Chapter Text
Yoo Jeong had as a rule not to go beyond what his duties were, he did not intrude on anyone's sentimental perception, which made his mind often remain fresh despite his responsibilities to his class and classmates.
War was however a concept that blew his perception of his own feelings out of the water. In the blink of an eye they had to accept that their future disappeared as fast as the alien spheres touched the ground.
And the pain from the barbed wire, the fatigue from running and the accusing looks that were sometimes all around her made her feel lonely little by little.
Sometimes in Won-bin's absence, she was almost like an assistant to Lieutenant Lee, even if she did not delve into any kind of military secrets with him. She was in charge of recording and accounting for supplies, weapons, and the morale of her comrades.
So this was one of her typical evenings at the army camp, quickly jotting down notes on spreadsheets as she looked at her own notes. As class president, she had to send a note to each family assuring them that their children were being closely monitored and cared for by her as an Army Reservist.
Lieutenant Lee for his part was a few feet ahead at his own desk studying a map while seeming to practically avoid breathing, he did it often in fact, every evening she spent here before going to dinner.
He was protective of all of them, he had come back for his comrades and risked his own life, and they had a deep respect and gratitude for that. For his part, he was still disciplined and inflexible with his training, but they could clearly see that this was for their good.
Yoo Jung looked at the lieutenant briefly trying to dispel the painful memories coming to her, and then she met his eyes fixed on hers. Apparently his eyes had been on her for a good few moments now, because after all he was the first one to look back down at the map.
As unusual as that was, she turned her eyes back to her report and continued to write rapidly in silence.
Nearly half an hour later she heard Lieutenant Lee's chair shuffle and looked up to see him with his back turned as he stared at an even larger map on the wall.
- Yoo Jung..." His voice called out making her stand up.
- Sir..." She stood up immediately ready to help in any way she could.
- Go to dinner and sleep, tomorrow you can finish with those papers," Lieutenant Lee said turning to see her.
- This is the last one sir, but I can finish it in the barracks," Yoo Jung assured, taking the sheets and papers hurriedly.
- I mean..." He walked a few steps closer to her to get her attention, "You need to rest, your companions are counting on you and for that you need to be alert.
The young woman adjusted her glasses and looked at Lieutenant Lee, not that she had not noticed that he was tall, athletic or cute, but by logic she avoided thinking of any of those qualities when she saw him. He was her commander and she had the duty to obey him in any circumstance, and any sign of concern from him towards her or her friends made her feel very weak, and at the same time appreciated.
- Yes sir," she nodded and stood silently looking into his eyes.
- Farewell, go to rest," he ordered and turned back to his desk.
The young woman with glasses walked hurriedly to the barracks and found a conflict between her companions over an extra blanket, the nights were getting cold and it seemed that they could not reach an agreement on what happened with those blankets.
As president she simply gave up her extra blanket and headed to dinner like everyone else so she could take advantage of some time to rest. The food had not improved since they had been here and she could only think at this point of combing her hair and getting some sleep.
But as strong as her desire was, more intense was her duty, so she didn't protest when Won Bin appeared to inform her that she would be awake for four more hours on guard duty in the north tower. She only nodded restraining her desire to sigh loudly, she would wait until she was as high as possible so that the human and young part of her would not give course to frustration so loudly.
The surroundings looked quiet, the watchtowers a few miles away looked normal and except for a few spheres floating above them, everything was as regular as one could ask for.
The sigh finally came out an hour later when she felt herself getting drowsy little by little and the cold was freezing her fingertips, her glasses fogged up again and she just yawned trying to clear her head.
The young woman went over her to-do list for tomorrow and avoided the thought that she would only have about 4 hours of sleep at most when she returned to the barracks.
The third hour seemed unbearable for the young woman but she had to resist, she could not give the bad example of falling asleep on her watch, with what face would she look at her companions and talk to them about responsibility?
- Yoo Jung - Commander Lee's voice called out, making her wake up and for a few moments she thought she was hallucinating - Yoo Jung!
- Yes sir, she stood up immediately and it took her a few moments to realize what was happening.
- Reservist Doe Sung will replace her," her commanding officer stood in front of her and informed her.
She fell asleep on watch... Her whole body felt frozen by the horror of what was happening.
- Commander, I... - She gasped and looked at him still confused, she was sure that just a few seconds ago she was telling herself that she could not fall asleep on her watch.
Walk back to the barracks," Lee Chun-Ho ordered and she held back the urge to cry for failing so miserable.
She was a little surprised when the cadet who was to relieve her was still waiting on the floor as she went down the stairs, her commander was on the floor only a few seconds after her.
Yoo Jung bit her lips slightly now fully awake, this was a real shame, how could she call herself president after that display of weakness.
- Yoo Jung...- Her Commander's voice paralyzed her and she slowly turned around.
- I'm sorry, I, I'm so sorry...- She apologized trying hard not to cry.
- You don't have to apologize, your relief doesn't know you were sleeping," he explained and then stared at her confused and embarrassed expression, "I woke up about 15 minutes ago and was about to drink some tea when I checked the watch sheets, I'm afraid I must apologize, it was my duty to get you out of there so you could rest, but I forgot all about it. I went in search of Reservist Doe Sung an hour earlier and had him wait downstairs because I thought fatigue probably got the better of you.
The young woman with glasses gasped for a few moments and then just shook her head in denial.
-Please don't apologize, you have a lot to think about and it was my fault for not resting enough...- She mentioned adjusting the strap of her rifle as he watched her start to tremble.
- Yoo Jung, go get some tea to warm you up and go to sleep, those are your orders," he exclaimed and waited for her to understand before following her in the direction of his sector.
After the solitary tea in the dining room, she went straight to the barracks and curled up in her bed while her head ached with tiredness, she didn't need more than this, to sleep to try to stop thinking for a few hours about how her life and that of the whole class hangs on a thread that cuts and massacres them every time a sphere falls to the ground.