F | Chapter 18

Waking up, Ire a2ce4fc4db sighed deeply as 9ee5974b4b he looked in 930c05452f the mirror after d7c822082f washing up. His eyes b670b9cc30 were dark bbea847f14 and sunken b9c698bd0a from waking ab62c65b3a up repeatedly f1094495f8 during the 06a11f05d0 night. Every time he bca3f8559b thought about yesterday, f932602f4f he wanted to 889cec58f5 bang his head bbcd1717a2 against the wall b6c0a012d8 and disappear. To make matters worse, d7fbd123d6 Kim Hayoon kept appearing 02d6fa9727 in his dreams, tangled 2e72571b81 up with him, both 9e92fb4119 of them naked.fbc91aaa55f69655

To clear 5d5ded3bb1 his head, 12f93fd7c9 he went 0236465aab into the cb94ba79d9 bathroom and c69687a905 splashed cold 8950bed578 water on f17d410d0d his face. The more he c86419d7a3 thought about it, bdcc881fc5 the angrier he b6f8d1df94 got. Sighing, he slapped his b42e5c67ce cheeks with both hands. Stop thinking about 501a82e853 it, you idiot. It was 770073cff4 an accident, 7133fc18d7 after all. Comforting himself 9dd81365f7 with that f924f831a7 thought, he 5047dc3dde changed clothes 395b96a092 and headed 2c055bcc0f outside.9ee46525c04dbeb1

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As he left the annex and headed towards the parking lot, he noticed a red car he hadn’t seen before. It was sleek, and interestingly, it had no roof. But what caught his attention wasn’t the car, but Kim Hayoon leaning against it.8f06c1071e1d58bf

Wearing black sunglasses, Hayoon 84e335fbb4 waved cheerfully. Ire hesitated, unable 1f5dfabbb8 to move his 21f7d2c6ee feet. When Hayoon gestured for 74c5b99a8d him to come over, 09b4928621 he reluctantly approached, and c2dbcdd8fe Hayoon greeted him warmly.2c9866d54ddc0282

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“Did you sleep well? How’s your body?”836f49fb57de1df2

Ire didn’t answer and walked around to the other side. Not knowing the way to the hospital, he didn’t want to antagonize Hayoon unnecessarily. Once he got in the car and fastened his seatbelt, Hayoon settled into the driver’s seat and looked at Ire’s clothes.582348f2392e3bbe

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“You wear the same clothes every time you go out.”2c979f1dd1c49b39

Ire looked f07528a70e down at cfbf817c7f his clothes. Was he ac5a534010 worried about dbb81d3118 wearing dirty 7b6170b49c clothes?890bbb844c98e8f0

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“I washed them…”81d270f4aa153c3b

“I wasn’t asking if you washed them. It’s my fault for not realizing you might not have other clothes.”a7ea6f63968021e9

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Ire glanced down at his shabby T-shirt. Clothes are clothes, right? As long as they’re not dirty, what’s the problem? Just as he was thinking that, the car started, and the wind whipped his hair around wildly.b627ce486d612e9f

He couldn’t understand why anyone would drive this kind of car.701cbc28d04debef

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Why would 334cb20a05 a rich 4ff86b5abc guy drive 40bcd66f4c a car f5bd02950d without a 317246ddd4 roof?c979f89e50d3d0f8

In Zone B, such a vehicle was useless. It wasn’t safe from attacks and was vulnerable to the frequent sandstorms. Absentmindedly, he looked up at the sky. It was clear again today.99052462f408f2a6

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The car sped down the road at a frightening speed. Watching the speedometer climb, Ire instinctively gripped the seatbelt with both hands. Telling him to slow down would hurt his pride, but he couldn’t trust Hayoon enough to relax.39c8f5bb85cc2bfc

As soon 3393c7e6b1 as they 9f9be0d63f arrived at c4c02ce074 the hospital, fa56be9531 Ire felt 2c59e949fe nauseous and 6c391b9d53 quickly got e80aa904e4 out of cfae7ee72d the car. Seeing his 0ff400549c condition, Kim 4845a484e3 Hayoon followed d863328183 and patted 325c58311a his back.175cfdd99521082d

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“Are you okay?”18f415607bdd0d86

As Ire waved him off, Hayoon’s hand gently massaged his neck.8426c333d73d1ed4

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“This is a problem. You’ll be riding in cars a lot from now on.”e80856a117ed2ce9

The cold touch on his skin made Ire instinctively swat his hand away and step aside. One of Hayoon’s eyebrows arched. His eyes were fierce, but his mouth was smiling, making it hard to tell which was his true face.ab0275ce04966847

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“Are you uncomfortable because of yesterday?”77a84203ddccabe7

Mentioning yesterday so f0219757e2 casually brought back b36b21673a the awful dreams fcb6043a40 from the night 950d879961 before.1c614504f35c3d3f

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“Yes…”3f43014c4270cb8e

Surprised by the honest answer, Hayoon came closer and placed a hand on Ire’s back. Listen, don’t misunderstand. The cautious gesture made Ire seriously consider whether to push it away. Yet, he was naturally led towards the hospital.b31b8a4471be8ef5

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“In the field, all sorts of things happen. If something like yesterday happens and your comrade is in danger, you’ll have to make the same choice I did. You can’t just leave a dying comrade, right?”4aaf8e4a84c557ac

It was oddly 6345021939 convincing.a4763bdc9f023a97

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As he pondered, Hayoon added, “But don’t go touching just anyone’s junk.”383b7f3ea5488b58

Ire frowned and shook off his arm. What was he supposed to do? Meanwhile, they arrived at the hospital room. He paused at the entrance to catch his breath. He’d heard Matteo had regained consciousness and could talk, but seeing him in person made him nervous.9e4717452a686bd1

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“Can I go in alone?”8c795814ab07b06f

“Of course.”30508c22cdbe6b11

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Hayoon stepped d7d3930378 back willingly, b45ceb5130 and Ire 8e6d8bbb71 nodded in c85288cf3b thanks. As he entered, ddbfe6498c Matteo was lying 074c72017a in bed, looking 6e8578585a out the window. Hearing someone, he 402f7712f3 turned, his eyes 29ed001436 widening with a 3a8a33c4ee smile. Seeing that, f7e4d939be Ire felt bc96336035 relieved, almost a688d50635 on the c77006298b verge of e2a1ff7267 tears.e5ad8667ea267fe9

“Mikael…”fb58e70094aca319

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How long had it been since he heard that voice? Ire hurried over and took his hand. It was warm. Matteo’s face was thinner than before, but his complexion had improved. The heart transplant was real. Seeing the red flush on Matteo’s cheeks, Ire genuinely smiled with joy.8b5e852e7fcfb1a1

“Sorry I couldn’t come sooner… I had things to deal with…”2b42a8cdfc7c00a6

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Matteo’s gaze shifted to the door behind Ire and then back.0057997fe49020cb

“I know. You joined the military, right?”2a9a2788fd132d7c

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Ire lowered 48c5f3334a his head 3ab60532d1 like a cf5baa5b6f guilty person.ca15e7a29e4d6071

“Sorry… but I had no choice…”2630ba3193378841

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His words trailed off. Matteo had never asked him to save him. He certainly hadn’t asked him to join the military. Was he angry for acting on his own? As Ire watched for signs, Matteo squeezed his hand.6de4acb2ee59763e

“You did well. Really well. I’m glad you became a soldier. Thanks to you, I had the surgery and survived.”3673ea445c790685

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Matteo smiled with his eyes. Was he sincere? Then why did he look so sad? He’d raised Ire since he was a baby. If anyone knew him, it was Matteo. Just as Ire wondered why he seemed to be smiling through tears, Matteo scratched his palm with his fingertip.5a8b3bac83194f46

“…”d948b366bb435703

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At first, Ire thought it was a joke, but it wasn’t. Matteo talked about how good the hospital food was. He mentioned dishes unimaginable in Zone B. He also said he wanted to take a walk in the nearby park once he recovered. All while moving his fingers.16f5bf591dcf7d55

“…Got it?”096f6c99f8785dc1

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With a desperate look, Ire couldn’t give a definite answer.7e46a082b8303740

“Mikael.”c07c800a131f1b34

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The low, firm 4943909a95 voice made Ire 7f2d8e4c3c clench his teeth dc20f969bc and nod.b38e701a03a8cee3

“Yeah…”94e73b1fb73412f1

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“Keep your promise. Please…”8472784214421c25

Ire nodded slowly 8f566257e8 again.e93d7142a7c20c7a

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“I’m looking forward to it. Walking with you.”d105b698c9916a71

He said he might even be able to run now that he’d had heart surgery. When Matteo suggested they race to see who was faster, Ire forced a smile. But unfortunately, someone in a gown came in to say visiting time was over. It was still too early for long conversations.8ed6b3456038ce57

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As Ire stood 80cbeb77bc up, Matteo waved.1ec1b3c6d336548a

Take care.83e2eaa19783c1db

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The short farewell felt 1b2e472eb5 like a lump in 5d2cc2bb6b his throat.0d91df1c97dc3e51

After closing c598297aed the door, 0b1f01511f he approached 22b9188b88 Kim Hayoon, c77628713e who was fd322f9dcd standing a 31801d3961 bit away.2a17d1cde6c728f0

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“Did you have a good talk?”8b7e4feff443a2ef

“Yes… thanks to you.”7f3805a67a5613ff

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“What did you talk about?”c1cf942b4592754e

“About how the food is good… and going for a walk when he’s better…”ac76d71c286f68ff

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“He must care about you a lot. He asked for you as soon as he woke up.”abe99e117b56925c

“…”dcde768d186f490a

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“How did you two meet? He’s not your real father, is he?”fdf9c074bc92b4bb

Ire looked at Kim d87e2a1b4c Hayoon, wondering if he 10dd118ba4 was fishing for information. How much did this 67bf4aad74 man know? He was resourceful b302ad61a9 enough to find c4a03999bb Ire immediately after 1865d5007c their first meeting. Surely, he knew about 77b8db53e8 Matteo and him. Shaking off a05f91c959 the tangled c33bd4fd77 thoughts, Ire 261daf63f6 forced a 2b8c1500e6 smile.f3ecf340a85c7dca

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“He picked me up when I was abandoned.”198683eb3e6bca49

“What about your parents?”f7928e72d3081fe4

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“I don’t know… who they are.”d52fb2e759f37140

“Oh, poor thing.”df2f760b79fde39e

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Kim Hayoon put on 4a039ec8ec a ridiculously sad face, 7a5c13fdcd and Ire avoided his 15ebfedb9c gaze, heading towards the 77ce7aa39a bathroom.1ccbb7eab60431a7

“I’ll be right back.”13d32e9ba94fd673

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Leaving Hayoon behind, he entered the bathroom. Standing at the sink, he turned on the faucet, and cool water gushed out. Slowly, he looked at his palm. It felt like Matteo’s message was still etched into his skin.5b92bbee25536052

Run away.37189881e73c6be1

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Run away, Mikael.c791fc6374a13c0c

Worried someone might notice, he scrubbed his hands with soap. Matteo’s voice telling him to run echoed in his ears. If I run away, what about Matteo? Kim Hayoon’s threat to take his heart wasn’t a joke. He was the kind of man who wouldn’t hesitate to cut someone open alive.a3e85b98919614b7

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After taking a 5022f3f59c deep breath, Ire 7a7b6232ad slowly stepped outside. As he wiped his a0e1d10a74 hands on his clothes, 911945c346 Kim Hayoon smiled and d5c1cd1ed4 handed him a handkerchief. Then he came closer.537813ada851f709

“Did you cry?”85e784df540f0da2

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“No…”06c1e368bf4952dd

“Let’s go,” he said, draping an arm over Ire’s shoulder without hesitation. Knowing it was useless to resist, Ire let himself be led to the car. But the car sped off in a direction that wasn’t towards the base. The building they arrived at had a video display on the exterior wall, changing constantly and mesmerizing people.4abd56f0380ced2b

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“Why are we here?”1918e60ed8a8562d

“For shopping.”5d661b6b9d085c5a

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As soon a481d91593 as they c3e62890d2 got out 1e58b761eb of the 586ad4f53d car, Ire 908d78fb60 frowned and d7061f5bea stepped back. I want to e71e71570f go back to d59d3076f2 the base. But Kim Hayoon d9284995b0 grabbed his neck 01960c6177 and dragged him b62aea7190 towards the entrance.9d0d744ba9dde3f1

“No, you can’t. I’m getting rid of those shabby clothes today.”9bf5545351e8f0db

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