March Novel (Completed) - Chapter 82

“Lee Sehwa?”

“Mr. Lee Sehwa visited here…”

“Here? Lee Sehwa came to the Ministry of National Defense?”

“Yes, that… Chief Warrant Officer Choi said it was a plan to surprise the Brigadier General. He also bought a lot of snacks… it was supposed to be a surprise event of sorts…”

Huh. Gi Taejeong swallowed a hollow laugh and took a step, then stopped, remembering his attire.

He ran a hand through his hair, pulled out the tie he had carelessly stuffed into his shirt pocket, and neatly rolled down his sleeves. Finally, he reached for the uniform cap he had thrown on his desk… but decided against it, thinking it might be a bit much.

“Tell them to let him into the lobby; I’ll go get him now.”

Given the strict security lately, it was highly likely that outsiders, especially Lee Sehwa who wasn’t even a resident of the capital, wouldn’t have been able to pass the main gate. Although he didn’t have time for this, it seemed best if he went out and escorted him personally.

“Seriously.”

Gi Taejeong rubbed his neck and shoulders, pretending to be stiff, then burst into a small laugh. A surprise? What was with the snacks?

Recalling Lee Sehwa’s innocent face, holding a few snacks and lingering there for a long time, somehow made his stomach tingle. He couldn’t even choose much when asked what he wanted to buy. Imagining Lee Sehwa asking Chief Warrant Officer Choi with difficulty, “I want to eat this with the Brigadier General,” made him feel a little… embarrassed, even though the expression itself was mortifying. How did such a timid person even think of coming all the way here?

Gi Taejeong, who was about to pass Lieutenant Park and go outside, checked his appearance one last time in the mirror on the wall. Hmm. Perhaps it would be better to be fully dressed? He knew that Lee Sehwa would lose himself whenever he saw him in a suit. It was true when he wore a suit, but when he wore his uniform, the intensity of his gaze changed. He didn’t dislike that awe and admiration…

“Um, Brigadier General.”

“Ah, why do you keep calling me?”

Gi Taejeong, who had turned back to Lieutenant Park in a somewhat elevated mood, slowly stiffened his expression. His subordinate, who had brought rather cute news, was suspiciously pale and frozen.

“What is it?”

“……”

“Lieutenant Park. Aren’t you going to speak properly?”

“That… Mr. Lee Sehwa… encountered Brigadier General Oh Seonran while being held at the checkpoint.”

“Oh Seonran?”

“Yes, after that, the aides stepped back, and he talked with Mr. Lee Sehwa alone… When they passed the last security gate, suddenly…”

Lieutenant Park tightly closed his eyes, as if he didn’t want to say it.

“…He collapsed.”

“…What?”

“Lieutenant Na is in the infirmary, and for now, Mr. Lee Sehwa’s stability is important, so Brigadier General Oh Seonran and everyone else has been moved back, Brigadier General!”

Before Lieutenant Park could even finish his sentence, Gi Taejeong bolted from his seat.

“Where is that bastard Chief Warrant Officer Choi?!”

“Brigadier General! Mr. Lee Sehwa needs to rest now…!”

“Surprise or not, he met Oh Seonran, and that bastard kept his mouth shut without even reporting it? Do you think I assigned that guy to Lee Sehwa for that reason?”

There was no time to wait for the elevator. Gi Taejeong almost flew down the stairs, and his aides also rushed after him noisily, trying to keep up. An unusual noise, like a chase, echoed through the gray corridor. The guards standing on each floor were startled and craned their necks to look.

He knew why Lieutenant Park had been cautious. He must have expected him to react so furiously. Gi Taejeong wasn’t unaware. Although Lee Sehwa’s existence was implicitly known, it would be problematic if concrete eyewitness accounts of him protecting Lee Sehwa like this started to emerge. It would create an official weakness, apart from the trial. But.

“Br-Brigadier General.”

The kid collapsed. While with Oh Seonran.

Gi Taejeong pushed aside Chief Warrant Officer Choi, who was pacing anxiously outside, and grabbed the doorknob of the infirmary. He was about to yank it open… but remembered something, paused, and massaged his hardened mouth several times with his thumb and forefinger. It didn’t soften completely, but it was much better than before. He also re-tightened his tie, which had come loose from running. Only after tidying his appearance so that Lee Sehwa, who must already be startled, wouldn’t shrink further upon seeing his surely terrifying face, did he open the door.

“Ah, Brigadier General.”

Lee Sehwa wasn’t immediately visible, hidden by Lieutenant Na, who was peering at the equipment right beside him. Still, seeing the sheet bulge, he seemed to be lying there. The pure white bedding covering his entire body somehow displeased Gi Taejeong, and he entered, furrowing his brow despite his efforts to tidy himself up.

“…You’re here.”

And Lee Sehwa on the bed… was in a truly terrible state. Already pale like dough, he was twice as white as usual, looking like a corpse with only its eyes open. Just yesterday, he had rosy cheeks and chattered away like a sparrow, telling all sorts of stories.

“The numbers are much better than before. If he rests well like this, he should recover quickly. However…”

Lieutenant Na sighed and handed over the test results.

“There’s a little blood…”

“Blood?”

As Gi Taejeong asked back in surprise, Lee Sehwa burrowed his head under the pillow, as if apologizing for a mortal sin. Gi Taejeong bit hard on the inside of his lip. From now on, he wouldn’t raise his voice much.

“It can happen. It’s not a serious situation. He just needs to rest well and take all his nutrients and sedatives. As you know, Mr. Lee Sehwa’s constitution is unique, so we need to be especially careful with the dosage for a while. Of course, he must also adhere strictly to the timing. And…”

Lieutenant Na subtly leaned towards Gi Taejeong.

“…Brigadier General Oh Seonran seemed quite upset.”

“That bastard? The one who put him in this state?”

“Not that, but… he was very surprised and genuinely worried about Mr. Lee Sehwa. To an extent that it couldn’t be acting.”

Gi Taejeong briefly examined the distribution of the values and returned the documents to Lieutenant Na.

“…Understood. Everyone, leave for now.”

He felt an unspoken commotion behind him. It was obvious. The three of them must be exchanging some kind of signal.

“…Lee Sehwa.”

Gi Taejeong looked alternately at the IV drip hanging on the pole, the black patch wrapped around his thin wrist, and Lee Sehwa’s face, pale under the eyes. As the mattress dipped slightly where he sat, Lee Sehwa swallowed hard. He seemed to think he would be scolded for coming unannounced and causing trouble.

“So why…”

Why didn’t you say anything, why were you arguing so foolishly out there? He intended to gently scold him and then hug him tightly. Or perhaps run his hand through his sweat-soaked hair. Lee Sehwa used to calm down quickly when he smelled his scent or buried his head in his arms. He would flinch and lean slightly when touched. But…

“…Ah, I’m sorry…”

“……”

“I was a little startled…”

As soon as Gi Taejeong moved, Lee Sehwa jumped back as if he had been kicked. Nothing even touched him. Gi Taejeong had just slightly raised his hand… It was such a violent rejection that anyone would misunderstand that he was constantly being beaten.

Gi Taejeong withdrew his embarrassed hand and subtly clenched his fist. He wasn’t annoyed… he just felt bad. What had happened at the checkpoint? And what did Oh Seonran say to him to make the kid like this…?

“You should have contacted me beforehand. This place is already a brutal one…”

“……”

“…Lee Sehwa.”

“……”

“Are you crying?”

Perhaps unaware himself, Lee Sehwa turned his head slightly in surprise. His hands, pressing hard against his eyelids, were utterly clumsy. But despite his efforts, the teardrops at the corners of his eyes quickly turned into streams, flowing incessantly down his earlobes.

“Look at me for a moment.”

“……”

“What happened to you earlier, that you’re…”

“Brigadier General.”

Mixed with choked sobs, his voice was completely overturned. It was so terribly cracked that it sounded like he should be told to shut up and rest… a desperate tone.

“I… bought… cookies…”

Yet, Lee Sehwa continued to speak in broken sentences. He had chosen them carefully. He had wanted to give them to the Brigadier General…

“They’re all… broken.”

They were all crushed, ruined, and turned into trash that no one would like.

After barely mumbling that much, Lee Sehwa completely covered his face. The two machines beside him emitted ominous warning sounds, and blood began to flow back up the IV needle in his arm.

“…Alright, just calm down, put your arm down.”

“I know the Brigadier General didn’t want them anyway… but still, I… I…”

“I’ll buy them for you. Those cookies or whatever, I’ll buy the whole store and give it to you… Don’t cry, okay?”

Perhaps he had been treated like dirt, but Lee Sehwa couldn’t collect himself and just kept sobbing. It was strange. He liked Lee Sehwa’s tear-stained face the most, and always thought it was beautiful. But now, he doesn’t feel good at all. Seeing Lee Sehwa, who had been pushed around everywhere in his absence, crying so sorrowfully… a lump of fire kept gurgling in his throat.

He couldn’t bear it any longer, and felt like he had to say something… Gi Taejeong carefully picked up the name he had been holding back. Don’t cry. Sehwa.

“Brigadier General, I…”

Just as his lips were about to part as if he had made a decision, Sehwa grabbed Gi Taejeong first.

“…Uh, speak.”

Gi Taejeong held Sehwa’s hand tightly, as if he would grant any wish. He mumbled, “Why are you so cold?” and gently massaged the tips of his fingers to ease the pain.

Normally, he would have blushed with emotion. He would have been thrilled by Gi Taejeong’s unique scent and warm body temperature, swimming alone in a dream of beautiful colors. …But not anymore. Sehwa turned his head away, suppressing a sudden urge to gag.

“I… I want to stay in Sector 4 for a while.”

“Sector 4? With this body, what…”

“Just for one day is fine… Can’t I just rest there for a bit and come back…?”

“……”

“Anywhere is fine, not just Sector 4. Just one day… give me time.”