Rainbow City Chapter 5

Kwak Soohwan widened his eyes as if he was a little surprised, but then grinned.

“Well, because of Dr.Seok, even if I had received my injection, my lower body is still strong so I am grateful.”

“Well, there is only one face like yours. If the world were just fine, you would have earned your living with your face, you bastard.”

“Well, I’ve never lived in a normal world. I’m leaving.”

For some reason, Kwak Soohwan put on his cape properly and came out of the infirmary. The sound of military boots echoed regularly through the hallway. They say it was Dr. Seok who eliminated the side effects. It felt like a burning sensation and heat was spreading from the area where the injection went into. Kwak Soohwan looked down at his forearms covered by his uniform.

But really, Dr. Seok is so weak, how can he do his work properly?

It was surprising that he had a lover. He wondered if the reason he broke up with his lover was because he couldn’t afford enough nights to spend with them. It was ironic that while he was saving someone else’s dick, he was risking his sexual rendezvous.

Kwak Soohwan arrived at the laboratory on the 34th floor and took a peek inside the laboratory. Starting from the central pillar to the left was the researchers’ desk, and to the right was where vaccines and viruses were managed. Of course, all that was visible from the outside was a place with a central pillar that seemed to be used as a laboratory lobby.

Kwak Soohwan, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, waited for Seokhwa to come out. He lifted his wrist and looked at his cracked watch. It was almost time for dinner. Although it was said that he ate as much as a rat, Seokhwa was a person who ate well without skipping meals.

[Open.]

Dr. Kim, who came out with Seokhwa, flinched when he saw Kwak Soohwan. He smiled awkwardly and Kwak Soohwan quickly walked in front of them.

“Dr. Seok, are you going to eat now?”

Kwak Soohwan gestured holding a spoon.

“No. I think I need to go out for a bit.”

“Where?”

Although it had only been a few days since he had been brought to Seoul, this was the first time Seokhwa had shown his intention to leave in person. Moreover, he only noticed that he was holding a gun inside his coat. It was a Glock 18C automatic pistol issued to doctors. Not only that, but he also had a backpack on his back.

“Why the gun? Are you going to leave the green area?”

“Yes, I think we should.”

“The field is ours. If you have anything to ask, just tell me.”

“I think I should see it for myself. Let’s go together.”

Seokhwa took the lead and started walking.

If the doctor wanted to criticize him, he should criticize him as well. Kwak Soohwan eventually walked after Seokhwa. While taking the elevator and heading to the parking lot, Seokhwa exchanged brief greetings with several familiar people.

“This way.”

Major Kwak grabbed Seokhwa’s forearm and led him to his jeep.

“Did Dr. Seok eliminate the side effects of sex drive suppressant injections?”

Seokhwa subtly frowned because of the rough grip.

“I only conducted research to eliminate side effects at request.”

Seokhwa climbed into the passenger seat and took a long breath. After watching him pull up the belt and fix it neatly, Kwak Soohwan also grabbed the steering wheel.

“So where shall I take you?”

“The Red Zone where Major Kwak Soohwan went to steal alcohol, or rather, get alcohol.”

“…What?”

“That’s where Dr.Oh Yangseok’s original home is.”

Seokhwa calmly took out his blanket from his backpack that was placed on his thigh. He wrapped it around himself and closed his eyes.

“Please wake me up when we arrive.”

What did he mean by saying we were going to visit the ‘Red Zone Code 13’ and then asking me to wake him up? Before Kwak Soohwan started the car, he tapped the steering wheel.

“Hey, Dr. Stone.”

Seokhwa just closed his eyes.

“Don’t you know why the Red Zone is called red? It’s the most dangerous area. It’s not difficult to take care of myself, but you don’t know how difficult it is to take you, Dr. Stone, who is so weak, with me.”

Seokhwa opened his eyes and looked at Kwak Soohwan.

“Get off.”

Kwak Soohwan also responded with an expressionless face.

“…”

“Get off. If you tell me what you need, I’ll go there by myself.”

“You won’t know what I need even if you notice it, so you can’t.”

Kwak Soohwan twisted his lips.

“Why? Is it because my head looks like a stone?”

“Major Kwak Soohwan. I don’t have the energy to argue with you.”

“So get off.”

Seokhwa took out another bottle of water from his backpack and drank the water slowly.

“Looking at Dr. Oh’s research log, I think there was something wrong at the time he died. An important part of the journal is missing, but I know him. He would bring his confidential information to his home. I heard that the red zone was originally a green zone, but it has now been changed to a dangerous zone.”

“Ah, now you’re going to act as a military police officer?”

Seokhwa rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand as if he were tired.

“All right. I’ll go with someone else.”

Seokhwa squeezed his hand as he tried to undo her belt.

“If you go with someone else, I might have to go to the brig.”

“Let’s go, then. I’ll not be the one to regret my decision.”

Seokhwa said each word with strength. Kwak Soohwan let out a sigh and laughed.

“A threat is scary. I will go, but I cannot take responsibility if one part of Dr. Seok’s body gets blown off.”

Seokhwa held the holster containing his pistol tightly in his hand.

“Let’s go. Wake me up when we reach the red zone.”

Without any care, he stretched it out.

***

It only took 30 minutes from Yeouido to the Red Zone where Dr. Oh’s home was located.

The soldiers guarding the Red Zone, and no matter how rampant Adam was, he could not cross the border. It was here that Adam’s 7th transformation began in the first place. That was why it was changed from green to red in an instant.

Before entering the area, Kwak Soohwan stopped the jeep as he reached the checkpoint. He rolled down the window and showed his ID card, and one of the guards immediately recognized Kwak Soohwan.

“Major Kwak, you’re not here to rob a bar again, are you?”

The soldier gave him a suspicious look first.

“Please be mindful of us. We were reprimanded when we couldn’t discover you sneaking into the Red Zone. Please save us.”

Kwak Soohwan put his ID card inside his uniform.

“If I’m here to rob you again, why would I give you my ID and not just sneak in? You are being noisy. Just open the barbed gate.”

“But the person next to you…?”

It was an expression of hopelessness. How on earth were they looking at me? It was as if they thought I killed someone and wanted to trash the body here.

“He’s not dead, though?”

“But Major Kwak, in the red zone, we must also check the identity of your companion.”

He glanced at Seokhwa, who was sleeping with his mouth slightly open. He sleeps well. Even though he asked me to come to the Red Zone, he was shocked to see him be like that all the time because his energy had already waned.

“My lover.”

He rubbed Seokhwa’s cheek with his leather-gloved hand. Since he wouldn’t open his eyes, he tapped his cheek.

“Baby, baby, wake up. We are here for the date at the Red Zone.”

As he kept touching him, Seokhwa slowly opened his eyes. His forehead, which was leaning against the window, felt sore and he even rubbed it with his hand.

“Did we…arrive?”

He then took out a high-calorie chocolate bar from his backpack and began to munch on it.

“Dr. Seok. I gave them the address of where Dr. Oh’s house is and I’m waiting here with the soldiers.”

Seokhwa rinsed his mouth with bottled water and stared at the pitch-black and dark space ahead.

Since the national state of disaster had not been withdrawn and power had to be conserved, the only areas that had lights on day and night were the green, blue, and indigo areas. Maybe it was because the moon was shining at that time, but it was so dark that it was impossible to walk around without a flashlight. Seokhwa soon opened his lips.

“…Okay.”

Kwak Soohwan was amazed as if wondering what kind of doctor he was. He unfastened his belt, stopped Seokhwa from getting off with his hand, and stepped on the accelerator.

“What are you doing…!”