Chapter 11: I am the only one for you
"Give me your hand," Seo Jin told Ae-Ra, after following her for a certain distance.
"I do not think that we should hold hands," Ae-Ra hesitatingly said.
"But you agreed to me that if you could not find the market route in thirty minutes, then you would allow me to hold your hand. Also, it is your first time going to the market. A marketplace usually is crowded and I do not want you to get lost in that crowd," Seo Jin asserted and passed her a smile.
Ae-Ra stopped walking, and so did Seo Jin. She turned to look at him. "I won't get lost in the crowd. I will follow General Lee closely," Ae-Ra said humbly.
"So, you will not hold my hand," Seo Jin arched his left brow, gazing at her. Getting no response from Ae-Ra, he put his hand down and started to walk. Ae-Ra realized that she made Seo Jin angry.
She hastily walked to him and then said, "General Lee shall not get angry."
"Who is angry at you? I am angry at myself because I failed to hold your hand," Seo Jin replied as he narrowly gazed at her.
Ae-Ra looked around and then said, "I can hold the end of the sleeve of General's Lee. Will that suffice?" Ae-Ra asked him politely.
Seo Jin stopped and turned towards her. He put both of his hands behind his back and leaned down towards Ae-Ra. She gazed at him in bewilderment and took a step back. She bent her back, and their faces came closer to each other.
"When you can hold my sleeve, then why not my hand?" Seo Jin curiously asked her. "Don't give me ridiculous excuses. You have ten seconds to give me a valid reason why I shall not hold your hand. If you don't, then I will carry you in my arms," Seo Jin stated. "Your time starts now."
Ae-Ra widened her eyes. "Be-because because…"
"Your time is up!" Seo Jin asserted and smirked. "Now, I will carry you in my arms," he said.
"Wa-Wait, General Lee!" Ae-Ra said as she brought both of her palms to the front of Seo Jin's chest.
"I have already waited more than enough," Seo Jin replied.
"We will hold hands when we return to your residence. Is that good?" Ae-Ra asked.
Seo Jin stood straight and nodded his head. "That is good too," Seo Jin replied and pinched the cheek of Ae-Ra. "You are cute, Ae-Ra," he said and started to walk.
A few noble class girls saw them and started to whisper among them.
'I envy her.'
'General Lee never smiled at us that way.'
Ae-Ra hastened towards General Lee and walked side by side with him. Soon, they reached the market. Ae-Ra was astonished to see many people in the market.
She looked as far as she could and saw many shops aligned in a line. She went towards a stall where many women had gathered. She tip-toed and looked towards the stall. Seo Jin stood by her side.
"Ladies, will you please give me some space?" Seo Jin asked and the women looked towards him. The ladies and seller on the stall were astonished to see General Lee. Ae-Ra also confusedly peered at him.
"Come, Ae-Ra," General Lee said.
"Huh?"
Seo Jin passed her a smile and put his hand on her back, pushing her forward gently. "What do you want to buy?" He asked her as he looked at the various colored ribbons. The women started to whisper among themselves while drooling over General Lee.
Ae-Ra felt embarrassed. Seo Jin whispered in her ear, "Show me your hand."
"Why?"
"Just forward your hand," Seo Jin requested again.
The seller was looking at them and smiling. Ae-Ra hesitatingly forwarded her hand. The ladies tried to peep at what General Lee was doing.
Seo Jin picked a jade ring and moved it towards Ae-Ra's pointer finger. She lifted her eyes and pulled her hand back when Seo Jin gripped her sleeve. "I need to measure which ring will fit your beautiful finger."
Ae-Ra started to blink a few times and gulped. "General Lee does not need to do that. I do not like rings," Ae-Ra lied.
"Umm… but it will look beautiful on your finger. Since you are taken, so your fingers should not be bare," Seo Jin asserted.
"General Lee is saying absolutely right," finally the seller said and started to show various colored rings to Seo Jin.
'She is so lucky. General Lee is purchasing a ring for her.'
'Indeed, she is lucky. I wish I will get a husband like General Lee.'
Ae-Ra heard the whispers of two women behind her.
"Ae-Ra, try this," Seo Jin told her, forwarding a red jade towards Ae-Ra's pointer finger.
Ae-Ra knitted her brows and then looked into the eyes of Seo Jin. She recalled the words of Seo Jin's mother and put her hand back. She stepped a little back and walked away, confusing Seo Jin, who quickly made the payment and walked after Ae-Ra.
"What happened?" He asked her.
"Nothing, General Lee," Ae-Ra replied.
"You told me that you will trust me for a month. You told me that you will give me a chance to prove to you that I am the only one for you," Seo Jin affirmed.
Ae-Ra halted at her place, and so did Seo Jin. They both peered at each other. "I have not said yes to General Lee's feelings. That's why I cannot accept his ring," Ae-Ra asserted.
Seo Jin smiled. "It's fine. Just keep it with you," he said and grasped her hand. He put the red jade ring in her palm. "There will be a day when you will ask me to make you this wear. Till that day, keep it with you," stated Seo Jin and folded her fingers.
Ae-Ra gazed into the eyes of Seo Jin with astonishment.
A kid came running towards them and got hit with Ae-Ra. She got a forward push when Seo Jin caught her. Their eyes met again, and the eyelock broke when a sound came from Ae-Ra's stomach, who was a little startled.
"It's lunchtime. Let's go to the restaurant ahead on this way," Seo Jin suggested to her. Ae-Ra lowered her eyes and followed him silently.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone