Chapter 12: He's calling my real name

"Teresita....Teresita.... Teresita...."

"What?" I shouted while panting. I held my chest and looked around. Who's calling me?

Am I just dreaming? That voice. It sounds like Min Yun. How did he know my name?

"You woke up already. "

I went back to my senses when Ji Han entered the room carrying a tray.

I touched my head. I felt hurt.

"You drank too much yesterday. I am jealous. I asked you to drink with me but you drank with the king " he said jokingly.

"It is not my intention. He was so quiet that is why I asked him to drink with me."

"I can't even ask you now to drink with me. Min Yun will get angry" he said then give the soup to me. "sip it while it is still hot".

I nodded. " thanks" then started sipping the soup. I felt warm and relaxed. My headache started to wind down.

"You always save me, thank you" I said.

" You know it is my pleasure to serve you. "

" And I always told you, you are not my servant. "

" Min Yun was worried about you last night. "

"He is?"

"You don't remember how you came up here?"

I didn't respond for a while. I thought about what happened last night. The king and I were drinking. We both fell because he pulled my hand. I dived in his chest. I thought someone would catch us but Min Yun came. He gave the King a piggy back ride and he let me wait for him. Even if I felt dizzy I waited for him. Then...

I blushed .

" What happened?" Ji han interrupted my thoughts.

" Huh? no...nothing" I tried to keep calm but Ji han noticed that I am not fine.

" Something happened last night?"

"No! Min Yun just helped me find my room. That's all"

" Your voice is trembling"

" I'm not!" I shouted.

Ji han laughed. "okay, okay. I am not going to ask anything. Just finish the soup because Min Yun might come here later."

When I heard his name I stood up and checked myself.

" I will change my clothes" I said then left the room. But I forgot that my clothes were in the room, so I went back again.

Ji han looked at me suspiciously. " I need to change my clothes here" I said.

" I will just wait outside".

"Thank you"

I closed the door and changed my clothes. I don't know what was happening to me. When I just heard his name, I couldn't think. Is something really happened last time that I forgot?

When I was done , I went out and saw Min Yun and Ji han standing there.

" Good morning." Min Yun greeted me with a smile.

I blushed again. Since when did I think that Min Yun's smile is so beautiful? He looked even more handsome.

I didn't respond because I was preoccupied. I didn't even notice that they kept on calling my name.

"Are you sick?" Min Yun touched my forehead.

I was shocked and moved back. It looked like I saw a criminal holding my forehead.

Min Yun looked confused. Ji han too.

" I... I... I am sorry" I couldn't say anything. I felt nervous.

" You don't look okay. " He said.

" Maybe . I am just sorry for my reaction. I didn't mean to" I tried to calm myself but my heart kept pounding.

("teresita....teresita....")

Why did I feel that Min Yun is calling me teresita?

" I-jun. " he called me.

I went back to my senses again.

"You drank too much last night. Are you still not okay?" He looked worried.

" No. I am okay. I need to go to the king , maybe he needs something"

" Just stay here. I will talk to him." His voice sounds deeper.

" I.... I..."

" No buts. If you keep on getting sick, I will call the doctor. Or maybe you should rest at my house. "

" No. No. I am perfectly fine. Right Ji han?" I was begging for Ji han's approval but it seemed like he wouldn't want to agree with me.

" I'm sorry I-jun but I won't agree with you this time

You look like you are getting a high fever."

I secretly bit my lip.

" I will talk to the king, He will understand you"

" But it is just my second day of staying here . I messed up" I felt frustrated.

" You shouldn't drink much next time." Min Yun warned me.

" I will never do that again" I defeatedly said.

" I will go now. Ji han please take care of her. She might need something. Call the doctor if things will get worse."

" No worries, captain" he smiled.

He looked at me again. I looked in his eyes deeper. I felt he wanted to say something but he held himself back.

" I will go back later after work." He said, then left.

When he was gone, I sighed deeply.

" He is just concerned to you" Ji han said.

" I know. I always keep him worried about me. He has so much load of work and here I am the added burden to him."

" I don't think he thought of you as a burden. He looked like he had a responsibility to take care of you."

" That's why I felt that I was a burden to him. Supposedly I am not his responsibility. I am just a nobody."

" You still can't remember who you are?" out of the blue, Ji han asked.

" I...I..."

He laughed. "Don't worry, I am not here to force you. Min Yun didn't force you as well. I have no right to do that as well."

I don't know what to say. I wanted to tell him right now but I am not ready yet. The reason why I spilled myself to Min Yun was because he already caught me.

" What do you want to eat? before I go to the office, might as well cook you a delicious food?"

" You don't have to. I don't feel hungry."

" Min Yun might get angry if you didn't eat. How can you be okay if you don't eat?"

"Okay,okay. but in one condition, please let me help."

"But you are sick"

" I am perfectly fine, honestly".

"But your face is red a while ago, so I thought you were not okay"

How could I explain to him that I was just blushing because of the thought of what had happened last night?

"I will just wait in the room". I said.

He smiled then went to the kitchen.

***

Min Yun's pov

"Min Yun..." the king greeted me.

I bowed down and sat on the floor.

" Are you alright?" I asked the king.

" Yeah. How about your cousin?"

"The reason why I came here was because I wanted to say that she can't accompany you today. She is sick. "

The king's eyes got bigger. "I.. I didn't know this would happen."

" I don't want her to drink that much again. I know I have no right to tell you this but I am just protecting her."

He nodded. " It was my mistake. It won't happen again. "

" Thank you."

" Maybe I could bring a physician to her? Give her medicine?"

" No need. My friend is already taking care of her. "

" The soldier?"

I nodded.

" They seemed really close. " the king stated.

I nodded. " I will not stay longer because I have something to do outside the palace. I am still looking for a lead."

The king nodded. " But again let me help you if you need to. You don't need to burden yourself just to protect me. I don't see you as my soldier but I see you as a brother. Don't give your life just to protect me."

I didn't say a word and went out.

On my way to the person I am meeting with, I saw an accessory that caught my eye.

I touched it.

"You like it, sir?" the old lady asked.

" Ah ,no. I was just looking" I said then left.

I felt distracted by that accessory. The last time I saw it was ages ago. I bought it myself to give it to the most beautiful woman I have ever met.

I shrugged my head. Maybe next time I will never pass by the market again.

When I arrived at the place, I went inside and saw the man I was looking for.

We ordered a drink.

" Any lead?" I asked.

" He seemed quiet for how many days. I can't even find evidence. " the man said.

"Not even his family?" I asked again.

" They are all clean. I can't even find dirt on them."

I sighed. " We can't stop here unless we find the evidence. How can we protect the king if we don't know who the people behind the crime are?"

" You know Kim Bok Ja?"

" His cousin?"

He nodded. " He looked suspicious to me. I am trying to figure out if he is one of the suspects aside from Kim Man Shik. "

" Why do you think that he is one of the murderers?"

" Kim Man Shik and Kim Bok Ja are the most popular members in their clan. The two seemed close. "

"But you just said a while ago that their family is clean? That you can't find any evidence?"

" It's too clean for me not to notice. For now, that is all I can report. I will call you if I already found something".

***

I-jun/Teresita's pov

After I ate, I volunteered to wash the dishes. Good thing Ji han agreed or maybe because he needs to go to the office?

While washing, I heard a knock on the door. Ji han said he will open the door. I thought it was just a court lady or eunuch but Ji han shouted "Your Highness".

I left the plates I was washing and went to the front door. The king is standing at the door.

I bowed down. " Your Highness, why did you come here?"

" Min Yun said you are sick. I might as well check your condition"

I bit my lower lip. Why does everybody make my blush a big deal? How can I explain to them that I am not sick? I just blush?

" I am fine. " I answered.

"Here."

I looked at the box he handed me. " What is this?"

" Medicine. You need to drink it often".

" You don't need to bother yourself, Your Highness".

I felt the shyness in me.

" It is my fault as well. I shouldn't let you drink much. I should have listened to you to drink inside the palace. Maybe you caught a cold or something"

I want to explain myself but I am starting to feel little on what is happening now. I don't like the attention they're giving me. Especially the king.

" Thank you" I still bow down my head . Good thing I am not required to look at his face.

"Just tell me if you need something" he said.

" Thank you, Your Highness".

Then he left.

After he left, I took a deep breath. I hold my chest.

"The higher ups are concerned to you" Ji han laughed.

" I don't like the attention, for goodness sake. What will others say about me? "

Ji han is still laughing. " I never heard a woman sigh deeply because she doesn't like the attention. Everybody wanted the attention of the captain and the king. It is my first time hearing someone who doesn't like to have the spotlight."

" I never dreamed of it. If I never saved the king this would never happen."

" So you mean, you regret that you saved the king?'

" Of course not. I am just saying that, maybe he shouldn't be like this? "

"The king is just so kind to treat his people. " Ji han said then continued washing the dishes.

" Let me finish this before I go. Don't forget to take the medicine. "

I nodded and went to my room.

***

Kim Man Shik's pov

The soldier went inside, sat on the floor then bowed his head.

" Make sure your updates would be necessary to me. "

" I saw the king with the woman".

I frowned. " Woman?"

" It is not just a woman but a part of a noble family. He is the cousin of Captain Park."

I laughed. " I never forgot that woman who spilled the tea on me. She made me look like a defeated villain. "

" Aren't you worried for your daughter? " the soldier asked.

" Worried? for what? they're relatives" I laughed again.

" A not so distant relative . They can be together if they plan to make the Park clan powerful. "

The laugh on my face faded.

" So you are saying that he would possibly marry his relative?"

" Come to think of it, my lord. It once happened in history and it will possibly happen again. "

" Call my daughter tomorrow morning. I need to tell her something"

" Yes, my lord. "

I closed my fists. I felt the anger surge in my veins.

I couldn't be able to sleep due to the thought that the king is planning something. I have failed to kill him due to his luck. But I will never stop to do such until I reach the throne.

The next morning, my daughter went to the living room.

"Your right hand called me this morning."

" Kim Shin A..." I whispered.

Her mood changed. She became attentive. She knew if the topic was serious.

" What is it, father?"

" Aren't you planning to make the king yours?"

"But you know the king doesn't like me. Since we were kids , he never liked me. "

" Because you are not doing something. "

" Father, you know I like him but I am not a desperate woman."

" You should be from now on."

I could see the shock in her face.

" What's happening? You never force me like this."

" He likes someone. Worst, it came from the Park family."

" What? but they are relatives."

" There are no relatives when it comes to power" I said. " remember that. Now prepare yourself and let's visit the palace as soon as possible."

***

It was already in the evening, I am done eating my dinner and taking the medicine. I started getting bored. I couldn't even sleep because I slept all day. I went outside. Maybe a small walk would help me fall asleep.

The surounding was so quiet. The fresh air made me relax. I went to the lake where the king and I had drunk. I sat on the side and stared at the moon and stars.

" I like this" I said while closing my eyes and reminiscing the past again.

" I-jun?"

"Huh?"

I looked at my back and was looking who called me.

" Min Yun?" I said and stood up.

" What brings you here? the night is getting late."

" I can't sleep."

" You should just let Ji Han know you couldn't sleep."

" He's not here. He asked me if he could go to the market because he wanted to buy something."

He nodded then sighed. He looked at the sky. I did the same while still glancing at him.

" Aren't yoh hungry?" I asked him.

" I already ate my dinner. How about you?" he asked while still staring at the sky.

" I'm done eating and taking my medicine. "

" I heard the king visited you then gave a medicine."

" It felt awkward. "

" I know."

" What if people would think that he is giving me a special treatment just because I am his companion?"

" He still think that you are his savior."

" Until now?"

He nodded. " He will never forget."

I sighed. " I hate attention. Just please tell him. I am not comfortable."

He looked at me. I looked back.

" Why? is there a dirt on my face?" I asked.

He shrugged his head. " I just remember what you did last night."

" What? Did I do something horrible?"

"No, but a way to know you more."

" What?"

" Teresita..."