GB 25

“You look fine?”

When Seon Ikhyeon came to visit and entered the hospital room, Haero wasn’t there.

“Oh? The baby isn’t here.” Seon Ikhyeon asked as he put down the bouquet he was carrying on his shoulder.

Yoon Moo-hwa  frowned at the useless gift and replied. “What baby is here?”

“Haero, of course. Our baby.”

“You really like that baby.”

“So where is Haero? Isn’t he the kind who sticks close to you, Colonel? Plus, with you injured, he must have been so shocked. I can just imagine him crying his eyes out.”

Despite Seon Ikhyeon’s question, Yoon Moo-hwa  just put the bouquet aside with an indifferent look, “He cried so much, I told him to go wash up and eat something.”

“He actually listened?”

“I told him to go back to the residence if he wouldn’t.”

“My, how strict.” Seon Ikhyeon shook his head. Then, true to his straightforward nature, he added, “Don’t be too harsh. At first, I had trouble even scolding Haero… I wonder if I need special training to become as tough as you, Colonel.”

“You think I’m tough?” Yoon Moo-hwa  looked genuinely puzzled. But soon he nodded as if agreeing, “I suppose I do tend to be strict.”

“Ah, well. Haero will soon be going to the Naval Academy, so being too soft isn’t good.”

“…”

Huh? Why no response?

Perplexed, Seon Ikhyeon tilted his head and asked again, “Haero… is going to the Naval Academy, right? That’s what I understood…”

“…”

Just as he started to sense something was off, Major Gu burst into the room. Although she was Seon Ikhyeon’s lover, she was still a superior officer, so Seon Ikhyeon saluted sharply before quickly reverting to casual and bursting into laughter.

“Colonel Yoon Moo-hwa  got his wish, didn’t he! Haha! You wanted that artificial eye implant so badly, and finally you got a good excuse!”

As Major Gu teased in an exaggerated Japanese accent, Yoon Moo-hwa  covered his ears and whispered loudly enough for Seon Ikhyeon to hear, “Hey, she’s noisy. Take her out, will you?”

That day, Seon Ikhyeon never got a clear answer about Haero’s Naval Academy admission.

What could he be thinking? Seon Ikhyeon couldn’t fathom Yoon Moo-hwa ‘s intentions at all.

The now-retired former Admiral Yoon Sang-won had openly told Seon Ikhyeon, who came to teach Haero, that he planned to send the boy to the Naval Academy. He had repeatedly instructed him to teach Haero strictly, saying mediocre grades wouldn’t cut it and that he must ensure Haero ranked in the top three among that year’s entrants.

So Seon Ikhyeon thought the matter had been settled with Yoon Moo-hwa  too.

Yoon Moo-hwa  had also checked all of Haero’s lesson plans, which gradually covered reading and drawing sea charts and understanding ocean currents. He never added any extra comments about it, so Seon Ikhyeon really, truly thought the matter was settled…

“Haero.”

“Yes?”

Haero replied as he put on the helmet Seon Ikhyeon handed him.

“You’re going to the Naval Academy, right?”

Haero looked puzzled at the question. He tilted his head. Though Seon Ikhyeon often did this too, it elicited very different reactions from people who saw it.

“Yes. Of course I am.”

“Hmm. Okay. Just in case, confirm it with the Colonel again. Make sure, alright?”

“Yes.”

Haero believed Yoon Moo-hwa  would naturally give permission. Rather, it was strange that Seon Ikhyeon was saying this. Yoon Sang-won had always told him to enter the Naval Academy confidently and break people’s prejudices, and Yoon Moo-hwa  had occasionally been present during those conversations. And not once during those moments had Yoon Moo-hwa  said it wasn’t allowed.

While entering the Naval Academy was also Yoon Sang-won’s wish, it was overwhelmingly Haero’s own desire. To be on the same ship as Yoon Moo-hwa . That dream persisted and would never fade. Yoon Moo-hwa  had told him to do what he wanted. If his words weren’t lies, he should rightfully support him.

Suddenly frightened by Seon Ikhyeon’s unexpected question, Haero grabbed him and shook him while asking, “Why?! Am I not allowed?! Am I not qualified?!”

“Ugh, Haero. I’m getting dizzy, dizzy. Why are you so strong? That’s, that’s not it. I just asked, kid. If it wasn’t allowed, the Colonel would have said so already! So, shall we go meet the Colonel?! Let’s go!”

Though some uneasiness remained, Haero was completely won over by the suggestion to go see Yoon Moo-hwa . He wanted to see him quickly. Haero got on the back of the motorcycle, his expression still tinged with doubt.

Riding along the wide-open road, Haero looked around the base he had now lived in for almost as long as he had lived on the island, everything familiar. Past the newly opened ice cream chain store and the always popular bakery that closes early, to the hair salon he’s visited every time since his first haircut. They stopped just in front of the boundary line after passing the civil airport.

“Now that I’m discharged, this is one thing I miss.”

Neither Haero nor Seon Ikhyeon could cross this barbed wire fence.

He wanted to quickly enter and graduate from the Naval Academy… to cross even this line and stand on equal footing with Yoon Moo-hwa . Even if he could never truly be his equal….

Before they knew it, the warship was close. Ground duty sailors were waiting to receive the mooring lines to welcome the warship safely docking under the pilot’s direction.

Haero lifted his head towards the deck. On that vast expanse that required looking up for quite a while, deck crew were lined up.

And on the outer deck was the man who often embarrassed Haero, who had witnessed all of Haero’s immature and unconventional mistakes and bravado.

“There he is…” Haero murmured in a voice filled with joy.

Haero was certain that their eyes had met.

Yoon Moo-hwa , wearing an eye patch over his artificial eye, looked even more impressive than when they first met. He too was looking this way.

The docking process was completed with the installation of the gangway. Haero didn’t take his eyes off Yoon Moo-hwa  as he came down the gangway, talking with the pilot.

Seon Ikhyeon put an e-cigarette in his mouth as he watched Haero fidgeting on his heels. He was like a puppy completely devoted to its master. If he had a tail, it wouldn’t be enough – his whole behind would be wagging vigorously. 

Seon Ikhyeon casually remarked with a slight lisp, “He won’t be able to leave work right away. He’ll have to go to the base headquarters first.”

The implication was, what’s the rush when they couldn’t talk even if he came down now? But Haero didn’t bat an eye.

“Still, when I see him in advance, I feel like my day goes well somehow. Except for when hyung hurt his eye, I’ve always been the first to greet him. If I don’t do it now, my pride would be hurt.”

Yoon Moo-hwa , having set foot on the base, stood still as he finished his conversation with the pilot. 

Seon Ikhyeon clicked his tongue as he looked at Yoon Moo-hwa ‘s back, which seemed extraordinary even in the same navy uniform due to his good physique. 

Wasn’t it said that he didn’t stop growing until he was twenty-five?

It’s fine since he’s far away, but up close, Seon Ikhyeon could feel quite intimidating. If he had gone into special operations and wore combat uniforms, it would have been hard to even make eye contact, let alone talk to him. And with that eye patch covering the unnaturalness of the artificial eye…

Yoon Moo-hwa  didn’t hesitate to add functions to his artificial eye. As military utility increases, regulations are applied by grade to ensure that artificial body parts can be distinguished under international law. Yoon Moo-hwa ‘s was the highest grade. For example, when boarding civilian aircraft or cruise ships at airports or ports, it should be immediately identifiable that part of his body is artificial.

To achieve this, high-security grade artificial body parts have intricate and complex settings that instinctively cause discomfort in observers, making them feel alien. It was natural for Seon Ikhyeon to find Yoon Moo-hwa  difficult and uncomfortable after his surgery.

Regardless of Seon Ikhyeon’s feelings, Haero was focused solely on Yoon Moo-hwa .

After parting with the pilot, Yoon Moo-hwa  turned towards the civil airport.

“Hyung!”

Haero waved his arms enthusiastically towards Yoon Moo-hwa , smiling brightly. It seemed like he might hurt himself on the barbed wire if he leaned any further.

Yoon Moo-hwa  must have worried about the same thing, as his approaching strides were wide and quick.

In an instant, he was right in front of them. Seon Ikhyeon watched with interest as Haero, who had looked ready to leap over the fence and embrace Yoon Moo-hwa , stepped back slightly. As if he was holding back now that Yoon Moo-hwa  was so close.

And Yoon Moo-hwa , contrasting his quick approach, stopped at a distance.

The two, who had seemed about to share their joy of reunion with an embrace, stared at each other while maintaining a subtle, and thus more tense, distance.

“You came today too.” Yoon Moo-hwa  asked in a gruff voice. But underlying it was a very soft and subtle tenderness.

Haero grinned. “Of course. I’m always first.”

In Seon Ikhyeon’s mind, Haero was a struggling child. One who wanted to adapt to school quickly and achieve faster results.

However, in front of Yoon Moo-hwa  after a long time, Haero was surprisingly confident and self-assured. His face was radiant. It wasn’t that Yoon Moo-hwa  should consider him first, but rather an expression of strong belief that he would naturally occupy that position.

It was lovable. It was fresh. It was a vivaciousness that inspired attachment.

“Yes. I’d be disappointed if I didn’t see you now.”

Yoon Moo-hwa  said something that might or might not have been a joke, then lifted his wrist to check the time. It was a watch he received from his father upon his promotion to colonel, customized with a unique serial number just for Yoon Moo-hwa .

“I need to stop by headquarters first.”

“I know.” Haero answered confidently.

“Wait nearby and we’ll have dinner together before going home. And, it’s been a while, Master Sergeant Seon.”

“How long has it been since I was discharged. I’m a civilian now, you know? You know I don’t have to salute, right?”

“Right. I didn’t expect you to.”

Yoon Moo-hwa  slightly raised and lowered the corner of his mouth.

Seon Ikhyeon scratched his arm vigorously, noting how unusually gentle Yoon Moo-hwa ‘s attitude was, perhaps because of Haero’s presence. It made him more uneasy when he acted so mildly. Even though he was no longer his superior.

Yoon Moo-hwa  gently patted Haero’s head and turned around again. As he approached the waiting executive officer and chief engineer, officers were passing through the bridge on the ship.

Haero naturally alternated between watching the officers following Yoon Moo-hwa  and the barbed wire fence blocking his path, before turning away with lingering regret.