Sakura's Petals
First Kiss

THE TEMPORARY RESIDENCE OF PRINCE YUNTI

Yunti sat up straight in his room. His eyes became red from lack of sleep. One of his hands clenched on the table, while the other clasped the red flower hairpin he gave Hwa Ryong, who was left in the gama before Hwa Ryong was taken away.

“Your Majesty, it's me. Ma.” Guards

“Come in!”

Ma's bodyguards immediately bowed respectfully. “There was a man in the market who saw there was a girl dressed in noble clothes walking alone in the hallway of the city not long ago. Hearing the traits he gave me, I was pretty sure that the girl the man was referring to was Miss Hwa Ryong, Your Majesty. What should we do?”

Yunti stood up from his bed. “Prepare my horse. I'll find it myself.”

“Good, Your Highness.”

IN THE DARKNESS OF THE HALLWAY

Hwa Ryong walked with shuntai steps in the middle of the hallway of the settlement that he did not know. Sometimes he found some drunk people lying on the road he was passing. Half frightened, he passed them.

The early morning weather in autumn felt so cold on his skin. He occasionally rubbed his sleeves with his hands. His lips began to tremble with coldness.

Suddenly, his feet hit a rock and he fell. Hwa Ryong tried to stand up afterwards, but his legs sprained so he fell down again. He grimaces. He massaged his feet slowly, then leaned against the wall next to him. Then, grimacing in pain, he tried to stand up again.

But then, he felt his shoulder being patted by someone. His heart froze for a moment. Neither Yunti nor Yoon Oppa, if caught by them then all his efforts were in vain. His plan to escape and hide would fail.

The man's hand made Hwa Ryong's body turn towards him. Hwa Ryong immediately gasped when he saw that person. Oppa Yoon.

“I told you not to run away! You are stupid or have no ears, I really do not understand.” said the Crown Prince, loudly.

Hwa Ryong fell down. He grimaced and rubbed his feet. What should he do now? Running away with your legs sprained is impossible. I don't know what he could do to escape now, he's out of plans. But he knew he couldn't just give up.

“What's up? Did your leg sprain?”

Hwa Ryong shook his head firmly. He tried to stand. The Crown Prince reached out to help her, but then Hwa Ryong dismissed her, rudely. Hwa Ryong stumbled and at each step grimaced in pain, he walked away leaving the Crown Prince behind him.

“Hwa Ryong-ah! Where are you going?”

Hwa Ryong kept walking away. With small and slow footsteps, he continued to step. The Crown Prince couldn't take it anymore and immediately pulled Hwa Ryong's hand to a stop.

Hwa Ryong turned around and turned his head towards the Crown Prince. “Let me go!”

The Crown Prince sighed. “If you want to go home to your parents now, I will prepare a gama (stretcher) for you as soon as possible. Don't force yourself like this.”

Hwa Ryong removed the Crown Prince's hand from his hand, then continued his steps again. The Crown Prince immediately confronted in front of him. Hwa Ryong tried to pass through the side. But it was blocked again by the Crown Prince.

“Did Oppa not hear my words? Let me go.”

“Where do you want to go with your legs sprained so? Don't argue with me anymore and come back quickly to treat your feet.”

Hwa Ryong pushes the Crown Prince away. He resumed his steps. This time in a half-hasty manner. Her tears started to flow. And with a loud thud, he fell again to the ground. He looked down and cried.

The Crown Prince immediately ran towards him. When he found out that Hwa Ryong was crying, he hugged the girl he loved tightly. “What really happened until you were stubborn like this?”

“Please calm down and tell me one by one.”

“I was planning to leave you, but my heart seemed to break into pieces just thinking about it. And I almost went crazy trying to escape from you. Your face, your voice, even your embrace, I can't afford to lose it. Therefore, tell me what to do.”

The Crown Prince caressed Hwa Ryong's moist, gentle face. “Then, don't leave me. If you can't leave me.”

Hwa Ryong looked at the Crown Prince, dejected. “But you can die if I stay with you.”

“That will never happen, I promise. So, calm down and stay by my side.” stressed the Crown Prince.

“But..”.

“I don't know what exactly makes you like this, but I promise I won't die because of it all. So, please don't ever think of leaving me.”

“Yoon Oppa..”

“I love you and want to live with you. Death is something that is bound to happen, either tomorrow or another hundred years. Death is not something I fear. The only thing that scares me is losing you. Losing you, I can no longer live. So, stay by my side. Don't go and I'll stay alive.”

“No, I can't. I can't let Oppa in danger.”

The Crown Prince kissed Hwa Ryong on the lips. Hwa Ryong was shocked. It was his first kiss.

“You think by leaving me, then I will live? You wrong. I could have ended my life at any time. Because to me, you are my life. Be by my side, then I'll live, you understand? No matter who's after my neck, I'll try to stay alive and together in the same world as you. Spend a happy day with you, have children with you, and eventually die together when we grow old. Do you still want to end everything and my life by leaving me now?”

Hwa Ryong looked at the Crown Prince, wistfully. He returned the Crown Prince's embrace tightly. He had never thought of all of Yoon Oppa's words before. “Good. I'll stay by your side. But, promise to stay alive.”

The Crown Prince smiled. “Of course.”

Meanwhile, behind the bush, Yunti stared at the entire incident furiously. He gripped his sword tightly.

“Find out who that man is soon!” tell the Ma Guards in a slow but angry voice.

THE SHIM FAMILY RESIDENCE

“What is true I heard this? Hwa Ryong is in the Crown Prince's private royal villa?” repeat Mr. Yoon is shocked.

“Yes, Mr.” replied the bodyguard in front of him. “The Crown Prince officially reported that Miss is in the royal villa. And he asked your permission to let Miss stay there for some time.”

Mr. Yoon massaged his temple. “What should I do? It is too late to prevent it now.” his sigh. "Among all the women in Joseon, why should my son Hwa Ryong experience it?"

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" It's scary to love something that can die at any moment. "

- NN

Overview of Using Hanbok for a Present-day Wedding :