Chapter 84
What’s your relationship with Min Ahyeon.
After hearing such question, Shin Hae-jun chuckled, leaned his head back against the headrest and closed his eyes for a moment.
He couldn’t define what kind of relationship he had with Min Ahyeon. Why? Because defining a relationship is not something one can do alone, it requires mutual agreement between the parties involved. But Ahyeon is acting oblivious towards him. So if he had to describe his relationship with Ahyeon now, they would just be a ‘former’ superior and a ‘former’ subordinate. That’s the only answer he could give.
“Why do you ask such things?”
So Shin Hae-jun answered with an annoyed expression.
“Lieutenant Min is Lieutenant Min, and I’m just her former superior. Nothing more.”
“Ah, I see.”
“But why did you ask that?”
Shin Hae-jun’s gaze fell on Habin’s face. Because Habin was driving, his face wasn’t fully visible, but compared to before, his expression seemed a bit somber. Feeling uneasy, Shin Hae-jun tilted his head.
“Aren’t you going to tell me why you asked?”
“Sorry. I was thinking about the reason.”
When the road became somewhat smoother, Oh Habin loosened his grip on the steering wheel and let out a faint sigh.
“To be honest, I don’t really know why I asked. But I thought about it carefully, and if you and the Lieutenant had that kind of relationship…..”
I wish we had that kind of relationship, damn it. Shin Hae-jun cursed inwardly as he waited for Habin to continue.
“….If you had that kind of relationship, I think I would feel upset. But I don’t know why I would feel upset. I’m sorry.”
Why don’t you know the reason? I know it.
Suddenly having a rival, Shin Hae-jun couldn’t hold back his bitter laughter. Min Ahyeon. She’s quite something in many ways. She has me entranced, and this guy too, entrancing everyone. While acting like she’s just standing by innocently, not doing anything. She’s really cunning. Damn. Shin Hae-jun clicked his tongue.
“By any chance, General.”
At that moment, Oh Habin cautiously opened his mouth.
“Do you like Lieutenant Min?”
Barely holding back the words “I fucking love her, you bastard” that almost slipped out, Shin Hae-jun pressed his fingers against his temples as if he had a headache and turned his gaze out the window.
I do like her. I’ve realized that I like her. But, so what? What am I supposed to do about it? If I like her, what, should I date her? Should we start this bullshit one-day dating thing today? Or should we get married in this shitty world? There’s no future anyway. I can’t possibly envision a future that doesn’t exist. Shin Hae-jun cursed briefly.
“It’s none of your business, so just drive.”
“Yes.”
Oh Habin, who joined the military at a young age, was perceptive when it came to others. From Shin Hae-jun brushing off the question, he got the impression that Shin Hae-jun definitely liked Ahyeon. But he couldn’t ask again or say something like “So you do like her.” Given Shin Hae-jun’s personality, if Habin said that, he felt a gun barrel might be pointed at his head.
So he should just drive as instructed. Habin turned the steering wheel, trying hard to ignore the strange tightness in his chest.
“Ah, may I turn on the radio?”
“Sure. It’s better than listening to your rambling.”
“Yes.”
Oh Habin turned on the radio and expertly tuned it to the right frequency, suggesting he had done it many times before. Shin Hae-jun stared intently at the frequency Habin tuned to, thinking it looked very familiar. With some static, the frequency was set and a gentle voice began to flow out.
[Ah! Today’s letter comes from Seoul. Seoul, how amazing is that? And the content of the letter is even more amazing. Goodness, could God really exist?]
A familiar voice. One he had heard not too long ago, it seemed. Shin Hae-jun narrowed his eyes.
[The person who lost their dog in Incheon not too long ago, are you listening to the radio right now? They say the dog is being protected at the Gwanak refugee shelter in Seoul. Apparently the dog is just a little dehydrated but wasn’t seriously injured! What a relief!]
Silently listening to the dragging words, Shin Hae-jun immediately recognized who was on the other side of the radio.
“Is this that thing? The ‘Hope’ something broadcast where they read letters and play songs.”
“I don’t know about the ‘Hope’ something part, but it is that broadcast, yes.”
Indeed.
Shin Hae-jun made an uncomfortable expression and glanced pointlessly at the dashboard.
“Lieutenant Min used to listen to this too.”
“Ah, it’s famous. In fact, it can’t help but be famous, since this is the only radio broadcast still on air, so people have no choice.”
Habin mentioned that he liked this radio broadcast and added his thoughts again.
“I don’t know where they’re broadcasting from, but you can listen to it all over South Korea. The signal shouldn’t be able to travel that far, honestly it’s amazing, isn’t it?”
“…You can listen to it all over South Korea.”
Leaning against the window frame, Shin Hae-jun slouched in his seat. Just a radio frequency penetrating all of South Korea? The range shouldn’t be that extensive, how is that even possible?
[So, the owner of the dog, please come to the Gwanak shelter. The person taking care of the dog will be waiting!]
As his thoughts continued, the broadcast was nearing its end.
“Wow, so dogs can be found this way too. It’s amazing. Both the longtime owner continuing to raise it, and the caretaker finding the dog just from a description. Isn’t that something?”
“It’s none of my business.”
Shin Hae-jun replied vaguely, stroking his chin as he remained lost in thought. The broadcast, the radio, nationwide… Something felt off, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on it. He sighed and leaned his head back.
[Today’s song will be Leo by Yuuri. Please be sure to call out the name the owner gave. Always be together.]
The man’s still affectionate voice flowed along with the melody. Listening quietly, Shin Hae-jun blurted out without realizing it.
“Shall we look into it?”
It was half a joke, but upon reflection, it didn’t seem like a bad idea. If this guy is using some special technology to broadcast nationwide, it might be worth incorporating that technology into the military.
“Pardon? All of a sudden?”
“Yeah. Let’s look into it. It’s not easy to broadcast radio nationwide in a situation like this. We need to find out how this guy is doing it.”
“Uh… well. Maybe he’s just using an amplifier?”
“That’s why I said we should properly look into it.”
Habin tilted his head at Shin Hae-jun’s tantrum-like tone.
“Is there another reason besides that?”
“Yeah.”
“Ah, really?”
Shin Hae-jun snickered as he responded.
“Lieutenant Min likes this guy.”
“…Pardon?”
What does that have to do with anything? Habin’s eyes clouded with confusion.
“But usually, guys like this are basement-dwelling losers, so he’s probably ugly as hell. Then Min Ahyeon won’t like him anymore.”
“….”
Barely holding back the words, “You really do like Lieutenant Min, don’t you…” Oh Habin slowly nodded his head.
“Drive faster. Let’s properly check this out.”
Habin obediently pressed the accelerator.
And he thought.
Min Ahyeon is crazy, and Shin Hae-jun is also crazy… Will these two be okay? He wondered.
🕂
After seeing off Shin Hae-jun and Oh Habin, I hid the guns and radio well at the Gwanak refugee shelter where I remained.
At the hidden spot I use every time I come here, I carefully stashed away the guns and such. Then I slung an assault rifle over my back, took a revolver, and set out.
What I found after that was.
“Yunho, your butt is sagging. Lift it up.”
“Ugh, ughh…”
“Seungmin. You’re wobbling. Want to be hit?”
“Oww, ah, Nuna, save me.”
“Who’s going to kill you, huh?”
It was Yunho and Seungmin.
Thinking about how much I struggled because of these two when I went into the library, ugh, I just… Argh! Suppressing my rising anger, I circled around them as they were intensely focused on their task.
“Since I’m really holding back the urge to kill you, shut up and focus! Do you understand?”
“Ugh, Nuna, wait, what did we do?”
“What did you do? What did you do?”
I kicked Seungmin’s butt lightly with my foot and shouted.
“I told you fifteen times when the infected were pouring out, I almost died. Can’t you understand?”
“No, Nuna!”
Seungmin, who had fallen, sprang up, shouting back.
“The infected won’t attack us!”
I waited for these words to come out.
“Damn, how can I believe that?”
“Wow, really. Nuna, you don’t believe me? You don’t believe me?”
“Do I look like an idiot? Huh? How can you avoid attacks from the infected! Say something that makes sense!”
“Argh! Seriously!”
Seungmin, who suddenly stood up, approached me with a determined expression as if he couldn’t take it anymore.
“Ah! I’ll make you believe!”
Then he took something out of his pocket.
“This is it!”
🕂
Thank you for reading! ♡
