A Present-II

“How could you be so cruel? I mean just look at that iron rod, do you want me to kiss the world goodbye.” Min-ho said, gasping for breath.

“Because a bad person like you must be punished like this. How dare you come here again? You want to take advantage of a girl, right. You are the first person who dared to enter this mansion, you are a complete stranger to me still I trusted you with my safety.” Si-ri rebuked Min-ho angrily 

"I must be brave enough to scoop away this boy so that he would never dare to come hear carrying his dumb head." Si-ri grumbled in her thoughts.

The moment she was about to flare up on Min-ho, a bag full of Persimmon grabbed her attention and her mouth quickly started watering.

“Persimmon,” Si-ri said, her eyes sparkling as she looked at the persimmons and then at Min-ho. 

“Yes. Last time I noticed how much you like persimmon, so today while purchasing other stuff I saw persimmon and thought to bring it for you. You helped me last time, so it is also my duty to give you something.” Min-ho said happily.

Si-ri's face fell; she hadn't expected him to be such a gentleman. She couldn't understand how she had so badly misjudged him.

Earlier she was cursing him and now she was cursing herself for misjudging such a good person. Min-ho noticed Si-ri's gloom face and asked, “You don't like it? Should I take it back?”

“No. No! I really like persimmons, thank you so much for this.” Si-ri started gulping persimmons and lost in its heavenly taste.

“Punish me, if it is a sin to look at a girl who just wolfed the persimmon down in a few seconds like a pig. But...I am really enjoying this moment.” A small smile made its way onto his lips as the thought popped up in his mind.

Minutes later Si-ri burped happily after finishing persimmon.

“It seems you really have a good appetite,” Min-ho teased her

“Yes, I really love persimmon,” said Si-ri with a wide smile.

Si-ri suddenly noticed blood oozing out of Min-ho’s arm.

A guilt flushed over Si-ri’s face. “I’m really sorry! Ohh it’s bleeding, let me treat this.” She rushed and came up with a bundle of clothes and cotton. 

“Hey! Don’t bother…” Min-ho’s words couldn’t reach their destination as he was interrupted by Si-ri’s concerned face while treating his wound.

Meanwhile Si-ri felt bad looking at the injury caused by her. “Stay still, it’ll hurt a bit but soon you’ll get relief.” Si-ri indulged herself in treating Min-ho’s injury unaware of those pair of intense eyes staring at her carefully.

“Done,” said Si-ri with a satisfactory smile, lifting her face to Min-ho who was already looking at her. 

Min-ho looked at his bandaged arm and thanked Si-ri. 

“The lantern festival is near so I bought a lantern as a gift.”

“Oh thanks! But I don't know much about this lantern festival ,” said Si-ri.

“It is said that years ago when Noam was on the verge of ending from hunger, plague and drought, the royal family of Noam summoned an adorer who served humans in distress, enlightens folk with his knowledge and who is also known to be the messenger of almighty. He blessed Noam with good health and prosperity. Before his departure, then King of Noam hailed for a grand celebration in respect of the adorer. He ordered to fill each and every space with lights and as a result people of Noam along with land, beautified the sky with beautiful lanterns. Seeing the beautiful lanterns in the sky the adorer’s heart filled with happiness that he blessed every person of Noam and asked to write their wishes on lanterns promising that it would come true. Since then the King declared to celebrate the lantern festival every year to remember that gracious messenger of God.”

“Hence the people of Noam celebrate this festival with much love and happiness. For different people the momentousness of this festival is different. Some people eagerly wait for this festival to make their wish come true by writing it on the lantern, for some wealthy folks, it's like a pretext to show off their wealth.” Min-ho narrated the story.

“Wow! That’s great. I wish I could see the festival, the sky full of lanterns, the crowd of people; everything. What about you?” Si-ri asked.

Min-ho could clearly see the sadness in her eyes and felt a sense of sadness within him.

He smirked and said, “For a man like me, festivals don't hold any importance in my life as I’ve no one to celebrate my happiness and sorrows with. I’m an orphan.”

“Sorry to hear that. But you don’t have anyone in this world?” 

“When I was young my mother died, and a couple adopted me. But I was unaware of their intentions; they only adopted me to be a punching bag for their own son. He used to torture me with every means possible it made him happy and also caters his parents need. One day when I decided to not bear the abuse anymore and beat him severely, his loving father burnt my side face with a hot iron rod but it was not enough for him he placed the hot rod on my palm. The pain was excruciating to bear for a young child; I threw myself onto his feet and started begging for mercy. After playing with my delicate body that monster finally released me by confining me in a dark room for several days.”

“That day life taught me a lesson that to survive in this harsh world you need to become cruel. At that tender age, I lost my innocence and prepared myself to walk on the path, where survival becomes easier. The path that leads to cruelty, power and meanness. One fine day I burnt that monster’s child's face when he was sleeping. He must have felt the pain when it came to his child. I fled from there forever, giving myself a new start, a new birth.” Min-ho narrated.

Listening to Min-ho's story, Si-ri felt her heart ache for him. They both looked at each other, eyes filled with pain. A few seconds later Min-ho tried to speak up to break the awkwardness.

 He told her about the story he cooked for his friend Ji-ho about the mansion and they both laughed.

Out of sudden, Si-ri noticed the burning mark on his face and before she could cognize anything her hand was on his cheek caressing the mark with her fingers delicately. “Does it still hurt?” asked Si-ri in a concerned tone.

Min-ho was feeling unsettled with the thought of a girl touching him but also he hated to admit that her touch was like a soft feather against his skin. He held her hand and said, “No, it doesn’t. And this time I will make a wish for you for your happiness,” said Min-ho without leaving his eyes from Si-ri. 

He bent towards Si-ri and whispered in her ear, “We’ll celebrate the Lantern festival together.”

“Sorry! I can’t let you visit here every time,” said Si-ri while struggling to free her hands from his grip.

“I’ve already decided, I’ll come here whether you welcome me or not because I want to see you more often now.” Min-ho flaunted his notorious smile and let go of Si-ri’s hand.

He then proceeded towards the dark forest on his way back to the village. Like last time, Si-ri looked at Min-ho's disappearing figure, but this time she was even more confused about Min-ho.

“Why is this man so stubborn? I think he is mad also.” Si-ri blabbered in an irate manner.