It seemed so ordinarily human, to wish for family. It made her so much more of a mystery and he couldn’t help asking, “Do you have parents?”
Miyoung scowled at him.
“I mean, I thought the myths said gumiho were originally foxes.”
“I was born just like you,” she said, almost indignantly.
“And your father is a gumiho, too?” He wasn’t sure if he’d ever heard of gumiho being anything other than female.
“He was human.”
“Was?” Jihoon’s mouth suddenly felt dry and he swallowed. “Is he dead?”
“How should I know?” Miyoung mumbled. “I’ve never met the guy.”
“How dysfunctionally ordinary,” Jihoon said. Then he thanked the stars gumiho didn’t have laser eyes or else her glare would have melted his face off. “Sorry, I didn’t mean that the way it sounded. I’m not judging or anything.” He began to ramble again as her dark eyes continued to watch him. “I mean, I wouldn’t even have the right to judge, I grew up without my father, too. Haven’t seen him since I was four.”
“Well, humans suck sometimes,” Miyoung said. It was not the reaction Jihoon usually got, and definitely not the one he was expecting from her.
He was silent a moment, unsure how to reply. Then he let out a roaring laugh. “Thanks.”
“What for?”
“Just for distracting me from my problems by being you.”
“You’re so strange.” Miyoung shook her head. “I should get going.”
But she didn’t leave. Instead she narrowed her eyes, like she was debating something. Then she held out her umbrella.
“What’s this for?” Jihoon asked.
“Gumiho don’t get sick. I don’t need it.”
“Be careful,” he said, accepting the umbrella with a grin. “I might start thinking you like me.”
She rolled her eyes as she left. Her form faded long before he was able to tear his gaze away.
It’s not smart for a person to go looking for trouble among things he doesn’t understand, he reminded himself.
But it seemed he wasn’t that smart.
10
AS MIYOUNG MADE her way through the forest, unease sat heavy in her chest. Was she a fool to allow a person to roam free while he held her secret?
Yena would just make him fall in love with her. She always claimed that when humans thought they loved, they’d do anything. Miyoung didn’t like the idea that love could be manipulated. Yena might be jaded about the human heart, but Miyoung wasn’t yet.
Still, Jihoon worried her with his observant eyes, devil-like smile, and glib tongue. It was a bad combination. Someone who knew too much and cared too little.
It felt like he could see right through her lies. Like how she claimed to control their shared dream. It had been as much a surprise to her as it was to him. But she needed him to believe she was more powerful than she was. She needed to scare him into silence. He’d given his word, but she couldn’t trust that. Even though she wanted to.
Will you be okay? His question echoed in her head. It had sounded like he truly worried for her well-being. Just thinking about it made her heart ache.
Miyoung squeezed her hands into tight fists and felt the tissue still wrapped around her right hand. It was tied in a neat bow despite the delicate material. She ripped it off, revealing skin that had already healed.
Maybe it would be best to tell her mother everything. Yena always knew what to do. But that might mean Yena would take care of Jihoon by making sure he never talked to anyone, ever again. Miyoung didn’t like that Jihoon knew her secret, but she didn’t think he deserved to die for it.
And Yena’s mood was bound to be severe after her trip to the school. It would be best to keep Jihoon a secret a little while longer.
Miyoung’s house sat at the end of the road. The structure was made of glass and wood, open to the nature all around it.
The living room was pristine, not a mote of dust on any surface. They were completely unpacked the same day they’d moved in. There would be no living with moving boxes for Gu Yena.
Glass cases displayed relics from societies past.
Terra-cotta horses, posed for eternity with their regal heads held high. Given to Yena as a token of affection. The man had smuggled them into the country as proof of his love.
A six-pointed crown, dripping with jade beading and gold pieces. A gift to Yena from a cousin of a king.
Long jade binyeo, hairpins with smooth shafts. The ends carved and whittled into intricate maze-like patterns creating