IBTYDOTCID – Chapter 81

Was I hallucinating?

That was the first thing that crossed my mind.

The noisy, bustling crowd around us—somehow, all that sound just… vanished. It was like the world stopped for a second, and only two people moved: me and Sahyeon, who was holding my wrist.

Then Sahyeon smiled faintly.

“You promised to come with me, you know. I’m hurt.”

“…Is this—are you really… you?”

The way he spoke, that sly, easy smile—it was all just like the Sahyeon I knew. No matter how I looked at him, it was unmistakably him.

Could the sky lantern I let fly earlier really have brought him back?

Sahyeon nodded.

“Yeah. It’s me. The real me.”

He wasn’t wearing a mask. He’d thrown on some obviously expensive silk robes, but hadn’t bothered with a ceremonial crown or headpiece—just had his hair tied back, like usual. Honestly, he didn’t look all that different.

And it wasn’t just some dream or illusion—the warmth from where he gripped my wrist was painfully real. A hundred things rushed up in my throat, all trying to get out at once, choking me. What the hell was this bastard?

But just then, reality butted in. It was Iheon. The look in his eyes made it clear he was on alert—after all, a stranger had suddenly grabbed my wrist and started talking.

“Yeonhwa. Is he someone you know?”

He called my name, but the question was obviously aimed at Sahyeon. Sahyeon turned to Iheon and offered a soft smile.

“…Young Hero Dang. It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”

“Have we met?”

Iheon frowned slightly. His face made it clear he wasn’t thrilled. Dang Choye, who’d been trailing behind, actually waved someone off before stepping in closer, now staring at Sahyeon like she was trying to bore a hole through him.

Strangely, it was only then that the shock actually hit me, and I looked back at Sahyeon again. If those two were reacting like this… then he wasn’t some ghost or illusion. He was really standing there.

“We haven’t spoken, but we’ve crossed paths before.”

“Hmm. I can’t quite place it… May I ask how you know Yeonhwa?”

Iheon sounded polite enough, but his face said otherwise. He was doing his best to treat the stranger in front of him with courtesy, but it was all surface. I was too stunned to say a word. Sahyeon answered like it was nothing.

“I’ve been rude. As for Young Lady Yeonhwa and I… well, let’s say we share a quiet little secret. I heard she was holding onto something of mine. When I saw her here, I figured I’d take the chance to get it back.”

Even as he said it, he still didn’t let go of my wrist. In fact, his grip tightened slightly. The spot he held burned, like it had been scalded.

At Sahyeon’s deliberately suggestive tone, Dang Choye made no effort to hide her disgust.

“I don’t know who you are, but you should watch your mouth. Speaking like that could damage Young Lady Yeonhwa’s reputation.”

“Ah. That wasn’t my intent, but I apologize if it came across that way. Young Lady Yeonhwa, forgive my rudeness.”

Sahyeon offered me a dramatic martial salute. I just stood there, staring at him in a daze. I still couldn’t believe he was alive and right in front of me.

Then he leaned in slowly, and whispered into my ear.

“Take good care of what’s mine. I’ll be back for it later.”

He said it like a whisper, but it was obviously for show. Iheon and Dang Choye definitely heard it, judging by the way both their faces soured even more.

Finally, Sahyeon let go of me. A breeze brushed across the spot where his hand had been, sending a chill down my arm.

I stared blankly at his hand as it fell away.

“Well then, until next time.”

He turned and walked off. The black silk of his robe fluttered in the wind as he vanished into the crowd.

“…Yeonhwa. Are you alright?”

Iheon stepped in, concern in his voice, but I didn’t answer. I couldn’t take my eyes off the direction he’d gone.

Wasn’t he dead? He didn’t run away?

Sahyeon… is still alive?

I shook off Iheon’s hand and said quickly,

“Just a second. Just give me a second.”

I shoved my way through the crowd in the direction Sahyeon had gone. It was already well past sundown, and the streets were even more packed now. No matter how hard I tried to push forward, I couldn’t move fast enough.

I mumbled “sorry” over and over as I bumped into people, trying to get through. But no matter how far I went, I couldn’t find him. It was like he’d evaporated.

Still, I couldn’t convince myself I’d just imagined it. The feel of his hand on my wrist was far too vivid for that.

I stood there in the middle of the street, completely lost, while strangers passed me by, laughing. A little later, Iheon caught up and asked with a worried look,

“Yeonhwa, what’s wrong? Do you need to chase after that guy?”

Chase after him?

If you put it like that… yeah. There’s too much I need to ask him. Too many things I have to hear. But he’d disappeared again, leaving nothing but that vague promise that he’d come find me.

“…No. He’ll come back.”

If he really is alive, then he’ll come back.

Still in a daze, like someone had clocked me in the back of the head, I turned back around.

“Young Lady Dang is waiting. Let’s go.”

“…Alright.”

Iheon kept asking if I was okay, clearly suspicious, but none of it reached my ears. My mind was still spinning with the image of Sahyeon, turning me around by the wrist.

Then, out of nowhere, Iheon let out a quiet little sound of recognition.

“Oh—was that the guy we saw at the charity auction? The one who bid against us over your piece?”

“…”

“What was his name again? Ak Huhyeon?”

I shook my head. Not pretending—honestly didn’t remember. To me, he’s just Sahyeon. I had no idea whether the name he used back then was real or fake. I didn’t even know if he was alive—how the hell would I know his name?

I don’t know a thing about him.

The three of us walked in silence after that. Honestly, I couldn’t tell you a single thing I did afterward. It’s all a blur.

* * *

I made it back without even knowing how I left.

Told Hyangah I was going to bed and turned the lights off early. I left the window open and sat down at the table, arms crossed, just staring into the dark.

If I wasn’t losing my mind—if I hadn’t actually imagined it—then he’s coming. No doubt about it.

The moon slid lower. Outside, everything fell quiet. This was the time when footsteps disappeared. When Sahyeon moved.

And sure enough, the faintest sound brushed past my ear. I drew my sword in an instant and pointed it at the source. The window had shut at some point.

And there, right at the tip of my blade, stood Sahyeon.

“Evening, my lady.”

“…So you really were alive.”

His face, lit faintly by the moonlight, didn’t so much as twitch. Calm as ever. As always, he wasn’t scared of my sword.

That—somehow—just made me angrier.

“You—do you have any idea what I’ve been—”

“…”

“Was it fun?”

My hands started shaking without permission. Rage boiled up. If he was alive—if he was going to come back—he could’ve sent a word. Just one fucking word.

Even just a sign that he was breathing would’ve made that month a little less hellish.

The guilt I carried, the ache of missing him—it all curdled into fury. Just seeing his face made it hard to hold it down. He must’ve seen that. He gave me a sheepish smile.

“It wasn’t easy to tell you. Things were a mess on my end. I came as soon as I put out the fires. Was I too late?”

“…Yeah.”

“Could you let it slide, just this once?”

“You faked your death and now you show up asking me to let it go? Get the hell out. Now.”

My voice shook at the end. Weirdly, tears welled up. I thought I’d cried all I could after he “died,” but apparently, there was still some left in me.

There were so many things I wanted to ask him. Why he did it. Whether he was okay now. What he planned to do. But none of the words would come.

Then Sahyeon gently nudged my sword aside with one finger.

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t come closer. I’m done with bastards like you.”

I clenched my teeth. Swatted his hand away with the flat of my blade and raised the sword again. But Sahyeon stepped closer anyway. The tip of the blade was nearly touching his throat.

“Are you really trying to die this time?”

I flinched, just a little. But I didn’t lower the sword. If I backed off now, I’d just be falling for his tricks all over again. Playing right into his hands.

He stepped in again. This time the blade did touch his neck. A thin line of blood trickled down.

“Are you insane?!”

“If you really want me dead, I’ll die. I fucked up.”

And then he took another step. One more, and the sword would stab clean through his neck. Unless he’d secretly mastered some invincibility technique, that was a guaranteed kill.

Panicking, I yanked the sword away. Sahyeon just kept walking forward like nothing happened. He stopped right in front of me and said,

“You wanted me to come back alive.”

“That’s because I thought you were dead. But you lied to me. You played me like a fool. You piece of shit!”

“Yeah, I misjudged. I… I didn’t know you’d be this upset.”

His words stopped me cold. Yeah. Even I hadn’t expected to be this wrecked.

Especially since I’d never even shown him how I felt.

But that didn’t mean the anger went away.

“If you had realized how much it hit me, then you should have told me. At least then. But you didn’t. You hid it. You watched me fall apart and probably had a good laugh.”

“No. It wasn’t funny. Not even a little.”

“…”

“I screwed up.”

Sahyeon quietly reached for my hand.

It was warm. Just like when he grabbed my wrist earlier. And before I knew it, my eyes were stinging. I shoved his hand away and slammed my fist into his chest.

“Who the hell do you think you are? You think you get to come in here and turn my whole world upside down like this? Like you know shit about what it took for me to survive?!”

Sahyeon didn’t say a word. Didn’t fight back. He just stood there and took it. Even when I pushed him back with every hit, he stayed right where he was.

If he’d just resisted—if he’d pushed back even a little—I could’ve kept hitting him and hating him. But of course, this asshole had to make it hard.

I glared at him, teeth clenched. My vision blurred. He slowly reached out, brushed my cheek with his thumb.

“I won’t disappear like that again. I mean it. I’m not going anywhere. So don’t cry, okay?”

His breath and his voice slid down my cheek and tickled my ear. I didn’t even get the chance to push him away or say something back before he pulled me into his arms.

His chest was solid. Warm. I just stood there, trapped, fists clenched, biting my lip. I didn’t want to cry anymore—but I couldn’t stop.

“That whole month I was gone—I spent it just trying to come back to you. That’s all it was for. Please believe me.”

“You lie to my face for weeks and now you want me to believe you?”

“Yeah. Because I know you want to.”

“You’re such a smug, insufferable bastard.”

“I know.”

He smiled lightly. Our eyes met when I looked up.

I don’t know what came over me.

I grabbed him by the collar. Rose to my toes. Gave a small tug.

His face came right to mine.

His lips were soft. Silky.

It was my first kiss from both my lives.

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