By Zephyria 
It felt like being fattened up. Ha-jin would doze off on the plane, and as soon as he opened his eyes, he was eating a meal. When it was time, he had a snack, and he readily accepted the wine offered by the flight attendant.
Meanwhile, Eden was busy communicating with people from the company and writing something on the electronic pad provided in the cabin. It seemed that he was the only one who couldn’t adapt to the sudden change in environment.
Even as he raced through beautiful nights and dazzling days, Ha-jin felt both excitement and a sense of helplessness about the future. After finishing the fierce survival battle, he naturally missed his younger brother Jun-seok terribly. He hid in the bathroom under the pretext of being drunk and secretly wiped away tears.
While barely catching his breath, Mi-so, who would be left behind in Korea, came to mind this time, and a corner of his heart ached. Tears welled up again. Ha-jin stared at his red, flushed cheeks in the mirror and vowed never to drink again.
He returned to his seat and was aimlessly flipping through a magazine when a stinging gaze landed on his face. Embarrassed by his reddened nose and eyes, he quickly lowered his head. Eden, who was quick to notice, couldn’t have missed that he had been crying, but he didn’t ask anything and ordered water and chocolate from the flight attendant.
Ha-jin put the sweet chocolate that Eden handed him in his mouth. After taking a nap, the destination was already close. With a swollen face, he turned his gaze to the scenery beyond the plane, which was defying gravity and descending endlessly.
Ha-jin followed Eden through the VIP-only passage. Immigration was not done at the existing counters but in a small room that looked like an interrogation room.
Since South Korea was currently one of the countries officially declared by the UN as irrecoverable, Ha-jin had to go through several procedures to live in the United States as a Special Refugee. In the process, Eden vouched for Ha-jin’s identity, and after a long wait, the screening was over.
The journey had already been long, and the unexpected immigration screening had taken a toll on his mental fatigue. Ha-jin rubbed his tired eyes and followed Eden with Pie.
“Are we going to Jeong Tae-geon’s house now?”
No sooner had he finished speaking than a group of men suddenly popped out from somewhere and surrounded Eden and Ha-jin. As Ha-jin stopped in the middle of the airport lobby, bewildered, a man with sunglasses on his dark blond hair suddenly hugged Eden next to him.
The man couldn’t speak and just patted Eden’s back roughly. Eden, who roughly accepted his greeting, complained that it was hot, and the sturdy body finally fell away.
“These are people from my company. This guy is called Hugo.”
Eden said with a smile, pointing to the blond man. Hugo, with his masculine impression, finally turned to look at Ha-jin.
[I’ve heard about you. I’m Hugo Weaving. Just call me Hugo.]
Heard about him in advance? Ha-jin suddenly wondered how Eden had introduced him to them.
[Hello. I’m Do Ha-jin.]
He bowed his head out of habit, and then grabbed the rough hand that was held out in front of him. It was so strong that his arm ached. Hugo looked at Ha-jin with interest and then turned his gaze to Eden.
[By the way, why are you so late? Jeffrey was waiting with us but went to the bathroom for a bit… Oh, he’s coming over there.]
[YAH!!]
A familiar roar was heard from behind. Surprised, Ha-jin turned around, but his vision was blocked by a solid chest, and his body staggered. Jeffrey, who hugged Eden and Ha-jin’s shoulders at the same time, shouted in an excited voice.
[I knew you’d come! I knew you guys could do it!]
[Ugh, Jeffrey, I can’t breathe…]
[Are you hurt! Are you guys okay?!]
With a flushed expression, he let go and looked back and forth between the two. Only then was Ha-jin able to see Jeffrey’s face after a long time. The shaggy beard was gone, and his curly brown hair was calm, as if he had gotten a haircut.
His gaunt cheeks had filled out nicely, and his skin was smooth and glowing. Unlike the shabby face he had in Korea, his impression was quite neat, and Ha-jin was secretly surprised.
Jeffrey, who had been greeting them excitedly, suddenly made a “cough” sound and reddened the tip of his nose. He desperately tried to hold back his tears and belatedly discovered Pie, who was spinning his tail like a propeller.
[Oh, Pie, you little rascal!!]
He shouted and hugged Pie, rolling on the airport floor.
Hugo and the other employees, who were glaring at Jeffrey as if they were disgusted, hurriedly moved away. Ha-jin glanced at the unfamiliar group following him as he walked. Men with large cameras in their hands were frantically taking pictures of Ha-jin and Eden as they got into the van.
[Who are those guys?]
Eden, who got into the car, frowned unpleasantly and leaned back against the backrest. Hugo, who was sitting across from him, sighed deeply.
[They’re reporters and paparazzi. I told them to keep the news of your return from leaking, but they must have heard about it somewhere and have been waiting at the airport since morning.]
Ha-jin’s eyes widened at the sudden mention of paparazzi. Jeffrey, who was sitting next to Hugo, added an explanation.
[It’s nothing special, so don’t worry. These days, it’s a big deal to cover the stories of citizens who have returned alive from other countries. Besides, Eden is quite famous in the United States, so the paparazzi are swarming.]
Ha-jin cast his gaze out the window. The reporters were chasing after the departing car, taking pictures until the very end.
[Yesterday, there was a fuss over the article about the couple who escaped from Guam by boat, and a week ago, there was a commotion because of a reporter who returned alive from Hong Kong. I guess it’s because there are fewer and fewer survivors returning… Each person is a big deal.]
Ha-jin listened to the current situation in the United States and nodded quietly. He had been feeling dreamy all along, but after talking to Jeffrey, he felt like he was finally back in reality.
Then Hugo asked Eden.
[Are you going straight to the company? The other directors have come to work for the first time in a while because you’re coming.]
A sarcastic answer came back immediately.
[Cock, do you think I just went on a business trip? I’m already exhausted, so tell them not to look for me for a while.]
[Hey…]
Hugo, who was about to say something, checked Eden’s fierce expression again and closed his mouth. After hesitating, he asked timidly after a long time.
[When are you coming to the company?]
[I’m going to take a month off for medical leave.]
[…A month? Are you serious?]
[My post-traumatic stress disorder is no joke. Have you ever fought Zombies? Don’t even talk about it, it’s really fucked up.]
Hugo glanced at Eden, who was talking about PTSD, with a ‘yeah, right’ look, and finally let out a sigh of resignation.
[You don’t seem to have any mental disorders, but I understand for now. I’ll try to convey it well.]
[Forward any urgent matters to me for telecommuting.]
Jeffrey, who had been listening quietly, grabbed his stomach and chuckled as if he was about to die laughing.
Ha-jin quietly watched the situation unfold and patted the back of Eden’s hand, which seemed to be very annoyed, as if to soothe him.
The face that had been stubbornly turned towards the window slowly turned towards Ha-jin. Ha-jin asked in a lip shape, ‘Are you okay?’ and Eden stared at him for a moment before lowering his head and kissing his chapped lips.
Smack—
At that moment, Hugo and Jeffrey’s eyes, who were sitting across from them, widened. Ha-jin was just as embarrassed. The tips of his ears turned bright red from the sudden kiss.
Hugo shook Jeffrey’s shoulder next to him frantically with an expression as if he had been possessed by a ghost.
[Was, was that bastard serious about talking about post-traumatic stress disorder?]
[Didn’t you know? He went crazy a long time ago.]
Jeffrey coldly shook off Hugo’s hand with a resigned face. He knew better than anyone else the two people who had tried to protect each other even at the risk of their lives, so instead of getting angry, he simply closed his eyes and pretended not to notice.
The destination was a luxury residential complex in South Lake, one of the wealthiest cities in the United States. Eden’s house was located in the innermost part of Harbor Haven, where townhouses and detached houses were clustered.
Soon, a huge two-story house divided into two buildings appeared. The driveway was paved with beige tiles, and an artificial lake was in the middle of the house, surrounded by beautifully landscaped trees.
Ha-jin’s mouth dropped open at the extravagant sight, and his body stiffened. Eden, who got out of the car, slowly pulled the hand of his dazed lover.
“Welcome, this is the house where Do Ha-jin will live from now on.”
As Pie and the two walked towards the palace-like house, Hugo and Jeffrey’s pitiful cries echoed behind them.
[I’ll contact you—! Huh?! I said I’ll contact you, you bastard!]
[Hey, Eden!]
Eden didn’t look back and waved his hand vaguely in the air.