A Kind Goblin's Bird

***

It felt like someone was calling her in the dark.

Young-young opened her eyes. It was a strange feeling. Why did she feel that way?

When she got up, her head went blank. Her lips were dry and her heart was pounding. How long has she not been drinking water? It seems that she drank in the morning and closed her eyes the whole time after that.

There was darkness in the room. It seemed like it was night or dawn. Thats why her throat was so parched and her lips were dry. Young-young got up. Where is the water, as she was thinking so..

Young-ah.

Young-young looked around the room as if she could hear someone calling. Someone , no, actually, the sound of Sa Heon-yeongs calling kept revolving around like a hallucination. Isnt he the only one who calls her Young-ah?

She will never see him again.

Young-young pressed her chest down with her palms. Every time she thought that they would never see each other again, her heart ached so much that it was painful to even breathe.

Her eyes were dark. How does she live? What will she do? They were only together for a few weeks and her life changed. The world turned upside down. Life without Sa Heon-young was so tedious and painful that Yeong-young wanted to die over and over again.

Young-ah..

Perhaps she was going crazy before she died. Young-young thought blankly, and she slowly opened the door.

The man standing in front of the corridor flinched and trembled violently as if he had been whipped. Young-young was surprised, too, and threw her body back.

The man was very thin. His clothes were loose and his eyes were hollow. His classical features became more delicate. Contrary to him always smiling at her, he was looking down at her with an expressionless face.

Like crazy or dreaming.

Young-young looked up blankly at Sa Heon-yeong.

However, Young-young ate a lot of herbs and knew what hallucinations were like, but hallucinations were not like this. If she thought about it, Sa Heon-young in the dream was sweeter and kinder than ever. The current man looked down with eyes as if they were about to eat her, but there was no expression on his face.

Why are you making that face?

Young-young asked.

What face should I make?

Sa Heon-young asked with a broken voice. It sounded like he was genuinely curious. If she tells him what kind of face he should make, perhaps hell really do it. The kindness was still there. Sa Heon-yeong in her dreams was just as sweet as Sa Heon-yeong in reality.

Everything is fine except for this face.

What kind of face is this face?

Unhappy face.

Sa Heon-young breathed in. He breathed in as if crying, but instead of crying, he let out an empty smile.

How can I be happy if the wifes not there?

.

Why are you so thin?

Sa Heon-yeong asked, leaning against the door frame. He looked a little tired. Its a strange dream in many ways.

Young-young looked up at Sa Heon-yeong. In her dreams, he was always strong, but today he seemed to be unable to stand.

When Young-young did not answer, Sa Heon-Young asked again.

Is Court Lady Yoons service not good enough?

Young-young shook her head.

Court Lady Yoon did a really good job. She was like a mother. When Young-young had a fever, she changed the towels, and when Young-young said that she would not eat, she comforted her with a spoonful of water. She was a better person than Young-young thought.

But why.

Sa Heon-yeong, whose words became unclear, whispered with a sigh. He doesnt know where to touch. He cant even touch her because hes afraid its going to go wrong.

Sa Heon-yeong spread his arms. Come here. He whispered. He seemed afraid. Although she thought this dream was strange in many ways because it was unlike him who was always confident, she walked into Sa Heon-yeongs arms.

It had been a while, so she hesitated for some reason. As Young-young rolled her eyes down, Sa Heon-yeong bowed back and asked, trying to make eye contact with her.

Are you in pain?

Looking at that face, Young-young suddenly wanted to talk.

She wanted to say things she wouldnt have been able to say to the real Sa Heon-yeong. But since this Sa Heon-young is the Sa Heon-young in her dreams, she can say it.

Im sorry.

Young-young raised her hand and carefully grabbed Sa Heon-yeongs collar and apologized. She was worried that he would shake it off, but he gave her his clothes altogether. Still, he didnt touch Young-youngs body.

What do you mean?

Lord Heon-young saved me.

At that, Sa Heon-young laughed. Tears welled up in his eyes.

I do ?

Hmm. You welcomed me as a bride.

Ahh. When Sa Heon-yeong answered, Young-young raised her hand and gently touched Sa Heon-yeongs cheek.