GB 129

After hearing the last sentence, Yoon Moo-hwa took out his earphones and put them in his front pocket. He had organized everything he heard well in his mind.

“Yes.”

“We’ll see each other soon anyway, why wait? Go and rest.”

Knowing that Yoon Moo-hwa had ordered rear combat to prevent wolf-fish from entering the base before the bulkhead doors closed, Haero was concerned about him.

Yoon Moo-hwa lowered his head, leaning into Haero’s careful touch as he fixed his hair. Pretending to be tired when he wasn’t at all was quite shameless considering his age and experience. Late-learned thievery is the most dangerous. Thinking that thievery would be all he could do for Haero from now on, who knew how skilled he might become at it.

“I wanted to see you sooner.”

Yoon Moo-hwa’s speech wasn’t as sweet as honey or as soft as cotton candy. Perhaps due to his long time in the military, he was somewhat blunt and rigid. However, Haero perfectly recognized those moments when he softened just for him. Those moments gave Haero a dopamine rush that no thrilling activity could match.

Haero, filled with naturally rising possessiveness and an unbearable affection for Yoon Moo-hwa, who was considerably older than him, stood on his toes and kissed his lover’s lips.

“Well done. You’re too cute lately.”

Yoon Moo-hwa was dumbfounded by Haero’s boldness in calling him cute. Even his own parents had never called him cute. At least not in any childhood he could remember.

But Yoon Moo-hwa, who only had shamelessness left because of his young lover, shrugged his shoulders. “Then be affectionate with me.”

“Sure. In the room. Outside, I have to maintain your dignity as a Rear Admiral.”

The two began walking almost simultaneously.

Unlike when they served in the Indo-Pacific, they wore thick winter combat boots instead of dress shoes, making heavy footsteps echo.

“If not me, who will take care of it? No, even if someone offers to take care of it, never entrust it to them. Actually, I sometimes get jealous of your orderly. It’s hard to hide it. Couldn’t I just run your errands? Should I go back to being an enlisted soldier?”

He was chattering nonsense. Though Yoon Moo-hwa knew it was impossible, he answered seriously,m”No. You’re too pretty, you’d be requisitioned as an orderly for other field-grade officers.”

“That won’t work then. I can’t have you getting court-martialed.”

Though their speech was military, in reality they were like a pair of honeybees with their bottoms stuck together.

Above the barren, melted sea, their tender whispers quietly echoed. In that vitality and warmth, a whale in the deep breeding fish hold constructed beneath the seabed resonated the base with its low, song-like sounds.

✼✼✼

They say the biggest aurora in 10 years is expected to appear.

Aurora is a phenomenon influenced by the magnetic field in the atmosphere, and with a forecast this large, even sensitive military radars would be affected.

In the Arctic Ocean, ship captains have greater decision-making authority. Under Yoon Moo-hwa’s judgment, the Narwhal decided not to depart today but to remain at the base.

The crew was all excited about this unexpected holiday. Though the base was desolate without even a single café, it was still better to have time off.

Navy food was rumored to be tastier than other military branches. Since eating was the only pleasure in a base with nothing to do, the chefs in Arctic and Antarctic bases were quite skilled. The researchers and Narwhal’s crew members took turns discussing what food to eat first, which eventually led to a small cooking competition.

“What?” Yoon Moo-hwa asked, leaning against the doorframe with his arm, “A cooking competition?”

The force of his voice was so tremendous that even his aide, who was accustomed to him, became tense. The aide firmly believed that his superior’s recent sensitivity was due to his demotion. 

‘Damn, why did I have to be the one to bring this up? I came to get permission and now I’m going to get thoroughly scolded.’

But having already broached the subject, backing down now by saying it was nothing would only make his superior angrier. The aide swallowed hard. As he unconsciously glanced around, Yoon Moo-hwa pressed his body to the side, more firmly blocking the door gap.

Though his posture clearly showed he was hiding something, the aide was too busy thinking to notice. “Well, there’s a lack of leisure activities, sir. So…”

Yoon Moo-hwa, feeling movement behind him, cut off his words. “No. I just asked because I wasn’t fully awake.”

That was actually true. Yoon Moo-hwa ran his hand over his face and quickly spoke before Haero could call for him, “Yes. Let them do it. Just don’t let them get too excited.”

“Yes! Thank you, sir!” The aide saluted. 

The word “At ease” briefly came through the closing door gap before being cut off. What’s the hurry? He must really be wounded by being exiled to the Arctic Sea… 

Promising himself to be careful for the next year, the aide walked away with his serious misunderstanding.

Meanwhile, Yoon Moo-hwa, far from being heartbroken, threw himself onto the bed and embraced the squirming Haero, blanket and all.

“…Who was that?”

“No one. They’re gone. Did you sleep well?”

“Yes…”

A disheveled head popped out first. His curly hair was like a poodle who had just woken up from a good sleep. Add to that his warm body, and he was just like a puppy. Yoon Moo-hwa didn’t hold back his laughter as he rolled to the side. Then he tightly hugged the blanket roll.

“I need to go to the bathroom.” Haero said with puffy eyes.

“Go a little later.”

After Haero implanted a chip in Yoon Moo-hwa’s body, Yoon Moo-hwa became more childish. He was fully stretching his limits. Since he knew clearly that Haero was his master, Yoon Moo-hwa himself was just like a military dog.

The lovers, like a small poodle and a large military dog, rolled around together. With each rustle of the blanket, something like warm happiness flowed out.

Shortly after, Haero escaped, saying he couldn’t hold it any longer. 

Yoon Moo-hwa saw Haero coming out with a toothbrush in his mouth through the mirror and gently admonished him. “You should brush your teeth inside the bathroom.” 

Haero pretended not to hear and came to Yoon Moo-hwa’s side. 

“Haero, I’m holding a knife in my hand.” 

“You should shave in the bathroom too.” 

“This is fine.” 

“That’s sophistry.” 

“I’m like this because I’m used to it, but you’re not.”

Yoon Moo-hwa was in the middle of shaving while looking at a small mirror. The sound of the razor scraping his cheek was elegant. Haero, while brushing his teeth, thought the sound was like waves scraping the sandy beach.

Even if they used the officer’s quarters, a cabin on a ship couldn’t be as large as a hotel room. Even at its largest, it wouldn’t match a business hotel room, so Yoon Moo-hwa washed up well anywhere. Yet he emphasized to Haero, as if still raising him, to do these things in the bathroom, at the dining table, he had no conscience whatsoever.

“What do you mean I’m not used to it? I’ve been on ships for a year now.” 

Come to think of it, his promotion had been very fast. A promotion already when he’d only been on board for a year. 

Haero playfully smiled with bubbles covering his mouth. “If I get kidnapped a few more times, I’ll quickly catch up to you. Rear Admiral Haero.”

Yoon Moo-hwa’s face froze coldly. Unaware of this, Haero slipped into the bathroom to rinse his mouth.

When Haero came out, patting his lips with a towel, he scurried over to Yoon Moo-hwa, who had become neat and was in the process of dressing. He wanted to cling to him again because he enjoyed sticking to him like glue, but this time Yoon Moo-hwa didn’t welcome him. A rough palm pressed against Haero’s forehead, gently pushing him away.

“Don’t say things like that just now, even as a joke.” 

“What things?” 

“That you’ll get promoted if you’re kidnapped. Those things.” 

“It was just a joke…” 

“That’s what I mean. Don’t say it even as a joke.”

Haero was about to grumble but stopped. A coldness had settled in Yoon Moo-hwa’s eyes.

Even knowing how pathetically young he was at times like this, Haero couldn’t help himself. Even though the affection was clearly visible, he wanted to hear it in words. He wanted to hear with his own ears how Yoon Moo-hwa chose his words to express his feelings. 

Though he knew the answer, Haero asked with bright eyes. “Why? Because you worry about me so much?”

Yoon Moo-hwa gazed steadily at Haero’s shining eyes and then sighed. “You’re annoying when you’re like this.” 

“Really? Is that so, Rear Admiral?” 

“Does the Lieutenant enjoy tormenting his superior?” 

“If I say it’s enjoyable, would that be insubordination?” 

“If not insubordination, then what? Bullying within the unit?” Yoon Moo-hwa grumbled. 

He even made jokes. Haero felt unbearably happy that he seemed like someone his own age. He loved Yoon Moo-hwa when he was like this.

Even though they weren’t setting sail, there were still schedules that had to be followed at the base. Yoon Moo-hwa admonished Haero. 

“No. Don’t look at me with those eyes.” 

“I know. I’m holding back.”

He avoided Haero’s gaze, which shone with the desire to devour him right then and there. It was because he himself couldn’t withstand that gaze. 

“So tell me instead. You’re worried about me, right?”

Yoon Moo-hwa let out a deep sigh. However, while there was difficulty in it, there was no trace of weariness or fatigue. “It’s not just worry—even the thought of it makes me feel like I’d die.”

Plain language. No expressions about his heart aching or feeling upset. He was soldier-like, not joking. Haero savored Yoon Moo-hwa’s blunt expression for a long time. One more of his confessions to cherish all day today, no, for a lifetime, had been added.

Satisfied enough, Haero hugged Yoon Moo-hwa. Then he apologized. “I’m sorry. I just keep wanting to hear you express that you like me.” 

“Am I lacking in expression…?” 

“No. It’s just that I love hearing it again and again. I’m a bit greedy, you know.”

He had desired this man twelve years his senior since he was barely ten. His stomach was very large and deep. It would be deeper than the Mariana Trench and wider than the Pacific Ocean. The affection he wanted to receive from Yoon Moo-hwa was as small as a natural glacier, so he would swallow it and swallow it again throughout his lifetime. 

Haero quietly closed his eyes.

He loved that Yoon Moo-hwa never disappeared no matter how much he swallowed him. He was glad that Yoon Moo-hwa was that difficult and challenging.