By Zephyria 
That Day’s Oahu Island
Eden narrowed his eyes towards the horizon, reflecting the sunlight. A white seagull gliding leisurely over the vast Pacific Ocean caught his attention. A cool breeze brushed his forehead, and clear air filled his lungs.
Oahu Island, as seen from Koko Head, was full of lush greenery, befitting its nickname as the capital of paradise. Eden was indifferently admiring the scenery of that noble paradise from behind Blue Works’ armory.
[Director!]
Aaron’s urgent voice calling Eden from afar was heard. He turned his head and stared at the brown hair running towards him.
[You were here…! I couldn’t find you and searched for a while.]
Aaron, who had come close, gasped for breath.
[What’s going on?]
[I think we need to move up the schedule for the afternoon meeting. The person in charge of Australia wants to receive the supplies a day earlier.]
[Suddenly?]
Even with a variable that was not new, irritation surged momentarily.
As the shipment speed of weapons had recently increased, the date of return to the home country was also brought forward, but the situation on the ground became even busier.
Eden, who had been guarding the military supply warehouse for the past few days without a wink of sleep, frowned with his eyes reddened with fatigue.
[Have you finished the safety inspection of the aircraft to be shipped?]
[It’s not finished yet, but if we work overtime until tonight, I think we can roughly meet the shipment tomorrow.]
[If it’s a situation where you have to force it, then forget it.]
[Pardon?]
[There’s no need to go to overtime. Don’t you know that if even one of the team members’ condition goes wrong, it will affect the project? Whether the client urges us or not, we will proceed with the date specified in the contract. If you keep talking nonsense, bring them to me.]
[……]
[Is there a problem?]
The question of whether there was a problem was not a question. It was just an order disguised as a threat to shut up and do as he was told. Aaron, who had been running like a dog under Eden for the past three months, could not have failed to notice the hidden meaning.
Aaron straightened his back and easily gave the correct answer.
[No. Then I’ll set the shipment for the day after tomorrow.]
After answering vigorously, he took a step closer to his superior.
[But what were you doing here? Were you looking at the Zombies?]
At that, Eden’s gaze, which had been looking beyond the sea, naturally turned to the beach. The scenery of paradise-like nature was still the same, but the situation inside the island was a little different.
The restaurants and various lodging facilities lined up along the coast were completely collapsed or burned down, and some were lost, and sharp pieces of unknown origin brutally covered the beach.
The shadows wandering around the ruined coast were only Zombies looking for human flesh, not humans. Smoke was billowing from a temporary incinerator on one side of the beach.
Eden answered Aaron’s question perfunctorily.
[I was just here.]
At that time, Aaron’s gaze fell on a Polaroid picture held in Eden’s hand. Golden eyes widened as he discovered the figure of an unfamiliar boss holding hands affectionately with someone.
It was a picture of two people with a black dog sitting in front of them against the backdrop of a large baobab tree.
‘What…? Did he have someone he was seeing?’
Eden, noticing the shocked gaze, put the picture in his chest pocket and said.
[Do you have to be so surprised?]
[I didn’t know you had a Darling.]
He really didn’t know. How could a boss with a dirty mouth that would make even the devil cry have a Darling? Aaron involuntarily twitched like someone who had seen something unreal. Eden’s eyes narrowed at the unusual reaction of his subordinate.
[Are you surprised that I’m gay, or are you surprised that I have a Darling?]
[I think it’s more the latter…]
[It doesn’t exactly sound like a compliment.]
[I’m sorry.]
Of course, he didn’t know what he was sorry for, but Aaron apologized as a habit anyway. Eden turned his body and asked.
[What time is the jamming release?]
[It’s scheduled to be released at 8 PM today.]
His brow narrowed fiercely as if the answer was not satisfactory. Aaron, who was watching, added.
[If you have anything to contact the head office, I will deliver it for you.]
[No. What would I do listening to the voices of those boring old geezers.]
Tsk, Eden, who clicked his tongue briefly, tapped his subordinate’s shoulder a few times and walked back towards the armory. Aaron looked at the back of his superior, who was in a worse mood than usual, and suddenly twitched his eyebrows.
A thick Communicator was stuck in the back pocket of Eden’s pants, moving away.
[Communicator?]
Because the secret base of Koko Head was constantly jammed due to security issues, no one bothered to carry a brick-like Communicator during work hours.
Could it be….
Come to think of it, the days when Eden was particularly sensitive recently were all days when contact with the outside was blocked. Aaron, who easily inferred his superior’s difficulties, soon burst into an absurd sigh.
[What. Was he pissed off because he couldn’t contact his Darling?]
❖ ❖ ❖
Eden sat on the creaking iron bed and rubbed his stiff eyes. He manipulated the Communicator in his hand familiarly and looked around the room without windows. The residence, once used as a military base, was old and dark like a solitary cell for confining prisoners.
Even while looking around the room without emotion, the ringing tone continued. As the incoming tone became much longer than usual, his gaze naturally turned to the clock on the wall. 8:15 PM. It was 1:15 AM in Texas time, so Ha-jin would have already fallen asleep.
Ttu― Ttu― Ttu― It was just as he was about to take the receiver away from his ear, listening to the Morse code-like ringing tone.
―Hello?
A strangely subdued voice was overflowing from beyond the Communicator.
―Jeong Tae-geon?
As the voice of the person he missed pierced his ears, Eden’s hardened face softened. It felt as if the fatigue that had been crushing his body melted away in an instant just by hearing his name called. He rubbed his numb temples and opened his mouth.
“It’s me. Were you sleeping?”
―No, no. It’s okay, I wasn’t asleep.
Judging from the slightly cracked end of his voice, he must have fallen asleep and hurriedly woken up. Imagining Ha-jin sitting blankly on the bed in the master bedroom, rubbing his eyes, made him smile faintly.
“I wanted to call you a little earlier, but the meeting was long. I’m sorry for being late. Next time, I’ll…”
―No, it’s okay to be late, so don’t worry and call me right away.
Ha-jin urgently cut off Eden’s words. An impatient voice urging him to call anytime, regardless of the time, followed.
Even in normal times, the timing was not good, and considering each other’s bedtime, it was clear that it would be difficult to get in touch once a week. Eden felt a strange sense of satisfaction and regret at the same time at Ha-jin’s will to receive calls even if he stayed up all night.
He stroked his dry chin and asked.
“What did you do today?”
―It’s the same as usual. Byeol came to play with me in the morning and we played Magic together, and Jeffrey bought us pizza for lunch.
“Hmm.”
―And in the afternoon, I performed at the mental care center in the next neighborhood for the first time. The reaction was great. The person in charge there liked it and connected me to other centers, and if it goes well, I might get paid more.
“That’s good.”
―Ah, one more thing. I haven’t been able to go to the gym because I’ve been busy lately, but I started again yesterday.
Ha-jin quickly listed the things that had happened today like a robot, lest the call be cut off quickly like last time. Eden, who had been listening to the story silently, tilted his head to the side at the subtle noise in between.
“It’s like you’re reading a memo.”
―How did you know?
“I can hear the sound of crumpling paper.”
Whether it was an accurate point, an awkward laugh echoed from across the line.
―How’s the situation there? The date of return hasn’t been set yet, right?
“It hasn’t been decided, but it’s picking up speed. If it goes well, I’ll be able to go back within this month.”
Ha-jin’s excited voice echoed beyond the Communicator as if it was welcome news.
―Really?
“It’s not accurate, but it probably will be.”
Knock knock. Then someone knocked on the door. Eden, who put down the Communicator, told them to come in, and two or three employees, including Aaron, peeked their faces in.
[Director, I’m sorry, but I think you need to come out for a moment.]
[What’s going on.]
[Two soldiers on guard and one of our employees have disappeared. It’s on the site where Zombies appeared last night…]
Eden raised his hand to stop Aaron from speaking, as if telling him to stop there.
[I’ll be out soon, so wait.]
[Yes, I understand.]
After the door closed, he picked up the Communicator again.
“Do Ha-jin.”
Ha-jin asked in a worried voice, as if he had overheard Aaron’s report.
―What’s wrong? Did something dangerous happen?
“It’s nothing. I’ll call you again soon, so eat well.”
―Hey, Jeong Tae-geon.
Ha-jin, who had called him, hesitated for a while and then gave an affectionate greeting.
―I miss you. Take care.
Eden narrowed his brow without realizing it, feeling a tickling sensation in his chest for a moment. The tickling sensation soon turned into a stinging pain, stabbing his heart like kindling. He clenched the Communicator tightly and whispered with a sigh.
“I miss you too. Wait a little longer.”