#10
“Operation period is from March 17th at 14:00 to March 27th at 16:00. It will proceed for a total of ten days. Our priorities are these three pieces of information: the exact location of ‘The City,’ the scale of the army being raised there, and the organization’s leadership.”
“Yes, understood.”
The team leader, standing with hands behind his back, took the gold-plated badge handed by the secretary. The badge, with the ‘EGI’ logo surrounded by elaborate laurel wreaths, was a symbol given to military personnel participating in important national missions and combat. It was also a kind of sense of responsibility. The team leader, dressed in a crisp suit, pinned these badges on the espers, including Seung-oh.
Seung-oh looked down at the shining badge on his left chest and tightly clenched his fist behind his back.
“Well then, I wish you good luck.”
The operation was as follows: The exact location was difficult to determine due to continuous radio interference, though the general area had been identified. The strategic planning team suspected that a protective shield concealing the base had been created around the area.
“C-01. Barrier confirmed 600 meters ahead at 2 o’clock.”
“C-01. Barrier confirmed 600 meters ahead at 2 o’clock. Everyone stand by.”
The objective was for physical espers to advance to that location and subtly disrupt the shield, allowing the later-deployed clairvoyant espers to get at least a rough understanding of the place.
“Ju Seung-oh, are you ready?”
Taejun, an S-class esper stationed at the frontline, asked Seung-oh. Once Taejun, a light-ability esper, broke through the frontline and secured an entry path, the second wave personnel, including Seung-oh, would collect information.
Among them, Seung-oh needed to monitor the surroundings with his wide field of vision to detect any possible attacks. In case of unexpected situations, he also had the role of entering the minds of team members to directly move their bodies and secure safety. Moreover, it was the responsibility of mental espers to disarm potential enemy forces.
“Yeah. I’ll enter when you signal.”
“Okay.”
Therefore, Seung-oh, currently the highest-ranked mental esper in the country, carried a significant burden. Controlling others required considerable physical and mental strength. Of course, along with that, there could be no failure once his ability was used.
‘I’m sorry. I think my fear is still greater for now.’
On the eve of the operation’s commencement, Seung-oh recalled Ui-jin’s final words. As many top-tier espers were being deployed for this mission, failure was absolutely not an option. Perhaps because of this, Seung-oh’s condition had reached its peak. It seemed Ui-jin had put in considerable effort.
“……”
But mental fatigue was beyond his ability’s control. It seemed he had unconsciously expected Ui-jin to accept. Since hearing those words, the emptiness that had settled in one corner of his heart wouldn’t go away no matter what.
“I will count down and then we’ll enter. Operation countdown begins.”
At Taejun’s words, the waiting espers adjusted their postures. Would he be by my side now if I had expressed my feelings more strongly? Seung-oh was consumed by all sorts of thoughts as he crouched low. At the moment when he should be most rational, thinking of Ui-jin made his emotions fluctuate wildly.
“Three.”
By the time they successfully completed the operation and returned to Seoul, he might be grateful that Ui-jin wasn’t here. Yes. When that happened, he would say he was glad he left Ui-jin behind, give him a crushing hug along with a sigh of relief. Seung-oh looked at the agents standing in front of him and nodded slightly. Now he felt he could forget Ui-jin for a while.
“Two.”
“Seung-oh-nim, focus.”
The guide assigned by the Center addressed Seung-oh. What was his name again? Sehun? Seun? Sejun? Unable to recall the name with certainty, Seung-oh just nodded. As he said, it was time to focus. He needed to push Ui-jin, who occupied his mind, to the back. For everyone to survive.
“One. Operation begins.”
With anticipation, Seung-oh kicked off the ground and ran toward The City’s research facility. Toward the gray shadows of a city he had never set foot in before.
*
After seeing Seung-oh off and returning to the training room, Ui-jin stared blankly into space. Though the treadmill was rotating slowly, at a pace even less than a light jog, Ui-jin’s footsteps couldn’t keep up even with that.
‘Maybe I should have gone with him after all…’
Was I too selfish? Regret now flooded in for the answer driven by fear. Ui-jin straightened his repeatedly bending knees and exhaled. Whether it was Seung-oh’s long trail of footsteps or the endlessly looping treadmill. He couldn’t keep up with anything and remained alone in that place. All alone.
-Thump
Unable to match the treadmill’s speed, Ui-jin missed his footing at the edge of the tread. In an instant, his surroundings tilted.
“Are you okay?”
“Oh…”
Ui-jin came to his senses at the cold sensation on his lower back. It was Do-hoon who had supported him to prevent him from falling.
Do-hoon, who was holding the dazed Ui-jin, looked down at him pensively.
“Teacher.”
“You need to focus when exercising. It would be serious if you got hurt.”
Do-hoon stretched out one arm and firmly pressed the power button that had been spinning rapidly. The noisily operating treadmill immediately reduced its sound as if nothing had happened.
“You’re right… Thank you.”
Slowly getting off the treadmill, Ui-jin scratched the back of his dry head and bowed. Seeing the round crown of his head, Do-hoon smiled crookedly and shrugged.
“I think it’s the first time I’ve seen you exercising on your own?”
“Hehe… Even if I go back to the dorm, I’ll be alone anyway. There’s nothing to do, so I’m just killing time.”
“I guess… Since the operation will take several days, they must be fiercely battling The City right now.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
With Seung-oh’s absence, time spent with Do-hoon naturally increased. He was not only a dedicated trainer but also became someone to have casual conversations with after opening up through counseling sessions. Today, too, it was Do-hoon who filled Ui-jin’s remaining time.
The fitness center after dinner hours was empty except for Ui-jin and Do-hoon. Partly because personnel were sparse due to the ongoing operation, and partly because rest was prioritized during personal maintenance time since the scheduled training was high-intensity.
“Somehow you look more thoughtful than before.”
“Ah, is it that obvious?”
“Your thoughts are all visible on your face.”
Ui-jin smiled awkwardly and sat on a mini bench near the wall, forcing an awkward smile. Seung-oh had said something similar before. That my thoughts are all visible on my face. Thinking of Seung-oh brought a rush of various emotions again. To shake them off, he reflexively fluttered his legs. The legs swinging beneath his shorts looked quite slender.
“What’s on your mind these days?”
Do-hoon, sitting at a hand’s width distance from Ui-jin, turned his body and asked.
“…Just. Thinking about Seung-oh, that’s all.”
Do-hoon fixed his gaze on Ui-jin’s face as he mentioned his partner’s name. Whenever he talked about Seung-oh, he couldn’t keep his small lips still. Sometimes he would pick at his nails, and his brown eyes would roll around. Various thoughts dwelled in that small face.
“Looks like you feel guilty for not going with him.”
“Yes, that’s right. I was too afraid and just said I couldn’t go, but now I regret it. I should have just gone with him… Then again, I wonder if I’m only thinking this because I’m here now? I feel like I’m being petty with myself too. It’s complicated either way.”
Phooo-. Do-hoon stared at Ui-jin, who had puffed up his cheeks and sighed, and moved closer to him. The mirror wall across from them clearly reflected how the distance between the two had narrowed.
“You must really like Seung-oh-ssi.”
At Do-hoon’s gentle tone, Ui-jin glanced to the side. And then he thought of Seung-oh. From the days of embracing each other and whispering love, to the hot and thrilling lovemaking, to occasionally sitting side by side on the dorm rooftop with their heads raised, gazing at the stars. Everything became a panorama that passed through his mind in an instant.
“…Yes. I like him a lot. I’ve realized a lot while living with him. That Seung-oh is a much better person than I thought. Ah, he might not have seemed that way to you. He’s quite shy with strangers, so it takes time to get close to him.”
Do-hoon recalled Seung-oh, who had been quite wary of him. He knew it was different from emotions toward an ordinary partner, but it seemed deeper than expected. Love, they called it. That emotion. Do-hoon shifted his gaze to Ui-jin’s reddened ear tips as he giggled, thinking about Seung-oh, rolling the unfamiliar word on his tongue.
‘…Ju Seung-oh was assigned to rear support, right? Then his chances of returning alive are high.’
Do-hoon placed his hand on Ui-jin’s round shoulder and offered comfort with a smiling face.
“Seung-oh-ssi will return safely.”
It was a statement partly based in truth. Cheonum and his army had already relocated to another area. When they stormed ‘The City,’ they would probably be greeted by ashes from burnt bodies and collapsing buildings.
“I hope so, right? I’d like that. When he returns, I’ll apologize profusely.”
Hmm. Do-hoon was bothered by Ui-jin’s slightly brightened voice.
‘That’s not really appealing to me.’
Do-hoon, who had been resting his chin on his elbow fixed to his knee, stretched out his hand while listening to the chattering. Even with the half-hearted exercise, Ui-jin’s bangs were disheveled. Long, elegant fingers touched the light brown hair.
“That’s a good idea. So don’t be too discouraged.”
This was also half true. It was true that Ui-jin with Seung-oh looked vibrant enough for anyone to see, but that didn’t mean his current appearance was unpleasant. Do-hoon also liked the gloomy look in his eyes visible through the now-grown hair.
The slowed-down movements, the occasional blank expressions. They gave Do-hoon a new curiosity. Since it was something he was experiencing for the first time, he couldn’t pinpoint exactly what word to name it.
“There’s nothing wrong with being a little selfish, is there?”
The hair that Do-hoon’s hand had left returned to its neat place. Ui-jin looked at Do-hoon’s light amber eyes and unnecessarily tidied his bangs again.
“Ui-jin-ssi looks much prettier with a smile.”
Do-hoon said this with a gentle smile. Every syllable of Do-hoon’s words struck Ui-jin. Ui-jin, who had been admiring his handsome face, grinned along with him.
“Like this?”
“Yes, like that.”
The two people reflected in the mirror across from them had already gotten close without any gap between them.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
