Dirty Sweet Baby Chapter 39

“Ah, thank you.”

He had no idea where he got something like this. Since it was impossible for a flower shop to be operating on the Center grounds, he would have had to order and have the bouquet delivered in advance from a general residential district.

“I tried to make it in time for the appointment ceremony, but I’m a bit late. Hah… Is it all over?”

Captain Sung Ahwon was breathing a little heavily, as if he had run in a hurry. Perhaps because it was summer, he was even sweating on his forehead. Heeheon felt more sorry than grateful.

“The ceremony is over, but… just the fact that you went out of your way to congratulate me is something to be thankful for.”

“Still. I wanted to give you the bouquet on time.”

In the end, Heeheon never contacted Captain Sung.

Even though he knew there was no telling when he would be able to return, and that he was undertaking a dangerous mission where something could go wrong along the way. Yet, for him to hear the news of Heeheon’s special promotion and go to the trouble of celebrating it like this, Heeheon was truly ashamed.

Heeheon held the bouquet with a heavy heart. Pure white lilies, in full season, were blooming elegantly. And a whole bunch of them. The bouquet, perhaps because it resembled Captain Sung, was large and magnificent. To be honest, he felt a bit burdened by it and considered refusing, but he figured that would make things even more awkward and apologetic with him, so he had no choice.

“At any rate, my sincerest congratulations. The uniform suits you well too, First Lieutenant Baek.”

“Thank you. I ended up receiving the commendation even though the credit for this wasn’t mine.”

“What are you talking about? First Lieutenant, you seem too modest. There isn’t a single person here who doesn’t know about your achievements.”

“Um, I… I’m glad to see you’ve returned safely from your assignment as well, Captain Sung. I heard the situation in the east was quite bad.”

“Aha, I was the lucky one. I’m talking about the gate that you resolved, First Lieutenant Baek. I was summoned because of that incident, so my mission in the east was concluded early. In a way, you were the one who called me back, First Lieutenant Baek.”

Captain Sung grinned, placing his hands on his hips and straightening his shoulders. The summer sunlight streaming through the window brightly illuminated his hair. His light-colored, brownish hair touched the sunlight and for a moment shone like gold.

“I see.”

He had thought it was a quick return for a long-term assignment. He hadn’t expected to meet Captain Sung here today. Much less to be congratulated with such a bright smile…

‘I completely ignored his request to contact him.’

Wasn’t his pride hurt? He had every right to feel resentful toward Baek Heeheon. But looking at his friendly, smiling face, it seemed he truly only had a heart to congratulate Heeheon.

“Right. Have you eaten? The cafeteria menu today is boneless spicy stir-fried chicken. Perhaps you’d like to join me…”

“I have. At home.”

“You’ve eaten! Ah, I’m late for this too. Haha… Say, First Lieutenant.”

“Yes?”

“I, by any chance…”

“Yes.”

Just then, Captain Sung carefully began to speak. He seemed to study Heeheon’s face for a moment, then, as if thinking, ‘Ah, whatever,’ he threw a straight pitch.

“Do you not like me?”

The straight pitch hit Heeheon.

“Excuse me?”

How could a person be so unpretentious? Heeheon was a little surprised, inwardly.

“I do hear that I’m a pretty decent guy. But I’m still a man… It must be burdensome for you, Second Lieutenant Baek, no, First Lieutenant Baek. You might even be offended. Actually, I regretted speaking so suddenly back then.”

“…”

“I guess I was a bit impatient for various reasons. There was the suddenly scheduled long-term assignment, and my guiding request was denied, so… yes. I’m sorry. I don’t think I was able to say it properly then, but I’d like to get to know you seriously, First Lieutenant… Uh, please contact me…”

Blushing shyly, Captain Sung made a sudden confession.

“No, I just think I like you, First Lieutenant.”

His eyes shone with the fervor of a teenage boy in the throes of first love. Looking into those brown irises, it seemed even a fool could discern Captain Sung’s feelings. It was so easy, so obvious, and so direct… it just shone.

It was the look unique to someone in love.

“Ugh, you must have been surprised to be confessed to by a man out of the blue. I’m sorry for that too. But I’m truly sincere.”

“…”

Heeheon stared at him blankly. No one could say that Captain Sung wasn’t sincere. He was truly amazing.

‘That’s cool. And I’m envious…’

He actually… confesses.

So clearly…

He really says everything, without hiding anything…

‘He hasn’t even known me for that long. My ignoring his request to contact him was brushed aside. And he’s a man. It’s as if he doesn’t care about such conditions.’

He has no fear of confessing clearly and being rejected clearly. But Baek Heeheon is scared to death. He couldn’t even dream of confessing, and was always on pins and needles, afraid of being found out.

“…I’m sorry.”

Heeheon gripped the lily bouquet tightly in his hand. The light pink wrapping paper rustled.

“I know you are an excellent person, Captain Sung. But I don’t think I can see you in that way.”

“Ah… I, I see. Yes. I understand. I was too sudden, after all.”

Heeheon had been overwhelmed just by deciding to become Cha Moogyul’s guide and vowing to fulfill his duties as his guide. Someday, he hoped to be acknowledged as a respectable guide and be with him like that. He had concluded that he would be satisfied with that, that it would be enough.

Because Baek Heeheon could never confess, not even if he died and came back to life.

It couldn’t be helped. If he couldn’t be Cha Moogyul’s brother, he had to be satisfied with being his guide; he believed that was the second chance he had been given. If he failed at this too… then there would be nothing left for Heeheon.

So this was enough. He wouldn’t covet him anymore. He had no intention of even trying.

Even if they would never kiss again, never entangle their bodies again. What couldn’t be helped, couldn’t be helped. He would never again let his feelings for Cha Moogyul ruin Baek Heeheon’s life as the price.

“It’s not that I don’t like you because you’re a man, Captain Sung. It’s not because of gender, but because I have no intention of dating anyone right now.”

“No, it’s alright. I can fully understand.”

Heeheon calmly continued. Although he had no choice but to reject him, he hoped he wouldn’t be too deeply hurt.

“It’s true. In fact, I actually… prefer men… men more.”

“Excuse me? You do, First Lieutenant?”

“Yes… I always have.”

“I, wow. I had no idea. So that’s how it was…”

“It’s a little awkward. I’ve never told anyone in my life… You’re the first person I’ve made such a confession to, Captain.”

He had said it with the intention that, at the very least, he wouldn’t blame himself for his gender being the problem.

But right at that moment, a grim voice cut in between them.

“…A confession?”

Cha Moogyul was back, having finished his conversation with Brigadier General Kang at some point. The hallway was quite long, but not so long that their conversation couldn’t be heard. Dressed in his formal uniform, he strode toward them with his hands in his pockets. The sound of his dress shoes echoed loudly on the marble floor in a steady rhythm.

“The first?”

Judging from the way Cha Moogyul was spitting out questions one by one, it seemed he had heard everything Heeheon had just said. His face pale, Heeheon unknowingly hid behind Captain Sung Ahwon. The large body of the reinforcement-type esper shielded Heeheon. Though it was only for a moment.

“Greetings, Brigadier General Cha. I am Captain Sung Ahwon of the 2nd Special Task Force.”

Captain Sung gave a sharp salute to Cha Moogyul. Without giving him a single glance, Cha Moogyul walked past him and stopped next to Baek Heeheon, who was tucked into the corner. The gaze looking down at him was more than cold, it was frigid.

His gaze, cast straight down, stopped at the bouquet Heeheon was holding.

“Lilies. I’m allergic to these.”

Cha Moogyul snatched the bouquet and tossed it back into Captain Sung’s arms.

“Oh!”

Startled, Captain Sung caught the bouquet. In the meantime, Cha Moogyul grabbed Heeheon’s arm and pulled him.

“Let’s go.”

“Huh? Oh…”

Heeheon’s startled gaze wandered. His face was still deathly pale. As he followed Cha Moogyul hesitantly, he glanced back at Captain Sung for a moment.

The bouquet…

‘Then again, it would be a bit much to just take the bouquet after rejecting his confession.’

Still, he wondered if this was the right way to return it…

‘Cha Moogyul is allergic to lilies? I didn’t know that. First time I’m hearing it.’

“Excuse me, I’ll be leaving first.”

“Ah, yes. Yes… First Lieutenant. See you again next time then.”

He bid Captain Sung a clumsy farewell and was led by Cha Moogyul into the elevator. The doors closed, and a moment of silence fell. They were the only two in the enclosed space. Anxious about how much Cha Moogyul had heard, Heeheon carefully studied his expression.

Standing inside the elevator, he seemed even more unapproachable than usual. Perhaps because he was dressed from head to toe in his formal uniform, and his expression was also extremely icy. Looking at him, his blood ran cold enough to forget it was summer.