By Zephyria 
Gilsu looked at the old man with respectful eyes. The elder, whom he’d initially thought might struggle to even see where he was going, had no hesitation in suturing Kim Ha-yoon’s wound. He had never seen anyone sew so skillfully in his life. Furthermore, the old man was incredibly knowledgeable about medicine, knowing everything there was to know. Where on earth had they found such a precious person? Gilsu subtly moved closer to the old man.
“Elder. If you have nowhere to go, how about staying here? We’ll treat you very well. When you die, we’ll even make you a grave in a sunny spot.”
Baek Seol kicked him. He told Gilsu not to speak to the elder like that. But Gilsu insisted that just as where one is born is important, so is where one is buried. The old man refused their offer. He explained that although he had come here out of necessity, he had many family members to take care of.
“Where are you from, elder? If it’s alright, live here. See? We have electricity, and water too. It’s so spacious, your family could live here comfortably too.”
This time, Baek Seol gave him a look. He asked how Gilsu could make such decisions without asking the leader. Especially since rumors of electricity reaching Zone D had spread, making everyone eager to come.
The old man himself seemed to have no strong feelings about it. As Gilsu licked his lips, regretting the refusal, Ire came down from upstairs. He had been busy nursing Kim Ha-yoon since he returned with the medicine. He was constantly wiping Kim Ha-yoon’s body with warm water in a basin, checking if his fever had subsided.
Gilsu rubbed his chin and muttered.
“Are they really involved with each other?”
“What did I tell you? This is only possible if it’s love.”
“Don’t talk nonsense. Kim Ha-yoon has what we need. As the leader, it’s a loss if he dies.”
“Is that so?”
Amidst the divided opinions, no one could provide a definitive answer. Just then, Ire approached the old man and asked if he could stay longer. Despite the offer of a suitable reward, the old man seemed to be in deep thought.
“Two days will be enough. If you are truly worried, I will send someone to check on my family’s well-being.”
The old man finally agreed to the polite request. Then, he told them to call him if anything happened and retired to the separate sleeping quarters prepared for him. Once the old man disappeared, Ire looked around the illuminated research lab. Seizing the moment, Jang-cheon and Gilsu chimed in.
“The people from district a fixed everything up before they left.”
They had repaired the power plant as well as the broken electricity within the research lab. They were surprised, as they hadn’t expected them to keep their promise. However, Ire couldn’t shake off his unease. Why had they rushed here without Kim Ha-yoon?
“Don’t worry. We followed them the entire time they were working and kept watch.”
At Gilsu’s words, Ire smiled and said, “Is that so?” While he couldn’t completely relax, his immediate concern was Kim Ha-yoon. Even if there were other intentions, it would take time to uncover them.
* * *
After confirming Kim Ha-yoon’s fever had broken, Ire placed the wet cloth aside. It was 5 AM, and the sun would be rising soon. A soft light illuminated the room where Kim Ha-yoon was. His mind was still a mess.
While he was away, district a had repaired the generator. They had also provided a large supply of food and seeds. Thanks to this, scattered colleagues who had heard the news gathered, and organizations they were acquainted with also contacted them, asking if they could stay.
They had also taken Lee Boram, Lee Ga-ram’s sister. She had been expelled on charges of bomb-making and drug offenses. They said her sentence had been pardoned, but that also didn’t make sense to him. He had heard that reinstatement after expulsion was quite difficult.
What on earth was happening? Who had given the orders?
“We have someone who will help us.”
Was this the person Matteo had spoken of? If his words were true, did they no longer need Kim Ha-yoon? But why was he trying so hard to save this man? What was so special about him? Looking at Kim Ha-yoon, lying as if dead, a sigh escaped him.
As he lost weight, his sunken eyes made his already cold expression even sharper. As he watched him, Kim Ha-yoon let out a groan, his brow furrowed, and slowly opened his eyes. When Ire asked if he was conscious, his dark pupils moved towards him.
“It’s real. It wasn’t a dream.”
Seeing Kim Ha-yoon smiling, Ire was dumbfounded.
“You can smile?”
“I didn’t expect you to come looking for me.”
“I came to find you, Captain, because our contract isn’t over yet. If it weren’t for that, I wouldn’t have cared if you lived or died.”
As soon as the words left his mouth, Kim Ha-yoon grimaced and let out a pained groan. Had the sutured area gone wrong? Or the medicine? A thousand thoughts raced through his mind, and he shot up from his seat. “Are you okay? Why? Does it hurt somewhere?” As he was about to go get the old man, Kim Ha-yoon grabbed his wrist. It felt less like a grip and more like he was barely hanging on, given his lack of strength.
“Liar.”
Ha. Feeling tricked, Ire snatched his hand away. He couldn’t push too hard as he was a patient, but he managed to push him back onto the bed. He sat down on a chair, glaring, and Kim Ha-yoon turned his head to stare at him.
“How do I look?”
Perplexed by the sudden question, Ire replied, “You look like you’ve aged ten years from all the hardship.”
“Oh dear. My face is all I have to show.”
He knows that much. As Ire retorted sarcastically, Kim Ha-yoon extended his hand again. “Come here.” Ire shook his head, refusing, but Kim Ha-yoon pleaded with his eyes. Hurry. Reluctantly, Ire stood up and went to his side. Kim Ha-yoon then grasped his fingertips. His fingertips were hot, perhaps from the lingering fever. Instead of pulling away, Ire quietly looked down at their joined hands.
“I missed you.”
At the confession-like words, heat rushed to Ire’s ears without him realizing it. Biting the inside of his lip, he followed Kim Ha-yoon’s hand up, his gaze fixed on his abdomen. The scene of Kim Ha-yoon being pierced through the torso flashed before his eyes. The scene that had repeated countless times in his nightmares. His lips parted as he chose his words. He felt he had to say this.
“…you.”
“Hmm?”
“Thank you….”
“I can’t hear you….”
He considered shouting into his ear, but decided against it and pulled his chair closer, sitting right beside him. He tidied the rumpled blanket and touched Kim Ha-yoon’s forehead with the back of his hand to check for fever. Kim Ha-yoon then smiled, saying it felt cool.
“Waking up from death isn’t so bad. To be treated like this by you.”
“Sleep well. That’s how you’ll get better.”
“Who says?”
“The elder.”
Kim Ha-yoon pulled Ire’s hand to his chest.
“Help me sleep.”
As if lacking energy, he closed his eyes again. Even so, the corners of his lips curved upwards. Ire couldn’t understand what made him so happy. Did he even know his own situation? That he was being targeted from all sides? That his position could be precarious? That he might fall to the very bottom?
“Aren’t you scared…?”
“Of what?”
“Of everything.”
He was an intelligent person, so he must know how things were unfolding. That’s why he had chosen to come here instead of district a. Kim Ha-yoon hummed, thinking for a moment, then began to speak.
“They say it hurts more when you fall from a high place.”
“……”
“If you were there with me, that might not be so bad either.”
Ire couldn’t tell if he was being sincere or if he was just high on medication, but his wish was for Kim Ha-yoon to return to his original position. Aside from their contract issues, he simply didn’t want to see someone he had once looked up to wallowing in the mud like himself. That was separate from his feelings of resentment and hatred.
While lost in thought, his hand was pulled up. Kim Ha-yoon rubbed it against his cheek, and Ire pretended not to notice. Now, he was even pressing his nose into his palm, inhaling deeply. “I missed your scent.” At those words, Ire finally couldn’t hold back and, disgusted, pulled his hand away.
Kim Ha-yoon narrowed his eyes, showing a hint of disappointment.
“I’m a patient. Can’t I even have this much?”
“Stop talking nonsense and sleep.”
“Want to sleep next to me? I’ll just hold you.”
“Do you want the stitches on your wound to burst open again?”
Aaaah, he groaned, feigning pain, but it didn’t work this time. Ire pulled the blanket up to Kim Ha-yoon’s face and snapped, “Go to sleep.” However, he couldn’t easily leave, as his fever might rise again at any moment.
Soon after, a low chuckle was heard from under the blanket. Ire found it hard to understand how this man could be so carefree amidst this war-like situation, yet he was also somewhat relieved. Perhaps he had missed that brazen, sly laughter.