Knock, knock—Kim Ha-yoon didn’t even flinch at the sound of the knock, staring only out the window. The graduation ceremony was just days away, and the number of trainees had noticeably dwindled. Half of them had left two days ago, and now only 20 remained.
“See something interesting?”
Kwon So-young took out a cigarette and was looking for a lighter when she spotted the cross sparkling on the desk, her eyes widening slightly.
“What’s this? Suddenly developed a faith you never had.”
In District A, there weren’t many people who believed in religion. Or, perhaps ‘regulate’ was the right word. Most gathered in small groups, and even those numbers were dwindling day by day, to the point where the meaning of religion was almost nonexistent.
“It belongs to someone else.”
“Who?”
When he didn’t answer, Kwon So-young took out her tablet and turned it on after a moment. The screen showed a woman’s photo and personal information in relatively detailed form.
“What do you think?”
Kim Ha-yoon flipped through the photos of the women one by one.
“Hmm…”
“Why are you agonizing over it? You should let him choose himself.”
He hadn’t seen Ire since returning from training. He hadn’t deliberately avoided him, but he hadn’t actively sought him out either. Seeing his displeased expression, Kwon So-young cautiously made another suggestion.
“It doesn’t have to be this method. You could explain it to him.”
“Explain what? That we need his genes, so he should donate sperm? Or that he should give us his body to study?”
“Try to persuade him. You’ve helped him a lot. You saved his adoptive father, and you’ve taken care of his siblings. Shouldn’t trust be building between you two by now?”
Trust… He wasn’t so sure. He still saw wariness in Ire’s eyes every time he looked at him. The person in question still thought he had been forcibly dragged here. With resentment as a bonus.
With an indifferent face, Kim Ha-yoon looked at the woman on the screen and got up. He went back to the window and looked outside. The sunlight felt harsher than before, as if the season was changing. Among the trainees wearing short sleeves, silver hair stood out.
“The fact that he’s still alive is a miracle, really. You know that too. It was said he wouldn’t make it past a year after birth.”
Without realizing it, he caressed the silver cross in his hand. He felt a bitter taste as if he could relive the sensation of putting it in Ire’s mouth and rubbing it against his canines that day. Turning around, he leaned against the window and crossed his arms.
“There’s one problem.”
“What is it?”
“He’s a virgin.”
Huh? Kwon So-young made a blank expression before bursting into laughter a few seconds later. When she asked what that mattered, Kim Ha-yoon rubbed his chin.
“He probably doesn’t even know how to do it with a woman.”
“Then you teach him. There’s no teacher as reliable as you.”
“Should I?”
Seeing the light in Kim Ha-yoon’s eyes, Kwon So-young frowned. Before she could ask if he was serious, a commotion broke out outside. Kim Ha-yoon’s expression hardened instantly as he turned around. The trainees who had been doing laps were gathered together, and someone was lying on the ground.
He didn’t need to look through the binoculars to know who it was.
“Shit.”
“What is it? What’s wrong?”
Without answering Kwon So-young’s question, Kim Ha-yoon stormed out.
“Clean up and go.”
“Where are you going?”
After Kim Ha-yoon disappeared without a word, Kwon So-young got up and went to the window. What’s going on? Curious, she picked up the binoculars next to her and looked closely, and an exclamation unexpectedly escaped her lips.
Ah, damn it…
Ire looked at the IV drip in his arm and sighed softly. He had been doing laps when his vision blurred, and he had fainted. He squeezed his eyes shut tightly, embarrassed, but when he opened them, Seo Young-jun was chuckling beside him.
“Embarrassing, isn’t it?”
“I’d rather have stayed unconscious.”
He remembered exactly the moment he was carried away on a stretcher, and his embarrassment doubled. Recalling the faces of Park Mu-jin and his gang as they chuckled, he clenched his teeth tightly. Damn it! He slammed the bed with his fist and sat up abruptly, but his head spun.
“Ah, shit.”
Just as he was about to lie back down, the door opened, and Kim Ha-yoon came in. He greeted him in an awkward posture, and the quick-witted Seo Young-jun greeted him and quickly disappeared, saying he had urgent business. Left alone, Kim Ha-yoon brought a chair and sat beside him.
He checked the IV fluid going into his arm.
“Anemia and overwork?”
Ire bit his lower lip. He had received medicine for anemia after the blood test on the first day, but he hadn’t taken any of it. In a way, it was natural that he was anemic. He was tall, but he had always eaten poorly. Most people in District B, including himself, were probably like that.
On top of that, his condition seemed to have worsened due to accumulated fatigue from insomnia for several days.
“I brought you here thinking you were strong, but you’re quite frail.”
Ire didn’t respond to the accusatory tone.
“Why couldn’t you sleep?”
There were several reasons. Matteo and Kim Ha-yoon, and the lost necklace. The first two were one thing, but the necklace, though it might not be a big deal to others, was precious to him. Not wanting to explain in detail, he kept his mouth shut, and Kim Ha-yoon put his hand in his pocket and took something out. A silver cross necklace came out with it.
“Because of this?”
He dangled the necklace in front of his eyes, and Ire snatched it away. He couldn’t believe it when he saw his name engraved on the back.
“I happened to pick it up. You don’t need to thank me, so shut up.”
He happened to pick it up. Bullshit. It was clear that Kim Ha-yoon had taken it in the first place, but since he had returned it, he figured that was that. But Kim Ha-yoon didn’t leave and just sat next to him, staring intently at his face.
“Do you want to meet a woman?”
For a moment, he doubted his ears. He wondered if he had misheard, but his expression was serious.
“Should I get you a girlfriend?”
They had met for the first time in almost ten days, and he didn’t know what this guy was up to.
“What’s your type?”
“Why are you suddenly doing this…?”
Ire frowned, realizing that Kim Ha-yoon’s gaze was on the necklace, and quickly hid it under the blanket. In case he stole it again. Kim Ha-yoon seemed to notice that too, scoffing with a displeased expression.
“I’m not interested in that cheap necklace, so stop being so wary.”
“You stole it and you have the nerve to say that.”
“I said I picked it up.”
“Yeah… Right…”
Kim Ha-yoon sat on the bed and started talking about girlfriends. He added that he would have to get married someday. There were quite a few people in District B who started families at a young age, but not Ire.
When the prettiest girl in the village confessed to him, he had rejected her outright. He was a man, so how could his heart not waver? However, knowing his situation, he had never even dreamed of meeting someone.
“You’re even worrying about my girlfriend… You must be very free…”
He didn’t say it sarcastically, but sincerely. Other trainees said that Kim Ha-yoon was so busy that it was hard to even catch a glimpse of him, but that didn’t seem to apply to him.
Besides, he often stayed at his house on weekends. He didn’t want to get caught up in rumors, so he kept it a secret from his other colleagues, but he knew how exceptional that was.
-You, why do you think you’re here?
-Why you of all people? Have you ever thought about it?
What did Park Mu-jin mean by what he said? What did Kim Ha-yoon mean by doing this? He felt uncomfortable, but on the other hand, he was curious.
“Thank you for your concern, but I’ll decline…”
Kim Ha-yoon’s face changed subtly. His eyes curved, and the corners of his mouth lifted slightly. It was the expression he made when he was in a good mood. He had no idea what had made him happy.
“That’s a shame. I wanted to introduce you to a nice woman.”
“Can you do me a different favor instead?”
“What is it?”
“I want to go home…”
“Home?”
“Yes… The doctor said I need to rest for a few days, and I miss my siblings.”
Kim Ha-yoon thought for a moment and nodded. He readily agreed and said he would arrange a Pass for him to go. He was suspicious because he agreed so easily. He hadn’t seemed to be in a good mood just before he came into the room. He didn’t know why he was so erratic, like the weather.
Still, he was excited at the thought of seeing his family.
“Should I go with you?”
However, he rejected that question without a second thought.
He looked a little disappointed for a moment, but he pretended not to notice.