By Zephyria 
Kim Ha-yoon came to see Ire on the second day of his isolation. Not empty-handed, but with a small box. When the box was opened, it contained the items he had left in his locker at the unit.
A Bible, a small statue of the Virgin Mary, a crucifix necklace, and even the military knife he had received as a gift from Kim Ha-yoon. The blue jewel embedded in the knife’s handle still sparkled with a beautiful light.
As he organized the items and put them back in the box, Kim Ha-yoon’s lips curled up.
“I thought you’d throw the knife away?”
“I’m going to sell it. It’s not a fake, is it?”
His handsome brow furrowed in a pleasing way. He asked if it wasn’t too much to say in front of the person who gave it to him, and if he was really going to sell it, but Ire didn’t answer. He was going to prioritize practicality over pride. If selling it would help the organization, he thought that wouldn’t be so bad.
Then, without a second thought, he put the crucifix necklace around his neck. He closed his eyes tightly, kissed the cross, made the sign of the cross, and offered a short prayer, and Kim Ha-yoon’s eyes sharpened. But he skillfully hid his emotions and wore a gentle smile.
“As you’ve heard, the test results are normal.”
Ire’s gaze went to Kim Ha-yoon’s left hand. Before he could even ask if he was okay, Kim Ha-yoon raised his bandaged hand and showed it to him.
“Fortunately, it missed the nerve. Don’t worry.”
“I wasn’t worried. It would be the same even if Captain’s hand was cut off.”
“Okay. I just assumed and upset you. Sorry.”
Ire narrowed his eyes at his readily apologetic attitude. Why is this guy being so humble today? What is he up to, trying to screw someone over again? As he suspected a hidden agenda, Kim Ha-yoon changed the subject.
“Aren’t you curious about what attacked us?”
“Was it human…?”
Kim Ha-yoon nodded slowly. To be exact, it used to be human. When they dissected it, the organs were human, and the outer skin was made of a hard material that was so tough that it could withstand most bullets. This meant that the bullets used that day were embedded all over the outer skin, but did not cause any damage.
“Did the lab make that too?”
“I’m looking for data. The lab has been around for over 100 years, so if we keep tracking, something will come up.”
“What if there are more in the cave?”
Kim Ha-yoon was also concerned about that. It would be fortunate if there was only one, but if there were more or more powerful ones, it would be really troublesome. They could mobilize all available troops to deal with them, but if it made the news, that would be just as much of a headache. A large-scale military movement would inevitably be noticeable, and that would amplify people’s anxiety.
“The Old man must have heard the news by now. Those guys are crazy about money, so they’ll never give up. The operation could start in a few days at the earliest. Military forces will be mobilized, of course.”
“We’ll participate too.”
“Suit yourself.”
Then the conversation stopped, and silence passed between them. Should he ask about Matteo? Ire hesitated several times. He was overflowing with longing. So were his brothers. But if he did, would he be able to go back? Would he be stuck here again?
Kim Ha-yoon crossed his arms on the table and lay down. Only his eyes looked at Ire, and his long eyelashes fluttered each time he blinked slowly. His white skin looked somewhat cold, but he had handsome features that anyone could see. Ire could see why Baek Seol sometimes mentioned Kim Ha-yoon and praised him to the skies.
“Want to go see Matteo?”
Kim Ha-yoon asked, and Ire didn’t answer.
“He’s here, in this building.”
Just as he had guessed. After hesitating, he nodded belatedly. Then Kim Ha-yoon smiled and got up. “Let’s go.” He went outside first, and just in case, Ire quickly took a dagger from the box and hid it in his waistband.
Then he followed Kim Ha-yoon into the elevator and moved to the upper floor. They got off and walked down the hallway, passing by a room. A nurse was just coming out, and she greeted Kim Ha-yoon politely.
Through the crack in the open door, Ire glimpsed a person wrapped in bandages all over their body. Who is that? Before he could wonder, Kim Ha-yoon had moved far away. He arrived in front of the last room, and when he saw the name written in front of the ward, his heart pounded rapidly.
Ire put his hand on the door, unable to open it, and bit his lip tightly. The last time he saw him kept flashing before his eyes. He knew he was better, but he didn’t know to what extent. As he hesitated, Kim Ha-yoon pushed the door open without hesitation.
“Ah…”
Seeing the familiar back of his head, he felt like he was about to burst into tears. The person sitting on the bed looking out the window was definitely the Matteo he knew. As he strode closer, Matteo seemed to sense his presence and turned around. Ire had no choice but to stop in his tracks, right in front of him. There was no warmth in the eyes that looked at him. He looked obviously flustered at a glance.
“Hyung…”
Even though his voice trembled slightly, Matteo had a calm expression.
“Who are you…?”
His mind went blank with shock. Kim Ha-yoon, who had already come to his side, grabbed Ire’s shoulder.
“What happened?”
“As you can see, his condition has improved, but he’s lost his memory.”
Ire looked at Kim Ha-yoon with an incredulous expression. He wanted to argue that this wasn’t an improvement, but on the surface, it was true, as Kim Ha-yoon said. His complexion and his eyes were all better. Ire hid his troubled heart and went in front of Matteo, knelt down, and looked up at him.
“You don’t know me?”
Matteo’s eyes were as calm as gentle waves. Ire took his hand and made him touch his face, showed him the necklace he had given him, hugged him, and sobbed, but Matteo remained silent. Not only that, but he showed discomfort and pushed Ire away from him.
“I’m sorry… I don’t know who you are.”
In the end, Ire buried his face in his lap. Don’t do this. How could you forget me? You have to remember me, even if you don’t remember anyone else. I…. He bit down on his molars until they were about to break and barely held back his tears. He heard the sound of the door opening and closing, and when he raised his head, Kim Ha-yoon was gone. Only then did the tears he had been holding back finally burst.
“Why are you here?”
Kwon So-young looked inside through the window and nodded. “Ah.” Now she knew why Kim Ha-yoon’s expression was about to rot.
“Still a good father and son. Right?”
Kim Ha-yoon said something else instead of answering.
“I should have let go back then.”
Realizing the meaning of those words, Kwon So-young shook her head. Kim Ha-yoon was regretting saving Lee Seon-jae just before he fell off the roof. Simply because the two of them were together like that.
“You’re just being jealous in a pathetic way.”
Kim Ha-yoon chuckled at the word “pathetic.” Well, she wasn’t wrong.
He was going to have him meet Matteo and then go see his brothers. If he saw the children doing well there, wouldn’t his mind change? If his brothers begged him to live here with them, wouldn’t he grant their wish?
But seeing him with Lee Seon-jae twisted his insides.
While he was thinking about his wavering emotions, the door opened and Ire came out. He didn’t even look at Kim Ha-yoon and walked straight towards the elevator. Kwon So-young gestured that he was angry, so he strode after him. Even as he got on the elevator just before it closed, Ire still ignored him.
He thought he would ask when his memory would return, or when Matteo would be able to leave this place, but he kept his mouth shut like a clam and didn’t say anything. He got off on the third floor, and Ire went to his room and changed his clothes.
“What are you doing?”
“You said I was fine. So I can go, right?”
“What about your brothers?”
“I’ll pick them up soon. And Matteo too.”
Kim Ha-yoon’s brow furrowed at his unwavering words.
“You’re leaving? Are you serious?”
“Are you deaf all of a sudden? I told you.”
“This place is much safer if you want to keep taking care of your stepfather. Than that hellhole.”
Ah, I’m pathetic and unscrupulous. Until just now, he regretted saving Lee Seon-jae, and now he’s trying to use him to keep Ire here. Whether he knew it or not, Ire packed his box and looked at Kim Ha-yoon.
“This is hell for me.”
“……”
“This place, where Captain is, is hell.”
“Hey, you always have to say things like that,”
“So don’t have any false hope.”
Kim Ha-yoon let out a hollow laugh as he watched Ire turn away coldly and leave. He ruffled his neatly styled hair wildly and muttered a curse under his breath. Various emotions swirled and mingled inside him.
Damn it…. He should have just stabbed me with a knife.
That would have hurt less.