"You won't Understand the depth of it" I whispered solemnly.
"Ah, say no more child" He turned and walked off to the kitchen. "Coming right up, I know just the thing you need."
He came back a few minutes later with a big hot bowl, something he called "tteokbokki"
"Oh, it looks beautiful ," I whispered, picking up my chopsticks like a warrior going to battle.
"Slow down this time," Mr. Joon warned. "This is actually Spicy"
"First of all," I said between bites, " You are Overreacting, and Secondly it's not my fault, that your cooking taste so good"
And He just chuckled, shakes his head and left
I returned back to my food, and I would say it was perfect. Just the right amount of spice, chewy texture, and heat and it made me forget about all the drama back home, what would mother do if she knew i wasn't in my room right now and on Earth, i bet she would go crazy
"Imp" Uncle Kone said disrupting my thoughts
"Yes"
"Better?" Uncle Kone asked after I downed the last rice cake.
I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand, even though I knew that would earn me a glare from Riona if she were here. "Yes."
He smiled, but I noticed how his eyes were distracted, kept flicking toward the counter where a woman in a lab coat had just walked in. She was the same doctor we saw last time, I actually took a good look at her, She was tall and really pretty, She smiled at Uncle Kone, and he stood to meet her halfway
"This one is gone" I muttered, sipping my water.
He didn't even hear me. I watched as he leaned close to talk to her, her name tag read Li Jun.
Well, since he was clearly distracted with googly eyes and soft chuckles, I figured I had a moment to slip away.
So as quiet as I could I slipped away, okay, not really, I bumped into a chair, I walked out and then went to the hospital, i kind of figured out it wasn't so far from Mr Joon"s restaurant, I entered, and although it was technically illegal to be snooping around, but I was curious about that boy
The hallway was quieter than I expected. I peeked around corners
My heart did a weird flip. Was he still here?, Was he okay
I pushed the door open slowly and peeked in.
And there he was.
Sitting up and Reading a scroll
Reading.
My jaw dropped slightly.
His hair was tousled, but his posture was alert. Like he was focused on understanding every word on it.
He was alive, Because of me?
I didn't say anything at first. Just watched him from the doorway, half afraid that if I spoke, he'd vanish
"Hey." I said
He jumped so hard the book fell from his hand.
His eyes locked on mine and went wide. Like I was a ghost.
"You," he said, voice hoarse.