Balam

Photo by Ying Qi Chai from Pexels

Dressed in the traditional Hanbok for peasants, Han Ji-woo walked steadily to the West Wing where her Lady resided. Her gait was confident despite the slouch in her shoulders. Plum blossoms fell like flakes of snow causing ripples in the small fishpond.

Han Ji-woo proceeded to her mistress’ quarters, slides the door open and was not at all surprised by the disgraceful picture before her. Loud snores filled the room accompanied by an occasional grunt.

“My lady. It’s time to rise” Ji-woo persuaded her mistress, softly stroking and poking until she opened her eyes.

Amber liquids squinted at the force of the sunlight permeating the room; long black hair tangled like the intricately embroidered mustard colored sheets on the layered bedding. Song Eun-Kyung lifted herself, rubbing her eyes and scratching her head.

“Is breakfast ready yet?”

“Almost,” Ji-woo replied, “but your bath is.”

An hour later, Eun-Kyung sat amidst a hearty breakfast in the dining hall with her parents, Song Ju-won her father and Kim Mi-soo her mother. Light chewing noises and scrape sounds of chopsticks against porcelain crowded the silent space until Song Ju-won broke the silence.

“An auspicious day has been picked. Prepare yourself. You will meet with your husband soon.” He declared and carried on with his meal, not one bit bothered at the turbulence his words left behind. Eun-Kyung looked to her mother who was either really concentrated on fetching that piece of kimchi or pretended to be busy fetching it.

“Appa”, she started, using the affectionate term she had for him, but he cut her off,

“Eun-Kyung. I have always given you all you wanted as my only child. You have never lacked anything. I even let you study defiling custom. Have I ever denied you anything within my power?”

Silence fell like thick linen in the room. Song Eun-Kyung’s hand trembled as she met the questioning eyes of her father. For the first time in 17 years, this man who always had laughter in his eyes when looking at her seemed so cold. The air about him left no room for defiance or even reason. Swallowing the words on her tongue, she nodded and looked down.

“I look forward to it father.”

“Good. The Lee’s are a prominent family and their eldest son has his eyes on you. He will take care of you. That I am sure of.”

Han Ji-woo who blended in the background did not miss the way her lady’s fingers tightened around the silver ware.

“Ji-woo. You have to help me.”

Song Eun-Kyung’s frantic call stole the sleep from the poor maid.

“My lady. It is well into the night. What are you doing here?” Ji-woo asked with wide eyes, “You are not supposed to soil your shoes stepping into a servant’s quarters.”

“You are also my friend. Now, you have to help me.”

“My lady, I have many super powers but I can’t get you out of this marriage. I’m not running away with you either.”

Han Ji-woo did not cower at the death glare that was a response to her statement.

“That is not what I meant. I want to meet Balam.”

“You cannot be serious my lady. Why would you want to meet a wanted criminal?”

“Shhh! He is not a criminal! He’s…” she trailed off

Han Ji-woo could not mistake the blush on her missus, surprise coating her features.

“You have a crush on Balam?”

“Who doesn’t?”

“The whole of Joseon?”

“He’s misunderstood and that makes me understand him. Besides, these nobles have their brains blocked with their noses the size of an ancient tree turned in the air. They don’t appreciate true literature.”

Ji-woo observed Eun-Kyung with a shimmer in her eye, “You’re a noble”

“With a ruffian mentality. Are you going to help me or not?”

Ji-woo weighed her options internally. Balam was an anonymous literature writer who was termed vulgar because they adopted the Hangeul system of writing invented by King Sejong among many other sins. Many elites had not come to terms with education for commoners and released a bounty for whoever would hand over the culprit who kept distributing writings based on erotic romance as it was seen as corrupt. No one knows who Balam is. When a new volume of their book titled Kissed by the Sun was released, a great amount of people in Joseon would wake up with a copy of the manuscript at their door. She always made sure her lady got hers and they have kept this a secret.

“But why all of a sudden? Why now?”

Eun-Kyung released a deep sigh and adjusted to fit on the tiny bedding, “Because, I have accepted my fate of being the wife to a man I barely know. I also know stepping into that house could very well mean the end to reading those scripts. So, to have no regrets, I want to see for myself who this person is. I need to see the face of the man who evokes these feelings within me.”

“What if it’s not a man?”

Eun-Kyung turned slowly to look at Ji-woo, her eyes glowering,

“Hey! Do you have a death wish? Why would you even ask something like that?”

“So you can prepare yourself for whatever disappointment you may have to face. Worse? What if it is a man that looks like poorly made dumplings? You need to be prepared.”

“Ugh! Stop…” Eun-Kyung whined, “The way he writes says he's handsome.”

Ji-woo shrugged, “So when do you plan to meet him?”

“I don’t have a plan. That is why I am here. You always come up with something. Help me.”

The eyes of the two locked for several seconds before Ji-woo agreed with a nod and asked Eun-Kyung to meet her by the Han River in three days after nightfall.

“Why can’t we just leave together like we do?”

“Just trust me and show up.”

Night had fallen when Eun-Kyung expertly climbed over the fence and made her way towards the river, a lamp in hand. The mellow sounds of the river overwhelmed her senses minutes later. She called out softly to Ji-woo who appeared from behind a tree. With a wide smile, Eun-Kyung closed the distance between them.

“Have you been here long? Are we meeting him here? You found him, didn’t you? I knew you would. You never disappoint me!” She could barely contain her excitement.

Ji-woo smiled, “I’m sorry that this would be the first time I am disappointing you.”

Eun-Kyung’s smile faltered, “What do you mean?”

“Your Balam is not a man. She is a woman. And she’s been really close to you.”

Eun-Kyung was dazed for all of three seconds before she blurted, “Who?”

In response, Ji-woo stretched out her arms, which held a well put-together Hanji, “That is the fourth volume of Kissed by the Sun. I always reserve the first for you.”

Eun-Kyung’s eyes bounced between her friend and the item in her hand. Slowly the pieces came together.

“It is you? You are Balam?”

Ji-woo chuckled, “Disappointed?”

“But how?”

Ji-woo led them to sit before she broke out in a full detailed story of how she would secretly hide to study the books that Eun-Kyung was given by her father before she was able to get her hands on a copy of the scripted Hangeul that was easier to learn.

“I can’t believe it.”

“Believe it. Do not worry my lady. I’ll make sure your marriage is a bearable one with my books.”

“You better.”