March Novel (Completed) - Chapter 62

“…It’s not like it’s my first time sleeping with a man.”

Although he was calmer than before, his clenched fists and shoulders were still tense. His voice was terrible… and above all, it was the first time Lee Sehwa had mentioned his relationships with clients himself. He knew how much Lee Sehwa detested that topic, so it was difficult to gauge the meaning of this signal.

“If my body decided that accepting men well was better, that it had to change from now on to survive… then shouldn’t it have changed to get well-lubricated from the first time I was fucked?”

It wasn’t as if Brigadier General was the only one who had treated him badly all this time. Lee Sehwa, who had been stammering, let out a small laugh. It was a sneer like a soap bubble. Beautiful, bitter, and fleeting.

“But it just so happened to change now. After I met you, Brigadier General.”

“Lee Sehwa.”

Gi Taejeong bit the inside of his lip, trying his best to hide his anxiety. He swallowed a hollow laugh inwardly, unfamiliar with this side of himself. Anxious? Am I, right now, like this because I don’t know how Lee Sehwa feels, because I’m curious what he’s thinking?

“Damn it, I know you’re misunderstanding because of my foul mouth, but…”

He quickly scanned the hastily concocted script once more. Fortunately, the only lie he had told Lee Sehwa was that he hadn’t known about the pregnancy when they slept together, so there was no need for his words to get tangled.

“Listen to me, I said no.”

Gi Taejeong frantically gripped and released Lee Sehwa’s shoulders, arms, and face. Lee Sehwa’s eyes widened at the unfamiliar, impatient gestures and urgent tone.

“I told you at first, didn’t I, that there was a reason it had to be you.”

Yes, make that face. Make that expression and ask, press, and babble about this and that, rather.

“It was because of Second Lieutenant Kim. At first, I thought you were in cahoots with Second Lieutenant Kim.”

This, too, seemed to be an unexpected story, as a momentary look of bewilderment crossed Lee Sehwa’s face.

“Me? With Second Lieutenant Kim?”

“Yeah. That bastard Kim treated me like shit, so I wanted to make him feel just as bad.”

He was displeased that an orphan from a detention center who hadn’t even attended the military academy was succeeding with a few similar scumbags, and even when sent alone to enemy territory to die, he always came back alive. Sometimes, even when poison was put in the military rations, he didn’t die, and even when aphrodisiacs were given to make him sleep with anyone, he didn’t move as intended…

“Poison? Aphrodisiacs?”

Lee Sehwa, who had been listening silently, suddenly raised his head. His voice was still subdued but much softer than before. Gi Taejeong hid his dark intentions and nodded expressionlessly.

“Because there were lines of bastards who would even steal a seed.”

“What does that mean…”

“You might not understand, but there are a truckload of bastards in the military who want to get higher ranks, no matter what despicable means they use.”

“……”

“Even though he’s a monster, he’s a valuable resource, and since he’s an orphan with no influential backing… they probably want to seize my rank insignia that way.”

“So,” Gi Taejeong sighed deeply. His voice naturally carried a dark tone as he prepared to tell an unpleasant story. No matter the situation, revealing his true feelings to others was not something Gi Taejeong was accustomed to. He knew that Lee Sehwa’s pupils, swollen with tears, would tremble so subtly if he revealed a little of his story. That’s why he endured and continued speaking.

“So… I think the sex we had affected your body more than it would a normal person.”

Gi Taejeong awkwardly tapped Lee Sehwa’s clothes around his stomach with a rough hand. Would it have been better if he had gently stroked him? The thought came belatedly, but Lee Sehwa somehow felt more sincerity in that awkward gesture. His gasping breaths, which had been on the verge of collapse, were returning to their usual level.

“I’m not a special constitution, but it’s true that this body itself isn’t normal.”

Gi Taejeong slowly rubbed Lee Sehwa’s thin hand and then briefly kissed it. He flinched but didn’t push him away.

“If you’re more curious about my past, when I struggled to survive, I can call Lieutenant Park or Chief Warrant Officer Choi for you. The fact that I detest kids and drugs is something anyone in the military can tell you if you ask…”

The eyebrows, curved like the character, held not only anger but also pity.

“Again, I didn’t know.”

“……”

“The child… whether you give birth or abort, do as you wish. I will take responsibility until the end, no matter which direction you choose.”

Gi Taejeong no longer pressed him, simply staring at Lee Sehwa. Just as he had done a moment ago, Lee Sehwa would also be looking at the scales in his own heart. It was obvious which way the weight would tip.

“…First.”

Lee Sehwa quietly closed his eyes. As if struggling to control the emotions welling up, his closed eyelids twitched several times.

“…Give me some tranquilizers. Sleeping pills would be good too…”

“What? Didn’t you hear what Lieutenant Na said earlier?”

“What’s the big difference between collapsing and getting an IV, or taking medicine beforehand while I’m still conscious?”

Sehwa slowly stood up, gripping his trembling knees. Seeing him reach for the medical bag, it seemed he wanted to take out a patch.

“Ah, ugh…”

Lee Sehwa’s body, which was trying to stand, began to crumble like a sandcastle. He seemed to feel dizzy from the sudden movement.

“…Alright, I’ll give you anything, just sit down first.”

Still, tranquilizers or sleeping pills were out of the question. Gi Taejeong wrapped a patch around Lee Sehwa’s dangling wrist and took out H1. It was the safest treatment to give to any patient. It wouldn’t have a calming effect, but it would prevent dehydration or exhaustion…

He slipped a pill between his lips and gently caressed his swollen eyelids with his thumb. Would he accept a kiss? Gi Taejeong briefly considered it, then slightly tilted his head. However, Lee Sehwa wasn’t ready for a kiss yet, as he subtly turned his face away, refusing with faint strength.

Gi Taejeong paused for a moment, then, instead of forcing him, simply stroked Lee Sehwa’s head and withdrew. This was not the time to force him or add lengthy excuses. He had pushed him into a corner enough, so he needed to give Lee Sehwa time alone. This moment was always necessary when interrogating and recruiting prisoners too.

“Rest.”

Lee Sehwa didn’t respond, stubbornly keeping his eyes closed. As if his words about feeling like he was going to faint weren’t a joke, his curled-up body slowly collapsed onto the sofa. His shoulders subtly hitched, as if he was crying again.

The moment the door clicked open, the garden sprinklers vigorously began to turn. The sound of water gushing echoed cheerfully through the window. Even though the spray wouldn’t reach this height, the scattering light somehow resembled a rainbow.

Gi Taejeong looked at Sehwa, who was curled up, then slowly turned around. It wasn’t that he didn’t feel sorry and pitiful. So, from now on, he would let him live without knowing any truth. Wouldn’t that be enough?

“Brigadier General.”

As soon as he stepped outside, Chief Warrant Officer Choi scurried over with a serious expression. His movements were as quick as if he had springs on the soles of his feet. He seemed curious about the situation, being the kind of person who subtly protected Lee Sehwa. Second Lieutenant Park also glanced through the half-open door.

“Lieutenant Na is off this case.”

Gi Taejeong issued the dismissal in a low voice. His face was similar to when he was a strict and sensitive superior before a battle.

“I’ve always highly regarded Lieutenant Na because she prioritizes the patient’s life without caring about others’ opinions, which can also be interpreted as her being unyielding even if someone else tries to suppress her with rank…”

His hand, which had paused while pushing back his falling bangs, and Gi Taejeong’s eyes, which had been tightly closed and then opened, burned with an indescribable fury.

“I can no longer entrust work to someone who can’t distinguish right from wrong. Second Lieutenant Park.”

“Yes.”

“Find someone who can look after Lee Sehwa instead of Lieutenant Na. Whether it’s a military doctor or a civilian hospital doctor. I don’t even ask for someone tight-lipped, just someone competent enough and who can be disposed of without trouble if necessary.”

“Brigadier General, please, just a moment, my words…”

“Even now, do you feel like making excuses?”

“I apologize. However…”

“You got carried away by your petty convictions, blurting out things you shouldn’t have, and now what? ‘The party concerned has the right to know the truth’? Don’t talk nonsense. You failed to be loyal to a superior’s order, and you failed to make a correct judgment as a doctor.”

It was only because it was Lieutenant Na that he was letting it end at this point. He knew that her efforts to save people in the detention center had become a habit and a syndrome. And even though she sometimes went too far, he didn’t fail to understand. But he could not tolerate any further overstepping. Lee Sehwa’s face a moment ago, pouring tears like a broken doll, made it impossible for him to do so.

“I won’t make excuses. However, please allow me to handle the initial examination… that is, the first ultrasound, and Mr. Lee Sehwa’s future surgery.”

Lieutenant Na frantically tapped her tablet a few times.

“I’ve just sent you Mr. Lee Sehwa’s test results. As you can see, everything is unstable.”

Gi Taejeong’s wristwatch gleamed. The notification that documents for review had arrived was marked as urgent.

“There are still many things modern medical technology cannot solve. A child can be lost for surprisingly absurd reasons, and that impact falls entirely on the pregnant person. Moreover, Mr. Lee Sehwa’s…”

Lieutenant Na paused to catch her breath, lowering her voice.

“His uterus formed late, and perhaps because it was an artificial method, it appears incredibly weak. Of course, the cause and situation need to be more closely examined, but… the values are so poor that we cannot even confirm the fetus’s condition right now.”

“Ha…”

…Incredibly weak.

Gi Taejeong rubbed his face dry, recalling what Lee Sehwa had gone through, especially in the past 5 or 6 weeks. Sex was always violent, and he even drank alcohol while wearing the patch. No, he didn’t even need to go as far as sex. From Lee Sehwa’s perspective, his world had been turned upside down since Gi Taejeong appeared. Gi Taejeong also knew that excessive stress was fatal to a fetus. …Looking at it this way, it was certain that the child in his belly was his. Seeing it cling to Lee Sehwa’s body until the end, not dying despite going through all sorts of things.

“This surgery could determine Mr. Lee Sehwa’s entire life. Whether he gives birth or aborts, at least one month of preparation time is absolutely necessary. I will design it perfectly, so that Mr. Lee Sehwa is not overstrained in either direction.”

Lieutenant Na stood with her hands behind her back, anxiously awaiting her superior’s instructions. As Gi Taejeong pointed out, she had indeed made a mistake, carried away by her convictions. She had shocked Lee Sehwa by abruptly revealing the results without giving him time to prepare. So, Lieutenant Na wanted to help mend this situation, even a little. If they brought in other doctors, they might obediently follow orders, but they wouldn’t genuinely care for the patient.

“It would be best to bring the necessary equipment first. Whether Lieutenant Na continues to assist or steps away from this, she can’t examine Mr. Lee Sehwa from outside.”

Second Lieutenant Park, who had been waiting for an opening, cautiously offered his opinion.

“That’s a good idea. Since we’ll have to go back and forth between the quarters and the 4th district house for a while, I’ll prepare things there too.”

Chief Warrant Officer Choi also quickly chimed in, trying to lighten the mood.

“…It’s good to have the equipment, but it can’t be as perfect as a hospital. Arrange for someone to provide outpatient care. And…”

Gi Taejeong, who had been thinking for a moment with his legs crossed, gave an ambiguous permission.

“The initial examination and the final surgery preparation, that’s where Lieutenant Na’s role ends.”

“Don’t make me kill you with my own hands by crossing the line any further.” At his superior’s blunt warning, Lieutenant Na merely nodded silently.

“I’m considering disciplinary action, so follow the subsequent disposition, and Chief Warrant Officer Choi.”

“Yes.”

“What was the name of that bakery in the 4th district that Lee Sehwa liked?”

“Bakery… sir?”

Chief Warrant Officer Choi rolled his eyes, as if he couldn’t understand his superior’s intentions.

“Whether he aborts the child in a month or whatever, he should eat better than usual, shouldn’t he? He is pregnant, after all.”

“That’s true, but… wouldn’t soft, easily digestible foods be better than bread? And if you’re trying to take care of Mr. Lee Sehwa, food isn’t the only answer either.”

“Then?”

Lieutenant Na looked at Second Lieutenant Park and Chief Warrant Officer Choi with a bewildered expression. The two of them were just as surprised. Right now, Gi Taejeong… well. It seemed he wanted to do something for the person who had unexpectedly become pregnant, but he was completely at a loss. Like an ordinary husband or father.

“How about preparing a gift?”

“I gave him a check card with 12 billion won on it, and he didn’t say anything, Lee Sehwa.”

Gi Taejeong retorted gruffly, not even thinking about how he had immediately embraced and kissed Lee Sehwa’s body without giving him time to ask questions or express feelings.

“Then you can tell him that too. Given Mr. Lee Sehwa’s personality, he probably doesn’t even think the card is really his.”

Chief Warrant Officer Choi cheerfully listed items that would make good gifts.

“A large bouquet of flowers is a basic preparation, and it’s common to add other gifts to it. Like a watch, or a ring…”