GB 26

If someone asks whether Haero ended up having dinner with Yoon Moo-hwa, the answer is no, he couldn’t.

Given the limited options at the offshore base’s dining facilities, it had become their routine to eat at the oldest Chinese restaurant there whenever Yoon Moo-hwa returned from a mission.

This continued even after they moved to Yeosu. Haero found a Chinese restaurant, and Yoon Moo-hwa, as always, followed Haero’s lead without complaint despite his usual dislike.

However, this time it didn’t happen.

“The report is dragging on. I’ll be late. Eat without me.”

Haero listened to that voice message repeatedly in the old bathroom.

Even knowing that disappointment was a childish and immature emotion, he couldn’t help it. At times like this, he wanted to confine Yoon Moo-hwa to his own cave again.

“You don’t have much greed. That’s good. People should know their limits. That way, you won’t get hurt, won’t overflow, and won’t lack.”

When Yoon Sang-won once said that without malice, Haero questioned if he truly lacked greed. The conclusion he reached was no.

Ever since picking up the injured Yoon Moo-hwa, Haero couldn’t shake the thought that he was his possession, his trophy, or rather, his memento. He knew it was a messed-up idea by local standards. Yet, the feeling that Yoon Moo-hwa naturally belonged to him wouldn’t go away. He could barely manage to pretend otherwise. Haero simply lacked interest in other things because what he truly wanted was so big and heavy.

“The report is dragging on. I’ll be late…”

“Haa.”

Haero pulled out his personal communication device from his ear and shoved it into his pocket.

As he exited the bathroom, he saw Seon Ikhyeon, looking upset and exclaiming, “When on earth is Colonel Yoon coming?!” with a famished expression.

The vinyl-coated chair felt particularly sticky, probably due to layers of grease built up over time. 

Haero frowned and grumpily said, “He told us to eat without him.”

“Oh, thank goodness. If we had to wait any longer, my stomach would’ve been touching my back. Haero, you really were raised in that house. Your stubbornness about not ordering until the Colonel arrives is so…”

Seon Ikhyeon was about to say “intense,” but seeing Haero’s still sulky expression, he cleared his throat, “Should we order fried rice, guo bao rou, mapo tofu… and dumplings too?”

“Sounds good,” Haero replied immediately.

The waiter here, while serving delicious food, couldn’t score high on cleanliness or friendliness, and was chewing gum. He was Haero’s former classmate. 

Glancing at Haero, he smirked and asked in an extremely unpleasant and arrogant tone, “What would you like to order?”

Seon Ikhyeon’s eyebrows raised at the rude attitude. His “Well, look at this guy” demeanor still carried the intimidating air of someone who had been around both in the pirate island and military organization.

However, Haero paid no attention and simply added beef noodles and pickled bok choy to the menu items Seon Ikhyeon had mentioned.

“Ah, and cola… You’re not drinking, right? Since you have to drive?”

Though tempted by the thought of baijiu, Haero couldn’t drink and ride his motorcycle. Seon Ikhyeon nodded, licking his lips.

“That’s our order.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

It was an incredibly insincere response, neither polite nor proper.

As soon as the waiter left, Seon Ikhyeon, who had been eyeing him disapprovingly, asked, “Do you know each other?”

Haero chuckled at how thuggish Seon Ikhyeon looked, growling and pointing behind himself with his thumb.

“What are you laughing at? He was openly looking you up and down. That’s very rude.”

The way he looked Haero up and down and smirked was a perfect display of disrespect.

Haero had inevitably become famous due to the patronage of the admiral’s family. As rumors spread about how he came to the base, who brought him, and his background, Yoon Sang-won taught Haero strictly, and Haero himself had to be mindful of others’ evaluations.

So Haero couldn’t help but notice such blatant disrespect using low-class methods.

“He’s a kid from the same school.”

“Then why? Friends should get along well.”

“Are you really asking ‘why’?” Haero stared intently at Seon Ikhyeon.

Realizing the meaning behind that gaze, Seon Ikhyeon sighed, “Is it because of your background? They’re petty enough to bully you just because you spent barely over 10 years on that island? By that standard, I wouldn’t even be allowed to set foot here, kid.”

“I’m a bit different, you know.”

Yoon Sang-won had often spoken harshly to Haero, but he also held him in high regard.

“But there’s no need to feel intimidated either. Excessive modesty isn’t a virtue; it can become a lazy attack that makes others uncomfortable. You need to know your level well. You’re doing fine.”

Even without Yoon Sang-won saying so, Haero had never felt intimidated to begin with. He knew that his background wouldn’t change, and he also knew that he hadn’t just lucked into getting Yoon Moo-hwa as his background.

Yoon Moo-hwa hadn’t chosen him, but he had discovered Yoon Moo-hwa.

But the reason he didn’t go around bragging about this fact was that it was a special secret and memory. Just between Yoon Moo-hwa and himself.

And he felt he should protect Yoon Moo-hwa’s honor too. It was his duty. One that Haero had decided on his own.

“I’m a bit special, so I can understand why they view me unfavorably like that.”

Seon Ikhyeon stared at Haero, who seemed to be glowing from within, and shook his head, “Different, different indeed. You’re quite something.”

“That’s a compliment, right? Thank you.” Haero smiled brightly.

However, in a corner of his mind, Yoon Moo-hwa’s voice message was still playing on repeat.

After finishing the meal and paying with Yoon Moo-hwa’s card, Haero was leaving the restaurant when he stopped abruptly, seeing a familiar car parked in front of the door.

Seon Ikhyeon, who had been giving stern looks to the waiter who kept eyeing Haero until the end, bumped into Haero’s back because of this.

“What? What’s wrong?”

“Ah… I think Yoon Moo-hwa hyung is here.”

Haero, who had been a bit melancholy throughout the meal, felt his mood lift just from seeing Yoon Moo-hwa’s car in front of the restaurant.

There was nothing to feel hurt about. As Haero simply rejoiced, the car door opened.

Yoon Moo-hwa had taken off his cap. His slightly disheveled hair and loosened tie gave a vague indication of how much he had struggled at headquarters.

“Did you eat well?” Yoon Moo-hwa asked with a tired smile.

“Is work finished?” Haero ran over with a bright smile.

This time, Haero didn’t stop either. Yoon Moo-hwa neither retreated nor advanced, but when Haero threw his whole body at him, he caught him without wavering. He hugged Haero and wrapped his arms around his waist. Believing that he would catch him, Haero’s feet were completely off the ground.

He’s a kid, just a kid. No matter how mature his words, Haero was indeed still a child. That’s why even when he was a bit cocky, it wasn’t annoying, Seon Ikhyeon thought.

“I thought I might be able to come pick you up. Did you enjoy your meal?” Yoon Moo-hwa, loosely hugging Haero, asked Seon Ikhyeon who was standing behind.

Seon Ikhyeon responded with a “Yes.”

“It’s been a while.”

“Yes, it has been. You’re the same as ever, Colonel. Even that eye patch.” Seon Ikhyeon said slyly, tapping his own eye.

With artificial limbs and eyes being quite common, it was trendy for everyone to add their personal touch to them, but Yoon Moo-hwa’s eye patch was just plain black without any pattern or decoration, which was rather boring. Though that was very like Yoon Moo-hwa.

Yoon Moo-hwa didn’t respond to Seon Ikhyeon’s teasing remark. 

Scratching his head, Seon Ikhyeon made some flattering comments, like a tutor meeting a student’s parents. It was an attempt to lighten the mood.

“Um… Haero is very smart. I don’t think there will be any problem with him entering the Naval Academy.”

However, the attempt was ineffective.

Haero had been staring at Yoon Moo-hwa all along, and Yoon Moo-hwa made no particular response. Instead, he just glanced at Haero, who was grinning and ruffling his own hair wildly, and adjusted his hold on him. 

Haero wanted to wrap his legs around Yoon Moo-hwa’s waist too, but he restrained himself out of consideration for Yoon Moo-hwa’s dignity.

Just as he thought about getting down, as if reading his mind, Yoon Moo-hwa loosened his arms. As Haero slid down smoothly, Yoon Moo-hwa nodded to Seon Ikhyeon. “If you have nowhere to stay, go to the official residence.”

“Oh, should I? Then I’ll gratefully take you up on that offer.” Seon Ikhyeon quickly seized the opportunity. He had been longing for a soft, real bed instead of the hard cot in the temporary lodgings.