M 82

“Lee Sehwa?”

“Mr. Lee Sehwa has come to visit here…”

“Here? You’re saying Lee Sehwa came to the Ministry of Defense?”

“Yes, um… According to Warrant Officer Choi, it was a plan to surprise you, sir. He bought lots of snacks too… It was meant to be a surprise event of sorts…”

Huh. Ki Tae-jeong swallowed a bitter laugh and took a step, then stopped as he recalled his appearance.

He ran his hand through his hair, pulled out the tie he had carelessly stuffed into his shirt pocket, and neatly fixed his rolled-up sleeves. Lastly, he reached out to pick up the uniform cap thrown on the desk… but decided against it, thinking it might be too much.

“Tell them to let him into the lobby. I’ll go get him now.”

Given how strict they’ve been lately, there was a high chance that Lee Sehwa, an outsider and not even a castle resident, couldn’t have passed the main gate. Though he didn’t have time for this, it seemed best for him to go and escort him personally.

“Really now.”

Ki Tae-jeong, who had been pretending to massage his stiff neck and shoulders, soon burst into laughter. A surprise, he says. And what’s all this about snacks.

Imagining Lee Sehwa’s bright face as he stood there for a while, clutching those little snacks in his hands, somehow made his stomach flutter. Lee Sehwa, who can’t even choose freely when told to buy something. Imagining Lee Sehwa struggling to ask Warrant Officer Choi, saying he wanted to eat this with the brigadier general… It was embarrassing to even think of it this way, but it was a little… heartwarming. How did someone so timid even think of coming all the way here?

As Ki Tae-jeong was about to pass Lieutenant Park and go outside, he checked his appearance one last time in the mirror on the wall. Hmm. Maybe it would be better to dress fully after all? He knew that Lee Sehwa always lost himself whenever he saw him in formal attire. It was the same when he wore a suit, but when he was in uniform, the intensity of his gaze changed. Ki Tae-jeong didn’t dislike that awe and admiration…

“Um…, Brigadier General.”

“Ah, why do you keep calling me.”

Ki Tae-jeong’s expression, who had turned to Lieutenant Park in a somewhat elated mood, gradually hardened. It was because his subordinate, who had brought rather cute news, was suspiciously pale.

“What is it.”

“……”

“Lieutenant Park. Are you going to speak properly or not?”

“That…, Mr. Lee Sehwa… apparently ran into Major General Oh Seon-ran while he was held up at the security check.”

“Oh Seon-ran?”

“Yes, afterwards, they dismissed even the adjutants and had a conversation just the two of them… When he passed the last security checkpoint suddenly…”

Lieutenant Park squeezed his eyes shut as if he didn’t want to say it.

“He collapsed… they say.”

“…What?”

“Lieutenant Na is in the infirmary, and for now, Mr. Lee Sehwa’s stability is important so everyone, including Major General Oh Seon-ran, has been cleared out, sir!”

Before Lieutenant Park could finish speaking, Ki Tae-jeong bolted from his seat.

“Where the fuck is that bastard Choi!”

“Sir! Mr. Lee Sehwa needs to rest now…!”

“Surprise my ass, he ran into Oh Seon-ran and that fucker didn’t report it and just kept his mouth shut all this time? Does he think that’s why I assigned him to Lee Sehwa?”

There was no time to wait for the elevator. The adjutants also rushed noisily, trying to catch up with Ki Tae-jeong who was practically flying down the stairs. The ominous noise, as if a chase had broken out, echoed through the grey corridors. The guards standing at each floor were startled enough to crane their necks towards the commotion.

He understood why Lieutenant Park had been so cautious. He must have anticipated that he would rush in this angrily. Ki Tae-jeong wasn’t unaware either. Although Lee Sehwa’s existence had become known unofficially, it would be troublesome if specific eyewitness accounts of him being so protective of him started to circulate. It would create an official weakness, apart from the trial. But still.

“B-Brigadier General.”

Sehwa collapsed, they said. While with Oh Seon-ran.

Ki Tae-jeong pushed aside Warrant Officer Choi, who had been anxiously pacing outside, and grasped the infirmary door handle. He was about to fling it open… but remembering something, he paused for a moment and rubbed his stiff mouth corners with his thumb and index finger a few times. It didn’t soften completely, but it was much better than before. He also readjusted his tie that had become disheveled from running. Only after tidying up his appearance, so as not to make Lee Sehwa, who must already be startled, shrink back even more at the sight of his terrifying face, did he open the door.

“Ah, Brigadier General.”

Lieutenant Na’s body, peering at the equipment right beside, obscured the view of Lee Sehwa. Still, judging by the bulge in the sheets, he seemed to be lying there. Somehow disliking those pristine white bedsheets covering his entire body, Ki Tae-jeong entered with his brow deeply furrowed, all his grooming efforts wasted.

“…You’re here.”

And Lee Sehwa on the bed… was in a truly terrible state. His already flour-dough-like pallid complexion was twice as pale as usual, making it feel like looking at a corpse with only its eyes open. Just yesterday, he had been chattering away like a sparrow, his cheeks flushed pink, telling all sorts of stories.

“His vitals are much better than before. If he gets plenty of rest, he should recover quickly. However….”

Lieutenant Na sighed and handed over the examination results.

“There’s a little bleeding….”

“Bleeding?”

Startled, Ki Tae-jeong asked again, and Sehwa wriggled, burying his face under the pillow. As if he was deeply sorry for committing a terrible sin. Ki Tae-jeong bit down hard on the inside of his lip. He would try not to raise his voice after this.

“It can happen. It’s not a serious situation. Again, if he gets plenty of rest and takes all his supplements and sedatives, he should be fine. As you know, Sehwa’s constitution is unique, so we’ll need to pay special attention to the dosage for the time being. And of course, we must strictly adhere to the schedule. And…”

Lieutenant Na leaned slightly towards Ki Tae-jeong.

“…Major General Oh Seon-ran seemed quite disturbed.”

“That bastard? He’s the one who made him like this.”

“Not exactly… He was very surprised and genuinely worried about Sehwa. So much so that I couldn’t believe it was an act.”

Ki Tae-jeong glanced over the distribution of the vitals and returned the documents to Lieutenant Na.

“…I understand, so everyone get out for now.”

He sensed a silent commotion behind him. Predictable. The three of them must be exchanging some kind of signal.

“…Sehwa.”

Ki Tae-jeong alternated his gaze between the IV bag hanging on the pole, the black patch wrapped around his thin wrist, and Sehwa’s face, his eyes ringed with dark circles. As one side of the mattress sank slightly from him sitting on it, Sehwa swallowed hard. Sehwa must think he’s going to be scolded for coming here on his own and causing trouble.

“Why….”

Why didn’t he say something, why was he stubbornly arguing with him? He was going to gently chide him and give him a hug. Or maybe brush back his sweat-soaked hair. Sehwa would quickly regain his composure when he smelled his scent, when he buried his face in his arms. He would twitch his eyes and lean slightly closer when he was touched. But….

“…I’m, sorry….”

“…”

“I was a little, scared….”

As soon as Ki Tae-jeong moved, Sehwa flinched violently, like a kicked dog. Ki Tae-jeong hadn’t even touched him. He had only slightly raised his hand, but the rejection was so intense that anyone would think he was constantly being beaten by him.

Ki Tae-jeong withdrew his embarrassed hand and clenched it slightly. He wasn’t upset… just a little heartbroken. What happened at the security checkpoint? And what did Oh Seon-ran say to make him like this….

“You should have contacted me beforehand. This place is already dangerous….”

“…”

“…Sehwa.”

“…”

“Are you, crying?”

As if he didn’t even realize it, Sehwa tilted his head in embarrassment. His hands were rough as he pressed his palms against his eyelids. But despite his efforts, the tears welling up in the corners of his eyes quickly turned into streams, flowing incessantly down his ears.

“Look at me for a second.”

“…”

“What happened to you earlier,”

“Brigadier General.”

His voice was completely ruined, mixed with sobs he was trying to swallow. Terribly cracked, it was such a desperate tone that he felt he should just tell him to shut up and rest.

“I… brought, coo, cookies….”

Even so, Sehwa continued to speak haltingly. He had chosen them so carefully. He wanted to give them to the Brigadier General….

“They’re all… broken.”

All crushed, ruined, turned into trash that no one would like.

After barely muttering that, Sehwa completely covered his face. The two machines next to him emitted ominous warning sounds, and blood began to flow backward through the IV needle in his arm.

“…Alright, calm down for now, lower your arms.”

“I know that Major General didn’t even want it in the first place… but still, I… I….”

“I’ll buy it for you, I will. That cookie thing, I’ll buy the whole store and give it to you… Don’t cry, okay?”

He must have been treated terribly, because Sehwa couldn’t seem to snap out of it and just kept sobbing. It was strange. He always liked Sehwa’s teary face the most, always thought he was pretty. But he didn’t feel good at all right now. Seeing Sehwa, who had been pushed around and was crying so sadly in a place where he wasn’t… something like a lump of fire kept churning and passing down his throat.

He couldn’t take it anymore, he felt like he had to say something… Ki Tae-jeong carefully picked up the name he had been saving. Don’t cry. Sehwa.

“Brigadier General, I….”

Just as his lips were about to part as if he had made up his mind, Sehwa grabbed Ki Tae-jeong first.

“…Uh, speak.”

Ki Tae-jeong held Sehwa’s hand tightly, ready to grant any request. He muttered about how cold he was, gently massaging the tips so they wouldn’t hurt.

Normally, he would have been moved and blushed. He would have been thrilled by Ki Tae-jeong’s unique scent and warm body temperature, swimming alone in a beautifully colored dream. …But not anymore. Sehwa turned his head away, suppressing a sudden wave of nausea.

“I… I want to be in 4-Hwan for a little while.”

“4-Hwan? In this condition, what,”

“Even if it’s just for one day… can’t I just go there and rest for a bit….”

“…”

“Anywhere is fine, not just 4-Hwan. Just one day… please give me some time.”