GB 90

With a bang, the door closed, leaving only the two of them in the space. 

Yoon Moo-hwa spoke with good humor, “I was wondering when you’d come in.”

“…You knew I was here?”

“Hmm, did you have coffee, Lieutenant? Want some?” Yoon Moo-hwa changed the subject instead of answering.

Haero sat down with the coffee Yoon Moo-hwa had brewed himself.

“So, you couldn’t even wait a few hours and come to see me because you missed me?”

Haero wondered if this man asking cheekily with his chin resting on his hand was really the Yoon Moo-hwa he knew. He knew he had a bit of a playful side, but that was when he treated Haero just like a younger brother he was raising. On the contrary, he had been cold ever since Haero confessed his feelings.

Haero quietly pinched his palm, felt the pain, and was relieved it wasn’t a dream.

“It’s not because I missed you.” His voice cracked slightly, causing Haero to clear his throat awkwardly.

“Speak slowly.” Yoon Moo-hwa offered some cookies, probably bought at a port of call, to soothe him.

“I’m planning to receive additional medical supplies, including compressed hemostatic cotton, from Shell Beach Base.”

This was a report he couldn’t submit earlier because they were busy entangling with each other.

In fact, Yoon Moo-hwa had already called the medical officer separately and briefly heard about the damage status. It was a bit difficult to resist saying ‘I couldn’t ask the military doctor because we were rolling around together’ to the face that looked puzzled about why he was calling twice to ask. He wondered if he was the type to date a bit childishly. Maybe because his lover was young.

“Alright. I’ll contact them in advance. Submit a detailed list and I’ll have it ready. Anything else you need?”

“No, sir.”

“Really? Then can you do an errand for me?”

Haero’s eyes widened in surprise that Yoon Moo-hwa trusted him enough to give him a task. Then he nodded vigorously as if wagging his tail, and answered, “Yes!”

Yoon Moo-hwa briefly covered his face with his hands, his elbows resting on his thighs, lost in thought. Haero thought he might be troubled and waited quietly. He must be organizing the list in his head.

Soon, Yoon Moo-hwa cleared his throat and removed his hands. The corners of his mouth were unnaturally turned down.

“I’ll give you a list, and I’d like you to go personally.”

Yoon Moo-hwa went to the desk and scribbled something on a notepad with a pencil. Then he folded it in half and held it out to Haero.

Haero reached for the note held between Yoon Moo-hwa’s index and middle fingers. However, Yoon Moo-hwa flicked his wrist, instantly pulling it towards himself, making it impossible to grab. Haero’s eyes widened at the playfulness that didn’t match the somewhat stiff atmosphere.

“Before that, let me see your wound.”

At first, Haero wondered what wound, but soon realized.

He must mean the hastily sutured injury.

“Uh, didn’t you see it yesterday?”

“I wasn’t in my right mind, so I couldn’t see it properly. I’m worried it might have been rubbed against the bed.”

Originally, after the situation was resolved, a waterproof and flame-retardant film had been applied. The pain wasn’t severe either. In fact, he hadn’t remembered it. He hadn’t even recalled it until Yoon Moo-hwa mentioned it.

Haero lifted the hair covering his forehead.

Yoon Moo-hwa clicked his tongue. He felt he might have moved too roughly without paying careful attention. Yoon Moo-hwa tended to lack caution regarding injuries, often acting recklessly even when he was injured, not worrying about aggravating wounds.

Even yesterday, he thought he had been careful, but honestly, he too was in a state where reason had almost flown away, so he might have been a bit careless.

“Did you take painkillers?”

“I’m a military doctor.” Haero showed a reaction mixed with half pride and half bewilderment. “I took anti-inflammatory medicine and sprayed moisture-proof spray too.”

“And so?” Yoon Moo-hwa rested his elbow on the back of the sofa and propped his chin. As if very interested, he urged Haero to answer more, adding fillers.

“So there’s no chance of inflammation, and of course, I’ll prevent secondary infection, and ensure the wound doesn’t open…”

“Therefore?”

“Therefore, there’s no need to skip training, and I can even do intense exercise…”

“Like sex?”

Haero’s mouth clamped shut.

“With me?” Yoon Moo-hwa was grinning.

Haero’s face turned bright red. Born with slightly tanned skin, his face easily turned red, making him look particularly delicious at times like this. Like a well-ripened fruit, it made one want to reach out and eat it right away.

“…Yeah. That’s what I mean.”

Feeling awkward after saying it, Haero picked up a cookie and fiddled with it, then broke a stick-shaped one in half and held it out to Yoon Moo-hwa with a sheepish smile.

“This looks like the word blocks we used to play with.”

“…”

Yoon Moo-hwa stared at what Haero was holding for a long time, then let out a long sigh. Then he covered his face with his hands and slid down. Sitting on the chair in a very lazy posture, he muttered, “… Right. I did that kind of thing with Haero too.”

He bit his lips, chewing them.

“Why, what’s wrong?”

Haero approached, thinking he might be in pain somewhere. As he was about to put his hand on Yoon Moo-hwa’s forehead to check for fever, Yoon Moo-hwa slightly raised his hand and glanced at him.

“Just… Thinking about how I’ve known Haero for such a long time.”

Yoon Moo-hwa fiddled with his eyebrows, then glanced at Haero, who wouldn’t take his eyes off him.

From when he was a child not even half his current size to now when he appeared as a mature military doctor, Haero had changed considerably, but there was also so much that hadn’t changed. His courage bordering on recklessness, his stubborn persistence in pushing through until he achieved his goals, and these puppy-like eyes.

Letting out a pleasant sigh, Yoon Moo-hwa pulled Haero close and kissed him lightly.

“I should do a lot of good deeds from now on. To receive even a little less punishment.”

Honestly, if he didn’t even have this much conscience, he might have become a pirate instead of a navy officer. Whether to control the blue sea route under order or to invade it without hesitation. That depends on the difference of a hair’s breadth in the heart.

—Shortly, there will be food supply loading work. All crew members assemble on shore.

Haero stepped out of the ship’s door, hearing the announcement.

Originally, he should have gone with a medical corpsman, but considering he was assigned as the duty officer for the ship’s store, Haero went alone.

Sailors were busy moving around, led by the chef. While replenishing ammunition and harpoons lost in battle, they were also restocking food supplies. The experienced medical chief confidently told Haero not to worry about snacks for the medical room, while subtly requesting a few luxury items only available on land, like snack products developed and sold by different supermarkets.

After receiving the medical supplies and loading them onto the ship, Haero set out. It was free time given as a reward after the battle. Although some couldn’t go ashore, Haero fortunately had permission to go out.

He found the ice cream shop where Yoon Moo-hwa had eaten, bought the same product, and wandered around the booths where traces of the ruined festival remained. People weren’t gloomy but rather seemed to be enjoying the “failed festival” as if it were Boxing Day.

As Haero was passing by, watching children screaming at a water balloon throwing booth, he raised his head, feeling a gaze from somewhere.

Soeunpa was across the way.

Soeunpa seemed to be out for a break too, holding a large piece of bread under his arm.

“……”

An awkward silence passed for a moment. 

When Haero raised his hand first in a stiff greeting, Soeunpa sighed and approached. “Did things work out with the captain?”

Haero was at a loss for words at this abrupt question.

“It’s alright. I think I’m the only one who noticed.”

“Ah… How did you know?”

“Here on your neck.” Soeunpa pointed to his own neck. It was a mark in a place Haero couldn’t see, so he didn’t know about it. Soeunpa caught Haero’s surprised, fumbling hand and placed it in the right spot. “Here. It’s not very visible. Only when looking down from above, and the medical officer happens to be bowing his head.”

“Oh no.”

“Be careful when you bow your head.”

Embarrassed, Haero immediately forgot the advice and nodded with his head deeply bowed.

“Since I was rejected anyway, I’m in no position to complain about you two-timing. Don’t look so dejected. I won’t spread rumors. I’m not that loose-lipped.”

The more Soeunpa offered this not-quite-comforting comfort, the lower Haero’s head sank, as if it might disappear into the ground. Soeunpa gently lifted Haero’s chin, “I told you not to bow your head.”

“But… it’s still a relationship with a superior officer.”

“It’s not that rare, why are you so worried? Well… a relationship with the captain is rare, I suppose.”

The rank difference alone was considerable. Calculating the difference in rank and age between the two, 

Soeunpa realized it was indeed a relationship with few precedents, making it difficult to simply reassure Haero. He mumbled, “Well… Anyway, you should be careful. Just don’t leave marks.”

The captain would surely know this, yet he left a mark in such a peculiar spot. It was clearly intentional. Soeunpa smiled bitterly, finding it strange that the machine-like Yoon Moo-hwa had left such an overt mark.

“Let’s be friends then. You’ll do that, right?”

Above all, Soeunpa felt sorry for Haero who seemed so lost, and found him very cute to still look at with some lingering affection, so he extended his hand first.

Just as Haero was about to take Soeunpa’s hand with an awkward smile, someone else grabbed it instead.

“Friends are good. But can people who were almost dating become friends?”