| These New and Old Encounters (Part 2)

Soo-Ah was still looking in the direction Jung-In disappeared, reminiscing about the times they use to wake up together, run together, and play together. All these years since she last saw or heard of him, she did wonder from time to time what fate bestowed on the wild boy who made her early years so filled with life and laughter. She could hardly remember the trouble he caused her. Such childish troubles those were.

Today, the young man who spun her in his arms without a care in the world seemed to be taken from another storybook altogether. He stood tall, chest wide and muscular arms, measuring almost two heads over her. His honest amber eyes were the only thing that shook the dust from her memories. Except their shape had changed, becoming slick and seductive. His jaw was beautifully chiselled, and his lips teased for a kiss.

Wait. Why did she think that?

*

After his commander left the tent General Sung-Ho had to make an effort to regain Soo-Ah's attention, but the woman ignored him completely. He cleared his voice in the end. "As I mentioned, Commander Jung-In is my trusted officer but also a very capable fighter. He is pretty much the hero of our company. I would reassure you of his moral integrity but since you already know him, I see no need." He came out from behind his desk. "I did want to give you something that might prove useful on the journey ahead," and he took out an ornate but deadly short sword from the chest he had placed on the side.

"I saw you can handle a blade," he continued, approaching her, a gentle air about him. "You never know when it will be useful. Having my commander with you should be enough, but sometimes heroes need saving too," said Sung-Ho, offering her the kodachi with both hands, as a show of respect, while his face could only offer a sad smile.

Soo-Ah was surprised by his gift but above all, by the manner in which he offered it, with such pomp. It was a token of his faith in her abilities and it pleased her. "Thank you for the gift… Sung-Ho," she peeked at him from under her lashes and mused a smile, feeling her cheeks turn rosy. "It looks brand new. I hope I will leave it unbaptized but if fate wills it so I will make sure to be the one to tell the tale."

"The great Min-Jun taught you well, I see; you do know your way around with words when you want to. If you are indeed as sharp at wielding the blade, I have no reason to worry." Placing his hand inside the poked tucked away under his tunic, he took out an folded and sealed piece of paper. "I have written a letter detailing your situation, but you will have to deliver it when you arrive at my home. It is addressed to the mistress of the house."

"For the mistress of the house..." Soo-Ah mouthed the words and stared at the letter with the red seal, as realisation sunk in. Of course, how could such a man not have a consort, even if he abstained from mentioning her? She felt her heart crunch, unaware yet of the reason lying behind.

Since she came to see him this morning, after being formally summoned by his aid, Soo-Ah felt she had been purposefully placed behind a wall. Especially with him sitting with pomp behind his desk. The couple of words they exchange at first were filled with etiquette and distance, so unlike the heated moments they had shared just a couple of hours prior and Soo-Ah ached. All through the night the thought of him made her insides tickle and filled her with glee and warmth. But she smothered the feeling remembering how he had put her in her place afterwards.

And now this distance between them. And a wife. She ached everywhere. It was clear that she was unmistakably bewitched by this man and it did her no good to keep on denying it.

It will be weird looking at his consort with all the things that happened between them. Did he not think about that? But she tried to put on a brave smile. "What am I to do in your home then?"

"She will know best," and he pointed at the letter she was holding now. "I have not been home for a long time, nor do I know much of a woman's duties around the house. But you will be treated as part of my family. I made sure to underline that in my letter. Is there anything I can do for you before you leave?"

"Tell me if...." She wanted to ask what the previous night meant for him, searching for the slightest insight he cared. Searching for a slice of hope that would feed her fantasies and warm her nights spent thinking about him. But she chickened out. "Tell me if it will be long before the war ends. When will you come home, Sung-Ho?"

Sung-Ho offered her a half smile. He hesitated before turning to his strategy board and looking at her with intent so she would join him. A map of the region was partially unrolled and held in place with jade paperweights. On it, a couple of purple-, green-, red- and gold-colored miniature soldiers stood on what must have been their location. Further north, near the Old Mountain pass, were four black pawns. Sung-Ho placed a couple of blue and white tokens on the map, near a town not far from them.

"The attack on general Min-Jun's camp was meant to be an intimidating move. They are getting cocky and are advancing on our positions. The last intel I got; they would come from here." Tapping his finger on the map he showed the most probable trajectory they would take. "That puts them a dozen days away. Ten at the earliest. Now, General Chul's legions are coming to join forces with us."

"General Chul and his armies are five days away." Soo-Ah interrupted his recount, knowing by now what the pawns stood for and how to interpret the distances on a map.

Sung-Ho watched her with admiration and grinned. "Six, if you count passing over the high hills with the carts. They will be here at the right time."

"You will go to battle in ten days," Soo-Ah concluded grimly, attempting to compute the number of troops. When she suddenly faced him, her worries were not diluted by his resolute stare.

"We are ready. They will not catch me in my tent." Sung-Ho added leaning closer to her. "Now you understand why I want you far and away from here?" he asked in an almost hushed tone.

He was so close to her, their skin almost touching, yet he was sending her away when all she wanted was to come nearer. Unless... The way he was pinning her down with his gaze, the intimacy of their closeness as his face was next to hers, made her gulp and blink a couple of times. The intensity of their unspoken exchange could have very well set the tent on fire.

"I still believe I could have been of help." She managed to add, stumbling on her words and on the desk chair as she took a couple of steps back. She needed air.

"You will help me by making sure you stay safe. From the current situation and if no other distractions come my way," said he, with a meaningful smile, "I say we will crush them. This is the last front where we are fighting, and they are mounting up their final resistance. A great lesson I was taught was that when the enemy insists on waging war you take away his ability to wage it. We will have peace soon. That peace General Min-Jun longed for."

A tinge of sorrow suddenly came over her. How she missed her grandfather. How she missed their old home. "My grandfather had a farm, in the Hansanju territory. I would like to go back there, at some point."

He unrolled the map further, searching with his eyes. "Ah, yes. The Hansanju territory was regained two or three years ago. It should be safe now. Since you and Jung-In grew up there you should ask him for news. But until everything is settled down, I am afraid I cannot allow you to go anywhere."

"How would Jung-In know anything more about our farm?"

"I think I heard him say his parents went back to that area. Soo-Ah, as I said before, General Min-Jun wanted a good life for you, and you would have better prospects in a big city. After you see what life is like in the capital you should be able to make your own decision." Saying this, he took her face into his palms and raised it to meet his gaze.

There it was; he was tearing down his walls.

Sung-Ho wanted one good look at those eyes that had troubled and pleasured him so. At that moment he thought that if she decided to kiss him, he could not let her go.

Kiss the one you love, echoed in Soo-Ah's head, so your kiss is only for the person you love, my General, she thought without speaking it. Soo-Ah closed her eyes waiting but no lips reached for hers. In the end, he let go of her face and said his goodbye with a kiss on her forehead.

"I will see you off at the gates, to wish you good luck upon your journey, Lady Soo-Ah."

And just like that they were back in the same cold spot and it did not feel right, Soo-Ah admitted with disappointment. She strained to answer, "Thank you, General," and headed for the exit.

"It is not right, it is not right!" a voice called to her and she agreed.

Before Sung-Ho could open the tent flap, Soo-Ah spun around, grabbed him by the collar of his tunic and smacked her lips against his. Her rushed gesture was met with the softness of his mouth. She had no idea how to play with it. Pressing lightly at first, she had the urge to go harder, deeper, until her lips hurt. Did she taste fresh fields warmed up under the summer sun? He was stirring under her forceful kiss, his arms coming to grab her.

Afraid of his response, she let him go and dared not open her eyes. At least, not until she confessed drilling through his eyes as if searching for the truth inside his head. "To you. I give my first kiss to you." After a quick glance over his stunned face, she pulled aside the cloth for the tent's exit.

Sung-Ho grabbed her arm and pulled her back to face him. His eyes were hungry, his breathing was heavy as he leaned closer and she hoped he would kiss her back. Instead, he stopped and pressed his forehead against hers, cupping her face. "Let's – Let's talk about this when I return home," he said with a strained voice.

In this life, or the next? Soo-Ah wanted to ask. Either way, it would take too long so why talk and not kiss?

She put on a brave face and a forced smile. "When you return home," she replied.

Exiting the tent, her senses were overwhelmed and her mind was overflowing with sensations, going from frolic exuberance to heavy stones in place of a heart. It was good she was leaving or she would have gone insane. She should be running away from this place, not from the consequences of her actions but from the urge to keep on kissing him, again and again, until her lips would go numb, wither and fall apart so they would not be able to kiss anyone else ever again.