CHAPTER 387: THAT SOUNDS EASIER SAID THAN DONE

I nearly toppled backward, but thanks to the timely intervention of my masters, I was safe.

They both caught me, angst and worry filled their face as they feared for the worst.

"That was very reckless," Seo-Jun claimed.

"And dangerous," Min-Cheol added.

So now they’re on the same page.

"I knew you’d save me regardless," I said to them. "Now, help me up."

They managed to set me up steadily and then I balanced on the horse.

Wow, it was high. I was high.

They made sure my legs were inside the saddles properly, to avoid an accident and I laughed.

Regardless, horse riders were amazing.

When Jie-Yu did it, it looked like a breeze but when I tried to do it, it felt like being asked to prove a quadratic equation I spent the whole week calculating.

But at least I got on the horse safely.

I was lucky this time but I don’t think I’ll want to get on a horse on my own the next time.

"See?" I said, my chest puffed in pride. "I did it."

"Yes, Hyung. You did it." Min-Cheol said, trying to cheer me up but then Seo-Jun murmured.

"Barely."

Seo-Jun mounted his own horse beside me, his eyes glinting as he got ready to hit the hay.

His horse neighed and clopped its hooves a few times, causing Seo-Jun to bounce, but he looked perfectly balanced at the same time.

"Don’t fall, Jo-Pil." He said. "It’s a long and dangerous way down."

"That much I know."

Jie-Yu rode her horse back and circled around me as she took note of my position.

"You’re doing great, young master!" She said before taking off again, this time faster than before.

"Wow, she’s so good at this," I exclaimed as I marveled at her prowess. But... When did she start calling me young master?

I thought I told her to call me casually.

"Shall we go now, Hyung?" Seo-Jun asked.

Since we hadn’t come to a conclusion as to who would go first, it seems like they’d just give their own suggestions.

"Alright."

The stable keeper held my reins and led me into the field. And while tej horses made the clip-clop sounds with their hooves, I felt excited.

My body slightly swayed but I managed to keep myself on the horse. I was finally riding a horse, I thought.

This was amazing.

The horses, both Min-Cheol’s white steed and Seo-Jun’s black one moved with some sort of pride. Were they a royal breed? I wondered. They were definitely majestic.

They were just a feet ahead of me but as we got into the fields, they slowed down and we were finally on the same line.

I wasn’t sure who I’d fall on first if things went wrong, but judging by the way they both looked ready to catch me, at least I wouldn’t hit the ground, I thought.

And if I did hit the ground, they’d certainly catch me.

Mary snorted beneath me, a deep, chest-rumbling sound that vibrated right through the leather I was sitting on, and my legs.

I wasn’t sure if it was a warning or a greeting, but either way, I stayed completely still, pretending I knew what I was doing.

"Alright, Hyung," Min-Cheol said, closing the gap between us. "Hold the reins like this, gently, and not too tight. You don’t want to choke or startle the poor thing."

I nodded and tried to mimic his grip.

The stable keeper finally let go of the reins and stepped aside. I held the reins.

It’s leather felt foreign and slick under my palms but I got a good grip on it.

"Now," Seo-Jun drawled from the other side with his own horse, "...lean forward a bit, not that stiff."

"That sounds easier said than done" I muttered, adjusting my seat.

"Feel the rhythm, don’t fight it. Just go with the flow." Seo-Jun added, and I tried to do that, but then felt something weird about his words. Is it because he’s a pervert? Why do those words sound perverted?

Seeing the look on my face, he smirked.

"It seems you understood it perfectly." He said.

I gave him a deadpan look while Min-Cheol shook his head.

"I don’t think this is going to work," he said. "I’ll do it first. Excuse me Hyung."

I wondered what he was talking about and Seo-Jun did not react either.

"Yeah, sure, go ahead. Better than an accident occurring."

Min-Cheol climbed down from his horse and then held my reins.

In case the horse got startled, he needed to be in charge of the reins to calm her down.

He climbed onto the horse in a swift motion, landing behind me and holding the reins tight as the horse neighed.

"Good girl," he mumbled, his hand suddenly wrapped around my waist and his head leaned into my shoulder.

Why did... Why did that suddenly sound weird in my ear?

"Hold the reins like this, Hyung." He murmured, his breath brushing the back of my ear. "Relax your shoulders and let the movement come to you."

Easy for him to say. His voice alone made me stiffen, so how was I supposed to relax?

"O-okay," I responded regardless, holding the space between the reins.

He didn’t let go at the start and gave the rein a slight tug.

The horse started walking, surprisingly gentle.

"If you want to take a light stroll, just give it a light tug like I just did. And then if you want to increase the pace," he whipped the reins once again, and the horse picked up the pace. "Just like that."

My heart raced at first, but Min-Cheol’s calm tone steadied me. For a brief moment, it almost felt peaceful, and the horses’ steady gallops made it seem even more breathtaking at the moment.

It was something straight out of a fairytale, if you ask me.

"Now, Hyung, try it." He let go of the reins.

I nearly panicked but steadied my heart and gave it a gentle whip, slowing down the horse’s movement.

"Not bad," he said softly. "You’re a natural, Hyung."

I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. "Really?"