Chapter 08: Box

August, 26, 1900

Beomgyu's POV

I called out Ryujin's name, but she only stopped on her tracks, before continuing to walk away from the place or maybe me. I just sighed while looking towards the place where she went to, and messed up my hair.

But, instead of staying there, for a couple of minutes more, I decided that I should plan something. So, I can get her back, since I'm not used to this kind of setup. Especially, when it comes to Ryujin or any female friends of mine.

I left the place, and went to my Office. Once, I reached the place, I sat down on my chair, and started to think of something. I can feel both, of Yeonjun hyung's and Yeji noona's eyes, on me.

I looked at them, giving them both a glare, accompanied with my one of my eyebrows being raised. Which, they quickly went back to what they were doing earlier. I was still busy thinking of something, when a letter, caught my eye.

Instead, of thinking without anything that I can mix things up, I thought why not read a letter. But, as I was about read the letter, when I suddenly remembered all the letters that we sent each other.

'I got it!' I thought, and smiled.

I stood up from my seat, and went over to Yeonjun hyung. He looked at me, confused. "Uh, hey. Beomgyu? What's up?" He asked me.

But, then sarcasm started to kick in. "The ceiling." I said, which he just made an annoyed face.

"Haha. Very funny. Choi Beomgyu." He said, while book marking the page of the book he was reading.

He went over to the, bookshelf and started arranging it, in order. Since, it kind of looks likes a huge mess, to him. "Okay. I know you need something. Now. Spill it." He said, while returning the book to the bookshelf. Then, looked at me.

I quickly pouted at him. "You know me too well. Hyung." I said, and pouted more.

"Well. Who wouldn't? I have been guarding you for years now. So, it's natural for me to know you very well by now. So, I know all your crazy antics." He said, and put some kind of attitude on his face.

"Pssh... Okay. You caught me red handed. I was just going to ask you to get me the 'box'." I said to him, which he just made a surprised expression on his face.

"You mean 'the box'?" He asked, making sure whether he got it right or not. But, highlighted the words the box.

"Yes. I believe that's what I said." I said, and crossed my arms.

"Okay. I'm on it." He said, and playfully salutes at me. He quickly left the room, obviously to get the box, from my bedroom.

I looked at Yeji noona who looked so out of place right now. Since, Ryujin stopped writing letters to me, when Yeji noona came in, she doesn't know anything about the box or the letters.

She had this look on her face, as if she was asking for an explanation from me. But, I just ignored her and went back to my desk and started continuing to do all the paperwork.

***

After a couple of minutes, I was done with all the paperwork that I have been doing for quite some time already. And Yeonjun hyung was taking so much longer than usual. Usually, he would be back before I even know it.

But, now? It's taking him so long. I stood up from my seat and was about to go to the door, when it suddenly swing open. Both me and Yeji noona looked at the source and saw Yeonjun hyung sweating a lot.

"You don't know how long it took me just to find this thing." He said, while panting. He rose up the box that had no dust on.

"Wait? What do you mean 'find'?" I asked him.

"It was no longer at the old place..." He simply said, and put the box on top of my table.

"Now, if you will excuse me. I would like to take a bit of rest..." He said, and over to one of the couches in my office.

"Uh. Yeah. Can you do that somewhere else hyung?" I asked him.

"Why?" He whined.

"I need to go through all of these letters and think of a plan." I said, to which he just released a sigh of defeat.

"Fine." He said, agreeing to me.

He stood up, and went over to the door. Before, opening the door, he looked back at us.

"Yah. Yeji. Aren't you coming as well?" He asked Yeji noona coldly.

'Something's not right...' I thought, as I look at the two of them.

"Uhm. Well, Beomgyu only said you right? So, it's only you." Yeji noona said to hyung.

"Ah. Okay. Fine then." Yeonjun hyung said, before opening the door.

"Just, don't come looking for me. When you need company okay?" He said, before leaving the place.

I looked over at Yeji noona, and saw her having tears that are threatening to fall of her eyes.

"Yeji noona?" I asked for her presence.

"Yeah?" She asked.

"I also meant it for you..." I said to her, which she was taken back.

"Really? Why? Is it because you can't trust me like Yeonjun?" She suddenly asked me.

I quickly denied it. Since, it was really not that. It's just I can't think straight when other people are with me. "No!" I said denying it.

"Then why?" She asked me.

"It's because..." I said.

"Because of what?" She said, getting much more curious by the minute.

"It's because my mind starts to malfunction and I can't think straight when other people are with me." I said, and looked down.

'Damn... I feel so ashamed of myself... This habit has got to go once and for all.' I thought.

"Oh. I thought that the two of you were hiding something from me, other than that box." She said, as she wiped her tears away.

"No... It's just this box is really important to me..." I said and looked at the box, and touched the top part.

"Then what is it?" She asked.

I took a deep breath before sighing. "It contains all the letters that Ryujin sent to me as I was growing up. And suffering from the illness..." I said, finally letting it out.

"Wait? Did I hear that right? Ryujin? As in our Ryujin?" She asked, to which I just nodded at.

"Wait. So you guys actually met, before?" She asked me, which I just shook my head.

"We didn't actually meet since. I was still unable to do things back then. Due to my illness..." I said explaining to her.

"Plus, we kept our identities a secret. That is until, Ryujin decided to let hers out." I said.

"And we haven't totally met each other that is before the ball for me happened." I said.

"We danced there. Yes, it was good, but she was very nervous about dancing because she thought, that her dancing is a bit 'wonky'." I said, while trying to remember what happened.

"Really? You also met her there?" She asked me.

"Yep." I said, while also nodding my head.

"Because, I also bumped into her there. The two of us, at the Comfort room, and met there..." She said.

"So, this is what you and Yeonjun have been hiding from me?" She asked.

"Well, we didn't actually want to hide it from you, but due to our schedules, we never got the time to tell it to you..." I said.

"Oh. Okay." She said, and went over to the bookshelf and returned the book, she was reading.

'Maybe, she already finished it?' I thought.

"I'll be going now. Beomgyu." She said, as she bid her farewell to me.

Leaving me clueless over here on why she did that. That is until I remembered it. 'I asked her to leave, earlier right?' I thought, as I go to the couch and sat down.

***

After a couple of hours, either sitting on the couch or walking in circles. I still, got nothing.

"Aha! I finally got it!" I said, while having a plan in mind.