M 73

Bang! The emergency exit’s iron door opened loudly. Following that, the sound of military boots striking the ground echoed through the quiet department store. Following the unstoppable steps that seemed to have a clear destination, the soldiers’ deep-seated voices of “Salute” continued like waves.

“You can’t do this. Major General Oh Seon-ran is inside.”

The crisp salute was abruptly cut off as the uninvited guests reached the passage leading to the café. When the aides, slightly higher in rank than those guarding outside, tried to stop the incoming party, the heavily sunken air suddenly turned tense.

“Brigadier General, just a moment…!”

“No, stop them!”

A small commotion arose between those trying to block and those trying to push through. The sound of hitting and shoving was loud. And breaking through that chaos, a tall figure appeared.

It was Ki Tae-jeong, wearing the navy blue Air Force uniform that suited him as if it had been his since birth, potentially appearing rustic on others.

As if all this commotion had nothing to do with him, he walked steadily towards this direction with a detached expression. With the tangled soldiers fighting like dogs as a backdrop, Ki Tae-jeong’s appearance felt somewhat surreal.

“Brigadier General…”

Though he could recognize his face, it was too far for his call to reach. Above all, Sehwa’s voice was so small that even Oh Seon-ran, who was close by, could barely hear it. Knowing this, Sehwa still kept muttering, “Brigadier General, Brigadier General…”

The child’s gaze, which had been wandering aimlessly until now, was clearly focused on one spot. The look in his eyes, peering over Oh Seon-ran’s shoulder, had melted away the unfamiliarity and bewilderment.

Ah. Oh Seon-ran swallowed a dark sigh.

He had been planning to meet with Ki Tae-jeong alone soon. No, he had to. Although he didn’t believe Kim Seok-cheol’s nonsense, Ki Tae-jeong was also suspicious. Especially regarding Sehwa’s pregnancy. Whether this happened due to the drvg from the ‘harvest’, or thanks to Sehwa’s innate constitution, and whether Ki Tae-jeong knew all this and was using the child. He had to confirm.

But… now wasn’t the time. He couldn’t question the circumstances of this incident in front of the child who was so visibly drawn to Ki Tae-jeong.

Now he was close enough to discern even the slightest movement of his eyebrows. In one hand, he was crumpling his uniform hat and tie, while with the other, he carelessly brushed off leaves stuck to his jacket and cheek. A few strands of hair falling out of place, slightly wrinkled trouser legs… It seemed he had moved here by helicopter from the conference room.

The brazen intruder combed back his disheveled hair with fingers like blades, then put on the navy blue cap, symbol of the Air Force. Then he wrapped the tie he had been holding around his shirt collar. As the man buttoned the topmost button he had left undone and tightened and pulled the tie’s knot, Sehwa’s Adam’s apple quivered slightly.

Finally, after dusting off his sleeves and front jacket a couple of times, he looked presentable enough to not be faulted in front of a superior.

“I believe this is our first time meeting like this,” Ki Tae-jeong said, giving a perfunctory salute as he approached.

“General Oh Seon-ran.”

As if not needing a response to his greeting, Ki Tae-jeong, having observed minimal courtesy, went straight to where Sehwa was sitting. Judging by his whispering lips, he seemed to be urging him to stand up. Seeing his audacious behavior of immediately grabbing the child’s wrist, Oh Seon-ran was about to jump up from his seat… But watching him hide Sehwa behind him and comfort him in his own way, asking about his condition… the grip that had been about to break the armrest loosened ever so slightly.

“You know I’m an ill-mannered bastard, so I’ll speak without further courtesy.”

The intensity in Ki Tae-jeong’s face as he turned back to Oh Seon-ran, while keeping Sehwa hidden behind him, was… almost beyond description as mere anger.

“If you approach Sehwa like this one more time, your name will also be on the indictment. I believe you already have plenty to explain on the day of the trial.”

Ki Tae-jeong said through gritted teeth, his eyes burning as if he would have killed him on the spot if not for the rank insignia.

He should have been angry at this blatant insubordination. Oddly enough, seeing Ki Tae-jeong quite seriously protecting Sehwa actually calmed his displeasure. While not overflowing with affection, it was clearly different from the Ki Tae-jeong he remembered.

Of course, if Ki Tae-jeong had r4ped Sehwa as Kim Seok-cheol claimed, or if he was keeping him locked up and treating him as he pleased… there would be no need for a military trial. He intended to handle it herself with summary execution. But watching the two interact, albeit awkwardly, it did seem they had some sort of mutual understanding.

Still, of all people, why him… Even if he wasn’t showing his usual scoundrel-like behavior, Ki Tae-jeong was far from satisfactory as a match for the child.

He wasn’t trying to judge based on background or upbringing. Even from their brief conversation, Sehwa’s gentle nature was evident. This was clear even though he hadn’t yet opened his heart to Oh Seon-ran. If the child had formed a connection with someone more gentle and kind, someone who matched his temperament, Oh Seon-ran would have gladly given his blessing.

No, it would have been more than a blessing. He would have used all his power to support Sehwa’s partner. But Ki Tae-jeong hadn’t made the pregnant Sehwa his wife, nor had he stepped up as his legal guardian. What could possibly be trusted about such a man…

“Sehwa.”

Controlling his bubbling worries, he called out to the child standing behind Ki Tae-jeong. Sehwa peeked out his head, his eyes wide as if struck by lightning. He blinked his round eyes slowly, as if unaccustomed to hearing his name called so kindly.

“Did I mention? You and your real father, you look exactly alike.”

Oh Seon-ran stood up with a small smile. He wanted to ask Jin-woo once more. Did he really feel that Sehwa didn’t resemble him at all when he first saw him? Even such small expressions were identical… He had such pointless thoughts even knowing he could no longer meet him even in dreams.

“Anyway, I was indeed rude today, so I’ll take my leave now.”

“…”

“May I contact you again soon?”

Ki Tae-jeong tightly held Sehwa’s hand. So tightly that his already pale skin turned as white as paper. Oh Seon-ran was ready to intervene if there was any sign of force, but Sehwa rather looked at Ki Tae-jeong with a slightly touched expression. He seemed to feel that he was protecting him from a stranger.

“When you’re ready to hear, I’ll explain everything. What kind of person your father was, how much he wanted to see you… Why I couldn’t find you all this time, things like that.”

“…Yes. I just hope you could give me some time to think as well.”

“Of course. Feel free to verify everything through Brigadier General Ki Tae-jeong. You can come to my office to examine that certificate from earlier. Whether it’s the official residence or my office, come anytime if you have questions. Think more about the baby issue too. It’s still early, so we have time. Let’s talk slowly, okay?”

Oh Seon-ran put the certificate back in the envelope. At this distance, it would have been clearly visible to Ki Tae-jeong. As a Brigadier General, he couldn’t have missed it. Ki Tae-jeong’s elegant eyes narrowed into almond shapes. His gaze was cursing him, asking what kind of trick this was.

Oh Seon-ran inwardly clicked his tongue. His attitude of rushing in recklessly was good, but too rough. He must have shown such aspects to Sehwa as well. Just look at how the child was hesitating over just two types of fruit earlier. If he had treated him well usually, why would he hesitate? He would have grabbed whatever he wanted without a second thought.

“Oh, Sehwa.”

“Ah, yes.”

“Your father said he really craved white rice cakes when he was pregnant with you.”

“White rice cakes?”

“Yes. Even though I met him after you were born, he mentioned it several times.”

He had scribbled about this a couple of times even though their written conversations started much later. It must have been something that deeply affected even that mild-mannered, calm person.

“So make sure to eat whatever you crave. Even if morning sickness makes it hard. Understood? Don’t just brush it off thinking it’ll be fine. You’ll keep thinking about it later and feel upset.”

Sehwa nodded slightly and touched his eyes with the hand that wasn’t held by Ki Tae-jeong. He seemed to be wondering if he had become cross-eyed.

Finding that innocence lovely, Oh Seon-ran turned away with a small smile. Even if Sehwa had been a vicious, malicious criminal, he would have embraced him. He would have tried to cherish him somehow. But he never expected him to be such a sunny, gentle child… that he would be a spitting image of Jin-woo from appearance to personality.

And after putting some distance between himself and Sehwa… only then did a thick tear roll down his cheek. How arrogant had his resolve been to find the child, save him, and cherish him? When he thought about it, he had played a part in Sehwa’s life going awry. With that background, did he have the right to meddle in that child’s life now?

Oh Seon-ran endured the rising breath while pressing his hand to his eyes, then moved his tired steps again. He really couldn’t collapse now. Instead of pathetically feeling sorry like this, he needed to return the life Sehwa had lost, even now.

It was time to keep his promise to Jin-woo.

***

“Brigadier General, how did you… Ah!”

Ki Tae-jeong, who had been glaring at Oh Seon-ran and his group disappearing into the distance, suddenly hugged him tightly. He felt like he could push him away if he wanted to… but his cheek pressed against his chin, his lips buried in his neck. Even though they barely touched, he could clearly feel his anxiously throbbing pulse, making it somehow difficult to ask him to let go.

“Brigadier General.”

“…”

“Were you… worried about me?”

He asked carefully instead. Somehow, what his actions indicated seemed to be narrowing down to one direction, so he asked with a hopeful heart.

“You call that a question right now?”

He clearly seemed about to curse, saying “shit,” but Ki Tae-jeong managed to hold it back and took a deep breath. Sehwa unknowingly hid a laugh that almost burst out. He had told him not to swear at the innocent baby, but he didn’t mean he had to fix all his usual speech habits….

“I’m the crazy bastard who sent you out with just Warrant Officer Choi.”

Sehwa, who had been inhaling the man’s cool, refreshing scent that calmed his nerves, felt strange as he detected the sharp smell of cigarettes he hadn’t smelled recently, along with the wind scent he had brought in. It seemed he still smoked outside, but why didn’t he even put a cigarette to his lips when he was with him? Was he really… worried about him, about his body?

“From now on, only go out with me. It’s because I’m at least a Brigadier General that they’re trying this much, but shit, the opponent is a General, so a lieutenant or warrant officer won’t cut it.”

“Why? Is there… something dangerous?”

“To those who want to side with Lieutenant Kim, you’d be good prey. They’re probably plotting to pin everything on you somehow.”

Ah…. Sehwa finally managed to gather his thoughts that had been frolicking in a flower garden.

When no less than a General came to talk, he was too surprised. Moreover, the content was something he had never thought about in his life, so he was just dazed…. Thinking about it from another angle, it became a bit scary.

Major General Oh Seon-ran came knowing exactly where he was and what he was doing. He even knew about the child he was carrying with Ki Tae-jeong. Of course, he wasn’t trying to persuade or threaten him, but… anyway, it means that military personnel can easily track his movements. It seems his information has already spread publicly….

“Still, I thought they wouldn’t act recklessly, thinking it could backfire on them if they approached someone from the 5-Star arwa, especially someone carrying my child, without good reason….”

Ki Tae-jeong muttered that he didn’t expect Major General Oh Seon-ran to appear in person.

“You probably didn’t see, but there were quite a few others guarding. They were tracking all your movements….”

Sehwa blinked quietly. How to put it. Surprisingly, Ki Tae-jeong seemed to be… making excuses to him. That he didn’t deliberately throw him into danger, that he wasn’t neglecting him while knowing everything. That this was truly an unexpected accident.

“Anyway, from now on, move only with me, whether you’re going shopping or whatever.”

“…”

“Why aren’t you answering?”

As if trying to look at his silent face, Ki Tae-jeong’s upper body, which had been bent, heaved greatly. After hesitating for a moment, Sehwa stood on his tiptoes. Even when he raised himself as high as he could, he couldn’t reach the top of the man’s head… but he still stretched out his hand as best he could and patted Ki Tae-jeong’s back a couple of times.

“…I will.”

At Sehwa’s clumsy touch, the man’s body, seemingly forged from steel, flinched.

“I’ll only go out with you, Brigadier General.”