Mina slowly walked to her room, exhausted from her daily training session. Today had been particularly grueling, her father pushing her to her limits. Mina wanted nothing more than to just collapse on her bedroll. She enters her room, carrying Scarlet Thunder, when she notices a small jewelry box on her little dresser. It was a black lacquered box with flying cranes inlaid with mother of pearl. Wondering where it came from, she kneels down in front of it, placing Scarlet Thunder on the floor next to her. She slowly opens it up. Inside, she finds it filled with tiny rolled up hanji paper, in multitude of colors. 

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Curious, she opens one up. It read: Your smile warms my heart, filling me with happiness.

Mina’s heart fluttered. It was written in Hwang’s handwriting.

She opens up another one: You are as beautiful as the rising sun. I am captivated by your radiant glow.

Mina started to shake, overcome with emotion. Hwang had taken the time to write these heartfelt words to her, these little love notes, expressing his feelings for her. Tears welled up in her eyes. This was the most precious gift she had ever received.

She tenderly opens up another one: I love you, my Mina.

She gently fingers his words, delicately tracing the Korean characters, touched by his words.

She lovingly opens up another: You are the most delectable of fruits, my sweet. I could just eat you up.

Mina blushes, her cheeks a rosy pink, looking so pretty. She felt all tingly all-over.

“Oh, Hwang,” she whispers out loud. “You move me so.”

“Not as much as you move me, my Mina.”

Mina turns around, still on her knees. Hwang was standing in her doorway, gazing at her tenderly, his expression so intense. He walks silently towards her, kneeling before her. She touches his cheek.

“Thank you, Sung-Kyung, for the most precious of gifts,” she whispered. “I shall treasure it always.”

“No sweet Mina, thank you,” his voice husky with affection. “You are the most precious of gifts. I shall treasure you always.”

He took her mouth, kissing her so deep, holding her so close, so thoroughly overcome.