Dirty Sweet Baby Chapter 17

“Captain Sung Ahwon, you have an outstanding track record and the character to lead people, so I believe you will overcome this mission as well.”

“No, Second Lieutenant Baek. You, remembered my name?”

“Of course….”

“You also know how to smile?”

“I’m human too……. I smile when I have to.”

At those words, Captain Sung let out a small laugh. The decibel of his once quiet voice grew louder again, and the distance between them also closed. He came right up close, placed both hands on Baek Heeheon’s shoulders, and met his eyes.

“Actually, when I was ordered to go on the long-term mission, you were the first person I thought of, Second Lieutenant Baek.”

“Yes…?”

“I thought, the Second Lieutenant should at least remember my name, but I wondered if you would forget my very existence by the time I returned, things like that….”

“……”

“I’ll give you my registration code, so if you think you’re going to forget, would it be alright if you sent me a text message on my personal line sometimes? …I might miss you.”

“……”

“Um. I think I will miss you.”

Heeheon tightened his grip on the rifle. Lately, he had been thinking that unexpected, sudden events were raining down on him, exceeding the level he could handle.

Pouring down, rushing in, being swept away.

Captain Sung Ahwon was truly an admirable person. His sincere nature, which approached things straightforwardly without being twisted, and his flawless appearance all left a deep impression.

However, he probably would not be sending him any text messages.

<The color white that Heeheon chooses. For Heeheon, it’s a circle. He likes math, he likes corner seats, his shoelaces have to be tied tightly, and his umbrella must be a folding one that pops open with the press of a button.>

‘Because I know myself well.’

Looking at the profound eyes that would have easily captivated a normal person, he felt no particular emotion. His heart did not tremble even when he was held by the shoulders. He had no worries even while looking at his beautifully colored lips. He did not feel the urge to touch, to feel, or to know.

He is an excellent person, and he feels a natural liking for that aspect. He would be happy if they could develop into friends who share a friendship or comrades who share a sense of camaraderie. If the context was to have that kind of relationship, he would have been willing to contact him.

But….

‘…Yes. Cha Moogyul must feel this way when he looks at me too.’

In that moment, a dull realization pierced Heeheon’s chest.

‘He must not feel anything.’

Whether he kisses him on the lips, or shoves his hand into his mouth and rummages around.

It is just, a non-issue.

‘That must be why he does it.’

He saw his own reflection in Captain Sung Ahwon’s bright and ardent eyes. It was a dumbfounded face. His expression was truly ridiculous. He wondered if that was really him.

“Captain, I….”

At that moment, the door to the shooting preparation room creaked open.

“What are you doing.”

It seemed that Cha Moogyul, who had finished the Center’s leadership meeting earlier than expected, had come all the way here to find Baek Heeheon. The location coordinates of a dedicated guide are always shared with their Esper, and the guide can also know the location coordinates of their dedicated Esper, so this was not a surprising event.

Cha Moogyul stared at Captain Sung quietly. Only then did Heeheon realize that the distance between himself and Captain Sung was quite close. He was almost cornered against the wall, with Captain Sung holding his shoulders.

“No. It’s not, it’s just.”

Heeheon pulled away from Captain Sung. Captain Sung, who let go of Heeheon, looked awkward and saluted Cha Moogyul.

“Director Cha, no, Brigadier General Cha. I am Captain Sung Ahwon of the 2nd Special Task Force.”

“……”

“I was having a word with Second Lieutenant Baek.”

“What word.”

“Yes? Ah, a little bit of a greeting….”

“It didn’t look like a greeting.”

Cha Moogyul glanced over Captain Sung and then gestured to Baek Heeheon with his chin.

“Come out.”

Heeheon swallowed a sigh, returned the rifle he had used to the preparation room, and started to move. As he followed behind Cha Moogyul who was walking ahead, he gave a final farewell to Captain Sung Ahwon.

“Well then, I’ll be on my way. I wish you a safe return.”

“Ah, wait, just a moment. Second Lieutenant.”

Captain Sung urgently grabbed Heeheon. The feeling that he could not part like this was clearly visible on his tense face.

“Here, this is my code.”

Whether he judged that there was no time to scan and transmit the code, or whether he was just flustered, Captain Sung took off the identification tag he was wearing around his neck and handed it to Heeheon. He could not possibly have been unaware that not carrying an identification tag was a disciplinary offense.

“Take it. And please contact me. You must.”

“Captain Sung. This is a disciplinary.”

“I know. Take it.”

Heeheon tried to refuse, but Captain Sung was adamant. He insisted on putting it in his hand, so Heeheon had no choice but to take his identification tag with him. After leaving the Center building and boarding the back seat of the military vehicle, he carefully opened his hand. The embossed letters on the thin plate came into view one by one.

CCMSSH KR S2 E

01-31070719A

SUNG AH WON

O (RH+)

“Who is that guy.”

And from the seat next to him, a low voice was heard. Heeheon’s lips moved slightly.

“Just.”

“Just?”

“An Esper I used to be in charge of….”

“Then why is he acting like that.”

“……”

“I asked why he’s acting like that.”

When Heeheon continued to be silent, Cha Moogyul reached out his arm and snatched the identification tag’s military dog tag chain that was in Heeheon’s hand. His head snapped around.

“Sung, Ah, Won.”

Cha Moogyul read the name engraved on the identification tag coolly. For some reason, Heeheon, feeling anxious, frowned and explained.

“It’s no big deal. He’s leaving on a long-term mission, so we were just saying goodbye.”

“Then I guess this must be a farewell gift?”

“Be quiet. Give it here.”

Heeheon tried to get Captain Sung’s identification tag back from Cha Moogyul. Cha Moogyul seemed to be carefully looking at the identification tag hanging from the military dog tag chain he was holding, but then, as if he had lost interest, he tossed it onto Heeheon’s lap.

“You two are close.”

“I said we’re not.”

“Why not. He seemed desperate.”

“We’re not….”

Heeheon picked up the identification tag and stuffed it into his pocket. His lips were dry from his complicated feelings. Cha Moogyul let out a scoff.

“Was that guy not dirty?”

“Uh…?”

“Or did you just not show it even if you didn’t like it.”

Cha Moogyul suddenly reached out his arm again. This time, he grabbed Heeheon’s wrist and pulled it toward him. There was nowhere to escape in the cramped interior of the vehicle. Heeheon’s upper body was pulled toward Cha Moogyul.

His fingertips descended along the captured wrist. Cha Moogyul slowly inserted his index finger into the gap of the black glove Heeheon was wearing. His palm was scratched by a fingernail, which felt startling.

“I was just thinking that if you acted the same way you do to me, there’s no way he would have that look in his eyes. It’s puzzling.”

“……”

“Isn’t it?”

A chill ran down his spine. The hand he was holding was cold, and a cold sweat ran down the back of his neck.

“Cha Moogyul. Why are you doing this in the car. Stop it.”

“Is it my fault again? Always the same story. Aren’t you tired of it….”

“It’s because you’re doing something unnecessary.”

“What did I do.”

“……”

“What did I do, huh?”

Heeheon’s chin trembled slightly as he pulled his hand away. Cha Moogyul, surprisingly, let go of Baek Heeheon’s hand obediently. His characteristic black eyes were cold.

“You said you were sorry. Hyung.”

“……”

“You said you regretted it.”

He thought he was free, but not yet. His hand changed direction, touched Heeheon’s ear, and came up. It lightly brushed against his hair and then straightened the disheveled strands. It seemed his hair had gotten a little messed up from wearing the earplugs in the shooting range.

“You said you were trying, in your own way.”

The touch that gently brushed through his bangs, strand by strand, was chillingly tender. He could not understand why he was doing that. Heeheon was busy just trying to think whether he should slap Cha Moogyul’s hand away or endure it. After neatly brushing his hair, he now even straightened his wrinkled combat uniform.

The shoulder area where he had been held by Captain Sung was a little wrinkled. Cha Moogyul reached out his arm and neatened his clothes. In the narrow car, his long arm came close, and his vision seemed to be completely filled.

“Then try harder. Because I’m at my limit.”

Finally, his hand dropped.

Cha Moogyul turned his head and looked out the window. Heeheon, who had been watching his prominent jawline and the straight line of his neck for a moment, soon turned his gaze to the opposite window. This was not the place to bring up the past and argue with him. Especially with the driver in the front seat….

A chilly silence froze the space between them.

After hesitating for a long time, Heeheon bit the inside of his mouth and asked him.

“…Th-that.”

“……”

“So what about you. What is this new project. What are you going to do.”

It was not as if Baek Heeheon had no suspicions at all.

The sudden high rank of Brigadier General, the major announcement and statement, the somehow unusual atmosphere at the Center…. At this point, he could guess that Cha Moogyul was planning something extraordinary. And perhaps Baek Heeheon would also be caught up in it and play a part.

Cha Moogyul, who was looking at the scenery, muttered in a low voice.

“What does it look like I’m doing in your eyes, hyung?”

“Propaganda.”

“Then I guess I’m doing that.”

Cha Moogyul deferred his answer. Perhaps he thought that this conversation too was a topic that the driver in the front seat should not hear.

“You’ll find out when the time comes anyway.”

“……”

“Later.”