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Ni Na awoke in an unfamiliar room the next morning.  As her eyes fluttered open, she glanced around the room.  Streams of sunlight were beginning to filter into the room around the curtains covering the window.  For a moment, she was at a loss.  But then she remembered that she’d been with Beom Sook in Dae Hee’s bedroom the night before.  When he’d held her on his lap after giving her his robe.  She glanced down.  Only to discover that she was still wearing it.

She gasped.  She had no recollection of walking into this room.  Had she – had she fallen asleep in his arms?  Had he carried her to bed?  And tucked her in?

She smiled as she lay in bed and closed her eyes.  To remember how she’d felt in those strong arms.  His breath in her hair.  Her cheek resting against his chest.  If only she could go back to last night.  And live those wonderful moments again.

But she could not. 

She heaved a deep sigh.  And crawled from bed.  She had to dress and head to the school.  To meet with her teacher.  And gather supplies for her own students.

She looked back down at Beom Sook’s robe.  She didn’t want to give it back to him.  But she was just being silly now, wasn’t she? 

Still, she hugged it close for several moments before she reluctantly removed it to dress in clean clothes.  Then she headed to breakfast.  Eager to see Beom Sook.  And all the children.

––

After breakfast, Beom Sook and his mother stayed with the children while Ni Na went to visit Jung Sook.

“Ni Na!” the young woman greeted her a few minutes later. 

Ni Na was the first of her pupils to arrive. 

“Good morning, Kim Jung Sook.  I’ve come to tell you that yesterday was my last day in your classroom.” 

The teacher’s mind recalled the previous day.  For Ni Na’s final day in her classroom had been pitifully short.  Kim Jung Sook had dismissed classes early since the weather had been so unusually beautiful.  Ni Na and Ae Ri had taken advantage of the rare opportunity to visit the market during the late morning.

“What?” Mystified, her teacher gaped at her.  “But…why?”

A beautiful smile curved Ni Na’s lips.  “Because yesterday I adopted a couple dozen children.”

Still at a loss, Jung Sook shook her head.  “I’m…you what?”

“It’s a long story, but a little girl stole some silver from me.  When I followed her, I found out that she and a bunch of other children have been living in an abandoned shack nearby for months.  They were all close to starvation.  Lord Lee Beom Sook offered to set up an orphanage in one of his houses.  And together he and I are going to teach them so they have the opportunity to gain a proper education.”

Overwhelmed by this unfathomable news, her teacher simply stared at her for several silent seconds.  “So, you’re giving up your education to teach them?” she finally quizzed her favorite student.

“Actually, I was going to ask you if I could finish up my classwork from home.”

Jung Sook bobbed her head.  “Of course, Ni Na!”

“I have another favor to ask.”

“Hmm?”

“Do you have any lessons that I could borrow to do with my students?  The children range in age from four to fifteen.  Though I haven’t had a chance to test their knowledge yet.  The oldest one was their teacher in the village from which they came.  So I know they’ve all learned something.”

“I am sure that I can help you, Ni Na.  Oh!  This is just marvelous!  You are doing such a kind thing.  You’re going to change their lives forever!  I will help you in every way that I can. 

“How about I come visit you tomorrow afternoon?  I can let the girls go a couple hours early and head your way.  I could help you test their knowledge.  And then together we can write some lesson plans.”

“Truly?” Ni Na gasped.  “That would be wonderful!  Thank you!  Can I get my assignments from you now?  I need to head out to buy parchment, quills, and ink.”

She spent the next few minutes gathering her materials and chatting with her teacher.  Leaving her classroom made Ni Na sad.  But she knew that very soon she would be too busy to meditate on the loss.  Twelve little girls needed her.  And all the skills which Kim Jung Sook had imparted to her.

–– 

As she walked home from the market with two sacks full of parchment, pens, and ink blocks, Ni Na felt herself growing nervous.  She was going to be facing Beom Sook soon.  And possibly finding herself alone with him again.  After last night, she wasn’t quite sure how to act around him.  She hadn’t seen him for more than a few minutes at breakfast, and they’d been surrounded by children then.  He’d eaten at the opposite end of the table from her.  She’d barely met his eyes.  But now, there was a greater potential for her to run into him alone.

She entered the house and headed for her classroom.  She organized all her supplies before heading to Beom Sook’s classroom to drop off his.  She was surprised to find him instructing the boys.  She slipped into the classroom and set the parchment, quills, and ink blocks on a back table.  In an attempt not to disturb his students.  But as she began to back out of the room, Beom Sook glanced her way.  And he wasn’t about to let her get away that easily.

“Miss Choi, what have you brought us?” he greeted her cheerfully.

She looked up in surprise.  “Oh, um, just some supplies for your class, my lord.”

Oh, no.  She was back to my lording him again.  And she probably wouldn’t stop now that they would be living their lives before twenty-four kids.

“Thank you, my lady,” he returned.

And watched as she furrowed her brow in confusion.  She bowed to him and hurried out the door.

Was it just his imagination, or was she acting a little strangely?  Was she embarrassed about last night?

He fondly remembered the moments during which he’d held her in his arms.  He suddenly wished that he could return to such a moment.  He would have to seek her out during a break.

“Miss Choi?” he called after her.  And then waited a moment.

She returned to his classroom.  “Yes, my lord?”

“The girls are with my mother.  You may find them in the kitchen.”

“Ah.  Thank you.”  And then she was gone again.

He sighed.  He just wanted a few minutes alone with her.  Perhaps…over lunch?

But lunch came, and he found them surrounded by children again.  Once more, Ni Na was swamped by the girls at one end of the table while he was overcome by a group of bouncing boys at the other.

“Miss Choi,” he raised his voice to reach her end of the table. 

“Yes?” she replied.

“Please meet me in your classroom after lunch.  I need to speak to you for a few minutes.”

She felt a nervous ball of excitement form in the pit of her stomach.  “Yes, my lord.”

And he ground his teeth.  The woman was beginning to drive him bananas.

––

He entered her classroom a half hour later.  To find her alone.  Just as he was hoping.

She was sitting at her desk.  Apparently engrossed in reading a parchment.  But he noticed when she glanced up suddenly.

“Ah, my lord, can I help you?”

He strode forward.  “Yes,” he replied heatedly.  “For starters, you can stop calling me ‘my lord.’”

Startled, her eyebrows fled north.  “But…what if a child should overhear me?”

“The children are outside.  Getting a breath of fresh air.  You’re alone with me here.  And I miss hearing you call me Beom Sook, Ni Na,” he purred intensely.

She swallowed.  Not quite sure how to take those words.  “Um.  What did you want to speak to me about?”

He hadn’t given his excuse any thought.  He’d just wanted a few minutes alone with her.  Thinking fast on his feet, he replied, “Are you ready to begin teaching the girls tomorrow?”

She bobbed her head.  “Yes.  Jung Sook is going to come help me test them.”

He frowned.  “Didn’t Na Mi mention that she was their teacher back home?”

“Yes.  Actually, I should speak to her first.  She can tell us about each child’s progress.”

“I’ll go with you.”

She stood up.

“Ni Na.  Did you sleep well last night?” 

Why did his quiet voice sound so intimate now? 

She glanced up at him sharply.  And nodded her head.  Then she wrinkled her brow.  “But I don’t remember walking to my room.  Did you…did you carry me into my room?”

His lips curved into a sweet smile.  “I did,” he breathed.  “You fell asleep in my arms.”

Now she was quite simply embarrassed.  Was a woman supposed to fall asleep in her friend’s arms?  Wasn’t that a little too close for comfort?

But…maybe not if he was a friend who was planning to marry her.  Was Beom Sook still considering asking her to be his wife?

“I’m sorry,” she whispered.

“What?”  He appeared confused.  “What are you sorry for?”

“It must have been hard for you to stand up while holding me.  And then to carry me to my room.”

“Do you think that I’m a ninety-eight-pound weakling?”

“What?” she laughed.  “No.  Of course not.”

“Well, good.  Because I am quite strong.  And I would happily carry you off to your bed anytime.”  He grinned cheekily at her. 

She felt her face flood with instant heat at his provocative words.  Was he teasing her?  Surely, he hadn’t meant those words the way they’d sounded!

She turned abruptly away from him.  “We should go find Na Mi.” 

“Ni Na?  Are you planning to stay over tonight?” his soft voice sounded once more.

“What?”  Startled, she stopped moving.  But she didn’t turn to face him again.  She was just sure that she resembled a ripe tomato now.

“Are you planning to tuck Dae Hee into bed again?”

“Oh.  Um.  I hadn’t given it any thought.” 

The idea of spending the night in the same house with him again both excited her and disconcerted her.  Which seemed to be a dangerous pastime.  If this man never proposed to her, then she was setting herself up for an even bigger heartache than she was already experiencing.  And if he did ask her to be his wife, then…she was going to have to decide just how much her heart could handle.  Probably the less time she spent in his presence right now, the better.  She was growing far too fond of him.

She groaned inwardly.  Unfortunately for her, she’d just signed up to spend several weeks – months, possibly even years – in his presence.  Or, at the very least, next door to his presence.  The question was…how long would he be amused by this endeavor?  Just how soon would he give up on his students to pursue some more entertaining pastime?  And when he did, would he leave behind more than just a heartbroken woman?  Would the children end up being hurt too?

She hadn’t considered that possibility.  It was the new thought that began to crush her.

“Well, maybe you should,” he replied to her offhand comment.  “Dae Hee seems quite taken with you.  You should consider staying overnight for a while.  Until she’s comfortable here.  My mother is happy to stay with us.  So we’d be properly chaperoned.”

She turned towards him then.  “Would we?  Like we were last night?”

He frowned.  “What?”

“We were alone in a bedroom with two children.  Who both fell asleep.  And I was sitting in your lap,” she whispered this last.  “If anyone had found us…”  She cleared her throat.  “I’m afraid that if word gets out that I’m staying here, people may get the wrong idea.  They’re going to think me strange enough for opening an orphanage with you.  Is it even possible that I can weather this adventure with my reputation intact, do you think?”

“Is it him?” he asked abruptly.

Perplexed, she furrowed her brow at him.  “What?”

“The gentleman you love.  Are you worried about what he’ll think of you if word gets out?”

The valley between her eyebrows deepened.  “No.  I’m not.  I…He seems to think very highly of me.  And I don’t believe this situation has changed his feelings one bit.”

Now it was his turn to pucker his brow.  “He knows about this already?”

She nodded her head.  “He does.”

“You…you already told him?” 

When had she had time to?

“Um.  Yes.”  He was getting too close for comfort.  She needed to change the subject.  Immediately. 

But he spoke again before she could.  “How did he take the news?”

“Amazingly well.”  Her lips quirked.

He frowned.  “Really?  Did he seem…to feel any differently about you?”

Her eyes met his.  “Are you asking me if I think he’s now in love with me?”  She shook her head.  “I don’t think so.  I think he sees me as…a friend.”  She sighed deeply.

But then there was last night.  Why had he pulled her onto his lap if he saw her that way?  And he’d just spoken those provocative words about taking her to bed.  What had he meant by that?  Had he simply been teasing her?  She recalled a time when Ae Ri’s older brother had taken to teasing her often.  Boys seemed to think that it was funny to aggravate girls.

Ugh! 

Ni Na was so confused.  One minute, Beom Sook was practically ignoring her.  The next, he was holding her close and speaking inflammatory words to her.  But he had never tried to kiss her.  Nor had he spoken of love.  And he hadn’t proposed.

She didn’t know the first thing about men.  How was she supposed to interpret his words and actions when they seemed to contradict each other?  He’d looked at Soo Yeon with yearning.  And admitted that his love for her had gone unrequited.  But then, he’d held Ni Na close last night. 

Had he truly just been trying to keep her warm?  Or…sitting in that dark room surrounded by only the sound of their breathing, had he felt as attracted to her as she had to him?  If he felt something more for her, then why couldn’t he just be plainspoken?  And would she feel this confused if she hadn’t seen the way that he’d looked at Soo Yeon? 

Maybe not.

Beom Sook could hear the disappointment in her voice.  “I’m sorry, Ni Na,” he breathed out a long breath.  “I wish that I could make him see how wonderful you are.”

Perplexed, she gazed up at him.  What an odd thing for him to say!  He wasn’t attracted to her himself, yet he wished to make the object of her affection adore her?

This must be what a good friend was like.

If only her good friend and the man whom she adored were not one and the same.

“It’s all right, Beom Sook.  A man cannot change his feelings for me just because I want him to.  Let’s go find Na Mi.  I want to be as ready as possible for my students tomorrow.  And I imagine you feel the same.”

He stared down into her gorgeous, obsidian eyes for a moment.  And felt a little lost.  He could see disappointment swimming in those dark depths.  He wished that he could simply kiss it away.  But alas!  He lacked that power over her heart.  Someone else had beat him to it.