March Novel (Completed) - Chapter 85

Sehwa walked into the small room with the waterbed. There was no other choice. He hated Gi Taejeong’s bedroom more than this place. The living room sofa, where he had so wantonly rolled around with him, was equally dreadful.

But sleeping on the bare floor would only harm him. He needed to rest well to be able to move tomorrow. So he chose to lie down on something that at least resembled furniture… but the mattress’s undulations, focused solely on pleasure, were far more unpleasant and vulgar than he remembered, making sleep utterly impossible.

Sehwa, gazing blankly at the ceiling, suddenly recalled the first time he had been with Gi Taejeong here and let out a cold laugh.

Even without taking any drugs, his back passage had strangely moistened on its own at Gi Taejeong’s touch, making him cling to Gi Taejeong, groaning, and asking. Was it true that the aphrodisiac he took yesterday was still effective, or was this patch originally such a thing…? Probably something like that.

What did Gi Taejeong answer then? He seemed to have agreed, saying Sehwa was probably right. It wasn’t a strong enough reaction to leave a lasting impression, so Sehwa’s memory was now hazy. Thinking about it now, it truly was a perfunctory reply. He just roughly appeased Sehwa because he wanted to have him right away, regardless of Sehwa’s confusion.

Well… he must have done that because Sehwa wasn’t worth the effort of comforting. Had there ever been a moment when Gi Taejeong was honest and sincere with him? Even just once would have been enough.

Sehwa slowly closed his eyes, tracing the pattern of the cheap wallpaper with his gaze. He had acted as if screaming that he didn’t want to see anything, but his red and blue optic nerves fluttered wildly behind his eyelids. At the end of it, a faint afterimage that appeared and disappeared was Gi Taejeong from some other time.

Sehwa turned onto his side, curling his body into a small ball. Now that things had come to this, he wondered why the things that had been bearable when he was just inflated with light, determined to love Gi Taejeong diligently… felt so sorrowful now.

He knew there was no end to retracing each moment, but the heart he had thrown recklessly at Gi Taejeong returned like a boomerang. The affection he harbored alone became derision and mockery directed at himself, brutally striking his already tattered heart with sharp edges.

What he had finally obtained and rejoiced over, what he had cherished, was not like spring outside the zone where the snow had not yet melted. Only scars, like eternal snow that would never melt in any season, indelible, remained.

“Wait. I’ll go out and buy us some time.”

The fence walked briskly towards the entrance. Listening to his boisterous voice asking the soldiers various questions, Sehwa briefly stared at the unfamiliar number on his phone screen.

As his reputation suggested, the fence arrived to see Sehwa as soon as the sun rose, having perfectly completed all preparations. Even the syringes and other items, which were mere excuses, were all top-grade.

Tracing the cryptic mark at the end of the drug packaging with his finger, Sehwa recounted the remaining badges once more. While Oh Seonran had tactfully spoken well of them, the badges certainly seemed to be remarkable items. That’s why they were brought so quickly, and of such good quality.

Therefore, he would have to use them even more carefully in the future. They were so rare that Sehwa himself only learned of their use after the fence told him. Since badges couldn’t be used as cash, they would definitely have to pass through people, and it was clear that word would quickly spread everywhere about such a valuable commodity.

So, these badges, other than being given away when sneaking into Zone 2, should be saved for that one time when the child has a problem. Whether it’s going to a hospital or finding a quack, they should be reserved for that single instance. They were just too easy to expose in many ways…

• Sehwa?

He was blankly waiting for the signal when the call tone suddenly changed unnaturally. Startled by the ear-splitting mechanical sound, he was about to take the phone away from his ear for a moment when Oh Seonran urgently shouted from the other end.

• Sehwa, it’s me.

“…Captain Oh Seonran?”

• You were surprised by the strange noise, weren’t you? My apologies. I was a bit late because I was sending out signal jamming. You can speak comfortably now, but a long call might be difficult.

Sehwa glanced towards the entrance. The fence was still arguing with the soldiers outside. Nonsensical talk like, “I still have items to bring, can’t I bring more people in?” or “Then some of you should move with me.”

“I’m in the same situation, so I won’t speak at length. Just help me this one time.”

• Sehwa.

“Please disable the CCTV cameras around all ports and checkpoints nationwide for an hour… no, even 30 minutes, starting at 8 PM tonight. I know it’ll be difficult, but I promise I’ll never bother you again after this.”

• Sehwa, you’re not…

“It won’t be a loss for you, Captain. After all, if I, the most perfect evidence, suddenly disappear like this, the trial will surely be disrupted,”

• That’s not the problem! It’s obvious you have no connections in other zones, and you’re not even alone. Where do you plan to go after disabling the CCTVs?!

“…”

• I’ll send someone right away, come here.

Oh Seonran said that if Sehwa wanted to hide, he should stay at her quarters. No, she pleaded. She was angry and worried, but she couldn’t scare him, so he felt her trying hard to hold back.

“Captain.”

• If you’re uncomfortable, I’ll go stay somewhere else,

“No, you don’t have to.”

It was a kind offer. He wouldn’t care for even a close friend’s son so desperately, especially someone whose bloodline couldn’t even be confirmed without a blood test.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t trust anyone anymore.”

• …Sehwa.

The problem was his own heart, which now couldn’t perceive anything anyone said as genuine.

“I know I’ll be caught soon anyway. I know all of it… but at the start of the trial, I don’t want anyone to be able to use me as a hidden card or anything like that. That’s all.”

The first impression is always the most important. How could one trust and present a hand with many variables that couldn’t be shown from the beginning, after time had passed? Becoming a worthless means to everyone. That was enough.

• If you use yourself as a tool like that… your constitution is difficult even with careful care at the best hospital in 5th Zone… what about your body, and the child, in the future?

“…I don’t know yet. I want to think about that a bit more.”

A small commotion was heard from the other end of the phone. It seemed there wasn’t much time left. Oh Seonran repeated Sehwa’s name a few times, then, with a trembling voice, listed what she could do in the current situation.

• 30 minutes isn’t that difficult. An hour… I’ll try. However, after this, I won’t be able to help you.

Of course. How many people could disable all ports and checkpoints nationwide? Gi Taejeong or Lieutenant Kim would naturally suspect Oh Seonran first, and from now on, they would keep a close eye on her movements.

The larger the body, the easier it is to attract attention. The rank of captain was Oh Seonran’s most powerful weapon, but conversely, in situations like this, it became a shackle that prevented her from moving swiftly.

• Instead, let’s meet in three weeks. Until then, I won’t interfere with anything you do. If I act clumsily, they might follow me.

“But,”

• If you want to see Gi Taejeong and Kim Seokcheol in trouble, that much time is enough. Nothing makes those bastards look more ridiculous than me personally stepping in to help you.

Sehwa, please. Sehwa’s name, called out so desperately by someone, felt unfamiliar, and he could only part his lips without saying a word.

• If something happens to you too, I won’t be able to face Jinwoo… or your father, even in death. So please…

“…I’ll think about it.”

Only then did Oh Seonran sigh briefly, as if relieved, and chose a few meeting spots. They were places Sehwa, who was familiar with Zone 2’s geography, also knew well.

• If you don’t see me after 10 minutes, get up immediately. Then move clockwise from the first location I told you, and if you don’t see anyone at the new spot, let’s meet the next day. I’ll do the same.

It seemed to be truly the very end, as the urgent voice of her subordinate was clearly heard.

• And cash for the fence…

Oh Seonran’s voice, trying to add something urgently, was drowned out by a sharp mechanical sound and cut off. It seemed the jamming signal or whatever it was had stopped. The fence, too, having no more excuses, was trudging back this way.

“Did the talk go well?”

Sehwa nodded and handed the phone back. It belatedly occurred to him that it might have been recorded, but he wasn’t in a position to quibble over such things now. If the fence’s mood was soured, only Sehwa would suffer. Since the conversation was mostly about Captain Oh Seonran treating him specially, even if they listened to the recording later, they would likely treat him better, not rage about being deceived.

“Do you know a famous smuggler in Zone 2? Geumdong.”

“I do.”

“I happen to have something to send to him. I can hide you inside that container. If it’s going up, I don’t know, but if it’s going down, I think bribing the checkpoint will work… but hiding one person is quite expensive.”

“Yes. Once we cross into Zone 2, I’ll give the badge to the orderly.”

“Oh, come on. People’s minds change once they’re in and out of the bathroom. If you refuse to give it after crossing into Zone 2, that’s the end of it. We need to settle the payment now.”

“Captain Oh Seonran said she paid the advance, though?”

“Th-that is…”

The fence mumbled, trailing off. Sehwa had just probed, but it seemed he really had received something from Oh Seonran. As expected, there’s no one to trust. He thought his aunt treated him so well too… But Sehwa, who had much to lose, decided to pretend not to know this time as well.

“…Anyway, we have to leave Zone 4 by 8 PM at the latest.”

“Th-then you have to come to the store by at least 6:20 PM… Can you do it? I’m not lying, there’s a guy guarding every other tile outside. Armed soldiers, even.”

“I’ll figure that out, so don’t worry about it, Auntie. Just prepare a flashlight in advance.”

“A flashlight? Why that… No, what’s the point of asking now. Alright.”

If the threat to Gi Taejeong to let him go worked, he planned to destroy the circuit breaker and communication network before moving. All of Gi Taejeong’s useful high-tech equipment required electricity to operate. Of course, there would be emergency measures, but to inconvenience him even a little, he felt he had to cut all the wires first.

“Yes. When all the lights in this building go out and communication is completely cut off, consider it a signal that I’m coming soon.”

Sehwa could pinpoint everything in the building, even with his eyes closed. Because he had hidden like a rat every day to sneak out guests, to escape being beaten, or to secretly grab a meal, his body and feet moved on their own without effort.

When he had destroyed military facilities and flown over the sea in a car, Gi Taejeong had said that he was invincible in the sky. Unfortunately, this house, this ant-nest-like vertical city, was at the end of that sky. And in a dark, murky sewer without even electric lights, the rat was king.

Gi Taejeong smoothed his uniform after disembarking from the helicopter. He sprayed on the perfume he had brought and brought his wrist close to his nose, but he didn’t feel anything special. He couldn’t understand why Sehwa found comfort only in his body scent when all perfumes smelled more or less the same.

Of course, Sehwa might hate the sight of him right now… but it had been days since they last met. Sehwa must have slept poorly on an uncomfortable bed, so for now, he just wanted him to breathe comfortably in his arms. They could talk on the way back to the quarters.

“Oh, here’s the ledger you asked for.”

Lieutenant Park took out a worn notebook from his briefcase and handed it over. Sehwa’s name was written multiple times on the tattered cover, which was clumsily taped over torn parts. It seemed to have been rewritten each time the contract terms changed.

The name written at the very top, probably when he unknowingly inherited the debt for the first time… looked more like a traced hieroglyph than actual writing. The crooked handwriting gradually straightened further down. The cover of the debt ledger alone clearly showed Sehwa’s past years.

“And Mr. Son is causing a commotion, saying he wants to see the Brigadier General.”

Since the day Gi Taejeong “cleaned up,” Mr. Son had been confined to his office. Although two guards were assigned, they weren’t diligently watching him.

That bastard couldn’t escape anyway. He hadn’t risen to that position for nothing, he already knew without being told that he was alive only because he sided with Gi Taejeong, not Kim Seokcheol.

“Does he still not know that 12 billion won went to Sehwa?”

“No, sir.”

“Then slowly tell him everything. He’ll shut up if he’s shocked enough. And I’m going to burn this before we go back to the quarters, so get ready.”

“Ready, sir…?”

“Why, like the drum barrel that was in the warehouse where I first met Sehwa. Shove it in there and burn it all.”

“Ah… Yes, sir. Understood.”

Chief Warrant Officer Choi, who had been watching from behind, subtly handed over two shopping bags. They were gifts for Sehwa.

This time, it wasn’t a debit card, a watch, or jewelry. It was two pairs of ordinary shoes. He had chosen them himself after much thought, without consulting his shoppers or adjutants.

Lately, Sehwa’s heels were never without injury. Even though Gi Taejeong had bought him all the famous, expensive, and good shoes, his delicate skin, chafed by new leather, would often peel and bleed. So Sehwa would go out wearing his old, original sneakers, no matter what he wore on top.

Because of this, Gi Taejeong had to suppress his bursting laughter every time they went shopping together. Sehwa would be dressed in brand new clothes, but his shoes would be clumsy and dirty. He had never shown it, fearing that if Sehwa noticed he found him amusing, no, cute, he might force his feet into new shoes and come out…

Anyway, he heard this model was particularly popular among pregnant women in 5th Zone. The material and design were excellent, and most importantly, they said it didn’t cause much discomfort even if one’s feet swelled.

What Gi Taejeong liked most was that there were baby shoes of the same design. He somehow felt Sehwa would like them, seeing that item smaller than his palm.

Gi Taejeong awkwardly gripped the shopping bag straps and stepped into the house.

He didn’t know how much Sehwa knew, what he was thinking now, or how to gently shift the inevitably cold atmosphere… He knew nothing.

If a mistake occurred, he would propose an alternative and apologize by bringing better results. He thought that was much more rational, and everyone with rank lived that way. No, they had to live that way to survive in the military.

However… if Sehwa resented him because of this, and if he now desired something. Gi Taejeong was willing to grant anything.

And he would honestly confess that he had tried to get away with lies because he didn’t want to lose Sehwa. And that he wanted to take responsibility for both Sehwa and the child, and that such things wouldn’t happen again… He planned to confess for the first time in his life. Even if he didn’t know how, it wouldn’t be cool at all.