| WORD COUNT: 1.7K
"Ji Ah!" You heard someone call. "Coming!" You yelled back. You quickly dashed towards the kitchen to where your mother was at. "Yes?" You asked before she turned around and handed you three beers. "Go take that to the table by the window." She said before getting back to duty.
You sighed as you walked towards the table that had three men sitting there. "Good evening, here are your beers." You said as you placed each of them in front of one of each other. "Thank you, beautiful." One stated as he looked you up and down with a sly smirk.
You furrowed your eyebrows with disgust before walking back to the kitchen. "Mum." You groaned as you walked inside the kitchen. She hummed as she turned to you whilst wiping her hand with a rag. "Remember that time when I had hit a man for staring at me wrongly?" You asked as you wandered around the kitchen next to her.
She furrowed her eyebrows. "I don't like where this is going.." She sighed before placing the rag down. "Did a man look at you again!?" She said with irritation in her tone. You nodded your head. "So, can I-?" She cut you off as she stormed out of the kitchen to the table you were just at.
You stayed in the kitchen as you watched from afar. "Which one of you dogs looked at my daughter in such a disrespectful way!?" She yelled. Before they could respond, two of them pointed at the oldest guy that was guilty. "Hey! Wait a minute now!" He defended. Before he could say anything else, she punched him.
You snorted as you turned around and went to the other cooker that was laughing to herself. "I swear your mum is psycho, Ji Ah!" She chuckled. You only shrugged your shoulders. "It's just how it is." You replied with a shrug before turning to her. "Anyways, found any new books, Jisoo?" You asked as you looked at her with a gleam in your eyes.
She frowned before shaking her head no. "Actually, I think you should see this," She said before reaching into her pocket and pulling out a beaten-up piece of paper. "About a week ago when I went to this village to look for some new spices, I found this hanging on one of the posts there." She said and handed you the paper.
You took it and unfolded to see what was on. Your heart dropped as you saw a draw of yourself when you were younger with the words 'WANTED' at the top of it. "W-What is this..?" You said with a shaky tone. "I-I don't know. We should tell your mum," She said as she grabbed your hand. You both walked into the dining area where Chae Rin, your mother, was still scolding the man.
"Ms Kwon?" Jisoo said as she turned to you both. "What is it?" She asked with a bit of an attitude before softening her facial expression once she saw yours. "Woah, woah, woah! What's the matter!?" She asked before reaching out for the both of you. "Can we talk privately?" You asked with your head down. "Yeah, let's go to the kitchen." She replied as you both turned around and walked back to the kitchen.
Your mom turned around at the man and mouthed a threat to him as she held up her thumb to her neck and made 'your dead' motion before walking to the kitchen.
"What's wrong? Did something happen?" She asked worriedly. You handed her the goldenish paper. She gasped before looking at you. "J-Ji Ah.." She brought you in a hug. "Do you know anything about this?" You asked. You felt her body stiffen under you before she slowly pushed you off of her. "I-I guess it's time to tell you since I can't protect you any longer I guess," She said.
You furrowed your eyebrows before she spilled the truth. "And you didn't tell me!?" You yelled. She looked down as guilt flooded around her. "You could get killed, because of me!" You screamed at her. "Calm down, give yourself a moment," Jisoo said as she grabbed your shoulders, but you shoved her off of you.
"No! Do you know who is after me!?" You asked. She looked up at you with tears running down her face. You felt your heart break. You could have avoided this. "Yes," She said as she brought you back from your thoughts. "Then who are they?" The words slipped from your mouth.
She looked down again. "I-It's the A-" She got cut off by a man a little older than you busting through the doors of the kitchen as he breathed heavily, he probably ran here. "Min Jung, what are you doing here?!" She asked as she looked at him.
"They're here." He replied, making your mom's eyes widen before turning to you. "You have to leave, now!" She yelled as she walked towards you. "Wh-What?" You said, a little confused. "You didn't tell me who-" "You got to go, or you'll die!" She yelled, cutting you off once again. "Here!" She picked up a bag and shoved it in your arms, forcefully. "I-What is this?" You asked. "Clothing! Now, I need you to get the hell out of here, and the first ship you see, get on!" She screamed as she began to push you out from the back exit in the kitchen. "Mom, wait!" You halted her action.
"What do you mean?! You want me to leave you!?" You yelled. She sighed. "Quickly change into these and come back, if you're not quick, we'll all die then." She said and walked to the dining area once again. "J-Jisoo?" You looked at your friend. "Whatever happens, promise you'll come back and visit Ironforge." She said as tears threatened to come out her eyes. "Don't cry.." You said.
She forced a smile on her face as a tear escaped and trickled down her cheek. You grabbed her and brought her in a hug. "I promise," You mumbled before pushing her off of you. "Stay safe, alright?" You said. She nodded her head before walking out with the male, letting you change.
You walked out of the kitchen and went to your mom as she was talking to a group of men. "Mum? These are boy clothes." You said. She turned to you. "I know," She then turned back to the men. "Please take him, I'm begging you," She asked with a crack in her voice. "Sorry ma'am, but we don't need any more people in my crew." One replied. He's probably the captain. "Please,!" "Mum, what do you mean 'him'?" Jisoo pulled you aside.
"Ji Ah~ Your mother is giving you away to protect you. You need to leave this island. Runaway! Take the identity of a boy because females aren't welcomed on ships!" She said as her voice cracked with tears rolling down her face. "What!? No!" You yelled back. You felt your heart shattered. What the hell is going on!?
"Put this on." She handed you a long bandage. "Wrap this around your breast tightly so it can be flatter." You looked at her puzzled. She sighed before turning you around pulling your shirt down exposing yourself. You yelped as you covered yourself with your arms. "Jisoo, the hell-" "Give me the bandage.." Her voice cracked before taking the bandage from you and tightly wrapping it around your breast, making you lose your breath slightly. "Make sure every few days you adjust it so you don't pass out." She said once she finished while pulling down your shirt and made you look at her. "Now you have to go! Get the hell out!" She screamed as she pushed you to the doors of the tavern.
"Jisoo! Wait!" You yelled. "Get out! Don't come back until you know it's safe!" She yelled and pushed you completely out. "Please.." She sobbed. You cried with her as you dropped your head. "Take your bag with you," Your mum said, coming out of nowhere. She handed you the bag. "If they ever find out, take this." She handed you the same bag that is now filled with your old clothes. She then took off her necklace and handed it to you. "M-Mum..I can't, dad gave you th-" "I know, but Ji Yong will be happy if I gave you this." She told you.
You took the locket that had a picture of you three in it. You teared up. Jisoo then handed you another necklace. "If years pass and you come back, this is how we'll find each other." She said as she handed you the gem necklace. You put it on with the locket. The amethyst began to glow. She reached in her pocket and pulled out a sapphire one that was also glowing.
"If they glow, that means we're close by with each other." She spoke. "Just be safe, alright?" They both said at once. You chuckled before you three hugged each other tightly.
"Now go! Get out of here!" Chae Rin yelled. You nodded your head as you broke away from them. "I'll come back, I promise." You said before you turned and ran for the docks. You continued to run until you saw a large ship as the gangplank was lowered.
You dashed up onto the ship and looked around for anyone before booking it to the hold. You looked around for a place to sit down and just breathe. You saw a good spot in the corner as you made your way around some barrels and sat down as you tucked yourself in a ball. You feel exhausted. You run your finger through your hair and realised it's still long. You reached in your bag and pulled out a long piece of string and tied a section of your hair into a sloppy bun. You heard footsteps above you on the main deck and yelling.
You felt the ship begin to move. "Did I just get on when they're undocking?" You mumbled to yourself. Wait..
Wait a damn minute..
What if they find me and think I'm some foe or spy or whatever!?
You began to overthink as your heart couldn't calm down. What if they kill me!? You gasped loudly before covering your mouth. You scooted further back into your spot so you cannot be found. You rested your head on the barrel next to you. Maybe when I wake up, I can think more about this. You thought before you closed your eyes and drifted off to sleep.
Those hazel eyes looked up at the sky as he searched throughout the clouds. "Please be safe Hœn**, come back alive."