This takes place after the archery competition in episode 7.

"I still can't believe you won. You really are Daemul," slurred Yong Ha, sloshing soju down the front of his lilac robes. Next to him, Sun Joon's snores were growing in complexity since he'd passed out a few moments before.

Yoon Shik just smiled and continued gazing at the stars, glad she had stopped at only one small cup of soju. The Jalgeum Quartet lay in various states of drunkeness on a grassy hillside overlooking the walls of Sunkyunkwan.

Jae Shin didn't stir from his full-body sprawl but he did growl at Yong Ha. "Get the Noron in his bed before I throw him in the lake for being such a lightweight."

Yong Ha began to protest but took one look at the drooling Sun Joon and decided he'd better get himself to bed before he ended up like the pitiful Noron. "Okay, okay. Night, boys." He managed to get Sun Joon to his feet and they stumbled off into the darkness.

Yoon Shik and Jae Shin lay beside each other in silence, both with dry mouths and thumping hearts. Yoon Shik wondered what the handsome man next to her was thinking about. Good thing he can't read my thoughts, she giggled nervously to herself, fingers clenching on a clump of grass.

She could never have a future with Jae Shin. She could never have a future with any man. In order to maintain her position as a scholar, and the precious stipend it provided for her to keep her sick brother supplied with medicine, she would always have to masquerade as a man. There was no other alternative.

No, I can never tell Jae Shin how I feel about him. How my heart hurts knowing that someday he'll leave Sungkyunkwan, take an official position, marry, have children. His life will go on without me. He'll never know.

"You did good today."

Yoon Shik started at the husky sound of Jae Shin's voice sliding through the night.

"Thank you," she replied, trying to keep her racing heart under control.

Jae Shin slowly began getting to his feet, but cursed and doubled-over, holding his hand tightly to his side.

"Senior? What's wrong?" Yoon Shik asked, coming quickly to him.

Jae Shin waved her away but sat down heavily. "It's nothing. I'll be okay."

But Yoon Shik didn't believe him. She grabbed his hand and pulled it from his side. It came away bloody.

"You are hurt! Why didn't you tell me?" She gasped, pushing him to lie flat on the ground again.

Jae Shin struggled, "I'm fine! Leave me be."

"I have to see the wound to bind it," Yoon Shik said sternly, ignoring his protests.

He went still as she opened his robes, baring his chest. A nasty gash bled profusely across his lower ribs. So this is why he didn't shoot well today in the competition. The pain he must have endured to even lift his bow must have been nearly incapacitating! She went cold at the thought.

Yoon Shik's startled eyes met his. "How?"

Jae Shin looked away, "I can't say."

She decided now was not the time to push and instead began ripping off a strip of fabric from her robes. Grabbing a nearby jug of soju, she looked at Jae Shin. "This is going to hurt."

He nodded and closed his eyes. She poured the soju in a thin stream down the gash, making his stiffen and groan. When she was finished, she used the fabric to tightly bind the wound. She knelt over him, feeling his forehead for signs of fever. As she suspected, he was too warm.

"Come on, I have to get you back to the dormitory." She was able to pull him to his feet and very slowly, they made their way to their room.

At the steps of their dorm room, Yoon Shik told Jae Shin to lean against a pole for support while she checked the room. She gently slid open the door to reveal Yong Ha and Sun Joon fast asleep in her room.

"We'll use Yong Ha's room," Yoon Shik whispered, leading Jae Shin into the next room. She quickly readied a futon and pillow, gently laying the injured man down. She wetted a small cloth and pressed it to his head, willing his fever to abate.

Jae Shin smirked, but there was pain in his dark eyes. "You're too good to me, Daemul."

She grabbed a blanket and settled it around him. When she looked at him again, there were tears in her eyes.

"Hey! Don't cry for me. I'm not worth it," he said, brushing the tiny drops from her cheeks with a limp hand.

She smiled sadly, but the soju made her lips loose. "But you are, Senior. You are very worth my tears."

He frowned but his weakened body forced him to sleep and heal.

***

Jae Shin woke to early morning sunlight filtering though the doors of Yong Ha's room. He looked over to find Yoon Shik curled up next him, fast asleep on the hard floor with no blanket or pillow. Her beautiful face was so soft, so vulnerable.

He remembered bits and pieces of the previous night. Mostly, he remembered her saying that he was worth her tears. What did she mean by that? Women are so damned confusing.

She stirred suddenly and he feigned sleep. Yoon Shik checked his forehead and let out a pleased sigh. Very slowly, she lowered the blanket and unwrapped his robes to check the gash.

Jae Shin froze, his whole body reacting to Yoon Shik's silky hands trailing over his bare stomach. He was about to breathe freely when her hands finished their inspection of the wound, but then her fingers were back, lightly exploring the muscles of his chest. He could feel her warm breath on his abdomen and his groin tightened painfully.

There was a noise from the room next door and she quickly pulled his robe together and reset the blanket around him. She slipped out of the room and did not return.