episode_0189

After a long struggle, the two American women decided to move with us.

Heize wasn’t the only one being ridiculously stubborn.

As if to show they were friends, Lawrence shared the same opinion.

…Or perhaps she was just accommodating Heize.

Anyway.

I subtly asked why they were being so unyielding.

“…Scary.”

“What’s scary?”

“Hmm…”

I waited for an answer, but it wasn’t forthcoming.

Instead of her, Lawrence opened her mouth.

Naturally, I couldn’t understand her…

“She says people are scary and hard to trust.”

“…People are scary?”

Captain Lee, who had volunteered to interpret, furrowed his brow.

“…It seems they’ve experienced things close to crimes.”

“…”

“Since they are both women, it seems they’ve gone through difficult times.”

Compared to Lawrence’s lengthy English explanation, Captain Lee’s interpretation was brief.

It seemed he was carefully choosing his words during the pauses.

Tears welled up in Lawrence’s eyes as she spoke.

Captain Lee’s expression hardened as he relayed the words.

Both the speaker and the listener found it difficult and painful.

As he listened, Captain Lee’s eyes twitched continuously.

“Hmm…”

“What are they saying?”

Instead of answering, he asked something in English.

To Lawrence and Heize.

Seeing the two nod, it seemed he had asked for their permission.

“Seonghan.”

“Yes.”

“…It seems that in the process of their survival, they’ve experienced… discrimination.”

“Oh…”

“And in doing so, they lost the people who were with them, one by one.”

When we first met, Heize and Lawrence said they had been abandoned.

They had missed the timing to move due to Lawrence’s condition.

But they waited with hope, believing that those who left would not give up and would return for the ones left behind.

At that time, it was Heize and her comrades who moved for those left behind and for Lawrence.

They said they were able to endure because everyone except Lawrence was a soldier.

They were afraid, but because everyone was brave, they were able to find strength.

However, as we can see, the later evacuation did not happen.

One day, two days, three days…

As time passed, people felt their resolve diminishing.

The weather grew harsh, and food supplies dwindled.

By the time they slowly began to suffer from thirst, people were dying.

Not just because of zombies, but because of other humans.

There were many people who had sought refuge in the base, not just the original residents, but also those from outside.

Koreans, Chinese, Japanese, and so on.

“From what I hear, it seems they came from Itaewon.”

“Are there many foreigners there?”

“Not a small number. And that became a problem.”

“Couldn’t they handle the numbers…?”

“That too, but also a language problem.”

“Language? Ah…”

Poor communication hampered them.

In a situation facing death, everything was lacking.

Thirst and hunger, cold and fear.

The language barrier effectively increased the difficulty of survival.

Greed and selfishness raising their ugly heads were an added bonus.

The side effects appeared immediately.

“They shifted the blame to the U.S. soldiers who, at least, were armed.”

“In that situation?”

“As in, since they had guns, shouldn’t they protect them?”

“Wow.”

I clicked my tongue softly.

The bubbling dissatisfaction turned into discord, and discord soon led to division.

Those who formed groups with people they could communicate with soon began to fight.

And the end was easy to imagine.

“So everyone died and only these two were left?”

“That’s what they say. They met us when they were halfway to giving up.”

“Hmm…”

‘Were the bodies in the PX also those people?’

I recalled the bodies that Captain Lee and the soldiers had informally taken care of.

I had thought their composition was mixed without uniformity, but…

“Hearing the explanation, I can understand why they’re like this. If you’re hurt and driven out by people to this extent…”

Captain Lee trailed off, wearing a bitter expression.

Even I, who understood their fear of people, couldn’t just tell them to go to the shelter unconditionally.

Just as I was about to be speechless, Lawrence spoke briefly.

“She says that Seonghan and us can be trusted… and that they won’t interfere and will stay quiet, so please let them stay with us.”

…It was hard to say anything.

“What do you think, Captain Lee?”

“If it were me, I’d bring them along.”

He didn’t hesitate at all.

“It would be too much if we were in a continuous mobile operation, but I judge it’s fine now. We’re getting more troop support anyway… and…”

Captain Lee subtly leaned closer and whispered.

“The shelter’s situation isn’t good yet…”

“Ah-ha…”

“If they stay here, at least we can feed them until they’re full.”

I agreed with Captain Lee’s words.

“I’ll have Sergeant Park continue to monitor Miss Lawrence’s condition. If a problem arises, how about we arrange for an emergency escort then?”

“You’re the commander, Captain Lee, so you can do as you see fit.”

“…Is that so?”

I added a remark to him, who seemed to be getting slightly dejected.

“I have no objection. I share your opinion, Captain Lee.”

“Understood.”

Captain Lee smiled faintly and nodded.

Although it was already decided, Captain Lee relayed the message once more.

The two women’s reactions were different from before; they showed great relief.

Because reluctantly accepting something under duress is completely different from accepting it with full understanding.

Only after this decision was made did everyone disperse to attend to their tasks.

It was decided that Lawrence would rest in the car.

Captain Lee was more considerate of the pregnant woman than I expected.

Even now, he had Sergeant Park help calm her mind and body.

‘…’

I squatted a little distance away and watched people move.

Rustle- Hiss-

“Huuuh… damn it.”

I vigorously scratched the back of my head.

I felt really… awkward.

I saw Captain Lee moving about, chatting with the squad members.

The bandage wrapped around his neck caught my eye.

‘…This is really driving me crazy.’

I had intended to apologize to Captain Lee.

But as I spoke too much, I missed the timing to apologize.

Thanks to that, I hadn’t been able to shake off the subtly uncomfortable feeling since earlier.

It wasn’t something to say casually, and my stomach churned.

How should I put it?

It was like having a minor argument with a close coworker that didn’t get properly resolved, leading to an awkward atmosphere.

That feeling of having missed the timing, letting it pass vaguely, and both acting as if nothing happened.

A feeling that’s subtly annoying, making you want to keep smoking cigarettes.

‘I’m sorry.’ One word would suffice, but I couldn’t say it.

‘Saying sorry after putting a knife to his throat is a bit…’

I’m not a psychopath, so to say “I’m sorry” casually after threatening to kill him…

That would look really funny.

‘…Should I just take a punch and end it?’

Ending it with a single punch to the face, like a man, doesn’t seem bad.

From what I can tell, Captain Lee seems capable of fighting a bit, so it might be okay…

“What are you doing?”

Heize suddenly interrupted.

“Smoking?”

“Yeah.”

“Hmm~”

“Want one?”

“No. I don’t smoke.”

“Okay. But why are you here not working?”

“Nothing to do. Captain said rest. Rest?”

“…He told you to rest?”

“Yep!”

Then Heize squatted next to me and stared blankly at me.

“…”

“Ss-eonghan.”

“…”

“Fight with Captain?”

I turned my eyes to her at the abrupt question.

“No.”

“Then hit? Be, beat, beat up?”

“Hey… why are you twisting my words?”

No, in a way, I did hit him… didn’t I?

“Han keep look at Captain’s eyes.”

“…Eyes what?”

“Like this, like this.”

“Ah…”

I snorted at her imitation of rolling her eyes and glancing around.

“Feel bad? Heavy?”

“I look like I’m in a bad mood?”

“Yeah.”

“Captain Lee might be like that―”

“No, you.”

“…Me?”

“Yeah. Seonghan’s mood not good. Always.”

“…”

It seems she noticed I was uncomfortable.

Is she observant, or just quick-witted?

“Captain. Sorry?”

“…What…”

I couldn’t say no.

In reality, Captain Lee was just doing his job.

If he had told me beforehand… No, I didn’t do well anyway.

“Friend say sorry.”

“Hey…”

“Why? We’re friends. No?”

Not friends or coworkers.

It’s more than just an acquaintance…

Why is it so ambiguous?

“Captain also Seonghan sorry? Sorry? Uh…”

“…Captain Lee, to me?”

“That’s right.”

“…How do you know?”

“I see. Woman eye. Feel so good.”

“…”

“You guys frustrating.”

“Hey.”

Perhaps because she’s from a culture unreserved in expression, her words were blunt.

I was slightly choked up without realizing it.

“Are you messing around again?”

“Tell it like a man.”

“Say it in Korean.”

“Speech like man.”

“…”

It seems she meant “Act like a man”…

“Me. Friend said. Shi, shi, shibal? Get out?”

“What?”

“Friend fight. Very angry.”

“…”

Heize’s eyes saddened as she tried to express something in her broken Korean.

“Want to say sorry. But can’t.”

“…”

“Died instead of me. So can’t say.”

“Um…”

“Sorry today too. Me here hurt. Everyday.”

Heize gently rubbed her chest.

I had no idea such a thing had happened.

“Me think, think, regret, regret? Regret.”

“…”

“Captain, Seonghan, alive. Healthy. Must speak. Definitely.”

“…”

“Now.”

I stared blankly at Heize, who spoke firmly at the end.

She was quite perceptive, pinpointing my discomfort.

She even revealed painful memories to push me forward…

I understood exactly what Heize wanted to say.

Her few awkward words resonated more deeply than fluent speech.

Smoothly-

Listening to Heize’s words, I stood up smoothly.

After hearing what she said, it felt like I had to act right away.

If I can’t even offer a single apology after being pushed this much, I might as well lose my manhood.

Just as I was about to walk over to Captain Lee, Heize spoke.

“Han.”

“Hm?”

“Thank you.”

“For what?”

“Friends’ revenge. Thank you.”

“…It’s fine. And thank you too.”

“Mm-hm!”

Heize smiled brightly.

Her beautiful smile somehow gave off a bright and refreshing impression.

“Go Go. Move move~!”

“…”

It might have been better if she hadn’t been so cheeky.

Anyway.

Having received what wasn’t quite encouragement, I immediately approached Captain Lee.

I relayed my true feelings to him, who looked at me with a puzzled expression.

Briefly and simply, just as Heize had spoken to me.

And just as it was.

A moment later.

Captain Lee and I shook hands and could laugh comfortably.

Thanks. Miss USA.