[Han Inaya's POV]
"Uff, he was asking for way too much money for that dress!"
I huffed under my breath, gripping the fabric tightly.
The shopkeeper had been stubborn, but luckily, my bargaining skills were sharper than his persistence.
A satisfied smile crept onto my lips as I tucked the dress into my bag.
I had definitely inherited this skill from my grandmother.
She's really amazing.
But sometimes... she embarrasses me to death!
I groaned, remembering the times she had drastically lowered the price right in front of the shopkeepers, causing them to look completely defeated.
I loved her, but my soul left my body whenever she haggled like that.
Shaking my head, I sighed and started walking back toward my grandmother.
I had come with her to the market today to help her.
But when I saw that clothing shop, I couldn't resist stopping for a while.
I glanced down at my outfit, frowning slightly.
I wasn't used to wearing traditional clothes.
They were beautiful there was no doubt about that but walking in them felt like a challenge.
Every few steps, I would almost trip, my balance completely thrown off by the unfamiliar fabric.
Still... they looked so elegant in their own way.
I adjusted the bag on my shoulder and turned toward my grandmother, ready to rejoin her.
That's when I saw him.
My feet halted.
Wait... is that...?
I blinked.
Jungkook.
Even from a distance, even with his back facing me, I recognized him immediately.
His broad shoulders, the way he walked with that silent authority it was unmistakable.
It was him.
For some reason, my heart jumped in my chest.
I stood there, frozen, watching him as he moved further away.
A sudden thought hit me.
I wanted to talk to him.
But... how?
What would I even say?
How do you even start a conversation with someone who saved your life?
Someone who had held you close while you trembled in fear?
My fingers curled around the strap of my bag.
I hesitated.
Would he even want to talk to me?
I bit my lip, battling the storm of thoughts swirling in my mind.
And that's when I made a mistake.
I looked up only to realize he was gone.
My heart sank.
I turned my head quickly, scanning the crowd, but it was useless. He had disappeared.
Shit.
I had missed my chance.
I didn't know when I would see him again...
But I knew one thing for sure.
I really wanted to thank him.
I hurried toward my grandmother, picking up the heavy bag of vegetables she had set down beside her.
The weight pressed against my arms, but I barely noticed it when she suddenly spoke.
"Do you know? Mr. General Jeon was here. I met him and talked to him,"
she said casually, as if it were just another ordinary conversation.
My breath hitched for a second.
Jungkook had been here?
I nodded, trying to appear calm.
"Yes... I saw him walking away."
But the truth was, my mind was still stuck on the missed opportunity. I could've talked to him.
I looked at my grandmother, waiting for her to continue.
She always had stories to tell, and I listened as she shared everything about her brief conversation with him.
As she spoke, my thoughts wandered.
He's humble...
Completely different from the strict, cold look he carries.
I had always thought of him as someone distant, unreadable, even intimidating. But hearing my grandmother describe him in such a different light made me rethink my assumptions.
Maybe... there was more to him than just his hardened exterior.
My grandmother's voice pulled me out of my thoughts.
"I got you something as well,"
she said, her eyes twinkling.
"A necklace. The crystal one same as his!"
I blinked in surprise.
"Same as his?"
She smiled and reached into her pouch, pulling out a delicate necklace.
It was beautiful.
The crystal gleamed under the soft sunlight, catching the light at different angles, making it shimmer like water.
I stared at it, mesmerized.
I reached out, letting my fingers trace over the smooth surface of the pendant.
"It's... something so different,"
I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper.
I looked at her, curiosity creeping into my tone.
"Where did you get this, Halmoni?"
She chuckled, pleased by my reaction.
"I saw an old lady,"
she began, her voice softer now, as if recalling a distant memory.
"She was about my age, maybe even older. Very frail-looking."
I listened carefully as she continued.
"I was buying some things when I noticed her sitting at the corner of the market. She was selling handmade items combs, trinkets, small accessories. But no one was buying anything from her."
A pang of sympathy hit me. I could already picture the scene the elderly woman sitting alone, her crafts ignored by the busy shoppers.
My grandmother sighed.
"I felt bad for her, so I decided to buy something. I picked up one of her pieces, and that's when she gave me these two necklaces."
I frowned slightly.
"She gave you two?"
She nodded.
"Yes. And before leaving, she said something to me... but I couldn't understand it. Her voice was faint, almost like a whisper. And then she was gone."
I looked back at the necklace in my hand, a strange feeling settling in my chest.
Who was that old woman?
And why did she give two identical necklaces one that happened to match Jungkook's?
I was still lost in thought, staring at the crystal necklace in my hand, when suddenly
Thud!
A hard shove from behind made me stumble forward, and before I could react, the weight of the vegetable bag slipped from my arms.
It hit the ground with a dull sound, spilling everything freshly bought greens, radishes, onions scattering all over the dusty path.
I barely managed to keep my balance, my heart jolting at the sudden impact.
A surge of irritation flared up inside me as I turned sharply, my eyes narrowing at the person who had bumped into me.
It was a man.
Instead of stopping or even acknowledging what had happened, he just kept walking.
What the-?!
I felt my blood boil as I called out after him, my voice sharp with anger.
"Oo! Hello!!!"
But the man barely reacted.
He glanced back for the briefest second just a flicker of movement beneath the hood of his thick black cloak.
Then, without a word, he turned away and continued walking, as if nothing had happened.
As if he hadn't just knocked into me and sent my things flying.
My jaw clenched. No apology?! Nothing?!
I glared at his retreating figure, my frustration only growing.
Who even wears a thick black cloak in this heat?!
It was broad daylight, the sun high in the sky, its warmth enough to make most people seek shade.
And yet, this man was completely covered from head to toe, his face concealed, his movements swift and deliberate.
Something about him felt... off.
But I didn't have time to dwell on it.
With an exasperated sigh, I crouched down, quickly gathering the fallen vegetables.
Dust clung to some of them, but I brushed them off, muttering under my breath.
"Why does trouble follow me everywhere? Or am I just the world's favorite target for getting pushed around?"
I shook my head in disbelief. Seriously... just my luck.
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As soon as we stepped into the house, I was the first to enter the hall, eager to put down the heavy vegetable bags and finally relax.
But the moment my eyes landed on the scene before me I froze.
There, sitting comfortably on the floor with his legs stretched out, was my dear brother, Han Eunwoo.
And in his hands?
My potato chips.
The very ones I had made for myself!
I stared in sheer disbelief as he nonchalantly popped another chip into his mouth, munching away without a single care in the world.
The crisp sound of his chewing echoed in my ears like a cruel reminder of my loss.
My precious chips.
The ones I had worked so hard to make.
The ones that did not even exist in this century!
After painstakingly recreating them with whatever ingredients I could find, my family had devoured them like wolves, leaving me barely any to enjoy.
So, being the smart person I was, I had hidden a portion away for later.
And now?
This traitor was eating them right in front of me!
My eye twitched.
"EUNWOO!!!!!!!"
My scream of pure rage shook the entire house.
Eunwoo's chewing halted mid-bite, his eyes widening as he looked at me in horror. A single, half-eaten chip slipped from his lips, landing on the floor.
He knew.
He knew he was dead.
Without wasting another second, he leapt to his feet.
And ran for his life.
"You little thief!!!"
I yelled, dropping the vegetable bags on the floor with a thud before launching myself after him.
Eunwoo dashed down the hall like a madman, dodging furniture with the agility of someone who had way too much experience running from me.
I chased after him with vengeance in my heart.
"HAN EUNWOO!!!! YOU'RE GONE!!!!!"
I could hear his panicked laughter as he picked up speed, barely dodging my hand as I reached out to grab his sleeve.
"IT WAS JUST A FEW CHIPS, CALM DOWN!!!"
he shouted over his shoulder.
"JUST A FEW CHIPS?!"
My rage doubled.
Those chips were my reward for dealing with an exhausting day! For enduring annoying strangers, pushy merchants, and a certain mysterious man who won't leave my thoughts!
And now?
Gone.
All because of him!
I lunged forward, determined to catch him
But Eunwoo was faster.
"You're too slow, Inaya!"
he taunted, a smug grin on his face.
Oh, he was enjoying this.
That only made me more determined.
"LET ME CATCH YOU AND WE'LL SEE WHO'S SLOW!"
And just like that, the once peaceful house descended into complete chaos.
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I sat there, arms tied together with Eunwoo's, both of us looking like we had been through a war.
Our hair?
A tangled mess.
If someone saw us now, they'd think we had just rolled out of a battlefield instead of our own home.
The once pristine hall was now a disaster zone.
A ceramic pot lay shattered on the floor, broken into a hundred tiny pieces a tragic casualty of our fight.
And at the center of it all?
Our grandmother.
She sat at the table, aggressively chopping vegetables with a force that made us both shiver.
Her angry glare was sharper than the knife she held, and we did not dare to speak until she did.
"Look at you two!"
she huffed, slicing through a carrot with enough strength to split a boulder.
"Fighting like wild animals over something as small as potato chips! You should be ashamed!"
We gulped.
"But Halmoni, it was just-"
"Silence!"
We instantly shut up.
Our grandmother was not someone to argue with when she was mad.
She had years of experience dealing with stubborn children and even more experience punishing them.
Which is why she had come up with the most humiliating punishment possible.
"Since you two love fighting so much, you can spend the rest of the day tied together. Maybe then you'll learn how to get along!"
And that's how we ended up sitting on the floor, hands bound together with a thick cloth, forced to endure each other's presence.
Eunwoo groaned dramatically, slumping against the chair.
"It was just chips!"
That sentence alone made my blood boil.
"It was my hard work!"
I snapped, turning to glare at him.
"You-...you monkey!!"
Eunwoo's head snapped up.
His jaw dropped.
"Monkey?!! MONKEY!??"
he repeated, looking deeply offended.
"Then you're a witch! A big, scary witch!"
My eyes widened in outrage.
"What did you just say?!!"
I screeched, my entire body vibrating with fury.
"Do I look like a witch to you?! Huh?!?"
He smirked.
"Yes! You are a witch! A big witch!"
That was it.
The last shred of patience I had snapped.
"YOU LITTLE--"
With my free hand, I immediately lunged forward, grabbing his hair.
Eunwoo yelped.
"OW! LET GO!"
But instead of backing down, he did the same.
His free hand shot up and grabbed my hair too.
Now we were both locked in battle, pulling at each other's hair like two wild animals.
"YOU STARTED IT!"
I yelled, yanking at his messy locks.
"NO, YOU STARTED IT!!"
he shouted back, tugging at mine.
"YOU'RE SUCH A PAIN!"
"YOU'RE A BIGGER PAIN!"
"MONKEY!!"
"WITCH!!"
Grandmother sighed loudly, clearly regretting every life decision that led her to raising us.
"At this rate, I should just tie your mouths shut too!"
she muttered.
But we were too busy trying to kill each other to even hear her.
We were still at each other's throats, yanking at each other's hair, when-
THUD!
The sound of our grandmother's knife slamming down on the cutting board echoed through the room.
Both Eunwoo and I froze on the spot.
Our hands, still tangled in each other's hair, slowly loosened as we turned our heads in unison.
Grandmother was staring right at us.
Her sharp glare was enough to send shivers down our spines.
At that moment, we weren't fierce warriors anymore.
Nope.
We were nothing but two helpless kittens caught in the wrath of a mighty tiger.
Eunwoo gulped. I gulped.
And just like that..silence.
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[At night time]
Lying in bed, I stared at the ceiling, arms folded behind my head.
The morning's events replayed in my mind, making me let out a small, amused sigh.
Thinking back, it was kind of funny how Eunwoo and I had fought like wild animals over a bowl of chips.
But at the same time....ugh!
It was also so frustrating!
Grandmother had eventually untied us in the afternoon when she needed Eunwoo's help with something.
And let me tell you ....I was beyond relieved!
I mean, seriously! He loves troubling me!
It's like his favorite hobby!
In my time, I never had siblings. I was an only child.
But here? In the past?
Oh my god I feel like I'm going to lose my mind!
I groaned and rolled my eyes, shifting slightly on the bed.
Then, I let out a long sigh.
So much has changed.
It had already been three months since I time-traveled to this world.
And still...
I hadn't found Yoongi.
I didn't know where he was.
I didn't know if he was okay.
And it worried me...a lot.
I missed him.
I wanted to find him.
My chest felt heavy with the thought, and I closed my eyes, another sigh escaping my lips.
That's when suddenly my thoughts shifted.
To Jungkook.
I wanted to thank him.
But for some reason, I just couldn't.
It wasn't that I didn't appreciate what he did it was just...
I was too nervous to face him.
It felt a bit awkward, too.
Aish! Why am I like this?!
I groaned again, rubbing my forehead in frustration.
I really, really wanted to thank him.
As I was lost in thought, an idea suddenly popped into my mind.
How about I write him a letter?!
My eyes snapped open.
Yes! That's it!
If I write a letter, I won't have to face him directly.
I can just send it to him!
This is perfect!
Excitement surged through me as I immediately sat up in bed.
"Yes!"
I whispered to myself, nodding.
This was a great idea.
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[Late Night ]
What the hell!!!
I groaned in frustration and crumbled another piece of paper into a tight ball before angrily throwing it across the room.
The small mountain of failed attempts was piling up around me.
Seriously why is writing a simple thank-you letter so hard?!
I ran a hand through my hair and let out an exasperated sigh.
"Wow. Great. I can't even write a basic letter."
I flopped back onto the bed, staring at the ceiling with a look of pure defeat.
Then, I dramatically threw my hands in the air.
"Please, God! Just take me away with you!!! I am done with myself!!!"
This was absolute torture!
For the past two hours, I had been sitting here, desperately trying to figure out what to write.
How should I start?
How should I express my words?
Would it be too formal?
Too casual?
Ugh! It's so frustrating!!!
I checked the small candle flickering beside me, the only source of light in my room.
It was almost burned out.
I blinked at it in disbelief.
Wait...
I turned my head slightly to glance at the small clock on the wooden table.
3 AM?!
I was still awake at 3 AM because of a stupid letter?!
I groaned even louder, grabbing a pillow and shoving my face into it.
But no!
I couldn't give up now.
I refused to stop until I was satisfied!
I sat up again, determination burning in my eyes.
"One last try!"
I muttered to myself.
With a deep breath, I grabbed another piece of paper, dipped my quill into the ink, and started writing again.
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[A Few Hours Later...]
My hand was cramping.
My eyes felt heavy.
And my brain?
Completely fried.
But...
I finally finished it.
I stared at the neatly written letter in front of me, my lips curling into a small, tired smile.
It was perfect.
I set the quill down and let out a long, relieved sigh.
Then, without a second thought, I threw myself onto the bed.
I was too exhausted to even move.
My body sank into the mattress, and I let my eyelids flutter shut.
Sleep took over within seconds.
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The morning sun was already high in the sky when I finally opened my eyes.
Oh no.
I woke up late again.
With a groggy sigh, I quickly got up, freshened up, and made my way to the hall.
As soon as I stepped inside, I saw my grandmother arranging the table while Eunwoo was helping her.
He glanced at me, and just to annoy me, he stuck his tongue out.
I rolled my eyes at him, choosing to ignore his childish antics.
My grandparents simply laughed at our silent bickering and shook their heads in disbelief.
"You woke up a bit late today..."
Grandmother remarked, giving me a knowing look as we all sat down to eat breakfast.
Then, her gaze narrowed slightly.
"...And you... didn't sleep last night, did you?"
I stiffened.
Oh no.
I nodded hesitantly before answering.
"I just had some work... to complete. So, yeah... that's it."
I forced out the words, hoping she wouldn't question me further.
Grandma gave me a long, suspicious look before finally letting out a small sigh and dropping the matter.
I quickly stuffed food into my mouth, avoiding her gaze.
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Once we were all done eating, we went about our usual tasks.
Grandpa headed to the garden to water the plants.
Eunwoo and I followed Grandma to help with preparing medicines.
I wish I could say it went smoothly.
But oh no.
I received more scoldings than instructions.
I mean of course I was making mistakes!
I am NOT a medical student!!!
I don't even know the first alphabet of medicine!
I am a law student from the 21st century, for God's sake!
How am I supposed to know about these herbs and ancient remedies?!
Not to mention....16th-century medicine?!
I sighed internally, trying my best to concentrate.
But my best was clearly not enough.
Because moments later
"Inaya! What happened to you?!"
I flinched as Grandma's voice rang through the room.
Her face was filled with clear disappointment.
"I have been telling you that you are making so many mistakes! I asked you to give me balloon flower root, but you handed me ephedra instead!"
Oh.
Oops.
I felt my stomach drop.
"A-actually... I-I..."
How do I explain this?!
I can't exactly say:
"Oh, sorry, Grandma! I'm actually not your granddaughter, just a 21st century girl who time-traveled here by accident!"
That would sound insane.
So instead, I panicked and blurted out the first excuse that came to mind.
"I... I don't remember actually! Maybe because of the weakness from when I fainted?"
I internally cringed.
That sounded so lame.
But it was the only excuse I had.
Grandma sighed, her brows furrowing deeper.
"I'm trying to teach you, Inaya... but you don't even know the basics.
Her voice was laced with concern rather than anger now.
"There's a lot of change in you lately... You fight with Eunwoo all the time, you always want to go out, you walk strangely and keep tripping over your dress..."
She shook her head.
"You used to be such a calm and obedient girl. But now... all I see is chaos. You keep getting yourself into trouble."
My heart pounded.
She was noticing too much.
I immediately panicked and tried to reassure her.
"It's nothing, Halmoni! Seriously, nothing!!"
I forced a nervous smile.
"I just... I just need more time to get used to everything again, yeah? Yeah?"
I desperately tried to convince her.
Hoping praying that she wouldn't push further.
As soon as my grandmother left after Grandpa called her, I let out a sigh of relief.
But then Eunwoo.
That little devil.
He was sitting there, silently laughing at me, trying his best to hold it in.
My face twitched in irritation.
I turned to him and mouthed sharply,
"Shut up!"
But of course, he just smirked, enjoying my misery.
I decided to ignore him and got up, walking towards my grandparents.
They were discussing something seriously, and from the looks of it, my grandfather was preparing to go somewhere.
I stood there for a moment, observing, when suddenly
Wait.
Wait a minute!!!
The letter.
The thank you letter I wrote for Jungkook!
How the hell am I going to deliver it to him?!
This isn't the 21st century where I can just call a postman and have it delivered!!
HOW COULD I FORGET SOMETHING SO IMPORTANT?!
I mentally slapped my forehead, panicking inside.
I was still trying to think of a way when
I suddenly overheard my grandfather's words.
"I am going to visit the headquarters."
He said it so casually, but my entire body froze.
I whispered to myself.
"Headquarters?... That means... will he be there? Yes! He will be there!!"
Jungkook.
I felt a sudden rush of excitement.
This was my chance.
I somehow NEED to go with Grandpa!
My grandfather suddenly coughed, his voice a bit hoarse from the cold.
My eyes immediately sparkled.
This is it! This is my excuse!
Without hesitation, I stepped forward and spoke in an innocent voice.
"Grandpa... where are you going?"
I pretended as if I hadn't heard anything earlier.
He turned to me and responded, clearing his throat.
"Oh, I am visiting the headquarters, Inaya."
His words confirmed it.
He coughed again.
I quickly grabbed onto this opportunity.
I furrowed my brows, tilting my head in concern.
"But Grandpa... you don't look fine. Are you sure you should be going out in this condition?"
I asked, my voice laced with worry.
But he immediately dismissed it.
"No, no! I am totally fine. I can go by myself."
He coughed again.
But I wasn't giving up.
I bit my lip, thinking fast, and spoke again.
"Perhaps... I can come with you?"
I tried to sound as casual as possible.
"I mean... I can accompany you. You know... as support?"
I blinked up at him innocently.
But Grandpa didn't seem convinced.
"But I am fine," he hesitated.
"It's just a cough. My body is still strong enough to walk by myself."
He said it in a way that made me narrow my eyes.
It almost felt like he didn't want me to go to the headquarters with him.
Something was strange.
I noticed the way he briefly glanced at Grandma, as if exchanging some silent message with her.
And then he looked back at me.
I wasn't going to let this slip away.
I quickly stepped forward, grabbing his hand gently.
"Please, please!"
I pouted, tugging on his sleeve like a little child.
"I really want to go with you, Grandpa! I want to spend time with you alone!"
I blinked up at him with the biggest, most innocent doe eyes I could muster.
"You know... grandfather and granddaughter bonding time?"
I tilted my head, acting extra sweet.
"Pleaseeee?"
I was practically begging now.
Grandpa sighed deeply, looking at Grandma once again.
His hesitation was clear.
But I wasn't giving up.
I had to go.
This was my only chance to see Jungkook.
"...Okay... but only if you're with me every time!"
Grandpa finally agreed.
My eyes widened in excitement. I wanted to jump in happiness, but I quickly composed myself, nodding at him as if I weren't about to burst with joy.
Yes!!
I had won this round.
Before we left, I hurried to my room, grabbed the letter I had written for Jungkook, and carefully tucked it into the waistband of my dress, making sure it was well hidden.
When I came back, Grandpa was already waiting at the door.
Just as we were stepping out, I heard Eunwoo's voice from behind.
"She's going crazy... we should leave her in the forest."
I paused.
I turned around slowly and glared at him.
"I can hear your voice!"
I snapped, making him immediately zip up his mouth.
Grandpa chuckled at our usual bickering before we both climbed into the carriage and set off for the headquarters.
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The ride wasn't too long, but my mind was restless.
Would Jungkook be here?
What if I don't find him?
What if Grandpa doesn't leave me alone for even a second?
I clutched the letter in my waistband, nervously tapping my fingers on my lap as the carriage moved.
Soon, we reached the headquarters.
As we arrived, Grandpa showed something to the guards, and they immediately let us in.
I stepped out of the carriage and
Wow...
I was mesmerized.
The place was huge.
Tall stone walls, long corridors, and soldiers walking around with serious expressions.
It looked majestic and disciplined, nothing like the chaotic world I came from.
I swallowed, feeling a mix of nervousness and excitement.
Will Jungkook be here?
I hope he is...
It had been an hour.
Grandpa had been talking to someone at a distance, his expressions serious.
I sat patiently at first, but my curiosity kept growing.
Finally, he came back to me.
"See, dear... I need to have a talk. I'll be back in a few minutes. Sit here and don't go anywhere, okay?"
His voice was gentle yet firm, like a parent teaching a child not to fall into a trap of candies.
Well.....he's not wrong.
I do always get myself into trouble.
It's almost like I'm Dora the Explorer, except instead of backpacks and maps, I have annoying men and ancient kingdoms.
I nodded obediently.
Grandpa gave me a small smile before turning around and walking away with the soldier.
As soon as he disappeared from my sight, I looked around.
The headquarters was huge.
Soldiers were moving around, carrying things, talking in low voices, and marching with strict discipline.
I turned my head in the direction Grandpa had gone.
Then, I turned in the opposite direction.
"This is my chance..."
I whispered to myself.
"He has to be here. Maybe there's nothing wrong in trying to find him... all I need to do is find him, slap the letter on him, and"
Wait, wait not slap the letter.
"I just need to give him the letter, say a quick 'thank you,' and come back immediately. That's it!!"
I took a deep breath.
I slowly stood up, glancing around one last time before entering one of the long corridors.
As I walked forward, I noticed a few soldiers passing by.
They seemed surprised to see me.
I coughed lightly and pretended to act normal.
"Excuse me,"
I said, keeping my voice polite.
"Where is Mr. General's cabin?"
The soldiers exchanged looks before one of them pointed down the corridor.
I nodded quickly and hurried in that direction.
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Why the hell does each corridor look the same?!
I groaned in frustration, feeling like I was going in circles.
I needed to be fast!
If Grandpa comes back and doesn't find me I'm dead.
I started walking faster, my heart pounding.
The corridor was empty now.
Taking a deep breath, I reached for the letter in my waistband, pulling it out.
Just as I looked down to check if it was properly folded
BAM!
I crashed straight into something hard.
My whole body jerked back, and before I could even process what happened
We both fell.
Hard.
The impact knocked the breath out of me, and I landed directly on top of the person.
A deep groan escaped from underneath me.
I gasped.
I recognized that voice.
Jungkook.
OH. SHIT.
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