DP Episode 118

Episode 118

“So that bastard even made a trip to NASA, huh? With the No-named in tow.”

Major General Park furrowed his brow, exhaling a long plume of smoke.

The secrets that Kang Hee-min had buried for so long were now rushing forth like a torrential flood.

While Hee-min hadn’t anticipated this outcome, the situation had started spiraling after the two of them returned from NASA. The tipping point came when Major General Park, alarmed by China’s statements, reached out to the IGTS Director to verify the details of their visit and ended up learning the truth.

The IGTS Director, unaware of the intricacies of the situation back home, simply relayed the facts as they were. However, the higher-ups convened that very day, calling for related personnel and beginning strategic discussions.

With four No-nameds worldwide already eliminated, there was little hesitation on their part.

“Compile the estimated costs and send them to me in advance. We also need to set a reasonable amount for the compensation to the No-named’s family—”

“As far as I know, Lieutenant Ji doesn’t have any family.”

At Major General Park’s words, silence fell over the group. It was the first moment during their conversation when the No-named had been referred to as a person.

“No family…?”

The four men exchanged glances. Fffsshh. Someone extinguished their nearly burnt-out cigarette in a damp ashtray. The man who had just requested the cost estimates twitched the corners of his lips.

“Then…”

He nudged Major General Park’s arm with a peculiar expression.

“…No need for compensation, huh.”

Though he didn’t laugh aloud, his face betrayed his satisfaction. Another man lit a fresh cigarette and posed a question.

“Here’s a thought—how about January 1st? The New Year.”

Despite the seemingly random suggestion, everyone present understood its significance.

“Ah… that’s so dramatic.”

“The date is perfect, isn’t it? If the Gates end that day, it’ll go down as a historic event. Might as well pick a clean, memorable date.”

“How about March 21st? It’s my daughter’s birthday.”

“That’s way too late. Even if we can wait, China and Japan won’t—”

“Apologies for interrupting.”

Suddenly, an unfamiliar voice cut into their conversation. Startled, Major General Park instinctively turned his head, only to step back in surprise and hit his calf against the bench.

“Ah, Lieutenant Ji. Wh-what brings you here?”

Rubbing his leg awkwardly, Major General Park stammered. At the mention of Seo-joon’s title, the expressions of the other three men shifted dramatically. As non-military personnel, none of them had ever seen a No-named in person.

“The staff sergeant said I might find you here. I hope you don’t mind if I intrude; it seems the conversation has been going on for a while.”

Three pairs of eyes fixed on Seo-joon, their faces betraying emotions of fear and revulsion.

The man next to Major General Park scrutinized Seo-joon’s features. ‘What is this, a celebrity?’

Knowing he was a No-named made even his strikingly handsome face seem unnerving.

‘And those creepy-colored eyes…’

“I have something to discuss. Do you have a moment?”

“Ah, uh, yes… Yes, of course. It’s cold out here—let’s move to the office.”

Major General Park stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray, his tone uneasy.

✽✽✽

Nine consecutive photos arrived on Yeon-woo’s phone.

The center’s parking lot, Jeong-woo sitting in a hospital room, the corridor within the center, Jeong-woo drawing, Major Jin and Major General Park walking in the distance, the center’s lounge…

Everything except a picture of Seo-joon himself. As he pouted and scrolled through the photos, he couldn’t help but think: ‘He’s really too much.’

Cha Yeon-woo
[Lieutenant.]
[Thank you for sending the photos, really, but…]
[I wanted to see you, not these…]
11:48 AM

Ji Seo-joon
[Just come over.]
[You’ll see my face soon enough, won’t you?]
11:49 AM

As Yeon-woo tilted his head, rereading Seo-joon’s message with a faint frown, a follow-up message came in slightly delayed.

Ji Seo-joon
[Because I miss you too.]
[When your classes are over.]
11:50 AM

Cha Yeon-woo
[Alright, I’ll come as soon as I can.]
[Did you see Director Kang for your checkup?]
11:50 AM

Ji Seo-joon
[Yeon-woo.]
[Todayㅌㅌㅌㅌㅌㅌㅌㅌㅌㅌㅌㅌㅌㅌㅌㅌㅌㅌㅎ]
11:51 AM
[Sorryㅙㅛ.]
[I dropped the phone.]
11:52 AM

“…”

Yeon-woo’s heart pounded uneasily at the strange texts.

‘Something’s really off with the Lieutenant.’

The messages were jumbled and disjointed, and their conversation felt oddly out of sync.

Given how he’d been acting these past few days, Yeon-woo could almost believe someone else had taken over Seo-joon’s body and was pretending to be him.

‘What if NASA really swapped out my Lieutenant…?’

Determined to hear his voice, Yeon-woo moved to press the call button, but another message popped up before he could.

Ji Seo-joon
[Yeon-woo. Today.]
[Let’s go.]
[On a date.]
11:53 AM

✽✽✽

Colonel Jin entered his office, looking slightly dazed. Cheong-oh, who was sprawled carelessly on the sofa reserved for his father, half-rose from his lounging position, still glued to his phone.

“Why were you in Major General Park’s office for so long? Did he freak out because we clocked out early from the Sinheui-dong site?”

“No…”

Colonel Jin shook his head weakly, his voice sounding utterly drained, and sank into the seat at the head of the sofa. He gazed at the wall adorned with medals and let out a series of deep sighs before finally speaking.

“Cheong-oh.”

“Yeah.”

Still glued to his phone, Cheong-oh responded absentmindedly.

“So, uh… did you say that kid and Lieutenant Ji are dating?”

“They’re not just dating; they’re living together. That quiet little kid climbed the stove faster than anyone expected. They’re even further along than Yeong-gyo and me.”

Cheong-oh chuckled as he tapped his phone.

“Hmm.”

Colonel Jin clasped his hands over one knee, his expression contemplative. After a long pause, he added, “Sit up straight for a moment, Cheong-oh.”

“Huh?”

Finally looking up from his phone, Cheong-oh gave his father a puzzled look. Sensing the unusual atmosphere, he hesitated before sitting upright.

“What’s going on?”

Colonel Jin stared directly at his son’s nonchalant face.

“‘This is on the condition that no responsibility falls on the involved parties.’”

Colonel Jin had met Ji Seo-joon earlier in Major General Park’s office. To him, Seo-joon seemed deeply unstable.

His complexion was pale, and he occasionally glared at something over Colonel Jin’s shoulder. The glances were so unsettling that Colonel Jin reflexively turned around several times, only to find nothing there, which made the whole situation even more unnerving.

“‘Please don’t think of me as Cheong-oh’s friend.’
‘…But as the final Gate, Colonel Jin.’”

These were the words Seo-joon had spoken while finally meeting his gaze after anxiously staring into the void.

It was an impossibly difficult request.

Yet, strangely enough, those simple words had somehow lifted about half of the guilt weighing on Colonel Jin’s shoulders.

Suppressing another sigh, Colonel Jin spoke firmly.

“…Create an SAU group chat but leave out the kid and Lieutenant Ji.”

Cheong-oh blinked in confusion, his expression blank.

“We’ll have to handle a large-scale cleanup soon.”

It was the start of the trolley’s journey—a decision for some to act and others to stand by.

✽✽✽

A crushed paper cup, flattened at the top, tumbled into the trash can. On top of it fell crumpled boxes of tranquilizers and muscle relaxants.

Seo-joon forced himself to calm his searing insides, steadying his breath. The pills he had downed earlier, on an empty stomach that couldn’t even handle a spoonful of porridge, churned violently within him. Despite the agony, the effects were negligible, leaving his frayed nerves to jolt like live wires.

Even tidying up a wretched life required more effort than he had anticipated. Since morning, he had met with Major General Park, Colonel Jin, and had even written his will.

If only he had more time, but unfortunately, not even time seemed to be on his side in this world.

Worse still was the fact that he would have to deceive and betray the one person who might truly be on his side.

Sitting on a bench in the hallway, Seo-joon stared blankly into the distance. The surrounding noise gradually receded into a dull hum.

Hadn’t they said Sergei had been showing signs of psychosis for the past ten years?

…Maybe these things aren’t hallucinations after all.

“Lieutenant.”

The sound of Cha Yeon-woo’s voice pulled him back. Seo-joon opened his eyes.

“You’re here, Yeon-woo.”

The broad figure knelt down in front of him. Seo-joon reached out to touch Yeon-woo’s cheek as the younger man studied him closely.

“Let’s have lunch with Jeong-woo.”

Seo-joon gave him a brief kiss before smiling faintly.

“Did you see Director Kang for your checkup?”

“I did.”

“What did he say?”

“He said the stress from all the casualties at Sinheui-dong must have gotten to me. Nothing serious.”

“Where’s the director now?”

“He’s busy with external meetings, so he’s not here right now.”

Yeon-woo’s clear eyes bore into him. Seo-joon didn’t look away.

“…Sinheui-dong was hard on me too. I understand how you feel, Lieutenant.”

It seemed he had passed the first test. Yeon-woo, now seemingly less suspicious, placed a hand on Seo-joon’s knee.

“But you did your best, Lieutenant. Accidents at the Gates can’t be helped, so don’t carry too much guilt.”

“…Thank you. You must have had a harder time, but here I am, being so dramatic. I’m embarrassed.”

“I got a call from Sun-ae earlier. She said her mom is getting discharged soon. They’re getting compensation, and the house will be rebuilt too. Isn’t that great?”

“…”

Seo-joon felt a pang in his chest at Yeon-woo’s maturity, as he shared good news to ease his guilt.

In truth, Yeon-woo likely knew the faces of every resident in that area. In other words, he had to endure the loss of dozens of people he knew overnight. Yet, instead of breaking down, he had been taking care of Seo-joon, who had spiraled into a frenzy. It was devastatingly unfair.

“You’re the kind of person I want to swallow whole, Yeon-woo.”

Seo-joon suddenly blurted out, gazing at him intently. Yeon-woo’s round eyes grew even wider before they quickly darted downward. Seo-joon watched the tips of his ears slowly turn red, committing the sight to memory. Such treasures were too precious to lose.

“…That means you like me, right?”

Yeon-woo had grown used to interpreting Seo-joon’s habitual remarks as declarations of affection. And in this case, he was absolutely correct.

“Exactly. I like you so much that I want to keep you inside me, that’s how much I crave you.”

“I like you a lot too, Lieutenant. So much.”

Yeon-woo’s shy response was accompanied by a radiant smile that spread across his lips. Seo-joon’s gaze lingered on that expression for a long time.

“If you’ll have me, I’m ready to be swallowed up by you anytime.”

Ah.

…If only he could preserve every moment of Yeon-woo’s life and keep it within himself.

If only he could take all of it for himself.
TL/N: sorry but i think i was using this name differently
Jin Chung-oh _ team leader at SAU – Captain but i mixed his name as Colonel Jin Hyun-jung, Ji Cheong-oh’s father.im sorry the correct name is ‘Cheong-oh’